Rising Phoenix

As soon as Feng Zhiwei had taken two steps, a straight-faced man blocked her, glaring disapprovingly as he spoke: “Once again, I wish I could take fifteen minutes to take deal with you and spare my master the future headache.”

Feng Zhiwei had no idea what fifteen minutes he was referring to, but she understood Ning Cheng’s threat. She pointed at her nose and replied: “You could, but it is quite likely that while after those few minutes, you will have a headache for the rest of your life.”

Little dummy Gu instantly appeared by her side and greeted Ning Cheng with a walnut, showing him exactly what kind of head ache would follow him — and so the serious morning conversation about death and murder smoothly ended.

“The Longnan Army is in position.” Ning Cheng said when he caught up to her. “I’m thinking we go through Longnan’s Qu Shui River and take the direct route to Feng Zhou City. This way, we’re less likely to give the Long Xi people any warning.”

“Since your Prince has given you this command, you do not need to ask my opinion.” Feng Zhiwei smiled and replied. “It would be a waste to not use to people we have right now. Our group will be escorted to the Commissioner’s Mansion by Shen Junxin and his people. You just need to lead the three thousand Longnan Army and wait for our call.”

Feng Zhiwei returned to the courtyard. As she had expected, Shen Junxin was there to greet her, and Helian Zheng’s Eight Valiants had also arrived. Feng Zhiwei smiled quietly — everyone was here.

“This brother still had some duties in Longnan Province.” Feng Zhiwei said to Shen Junxin. “I am preparing to head to Feng Zhou City to pay Master Shen a visit. What are the two gentlemen’s plans?”

“Good good good!” Shen Junxin immediately replied, eager and joyful. “Master Liu and I will escort you both. I have already called for a thousand of Ji Yang’s troops to follow us, guarding and protecting the Hu Zhuo Prince and the other great ones.”

“Many thanks for your hard work.” Feng Zhiwei replied, smiling kindly. “When I meet with Master Shen, I will definitely mention everyone’s good work.”

The two men smiled until their eyes were hidden.

Helian Zheng whispered to his bodyguards: “You all must never take a Han woman as your wife.”

The Eight Valiants all nodded in sincere agreement, and they turned to Helian Zheng: “What about the Prince?”

Helian Zheng miserably replied: “It might be too late for me…”

Ning Cheng’s big head popped up in their midst and he asked sincerely: “Do you want me to solve your problem forever?”

Group battle.

Fifteen minutes later, Ning Cheng patted the dirt off his clothes and swaggered off…

Feng Zhiwei and the others climbed above the luxurious coach Shen Junxin had prepared, protected all the while by Ji Yang soldiers. Ning Yi followed along as usual, indifferent and calm; beside him, Feng Zhiwei acted as if nothing had happened, never looking at the blind prince.

Young Master Gu lay on the roof of the carriage, playing the same flute melody over and over.

Helian Zheng kept glancing over, unable to stifle the feeling that despite the apparent normalcy, everything had changed.

Beside them, the oblivious Shen Junxin and Advisor Liu were joyfully flushed, already imagining their bright futures when in truth they were heading down a road of no return.

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Magistrate Peng stood quietly at the gates of the mansion, watching the mysterious people who had shown up and saved him from his troubles. He followed them with baffled eyes, and as they disappeared into the distance he turned his gaze upwards towards the sky. Finally, he murmured: “The winds are changing…”

The road from Ji Yang to Feng Zhou took a day on a fast horse and half a day more on a slow one.

By nightfall on the second day, their team entered Feng Zhou City. Shen Junxin was immediately ready to send a messenger to the Commissioner’s Yamen, but Feng Zhiwei cut him off.

“The Hu Zhuo Prince does not like unnecessary formality, and a minor seventh Rank Special Censor like me is not worthy of an Honored Commissioner coming to the gates. We will go to him.”

She continued: “Now that we’re here, the Longnan Troops are unnecessary. Jing Yang is defenseless. It would be best to send the men back to guard against any bandit attacks.”

Shen Junxin agreed with the Censor’s logical words, ordering the company leader to head back. Advisor Liu frowned at the rather reckless act of sending the troops away before even entering the city gates, but though Shen Junxin was lower ranking, he shared a surname with the Commissioner. They were also counting on Feng Zhiwei to speak well of them, so despite his misgivings, Advisor Liu kept his peace.

The Commissioner’s Yamen was not at the heart of Feng Zhou City. The rumors about Shen Xunru said that he was an elegant man who enjoyed the mountains and waters, so his Yamen was built next to the Spirit Fountain Lake in the south of the city.

When they reached the gates, Shen Junxin thought to go forward and reveal his status for a priority entrance, but Feng Zhiwei waved him aside and smiled: “Why take out our tokens? It’s nice to walk the leisurely path of the commoner and see the life of the people. This brother has traveled like this the entire way here.”

Shen Junxin chuckled and easily agreed, standing in line and waiting with them. Beside them, Advisor Liu frowned again.

After they entered the city, the carriages and horses sped up and the Eight Valiants calmly took formation around Shen Junxin and Advisor Liu. Even then, Shen Junxin did not suspect anything. As they crossed through the eastern district, Shen Junxin invited everyone to sit for a moment at his house, but Feng Zhiwei politely decline. Shen Junxin nodded agreeably, but mentioned that he wanted to stop for a moment to speak with his wife. This idea was also rejected by Helian Zheng.

At this point, even the dreamy eyed Shen Junxin began to worry, and he exchanged a meaningful look with Advisor Liu. Advisor Liu turned and eyed one of his followers.

The servant immediately turned and moved towards the Eight Valiants, smiling as he said: “My master accidentally left opium paste in Master Shen’s mansion back in Ji Yang. This paste is meant for the Commissioner, and my master has asked me to bring it.”

The Eight Valiants exchanged a look and let the servant through, allowing the nervous Shen Junxin and Advisor Liu to relax a little.

As soon as the servant was out of view, he began galloping down the streets, but just as he turned a quiet corner, a cold light flashed.

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The servant clutched at his bloody throat and fell from his horse; the last image before his eyes that of a grey-robed man flipping over a wall.

In the main group, everyone chatted pleasantly. Feng Zhiwei rode a horse besides the two unfortunate man, pointing at the sights and admiring the city. With the Censor’s calm and agreeable behavior, Shen Junxin and Advisor Liu slowly calmed down. After all, their servant had already left to notify the Commissioner’s Yamen and the two thousand Yamen troops outside the city would soon be on standby. They had nothing to be worried about.

Soon, they crossed over into the western portion of the city. Feng Zhiwei looked out over the beautiful lake at the Commissioner’s magnificent mansion and chuckled quietly: “A lake at its feet, the verdant mountain at its back, truly a Feng Shui treasure!”

With that, she turned to her companion and nodded: “We must trouble Master Shen to announce us.”

Shen Junxin smiled and met the official approaching them. After a few exchanged words, the official’s face grew formal and he rushed back into the mansion to deliver the message.