Rising Phoenix

He pulled Chunyu Meng along and grabbed Feng Zhiwei’s shoulder as they passed her, smiling: “This prince does not want to go up to such a stuffy place, let’s sit in the shelter for officials, both of you come with me.”

Feng Zhiwei stiffened.

This man’s hand, at the most suitable time, “casually” gripped her arm, and her shoulder immediately fell numb.

She had been too foolish!

She already knew that he was the number one fox in all of Tian Sheng Dynasty, and she had actually already been celebrating success! As she had moved to the side, she had given him the best opening!

As cold Qi passed into her shoulder, piercing into her blood and slowing her muscles and joints. She slowly lifted her head, and smiled through gritted teeth: “Many thanks for your Highness’ favor.”

Chunyu Meng and Lin Shao glance towards her, confused at her suddenly slowed movements, but they soon remembered that Wei Zhi was from an ordinary family, and was probably stunned with happiness that Prince Chu was paying attention to her, so her new reactions were quite understandable.

Ning Yi did not keep his voice low, and their conversation was heard in every direction. Students very orderly turned and knelt for Ning Yi, and while Chunyu Meng and Lin Shao quickly dodged out of the way, Feng Zhiwei was held in place by Ning Yi.

There she was, trapped and cold sweat pouring down her body. Ning Yi calmly called out: “You can all get up,” but still clung onto Feng Zhiwei. As everyone straightened, their eyes all changed as they locked onto Feng Zhiwei with envy and jealousy, anger or disdain, and a thousand complicated and hostile gazes memorized Feng Zhiwei’s features.

As Feng Zhiwei was suddenly targeted by an entire crowd, Ning Yi curled his lips. His smile was elegant and charming, like a snow white and demonically red Mandala flower quietly blooming in the night. Everyone sank into his charm except Feng Zhiwei – all she could think was how she wanted to curse and crush this stinking flower.

But Prince Chu ignored her gaze, and kept his hand on her shoulder as walked past the students and directed them to the shaded shelter. He sat her down in the middle of the shelter, and no one dared to near the two of them. Lin Shao wanted to follow, but he was dragged away by Chunyu Meng – the well meaning dunces winked at Feng Zhiwei as they left, encouraging her to take this opportunity to please the Prince.

Feng Zhiwei quietly sighed in secret bitterness. She’d suddenly been thrust under the scrutiny of ten thousand sharp eyes, and her pain slowly transformed — there was an understanding and transcendence that came with the tragedy of death.

“The Emperor has arrived-”

A high pitched, thin voice called out from across the way.

The square and all of its surroundings fell silent, and a pregnant stillness filled the air as a cold and quiet killing aura naturally appeared.

Everyone readied themselves to kneel, but even as Feng Zhiwei tried to stand from her chair, the man by her side leaned over and grabbed her shoulder. A cool breath like luxurious flowers and falling snow pressed forward, and he quietly slipped his hand into hers.

Feng Zhiwei was startled senseless, and without any capacity for thought heard the man whisper in her ear in a gentle tone softer than a passing dream, smiling as he asked:

“Your palm, why is it covered in sweat…”

The man’s breathed quietly on her ear, tickling gentle waves in the hair on her temple. His breath was like the spring rose and a winter fount, with thorns hidden in the beauty, and cold ice in the waters. Beautiful and enchanting, and deadly.

At that moment, the emperor arrived. While everyone paid their respects and greeted the emperor, Ning Yi leaned gently and sweetly on her shoulder, in an ambiguous and wanton manner. All the officials genuflecting on the ground cast secret glances at this pair of men, their eyes even more ambiguous than Ning Yi’s.

Prince Chu was talented and romantic, and his omnivoracious appetite was known by everyone in Dijing.

But no one else knew the malicious and murderous thoughts hiding beneath his apparent playfulness — he had sealed her meridians, and locked her knees from kneeling.

Refusing to kneel at the arrival of the Emperor was the greatest of disrespects, and it was clear that the prince was planning on murdering with a borrowed knife, forcing the Imperial Guard to charge her with disrespecting the crown and sentencing her to immediate execution.

A bright golden chariot slowly made its way through the open gates, and everyone except Feng Zhiwei was already kneeling. She remained sitting like a crane among chickens, and astonished glances were shot her way.

Feng Zhiwei lowered her eyes and focused on the face next to hers, the beautiful appearance like a spring breeze, the freezing eyes, and the terrible smile finishing his face.

A smile broke out on her face, and she sat back calmly and quietly “… since this peasant is able to die together with his highness, my palm is sweating with excitement.”

“Oh?”

 “Prince Chu surely you do not believe that I stumbled upon you by accident yesterday?” Feng Zhiwei replied calmly. “A secret building hidden away and surrounded by mysterious powers and guards, how could someone get there by accident?”

Her voice was composed, but her eyes were locked on the open gate. The bright Golden Dragon Flag was already crossing the threshold, and the arrival of the Emperor was imminent.

Ning Yi’s face froze, and his eyes deepened. This worry was why he had held his hand before, and while it was inappropriate to act with his own hands under these circumstances, he was also afraid that there were hands behind Feng Zhiwei’s actions.

And since Feng Zhiwei had brought it up herself, his suspicions deepened. If there was a mastermind behind her actions, he would need to follow the vine to the melon, and this brat’s life…

His momentary pause in thought was punctuated by the orderly march of the Imperial Guard, and the cyan suits of armor glittered in cold metallic luster as they stepped forward under the morning sun. The front guard was already in view of the square, and his hawk-like eyes swept across the square, scoping for any threats to the Emperor’s safety. His eyes had crossed most of the square and was nearing the sheltered Official’s rest…

“That mysterious underground company, what did they accomplish during the night, and where are they now?” Feng Zhiwei looked around casually. “Yi? Some of my classmates and friends from the Military Hall actually didn’t make it today?”

Ning Yi’s eyes glittered, and he let out a cold laugh.

Before his cold bark faded, he pushed her forward, and Feng Zhiwei felt her body loosen and her legs soften as she uncontrollably fell forward, her forehead meeting the ground.

Right after, the guard’s gaze swept by the shelter.

A clarion call sounded, and everyone knelt in the dust.

Feng Zhiwei also prostrated, and the sweat on her palms muddied the bricks.

Beside her, an elegant silvered, moon white cuff spread on the bricks, and Ning Yi whispered at her as he knelt. “How many associates do you have? What are they doing right now? What are you planning tonight?”

Feng Zhiwei turned her head and smiled, “Your Excellency, did you suddenly become an idiot? Why would I tell you now?”