Rising Phoenix

Although Yan Huaishi full-heartedly agreed, his expression was conflicted. Feng Zhiwei turned to him: “What is it?”

“There are two difficulties.” Yan Huaishi replied. “The people of South Sea are tough; it will not be so easy to wipe away their hostility towards us. No one has ever shown interest in the Charitable Halls any of us run; they’d rather wait in line in front of the Government Yamen for the public fund.”

“This is simple.” Feng Zhiwei replied. “Take this child and the other orphans to your Charitable Hall. The commoners will be unhappy with the government because of today, and you must act while they are angry. Plan together with the other families and find a way to calm the commoners; if the government dares to hinder you, I will deal with them.”

Yan Huaishi stared at Feng Zhiwei, filled with gratitude. Finally, he replied: “I don’t know how to show my gratitude…”

Feng Zhiwei waved her hand, smiling as she cut him off: “You are wrong. You have been helping me from the beginning — if it weren’t for you, I would have never made it into Qing Ming Academy and everything that has happened would have been impossible. You arranged all the mansion matters in Dijing and handled all the fees, and after I entered politics, if I did not have your financial support, how could I have been so generous in all those required official exchanges. We’re friends; there’s no need to count all this so carefully. What’s the second difficulty?”

Yan Huaishi sighed as he answered: “The second difficulty is that I am afraid you value me too highly.”

Feng Zhiwei showed her confusion as Yan Huaishi continued: “It is difficult to explain. You will understand… my Yan Family’s Elders wish to meet with you. May I arrange the meeting?”

“Alright.” Feng Zhiwei replied, eyeing him as she smiled and nodded.

Feng Zhiwei frowned into her tea as Yan Huaishi hurried off. What was on his mind? He was so clever and capable and had achieved so much for his family, what could be troubling him so?

Yan Huaishi quickly returned, holding the tent’s curtain door open as an assorted group of men and women, youths and elders entered. Only after everyone else was inside did Yan Huaishi follow.

Everyone was completely comfortable with Yan Huaishi’s deference, even the young men and women his age.

Feng Zhiwei raised a brow, a faint smile dancing across her eyes.

The Yan Family Elders had already greeted Feng Zhiwei in the daytime, but the others had only just arrived, here accompanying their Elders to pay a formal visit to the Honored Imperial Envoy. None of them seemed prepared for the fact that the Honored Imperial Envoy was just a teen youth.

Young eyes examined Feng Zhiwei, and she evenly returned their gazes, her brows cocked questioningly. A girl at the back of the group stared right into her eyes, even lifting her chin and smiling.

They really… were too lacking in propriety.

Feng Zhiwei calmly eyed that smile, no change in her indifferent expression; the girl’s expression seemed to stiffen and her face twitched, as if she was struggling with anger.

“South Sea Yan Family greets the Honored Imperial Envoy, good fortune to the Honorable Master!” The old man in the lead called out, trembling laboriously as he kneeled before her. The other Elders followed suit, and the youths in the back exchanged unwilling glances before reluctantly kneeling as well.

Feng Zhiwei stepped forward to help the Elders up: “Seniors, Elders, I cannot accept such great courtesy.”

As Feng Zhiwei tried to help the Elders to their feet and the Elders clung to the ground in gratitude and deference, the youths in the back had already hopped to their feet and were patting dirt from their robes.

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Yan Huaishi lowered his head and gently helped the Elders to their feet, saying to the leader: “Great Grandfather, please sit. The Honored Imperial Envoy is respectful of seniors…”

As he held the man’s arms, Feng Zhiwei saw the old man twitch as if to restrain himself from shaking aside Yan Huaishi’s hand. The old man smiled in gratitude to Feng Zhiwei and then turned to Yan Huaishi: “You’ll only get in the way here, don’t trouble the Honorable Imperial Envoy.”

The old man’s words were calm, and under different lighting she may have assumed it a kindly elder’s gentle reminder, but Feng Zhiwei’s eyes gleamed as she heard the hidden disgust and resentment in the old man’s voice.

The Yan Family youths exchanged glances as half smiles crossed their lips.

Yan Huaishi quietly replied: “Yes,” and then bowed and retreated. Just as he was lifting the curtain to exit, Feng Zhiwei called out: “Huaishi, where are you going?”

All the Yan Family people stirred, and Yan Huaishi slowly turned and explained: “I will prepare tea for everyone. The tent is too temporary and there are no servants…”

“The task of serving tea will not fall to you.” Feng Zhiwei replied, her smile not reaching her eyes as she calmly seated herself. “How could the person with such outstanding service be missing from this meeting? Come here and sit.”

At these words, the Yan Family stirred again. Elder Yan tried to hold back his emotions, but finally he could resist no longer and tentatively asked: “For Master Wei to favor Huaishi is our Yan Family’s fortune, but why does the Imperial Envoy say that he rendered outstanding service?”

Feng Zhiwei was surprised by the question.

How were her words unfitting?

If Yan Huaishi had not become friends with Feng Zhiwei, how would their Yan Family be titled Imperial Merchant?

If Yan Huaishi had not put in all his effort to help Feng Zhiwei, would Feng Zhiwei have chosen him as assistant to the Imperial Envoy founding the Maritime Department? Where else would the future title of nobility come from?

But these words were not the most suitable to speak aloud, so she turned silently and examined Yan Huaishi. Her friend smiled in bitter silence, and Feng Zhiwei understood she was missing something. Yan Huaishi was remarkably adept at business and socializing and had been excellent in Dijing, but ever since they had departed for South Sea, his initial excitement had slowly disappeared and had been replaced by unrest and worry and insecurity. What was going on?

The elderly grandfather continued: “The Yan Family is very grateful for Your Honor’s favor, and if it were not for the Imperial Envoy the Yan Family would never have been graced with the position we are in today. Because of Your Honor’s guidance and leadership, the commoner’s grandson Huaiyuan now works in the Department of Imperial Merchants in Dijing. Our Yan Family has not been able to express our gratitude for such grace and kindness in person…”

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The more closely Feng Zhiwei listened, the stranger the matter appeared. Who was Huaiyuan?

She had been very busy when the Yan Family had come to Dijing to accept His Majesty’s titling, so she had not bothered with the names in the matter. She had assumed that Yan Huaishi would definitely hold the title, not now she realized her assumption had been mistaken. Why had Yan Huaishi not said anything?

She turned questioning eyes towards Yan Huaishi once more, and he avoided her gaze.

“All matters related to Imperial Merchant duties have been decided in coordination with Brother Huaishi and I. If you wish to express your gratitude, thank him.” Feng Zhiwei gestured to Yan Huaishi with her chin.

“How is he involved?” The girl in the back cut in coldly. “Clearly my Big Brother handles all the Imperial Merchant business!”