Rising Phoenix

"Brother, let him search!" Yan Huaiying called out from within the sedan, holding in her tears. "Once I enter this gate I am no longer the Young Madam of the Yan Family!"

Entering to suffer humiliation, throwing away her identity to win a better future!

Of course Yan Huaiyuan understood, but he still went through the motions. At his sister's words, he immediately stepped aside and allowed the guards to search the sedan and Yan Huaiying. Finally, the guard nodded to Ning Cheng.

Ning Cheng looked out at the frountyard, amusement and satisfaction gleaming in his eyes as he waved the guard aside.

The little sedan chair quietly entered the gates.

Yan Huaiyuan humbly stepped back, and as he stared into the Jing Xin Residence and the flowers engraved in its short wall, pride gleamed in his eyes.

He turned and left down a side path, not noticing the two people standing behind the flowering tree beside him.

Feng Zhiwei stood silently, her empty stomach still burning. She had known the Yan Family would make a move for the prince, but she had not imagined that they would gift a woman, much less stoop to the shame of gifting away their eldest, Main Branch Young Madam.

And even more surprising, Ning Yi had accepted.

After the troubles in their journey, the protection around Ning Yi and Feng Zhiwei had been an iron wall with no holes. Ning Yi would not have slept so early, so he surely heard about the matters at his gate; without his approval, Yan Huaiying would never have been able to set foot into the yard.

Feng Zhiwei smiled in the darkness under the tree.

Prince Chu's promiscuous ways were known through Dijing, but other than that one time they had met in the brothel, Feng Zhiwei had never seen it. But tonight, she finally had.

After leaving Dijing, the prince had not touched a woman for 31 days and 18 hours. She could understand that he wanted to let loose.

Feng Zhiwei brushed her hand against the dewed tree, the cold wet of the bark reminding her of the turmoil in her stomach. She no longer wanted to return to her room and sleep, so she turned and said: "Brother Gu, let's take a walk."

Gu Nanyi peered down at her, his shining eyes visible through his veil: "You're tired. You should sleep."

Feng Zhiwei lifted her long lashes as she stared back up at him. After a moment, she smiled and slowly replied: "Yes, I am tired. I want to sleep. But tonight there is a guest in the residence, and I think I will keep my distance. Tomorrow, I will find another residence to sleep in."

Gu Nanyi refused to move. He thought that Feng Zhiwei was saying that her bed had been taken, so he pondered deeply. After much hesitation, he forced himself to say: "You can sleep with me."

"…"

Feng Zhiwei staggered, clutching the tree in shock and amusement. She looked up into Gu Nanyi's bright eyes, thinking deeply but coming up with nothing. Finally, she reminded him: "You hate to sleep with others."

Young Master Gu took out a walnut and slowly chewed it, composedly expressing his enormous sacrifice: "I am your man, sleeping is okay."

"…"

Feng Zhiwei staggered again, and the flowers above her head trembled and fell from their branches. Young Master Gu swept the flower petals aside, grasping her sleeve as he said: "Come, sleep."

Okay Young Master, I understand that you are saying you will protect me and are willing to sacrifice your personal comfort to let me sleep in your bed, but could you not speak so vaguely and curse people to death.

"I don't want to sleep tonight." Feng Zhiwei complained, hugging the tree and refusing to move. "I don't want to."

But Young Master Gu insisted: "You're not well. Go sleep."

Feng Zhiwei understood how stubborn Young Master Gu could be. He could be truly terrifying when he insisted; just look at him and his walnuts. Feng Zhiwei was afraid that if Young Master Gu grew impatient he would knock her out and bring her to bed. Luckily, her stomach chose that moment to growl and a pain grew in her belly. Hurriedly, she replied: "I'll sleep soon, but I'm not feeling well. I need to go to the latrines."

Young Master Gu let her go as Feng Zhiwei glanced all around her. Finally, she spotted a public latrine nearby and rushed over.

As she rushed in, her pain grew more and more urgent. Her stomach had not agreed at all with the fresh and raw seafood and was in total rebellion; as she squatted down, she knew that she would be trapped her for a while.

As she grunted, she heard Ning Cheng's voice nearby as he called out orders.

Feng Zhiwei stirred, finally noticing that this delicate latrine was built right next to the Jing Xin Residence. The Yan Family was wealthy and unafraid of luxury, so they had many conveniently placed, well-crafted latrines. Every building in the Xi Yard was well designed, and every wall was decorated with a hollow flower pattern that functioned more as decoration then as shelter or wall. This rarely used latrine was right next to her room in the Jing Xin Residence and across from Ning Yi's.

The location was unfortunate, but Feng Zhiwei was helpless. She sighed; though she wished to leave, her belly disagreed, so she remained squatting.

Ning Yi had finished his meditation. He stood under the cool, clear moonlight, and when he heard Ning Cheng's steps, he walked out of his room.

Not really thinking of much, Ning Yi called out: "What time is it?"

"Third watch."

Ning Yi noticed a strange twist in Ning Cheng's voice, but he did not pay it much mind. He spoke again: "Is the feast over?"

"That Wei is not back yet." Ning Cheng murmured. "Hopefully she'll come back soon."

"What are you saying?"

"Ah, nothing." Ning Cheng replied. "Master, you should rest. That Wei should be back soon."

Ning Yi fell silent. He thought about how gluttonous the woman was for alcohol and he called out: "Go prepare some sobering tea and desserts."

"If I remember correctly, didn't you just eat some dessert two hours ago?" Ning Cheng happily replied.

"I'm hungry again. Is that wrong?" Ning Yi replied lightly, glancing over. Ning Cheng immediately shut his mouth and walked away, murmuring to himself: "Even his blind gaze is so fierce…"

Ning Yi smiled speechlessly as Ning Cheng muttered loudly to himself.

Everyone thought it was strange that Ning Yi spoiled this bodyguard of his, allowing him to grow rowdy and lawless, completely unlike all of Ning Yi's other subordinates, but only the Prince himself understood the quiet happiness that Ning Cheng brought him in his heavy and murky world.

"Bring pine nut pastry and mint cake! Not the greasy, goose fat roll!" Ning Yi called to Ning Cheng.