Rising Phoenix

The Chief Officer and the Vice Commander exchanged a quick glance before moving to block the door, warding off the eyes of the other officers and bailiffs. As they moved, Feng Zhiwei darted forward and stepped on the letters.

Her move relieved some of the pressure in the Chief Officer and Vice Commander's hearts; they were encouraged by Feng Zhiwei's understanding and her defense of the secret relationship, but Feng Zhiwei only had two feet. She stepped on the letters, but the secret methods of lovemaking and the various forbidden books were still out in the open, and as students forced their heads through the door, exclamations rang out: "Ah! Woooo! Oh!"

Headmaster Xin's reputation plummeted, and that was without even mentioning the possession of banned books.

"Ai ya, you all…" Feng Zhiwei cried out again. The Chief Officer and Vice Commander followed her gaze to a broken golden enamel bottle placed on the antique-and-curio shelves.

Feng Zhiwei gasped in wide-eyed fury: "It's worth ten thousand gold!"

The Chief Officer and Vice Commander's brains exploded.

Feng Zhiwei shuffled off again, hurrying over to the neighboring yard. A moment later, her cry could be heard again: "Ai ya, you all…"

At these words, night seemed to fall over the Chief Officer and Vice Commander's eyes.

Feng Zhiwei carried out a broken sword rack and placed it on the ground before straightening and bowing towards the Imperial Palace, her face filled with the utmost solemnity. "This is the Tenth Prince's Academy Residence and holds many things bestowed by the Emperor, and this was his favorite padauk sword rack…"

The two figures who had just caught up to Feng Zhiwei stared at the sword rack and began stepping backwards.

While Feng Zhiwei rushed over to another residence, the Chief Officer and Vice Commander exchanged a glance before moving quietly to the entrance, planning their escape.

But two men stood in their way, and the Helian Prince smiled brightly as he whispered to them: "You have not seen my room yet. I also have many things bestowed by the Emperor!"

Young Master Gu calmly regarded the two men, the sharp edges of the broken enamel bottle glittering coldly in his hand.

"Ai ya, you all…" Feng Zhiwei cried out again.

The blade had struck and there was nowhere to run, so the two could only head for the source of the voice, their hearts filled with resentment.

Feng Zhiwei held up a broken Octagonal, Pear Blossom, Glazed Diamond Mirror and called out: "The Princess's favorite!"

"…"

"Master Wei." The Chief Officer of the Ministry of Punishment began, his back covered in sweat. He knew that even if Feng Zhiwei was framing them, he could do nothing — he could only blame himself for underestimating his opponent. "This was this minor agent's fault. I will report to my superior when I return and we will make a formal apology to the Prince and Princess and compensate them for their loss."

After he finished speaking, he gestured for the Yamen Bailiffs to bring Feng Hao away.

"Wait!"

The group of stiff backed and bitter men slowly and unwillingly turned.

"You wanted to search so I let you search." Feng Zhiwei smiled coldly, pacing slowly with her hands held behind her back. "But did I allow you to break into residences and destroy precious belongings or desecrate the Emperor's gifts?"

"Did I allow you to enter the Bi Ling Yard?"

"Did I allow you to break into the Prince's Residence?"

"Did I allow you to rummage through our unmarried Princess's private belongings?"

"Entering the gates is easy! Capturing the criminal is acceptable! You wanted to search the academy, fine!" Feng Zhiwei snapped out from the center of the gathered crowd, her voice sharp like a fine blade, her sleeve whipping the air as she flicked her hand. "But though I allowed you to search, I do not allow you to leave."

"Close the gates!" She called out loudly.

The students rushed forward excitedly, laughing crazily as they slammed the Academy's heavy gates shut.

"For the crime of destroying Imperial Articles, the Prince and Princess will deal with you." Feng Zhiwei continued in her cold voice. "I will honestly lay the facts of the matter at their feet, but the destroyed objects were their personal belongings and under the guard of our Academy, so I will have to demand compensation from you."

"If you want compensation you must let us go to fetch money!" The Vice Commander sneered, his unhappiness rising up. "Are you still going to hold us here?"

Feng Zhiwei turned to look at the man, her sharp eyes forcing the fierce man back a step. Calmly, she replied: "Yes."

Her lips curved as she spoke: "The Yamen people are slippery. We honest academics are not your opponents. If I let you leave today, what will happen when you refuse to acknowledge your crimes in the future? How will I demand justice? Will it be left for me to pay this compensation? Naturally I must hold you here."

"You dare!"

"Unfortunately," Feng Zhiwei smiled, "You will find out what I dare."

"Come. Strip these great masters. We will hold their belongings as collateral!" Feng Zhiwei called out, and the honest academics went nuts, yelping and roaring as they rushed forward led by Helian Zheng.

This pile of savage tigers and wolves from powerful backgrounds instantly stripped this group of white-skinned swine.

Feng Zhiwei turned and looked in the direction of the Imperial Palace.

"Failing to educate the slave is the fault of the master. When a child causes trouble, it is naturally the adult who must come to make amends."

"You." She called out, pointing to a Yamen Bailiff with his pants still on.

"Go call your Great Master to come and make amends."

The Yamen Bailiff stared blankly at Feng Zhiwei wondering if this Vice Headmaster was insane. A Bailiff like him to demand anything from Prince Chu?

Feng Zhiwei turned away, ignoring the man's reaction, her back proud and straight.

"Call His Highness Prince Chu and have him come to me."

Call His Highness Prince Chu and have him come to me.

This was probably the most badass sentence ever spoken by a subordinate to a superior since the founding of the dynasty.

"Still here?" Feng Zhiwei turned to eye the frozen Yamen Bailiff. "If I must ask a second time, I am afraid you might not be able to keep your trousers."

And so the Yamen Bailiff immediately leapt into action, flashing through a small crack in the briefly opened gates.

Everyone exchanged stunned glances. The Chief Officer and the Vice Commander hid behind their subordinates as they yelled out resentfully: "Wei Zhi! You insult the Imperial Court's Officials and trample on our dignity! Instead of restraining yourself before His Highness, you dare demand that His Highness come to you? When His Highness comes you will be judged and stripped of your office before being cast into prison!"

"Oh? Really?" Feng Zhiwei replied uncaringly. "Let us see what His Highness says."

"You think His Highness will come see you?" The Nine Yamen Vice Commander snorted. "After such reckless deeds you still think His Highness will pay any attention to you? Are you thinking you will be rewarded?"

"It's hard to say." Feng Zhiwei smiled and turned away. Ignoring the stripped men, she spoke into the air, "Ai, my waist."

Someone immediately rushed over with a rattan chair.

"I'm thirsty."

Several students began fighting over who would make the Master Vice President tea.