Rising Phoenix

Feng Zhiwei looked down at herself – mud still clung to her clothes, and green grass stained her hands and clothes. Only the pinnacle of fools would believe that Ning Yi did not immediately recognize her.

Of course, Ning Yi could only identify her as the escaped interloper, and still did not know her real identity. No matter how impressive Ning Yi was, he could not see through the skin mask and see her real face.

Feng Zhiwei breathed deeply and then smiled faintly, bowing. “Your Excellency Prince Chu? It would be an honor to accompany you.”

Surprise flashed through Ning Yi’s eyes, and his heart twitched. Somehow, this strange young man with such an extraordinary getup seemed familiar, but with all the worries weighing him down, he quickly put the matter to the side. He laughed secretly at this young man’s daring, and wondered where he got his guts from.

Ning Yi watched as Feng Zhiwei turned to smile at Chunyu Meng. “Just now, Lin Shao told me that he had something interesting to show me. Brother Chun, do you know where he is? We can all head over together, so when Headmaster Xin hands out punishments, we can have some more backup.”

Chunyu Meng was ecstatic and laughed. “Those brothers are just up ahead, and what you said is exactly right, if we’re going to suffer we should all suffer together. Let’s go get them.”

As soon as he finished replying, he turned and yelled: “Brother Lin! Brother Lin! We’re over here!”

Footfalls came in response, and Lin Shao’s clear and crisp voice called out in reply: “Ai, we’ve waited for so long! The event is beginning soon, we need to get to the Lecture Hall, hurry, hurry!”

Ning Yi’s smile grew even more frigid, and he quirked his lips as Chunyu Meng walked over to talk to Lin Shao. “You really know too much.”

Feng Zhiwei blinked silently, and smiled faintly.

She did not dare talk too much, after all, Ning Yi might recognize her voice. Even though the large-robed man had taught her how to use Qi to change her voice, she was still worried.

The two exchanged glanced, the one hiding murderous intent, and the other wearing a smiling mask. As one wondered how best to rid himself of this random cockroach that had crawled into his affairs, who seemed so able to through up obstacles and hide, the other was desperately treading water and searching for ways to escape this smiling tiger and his half-masked murderous intent.

Across the way, the oblivious Lin Shao happily urged them on. For some reason, Lin Ji was not accompanying him, but nothing seemed to hamper Lin Shao’s cheeriness as he brightened visible at the sight of Feng Zhiwei and the smile on her face. He had no idea she could smile like that, and Zhiwei’s expression was truly rare – she only wore it when she’d found a shield in harrowing times.

Feng Zhiwei walked over and casually grabbed Lin Shao’s cuff, smoothly turning and leading him, surreptitiously guiding him between herself and Ning Yi. She smiled cheerfully, “I was just looking for you, let’s go.”

Lin Shao was stunned. Feng Zhiwei was usually gentle and accommodating like a soft spring breeze, warm and kind, but always maintaining a distance as uncrossable as that between the heaven and the oceans. This was the first time she had been so intimate with him, and he looked from her hand on his cuff to her smiling eyes, and his eyes reddened.

Ning Yi cocked his head at Feng Zhiwei, and suddenly smiled, calling out, “Eleventh Brother, are you not going to greet me?”

Lin Shao was surprised again, and looked at Ning Yi with confusion, astonished at Ning Yi’s breach of protocol. Feng Zhiwei swore silently in her heart, cursing this meddling older brother! He’d intentionally revealed Lin Shao’s identity so that Feng Zhiwei could not walk with him, neutralizing Zhiwei’s precious shield!

Even as she swore inside, she maintained her calm and innocent expression. She blinked, and naively interrupted, “Ah, Little Brother Shao, are you related to his excellency Prince Chu?”

Lin Shao’s face glowed with a happy blush at Feng Zhiwei’s words, and his mind seemed to sharpen in response. He immediately smiled and replied, “Yes, I am distantly related to the Prince’s mother, and so I’m His Excellency’s distantly removed cousin on his mother’s side. Apologies for my lack of decorum, greetings to Elder Brother!” As he spoke, he sketched out a half-formal bow.

Ning Yi smiled faintly, and slowly replied. “Alright, Eleventh Cousin. But don’t forget to greet your distantly related Imperial Uncle later.”

Lin Shao stiffened, and his face soured as he lifted his head.

During this second bout between Feng Zhiwei and Ning Yi, the little Shield Shao had been sacrificed…

The Lecture Hall was called a hall, but was in fact a large square. The stone was paved white, and the platform a regal black, and resting on top a translucent tiled pavilion. At every window in the house was a place to rest and admire the view, a preparation made for the Imperials and nobleman who used the house while attending celebrations and ceremonies. For the contest this time, every window had been masked with a white yarn that blocked the view from without, but left everything clear for anyone inside. The Imperial family kept apart, guarded against the casual gaze.

Shaded shelters had been set up around the square for the various ranked officials, while all the students, no matter their status, were relegated to waiting outside the wooden fence.

The Lecture Hall was only opened once a year, and Feng Zhiwei had not known the traditions of the arrangement, but when she saw the crowd, her heart leaped with joy. A sea of people surrounded the square, and it looked like almost every student had turned up.

Some students squeezed past the group, chatting as they ran forward. “Hurry! I heard Prince Chu is coming today, we need to work harder!”

Another person replied, “Really? I though Prince Chu and Headmaster Xin had a falling out three years ago, and he stopped coming to the academy.”

 “What are you doing paying so much attention to noble matters!” The first student rolled his eyes as he replied. “Even if Prince Chu has stepped back from state affairs, his talent and education still remains. He’s close with many writers and Imperial officials talented in writing, painting, and calligraphy. Don’t you want to join the Hanlin Academy?” The best way to get a career as an official is to attract his attention!”

The group of students from the Politics and History Hall squeezed excitedly forward. Students everywhere were talking about how to impress the Emperor, how to please the Crown Prince, how to get in good with the Second Prince, and how Prince Qi was interested in military affairs and the martial arts, or how to build a relationship with the noble and prudent Seventh Prince… This Academy Competition was for the cream of the crop, and all the students were excited.

Stopped coming to Qin Ming Academy? He was wandering around the academy’s secret tunnel yesterday…

Fell out with Headmaster Xin? The headmaster was waiting for him in the dead of night…

Feng Zhiwei secretly judged her fellow students, but kept an excited expression on her face. “Ah… Your Excellency is held in such high esteem, to be able to walk with Your Excellency is the blessing of three lifetimes for this student.

Chunyu Meng smiled in response, and immediately added. “Your Excellency, it seems like we must part company now. I’m afraid if we keep accompanying you, we will cause so much jealousy that someone will come beat us up.”

He was apparently very familiar with Ning Yi, and his manner of speaking was very casual as he bid farewell. Feng Zhiwei clasped her hands and bowed, happily moving to the side.

 “What are you afraid of?” Ning Yi curled his mouth and glanced at Chunyu Meng.” You are students from the Military Hall, so your aim won’t be me, but my second brother. Anyway, you already have a title; what does it matter if you walk with me?”