CHAPTER 331: CHAPTER 331: IF I DON’T HOLD YOU IN MY ARMS AT NIGHT, I’LL SUFFER FROM INSOMNIA 2

Si Mingjing, carrying a plastic bag and a glass bottle both filled with Dragon Algae, retraced her steps and walked out of the ancient tomb alone.

As soon as she emerged from the tomb, she saw a dense crowd on the plaza outside, looking as if they were excitedly waiting for something.

Upon seeing Si Mingjing exit the tomb, Lady Duanmu, accompanied by all the officials from Mengcheng, immediately approached to greet her grandly.

Lady Duanmu announced loudly and respectfully, "Everyone, this is our new City Lord, Si Mingjing! She is the only one who could enter the tomb, the most beloved woman of our great late City Lord. His Lordship decreed that whoever could enter the tomb would be the new City Lord. From this day forth, Si Mingjing is the new City Lord of Mengcheng."

All the officials of Mengcheng bowed and nodded to her.

"We welcome the new City Lord."

Si Mingjing was awestruck by the scene.

Behind Lady Duanmu and the officials, there were also thousands of members from the "Hell’s Other Shore" legion, all kneeling on one knee and proclaiming, "We welcome the new City Lord!"

Si Mingjing stood before them all, her lips pursed, remaining silent.

What a beautiful misunderstanding!

She had been able to enter the tomb because Mo Yinhe had cracked its defense system in advance. But what should she do now?

Should she gladly accept, or explain the situation?

Caught in a dilemma, Si Mingjing walked up to Lady Duanmu and said, "My Lady, this might be a coincidence. I am not the beloved woman of the City Lord."

"No, you are. Please do not reject the City Lord’s affection for you. He once said he would build a city for one person, hoping only to find a home in your heart."

Si Mingjing toyed with the diamond ring on her ring finger. "I’m sorry, my heart already has its occupant, and there’s no room for anyone else."

Lady Duanmu noticed the diamond ring on her ring finger and became even more convinced. "Miss Si, since you do not wish to let the City Lord make a home in your heart, how could you be wearing a diamond ring that the City Lord himself designed and crafted for you? Are you aware that this diamond ring you took from the tomb can command the entire Hell’s Other Shore legion?"

"Are you talking about this?"

Si Mingjing raised her ring finger.

"Exactly! This diamond ring can not only command the entire Hell’s Other Shore legion but also compel all officials in Mengcheng to swear undying loyalty to you!"

Si Mingjing was astonished. This was the engagement ring Mo Yinhe had given her, not something left behind by the City Lord.

She wanted to explain, but a thought suddenly crossed her mind. She asked subconsciously, "May I ask, what is the name of your City Lord?"

Lady Duanmu respectfully uttered three words, "Mo Yinhe."

Si Mingjing’s expression went blank.

!!!!

"Mo Yinhe? Isn’t he the Crown Prince of Atlantis? But your City Lord passed away more than thirty years ago. How could he be called Mo Yinhe? Are you joking?"

Lady Duanmu explained, "This Mo Yinhe is not *that* Mo Yinhe; it’s just a coincidence of names. Our great City Lord was named Mo Yinhe over fifty years ago!"

The City Lord had been dead for more than thirty years.

He died in his twenties.

It was obvious who had copied whose name!

But Si Mingjing wasn’t so sure.

Could that City Lord *be* Mo Yinhe?

What exactly was going on?

Si Mingjing urgently needed someone to give her answers.

"Miss Si, if you refuse to become the new City Lord, we will kneel here indefinitely."

Lady Duanmu, already in her fifties, took the lead, kneeling on one knee before her. It was a gesture of heartfelt allegiance and submission—a solemn act to fulfill the dying wish of the City Lord!

Seeing this, the other officials also knelt on one knee.

Si Mingjing quickly helped Lady Duanmu up. "Madam, please don’t do this. Stand up and let’s talk."

"If you do not agree, I will not know how to explain this to the City Lord. When I meet him in the afterlife, how will I be able to face him and report back?"

Seeing this, Si Mingjing caressed the diamond ring on her ring finger and asked, "Is this truly a ring personally designed by the City Lord to symbolize power?"

"Yes, Madam. It’s said that the world’s finest diamonds come from the sea. Back then, the City Lord wanted to find a beautiful diamond from the Undersea to craft a ring. He said only the most beautiful diamond was worthy of his baby’s ring finger. To find this diamond, the City Lord..."

"’His baby’?" Si Mingjing’s eyes widened as a thought suddenly struck her.

Lady Duanmu explained, "The City Lord said that the woman he loved was his ’baby’."

So, that password... was it really ’baby’?

Mo Yinhe didn’t crack the program set by the City Lord; he entered the tomb through another passage!

He told her the answer was ’baby’ simply because *he* was the one who set that password?

The more Si Mingjing thought about it, the more convinced she became that this was the truth!

Could it be that the City Lord was Mo Yinhe’s past life?

Mo Yinhe’s surname was clearly Ye, yet he chose the name Mo Yinhe for himself. Could it be because that was his name in a past life?

Was the reason Mo Yinhe didn’t leave the tomb with her because he had a new life now and didn’t want to be entangled with the past?

At that moment, all the members of the Hell’s Other Shore legion present shouted in unison:

"We implore Miss Si to accept Mengcheng, built for you by the City Lord!"

"We implore Miss Si to accept Mengcheng, built for you by the City Lord!"

"We implore Miss Si to accept Mengcheng, built for you by the City Lord!"

Over and over, their voices thundered, powerful enough to shake mountains and rivers.

Si Mingjing’s conviction grew. This was a gift from Mo Yinhe to her.

Si Mingjing said, "My life isn’t here. I cannot stay to manage Mengcheng..."

"It doesn’t matter, Miss Si. The City Lord made provisions long ago. He didn’t wish to confine you with a city or imprison you within its boundaries. You just need to agree to be the new City Lord. You can then appoint a proxy to manage the daily affairs of Mengcheng. The City Lord also said that you need not mourn him. In the future, you will meet a man who loves you as much as he did. Mengcheng is but one part of the dowry he has left for you."

Si Mingjing’s phoenix eyes lifted slightly. "Just one part?"

"That’s what the City Lord said," Lady Duanmu replied. "Perhaps he left you other parts of the dowry, but he didn’t tell me before his passing."

Si Mingjing raised an eyebrow. What was this Mo Yinhe up to?

"Miss Si, if you have any other concerns, please voice them. There’s nothing in this world that can’t be resolved. As long as you are willing to become the new City Lord, we are ready to resolve any and all matters for you, so you can accept Mengcheng without any worries."

A smile touched Si Mingjing’s lips. Such insistent kindness was hard to refuse.

If she were to refuse again, it would be ungracious!

Besides, accepting a city held no disadvantages for her.

Si Mingjing helped Lady Duanmu up and said solemnly, "Madam, I accept."

Then, looking up, she swept her gaze around and declared, "You may all rise. I accept. Although I will not stay in Mengcheng, since I have accepted it, I will do my utmost from this day forward to protect the people of this land. I hope I will not disappoint your expectations."