Rising Phoenix

Ning Yi once again!

Feng Zhiwei thought back to her first encounter with him in the Qiu Mansion. She thought about the golden locket under Fifth Aunt's bed and how Feng Hao had always begged for money while bragging about the Young Master brothers he'd met… everything was touched by Ning Yi's shadow, and the prince was somehow part of every scene.

What did he want?

What kind of secret could Ning Yi have found in Feng Hao?

These past days, even though Feng Hao was being bossed around by Helian Zheng, his face held an unconcealed excitement. What had he done?

Feng Zhiwei brought her cup to her lips but did not drink. Although she seemed outwardly high spirited and unfettered, her worries floated near her at all times like the gently stirring liquor in her cup.

Before she could drink away her worries, the nasty guests had arrived.

"Master!" One of her lieutenants called out, rushing in with a large group, "The Ministry of Punishment and the Nine Yamen have sent people. They claim the Academy is harboring serious criminals and that they need to bring us to the Ministry of Punishment.

"They dare!" Yao Yangyu cried out, jumping to his feet. The young man had been constantly ignoring Helian Zheng's ugly expression, coming to drink the free booze. At the attendant's words, Young Master Yao burst out like a firecracker, rolling up his sleeves: "They dare arrest Qing Ming Academy's people? Since Tian Sheng was founded, nothing this ridiculous has ever happened! I'll go kick them out!"

All bustle and threat, he led the group and turned to leave.

"Hold!"

The words came from a person Yao Yangyu did not dare ignore, and he could only turn and protest: "Vice Headmaster, I know we are forbidden from making trouble, but if others come to bully us wantonly, how can we not fight back?"

"We still don't understand the matter at hand, why rush?" Feng Zhiwei replied, standing casually in the gentle breeze. Her liquor in hand, she smiled as she continued: "At least give them an opportunity to explain."

Pointing to the main gates, she called out: "Open the gates, don't let them wait outside. Call them in and have them state their intentions."

"Vice Headmaster!" Yao Yangyu hurriedly replied: "The Ministry of Punishment and the Nine Yamen's lackeys are the worst…"

"Let them in." Feng Zhiwei repeated, cutting off Yao Yangyu with a look. The Young Master trembled and shut his mouth, and Feng Zhiwei was already sweeping by him, her calm voice floating in the breeze.

"Since nothing this ridiculous has ever happened to Qing Ming Academy since Tian Sheng was founded, then it won't happen while under my command."

Feng Zhiwei left, leaving Yao Yangyu staring dazedly after her. He turned to Helian Zheng and asked him: "Why do I feel that every word the Vice Headmaster speaks will undoubtedly prove true?"

"Of course!" Helian Zheng replied, spreading his arms proudly to embrace the sky. "My Small Aunt… oh, rather, My Vice Headmaster is the fiercest! Like the Scarlet Eyed Eagles perched in the wooded forests, insidious malice and tender ferocity!"

His words finished, he set off in a happy run, chasing after Feng Zhiwei.

"Was that a compliment?"

"Jiang Xiao, born in the Jiang Huai Province. On the 14th year of Chang Xing, he escaped after assassinating the witness of the Hangzhou Grain Fraud Case. He changed his name to Jiang Tao and has been hiding in Qing Ming Academy. We have come to arrest him."

The Ministry of Punishment's people explained their intentions in a few terse words, and while Feng Zhiwei's outward smile remained unchanged, her mind was contorted into a frown.

The Qing Ming Academy had been dragged into the muddy waters.

The fight between the Six Ministries had finally reached Qing Ming. The rumor went that the Minister of Work's nephew had been embezzling money from the grain business and had murdered a witness when he had been discovered. After the murder, he had mysteriously disappeared and had never been found. Unexpectedly, he was hiding in Dijing, in Qing Ming Academy!

No wonder the Minister of Works had tried to befriend Feng Zhiwei.

Feng Zhiwei mentally patted herself on the back for her wisdom, smiling as she replied: "Oh, is that so? The masters must know that the Academy allows students to join under aliases. If someone had helped him arrange a clean identity, it is difficult for our Academy to investigate."

"Master Vice President has a silver tongue." The leading officer from the Ministry of Punishment replied, the curve of his smile not reaching his eyes. "But no matter what you say, you must hand the man over to me."

"Of course." Feng Zhiwei answered, immediately calling for people to guide the officers to Jiang Xiao, especially reminding them not to alert the suspect.

But the group unexpectedly returned, the head officer furious. Feng Zhiwei's heart fell.

"He's gone!" The head officer fumed, staring coldly at Feng Zhiwei. "We only caught an informant!"

The agents pushed a person forward and Feng Zhiwei's eyes turned cold.

Feng Hao!

"It wasn't me! I didn't do it!" Feng Hao cried out, flailing in terror against the Yamen officer's steel grip, struggling to escape. "I didn't do it!"

A bag was tossed before his feet, opening and revealing gold coins and silver bills.

"If it was not you, why were you in Jiang Xiao's room? Why does a poor student like you have these gold coins? How did you come into possession of Huifeng Bank's silver bills? The Huifeng Bank belongs to a company owned by Jiang Xiao's grandfather!

The questions stunned Feng Hao, and finally he managed quietly: "He gave them to me… he's a good friend I met recently…"

"Jiao Xiao does have a good friend in Dijing, and we know that this friend also took part in the fraud." The head officer smiled coldly as he replied. "He must be you!"

Beside him, the Vice Commander from the Nine Yamen gestured angrily and called out: "Investigate! Jiang Xiao still has partners! See if they are hiding in Qing Ming!"

"Hold!"

"Master Vice President wishes to speak?" The chief officer turned to Feng Zhiwei, his face expectant. "My department is investigating Qing Ming under Prince Chu's orders."

Feng Zhiwei smiled coldly.

As expected, Ning Yi did not wish her to have any power. As soon as she was beginning to thrive in Qing Ming, he was here to kick her out.

Otherwise, with the Ministry of Punishment and Qing Ming both in his camp, how could the Ministry of Punishment come to make trouble in her academy?

Otherwise, why would Xin Ziyan so coincidentally step back from his Qing Ming duties?

If she let the Ministry of Punishment search Qing Ming, she would not be able to stay any longer.

But there was no way she could stop them from searching.

"Is Master Vice President stopping us from searching?" The head officer pressed again.

Feng Zhiwei gestured silently, stopping the angry Helian Zheng and the combative Gu Nanyi as she took a moment to think.