Xu Tianji's hands trembled with excitement.
Ji Bozhai's Essence Power was overwhelmingly strong. Being protected by him truly felt like being immersed in a vat of honey.
She could almost imagine being sheltered by him like this for a lifetime.
Her eyes and brows brimming with joy, she tilted slightly and leaned gently against the chest of the man behind her.
However, Ji Bozhai sidestepped, neatly avoiding her. With a cold expression, he said to Luo Jiaoyang, "Using Essence Power against a woman is the most cowardly act."
Luo Jiaoyang was furious: "She struck first—am I not allowed to retaliate? Whether she's a man or a woman, even if she were a demon, I'd still slap her."
"You—" Tianji stepped forward again, trying to provoke him further.
But Luo Jiaoyang wasn't falling for it this time. He dodged her push and gave her a deep look. "Using me as a stepping stone? You've miscalculated."
With that, he unleashed his Essence Power, forcing Ji Bozhai to follow him into the Academicians' Court to settle their fight inside.
Tianji gasped and hurriedly lifted her skirt to follow them in. Behind her, the other Fighters and Phoenix Tail Flowers, thoroughly entertained, also streamed through the gates.
This spectacle was far too amusing, and the streets instantly erupted with endless chatter.
"That Xu family girl is truly bold, daring to stand up to those Fighters."
"I think there's something between her and Lord Ji, hmm?"
"Didn't Lord Ji have a Dancing Girl he doted on before?"
"Pfft, she was just a Dancing Girl. The Xu family is a respectable household—her chances of securing a proper status are much higher."
"If I ever have a daughter, I'll teach her about these Fighters too. Who knows, she might make a splash like the Xu girl."
The group chatting below the teahouse passed by, their voices carrying clearly to those upstairs.
The once lively private room suddenly fell into an awkward silence.
A bead of sweat rolled down Shu Zhonglin's forehead as he glanced helplessly at Yan Xiao across from him. Yan Xiao shook his head and then looked toward Mingyi at the neighboring table.
Mingyi continued eating her pastries with elegant composure, feigning deafness.
With a loud crack , Liang Xiuyuan smashed his wine cup to pieces.
His face dark, he stood up to leave but was immediately grabbed around the waist by Shu Zhonglin. "Don't act rashly. Today is the Academicians' Court's opening ceremony—Da Si might even show up later."
"So what? He promised me he wouldn't set his sights on Tianji!" Liang Xiuyuan panted, his eyes reddening.
Yan Xiao shook his head. "Look closely—it was your Tianji who approached Bozhai first."
"So just because she talks to him, he has to respond? And shield her with his Essence Power in front of everyone?" Liang Xiuyuan sneered. "What kind of man he is—if others don’t know, shouldn’t we, his sworn brothers? Why are you defending him?"
Yan Xiao frowned and shook his head again, casting a wary glance at Mingyi beside him.
Mingyi was still eating her pastries.
The yam and taro cakes were soft, smooth, and sweet—a delicacy unavailable in other teahouses. If she missed them now, she wouldn’t get another chance.
"Ming Guniang, how can you just sit there and watch this?" Liang Xiuyuan couldn’t help raising his voice.
"Why should this servant have any reason to watch or not watch?" She didn’t even look up. "What status do I hold, and what status does he hold? If I’m unhappy, can I just storm down there and question the lord?"
Liang Xiuyuan froze, belatedly realizing—wasn’t he the same? After falling for Tianji at first sight, he had only exchanged a few words with her, never formally pledging his life to her. What right did he have to charge down and confront them?Slumping back into his seat, he beckoned the waiter and asked Mingyi with a bitter smile, "Do you drink, miss?"
Mingyi shook her head. "This humble one cannot hold liquor."
"Alcohol tastes best when you can't handle it! A good drunk solves a thousand sorrows!" He turned to the waiter. "Bring two large jars up here."
Mingyi: "..." If that's the case, why bother asking her in the first place?
Noticing something amiss, Yan Xiao quickly intervened, "Bozhai still has matters to attend to later. It's fine if you get drunk yourself, but don't drag others into it."
"First, I'm not allowed to speak my mind, now I'm not even permitted to drink?" He laughed self-deprecatingly.
Yan Xiao dared not press further and turned to Mingyi instead. "Miss, you may return first if you wish."
Mingyi shrugged. "The master instructed this humble one to remain here until he emerges."
Granny Xun, who had been listening nearby, sensed the girl must be feeling uncomfortable and suggested, "If you'd like some wine, this old servant can have them bring lighter dishes to accompany it."
"Many thanks, Granny." Mingyi smiled sweetly.
She had never held high expectations of Ji Bozhai, so she wasn't exactly heartbroken. Still, it wasn't exactly pleasant either—especially when he had openly shielded someone with his Essence Power in front of so many people, protecting them thoroughly. It was nothing short of a slap to her face.
All the affection she had deliberately displayed on Changrong Street had gone to waste. How much more enjoyable it would have been to spend that time counting gold coins instead.
"To Miss Ming, a toast from afar!" Liang Xiuyuan raised his bowl as soon as the wine arrived. "You're a good woman. I hope Bozhai will one day turn over a new leaf."
Mingyi glanced at his bowl and kindly reminded him, "Drinking like this will leave you heavily intoxicated."
"Don't worry, miss. I never force others to drink," he laughed heartily. "I'll finish mine—you only need to drink half."
Yan Xiao shook his head repeatedly. "That won't do. Miss Ming has a low tolerance. Half a bowl would already get her drunk."
"It's fine." Mingyi waved her hand and picked up the wine. "As long as the master enjoys himself."
Liang Xiuyuan tilted his head back and downed the bowl in one go, the burn nearly bringing tears to his eyes. When he looked down, he saw Mingyi had also emptied her bowl to the last drop.
Perhaps hers hadn't been filled to the brim—after all, she was a lady.
Thinking this, he didn't question it further and continued drinking bowl after bowl. Before he could finish five or six, the world around him began spinning.
"Pathetic. Such a lightweight, yet still trying to keep up." Shu Zhonglin scoffed. "The wine here is expensive too. What a waste."
Mingyi glanced at him and said to the attendant nearby, "Bring the rest over to me. It'd be a shame to waste it."
The attendant looked shocked. "Miss, this... this is strong liquor."
"No matter."
Yan Xiao and Shu Zhonglin turned their heads in astonishment, only to see Mingyi sipping the wine unhurriedly, her face not even flushed. When she grew tired, she paused to nibble on some dishes before resuming.
One and a half jars of strong liquor—all of it vanished into her stomach, yet she remained composed and graceful, her eyes clear and bright.
Yan Xiao was stunned. "At the banquet earlier..." Her tolerance hadn't been this good, had it?
Before he could finish, realization dawned on him, and he laughed wryly. "So you were targeting Bozhai from the very beginning?"
Mingyi's eyes sparkled as she folded her hands neatly on the table, answering with utmost innocence, "Of course I was. But he's seen too many women—he wouldn't easily bring a Dancing Girl back to his estate. So I had no choice but to make use of you, my lord."From the very beginning, she knew Ji Bozhai had no sincerity—only an unyielding competitive spirit. That's why she used Yan Xiao to provoke him. Just as she predicted, he took her back to his residence.
Not only did he bring her home, but he also gave her many gifts, claimed to like her, and promised to favor her.
She almost believed it.
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