Six days later, on the fastest road to the capital, night time. A horse speeds past, the rider’s clothes are so covered with dust that it is difficult to discern their color, lips cracking through a layer of black dust, posture trembling and shaky. Fearful of falling off from exhaustion, the person had wrapped the rein on her wrist but it was so tight that her wrists are covered with bruises. 

After crossing this short bit, it will be the Capital. The person lets out a long breath, releasing a small amount of the bone deep exhaustion but not decreasing her speed at all as she accelerates into the darkness. 

Ghost like shadows of people suddenly shows up, spreading out across the road, blocking her only path. The rider pulls hard on the rein causing the horse to rear up with a high pitch neigh. 

“Step aside.” The rider’s voice was so hoarse that her words were almost indistinguishable but her tone was firm and immovable. 

The shadows in front stayed silent and unmoving, as taciturn and firm as a rocky reef.   

The rider only said two words then immediately began to cough. Narrowing her bloodshot eyes, she slowly raises the horsewhip as she grits her teeth against the uncontrollable trembling in her arms the movement caused. Feng Zhi Wei doesn’t say another word but used her action to fully express her immovable will. 

No one moved, no one said a word. Obviously, the other side is equally determined– If you want to pass, you will have to step over our bodies. 

Feng Zhi Wei sneers coldly then resolutely snaps her whip. Letting out a long neigh, the horse charges forward right into the crowd! 

“Back up!” In unison, the ten plus men jump back to form a half circle. Silver lights shining in the moonlight as the men abruptly raised their hands, a giant silver net instantly traps Zhi Wei along with her horse in it. 

Almost at the same time, as the command of “Back up!” is uttered, Feng Zhi Wei has already pulled out her sword. Slicing open the giant net, Zhi Wei is already out of it in the next instant. Once out, Zhi Wei didn’t yell angrily nor express any sort of triumph, in fact, she didn’t even turn her head around to look at the men who stopped her. She simply used her sword as a crutch and kept going forward on foot. 

She stumbled the moment her foot touched the ground. After being on the horse for so many days, her body screamed in pain from the impact of hitting the ground. Biting her lips until it bleeds, Zhi Wei’s steps were still brisk as she drags her sword, in a rather strange posture continuing on her way. 

At this point, the only thought left in her was “Get back to the Capital as soon as possible”. 

They could stop my horse, but they can’t stop me. The horse can be blocked, but I still have legs!

The net in their hands, the men forgets to move as they stare blankly at the struggling young woman. They see her completely covered in dirt, they see her bloodshot eyes and cracked lips, they see her dragging her body forward in a laughable posture yet somehow it makes tears come to one’s eyes. They see the immovable determination and tenacity bursting out of her thin frail body. 

*plop*

A man released the net in his hand. 

*plop, plop* More people let go. The giant net falls to the ground. 

The head leader closed his eyes, let out a long sigh, gritted his teeth for a few moments then finally waved his hand. 

The net released, someone silently goes over to let the horse out and leads it to Zhi Wei. 

Zhi Wei stood still, after a few moments of silence, a single drop of something damp trickled down her dusty face. 

The head leader silently helps her up the horse before putting some fresh water and dry ration into her pouch as well. He wants to say something but in the end nothing came out. 

Sounds of hurried horse hoofs suddenly came. Gu Nan Yi who has been following Zhi Wei all this way finally caught up to her. He doesn’t look too good at the moment either. For someone who is especially picky about his clothing’s quality and cleanliness, his robe has long been stained to the point of being indiscernible in color, even his silk face shield has turned into yellow silk. 

 The men promptly bow to him but Gu Nan Yi doesn’t pay them any attention as he rushes to Zhi Wei’s side, grabs her with one hand, puts her on his own horse before speeding off. 

Staring after them for a long time, the head leader finally lets out another sigh and says “Let the rest of the brothers know that they don’t have to block anymore.” 

“Yes sir.”

“Inform the Master Commander…” The men’s voice was solemn, “Miss’ determination, cannot be changed by anyone…ask him to please make preparations.” 

“Yes sir!”

—————————–

The seventh day. 

Passing over a small mountain, Zhi Wei knows, at the end of the road will be that bustling town gate. Letting out a long breath, Zhi Wei almost collapsed in Gu Nan Yi’s arm in the next instant. 

People really have limitless potential. She had thought for sure she would’ve fallen off the horse three days ago but she is still sitting just fine on the horse. But then “sit” is not really correct, she could only remain upright by leaning against Gu Nan Yi. 

 Gu Nan Yi made another first on this trip– he didn’t change his clothes nor did he push her away. 

A trip that would’ve taken half of a month even at a rush, she only used seven days. 

Gathering up the last of her strength, Zhi Wei urged the horse forward. 

The sound of flute suddenly came. The melody was light at first but slowly turned fierce, like a thunderstorm. Yet the melody turned again, into a drizzling rain, low and lingering. 

The melody sounded familiar. Zhi Wei pulls the horse to a stop, listens carefully before suddenly raising her head. 

Sitting on a pine tree, a white robe man slowly plays the flute. 

A few months ago, in front of that nameless temple, Zhi Wei had heard him playing while she was hovering in front of death’s door. 

 A few months later, outside of the Capital on a nameless small mountain, he is sitting on a pine tree with a flute in hand to welcome Feng Zhi Wei who had rushed all the way back. 

Zong Chen.

Listening to the forlorn melody, Zhi Wei suddenly feels as if her heart is weighed down by heavy rocks. She had been in such a rush that she wished she could have grown some wings to fly back to the Capital but now, she suddenly feels as if her legs are filled with lead and she can’t take another step. 

Her heart begins to pound, her hands shake, her lips are trembling but no words would come out. 

Finishing his song, Zong Cheng leans down to stare into Zhi Wei’s eyes. 

At that moment, his expression was gentle with compassion in them, in it, there was a hint of sadness buried deep inside. 

Looking at the Feng Zhi Wei who is shaking more and more violently, he says calmly and regrettably “Zhi Wei, I am sorry…it’s too late.” 

(Zong Cheng is the mysterious physician who saved Zhi Wei.) 

————————————————–

The author gives us a quick look back at what happened in the past seven days in the Capital which I will just summarize the first two days. 

  • Seven days ago. The Emperor gets a report from the special investigative unit in the middle of the night. 
  • Six days ago. A top secret letter sealed by wax lays on Xin Ziyan’s desk. (Xin Ziyan is second in charge of the special investigative unit) Xin Ziyan reads the letter (remember the letter Ning Yi wrote in the tent after the dock explosion but hid when Zhi Wei walked in?) with a conflicted expression. The letter was short but it was obvious the writer’s mind was made up. Xin Ziyan also reads the short warning Ning Cheng had written to him “The master’s heart is swayed, I am worried, you are wise so you must know what to do.” 

Five days ago. A group of men dressed in grey stealthily enters into a small courtyard from the back of Qiu manor. The moment the men enter into the courtyard, the sleepless woman who had been tossing and turning immediately opens her eyes.

The room lights up. 

The woman sits up, calmly looks her guests over and recognition seems to hit her as she slowly says “That thing…is finally here?”

=====================================================

Post #100! How in the world has my drama blog turned into a novel translation hobby? To celebrate or commiserate on our collective Rise of Phoenix journey I wanted to share with you guys a little side project I started a while ago. It’s a short story I came across by accident that I liked so much I started to translate it. The translation hasn’t been going very fast at all since Phoenix takes up most of my translation time but I thought I would share a bit of it here.

Young Master

Preview:

What do you think is worth the most in this world?

A mountain of silver and gold? 

Nope.

Then what is it?

It is the return of the prodigal son. 

My young master is a rich spoiled dandy, the whole town knows it. The Yang family owns the country’s biggest silk business, their wealth is truly vast. In the family, there are two young masters. First young master, Yang Yi Fang is one everyone praises whenever his name comes up. He is the city’s famous prodigy, good at studying and passed the imperial examination. Moreover, Yang Yi Fang is quite comely with a handsome face so Master Yang loves to take him along to every sort of gathering to show off a painting or recite a short poem. Among the business circle who all stink of filthy lucre, Yang Yi Fang is nothing short of a noble swan. 

As for the second young master, Yang Yi Qi, he could also be counted as a high achiever– after all, there are not many who could make people frown the moment his name is mentioned. Yang Yi Qi might only be a year younger than his older brother but the difference in maturity is far wider. 

People always say one can see how a child will grow up to be by how they are at the age of three. When our young master Qi was three years old, Yang manor held a giant new year party complete with tables of food that stretched the whole street and hired the most famous performers from the Capital to sing Chinese opera. As the singer was performing on the stage, she suddenly let out a yell in the middle of her song. Everyone looks over and sees a person crawling out underneath her skirt– yep, that’s our young master Qi. 

 So from that day on, almost the whole town learned that the second young master of Yang family already knows to crawl under an actress’ skirt at the tender age of three. Master Yang and his wife were thoroughly humiliated and almost expired right on the spot from anger. 

After that, Master Yang hired four-five teachers. Old ones, young ones, severe ones, patient ones but none of them worked. Young master Qi easily had them marching out of the door in fury. Taking consolation that at least one of their sons is making them proud, Master Yang and his wife slowly gave up on Young master Qi. Devoting all of their attention on their oldest son, Master Yang and his wife gave Young Master Qi just enough money to keep himself occupied. 

Oh, I haven’t introduced myself yet. Since I call Yang Yi Qi “Our Young Master Qi”, naturally, I am someone in the Yang household. That’s right, I am Young Master Qi’s maid. I was sold to Yang Manor at eight years of age and started helping in the kitchen then was later transferred to help in Young Master Qi’s courtyard. My transfer was ordered personally by Madam Yang– if you think I must have been transferred to be a concubine maid due to my beauty then you are greatly mistaken. (Couldn’t figure out how to translate this but there are maids who sleep with their master, yet they are not technically a concubine since they still keep their duty working as a maid. So, they are just maids who have an extra “side job”.)  The truth is exactly the opposite, I was transferred over because I am ugly. To be honest, I personally don’t think I am that ugly. Other than the fact I am a bit on the short side, a bit rounded in the face, my eyes are slightly small and my arms are a bit thick I really am a pretty decent girl. However, once I got to Young Master Qi’s courtyard, I knew I was wrong. Someone with my appearance can’t even be called human in Young Master Qi’s place. I would fit more with the monkeys…the wild mountain monkeys that don’t get groomed often. 

All text copyright @ www.Ninja-Reflection.com

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