Rising Phoenix

“Huaiying!” A middle aged man immediately cried out. “Mind your manners!”

The girl tossed her head angrily and turned away.

Feng Zhiwei slowly set down her tea.

She showed no anger, her face intensely blank and calm. The Yan Family felt the tent fall cold and grave, and the somewhat generous confines of the tent suddenly seemed crowded as they shifted anxiously.

Feng Zhiwei stared silently at them, and all of them grew uncomfortable and confused.

Finally, Feng Zhiwei commented emotionlessly: “The tea is cold.”

What was she saying?” The uncomfortable Yan Family people glanced at each other as Yan Huaishi headed for the entrance, saying: “There are not even attendants here, I will make a new pot.”

“Wait.” Feng Zhiwei smiled, calling to him: “Why is a big man like you eagerly rushing off to make tea? Your Yan Family is a large South Sea clan, and surely your clan has strict rules. The men have gathered to discuss official business. Your Yan Family’s patriarch must know who should be serving, so this matter is not yours to worry about.”

Grandfather Yan paled, and he immediately replied: “Yes, this old man has forgotten courtesy. Huaiying, why have you not served tea to the Honorable Imperial Envoy and your Seniors and Brothers!”

“I refuse!” The girl cried out, throwing up her chin, her pink face pale with anger as her fingers trembled in her fury. “I am the Young Lady of the Yan Family, I do not serve!”

“Huaiying, restrain yourself!” The middle aged man cried out again. Yan Huaiying’s father was filled with anger and regret.

Grandfather Yan frowned. He had brought his favorite younger generation because the Imperial Envoy was young and might have something in common with them and anything that might deepen their relationship was worth trying, but he had not expected the normally decent Huaiying to lose her cool around Huaishi. How was he to salvage this situation?

The Imperial Envoy was young, but none of the Yan Family’s youths were in his league. Grandfather Yan had already heard what happened in the docks, and anyone capable of subduing Tyrant Zhou must be extraordinary. Many Imperial Envoys had come to South Sea, but none of them had stayed, and some had been chased away before even making it to shore!

The elder smiled and tried to ease the tension, but Feng Zhiwei was not even looking at them. She had turned back to her tea, picking up her cup and slowly blowing at the leaves floating in the liquid. Finally, she laughed coldly.

Her cold laugh scared everyone to their feet. The host had picked up his tea cup so it was time for the guests to leave, so the Yan Family hurriedly stood and bid their farewells.

Feng Zhiwei saw everything, disdain in her eyes as the furious young girl in the back shot to her feet and kicked over her stool.

Yan Huaishi held the curtain for them to leave, but before he could follow Feng Zhiwei called out: “Huaishi, stay.”

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Through the dark of the tent, she saw Grandfather Yan turn and glance warningly at Yan Huaishi before leaving.

“What is going on?” Feng Zhiwei asked when everyone had left, setting down her tea.

Yan Huaishi was silent. As she thought back to the farce that had just played out, Feng Zhiwei grew angrier and angrier, and her voice was icy as she said: “Do not think that the Yan Family is the only choice for leadership in the new Maritime Department. His Majesty has granted me authority in this matter, any family will do, whether Yan, Cheng, Huang, Li, or Shangguan!”

“No!” Yan Huaishi hurriedly replied: “This is about me, they do not dare disrespect you.”

“They are targeting you? Why do you allow it? Why are they so hostile to you?” Feng Zhiwei shot back, her eyes narrowing with sharp intent.

When Feng Zhiwei had stumbled upon Yan Huaishi outside Qing Ming Academy, she had assumed that he was abroad for experience and merit to vie for the position of Patriarch, but it seemed that her assumption had been too optimistic. Yan Huaishi could not even claim credit for his great merit.

Yan Huaishi was not a fool; if he allowed things to come to this, he had a reason.

Yan Huaishi shook his head, unwilling to speak of his troubles. Feng Zhiwei quietly examined him for a long while, and finally she said: “Ask your Yan Family to prepare us a residence tomorrow. His Highness and I will both live there.”

Yan Huaishi trembled as he jerked his eyes upwards. He understood Feng Zhiwei’s cautious character. Under normal circumstances, there was no way she would make such a clear sign of support before investigating the Yan Family and solving the hatred of the South Sea commoners. Her choice meant that she was determined to help him.

“Brother Mei… Master… I…” Yan Huaishi stuttered, his lips trembling.

“I’ve already told you, don’t call me Master. We met while we were nobodies, and even now our households in Dijing are joined. As long as we are loyal, we will always be brothers.” Feng Zhiwei replied, laughing. “And, I like that young man from Qing Ming Academy who had so aggressively offered to buy my clothing, not this timid and reticent stranger.”

“Be yourself.” She said, standing and walking out of the tent. “All mortal matters have a bottom line. I do not care what secret sorrow you are hiding, and I do not care whether you are suffering from injustice. If it crosses your bottom line, never bear it; even if you can accept it, I will never allow you to.”

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“The Chang Family means to rebel. If we cannot control the South Sea, it will be controlled by the Chang Family. The founding of the Maritime Department is just a pretext; my true task is to bring all of South Sea under my control. South Sea must become mine.” Feng Zhiwei explained, her voice gentle but firm as her slim shoulders crossed out into the silver night. “So, the Yan Family must be yours.”

After a night in the tents, Yan Huaishi arranged a residence for Feng Zhiwei and Ning Yi in the Yan Family’s Resting Yard Villa. Ning Yi had no objections, but the South Sea government did; unfortunately, their objections were useless.

Meanwhile, Feng Zhiwei had already sent off people to investigate the conflict between the South Sea Families and the common people.

The South Sea used to be a poor, barren land, but when the ban on maritime trade had been lifted, insightful and bold men had made great wealth. Where there were riches there would be conflict, and where there was conflict there was bound to injustice. In this struggle for rich sea crossings and resources, the innocent commoners would inevitable suffer.

The previous Commissioner had formed deep ties with the clans of the area and abused the common people. When the Shangguan Family had infamously laid claim to a stretch of beach in their plans for a great harbor, they had forced all the commoners to a shallow stretch of land. One night, a high tide swept away all the temporary hovels the commoners had scrounged up and the entire village had been lost that night. In addition to this list of litanies, most South Sea commoners were in the employ of the Five Families, and it was natural under even the best of circumstances for employers and employees to grumble against each other. The emotions of today had deep and lengthy ties to the past.