Just a reminder that the italicized portion is Ning Yi reminiscing, the unitalicized portion would be Ning Yi’s thoughts, the bolded parts would be what Ning Yi actually writes to Zhi Wei. For this post we will be doing Ning Yi’s side first. 

That day, it was Royal Concubine Rong’s birthday feast. The cries of the old lovers are always buried by the laughter of the new lover’s. In the abandoned part of the palace as the storm raged on, he watched as she silently dried her clothes by the fire with her back to him. “Do you think you are so beautiful that you would make me lose control?” “I think I can.” He told her things buried deep inside on that day in that abandoned room. Sweet lips that electrified at the first touch, soul obliterated on the second touch. His soul and heart were finally lost. “Zhi Wei, even if the whole world is against me, I just want you to not be one of them.” Zhi Wei, Zhi Wei, I finally realize now that in the end, if only you are against me then it hurts more than having the whole world against me. 

On that bright sunny day, under the big Banyan tree, she stood with her hands clasped at her back, “Tell Prince Chu to come talk with me.” He came, no matter their positions, he is unwilling to let her wait in vain. Sharp words were spoken, he understood Feng Zhi Wei’s struggle and defiance in the Capital. Still, he attempted to hold on to that heart this is destined to turn its back on him. “Let’s not speak of pros and cons, let’s not talk of the future, I only ask the heart at this moment–your heart.” “My heart, it is where it should be. If perhaps the world turns upsidedown one day, maybe that’s when it will also be shaken out of its place.”  “Zhi Wei, leave the government post, go back to the Qiu manor…in the future, you will become my…” “Prince Chu, has been examined and failed!” Zhi Wei, I know I have indeed failed. I haven’t even ascended to that seat but the dagger has already been thrust out. Spring is here in the Capital but without that person, spring is no longer that same spring. That Banyan tree is still at the academy but will there be another chance in his lifetime to be handed a cup of tea by that hand? 

“The northern land is frigid cold, don’t forget to dress warmly in the early morning and late at night…” …in that village, someone used his life to give them the chance to escape (talking about Chung Yu here.) and later on that cliff she had wrapped her arms around his legs. “Let me be your eyes from now.” They woke up at the bottom of the cliff. She gently helped him buttoned up his shirt…even today, he could still recall her scent. “If one day, I left the Capital and disappeared forever, what would you think?” “I will find you.” “If you can’t find me?” “You can’t escape. The whole land, the wind, rain, water, and soil are all going to belong to me. Even if you turn to bone and dust, then it will be my dust, my bone.” Zhi Wei. The whole land, even if they all belong to me, I fear that if I am given the chance to find you again, it wouldn’t be the same you. Amidst the snowstorm of the thirteenth year of Zhang Xi, whose dust, whose bone was left behind? 

“You grew up inland so you are probably unused to the food of the wild grassland…”

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The nights in the capital are so long. A certain someone’s emotions rise and fall from morning to night because of a letter. Yet, on the wild grassland the morning light is bright and vibrant, so much so that some people might forget their sorrows momentarily. Holding Zhi Wei in his arms, Helian rides off…until he ends up stuck in an ocean of celebrating people. By the time they arrived at the royal palace gate, Helian has various street snacks hanging all over him. Even Zhi Wei was not spared and caught a lapful of fried rice cakes. The moment they are out of the crowds’ sight, Zhi Wei immediately smacks her palm against Helian’s chest. The smack was quite skillful that it made Helian let go and allowed her to jump down to the ground. Adjusting her clothing, Zhi Wei doesn’t spare Helian a glance before promptly turning to leave. 

“Aye, aye, are you angry?” Helian quickly rushes after to grab her sleeve, “Don’t, don’t be, Aunty, Aunty, I won’t do it next time.” 

He calls her aunty every time he feels guilty. Zhi Wei turns around in exasperation “You will remember your promise?”

“I just couldn’t help it.” His eyes bright, Helian raised his head to look at the seemingly extra vast wild grassland sky, “Zhi Wei, I am finally back from the Imperial Capital. Heaven knows how much I disliked the place. It was lifeless, everyone wore masks, no one lived according to their own will and you could only trust a small part of what comes out of people’s mouths. The wild grassland is still much better. Even the sky is taller than those of the capital. Zhi Wei, I just wanted you to know my joy.” 

I just wanted you to know my joy. Zhi Wei’s eyes flickered as her smile turned a bit dreary– I know, I know. But it’s a shame. Even if you could share with me all of the joy in all of the wild grassland, I no longer have a place to put those happiness. That place, the place where the heart is, the only thing that is there is the never ending snow from the Capital.  

“So lively!” Behind Zhi Wei came an excited voice. Chung Yu came walking over with some guards as he loudly proclaims “I like the girls here! I will get myself a wife tomorrow!” 

“Are you not planning to go home?” Zhi Wei smiles.

Chung Yu’s smile instantly disappears. 

Surprised, Zhi Wei peers closely at his expression and asks “You really are not planning to go back? How is that possible? Your family is a close ally to Prince Chu. With everything you have done on this trip in the South (putting himself in danger so our two leads could get away from the assailants), you will certainly be well rewarded and be given an important position by Prince Chu. You must not give up such a bright future.” This is the first time since she left the Capital that she had voluntarily brought up Ning Yi. Bring up that person…it was as if a burning torch had been tossed right into her heart, causing chaos and a bit of pain. 

“I received his Highness’s letter when we reached the wild grassland border.” Chung Yu explains, “He said I come from a military family so getting actual military experience is of the most worth to me. Instead of going back to the Capital and wasting my time, he wants me to consider joining the frontline. I have thought about it and have decided that once things here are wrapped up then I will head for the frontline. I figure I should listen to His Highness since His Highness is never wrong.” 

Zhi Wei was silent for a moment before finally saying with a smile “Yes, His Highness is never wrong.”

Taking in her expression, Chung Yu’s heart abruptly drops. Chung Yu wants to say something but couldn’t bring himself to. 

Squeezing out from the crowd of people, Peony walks over and grins as she grabs Zhi Wei’s hand “Come come, come see the grand palace, I will be moving out in a bit.” 

“There is no need.” Dragged along, Zhi Wei tries to get a word in, “You can put me in just any room…”

“Of course there is a need.” Peony looks like she is about to glide along the smooth white stone floor. “I have already ordered them to clear out the room, you can just move right in. Come see the room I decorated for you, you will for sure like it. Ha ha ha…” 

Shuddering in secret, Zhi Wei thought it would be strange if she likes Peony’s taste.  Talking nonstop, Peony continues “You should get some good rest. Lucky’s crowning ceremony won’t happen immediately. We will have to wait until Saint Da Ma invites over the holy god. We should also get Saint Da Ma to take a look at you. All those years ago, it was that old guy who immediately approved of me the moment he laid eyes on me. That was how Ku Ku (the old king) was able to get all the other tribe leaders to shut it and make me the Grand Queen…” Her mouth moving all the while as they make their way through the twist and turns into the palace. Waving away the palace guards, Peony leads them through a series of long corridors until she finally pushes through a door “Here it is!” 

All text copyright @ www.Ninja-Reflection.com

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