When Zheng Tiao spoke, his gaze was deep, and his body somewhat rigid. But Ji Bozai, still weak, didn’t observe his expression closely and merely nodded with a light smile. “She’s quite clever.”
He wasn’t worried about Ming Yi offending anyone. As long as she wasn’t hurt, he could clean up any mess she made, no matter who she offended.
“Are you returning to Fei Hua City?” he asked Zheng Tiao.
Zheng Tiao was originally a fighter from Fei Hua City. They had met at the Six Cities Tournament. After their first exchange, Zheng Tiao had said to him, “You’re worthy of battling the Ming family’s heir.”
Ji Bozai thought he wasn’t good with words. What was so special about the Ming family’s heir? He had come all this way, was it just to fight him?
But Zheng Tiao was straightforward. Though he spoke little and his words weren’t pleasant, his thoughts were simple, without much calculation. Ji Bozai enjoyed sparring with him.
With Fei Hua City facing internal troubles and Zheng Tiao not placing in the top three, he didn’t want to return immediately. After the tournament ended, he took a beast carriage to Mu Xing City and stayed at Ji Bozai’s mansion.
By now, the selection in Fei Hua City should be starting.
“I’ll leave at the end of the month,” Zheng Tiao replied.
He had originally planned to leave in a day or two, but after seeing Ming Yi earlier, he suddenly changed his mind.
The first time he helped Ji Bozai test her, the girl had been so frightened she dodged wildly. He hadn’t gotten a clear look at her face and thought she was just an ordinary person. But earlier, looking carefully outside, her height and appearance seemed remarkably like Ming Xian’s.
He didn’t think she was Ming Xian—after all, Ming Xian was male, and no woman in the Qing Yun Realm, no matter how daring, would disguise herself as a man to win so many Six Cities Tournaments. That would be absurd. He thought Ming Yi might have some connection to Ming Xian. If he had a chance to ask, he might be able to find Ming Xian.
Another year’s selection had come, and each city was beginning preparations. He was curious: without Ming Xian, could Chao Yang City still maintain its top three positions?
When Ming Yi entered the room, Ji Bozai was half-reclining on soft pillows, dozing.
The midday light fell on his still-pale lips, making him look less roguish than usual and more sweetly appealing.
She couldn’t help but soften her steps.
However, Ji Bozai still woke up. His jet-black eyes slowly lifted, and seeing her, he lazily murmured an “Mm.”
For some reason, Ming Yi found this sound particularly pleasant, like a little leopard just out of its den.
She sat down beside him, smiling. “I’ve solved the Master’s problem. How will the Master reward me?”
He pulled her close, naturally resting his head on her lap. “This Master has decided not to pursue the matter of you trespassing in the Green Tile Courtyard.”
Ming Yi pouted, about to say that wasn’t much of a reward when she heard him say softly, “If it were anyone else, they’d be beheaded before they could explain themselves.”
A chill ran down her spine, and she quickly said, “Thank you, Master.”
“Don’t easily believe others next time,” he sighed. “If you have any questions, come directly to me.”
Not all questions could be asked directly, like what he planned to do after killing all his enemies, or whether he had the antidote she needed in his mansion.
Ming Yi grumbled inwardly but cheerfully agreed, “This servant understands.”
Ji Bozai embraced her, sighing contentedly. “If only I had met you earlier.”
Her heart fluttered slightly, and Ming Yi blinked.
What did he mean by that? If he had met her earlier, then what? He wouldn’t have gone out carousing?
She didn’t believe it.
A philandering nature was innate and wouldn’t change for any one person. Only when one truly found life tedious would they settle down with someone? This man was trying to deceive her, as he had countless other women, making her feel special as if she had saved him, to make her more devoted to him.
She understood all this reasoning, but she had to admit that Ji Bozai’s face was truly pleasing to the eye. Just hearing him say such things made her heart beat faster than usual.
What if, just what if, from now on he only stayed with her? Could she then treat him as an ordinary person?
As his arms tightened around her waist, Ming Yi pressed her lips together, hiding the emotions in her eyes, and gently stroked his back, letting him sleep peacefully.
In the following days, Luo Jiaoyang and the others never came to cause trouble at the Ji mansion again. However, they all went to pay respects to Xue Sheng and felt deeply guilty seeing Madam Xue’s tearful eyes. They didn’t follow the custom of paying a visit to Ji Bozai after the selection meeting ended.
In other words, they didn’t recognize Ji Bozai as their leader.
The Grand Minister was very troubled by this and summoned Ji Bozai to the inner courtyard twice to discuss it. But Ji Bozai didn’t care. If they didn’t recognize him, so be it. He hadn’t been the leader in the previous Six Cities Tournament either.
“That’s why our city lost that time!” Shu Zhonglin was deeply distressed. “If next time another noble family member tries to steal your glory and show off with the position you earned, won’t Mu Xing City face heavy taxes for another year?”
In a private room at Hua Man Lou, several friends were gathered. As soon as Shu Zhonglin finished speaking, Liang Xiuyuan sighed, “I’m not one to say, but Bozai, you’re too accommodating. You shouldn’t have given in last time. Otherwise, our Mu Xing might have had a chance to compete for the top three.”
Ming Yi, sitting beside Ji Bozai, couldn’t help but turn and ask Bu Xiu quietly, “What happened last time?”
Ji Bozai, without turning his head, reached out to pull her wandering head back, saying softly, “Don’t ask him, ask me.”
Ming Yi immediately straightened her back and openly repeated her question to him.
Nodding with satisfaction, Ji Bozai took a sip of wine. “It wasn’t much. Prince Ping thought I wasn’t up to the task, that I had luckily beaten Zheng Tiao but wouldn’t win further. So he had one of his protégés from the royal family replace me for the subsequent matches.”
The result was predictable. That royal family member couldn’t withstand even one opponent and was utterly defeated, completely dashing Mu Xing City’s hopes.
“I just don’t understand. Mu Xing City winning would benefit everyone in the city. Who would willingly give half of their hard-earned wealth to people from other cities? They knew you could win, but they used that excuse to bring you back,” Shu Zhonglin was still indignant.
Yan Xiao scoffed at him, “With your simple mind, don’t comment on these important matters. Be careful not to misspeak one day and implicate your family.”
Shu Zhonglin glared, “What did I say wrong?”
Liang Xiuyuan shook his head, gesturing for him to drink, and changed the subject. “This year, our city’s young talents seem quite promising, though a bit stubborn. I heard they even went to ask Chu He to lead them, unwilling to follow your appointment.”
Ji Bozai was unconcerned. “Let them be.”
Rather than fighting for Mu Xing City, it would be more accurate to say he fought to settle some old scores with certain people. As for whether Mu Xing City could win afterward, or who would win, honestly, he didn’t care much.