Ming Yi was born with everything – fine clothes, fast horses, youthful spirit. She had never been troubled by money matters until her desperate escape from Chaoyang City. In Muxing City, without any support, she realized how expensive even a scallion pancake could be.
At that time, she was separated from Twenty-seven, her meridians were destroyed, and she couldn’t use any Yuan Power. After starving for several days, a little beggar on the street told her there was food in the inner courtyard, so she went to apply as a dancer.
Following those delicate dancers, she learned the ways of women and the art of seduction. By chance, she met Ji Bozai, who was going to see the Grand Minister, and that’s when she formed other intentions.
Regardless of her other intentions, she still couldn’t be without money. Money was a good thing; the more, the better. If she could store it in her meridians, she would gladly carry ten thousand taels of gold every day.
Situ Ling stopped walking and looked at her with sadness in his eyes.
“Ah, I’m not saying this to gain Young Lord’s sympathy, but to tell you to always remember to keep some money for yourself.” She waved her fan, patting his shoulder like an elder sister.
Situ Ling sighed, then changed the subject with renewed spirit: “Sister didn’t leave the mansion yesterday, so you probably don’t know how many exciting things happened outside.”
Hearing this, Ming Yi became interested. She quickly found a stone table for them to sit at, pushing the melon seed dish towards him. “Tell me quickly.”
“As per custom, the envoys will stay in Muxing City for half a month to count tributes and take them back to their main cities. So, the envoys from the upper three cities were arranged to stay in Prince Ping’s mansion at the end of Changrong Street,” Situ Ling said, cracking melon seeds. “But early yesterday morning, Bo Yuankui, for some reason, rode like a madman from Prince Ping’s mansion to the inner courtyard, almost injuring the Grand Minister.”
Ming Yi’s eyes widened: “Is the inner courtyard’s security so weak?”
“Not at all. He entered the inner courtyard as usual, and once he presented his card, no one would stop him. Everyone thought he was going to discuss matters with the Grand Minister. Who knew that once he entered the inner hall, he would immediately unleash his Netherworld Domain.”
The Grand Minister of each city was once the strongest fighter in that city but entangled in political affairs, few Grand Ministers could persist in practicing fighting techniques. With age, their Yuan Power naturally weakened, making them no match for Bo Yuankui.
“Lord Ji was seriously injured, and no one in the inner courtyard could stop him. By the time a large number of guards arrived, the Grand Minister was already coughing blood,” Situ Ling shook his head. “This is a very serious matter, it might lead to hostilities between us and Zhuyue City.”
Ming Yi listened with great interest, but couldn’t help wondering: “Is hostility between Muxing City and Zhuyue City a good thing? Why doesn’t Young Lord look worried at all?”
“It’s not exactly good, but I find it interesting,” Situ Ling looked into her eyes, smiling. “Isn’t Sister Ming curious about what made Bo Yuankui lose his composure like this?”
Muxing City had produced a Ji Bozai, and Bo Yuankui was originally inclined to be friendly with Muxing, even actively reducing tributes. But overnight, he suddenly changed his face and made such an absurd move. The reason behind this was hard not to speculate about.
Ming Yi understood that this child was interested in all secrets and strange occurrences.
Remembering what she had placed in Bo Yuankui’s carriage the night before last, Ming Yi felt slightly guilty. But then she thought it couldn’t be that serious. What could a bamboo hairpin prove? It couldn’t have been smeared with some madness-inducing drug by Ji Bozai; if so, she would have been the first victim.
“Muxing City had a friendly marriage alliance with Zhuyue City earlier, but because Muxing City was incompetent and lost year after year, that marriage alliance was abandoned by Zhuyue City,” Situ Ling pondered, stroking his chin. “I wonder if this is related, after all, the person Zhuyue City sent for the marriage alliance was Bo’s daughter.”
Ming Yi thought for a moment, then shook her head slightly. In the Qingyun Realm, women were often treated as commodities. If a daughter sent for marriage alliance couldn’t bring benefits, the natal family would generally consider her abandoned. Since Bo Yuankui originally wanted to mend relations with Muxing, his daughter would have been a good link. He certainly wouldn’t act because of this.
However, looking at these actions, it seemed more like a personal grudge. After all, if it were a public feud, Bo Yuankui would have reported it at the welcoming banquet a few days ago.
“There’s another person who’s acting strangely. Although he hasn’t done anything out of line, Sister Ming should be careful,” Situ Ling said, swinging his legs. “The envoy from Chaoyang City, Shan Er, kept looking at Sister Ming and Lord Ji during the banquet, intentionally or unintentionally. His gaze wasn’t exactly friendly.”
At the mention of this person, Ming Yi’s heart suddenly skipped a beat.
Shan Er had obtained the map of Ji Bozai’s mansion, but he never said what he would use it for. Now that Ji Bozai was seriously injured in bed, it was such a good opportunity. If it were her, she wouldn’t let it pass either.
Although Ji Bozai was formidable, he couldn’t guard against traitors within his household. Could something have happened?
Abruptly standing up, Ming Yi hurriedly said: “Young Lord, there’s a guard named Twenty-seven in Ji’s mansion. They’ve locked him up in some unknown villa. I want to ask the Lord to get him out and send him to Master Instructor She.”
Situ Ling nodded, standing up with her: “Sister hasn’t sat for long, those maids haven’t even woken up yet. Are you leaving already?”
“I just remembered I left something behind, I need to go back and get it. I’ll be back shortly,” she chose the back door to leave, but with one foot out, she turned back to look at him. “If I don’t return after a while, please trouble Young Lord to take some people to check on Ji’s mansion.”
Just as Situ Ling was about to respond, the person in front of him swept out like a gust of wind.
He clicked his tongue, watching Ming Yi’s retreating figure for a moment, then turned to look at Fu Yue beside him: “Sister Ming is so amazing, even with such severe meridian damage, she can still move like the wind.”
Fu Yue shook his head slightly: “I don’t know what method she used to continue cultivating, but with damaged meridians, it’s ultimately just a last-ditch effort.”
The current Ming Yi was far from even a ten-thousandth of her former self. It could be said she was barely clinging to life.
…
“Who would want to cling to life, unless they see something unfinished that must be done,” Shan Er stepped onto a blue flagstone, looking towards Ji’s burning mansion across.
People were fighting in the firelight, blood flowing like a river, their silhouettes in disarray.
He quietly watched, closing the map in his hand: “What she hasn’t finished but must do is what I haven’t finished but must do.”
Someone beside him spoke with a hesitant expression: “But my lord, Ji Bozai’s Yuan Power is strong. If he survives…”
“If he survives, he’ll be a second Ming Xian,” Shan Er turned his head, looking at the speaker. “Do you want that? To live in someone else’s shadow again, never having a chance to rise?”
The firelight illuminated a frowning face, young and panicked. He thought for a moment, the hesitation in his eyes slowly settling, then slowly shook his head: “No, I don’t.”
“Then watch, Your Highness,” Shan Er turned back, continuing to watch the flames engulfing Ji’s mansion. “Watch as the person above you perishes in the fire, then watch as our Chaoyang City unifies Qingyun, enjoying a land of plenty, free from suffering.”