Guess it could be said they’ve been to many places in Tiansheng. They have even been to Da Yue now. 

Standing on a hill, Feng Zhi Wei lazily watched the clouds rolling by in the sky with Hua Qiong, “I still think the Wild Grassland is the best.”

Hua Qiong smiled but did not say anything. She was imprisoned in the manor for more than two months. Jin Siyu had ordered someone to pretend to be her under torture, in an attempt to force Feng Zhi Wei to go rescue her but Feng Zhi Wei didn’t fall for it. In fact, when they went to the dark underground prison, Hua Qiong was right next door. They had entered the door of the stone lion to the left while Hua Qiong was in the dungeon under the stone lion to the right. The real Hua Qiong was separated only by a wall from the fake one. The ever cunning Jin Siyu wanted to not only test Feng Zhi Wei but Hua Qiong as well. He had left an eye hole in the wall for Hua Qiong. If Hua Qiong was not able to bear to see someone else pretending to be her to deceive Feng Zhi Wei and had spoken out then Jin Siyu would’ve been able to have everything under his control.  

Unfortunately for Jin Siyu’s lovely plan, Feng Zhi Wei and Hua Qing both possess extraordinary steel-like determination. One was not moved by the cruelly tortured fake Hua Qing, and the other one firmly believed that Feng Zhi Wei could see through the act without any pointless meddling from her. 

This naturally also came from the deep understanding between the two– Feng Zhi Wei knew Hua Qing well enough to know that if the one facing being skinned was really her, then she would’ve never put on such a show of fury and grief, nor try to get a reaction out of her with the expression of self-sacrifice for her sake. Silence was what the real Hua Qiong would’ve done, she would’ve tried to communicate with her in secret, not giving the slightest advantage to anyone. 

Jin Siyu does have an excellent grasp on people’s emotions and indeed, under the dark light, the fake Hua Qing matched the brave and the fearless woman in most people’s impression. Unfortunately, her act was too over the top. 

In other words, a woman such as Hua Qiong, was not one anyone could play well. 

In over two months of imprisonment, Jin Siyu interrogated Hua Qing multiple times and also used some torture. However, Hua Qing fainted the moment the torture tools were brought out, and when she did confess, they were all random unrelated facts so it was a total waste of time to go investigate them. Jin Siyu ordered the torture but she faints the moment they use them on her. Her fainting was so effortless and skilled that even Jin Siyu could do nothing about it. It seemed wasteful to kill her but then it was annoying to not kill her at the same time. In the end, Jin Siyu just left Hua Qing in the dungeon and ignored her. Hua Qing ate well, slept well, not worrying about a thing. In fact, compared to Feng Zhi Wei who had to be on high alert day and night, Hua Qing actually gained weight during her dungeon stay. 

Of course, if Jin Siyu had really made up his mind to take Feng Zhi Wei as a concubine after the Lunar New Year, then Hua Qing certainly would’ve lost her life. Fortunately, she is finally out of the dungeon. 

After experiencing all this, Hua Qing never told anyone what she went through in those two months but Feng Zhi Wei can see from the small scars all over her body that she must’ve suffered a lot. However, the bodily sufferings didn’t drag down this brave and proud woman’s spirit. This experience only caused her to become a little quieter. When she laughed, there are now a hint of the vicissitude of life in the corner of her eyes, adding even more brightness to her smile. 

The extraordinary woman, tempered by blood and fire has finally become a legendary weapon. The original brilliance, with the aggressive aura washed away now, has become gentle and all-encompassing.

“If you like the grassland, then stay here.” Hua Qing flashed an easy smile. 

Feng Zhi Wei gave her a resigned smile, “The emperor’s orders cannot be disobeyed. Since I have returned as Wei Zhi then how can I disobey a decree given by the Emperor of Tian Sheng?” 

“I will also go see the wondrous world of the Capital.” Hua Qiong chewed on a piece of grass, “His Majesty had also issued a decree to promote me to a general. After I return to the Capital, I will be reporting for my duties at the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of War for assignment.” 

Hua Qiong’s female identity has never been hidden from the world. Tian Sheng, in some respect, has inherited the liberal freedom of Dacheng and there is no opposition to women generals. Besides, there was already a Fire and Wind General (that was Madam Feng’s title back when she was a general), so it was not a big deal to make Hua Qiong a general as well. It is said there are already rumors in the imperial capital now that Hua Qiong will definitely become the second Fire and Wind General. 

“Are you thinking about getting an easy relaxing post in the Capital or go stationed out in the frontier?” Feng Zhi Wei asked her, “You are a woman who has never had big ambitions, so it’s better to get the easy relaxing position.”

“I have already asked to be assigned to work under the general in Minnan.” 

Feng Zhi Wei was surprised but Hua Qiong had already stood up and said with a smile as she stretched lazily, “Zhi Wei, while I would count myself as happy in the years I have lived before but I have always felt that something was missing. I didn’t know what was missing. However, after following you around in the army and battling in the northern lands, I suddenly come to the realization that I was born to be a soldier. I was born with a love for the turbulence on warhorses, the galloping speed, the beauty of the long knife falling in the night, reflecting the moonlight and the blood. Born with the love for the majestic desolate horn blowing in the twilight as the camp rested. The piece I was missing was finally found on the battlefield. This is where my destiny lie, to the point I can no longer throw it away.”

She raised her arms to the sky and shouted, “I am a soldier, for life!” 

Her silhouette was engraved in the golden sunset. 

Feng Zhi Wei stopped talking, looked up at the strong and high-spirited woman. After a long moment, with moist but bright eyes, Feng Zhi Wei smiled. 

“I also have another idea.” Hua Qiong finished shouting and eagerly came over to her side, “Back then, your mother’s Fire and Wind Army was a women’s army that originated in southern Minnan and developed to its peak in the battle with General Yin of Xiliang. After General Yin was defeated, your mother was forced to return back to the Capital and her army was disbanded. Although most of those women should have married and had children by now, but there must still be many who miss their old master and yarn for their old life. You should know that people who are used to being soldiers may not necessarily adjust well to ordinary life. There must be many who still wish they could carry their sword and ride their war horses on the battlefield. These veterans of the battlefield are very valuable. I want to go to Minnan and gather these people back. 

Feng Zhi Wei stared at her and said slowly after a while, “You have to be careful.”

“This will need help from you.” Hua Qiong waved her hand, seemingly unconcerned, “Give me something of your mother so I can use it to coax people. After you return to the imperial court, the re-establishment of Fire and Wind Army would need your advocacy at the right time. Zhi Wei, I don’t want anything, I only hope to forge a path in Minnan so that if it comes a time in the future when you have a need or when things get difficult, then it will become your retreat.” 

I only hope to forge a path, so it will become your retreat.

There are people in this world who are willing to spend their whole lives paving the way to provide a place for you to retreat to.  

There is a kind of promise that does not need flowery words but it’s so majestic and heavy that it makes one unable to speak, wanting only to break down in tears. 

Feng Zhi Wei raised her head to the sky, blinking away the tears wallowing up inside her. 

After a long time, she took out a hairpin and handed it to Hua Qiong without saying anything. 

She didn’t tell her that this was Madam Feng’s last item in her possession. Many of Madam Feng’s jewels have long been sold during their most distressing times. 

“I will take good care of it for you.” Hua Qiong repeatedly looked at the antique-shaped hairpin before carefully putting it away.

The two looked at each other with a smile and said nothing more.

The wind of the winter grassland at dusk was cool, but the heart was hot. 

Hua Qiong occasionally glanced at Feng Zhi Wei. The matter of Zong Chen sealing Zhi Wei’s memory is something they have all been told in secret. Inwardly, Hua Qiong also feel this was not a bad thing. Madam Feng’s sacrifice wasn’t Zhi Wei’s deepest pain. The betrayal that came from one’s first love is the greatest harm to a woman. She wonders if it would’ve been even better to just seal off Feng Zhi Wei’s memory concerning the whole thing. Unfortunately, Feng Zhi Wei is too shrewd. Once there is a gap in her memory then she will dig after the reason for it. Instead of botching up the whole thing, it was better Zong Chen to adjust her memory so that she would at least be free from the pain of betrayal. 

However, can the memory of someone with a mind so incomparably strong be really sealed? 

Hua Qiong looked at Feng Zhi Wei’s sparkling eyes and smiled ruefully. When it comes to Feng Zhi Wei, no one dares to say with certainty.

 All text copyright @ www.Ninja-Reflection.com

Related Posts