As the residents of Chaoyang City opened their doors at dawn, ready to stretch, they found their faces plastered with sheets of paper. One resident peeled off the paper and read it closely: “When the ruler’s heart is unjust, Heaven sends a righteous leader. Respectfully offer the Central Court, and preserve eternal peace.”
The Central Court was the residence of the Grand Master. These words were treasonous, yet they had somehow been scattered throughout the entire city under the noses of the city guards. The guards scrambled to chase down the fluttering papers, but the streets only seemed to fill with more.
At first, people were anxious, asking what was happening. But then someone pointed out that the words contained the characters for “Ming Xian.”
Ming Xian, their great hero. Rumored to be a woman who had just won the Six Cities Tournament for Muxing City.
Many had grown up idolizing Ming Xian, and they couldn’t understand why someone who had fought for Chaoyang for seven years would suddenly defect to another city. The officials claimed she had betrayed the city, but not everyone believed it. Looking at these papers, people began to discuss:
“Did the Central Court do something to drive her away?”
“Even so, she can’t come back to seize power. That’s treason.”
“You know, I rather support her return. Without her, we can’t even enter the top three cities. How are we supposed to live if we have to pay tribute to other cities?”
“The Ming family took power from others before. The position of Grand Master has always belonged to the most capable. Besides, Ming Xian has always been our rightful heir. If the Central Court is incompetent, she has the right to take over early.”
“But what about all those Muxing City troops outside…”
Using Muxing City’s forces to seize power was somewhat unsettling. Ji Bozai had considered this issue early on, so he didn’t plan to let Muxing City’s people enter the city. Instead, he would first use Yuan Power to break through Chaoyang City’s outer Realm of Darkness, then let Ming Yi go in to handle the situation.
“This method is good, but there’s one problem,” Qin Shangwu looked at him deeply. “If Ming Yi knows what you’ve done, will she still be willing to work for you?”
Of course not, which is why he hadn’t let Ming Yi interact with any outsiders since before his enthronement.
Ji Bozai coughed a few times, his face showing a sickly flush. “I’ll have Governess Xun accompany her at all times.”
Qin Shangwu quite admired his disciple. He was willing to do whatever it took to achieve great things, even setting aside romance. He was more suited to be a ruler than the current Grand Master of Muxing.
However, as a man, he was truly terrible.
Breaking through Chaoyang City’s outer Realm of Darkness required a tremendous amount of Yuan Power from the entire army. Ji Bozai had barely rested lately, leading the siege day and night.
Ming Yi walked over to him, holding her cloak, her eyes filled with complex emotions. “Why don’t you rest for a while?”
Ji Bozai shook his head. “Their Realm of Darkness is too strong. If I fall asleep now, all the Yuan Power expended by those in front will be wasted.”
This Realm of Darkness had been reinforced by Ming Yi over many years, naturally making it difficult to breach. Even with Ji Bozai leading his army of 100,000 Yuan Power soldiers, it would take no less than two months to make any impact.
She had expected him to ask for her help from the beginning since she knew the structure of this Realm best. With her assistance, they could break through in just a few days. But he hadn’t asked.
He seemed to have forgotten that she was from Chaoyang City, forgotten that she was Ming Xian. Only when he was utterly exhausted would he lean on her shoulder to catch his breath, then fasten her robe and send her to rest?
Ming Yi watched him silently for a long while, then suddenly asked, “If I take Chaoyang City, what will you do with it?”
Ji Bozai closed his eyes, coughing lightly, and smiled faintly. “If you take Chaoyang City, then it’s yours. Do with it as you wish.”
He opened his eyes to see her shocked expression, and couldn’t help but reach out to pinch her cheek. “Who do you think I’m conquering Chaoyang City for?”
For her?
Ming Yi found it absurd. How could something involving the lives of countless people be for her? She only knew martial arts, not the art of governing. Even if Chaoyang City were handed to her, she couldn’t be the Grand Master.
But Ji Bozai’s gaze was so earnest that her doubts felt almost shameful.
She turned away with a sigh. “The people of Chaoyang wish for farmland and forests, a place where they can live in peace.”
Ji Bozai said, “The nearby floating island would be suitable. It’s stable, with mountains and water.”
Ming Yi laughed helplessly. “That’s New Grass City’s island. Chaoyang City has thought about taking it before, but we couldn’t defeat New Grass City.”
“New Grass City has the largest army of the six cities. Understandably, Chaoyang City alone couldn’t defeat them,” Ji Bozai said with a faint smile. “But what if we add Muxing City to the equation?”
Ming Yi’s heart skipped a beat as she stared at him blankly.
The ill Ji Bozai had a unique, captivating beauty. His dark eyes gazed back at her like a deep lake in the mountains.
Her heart began to race uncontrollably.
“I won’t deceive you,” he pulled her close, gently nuzzling her cheek. “Whatever you want, I’ll give you.”
Ming Yi pushed him away and spent the next ten hours in deep contemplation.
The next day, as Ji Bozai was struggling to maintain the siege through his coughing fits, a pair of hands reached over his shoulders to support the Yuan Power formation at the front.
Ji Bozai wasn’t surprised at all. He just smiled, “You do care about me after all.”
“Who cares about you? I just couldn’t stand watching you attack the thickest part of the defenses,” Ming Yi pouted, pushing him to sit down at the back. She then focused on Chaoyang City’s Realm of Darkness and said, “If we drag this out any longer, people will panic. We should end this quickly.”
She guided the Yuan Power formation to the weakest point of the Realm of Darkness and led them in a final assault.
The once impregnable Realm of Darkness of Chaoyang City suddenly began to tremble violently.
Once a city’s Realm of Darkness is breached, it means they’ve been defeated. The ruler has only one path left: to take their own life.
Ming Li donned his ceremonial robes and went to Consort Yan’s chambers.
He sat before her and asked, “Are you waiting for your son to break in and kill me so you can become the Empress Dowager?”
Consort Yan backed away nervously. “No, I wouldn’t dare.”
“If you hadn’t sown these seeds of disaster back then, Chaoyang wouldn’t be falling today.”
“Your Excellency, this isn’t what I wanted! You shouldn’t worry too much. He’s your child after all, how could he possibly…”
“The one breaking through the Realm of Darkness is the one who wants my life. He’s not my child or your child,” he sighed. “I’m a Grand Master who couldn’t protect his city.”
“In that case, let’s make way for him together.”
Consort Yan shook her head in panic. No, what was she making way for? That was her son out there. She could continue to enjoy her wealth and glory. Why should she make way?
Even if it was the tradition to die with the city, he should die alone. She wasn’t the Grand Master’s wife now, so why should she die with the city?