Back by popular demand, here is the last bit of the epilog with our two leads. This part is kinda long so there is another part coming next Monday. 

April, in a town name Phoenix Tail.

The moment she steps into the village, Zhi Wei lets out an exclamation of marvel. Lining both sides of the street are a type of fascinating tree that has branches that looks like phoenix tails, especially when the leaves start to sway in the wind and shine under the sunlight.

Looking up at the dazzling line of trees, Zhi Wei whispers “So this is what a Phoenix Tail tree looks like. It really is breathtakingly beautiful.”

Pleased by the expression on Zhi Wei’s face, Ning Yi explains “Years ago, I had ordered this area to plant massive amount of Phoenix Tail trees. Looks like the governor did his job well. I will tell 10th (who is now the emperor) to promote him.”

Speechless, Zhi Wei gives Ning Yi a side glance then mutters “He was just fine when he was the emperor but now that he is no longer one, he is starting to behave like a tyrant.”

“According to the rumors, you were the beautiful empress that took down a country, so doesn’t that make you a perfect match for a tyrant?” Taking Zhi Wei’s hand in his, Ning Yi then declares “Let’s go! I remember years ago there was a small tranquil inn near here. Let’s stay there.”

After walking for who knows how long, Zhi Wei throws her arms around a tree trunk and refuses to take another step. “Do you or do you not remember where that inn is?! We have walked past like 10 motels already!”

“It was clearly around here…” Determined, Ning Yi contiunes “There are lots of motels but a place so peaceful and lovely is hard to come by. You wait here, I am going to go look for it.”

Pointing at a big motel nestled in between the Phoenix Tail trees, Zhi Wei asks “That one works too, doesn’t it?”

Ning Yi saw the motel as well but it was still vastly different than the quaint little inn in his memory. Years ago, he had passed by this village back when there weren’t so many Phoenix Tail trees except around the little inn. Behind the inn, there were even a small pound and a tiny hill so when one opens the window, one was immediately greeted by a lovely view of the water. The owner of the inn had planted water chestnuts and lily around the back so the guest could pick those at their convenience. Struck by the view, he had imagined then what it would be like to one day bring Zhi Wei back to this place…Zhi Wei would pick the water chestnuts under the sunset and her smiling face would peak out from the big Lily leaves. It would be so wonderful to see…

To make this magical imagination he has been harboring in his heart for years become a reality, Emperor Ning decides that no matter how difficult it is, he is going to make his dream come true. Leaving Zhi Wei by the side of the road, Ning Yi asks an elderly villager for direction.

“Excuses me sir, there was a small inn around here before…” Poor Emperor Ning might be brilliant in political intrigue but he has never been skilled when it comes to communicating with commoners. After resorting to lots of gesturing, Ning Yi finally made himself understood.

“Isn’t that it over there?” The elderly man points at the big motel Zhi Wei had pointed at earlier.

Stunned, Ning Yi mutters “How about the Pheonix Tail grove? The lake? The small hill?”

Slapping his thigh, the man exclaims “This family lucked out! Years ago when our last emperor was still a prince, he came past our village, pointed at this particular inn saying that the view was great and he wants to come stay here when he gets a chance later. Once our mayor found out, he immediately rewarded this inn’s owner with a large sum of money and asked him to do a major renovation on the inn. After all, this was such a privilege, who would dare to treat this opportunity lightly? The inn was made three times bigger but the land was too small so they had to cut down a lot of trees. There was also a pond behind the inn but they were afraid that the prince would think it was too wild looking so they had the pond filled and the small hill flattened. Unfortunately, the Prince never came back and it ended up just being a nice windfall for the owner. Thanks to this legend, after the Prince became the emperor the motel’s business was exceptionally good so the owner made a large amount of money from it.”

Overhearing the man’s explanation, Zhi Wei laughed so hard until she was bent over…especially after seeing the thunderstruck expression appearing on the perpetually-calm-no-matter-what Ning Yi’s face.

When Zhi Wei was finally done laughing, she walks over to pull on Ning Yi “Royal Prince, Don’t you want to go stay at the motel they especially renovated for you?”

Throwing his arm up in frustration, Ning Yi complains “Fools! No, I want to stay somewhere else.”

Swallowing the smile that is bubbling up again after one glance at her husband’s expression of frustration, Zhi Wei wisely just follows behind Ning Yi. Amused and touched at the same time because she could guess why Ning Yi was so disappointed,  Zhi Wei decides to distract our hero once Ning Yi’s expression slowly returns to normal after they settled down into a motel he had randomly chosen. “So the box you had 10th give to me years ago, what kind of tree was that made out of?”

Distracted successfully by a random question Zhi Wei had thought up last minute, Ning Yi gently places a kiss on Zhi Wei’s head and says “I had 10th find me the most beautiful tree around where we were stationed. I then went and looked at the tree myself to make sure it was really the best one before I ordered it to be made into a box. If you want, we probably could still find the place and the tree trunk.” After thinking for a moment, Ning Yi wonders grumpily “Perhaps that tree trunk is now encircled by a golden fence with a plaque that says “The tree that was cut down by Emperor Ning.”

Zhi Wei burst out in laughter but then stop midway as the tears filled her eyes. Ning Yi didn’t turn around to look at Zhi Wei but reaches out a hand to cover hers. Playing with Zhi Wei’s fingers, Ning Yi laughs in a low voice “I was traumatized today, so how are you going to comfort me?”

With a sly smile, Zhi Wei suddenly turns her head, draws Ning Yi’s earlobe into her mouth and whispers “Hmm…”

His ear instantly turning red, Ning Yi’s body trembles unconsciously as Zhi Wei’s throaty moan wipes all thoughts from his mind.

Laughing silently to herself, Zhi Wei muses that a certain someone’s sensitive spot hasn’t changed after all these years. Years ago, underneath that big tree in Qing Ming (that’s the school), she found this out after just one impulsive bite. Of course, knowing is one thing. This knowledge is not something that can be used regularly…a certain someone can’t handle getting roused and a certain Empress is not so dumb as to do something that will just come back to bite her. But today…she is in a good mood.

Tugging gently at Ning Yi’s earlobe with her mouth, Zhi Wei smiles as Ning Yi couldn’t help but follow her as she slowly walks towards the bed. Wrapping her arms around Ning Yi’s waist, Zhi Wei looks up at Ning Yi seductively…promptly making our hero’s breath quicken. Feeling like his inside is burning like a pot of oil that has been ignited by a match, Ning Yi presses his burning chest against Zhi Wei backing her to the bed. With a low laugh, Ning Yi pulls Zhi Wei onto the bed even as she struggles to let down the bed curtain.

 

All text copyright @ www.Ninja-Reflection.com

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