The clean and efficient killing method was usually only seen in arenas. Faced with it suddenly, everyone around was stunned. Concubine Meng turned back in shock, seeing her guard clutching his bleeding throat in disbelief before collapsing without uttering a word.
The pure white Yuan Power was familiar to them, but looking around, there was no sign of Mingyi.
“What are you trying to do?” She stood up in panic. Three guards firmly protected her, thickening their shield by several inches.
Lady Yan was also surprised. She knew Ji Bozai would act, but hadn’t expected Mingyi to help. Unfortunately, that strike had missed Concubine Meng. Otherwise…
“What are you waiting for? Protect the imperial presence!” As previously agreed, Lady Yan immediately summoned everyone in the palace, blocking the hall doors.
After her demotion, her retinue had drastically reduced. To stop Concubine Meng’s few people, she had to summon all her loyal servants from other parts of the inner court. Though scattered, they totaled over thirty, layering the entrance. If Concubine Meng wanted to force her way out, she’d have to strike first.
No one had seen who launched the earlier attack, but now, if Concubine Meng wanted to leave, she’d have to act in full view of everyone. Once she struck first, she’d have no explanation before the Imperial Court.
Concubine Meng realized this but felt her life was at stake. Disregarding everything else, she urgently ordered her people, “Breakthrough!”
Her guards immediately acted, killing seven or eight of Qingyou Hall’s people, and carving a bloody path.
Lady Yan grew anxious, tugging at Ji Bozai’s sleeve. He nodded, following inconspicuously in the chaos.
Just outside Qingyou Hall was a sentry post that usually signaled the slightest disturbance. Today, however, it was eerily silent. Concubine Meng glanced once and led her people in another direction, cursing as she ran, “This wretched woman truly dares to act in the inner court!”
The trap had been set all around, truly intending to end her life. Fortunately, her companions’ Yuan Power was strong…
Before she could finish her thought, blood splattered near her ear. Concubine Meng’s pupils constricted, her hand clutching her skirt tightening.
Her strongest guard had fallen without a chance to retaliate.
A wisp of black Yuan Power drifted on the wind, swirling gently onto the shield around her.
Though insufficient to break the thick shield, for some reason, Concubine Meng’s legs weakened at the sight, causing her to stumble and fall.
“Your Highness!” The remaining two guards hurried to protect her.
The long path was flanked by high walls, visible to its end, without any patrolling guards. Looking the other way, Ji Bozai approached slowly. The Sunrise River Flower robe of Chaoyang City looked particularly sinister on him, with the Xuanlong floating behind him, exuding killing intent.
Concubine Meng’s eyes widened, unable to understand why Ji Bozai suddenly obeyed Lady Yan so willingly.
As he drew closer, she couldn’t help but scream, “Didn’t you say Xian’er was your benefactor? I’m her beloved aunt! If you kill me, you’ll never be able to face her in the afterlife!”
“Indeed,” he smirked, raising his hand in mock concern. “What a predicament…”
Black Yuan Power fell from his hand with thunderous force, needing no divine weapon. It shattered the hearts and lungs of the two guards who tried to block it. Even their combined efforts couldn’t withstand ten moves against Ji Bozai.
“Meng is a good surname, pity it breeds such ruthless people.” His fingers closed, and Concubine Meng found herself lifted by the throat.
She still didn’t understand. “Why…?”
Had it not been for the claim that the Meng clan was his benefactor, she wouldn’t have come so rashly today. For all her calculations, she hadn’t anticipated Lady Yan choosing this desperate measure, nor that Ji Bozai would truly obey. Didn’t he fear the Imperial Court’s pursuit and punishment?
The wind lifted his red robe, reminiscent of the red cloth covering the memorial tablet in that great fire.
Had Mingyi looked closer then, she would have seen that the name on the tablet wasn’t Meng Xian’er, but Bo Qingshu.
Ji Bozai had never told Mingyi the truth. The one he sought to avenge was never the former Imperial Consort Meng, but rather Princess Bo of Pingwang, whom she had ruthlessly killed.
When Lady Bo died, she was much younger than Concubine Meng. With rosy cheeks touched by wine and gentle eyes, she’d sit at the side door of the prince’s mansion, beckoning, “A’zai, come here.”
Despite being a princess, she always wore old clothes. She’d hold a pastry, smiling as she gave it to him: “You seem to have grown taller again.”
Back then, Ji Bozai had just left the slave camp, still full of resentment. But she wasn’t afraid. She fed him, clothed him, and later, fearing he’d be caught in the rain, took him in as an adopted brother.
Lady Bo was born with a compassionate heart, but Heaven never showed her mercy. Though she was a bride sought by the Great Judge Mu Xing from Feihua City, due to one word from Lady Meng, Prince Ping intercepted the marriage, forcibly defiled her, and then married her. After marriage, he abused her endlessly, all because of Lady Meng’s words: “The Imperial Court favors her, I can’t accept that.”
Meng Xian’er was exceptionally skilled at enchanting people. Not only did she captivate the Imperial Court, but she also allowed frequent interactions with Prince Ping, just because they had a childhood friendship when he was a hostage in Chaoyang City.
Normal interactions would have been fine, but every time Prince Ping met her in the inner court, he’d return drunk and then abuse Lady Bo.
Many times, Ji Bozai wanted to kill Prince Ping, but Lady Bo always stopped him, saying, “The city’s powers are complex. Though you have Yuan Power, you have no foundation. Rashly assassinating royalty would only lead to death, and I don’t want to see you die.”
The person who didn’t want to see him die was forced to hang herself when she was three months pregnant.
Ji Bozai remembered clearly. It was a beautiful day. Lady Bo had promised to make almond pastries for him. But when he returned from an errand, only a cold corpse remained in the mansion.
Prince Ping stood beside her body, momentarily dazed, but quickly recovered, waving his hand in disgust: “Bury her.”
He approached with a grim face, but Lady Bo’s old nurse desperately embraced him, sending him out of the prince’s mansion.
“Don’t return to this man-eating place. The princess wants you to live well, so live well.”
The Sunrise River Flower robe fluttered as Ji Bozai came back to his senses. Looking at Concubine Meng’s now unfocused eyes, he disgustedly threw her from the high wall.
In this man-eating place, if someone had to die, let it be the Meng family.
Meng Xian’er’s lovers, her subordinates, her maternal clan – none of them should live.
As a cold wind rose, the two remaining injured guards fled in panic. He stood motionless, enveloped in a murderous aura, like an evil god.