Chapter 45: Mingyi Investigates Ji Bozhai’s Secret Past

 

The girls continued chattering noisily, their spittle nearly reaching the carriage shaft.

Listening to them, Mingyi felt a cloud of confusion slowly forming above her head.

She had merely stated a simple fact—so why were they reacting so dramatically?

Ji Bozhai was notoriously picky. Unless a woman possessed breathtaking beauty, he wouldn’t even bother to glance at her.

Just look at Qingli from Flower Full Tower—hadn’t she suffered because of that very trait?

Mingyi hadn’t said anything wrong.

Ordinary beauty bored him. Only extraordinary looks could catch his attention.

And the girls outside clearly didn’t qualify.

But since they were speaking with such enthusiasm, Mingyi didn’t interrupt them. She simply blinked quietly and watched as they proudly discussed the Six Cities Tournament.

“I went with my brother last year to watch it,” one girl boasted. “Lord Ji stood far above everyone else. His heroic presence is something you’d never understand unless you saw it yourself.”

“Not just anyone can even enter the tournament grounds,” another said mockingly. “Don’t embarrass this country girl.”

“That’s right. This year she might get lucky and see it thanks to Lord Ji’s favor. Let’s just hope she doesn’t disgrace him.”

Granny Xun tolerated their words for a while, but eventually she stepped forward with several servants and firmly separated the girls.

“Excuse us,” she said coldly. “My lord has instructed that Miss Ming is precious and should not waste time chatting with random people.”

Tianji and the others stumbled backward.

Seeing that only servants had intervened, their anger flared.

“I am the noble daughter of the Xu family!” Tianji snapped. “What right do you have to push me?”

“Servants acting arrogant just because their master is powerful!”

She pointed at Granny Xun’s face while speaking, though her insults were clearly meant for the woman inside the carriage.

Their family servants surged forward as well, shoving roughly against Granny Xun.

Frowning, Mingyi stood up to help.

But suddenly a tall guard appeared beside the carriage.

A flash of steel cut through the air.

With a single motion of his drawn blade, he scattered the crowd, sending the girls screaming and retreating.

“Ming Guniang.”

The guard turned toward her and clasped his fists.

“This way.”

It was Fu Yue, the personal guard of Situ Ling.

Mingyi quickly pulled Granny Xun back into the carriage and nodded politely.

“Thank you.”

Fu Yue said nothing more. With his sheathed sword resting beside the carriage, he escorted them safely until they reached Huabiezhi.

From that alone, Mingyi understood.

Situ Ling was there as well.

---

Mingyi entered calmly and followed the attendants upstairs.

Turning to Granny Xun, she said softly,

“This is Young Lord Situ—the one my lord wishes me to meet. Please wait outside.”

Granny Xun glanced at the guards stationed at the door and nodded, taking the other servants downstairs.

The moment Mingyi stepped inside, she heard Situ Ling laughing.

“None of those girls even possess Essence Power, yet they dared speak to Sister Ming like that on the street.”

News certainly traveled quickly.

Mingyi clicked her tongue inwardly. Fu Yue had accompanied her the entire way, yet Situ Ling already knew everything.

“Thank you for your assistance, Young Lord,” she said with a polite bow. “This humble servant owes you a debt that will be difficult to repay.”

Today, Situ Ling had bought sugar figurines again.

He casually handed one to her with a smile.

“Sister Ming is kind-hearted. I’m happy to help without expecting anything in return.”

People who said such things usually expected something.

Mingyi smiled and sat down, responding just as politely.

“To accept kindness without repayment weighs heavily on my conscience. Without the Love Curse you gave me, I wouldn’t be enjoying such favor today.”

She lowered her gaze slightly.

“If there is anything I can do for you, Young Lord, please feel free to say so.”

Situ Ling leaned forward with curiosity.

“Sister Ming… how did you manage to make Lord Ji drink the Love Curse?”

Mingyi’s cheeks immediately flushed red as she feigned embarrassment.

“How could I possibly speak about such things…” she said softly. “There are always… certain methods.”

She sighed dramatically.

“It’s truly miraculous. Something so small managed to make the lord change his heart.”

Her eyes sparkled as she asked,

“If I held the Mother Gu and wished for the lord to marry me… would he agree?”

Situ Ling burst out laughing.

“You might attempt it, but Sister Ming’s status would make becoming the mistress difficult. Forcing that position would only bring trouble.”

He waved his hand casually.

“Isn’t it happier to remain as you are now? Living like celestial lovers with Lord Ji?”

Mingyi pouted slightly.

“So the young lord believes this servant unworthy of the main seat.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

Situ Ling shook his head slowly.

“Sister, perhaps you don’t know this—but Lord Ji’s origins are extremely mysterious. He hides many secrets.”

His tone softened.

“If you became his mistress, you would inevitably learn things too heavy to bear.”

His words sounded less like a warning and more like a deliberate temptation.

Especially for someone supposedly “deeply in love” with Ji Bozhai.

So Mingyi played along, appearing anxious.

“The lord is pure and upright,” she insisted. “What secrets could he possibly have?”

“Wasn’t he also raised in the Slave Arena?”

Situ Ling chuckled softly.

“If someone from the Slave Arena could possess such extraordinary talent, everyone in Star Yearn City should kneel and thank their ancestors.”

He pushed a plate of pear blossom pastries toward her.

“Have some.”

But Mingyi had no appetite.

Twenty-Seven had been right—despite his youth, Situ Ling seemed to know everything.

It was unsettling.

“Young lord,” she said mournfully, “could you point this servant toward a clear path?”

“I truly adore Lord Ji and wish to remain by his side forever. I want to understand everything about him.”

Situ Ling deliberately changed the topic.

“Speaking of which, Star Yearn City has several promising Fighters this year. Earlier today I saw—”

“Young lord!”

Mingyi stamped her foot impatiently.

Situ Ling fell silent.

After a long moment, he sighed.

“If Sister Ming is truly curious, then go search the old residence within the Ji estate.”

He spoke slowly.

“If you find a willow tree facing the sun, there should be a bronze vanity case buried beneath it.”

Mingyi froze.

“The old residence?” she asked cautiously. “Is it the courtyard with the cyan tiles?”

Situ Ling looked surprised.

“You’ve seen it before?”

“Only from outside,” she replied. “The lord forbids anyone from approaching it.”

Understanding dawned in Situ Ling’s eyes.

“I’m very pleased to have met you today, Sister Ming.”

He stood up.

“But be careful in the future. Don’t provoke troublesome women when you go out.”

“I still have matters to attend to.”

Before Mingyi could stop him, Situ Ling had already vanished with his guards.

---

Mingyi remained seated in the side chamber.

Only after confirming that no one was nearby did she take the folded map from her sleeve and examine it again.

The Cyan Tile Courtyard was marked as the old residence at the very center of the Ji estate.

According to Situ Ling, it was far more than a forgotten house.

Yet everyone in the Ji residence seemed to ignore it by silent agreement.

Suddenly—

Tap. Tap.

Two knocks sounded on the wall separating the neighboring room.

Startled, Mingyi quickly folded the map.

A hidden panel in the wall slid open, revealing Dan Er.

“You succeeded far faster than I expected,” he said, glancing toward the direction where Situ Ling had left.

“Judging from his tone earlier, Lord Ming has truly won Ji Bozhai’s favor.”

Hearing the hint of mockery, Mingyi sneered.

“As a man you couldn’t defeat me. As a woman you lack my skills. Are you jealous now?”

Dan Er chuckled lightly.

“Lord Ming is a heaven-blessed prodigy. How could ordinary people like us compare?”

He took the map from her hand and examined it carefully.

Then he clicked his tongue.

“You’ve actually never entered this Cyan Tile Courtyard before?”