Rising Phoenix

Ning Cheng sealed the envelope, his strange, determined expression shadowed by the flickering candle light.

The night was loud. When Yan Huaiying woke, she cried and screamed and yelled the entire night, calling for Prince Chu and yelling for Feng Zhiwei. Feng Zhiwei ignored the summons and had people stuff the girl’s out hand tie her to her bed in the hopes that she could finally have restful sleep for whatever night remained, but she could not sleep at all. She dreamed and dreamed of a faraway Ning Yi in the Emperor’s Audience Hall speaking to her and telling her that with all the trials and tribulations of life, none of them could truly be themselves.

When she woke, she stared up at her ceiling for a long time, thinking to herself that Ning Yi was an evil man who could only speak truth in dreams.

When she washed up, she found Young Master Gu in front of her door eating walnuts. Last night, Feng Zhiwei had tricked Gu Nanyi by saying that she was going to beat Ning Yi, so Young Master GU had happily left her. Today, in the bright of day, he greeted her by saying: “Liar.”

The guilty Feng Zhiwei replied: “I hit him, just not on the face so you can’t see it.”

After these words, her guilt only grew. In a way, Feng Zhiwei thought that her words were actually truthful.

After breakfast, Feng Zhiwei prepared to visit the Commissioner’s Yamen to discuss the founding of the department. Yan Huaishi and the other family’s all rushed over to the Western Courtyard to pay their respects. A disgruntled Yan Huaishi had only just found out about the Yan Family’s concubine plan, and all the Yan Family people kept glancing expectantly at Ning Yi’s room.

“Brother Yan.” Feng Zhiwei casually announced as they chatted and waited for the Prince. “This Minister has been greatly honored. Last night, His Highness granted this brother a beautiful concubine.”

Amazed excitement filled a stunned Yan Huaishi’s eyes and he laughed as he replied: “Truly? Congratulations, Master Wei.”

All the Yan Family people exchanged fearful glances, and one of them tentatively asked: “Congratulations Great One. Is this beauty someone who came along from Dijing to serve beside His Highness?”

“The gentlemen have great wits but short memories.” Feng Zhiwei smiled charmingly. “When we arrived, did we have any women with us? Who else could it be but the woman the Yan Family gifted last night?”

Of the Yan Family people, only Yan Huaishi did not seem struck by lightning. The other Family Heads had no idea what had happened, so they assumed the Yan Family had won the Imperial Envoy’s support and could only offer envious congratulations. But when it was Old Man Yan’s turn to offer his praise, his face was stiff and his fingers trembling.

When the others noticed Old Man Yan’s strange reaction, they immediately poked their followers and sent off their talented attendants to investigate. Soon, the truth of the matter was discovered and spread throughout Feng Zhou: the Yan Family had sacrificed their Young Madam for Prince Chu and only to have her be immediately gifted to the Prince’s subordinate.

What a heavy blow! The Yan Family completely lost their spirits and were speechless. Feng Zhiwei watched everything with a cool eye before climbing onto her sedan chair, wasting no words as she led the Qing Ming Young Masters to visit the South Sea Commissioner’s Yamen.

Gu Nanyi and Ning Cheng accompanied her. Although Ning Cheng was incredibly unwilling, he could only obey Ning Yi’s command — since the Prince was not the Imperial Envoy to the South Sea Province, he could not be directly involved in the founding of the new department. He could only send Ning Cheng with the excuse of protecting Feng Zhiwei, and since Ning Cheng represented Prince Chu, this of course showed the world that Wei Zhi had Prince Chu’s support; but in Ning Cheng’s eyes, as the most beloved subordinate, guarding a Third Rank Minister he despised was a great insult.

Feng Zhiwei also did not want this buffoon in her entourage. She understand that Ning Cheng was the mastermind of the previous night’s distractions and she could not even stand the sight of his face, but none of them had been able to dissuade Ning Yi. His Highness had said that if there were no need for Ning Cheng, why did they bring this piece of trash along to begin with? Go back to Dijing.

Feng Zhiwei could not allow Ning Yi’s strongest expert to leave his side, so she could only accept the annoyance as Ning Cheng rode alongside and tried to make conversation with Gu Nanyi.

At first she had closed her eyes and paid no mind, but as she listened more and more the stranger the conversation became — Ning Cheng seemed to be probing for Gu Nanyi’s background.

“Brother Gu’s Kung Fu is fathomless.” Ning Cheng stubbornly nagged. “When could you give me some pointers…”

Young Master Gu crushed eight walnuts in one fist, warning Ning Cheng of his growing impatience and anger.

“Mister Ning.” Feng Zhiwei called out, lifting the sedan chair’s curtain. “Brother Gu does not enjoy conversing, please do not bother him. If there is anything you wish to know, you can come inside and this Minister will answer all your questions.”

Ning Cheng was not at all embarrassed to be discovered and immediately replied: “Ah, no need, Brother Gu feels like an old friend. I hope he and I can become sworn brothers.”

Feng Zhiwei smiled fakely down from her chair and dropped the curtain, thinking to herself that if he could make Gu Nanyi his sown brother then she could make Ning Yi dance in a dress.

When the sedan chair stopped before the South Sea Commissioner’s Yamen, the gates stood empty. Attendants went forth and returned with the explanation that Master Zhou was resting in a sickbed after many days of tiring work and refusing to see any guests.

Where were the Left and Right Secretaries? Off on a trip hunting after the assassin from the Dock Explosion Incident.

Where were the Left and Right advisors? Out on business.

Where was the County Protector?[1] Also out on business.

After that, they visited Feng Zhou’s Magistrate Mansion only to find that today was an official holiday and they were also not receiving guests, and the Magistrate himself had gone off to Ren Ji Village to deal with a mass casualty incident.

Feng Zhiwei only smiled as the County Magistrate’s official explained apologetically, but Helian Zheng and the other Qing Ming Young Masters were not so retrained as they began yelling and complaining.

“What are they playing at!”

“They’re intentionally ignoring us!”

Let’s go find Zhou Xizhong!”

Feng Zhiwei sat comfortably in the Magistrate Mansion’s Front Hall, smiling as she drank her tea and listened to the Young Master’s wailing. She sipped leisurely, in no hurry to leave as the official before her sat on pins and needles.

After satisfying herself with the tea, she spoke: “Even if your department is resting today, there should still be people here, right? This Minister wants to borrow some manpower, is that alright?”

“By your command.”

A group of confused Yamen Bailiffs were summoned and stood at attention, waiting for her command. Feng Zhiwei unhurriedly enjoyed her tea before calmly announcing: “Since today is a holiday, everyone should relax. You all are familiar with the cities, so I will ask you to be guides for us. Wherever we want to go to play, you will bring us. Afterwards, every master will give great rewards.”

The Yamen Bailiffs froze and the students cried out feverishly. Yao Yangyu ran over and whispered into Feng Zhiwei’s ear: “Everything is allowed?”

Feng Zhiwei glanced at him: “Wherever you want to go.”

“Really, anywhere?” Yao Yangyu repeated, his eyes gleaming.

“Really, everything is allowed.”

Yao Yangyu giggled excitedly as Feng Zhiwei unhurriedly continued: “Don’t be miserly. Bring the bailiff brothers with you when you play, and if you encounter any familiar faces or local government officials… ah, well, as an Imperial Envoy, I also supervise Public Order, Civil Administration, Economics, Military and Official Affairs, and since you are all my followers, this Imperial Envoy grants you those same powers… hehe.”

[1] In the Ming Dynasty, every province has a Commissioner, Left and Right Secretaries左右参政, Left and Right Advisors左右参议 and a County Protector守道.