The Rise of Phoenixes Novel Translation #134

Unlike her usual chattering self, Peony has been pensive ever since Saint Da Ma said what he said. Seeing Peony lost in thought, Zhi Wei abruptly asks “Peony, don’t you really want to kill me?” 

Her direct to the point question jerked Peony out of her trance. Staring at Zhi Wei with wide open eyes, Peony stutters after a bit “What kind of question is that?” 

“A logical one.” Zhi Wei frowns as she drinks the goat milk, “Since you believe Saint Da Ma’s prophecy so much that you would kill seven of your own children to save Helian, why couldn’t you kill the she-wolf Feng Zhi Wei.”

Silent for another bit, Peony finally gives a self-deprecating wry smile “I will have to be able to kill you first.” 

“You are sure honest.” Zhi Wei puts down the bowl and smiles “You actually just admitted it like that.” 

“My first reaction upon hearing those words was indeed that.” Peony admits frankly “Saint Da Ma’s prophecy truly is really accurate. At least they have always been in my case. I didn’t believe in such things before as well, but that old guy gave me no choice but to believe.” 

Zhi Wei smiles without saying anything. 

“But then on second thought, I wondered if the prophecy might not mean what we think it means.” Peony grins, “You are full of poison. A woman would only be bullied by men if she is not full of poison so there is nothing wrong with being poisonous. You bring blood and fire. The war between Da Yue and Tian Sheng’s war is not over. Kuku’s death, along with the lives of many innocent warriors, is a debt that will be collected from Da Yue sooner or later. War is indeed inevitable but it might not necessarily be because of you. As for saying you are Helian’s curse…well, love is also a curse.” 

Feng Zhi Wei smiles, thinking to herself that Peony is actually quite perceptive. 

“Everything I just said are all in actuality just useless babble.” Peony continues with a grin, “The main problem being I know I can’t kill you. So I might as well sincerely befriend you. Some people are the sort that one has to do everything to avoid becoming enemies with. They are the sort that one will gain more by becoming friends with. Zhi Wei, my daughter-in-law, I give you my Helian.” Leaning back with her eyes scrunched up, “Whether you are going to poison him to death or curse him to death, it will all be Helian’s own luck.” 

“I think Grand Queen is the smartest person on this wild grassland.” Zhi Wei sincerely compliments her.

Grinning, Peony flashes her “I think so too” expression. 

“It’s night.” Zhi Wei sips her tea, her smile as mysterious as the night “I hope everyone can have a peaceful night of sleep.” 

Wishing everyone can have a peaceful night of sleep…is of course just polite words. There are certain people Zhi Wei is certainly not planning to give him peaceful sleep. 

Stepping out of her room at 11 o’clock, Zhi Wei takes Zong Chen, Gu Nan Yi and Hua Qing with her. 

The palace right now has three groups of guards. The first group being the original palace guards, the second group being her wedding escort guards and the last group is her own guards, the hidden ones that belong to Gu Nan Yi’s organization. 

At dusk, Peony had switched out the portion of the guards belonging to her that were stationed in front of where Saint Da Ma is staying. Now, only the palace guards are stationed there. Zhi Wei knows well what Peony is thinking– she is afraid that the she-wolf, in her fury, would do something to that Saint Da Ma’s old bones. 

Peony has surely underestimated her, Feng Zhi Wei. It doesn’t always take a sword to kill someone. 

Just as she walked past the back palace’s gate, a group can suddenly be seen walking towards them. It turns out to be Peony with a group of female slaves. Smiling brightly when she sees her, Peony says “Tonight felt a bit stuffy so I am taking a walk. My precious Wei Wei, where are you going?” 

“I am feeling the night is stuffy as well and I am going to go take a walk to Saint Da Ma’s.” Zhi Wei answers honestly. 

Linking her arms through Zhi Wei’s, Peony laughs “Then it’s perfect. We will go together and I can get that old guy to tell Cha Mutu’s future.” 

“Alright.” Zhi Wei agrees with a smile. 

When they almost arrived at Saint Da Ma’s place, Hua Qing all the sudden let out a yelp. 

Everyone immediately turns around to see Hua Qing holding her stomach with one hand while holding the corridor pillar with the other “….It’s alright. I am just feeling a bit unwell…”

Zong Chen goes over to check on her and says “It’s almost Miss Hua’s time to deliver, you should be careful and go back and rest.”

Zhi Wei immediately goes over and says “I will help you back.”

“Don’t.” Hua Qing pushes her away, “You should go to Saint Da Ma and get him to tell your fortune. As for me…” Grabbing Peony to lean against her shoulder, Hua Qing says “I will just trouble Grand Queen for a bit.” 

Surprised, Peony steals a few glances at Zhi Wei before replying with a laugh “Okay…okay…I will take you back. I will leave only after I am sure you are alright.” 

“I am about to deliver soon…” Hua Qing whispers against Peony’s ear, “Some things I just can’t discuss with an unmarried girl and I don’t want to talk to a man either so I can only ask you…” 

 Unable to refuse Hua Qing’s request even more after what she said, Peony quickly had the female slaves help Hua Qing walk back. 

Zhi Wei watches as Hua Qing slowly makes her way back and smiles. 

There is no one to stop her now. 

Walking straight into Saint Da Ma’s courtyard with the two men by her side, Zhi Wei asks to see the Saint point blank. Despite feeling a bit unsettled, the young monk who greeted Zhi Wei couldn’t really think of a reason to refuse a queen who seeks an audience with the Saint. 

Their footsteps made no sounds in the dark corridor lighted only by oil lamps. Sitting on the thick colorful carpet, the shriveled up child-like old man is still peering at his visitor through a binocular. 

A gold-covered bronze Buddha statue sits behind him, wearing a mysterious smile, silently watching the graceful woman who just stepped in. 

Feng Zhi Wei opens the door widely, everything in the room is clearly visible. Zong Chen and Gu Nan Yi stood at the door while the young monks in charge of attending to the Saint watched the two people in the room cautiously. 

“What are you doing here?” The old Saint’s thick folded eyelids hunkered down as he looked at the ground. 

“To see our Saint Da Ma.” Zhi Wei sits down, far away from the old man. Her words seemed kind but her tones conveyed something else. In fact, her next sentence gave Saint Da Ma a shock “To see, why has he not died yet?”  

“Hoping for my death…” After a moment of silence, Saint Da Ma’s raspy voice begins to laugh “You evil plotting she-wolf, do you think you can bite the god high in the clouds?” 

“After decades of being worshipped by your people, you really are now drunk with the incense smoke and see yourself as a god.” Zhi Wei smiles faintly as she casually teases the oil light until it shines brighter “In my view, even the statue behind is better than you. It will never utter nonsense.” 

“Not nonsense.” Saint Da Ma stares at her unwaveringly as he replies in a hoarse voice “That would be the biggest sin. Would not dare to do so.” 

“Even if your every prophecy is true.” Zhi Wei leans forward and looks into his eyes “Do you dare to say that every word you utter is without bias? Do you dare to say you have never been influenced? Saint Da Ma, a saint, should always be objective. Do you dare to say in this matter, your every word, every action was without fault and clear of conscience?” 

Saint Da Ma sat without moving, his wrinkles layered upon one another. In the darkness, something heavy seems to have blanketed over him causing a hint of fatigue to show in his expression. 

“What did Kelie say to you?” Feng Zhi Wei sits back, leaning against a giant throw pillow, her expression relaxed. 

“He only told me what happened lately.” Saint Da Ma shakes his head, “It’s not what you are thinking. He didn’t say bad things. Even if he did, the prophecies are written by the heavens, it is not something that can be swayed by anyone.” 

“He was right by you when you were casting the future right?” A sneer appears on Zhi Wei’s lips, “Da Ma, think carefully.” 

The old Saint Da Ma’s cloudy eyes rolled, trying to remember, his expression of certainly finally showing a bit of confusion. Shaking his head after some time has passed, “He was quite far from me.” 

“Just because he was far away, he can’t do something?” Zhi Wei presses. 

Falling into yet another long period of silence, the expression of confusion deepened in Saint Da Ma’s face. The wheels in his old brain seem to be having a particularly difficult time turning. He tries to remember the scene of Kelie arriving at the temple, but no matter how he tries he can’t remember the details. 

“Getting old…getting old…” He sighs and shakes his head but still stubbornly insists “The gods’ declaration will not be wrong. You don’t have to say anything more. The gods’ disciple will never change the result of a prophecy.” 

“Who wants you to change it?” Zhi Wei stands up and smiles lazily “Saint Da, you don’t look good. Suffering from insomnia? That’s alright, soon, you will sleep well.” 

As she smilingly turns to leave, her brisk footsteps make the fire in the oil lamps dance wildly. In the flickering light, the old man looks up at her retreating shadow with great effort and mutters “….the she-wolf who has come to the grassland…”

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