Mingyi quickly mobilized her Yuan Power, but her meridians needed the time of an incense stick to fully recover. She could only rely on her divine artifact, using scattered Yuan Power as a defense.
Blocking several frontal attacks wasn’t difficult, but while doing so, she keenly sensed a sneak attack coming from the side in coordination. The force of this attack was twice as powerful as the frontal ones. Before the surrounding guards could react, she inwardly cursed, quickly considered her options, and decided to turn her body at an angle, even if it meant getting injured, to avoid a fatal blow.
However, before she could complete her turn, a powerful surge of Yuan Power enveloped her from nearby, shielding her entire body.
The attack crashed against the protective barrier with a resounding clang. Mingyi blinked and looked up to see Ji Bozai with one hand protecting her and the other making a grasping motion in the air. The assailant was pulled to the center of the open ground and slammed down, instantly breaking his front teeth.
“How dare you,” Ji Bozai’s eyelids lowered a hint of ruthlessness in his voice. “People of Chaoyang City, you dare attack your own City Lord?”
The man on the ground, mouth full of blood, groaned in pain without speaking.
Ji Bozai, for some reason, grew increasingly angry: “If it weren’t for her, Chaoyang City might be in ruins now. How could you even be doing these despicable acts? You show no gratitude towards your City Lord’s kindness, instead biting the hand that feeds you like a dog!”
With that, he raised his hand and pressed down, lifting the man and slamming him hard onto the ground again.
Everyone around could hear the muffled, rigid sound of his bones breaking – a sound that set teeth on edge.
Mingyi quickly raised her hand to intervene: “Your Majesty, he has committed a crime. Let the Ministry of Justice handle it.”
Killing someone on the street was too brutal and would damage their reputation.
Ji Bozai glared at her, pursed his lips, and withdrew his hand.
Mingyi forced a smile and quickly ordered people to take the man away to Situ Ling. She then instructed the guards to capture the others who had fled. Ji Bozai commanded, “Take this Cangxue person to the palace prison.”
If Mingyi were to handle it, the City Lord of Cangxue City would likely come to argue. But with him taking action and imprisoning the person in the palace, Cangxue City would have no say.
These two handled matters on separate sides without any discussion, yet they seemed to be working in perfect coordination.
Zhou Zihong stood behind them, slightly clenching his fist.
Mingyi and Ji Bozai stood side by side, truly a divine couple. The scene was too dazzling, but he was powerless. He couldn’t do what Ji Bozai could, not even protect Mingyi with a shield.
For a moment, Zhou Zihong felt regretful. Why did he only know how to study and not use Yuan Power?
Mingyi finished dealing with the situation and handed over the rescued women to be settled and their families found. She turned to find Zhou Zihong standing silently to the side, eyes downcast, looking quite dejected.
She walked over curiously and asked him, “Is everything alright?”
“It’s nothing,” he took a deep breath and looked up. “For our evening meal, why don’t we…”
“Official Zhou seems to enjoy the good life,” Ji Bozai interjected coolly. “But you’re speaking too soon. With such a major incident at the ferry, if not handled properly, it could cause a rift between Cangxue and Chaoyang. Where would your department find time for dinner?”
Zhou Zihong was taken aback. He looked at Mingyi, who awkwardly scratched her temple: “That’s true. We have a legal conflict with Cangxue, we need to find a way to resolve it.”
“Will the City Lord be going to discuss matters with His Majesty?” His eyes dimmed again.
Mingyi patted his shoulder: “I’ll come find you when I’m done.”
“Alright.” He forced a smile and looked up to see Mingyi boarding the beast-drawn carriage alongside Ji Bozai.
Mingyi entered the carriage first. Ji Bozai stood on the carriage step, holding the door, and looked back at him.
That glance was filled with contempt and arrogance, as well as a condescending pity.
Zhou Zihong’s face darkened.
He hadn’t felt much anger before, but this time he was truly furious, yet felt powerless.
Mingyi wasn’t an ordinary woman. She might like him for a moment, but when it came to matching her in strength, he could never catch up to Ji Bozai.
What could he do?
As the carriage rattled away, he stood at the ferry, watching the coming and going of commoners, lost in thought.
Mingyi studied the map of Cangxue City and pondered: “Strictly speaking, we never actually conquered Cangxue City. It was because of your prior agreement with their Grand Minister that we reached a consensus.”
“Given the circumstances at the time, this was the most advantageous choice, so, understandably, they’re not willing to fully submit.”
She looked at the map while Ji Bozai looked at her, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly: “It’s a pity. I have no desire for conquest now, otherwise attacking Cangxue City again would be the best option.”
Mingyi frowned at him: “I thought Your Majesty’s ceasefire was just a temporary measure.”
Ji Bozai remained silent.
Indeed, it was a temporary measure. He had attacked so many cities consecutively that his forces had suffered losses. Additionally, with the City Lord of Muxing City repeatedly demanding a withdrawal, the morale of the troops became unstable towards the end, forcing him to cease fire.
Now with six cities unified, he only needed to reorganize his forces to fight again. This time, with the military strength of three cities at his disposal, how could he not defeat Cangxue?
But…
Sighing deeply, he lowered his eyelids: “I often wonder, what do I want this world for?”
Mingyi’s mouth twitched: “Supreme status, absolute power, isn’t that what all men desire?”
“But once you have it, it doesn’t seem to mean much.” He leaned back, placing both hands behind his neck. “I’m different from you. You care about the world, want women and men to be equal, and want the common people to live in peace. I don’t want anything. Sitting on the throne is just living in luxury and debauchery for a few decades before passing it on to the next person.”
Mingyi looked at him with disdain. Such powerful Yuan Power wasted on such a world-weary person seemed a bit of a shame.
But she couldn’t say anything. He had won the throne himself, and the world was now in his hands. If he wanted it to prosper, it would prosper; if he wanted it to fall, it would fall.
“If you were sitting in this position, what would you want to do?” he suddenly asked her.
Mingyi said: “Attack Cangxue, completely unify the six cities, then establish clear laws, focus on agriculture and commerce, and allow men and women to live as equals.”
She paused, frowning: “We are all just humans after all, with different roles. There shouldn’t be any hierarchy or discrimination.”
The energy in her was strong. Ji Bozai looked at her lazily, smiling lightly: “Good.”
“What’s good?” she was confused.
“I mean, let’s do as you say.” He sat up straight, placing both hands on his knees. “I don’t have anything I want to do, so let’s accomplish what you want to do.”
Mingyi was stunned.
In her impression, Ji Bozai wasn’t such a kind-hearted person. Following her suggestions, attacking Cangxue? He would have to don armor and go to battle again. What benefit was there for him?
Cangxue’s resources? That was indeed a benefit, but then what?
Her brows furrowed as she sat in the swaying carriage, looking at the smiling man before her, momentarily bewildered.