This was the first time Ji Bozai revealed his ambition in front of her. Previously, he had only spoken of avenging his benefactor, but now his words hinted at aspiring to the throne.
He truly wasn’t treating her as an outsider.
After a long silence, Ming Yi felt that he wasn’t wrong. If one’s position was high enough, as the ruler of a city, then anything would be possible.
But there was a problem. The situation in Muxing City was complex, with chaotic power structures. There were distant in-laws causing trouble and nearby princes unwilling to remain mediocre. How could Ji Bozai both protect his life and get close to the throne?
Before she could think it through, Prince Gong’s voice suddenly sounded beside them: “The Six Cities Conference is approaching. Is Bozai prepared?”
Ji Bozai released Ming Yi and stood up, smiling as he replied, “The Qingyun Realm is full of experts. I can only do my best.”
Prince Gong looked at him deeply and patted his shoulder. “Earlier, I had intended for those few from the Tan family to accompany you, since they’ve participated in the Six Cities Conference before. I didn’t expect Lord Ji to look down on them.”
The Tan family was Prince Gong’s wife’s maternal family. Last year, the spot Ji Bozai had worked hard to secure for the Six Cities Conference was taken by them. Those people ended up losing miserably, yet Prince Gong still had the nerve to bring it up.
Ji Bozai pretended not to understand his implication and waved over Luo Jiaoyang and the others, introducing them to Prince Gong with a smile. “These are the fighters who will be accompanying me to the Six Cities Conference this year. I hope Your Highness can look after them.”
“Oh?” Prince Gong glanced at them and smiled faintly. “They look unfamiliar. May I ask which families these young masters are from?”
Luo Jiaoyang, who already disliked such social occasions, heard this and knew he was being looked down upon. He cupped his hands and said, “This lowborn comes from a pig-farming family at the foot of Spirit Mountain. Your Highness naturally wouldn’t have seen me before.”
“I come from a family of minor officials in a border town,” Chu He also cupped his hands.
Fan Yao perfunctorily added, “From a shop-owning family on Changrong Street.”
Prince Gong fell silent for a moment, then pulled Ji Bozai a few steps away and said in a low voice, “You should understand that in Muxing City, Yuan power alone won’t take you far.”
How could he not understand? He had understood since last year, otherwise he wouldn’t have gotten involved in this mess. Ji Bozai smiled, maintaining a respectful demeanor. “I humbly request Your Highness’s guidance.”
Glancing at the group, Prince Gong spoke to him earnestly, “These people may have strong Yuan power, but their origins are too lowly. Even if the Father Emperor shows favor and grants them titles later, they won’t be respected by the great clans. How can they support you in the future? You’re a smart man. Consider carefully what kind of people you should keep around you.”
“Yes,” Ji Bozai agreed with a smile.
On the beast carriage back to the Yuan Shi Academy, Luo Jiaoyang’s face was longer than a horse’s. “When the Yuan Shi Academy first accepted us, they didn’t ask about our backgrounds.”
“Of course, they didn’t ask. At that time, those clan scions had just been defeated miserably, and the Grand Minister was urgently seeking those with truly strong Yuan power for the competition. Even the selection process was unprecedentedly fair,” Fan Yao sneered. “But now that we’ve won some competitions and Bozai’s reputation has grown, this prince is starting to scheme for his benefit again.”
Chu He looked at Ji Bozai. “What do you think?”
Ji Bozai smiled ambiguously. “What else can I think? A strong dragon can’t overcome a local snake. For now, we’ll have to bring those people from the Tan family into the Yuan Shi Academy.”
Luo Jiaoyang became anxious upon hearing this, but when he turned and saw Ming Yi’s calm expression, he paused and then calmed down. Leaning forward, he asked, “Then what’s the plan?”
“Prince Gong likes to cultivate his wings. If we don’t let his people into the Yuan Shi Academy, he’ll surely cause trouble for us in these last two months,” he explained. “Bringing them in will set his mind at ease, allowing you to train better.”
So that was it. Luo Jiaoyang sighed in relief. Ji Bozai smiled and asked him, “How did you hold back just now?”
Luo Jiaoyang leaned back, tilting his chin toward Ming Yi sitting nearby. “Miss Ming always seems to know what you’re thinking. If she wasn’t worried, I figured I shouldn’t be either.”
Ji Bozai was taken aback and turned to look at her.
They were already sitting close, and as he turned, he could see her delicate skin. She seemed somewhat surprised, her fine eyebrows slightly raised, her almond eyes sparkling. The corners of her eyes swept towards him, carrying a hint of coolness, like frostflowers in the morning courtyard.
His heart stirred. He wanted to hold her waist, but remembering that she still didn’t quite like him, he could only withdraw his hand and chuckle softly, “Yi’er is wise and truly understands my heart.”
“My surname is Ming,” she said.
Their relationship hadn’t reached the level of intimacy for him to call her Yi’er.
Ji Bozai let out a hiss, clutching his chest with one hand and leaning back towards the window. “The weather is truly cold, freezing even the words that come out of one’s mouth.”
Luo Jiaoyang burst out laughing. “Now it’s your turn!”
Fan Yao chimed in, “If you had visited Huamanlou a few times less in the past, you wouldn’t be in this situation now.”
The carriage immediately became lively. Ming Yi sat in the corner, practicing repairing her meridians on her own, not participating in their laughter.
Ji Bozai couldn’t take it anymore and sighed, leaning back towards her. “How can you bear to let them laugh at me like this?”
Her practice interrupted, she looked up impatiently, about to speak when the beast carriage was suddenly stopped.
“Sister Ming!” someone outside called happily. “I thought I’d be too late coming now, but I didn’t expect to meet you here!”
Her eyes brightened, and Ming Yi put on a smile, immediately opening the carriage door to look outside.
Situ Ling, holding a bag of beef jerky, smiled at her through the misty air. “It’s been a while, and Sister has grown even more beautiful.”
Hearing this, Luo Jiaoyang turned to look at Ji Bozai, wanting to laugh at how even a child was better at sweet talk than him.
However, as he turned, he found that the relaxed smile on Ji Bozai’s face had slowly disappeared. He leaned back against the carriage wall, his eyes coldly looking outside.
Outside, Situ Ling was smiling like the sun. “This is beef jerky that the nanny at home dried herself. I brought it especially for Sister to try.”
He was wearing too little and shivering in the wind. Ming Yi looked at him with concern and quickly pulled him into the carriage, scolding, “You didn’t even wear a cloak when coming out?”
Situ Ling just smiled. “I’ve been working on cases and it dragged on until now. As soon as I finished, I rushed over here. I didn’t have time to think about it. I missed the last welcoming banquet, and I didn’t want to miss Sister’s rare outing this time.”
As he spoke, his eyes were fixed on Ming Yi’s face, his gaze pure and clear, very endearing.
Ming Yi smiled, patting the top of his head, and was surprised to find, “You’ve grown much taller.”
“I’ll be sixteen after the New Year,” Situ Ling puffed out his chest. “I’m grown up now.”
“Alright, alright, you’re grown up. So, have you been betrothed yet?” Ming Yi asked.
Situ Ling was taken aback, lowering his eyes dejectedly. “Why is Sister also pushing this? I don’t want to be betrothed.”
“Don’t all young men talk about establishing a family and career?” Ming Yi raised an eyebrow. “Why don’t you want to be betrothed?”
“A husband and wife are lifelong partners. If I can’t marry the one I love, I’d rather not marry at all,” Situ Ling looked at her seriously. “Otherwise, I’d be wasting my own life and the young lady’s too. Don’t you agree, Sister?”