Rising Phoenix

“Take care of Concubine Yan, bring her to a room to rest.” Feng Zhiwei calmly walked over to the door and called out to the servant girls the Yan Family had sent. “Concubine Yan lost control in her joy, and none of you should imitate her. If anything happened to the honored concubine, it will be on your heads.”

The servant girls had long since been listening at the door, and they had just begun to celebrate at the favor their young madam received from the prince when this bucket of freezing water fell on their heads. They could all only quiver silently and nod.

The servant departed and all of Feng Zhiwei’s exhaustion rushed out of her bones. Just as she was sighing and turning to leave, arms reached out and pulled her into an embrace.

Ning Yi’s warm chest pressed into her back, and Feng Zhiwei could not help but remember that a face had so recently been pressed softly into this same embrace. Her misty eyes glittered and she quietly stepped away, smiling as she said: “It’s late. Tomorrow we must still negotiate with the South Sea Officials. Your Highness should sleep.”

“Whenever you are unhappy, you speak to me so respectfully.” Ning Yi replied, his voice muffled as he refused to let her go. “It sounds so bad.”

Feng Zhiwei immediately replied: “Yes, you are right. Are you still not sleeping?”

“You need to be fiercer.” Ning Yi commented, holding her shoulder and bringing his chin next to her face, blowing idly at the hair around her ear. “Your voice needs to be more cold and distant.”

Feng Zhiwei’s mouth twitched as she said again: “You’re not sleeping!”

“Too stiff.” Ning Yi replied, toying with her hair, coiling it around his finger. “Too fake.”

What was going on? Was His Highness a masochist?

Feng Zhiwei was angry and amused, and she could not bear his games any longer as she commanded: “Go sleep!”

Before Feng Zhiwei could blush at her outburst, Ning Yi chuckled.

“Look, who cares that Gu Nanyi can tell you to sleep? I can make you tell me to sleep.” Ning Yi announced proudly as he held Feng Zhiwei and move to the bed. “This Prince is courteous to the wise, humble before scholars, and good at accepting advice. Since you said sleep, then let’s sleep.”

Feng Zhiwei: “…”

As Ning Yi dragged her over to the bed, Feng Zhiwei gently pushed him aside. “Stop it.”

Ning Yi sat on his bed and took her hand, tilting his chin up so he could stare into her eyes. Though he had lost his vision, his eyes would never mistake hers. His eyes gleamed bright and clear, reflecting Feng Zhiwei’s silhouette.

“Zhiwei, look.” He began calmly, “When something like this happens, you do not get angry and I do not feel guilt. It is hard for you and I to make the same mistakes all the worldly people make, but don’t you think that is a type of tragedy? Always cautious, always calm, always analyzing before any move. We never cry hysterically or make a fuss, and we never let ourselves go.”

Feng Zhiwei fell silent for a moment, and then she smiled again: “You’re joking again. If there really was a fuss, would you be happy?”

“No, I did not mean that.” Ning Yi sighed, slowly pulling her hand to his face. “Zhiwei, right now I really wish you were just a simple woman just like the millions of other ordinary woman in this world. I wish that you grew angry when humiliated, furious when betrayed, and that you speak when you are disappointed and cry when you are hurt.”

Feng Zhiwei fell silent once more, her fingers brushing Ning Yi’s warm, smooth face. Though her fingers delighted in the caress, her heart beat laboriously as if she were climbing a steep mountain.

The dark room was lit only by soft moonlight, but her eyes shone brightly. She quietly stared at Ning Yi, waves churning behind her gaze.

The two faced each other quietly, his warm breath on her palm, light like spring willow leaves and soft like the breeze, but the soft warmth was followed by a cold, quiet wetness seeping through the skin and sinking down to the bones, refusing to dissipate into the deep, autumn night.

A long while later, Feng Zhiwei gently pulled her hand back.

“One day, I will be that simple woman.” She said gently, her smile somewhat cold. “But a simple woman is only suitable for a simple man and a simple life. When that time comes, I hope to have a small house and a few acres of fertile land and a simple, fitting man who still stand for me when I am downtrodden, who will take up a blade when I am betrayed, who will stay with me by the fire when I am down, and who will hate my tears and hold me when I cry.”

Ning Yi listened silently, his fingers pale as he clutched the side of the bed.

“Today was absurd.” He finally said, “But sometimes people have to take a moment and chase after absurdities and foolishness.”

“But it was not stupid.” He concluded, slowly lying back and closing his eyes. “Now I am finally certain that…”

He did not finish his sentence and Feng Zhiwei did not pry, and she helped him out of his boots and robe. As he sank back into bed, exhausted, he closed his eyes and gestured for Feng Zhiwei to leave.

After Feng Zhiwei quietly disappeared out the door, Ning Cheng silently entered.

“For three days, don’t show yourself.” Ning Yi announced, his eyes closed.

“Ah? No.” Ning Cheng replied with shock. “How could you go without my protection?”

“I can only live peacefully when you are not there.” Ning Yi continued, ignoring Ning Cheng’s words.

Ning Cheng rolled his eyes. After a moment, he replied: “That woman is too messy, I’m just applying a strong medicine to address the symptoms.”

“You don’t even understand her symptoms, how could you understand the medicine?” Ning Yi lazily replied. “Don’t think yourself clever.”

“If you’re asking me, ruin her Kung Fu, assassinate Gu Nanyi, drive away Helian Zheng, and then screw the consequences and abduct her. Done!” Ning Cheng announced.

“Then you can just wait for the dead body that will come three days later, hers, or mine.”

Ning Cheng humphed, “I am worth my pay.”

“Don’t underestimate Feng Zhiwei.” Ning Yi quietly replied. “All that gentleness and patience is just her mask; she only acts that way because she does not want to attract enemies, but if you touch her bottom line, with the ruthlessness and determination in her bones, not even ten Ning Cheng’s together could stand in her way.”

Before Ning Cheng could reply, Ning Yi continued: “Go. Remember, three days.”

As Ning Cheng unhappily obeyed, Ning Yi called out: “Send a letter to Dijing through the secret guards. Tell them no need to act, just wait for my return.”

Ning Cheng turned back, but Ning Yi lay still and silent in the dark night.

When Ning Cheng returned to his room, he brought out a slip of paper and wrote down Ning Yi’s instructions. After some thought, he carefully added to the bottom of the message: “The Prince’s heart is unruly, this Little Brother worries. Sir has great talent and can decide accordingly.”