Xiuyun, quite dissatisfied, urged the waiter, “Where’s our roast duck?”

The waiter apologized, “There are important guests over there. We need to serve their table first. Please wait a moment. Today’s meal will be on the house for you two.”

Xiuyun looked in the direction he pointed and saw Xu Tianji leaning against Liang Xiuyuan, her gaze gloomy as she looked at her and Mingyi.

Startled, Xiuyun tugged at Mingyi’s sleeve, “How can we eat here? Let’s go somewhere else.”

Mingyi, however, remained calm, “A table of dishes at Flower Branch is worth several hundred coins. Since they’re not charging us, how can we not eat? Go check the menu and order a few more dishes.”

Xiuyun thought for a moment and realized Mingyi had a point.

She used to be very afraid of Xu Tianji, as she was always criticized and disliked no matter what she did. But now, she suddenly remembered what Mingyi had said about giving her two-tenths of the income from forging divine weapons. She was now a person who had earned money, so what was there to fear?

Puffing out her chest, Xiuyun confidently ordered from the waiter, “Add a braised pork knuckle, a cured sausage, and a bowl of ‘Golden Jade Union’ for us.”

“Certainly, please wait a moment,” the waiter bowed and left.

Xu Tianji sneered, holding her wine cup and saying to Liang Xiuyuan, “This place reeks of poverty.”

Liang Xiuyuan didn’t like the main hall either, but when he looked at Ji Bozai, he saw that Ji seemed comfortable and was even eating more of the roast duck he usually disliked, clearly not wanting to change locations.

After a moment of hesitation, Liang Xiuyuan still said to Xu Tianji, “Bear with it for now.”

Xu Tianji’s face darkened as she downed her wine without another word.

Following Liang Xiuyuan was frustrating. The man had a temper but lacked the Yuan power to back her up, let alone protect her from insults.

Unlike Ji Bozai, whose protected people could now walk proudly in Muxing City.

She couldn’t understand why Ji Bozai would rather let people randomly bring a dozen women into his mansion than have her. After all, she came from a noble family and might be able to help him in the future.

In the current situation, she had given up on official status, but if she could just enter Ji’s mansion…

She couldn’t help but glance at Ji Bozai.

Ji Bozai was sipping his wine, not sparing her a glance, instead looking towards the table across from them.

Feeling discontent, Xu Tianji raised her wine cup to toast him, “I heard the Yuan Shi Academy is short-staffed. Is there anything I can help with?”

Ji Bozai came back to his senses and gave her a puzzled look.

The Yuan Shi Academy was short-staffed, but what could she possibly help with? Her tone was far too presumptuous.

Liang Xiuyuan also felt a bit embarrassed and tugged at her sleeve, but Xu Tianji continued, “Since you’re Xiuyuan’s friend, you’re my friend too. It’s nothing for friends to lend a hand. Now that everything is ready at the Yuan Shi Academy and we just need a few more people to start training, I happen to know some skilled individuals. If you need them, My Lord, just say the word.”

“The Yuan Shi Academy needs artificers. It’s not something just anyone with a bit of skill can do,” Yan Xiao gave her a way out. “Since we’re here as friends today, let’s not talk about these troublesome matters.”

Xu Tianji confidently said, “I know artificers too. Old Weng’s disciple from the inner court is one, but he doesn’t like to mingle with the world and often stays in deep mountains. I know where to find him.”

She eagerly waited for Ji Bozai to speak, but the man before her was distracted and hadn’t been listening.

“Let’s drink,” he called to Yan Xiao.

Yan Xiao nodded and raised his cup, and Shu Zhonglin followed suit.

Xu Tianji felt awkward and fidgeted with her clothes. Beside her, Liang Xiuyuan said disapprovingly, “As a woman, you should interfere less in these important matters. Leave it to them to handle.”

“I…”

“Just drink.”

Usually, Ji Bozai wouldn’t get drunk at such gatherings, or if he did, it was often an act. But today, for some reason, as he drank cup after cup, his eyes began to look hazy.

As he poured the last drop from the jug into his mouth, he suddenly stood up and walked towards the opposite table.

Yan Xiao was startled and quickly followed, fearing Ji might smash someone’s table.

However, Ji Bozai just looked at Mingyi. After pursing his lips for a while, he sighed, “My new mansion is right across from the Situ residence.”

Mingyi looked at him, puzzled, “Does My Lord want me to return?”

“No…” he mumbled vaguely, turning his head away, “It’s not easy for a young woman to live outside. If you come back, I’ll leave a door open for you.”

She chuckled lightly and cupped her hands in salute, “No need for My Lord to worry. I’m doing quite well.”

“You’re the concubine raised by the Grand Secretary,” he lowered his eyes. “If the Grand Secretary finds out and blames you…”

“Then you’ll be the one bearing the brunt of it,” Mingyi finished his sentence with a smile. “You now hold a high position, My Lord. The Grand Secretary won’t trouble you over a mere woman like me. Please rest assured.”

“…” He was at a loss for words, his body slightly stiffening.

Mingyi didn’t look at him again and simply said, “Please go, My Lord.”

Ji Bozai had seen countless expressions of angry women, so he could tell that Mingyi wasn’t angry. She truly didn’t want to have anything to do with him anymore.

Why? Earlier, her eyes were full of love for him, but now she didn’t even want to look at him.

Had she truly given up, or… had she never really cared about him at all?

“Miss Ming, why don’t you come over for a drink?” Yan Xiao, seeing the situation wasn’t right, quickly tried to smooth things over. “Since you know each other, and Xiuyuan has found a good match, it would be nice to offer congratulations.”

Hearing this, Xu Tianji said coldly, “There’s no need. I have nothing to say to her.”

She then glanced at Xiuyun and muttered with disgust, “Birds of a feather flock together.”

If she hadn’t said this, Mingyi might not have gone over. But with these words, Mingyi immediately took her tea cup and went over, smiling brightly, “Sister Xu is an old acquaintance. We got along quite well when you were with Lord Ji. Now that you’re with Lord Liang, we should have a drink to wish you a bright future.”

These words made Liang Xiuyuan’s face darken, and Xu Tianji immediately became angry, “What do you mean by that?”

Mingyi blinked, “Did I say something wrong?”

It wasn’t wrong – Xu Tianji had indeed tried to curry favor with Ji Bozai before, and now she had actively sought out Liang Xiuyuan. But saying it so bluntly was rather embarrassing. Liang Xiuyuan said with a dark face, “The Golden Hairpin Dou Practitioner is indeed impressive. We didn’t have a chance to see your skills at the Tage Platform before, but today is a good opportunity. Why don’t you show us what you can do, Miss Ming?”

Shu Zhonglin glanced at Ji Bozai and quickly tried to intervene, “Are you crazy?”

Although not a high-level Dou practitioner, Liang Xiuyuan was still a man, and his Yuan power was certainly stronger than Mingyi’s. How could they bully someone like this?

Liang Xiuyuan insisted, pointing to the center of the hall, “Please, Miss Ming.”

Mingyi asked seriously, “What if someone gets hurt?”

“You’re responsible for your own life and death,” he sneered. “Are you afraid? If you are, then apologize to Tianji.”

Xu Tianji raised her chin, looking at Mingyi with contempt, then glanced uneasily at Ji Bozai beside her.

If he were to step in and protect Mingyi now, it would be troublesome.

However, the two were already walking to the center of the hall, and Ji Bozai hadn’t said a word. He only instructed Yan Xiao, “Be quick to act later.”