The Rise of Phoenixes Novel Translation #136

“I thought, perhaps there will be a day when you might end up sleeping beside me and that I would regret bitterly if I chased you away with the smell.” Laying by her, Helian explains slowly “To like someone, then one has to become the best one can be. A man who is not willing to change his shortcomings for a woman is not a true good man.” 

Zhi Wei opens her eyes. 

The person in front of her is laying on the edge of her bedding, his face resting towards her direction, his dark amber eyes glittering like jewels. His robe is slightly open, revealing the light honey colored skin of his chest. His eyes have the compelling manly charm yet there is also a hint of child-like joy and stubbornness. The two contrasting feelings gave him an unusual allure. 

The one who climbed the wall at midnight to glue the birds onto the wall and ended up getting carried through the street as punishment is him. The one who went against the god of wild grassland and whipped himself publicly is also him. 

This unyielding yet gentle man. 

“You are a good man.” Zhi Wei reached out a hand from her bedding and slowly smoothed his furrowed brows, “It’s a shame that I don’t have this fortune. Helian…when I was most sorrowful and desolate, your grassland protected me. You knew well I couldn’t give you anything yet you still let me occupy the position of your grand queen. So no matter what Saint Da Ma says, like your A-ma (mother) protected your A-ba’s (father) grassland, I will protect your grassland.” 

“Zhi Wei, before we reach the end, don’t be so certain of the ending.” The light in Helian’s eyes dimmed a bit but then he immediately grabbed hold of her hand, “You don’t owe me anything. To have you come with me to the grassland is my greatest joy in this life. I don’t want you to be like my A-ma who protected her Ku Ku with an almost crazy fervor. I want you to love yourself, protect yourself, or open your heart and let me protect you.”

Zhi Wei pulls back her hand, closes her eyes again and falls silent. 

Helian lays by her side, stares at her sleeping face quietly. Seemingly whispering to her or perhaps to himself, he says in a soft voice that is like countless white nails that are nailed deeply into the dark night “I will always be here waiting. If you won’t come over and won’t let me go over, then I will just be here. You just remember, when you are tired, take a step back and turn around, I am here.” 

That night, no one knows if anyone actually slept peacefully. Everyone’s breathing was very even. When everyone opened their eyes, their eyes were all clear and sharp. 

The night was not quite as peaceful as one might have imagined. At midnight, at the most tiring hour, there were some strange sounds of the wind, within the wall and outside of it. When the sounds of the wind came, Feng Zhi Wei opened her eyes. Helian who was sleeping beside her with his face down didn’t move, his fingers gripping the corner of her blanket tightly. 

When it was almost dawn, the long and echoing sounds of trumpet came in the distance, penetrating and unveiling the spring light to welcome the ascension of King Shunyi to the throne. 

Helian sits up and asks softly “What will happen today?”

“Today.” Zhi Wei sits crossed legged, her hair cascading down like a waterfall, her faint smile dazzling in the sunlight. “Everyone will take their place. Everyone will receive their judgment. The ones who should come, will come. The ones who should go, will go. The decayed will be swept away. The new will be brought in. The ones foretelling calamity will die of calamity. The ones who planted traps will die in the trap.” 

******************

This is a bright sunny day, so bright that one would think nothing unusual could happen on such a day. 

The ceremony took place on the grassland outside of the palace. A high stage has been erected, with red flags fluttering in the air for ten miles. The ten thousand king’s army continuously patrolled the surrounding ten miles while the three tribes of the Blue Bird, White Deer and Fire Fox guarded the central area. Dozens of cauldrons that are big enough to take baths in are placed on all sides. From the cauldrons, the thick fragrance of mutton simmering in broth filled with spices came as people continuously used huge metal spoons to fish out the meat. Using long knives that are usually meant for people, big chunks of meat the size of a man’s head is wacked off.  A seemingly unending stream of wooden trays carrying meat are delivered to the tables seated with the honorable leaders of various tribes. The aroma, a mixture of meat and wine is swept up by the breeze and spread through miles, intoxicating all who get a whiff of it. 

The people came from near and far wearing their finest, singing and dancing, ladies twirling in their flowery skirts appearing as if a sea of flowers blooming in unison. 

In the back palace, Zhi Wei personally adjusted the crown of seven treasures on Helian’s head. Carefully examining the man in a golden robe with black trim, jade buttons and a seven colored waist sword, she smiled “You sure look much better than the first time I saw you.” 

 “You will discover more good points in me.” Helian, who never knew how to be modest, stares at Zhi Wei who was dressed in a black dress with a simple silver belt, “Why didn’t you change your clothes?”

“The royal court had prepared a red robe for me, but I am still in mourning.” Taking his arm, Zhi Wei begins to walk towards the outside and says lightly “Besides…I might not need to change clothes.” 

Helian took a side glance at her but didn’t say anything. Mei Duo suddenly comes forward and says “A-Li, I will go with you too!” as she takes his other arm. 

Pushing her away, Helian stares at Mei Duo’s red robe. The robe was as red as fire, gold belt, decorated with amber and onyx gems…looking very similar to the formal court dress of the Grand Queen. Helian who was already disappointed that he didn’t get to see Zhi Wei wear the Grand Queen’s formal dress, instantly begins to frown once he takes a good look at what Mei Duo is wearing. 

“Aunt Mei Duo,” He says “You can go with my mother but you can’t wear this robe. It will cause misunderstandings when others see it.”

“What misunderstandings?” Mei Duo asks with an expression of utter confusion. 

Misunderstanding is exactly what she is hoping for. Watching the show in silence, Zhi Wei smiles, her eyes taking in Mei Duo’s hand that is holding onto Helian’s belt tightly. 

“You know what misunderstanding.” Not showing any mercy, Helian pulls her hands away. 

“Grand Queen.” Mei Duo instantly turns around and grabs hold of Zhi Wei’s belt, “This is the new outfit I rushed to make for the grand ceremony, it took me a whole month to make it. Do I really have to take it off now?” 

Zhi Wei looked at her pleading expression and thought of her arrogance on their first meeting. Amused, Zhi Wei couldn’t hold back a smile. 

The smile allowed something particular to surface in her eyes. Staring at her eyes, Mei Duo’s heart suddenly trembled, causing her hand to unconsciously let go. Helian immediately takes Zhi Wei’s hand and walks away. Peony comes up from behind and is all smiles as she grabs Mei Duo by the shoulder “Come, I have good news to tell you.” 

After a few moments, Zhi Wei who was walking in front heard a high pitch scream of anger mixed with disbelief from Mei Duo. 

Zhi Wei lets out a smile before she makes a quick hand motion towards Zong Cheng and walks away quickly. 

Just before they crossed the last door, a small group of young monks quickly rushed over to block Feng Zhi Wei’s path. 

“Saint Da Ma said, please don’t attend the ceremony.” 

“What?” Helian’s expression immediately darkens. 

“Saint Da Ma said, if you really love the grassland as much as you say you do, then don’t cast a shadow on this auspicious day over the king’s most important ceremony.” The young monk bows to Zhi Wei before turning to Helian, “My king, Da Ma said if she appears then he won’t be there.” 

“Then don’t come.” Helian replies without any hesitation, “I don’t believe that a crowning ceremony without the Saint will truly become cursed!” 

“King!” The tribal leaders who came to greet them let out a collective dismay yell. 

“The Saint is needed for us to be guided to the heavenly god’s will. In every generation, the crowning of the king of the grassland can’t be without its god!” With one knee on the ground, Hute of the Blue Bear tribe looks at Helian pleadingly, “This is not like that day when it was a fight for the position of grand queen. This is only not attending the ceremony. Saint Da Ma has already made concessions, please don’t be stubborn!” 

“My king, a ceremony without the saint will not be recognized by the people!”

“We can crown the grand queen another day, the crowning is the most important thing right now!” 

Various voices all speaking at once, trying to persuade Helian. Someone is secretly pulling on Zhi Wei’s sleeve, trying to signal to her that she should ask to be excused herself. 

“Your Saint, is insistent that I don’t show up to the ceremony.” Zhi Wei finally opens her mouth, her voice clam, “Everyone heard it.” 

Everyone nods, a bit unsure why she is stressing this fact. 

“Then I won’t go.” Dropping her next sentence casually, she immediately turns to leave, “All of the tribe leaders, please protect the king well.” 

“Zhi Wei…” Helian calls out but Zhi Wei has already left without another backward glance. Across the way, Saint Da Ma’s procession is making its way out of his courtyard. 

Sitting on the open carriage, Saint Da Ma looks even more feeble today as he collapsed in a heap, the gold threaded robe flapping in the wind. Looking up briefly to cast a glance at Feng Zhi Wei’s direction, Zhi Wei gave him a smile and mouthed something. 

Taken aback, Saint Da Ma has yet to figure out what Zhi Wei said but she has already walked past him. 

I know you all are probably really missing Ning Yi, but sadly the current timeline of the story doesn’t allow me to do a “split screen” like I did with the letter. Fortunately, we are right about the point I feel like I can start truncating some bigger parts of the story since we are going to be merging back up with a particular part in the drama once we wrap up here.

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