Sun Liao, having suddenly gained power, became extremely arrogant. Even after donning the Sky Blue Misty Rain Robe, he lacked the dignity befitting a member of the Yuan Shi Academy. The first thing he did after leaving the academy wasn’t to return home to forge divine artifacts but to deliberately walk to Chang Rong Street, where he waited for a while to intercept an official sedan chair.
Customarily, upon encountering someone in a Sky Blue Misty Rain Robe, the person in the sedan chair should alight to exchange greetings and give way. However, the occupant of the sedan froze upon seeing Sun Liao and didn’t move for a long while.
“What’s this? Does Your Excellency intend to confront our Yuan Shi Academy from your sedan chair?” he sneered.
Qian Li gritted his teeth and said hatefully, “How did a scoundrel like you get such a robe?”
Sun Liao raised his chin and kicked the sedan door, “Qin Shangwu begged me to wear this robe. If you have a problem with that, go question him. Now, are you going to get out and pay your respects to me or not?”
Qian Li pulled the sedan curtain and angrily said, “Showing respect to the Yuan Shi Academy is a courtesy, not an obligation. A person like you doesn’t deserve my respect, even if you’re wearing a Sky Blue Misty Rain Robe.”
“You!” Sun Liao became angry but quickly suppressed his rage. He nodded, “Fine, fine. You, Left Minister Qian of the Ministry of Revenue, control Mu Xing City’s finances. You’re all-powerful, naturally able to disregard the Yuan Shi Academy. I’ll go tell Master Qin right away, telling him to avoid people from the Ministry of Revenue in the future!”
He turned to leave.
Qian Li was startled and hurriedly ordered his attendants, “Stop him!”
As the attendants approached, Sun Liao immediately engaged them in a scuffle. In the chaos, he cried out in pain and fell to the ground, his Sky Blue Misty Rain Robe covered in mud.
…
When Qin Shangwu returned from the inner courtyard, he immediately went to the Sun residence.
Sun Liao was lying on the bed, his limbs wrapped in thick white cloth. Seeing Qin Shangwu arrive, he smiled bitterly, “I’m afraid I won’t be able to forge divine artifacts for the next few days.”
“You should rest well first,” Qin Shangwu said hurriedly. “Regarding Qian Li, I’ve already reported to the Grand Minister. The Grand Minister will surely punish him severely.”
Injuring their only artificer at present was a serious matter. At the very least, Qian Li would be excluded from court for three months, unable to participate in government affairs. At worst, he might be demoted to an idle position.
Satisfied, Sun Liao closed his eyes and said, “I’ll send over the divine artifact once I’ve recovered.”
“Good,” Qin Shangwu said a few more words of concern before stepping out.
“Master, aren’t you going to ask how the fight started?” Situ Ling, seemingly passing by, asked with a smile.
Qin Shangwu waved his hand, “It doesn’t matter how it started. Our Yuan Shi Academy holds a lofty position and won’t tolerate insults.”
“But what if this Sun fellow deliberately caused trouble?” Situ Ling pressed.
Qin Shangwu paused, pondering for a moment, “That shouldn’t be the case. He doesn’t seem like the type to cause trouble.”
Situ Ling didn’t say more. He bowed to Qin Shangwu and returned to his carriage.
When he arrived at Ming Yi’s courtyard, Ming Yi and Xiu Yun were still fervently forging divine artifacts.
Xiu Yun had more talent than Ming Yi had imagined. Her meridians even had a faint red color, but she had never practiced cultivation and couldn’t use Yuan Power, so she could only assist.
Seeing him arrive, Ming Yi waved, “Young Lord, please have a seat. We’re almost finished here.”
After glancing at the divine artifact on the forging platform, Situ Ling smiled, “Elder Sister Ming is truly impressive.”
Feeling a bit embarrassed by the praise, Ming Yi chuckled, “It’s just a way to make money.”
“In your eyes, Elder Sister, these things might only be exchanged for money, but in others’ hands, they can be used to destroy enemies and ruin families,” Situ Ling said.
Ming Yi was taken aback and looked at him, “What do you mean by that?”
Situ Ling sat down at the stone table in the courtyard and sighed, “The person who bought your divine artifacts originally had his eye on the daughter of the Qian family and wanted to propose marriage. However, the Sun family abandoned commerce to pursue officialdom, and Sun Liao himself is violent and cruel, often abusing his concubines. Therefore, Qian Li was unwilling to agree.”
Ming Yi had met Qian Li at a banquet before and had used him to get close to Ji Bozai.
She blinked and put down her work, moving closer, “And then?”
“Then Sun Liao climbed over the wall into their compound and violated the Qian family’s daughter, nearly driving her to hang herself. Afterward, he came to the house again, saying he wanted to take her as a concubine. Qian Li was furious and had him beaten out of the mansion, saying that even if his daughter remained unmarried for life, she would never enter the Sun family. Because of this, Sun Liao harbored a grudge against Qian Li.”
“How despicable!” Xiu Yun listened, stomping her foot. “He commits evil deeds, yet he dares to hold a grudge against others?”
“The Sun family became rich through commerce and bought their way into officialdom. Having never faced setbacks, they developed this domineering nature,” Situ Ling looked at Ming Yi. “Now, he’s used the divine artifact made by Elder Sister to enter the Yuan Shi Academy and is planning to ruin Qian Li’s family and take his daughter as a servant.”
Ming Yi narrowed her eyes, “Using my divine artifact to enter the Yuan Shi Academy?”
“Mu Xing City is in desperate need of artificers. Qin Shangwu was also acting rashly out of desperation. He only saw the divine artifact Sun Liao presented and immediately gave him a Sky Blue Misty Rain Robe,” Situ Ling sighed. “I’ve seen Qian Li come to the Court of Judgment to file a complaint against Sun Liao, but due to lack of evidence, they couldn’t arrest Sun Liao. We can only watch him go unpunished. Now, relying on the backing of the Yuan Shi Academy, he’s pressuring Qian Li to the point where he might lose his official position. I had to come and inform Elder Sister.”
Ming Yi pondered for a while before looking up and saying, “I had previously agreed to make divine artifacts for him and have already received payment. I can’t break the contract.”
Situ Ling was taken aback, remembering that his Elder Sister Ming was extremely fond of money. Justice was justice, but it couldn’t interfere with her income.
He lowered his eyes, “If that’s the case, then…”
“I need to go deliver the goods today. Would you please take Xiu Yun back to your residence first?” she smiled. “It’s not very safe for her to be here alone.”
What could be unsafe in this courtyard? Situ Ling didn’t understand but nodded anyway.
Ming Yi quickly got up, went to the forging platform to finish up, put the newly completed divine artifact in her bosom, and then left.
As soon as he heard that someone surnamed Ming had come to deliver something, Sun Liao forgot about pretending to be ill and rushed to the back door, immediately launching into a tirade, “Didn’t we agree that I would come to pick it up? Why did you deliver it? What if someone saw…”
Ming Yi looked around innocently, “But Your Excellency will eventually use this divine artifact, and once you use it, won’t others see it anyway?”
“That’s different,” Sun Liao glanced at the divine artifact she had taken out, his anger subsiding by half. “Well, since you’ve already brought it…”
Then he looked at Ming Yi, “Master Ming has worked hard. Why don’t you stay for a cup of tea at my residence?”
“Certainly,” Ming Yi acted as if she had never seen such grandeur, looking at the exotic flowers and plants in his residence with amazement in her eyes. “Your Excellency’s residence is truly beautiful.”
“Hmph, these were all brought from Xin Cao City. They’re very precious and can’t be seen elsewhere,” he said, his gaze growing deep. As he spoke, he asked Ming Yi, “If I want to make other divine artifacts later, how much will each cost?”
Ming Yi, like a small merchant, chuckled and rubbed her hands, “How much? For the purple ones, I’ll charge you 250,000. For higher grades, it’s still one million each.”
Sun Liao made a sound of acknowledgment, imperceptibly pursing his lips, then pushed open a guest room door, “Sit inside for a while. I’ll have someone bring tea.”