Rising Phoenix

Translator: Aristophaneso

Apparently, Prince Chu claimed that he was occupied with His Majesty’s Health and did not have any time to deal with this arrogant minister, but after His Majesty wakes that minister better watch out!

And it was said that Master Wei claimed that neither riches nor glory could corrupt him, and neither poverty nor degradation could pressure him from principle. No threat nor force could subdue him! If anyone dared to threaten and oppress him, he was willing to spill blood in the Imperial Court to prove his innocence!

Whenever the two passed each other in the Imperial Court they would both click their tongues and harumph, ignoring the other.

That very night, Feng Zhiwei received the Fifth Prince’s gold stamped invitation to a feast at the Lan Yue1 Pavilion, a request for the honorable Cabinet Minister, Right Zhong Yun, Qing Ming Vice President, Master Wei.

Four hours after the feast began, the flushed and drunk Vice President was accompanied to the doors by the Fifth Prince himself.

“Little Wei.” Fifth Prince said, holding Feng Zhiwei’s hand and comforting his new bosom friend, his eyes earnest and sincere. “Bet at ease, as long as I am here, Old Six will not touch you.”

“Your Highness.” Feng Zhiwei replied, her eyes wet as she clutched the Fifth Prince’s hand, her face bereaved. “Thank you for your justice…”

“Old Six is stepping outside the bounds of reason!” Fifth Prince said, his expression angry. “Turning his back on the times! How dare he treat the National Scholar like this!”

Feng Zhiwei sobbed with sadness, her heart touched as she shed tears of gratitude, “Your Highness is truly a virtuous prince!”

The Fifth Prince’s face was covered with sympathy and he placed his hand on her shoulder, his voice quiet: “Then my matter, if it pleases…”

“A small matter.” Feng Zhiwei replied immediately. “If Your Highness simply wants to read one of the books in His Majesty’s Imperial Study, it is an easy matter for this minister. Your Highness need only return it promptly.”

“You can rest easy.” The Fifth Prince smiled, his voice filled with sincerity. “The Essential Prescriptions from the Golden Cabinet1  is part of His Majesty’s personal collection. His Majesty once agreed to lend it to me, but the matter was forgotten as he busied himself with national affairs. Now that Mother Consort is ill and His Majesty’s rest is disturbed, I really need this book. I can only beseech you with this matter, and after I have read it and copied the prescriptions I need, I will immediately return it.”

“How could this minor minister be worried about Your Highness’s request.” Feng Zhiwei replied, managing a smile through her tears.

“Be careful…” Fifth Prince said, warning Feng Zhiwei with great care and honesty. “Even though this matter is not extraordinary, it will still tie you into the politics, so the fewer people in the know the better. You understand.”

“This minor minister understands. Your Highness can rest assured.” Feng Zhiwei replied, her face serious.

The two exchanged more earnest and friendly words before unwillingly bidding each other farewell.

The carriage drove slowly down the long, quiet streets under the clear and cold gaze of the moon.

Feng Zhiwei sat in the dim light of the carriage, slowly wiping her hands again and again with a snowy-white handkerchief.

Her face was hidden in the darkness with only her misty eyes lit by the searching moonlight.

A cold smile creased her face.

The Imperial Bell rang out, calling the second watch of the night. The lamplights were extinguished, the Imperial Palace was locked, and the inner city was closed.

Today was Feng Zhiwei’s turn to watch the Cabinet.

The quiet corridor stretched forward like a long, green canal floating in the moonlight. The palace eaves shadowed the ground like giant rocks, silent in the water bed.

Two teams of night guards patrolled, and for a moment they disappeared around the bend, their shadows slowly fading from view.

Soft soled shoes tread soundlessly, dashing swiftly out of the corridor and towards an artificial mountain perched behind flowers and trees.

A figure waited quietly to receive her.

“Did you get it?” Lantern light from afar dimly lit the rendezvous where the Fifth Prince waited, his eyes immediately latching onto the box in her hand.

“Why is Your Highness here in person?” Feng Zhiwei replied, gazing around in surprise.

The Fifth Prince did not reply, taking the time to examine the surroundings before asking: “Where is Master Gu? Is he not here?”

“How could he be?” Feng Zhiwei smiled in amusement. “The Night Watch cannot be changed and he is not a Cabinet Official. He is not allowed to spend the night in the Imperial Palace.”

The Fifth Prince nodded, his eyes glittering.

Feng Zhiwei smiled again: “I could have sent this to Your Highness’s Residence tomorrow. Your Highness did not need to wait here, why the rush?”

“Because…” The Fifth Prince began, taking the box into hand. After checking the contents, a smile slowly covered his face as a strange light filled his eyes. “It is more convenient to kill you here.”

Feng Zhiwei’s eyes flicked upwards from the box.

“Chi…”

A faint sound like flame snipping at hair faded and Feng Zhiwei gasped quietly, slowly falling back and slumping against the railing.

She looked up at the Fifth Prince with stunned pain and despair.

“You…”

“I am very grateful.” The Fifth Prince smiled warmly, his usual calm and cool expression twisted ferociously under the moonlight. “Grateful that you have sacrificed yourself for my great plan for the throne.”

“You…” Feng Zhiwei managed, pointing a trembling, bloodied finger at the Fifth Prince.

“When I leave, I will make noise and you will die at the hands of the Imperial Guards for stealing secrets from the Imperial Study.”

The quiet Fifth Prince could no longer contain his excitement and whispered loudly, explaining his plans.

“I will let you go to your grave knowing the truth. This box does not contain the Essential Prescriptions from the Golden.”

“How…” Feng Zhiwei forced out with her last strength, close to death but unwilling to die before the right time.

“I know you are clever and would definitely check the box. Of course, this box does contain a medical book, but the book has a secret compartment that hides the greatest secret of the Imperial Family.”

The Fifth Prince opened the box and took out the book. After turning a few of the pages, the Fifth Prince removed a part of the book’s spine. A page slowly detached from the rest of the book, revealing a groove. The page was not paper, but rather jade.

The Fifth Prince took out a yellow handkerchief and unfolded it, smiling triumphantly.

“As expected, it still has Eldest Brother’s name on it.” The Fifth Prince smirked. “He did not have time to change it.”

“This is His Majesty’s Will, the lawful edict for the inheritance of the throne.” The Fifth Prince gestured with the yellow handkerchief. “This seemingly simple fabric is actually made from a special material, a peculiar mineral stretched into threats. Only a single stone has ever been found, and every character is embroidered with a unique art that only allows them to be read when held at a particular angle. A single, unreplicable, unforgeable document.

“Many years ago, when His Majesty appointed the Eldest Brother the Crown Prince, Mother Consort accidentally stumbled upon this secret and told me this secret. After many many years, I discovered the embroidering technique, and then after more searching, I finally found a woman who had mastered the technique. Since then, everything had been prepared and I only needed the opportunity to set everything in motion. And now…”