Mingyi frowned: “That’s not proper.”
After unification, each city lord was left with only 50,000 troops. These 130,000 were originally his men, so there was no reason to give them to her.
Ji Bozai ignored her and continued to advance and kill.
Someone tried to sneak attack from behind, but Mingyi blocked it for him. She frowned, tucked the military tally into her pocket, and joined the battle.
Cangxue was no match. Once the city gate was breached, the nobles surrendered one after another, with some even guiding them to the inner court.
There was still some resistance in the inner court, but after just twenty hours, Ji Bozai broke through the last palace gate.
He was exhausted. Sitting on the threshold of the main palace with his broken sword, he said to Mingyi behind him: “Do you know what you should do now?”
Mingyi raised an eyebrow: “What?”
“Kill me,” he said calmly.
“…”
Looking at his statue-like back with a complex expression, Mingyi shook her head: “I don’t hate you that much.”
“This is when I’m at my weakest. If you kill me now, the world will be yours. You’ll have every opportunity to create the world you want.”
He coughed twice, then smiled coldly: “But if you can’t kill me, then you’re finished.”
Two days. It had been two days since she married Zhou Zihong, and his patience had reached its limit.
Either Mingyi killed him, or he would take her back, regardless of propriety, rules, or what the world thought. Regardless of country, career, love, or hate, he just wanted to be with her.
He couldn’t bear another day.
The person behind him remained silent. Ji Bozai frowned, then smiled again: “I’ll take that as your decision.”
The resources in Cangxue City were abundant, but Ji Bozai had ordered against outright plunder, so everyone’s spoils of war were limited.
But Ji Bozai was different.
He brought Mingyi back.
Instead of letting her return to the inner court, Ji Bozai directly ordered the relocation of Chaoyang City to be accelerated. The entire City Lord’s inner court was moved to the floating island, with the old site of Chaoyang becoming the new capital.
Then he locked the doors tightly, covering all doors and windows with his energy net. Leaning against the door, he nervously watched the person inside.
Mingyi hadn’t spoken since he brought her back, but her expression was relaxed. As soon as they entered, she sat down and poured tea, showing neither anger nor panic.
Her calmness made Ji Bozai even more anxious.
“You…” he pursed his lips, “You can scold me, or even fight me.”
Mingyi raised an eyebrow, shook her head, and then said: “Shall we have roasted wild boar for lunch?”
Ji Bozai was stunned.
What did she mean? Was she willing to stay?
Impossible. He hadn’t let her see Zhou Zihong, so she must be upset. Perhaps this was just a delaying tactic.
Looking at her warily, Ji Bozai still ordered outside: “Prepare roasted wild boar.”
After a pause, he added: “Add extra chili.”
Mingyi laughed: “Your Majesty remembers my taste preferences clearly.”
She showed no intention of escaping, nor was she angry. This made him feel a bit at a loss.
Looking around, although it was the main palace, the space wasn’t very large. Keeping someone confined in the room might be stifling.
He exerted his energy, expanding the net to include the courtyard outside.
“There’s green bamboo planted in the courtyard,” he pursed his lips, looking at her uneasily. “If you like something else, I can have it brought in.”
Mingyi glanced at him: “Your Majesty, this consumes a lot of energy.”
“It’s fine,” he pursed his lips. “Now that Cangxue has been reclaimed, there won’t be any more wars this year.”
“How does Your Majesty plan to deal with the people of Cangxue?” Mingyi tilted her head.
This seemed like a test question, and Ji Bozai inexplicably became nervous: “The people of Cangxue are physically strong, but there are too many men. They’re suitable for military service.”
With most men joining the army, there would be fewer men left. Then, abolish centralized breeding, change to free marriage, establish laws to protect women, and have the government reward families that have daughters. This way, Cangxue’s crisis could be resolved in a few years.
Mingyi nodded, suddenly standing up.
Ji Bozai nervously pressed against the door crack: “Where are you going?”
Giving him a look, Mingyi said: “Didn’t you say there was green bamboo in the courtyard? I’m going to take a look.”
Belatedly realizing that his energy net was already outside, Ji Bozai stiffly moved away from the door. He saw Mingyi pass in front of him, then stopped to glance back at him.
With just that glance, Ji Bozai’s breath caught.
“I, I won’t let you go,” he narrowed his eyes. “Don’t bother pleading, it won’t work.”
In truth, he couldn’t withstand her pleading. If she begged three times, he would surely surrender. But if he did, he might never see her again.
Ji Bozai turned his head away, unwilling to look into her eyes.
His reaction amused Mingyi.
The once suave and unattainable Ji Bozai was now so worried and afraid.
She had no intention of pleading. She just stepped out to look at the bamboo.
The bamboo must have been planted around the time of the grand wedding. It had grown well, with some items placed in the soil beneath.
She looked closer and found a collection of wooden carved rabbits, big and small, from rough to exquisite, with dozens arranged.
“These were all carved by His Majesty during those days,” Buxiu said softly.
There was no need to specify which days. For Ji Bozai to carve rabbits, it must have been a difficult time.
Withdrawing her gaze, Mingyi looked at Buxiu and said: “Don’t speak well of your emperor.”
Buxiu pinched his mouth shut.
He didn’t want to say it either, but His Majesty had been staying up night after night since Miss Ming’s wedding, sometimes lost in thought, sometimes carving rabbits. It had been a month since their victorious return, and if this continued, he feared His Majesty might suddenly collapse.
Mingyi turned back to see Ji Bozai standing at the door, staring intently in her direction.
His knuckles were pale, and his gaze flickered, as if feeling guilty about this act of imprisonment, yet unwilling to let go again.
Mingyi couldn’t help but tease him: “Does Your Majesty think that imprisoning a person can imprison their heart as well?”
His face paled further, and Ji Bozai tightened his lips, stiffening his back: “I don’t believe your heart belongs to Zhou Zihong.”
“Besides Zhou Zihong, I still have Situ Ling, Lin Huan, and over thirty others in the back courtyard,” she smiled mischievously. “Do you know which one has the best skills?”
Taking a deep breath, Ji Bozai closed his eyes: “The past is in the past.”
“Zhou Zihong doesn’t grind his teeth in his sleep, but he occasionally recites classic texts.”
“…”
“Situ Ling does grind his teeth, but he never talks in his sleep.”
“…”
“Lin Huan’s waist, you haven’t seen it, and there’s a deadly red mole on his lower back.”
“Enough!” He lowered his eyes and said coldly, “Even if you say this, I won’t let you go. Give up!”
Saying this, he staggered back and sat down in the room.
Mingyi couldn’t help it, her eyes curved in silent laughter.
Buxiu was stunned by her reaction, not understanding what was happening. Didn’t Miss Ming hate His Majesty? How could she still laugh?