The celebration of Mu Xing City’s first victory in the Six Cities Conference continued for days. Ming Yi woke from her sleep, reaching out to find the spot beside her already cold.

She rose, muttering about how busy he was, and went out to teach Fuling and Bai Ying how to forge divine artifacts. Pleased with the quick-learning girls, she also made two firework tubes.

If she were to marry, these fireworks would come in handy. A wedding dress was also important. In the Six Cities’ custom, the bride’s mother usually made the dress, but Ming Yi had no mother. She asked Nanny Xun to order one from Zhangtai.

Nanny Xun seemed distracted today, taking several calls to respond. She hesitantly looked at the gold in Ming Yi’s hand, “Miss, the wedding dress… there’s no rush.”

“The heir’s investiture is in a few days. How can we not hurry?” Ming Yi shook her head. “A wedding dress takes time to embroider. The earlier we order, the better.”

“Miss, are you eager to marry Lord Ji?” Nanny Xun asked.

Ming Yi laughed, “Don’t make it sound like I’m desperate to marry. I’m not, but I think if we could have a proper wedding ceremony if I could confidently call myself his wife, then all my struggles this year would be worth it.”

Yan Xiao often said Ji Bozai was unreliable, always avoiding marriage. If he was willing to marry her and go through the formalities, Ming Yi felt he must truly have her in his heart.

Nanny Xun stood silently for a while, then quietly took the gold and left.

When Ji Bozai returned that day, he found Ming Yi’s courtyard filled with red items – dragon and phoenix candles, offspring buckets, and a colorful array.

He carefully stepped over them and carried the sleeping Ming Yi from the couch to the bed.

Ming Yi awoke, rubbing her eyes, “Why so late today?”

Ji Bozai smiled, “Tomorrow will be even later. Did you miss me?”

“Who would miss you,” she turned away, but her arms still wrapped tightly around his waist.

“The investiture is in two days. No matter what you hear, don’t leave the house these two days,” he said softly, tucking her into the brocade quilt. “Once the investiture is over, I’ll be yours.”

Ming Yi’s heart softened, but she stubbornly said, “Who wants you? Luo Jiaoyang got a high position, and Fan Yao and Chu He got rich rewards. I only get you?”

“I’m better than any high position or rich reward,” he smirked, gently kissing her forehead. “Those things won’t hold you in their hearts, but I will.”

“Smooth talker,” she chided, but he suddenly leaned in close, foreheads touching, gazing deeply into her eyes. “You’re the only person I’ve ever wanted to marry in this life.”

Her ears reddened, and she kicked him in annoyance, “Why are you so close!”

He caught her jade foot in his hand, holding it close. Ji Bozai pressed against her, nuzzling her neck affectionately, “There are even closer things you can’t kick me for.”

The sound of firecrackers muffled their gasps, red silk fluttered on the courtyard’s stone pillars. In the distance, Mu Xing City’s streets were filled with red silk decorations.

Ming Yi woke early the next day, wanting to go out, but Ji Bozai had told her not to leave the compound no matter what. Bored, she reorganized the wedding items she had prepared.

At noon, thunderous firecrackers erupted in the streets. Ming Yi covered her ears and shouted to Nanny Xun, “What are they celebrating now? Isn’t the investiture tomorrow?”

Nanny Xun, eyes downcast, replied, “Mu Xing City won the conference. Many people are buying firecrackers to celebrate. Don’t mind it, Miss.”

Thinking it made sense, Ming Yi turned to the forging table and began studying the blueprints Ji Bozai had given her.

Ji Bozai explained that Mu Xing City had many people but lacked divine artifacts, weakening their military. Now that they were champions, they needed to strengthen their armaments. He gave her several divine artifact blueprints for mass production.

Inspired by how quickly Bai Ying and others learned to forge, Ming Yi decided to recruit women rather than men. It was a delicate job where strength was only a small factor, and women might learn faster and better.

So, amidst the gongs, drums, and flutes outside, Ming Yi focused on her plan and began recruiting women willing to learn to forge.

With Ming Xian as a living advertisement, her recruitment was very successful. Not only common girls but even some concubines’ daughters from noble families were willing to learn from her.

In just half a day, over two hundred people filled Ming Yi’s newly built forging yard.

She was delighted and wanted to share the news with Ji Bozai when he returned. But that night, even until midnight, Ji Bozai didn’t come.

Under the starry sky, Ming Yi yawned, turned over, and fell asleep alone, wrapped in her quilt.

The next day was the investiture. Due to her special status, Ming Yi needed to avoid suspicion and continued training the recruited girls in the courtyard.

The six girls from Cang Xue City became her excellent assistants, helping her teach in groups. They started with the simplest hidden weapons, identifying talented girls to move on to higher-level divine artifact forging.

Within three days, the first divine artifact was created by these girls.

Overjoyed, Ming Yi took the artifact to show Ji Bozai, wanting him to see their achievement.

However, Ji Bozai was exhausted. As soon as he entered, he collapsed onto her, both falling onto the bed.

“What’s wrong?” she frowned, patting his back.

“Chaoyang City is causing trouble,” he sighed. “I’ve just become the heir, and they’ve sent a declaration of war. They claim that as Mu Xing’s heir, I crashed their flying beast carriage in the clouds, causing Chaoyang’s heir Ming Xin to perish and that this is a provocation against Chaoyang City.”

Ming Yi was stunned, her expression darkening, “Was it Prince Yong Ming Xin in that carriage?”

“Yes.”

This was troublesome. Although Chaoyang City lost the Six Cities Conference, its accumulated strength still far surpassed Mu Xing City. If they used this to create difficulties, Mu Xing City might not be able to withstand it.

“They can’t accept losing and don’t want to pay tribute. The best way for them is to destroy Mu Xing,” Ji Bozai rubbed his brow. “Fortunately, I was prepared. We have enough food and soft iron, so we’re not completely without hope.”

“It’s serious enough for cities to go to war?” Ming Yi frowned deeply, asking, “What does the Grand Minister say?”

Although the Grand Minister of Mu Xing had given him the heir’s position, without blood ties, he wouldn’t easily hand over military power…

“The Grand Minister wants me to lead the army into battle,” Ji Bozai interrupted her thoughts, twirling a military token between his fingers, its star symbol gleaming brightly.