Xu Tianji trembled with excitement.
Ji Bozai’s Yuan Power was incredibly strong. Being protected by him felt like being immersed in a jar of honey. She wished she could be sheltered by him like this for a lifetime.
With a smile playing at the corners of her eyes and brows, she turned slightly, leaning gently against the chest of the man behind her.
However, Ji Bozai stepped to the side, deliberately avoiding her. He coldly addressed Luo Jiaoyang, “Using Yuan Power against a woman is most despicable.”
Luo Jiaoyang was furious. “She struck first. Am I not allowed to retaliate? I don’t care if it’s a man or woman, even if it’s a demon, I’d still slap them.”
“You…” Tianji stepped forward again, trying to provoke his anger.
But Luo Jiaoyang didn’t fall for it this time. He dodged Tianji’s shove and gave her a penetrating look. “Using me as a stepping stone? You’ve miscalculated.”
With that, he unleashed his Yuan Power, forcing Ji Bozai to enter the Yuan Shi Academy with him to settle their dispute inside.
Tianji let out a soft cry and hurriedly followed, lifting her skirts. The other Duelists and Fengwei flowers, finding it interesting, also filed in.
The street instantly erupted with excitement, filled with endless discussions.
“That Miss Xu is something, not afraid of these Duelists at all.”
“I think she and Lord Ji, well, there might be something there.”
“Didn’t Lord Ji have a favored dancer before?”
“Come on, you said it yourself – a dancer. The Xu family is respectable. She has a much better chance of securing a proper position.”
“In the future, I’ll teach my daughter about these Duelists too. Who knows, she might be able to make a splash like the Xu girl.”
As they chatted, the group passed under the teahouse, their voices reaching the ears of those upstairs.
The previously lively private room suddenly fell into an awkward silence.
Shu Zhonglin broke out in a cold sweat, looking helplessly at Yan Xiao across from him. Yan Xiao just shook his head and glanced at Ming Yi at the next table.
Ming Yi was elegantly eating her snacks, pretending to be deaf.
With a loud crash, Liang Xiuyuan smashed his wine cup to pieces.
He stood up, his face dark with anger, but was immediately restrained by Shu Zhonglin. “Don’t be rash. Today is the opening day of the Yuan Shi Academy. The Grand Minister might come by later.”
“So what? He promised me he wouldn’t have any designs on Tianji!” Liang Xiuyuan panted heavily, his eyes reddening.
Yan Xiao shook his head. “Look carefully. It was your Tianji who approached Bozai first.”
“Just because she spoke to him, he had to respond? And even use his Yuan Power to protect her in front of everyone?” Liang Xiuyuan sneered. “We know what kind of person he is. Don’t others know too? Why are you still speaking up for him?”
Yan Xiao frowned and shook his head, casting a cautious glance at Ming Yi beside them.
Ming Yi continued eating her snacks. The yam taro cake was smooth and sweet, a delicacy not found in other teahouses. It was a rare treat indeed.
“Miss Ming, how can you stand to watch this?” Liang Xiuyuan raised his voice.
“What’s there for this servant to be upset about?” She didn’t even look up. “What’s my status, and what’s his? Could I rush down and question the Lord even if I were displeased?”
Liang Xiuyuan was stunned, belatedly realizing that he was in the same position. He had only spoken a few words with Tianji when he first met her, falling for her at first sight. They hadn’t made any lifelong commitments. What right did he have to go down and question them?
Slumping back into his seat, he called the waiter and asked Ming Yi with a bitter smile, “Would the young lady like some wine?”
Ming Yi shook her head. “This servant doesn’t drink.”
“Wine is best enjoyed by those who can’t drink. One cup can wash away a thousand sorrows!” He turned to the waiter. “Bring two large jars.”
Ming Yi: “…” If that’s the case, why even ask her?
Yan Xiao, sensing trouble, quickly tried to dissuade him. “Bozai will come out later. It’s fine if you get drunk, but don’t drag others into it.”
“I’m not allowed to speak my mind, and now I can’t even drink?” He laughed self-mockingly.
Yan Xiao dared not persuade him further and turned to Ming Yi. “Young lady, you can return first if you’d like.”
Ming Yi shrugged. “The Lord instructed me to stay here until he comes out.”
Granny Xun, who had been listening nearby, figured her young miss must be feeling upset too, so she said, “If you’d like some wine, this old servant can have them bring some appetizing side dishes.”
“Thank you, Granny.” Ming Yi smiled sweetly.
She had never had much expectation from Ji Bozai, so it wasn’t possible for her to be too upset. But it still wasn’t pleasant, after all, Ji Bozai had used his Yuan Power to protect someone else in front of so many people, effectively slapping her in the face.
The effort she had put into pretending to be in love on Chang Rong Street had all gone to waste. If she had known, it would have been more fun to count gold coins instead.
“Come, Miss Ming, let me toast you from afar.” As the wine arrived, Liang Xiuyuan raised his bowl and said, “You’re a good girl. I hope Bozai will come to his senses one day.”
Ming Yi looked at his bowl and thoughtfully reminded him, “Drinking like that will make you very drunk.”
“Don’t worry, young lady. I never force others to drink,” he laughed heartily. “I’ll finish mine, you just drink half.”
Yan Xiao shook his head repeatedly. “That won’t do. Miss Ming has a low alcohol tolerance. Even half a bowl will make her drunk.”
“It’s fine,” Ming Yi waved her hand and picked up the wine. “As long as the Lord drinks to his heart’s content.”
Liang Xiuyuan tilted his head back and drained his bowl in one go, the strong liquor nearly bringing tears to his eyes. Looking down, he saw that Ming Yi had also emptied her bowl.
He assumed they hadn’t filled her bowl, given that she was a young lady.
With this thought, he didn’t question further and continued drinking one bowl after another. Before he had finished five or six bowls, the shadows before his eyes began to spin.
“Useless. Such a poor tolerance and still insisting on drinking,” Shu Zhonglin chided with a laugh. “The wine here is expensive, what a waste.”
Ming Yi glanced at him and said to the servant beside her, “Bring the rest to me. It would be a shame to waste it.”
The servant was shocked. “Young lady, this… this is strong liquor.”
“It’s fine.”
Yan Xiao and Shu Zhonglin turned in astonishment to see Ming Yi drinking the wine without even a hint of a flush on her face. She would take a few sips, pause to eat some snacks when tired, and then continue drinking.
One and a half jars of strong liquor all went into her stomach, yet she remained elegant and composed, her eyes clear.
Yan Xiao was stunned. “Young lady, earlier at the banquet…” Her alcohol tolerance wasn’t this good, was it?
Before he could finish, he realized it himself and couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. “So you were after Bozai from the very beginning?”
Ming Yi’s eyes sparkled as she folded her hands neatly on the tea table and answered obediently, “Of course, I was after him, but he’s seen too many women and wouldn’t easily take a dancer back to his residence. So I had no choice but to use you, my Lord.”
She had known from the start that Ji Bozai was not a man of true feelings, only possessing a competitive spirit that refused to lose. That’s why she had used Yan Xiao to provoke him, and sure enough, her prediction was correct – he had taken her back to his residence.
Not only did he take her back, but he also gave her many things, said he liked her, and even promised to favor her.
She almost believed him.