Fragments of information drifted into the main courtyard, and Ming Yi listened, piecing together about 70-80% of the situation.
Deaths in the arena were inevitable; combatants respected strength above all. She didn’t think Ji Bozai was wrong, just that he wasn’t exactly kind-hearted.
Given that the group outside was merely well-intentioned, Ming Yi didn’t interfere, only advising in a low voice, “Master, you’ll inevitably have to work with them in the future. It’s easier to dodge a spear than an arrow in the dark. If you can avoid taking lives, perhaps it’s better not to.”
Ji Bozai remained silent, sitting with a stiff back, a hint of anger visible.
Seeing this, she didn’t dare to advise further, only bringing him some thin porridge. “Please eat this to recover first, then you can have the stewed goose.”
“Get out,” he said in a deep voice.
What a temper, can’t even take a few words? Ming Yi grumbled inwardly. Tired after a night’s vigil, she simply put down the bowl and stood up.
As her skirt moved, Ji Bozai’s fingers twitched.
He wanted to hold her back, but feeling angry, his face was as cold as the rime on a deep autumn mountain.
She didn’t spare him a glance, just stepped out, considerately closing the door behind her.
The annoying sound of cracking melon seeds disappeared, and the room felt empty. He leaned against the soft pillow, listlessly looking out the window for a while before pulling the blanket over his head.
Ming Yi had only taken a few steps out when she encountered Yan Xiao rushing over.
The Grand Judge had suddenly fallen ill last night, and he had stayed in the inner court until now. As soon as he came out, he rushed to the Ji manor, but before he could enter the main courtyard, he saw Ming Yi glumly saying to him, “Don’t go in and provoke him. He’s fine now, just needs two days of rest.”
Relaxing his expression, Yan Xiao walked to Ming Yi’s side. “You took care of him?”
“Yes, but the master is still in a bad mood. Please prescribe some medicine to reduce his internal heat, Physician Yan.”
Seeing Ming Yi’s expression, Yan Xiao knew Ji Bozai was truly fine. He said lightly, “Let him be angry. He deserves to be. He went to spar and exchange skills with others in good faith, not expecting to encounter someone so vicious. If he wasn’t so formidable, it would be him who lost his life now.”
Ming Yi was startled, turning her head in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“You don’t know?” Yan Xiao raised an eyebrow. “It’s about Xue Sheng. They agreed to use only Yuan Power, but he secretly used poisoned needles. Those needles were so fine and dense, they nearly turned Bozai into a sieve.”
The selection meeting was supposed to be a clean place. He had planned to be open and just wanted to encourage a few people to fight alongside him. Who would have thought he’d be ambushed as soon as he went up? Of course, he’d be angry.
“He originally wanted to keep him alive to ask why, but Xue Sheng was determined. Betting on Ji Bozai not daring to kill in front of the Grand Judge, he acted as if he was ready to die together. Bozai is a man of passion; he didn’t hold back and sent him to the afterlife on the spot.”
Yan Xiao sighed. “The scene was too bloody, causing the Grand Judge’s illness to relapse. I removed the poison needles from Bozai and was urgently summoned to the inner court. Who would have thought his life was so tenacious, enduring it all? Don’t you think he’s… Hey? Miss Ming, where are you going?”
Before he could finish, the person beside him had turned and run, heading towards the main courtyard.
Wasn’t she just saying she wouldn’t go provoke him? He was puzzled.
Ming Yi ran at full speed, her sleeves billowing behind her. She darted into the main room, sat back in her previous spot, picked up the discarded melon seed tray, took a deep breath, and resumed cracking them noisily.
The sound was very disturbing.
The person on the couch, covered by the blanket, irritably growled, “Get lost.”
“Can’t move anymore,” Ming Yi panted. “This servant is tired.”
He listlessly peeked his eyes out from under the blanket, about to glare at her, when he saw her suddenly pounce before his eyes, their eyelashes almost intertwining.
Ji Bozai was startled, frowning as he looked at her. “What are you—”
The last word didn’t have a chance to sound as she kissed his eyes.
Her warm lips, carrying a hint of melon seed fragrance, kissed his eyelids repeatedly, changing his irritation to discomfort. He pretended to be fierce and said, “Keep kissing and I’ll kill you too.”
Ming Yi was bold. She planted a kiss on his lips, her eyes full of mirth. “This servant has come to apologize! I shouldn’t have spoken carelessly earlier. Not knowing others’ sufferings, one shouldn’t advise others to be kind. Master didn’t do anything wrong yesterday; it was this servant who spoke out of turn. Next time, if you encounter such a detestable person, master should send him straight to the Yellow Springs, don’t give him a chance to retaliate.”
As she spoke, she made a throat-slitting gesture, her teeth clenched tightly.
Ji Bozai wanted to laugh but held it back, saying sternly, “Don’t you think my hostility is too heavy?”
“Not at all, not at all. How could it be hostility when the master is so stunningly handsome and unparalleled in beauty? That’s celestial aura.” She picked up the untouched thin porridge beside him, scooped some, and brought it to his lips. “How could this servant teach you how to act? You must have done what was appropriate.”
The frustration in his heart suddenly dissipated. Ji Bozai grunted and drank the porridge. After calming his emotions a bit, he spoke in a muffled voice, “That person was very annoying, a hypocrite with a facade of righteousness. His Yuan Power was pathetically weak, yet he wanted to be selected based on his so-called reputation. That little reputation might earn him some respect in Muxing City, but what use is it in the Six Cities Conference?”
“Exactly!” She nodded vigorously.
“For that last strike, if I didn’t kill him, he would have directly attempted to kill me. No one has dared to try to kill me to my face since I was fifteen. He had some nerve.”
“Exactly!” She clenched her fists indignantly.
“Those people outside are also as stupid as pigs, their heads turned by small favors. They’re not worthy to be companions.”
“Exa— Um, but master, the best talents of Muxing City are all out there. It seems you don’t have much choice?” She blinked.
Ji Bozai lowered his eyes. “If only I knew more…”
Her scalp tingled, and Ming Yi quickly shook her head. “No one is perfect, master. Don’t push yourself too hard. Although everyone says next year’s conference depends on you, no one expects you to win everything alone.”
Ji Bozai listened with some surprise. “If I win everything, I will surely become the next Grand Judge, and you… even if you don’t become the Judge’s wife, you’ll have an extremely high status. Why are you persuading me against it?”
Ming Yi smiled faintly. “This servant is just a small woman. The current life of luxury is already enough. How could I have other extravagant desires? Naturally, I just want Master to be happier.”
Don’t end up like the legitimate son of the Ming family, who emptied himself for the glory of his family and city, only to become a discarded pawn in the end.
The tendon on her wrist twitched, and she almost spilled the bowl on the bedcover. Ji Bozai quickly steadied her hand, looked at her complexion, and frowned. “You should rest well too. Don’t fall ill yourself after nursing me back to health.”
“This servant understands.” Ming Yi finished feeding him the porridge, looked at the dark dragon circling outside, and said, “This servant will think of a way to ensure you can get some sleep.”
The group outside was frenzied by Xue Sheng’s death, and as a frail woman, what could she possibly do? Ji Bozai didn’t want her to go, but once she set her mind to something, she was unstoppable. With a flick of her skirt, she disappeared out the door in an instant.
With no other choice, he called out to the adjacent side room, “Zheng Qiao, follow her.”