Feng Zhi Wei held back her laughter and called the restaurant owner over. Thanks to one gold nugget, the owner was more than willing to close the restaurant and even made sure all the servers stayed far far away.
“What a smart person.” She muttered as she paid the restaurant owner, “She knew she would be surrounded by onlookers if they go back to the inn so she decided to just do the deed right here.”
A very considerate Zhi Wei closed the door, leaving behind the still swaying table. Feng Zhi Wei flashed a fake smile at Ning Yi to bid him goodbye, “Your Highness, I (she used the polite form of speech of a subordinate) have to rush back to the inn in order to prepare for the ceremony tomorrow, so I will take my leave here.” She then promptly turned to leave.
“Zhi Wei.”
Feng Zhi Wei didn’t turn around but just waved her hand, “Ah, no need to send me off, no need to send me off, Your Highness, please stay, please stay.” Her walk became even brisker as she spoke.
She didn’t bother to check if the one behind her had followed but kept walking quickly out of the city. The inn was only about three miles away, and with her walking pace, it wouldn’t take long at all.
It could’ve been even faster but she doesn’t want to draw too much attention to herself– back when she was in the city of Pucheng, her internal energy wasn’t really lost but had been scattered inside her because of the poison. Once the red mark on her brow had faded, then her internal energy slowly gathered together again. Jin Siyu had taken her pulse early on to confirm that she had indeed lost all her internal energy. By the time he was completely assured, her internal energy had not only returned but had grown.
Feng Zhi Wei felt that the martial art she is practicing is very odd and there seems to be something strange with her body as well. The surge of burning energy flow had slowly calmed down after her internal energy had returned but it didn’t go away. Instead, it is growing daily. In fact, after every near-death encounter, the burning energy flow would increase a few degrees but instead of damaging her body, it would push her martial art to the next level. It feels like this burning energy she was born with and the martial art Zong Chen gave her actually complement each other. (we are using the word “martial art” as a general term for fighting methods/techniques. In Chinese stories, how well someone can fight not only depends on their own talent and physical ability they were born with but their luck in getting the right Master who can teach them the right sort of “martial art” since all martial art techniques are not created equal. Some will make an average fighter great and take a talented fighter onto the level of a super fighter.)
If this wasn’t the case, she would’ve not been able to use her internal energy to secretly shatter the inside of the bricks on the wall ledge at Pucheng city and eventually be able to successfully fall off the city wall.
Feng Zhi Wei approached the inn briskly but before she arrived she saw several sedan chairs parked in front of the inn’s door, and there seemed to be a sharp female voice coming from afar.
“How would Wei Zhi not be here!”
“Let me in!”
Gu Nan Yi could vaguely be seen standing in front of the door with Gu Zhi Xiao in his arms. Blocking the door like two statues, the father and daughter both ignored the shouting demands while looking up at the sky.
Feng Zhi Wei was surprised at first that there would be a female guest blocking the entrance of the inn, calling her name no less. However, once she could discern the voice, then a bomb went off in her head as she silently wondered how this missy is still unmarried after a year and how can she be getting more feisty with each passing day.
Up to this point in her life, from the Emperor down to peasants, there are no people or things that she can’t handle…except this one lass, who she can only hope to avoid whenever possible. The reason is obviously that the lady is set on romance but she herself has no interest in creating debts of the heart.
With one swift movement, Feng Zhi Wei turned on her heel and is ready to head back into the city. She would rather go for a drink in a brothel than get caught by Princess Shao Ning.
As soon as she turned, then a certain someone came by her side and said with a smile, “Oh, isn’t that my little sister? I haven’t seen her for a long time and have sure missed her dearly. Why don’t I call her over for a chat?” The certain someone opened his mouth as if he is about to call out.
Feng Zhi Wei lounged and with complete disregard for her self image, covering the person’s mouth while saying in a flattering tone, “Don’t…don’t…Your Highness. Men and women should keep their distance, it is no fun to reminisce when there are too many people around. Let’s go somewhere else to reminisce together, alone!”
The last word was said with heavy emphasis, causing His Highness’ eyes to sparkle brightly before immediately expressing his strong approval for this proposal. Lowering his raised hand, he very naturally picked up her hand and grinned, “There is a place you will for sure be willing to go.”
The corner of Feng Zhi Wei’s mouth twitched. Looking down at her hand that is being gripped tightly, she poked with her finger- hard.
As if his palm was made of iron and stone, the man kept talking and laughing, looking as if he didn’t feel anything.
He led her until they stopped in front of a horse. Feng Zhi Wei recognized the all-black horse to be his, the one that she had secretly harmed before. Fortunately, the horse doesn’t have as good a memory as a human and didn’t come to give her a taste of his hoof the moment she appeared.
Ning Yi gently lifted her up onto the horse and then immediately got up behind her.
Feng Zhi Wei frowned, regretting a bit that she didn’t ride her own horse today.
The person behind leaned lightly on her, resting his chin on her shoulder. With a flick of his fingers, the horse immediately start to trod smoothly and leisurely, as if he knew that his owner needed ambiance, not speed.
The man’s scent came through the skin, his slightly warm breath brushed the small hairs by her ear. Feng Zhi Wei’s back stiffened, inching forward a bit awkwardly, and forced a smile, “It’s not appropriate for your subordinate to ride with Your Highness. Why don’t Your Highness ride the horse, and I will run behind it.”
Ning Yi didn’t speak for a while until he finally let out a lazy smile, “First, I can’t bear it. Second, I am afraid you will run away.”
Not waiting for a reply from Feng Zhi Wei, he continues, “Zhi Wei, when did we become such strangers? The box I gifted to you last time, why didn’t you write back?”
Feng Zhi Wei was silent. Behind her, Ning Yi softly blew on her earlobe causing her to tilt her head away. After a while, she smiled and replied, “That letter box…it sunk to the bottom of the river.”
“Oh?” There wasn’t much fluctuation to Ning Yi’s voice, just a little cold.
“Your Highness.” Feng Zhi Wei turned her body half away and pressed her hand against his chest to prevent the vibrations of the moving horse from throwing them against one another, “I have thought about it. You and I, there really is no possibility of going any further. My remaining families, all died by your father’s Gold Feather Guard. I am not suitable for the intrigue and cunning that is part of the royal lives. Like I have said before, I want to be a simple person, marry a simple man, and live a simple life.”
“Madam Feng and Feng Hao were involved with the case of the Dacheng Empire’s lost royal line. This would’ve been a serious crime in any dynasty.” Ning Yi said, “No matter what, you have been cleared of suspicion. Not only had His Majesty not blamed you, but there is even a hint of apology in his attitude towards you. This is already something very rare. It’s none of my business how much you blame the empire but to blame me as well and thus not give me any chance, that is something I can’t accept.”
“I understand we each have our respective positions.” Feng Zhi Wei smiles, “But it is precisely because of that there is no possibility of forcing us to stay together. Otherwise, you don’t dare to trust me and I don’t dare to trust you. How could we live like that?”
All text copyright @ www.Ninja-Reflection.com
ps. A reader had asked if we are close to the ending yet. Answer: Fortunately/unfortunately, we are not close at all. Believe it or not, we are just 60% through the book. I did warn you guys this is a really long novel.
I do have to say that we are approaching the parts of the novel I will probably start summarizing again (when I can) so hopefully, that will help to speed up the pace a bit.
Dear Ninja,
Thank you so much for this great new weekly episode of our favorite novel.
I’m a bit confused by the treatment that Feng Zhi Wei has been received: she seems to remember everything.
Does the treatment avoid the pain that she was suffering about the situation with Ning Yi ?
Sorry for this naive question.
Kind regards
I’m so happy to hear there is still much to come of this story, can’t imagine Monday’s without it dropping into my inbox.
Thank you for your tireless efforts bringing this to your readers.
Indeed looking forward to this has become a highlight of my Mondays- pretty much the only reason Mondays don’t suck.
Thank you so much for your translations!
I am a tiny bit confused too. Did her memory of just Ning Yi’s involvement in her family’s death get sealed then?
Thanks again!
I might have to go back and read the part about sealing up her memory again, because I am also a bit confused. Or maybe it was just his part in it (although I still don’t see why he is to blame).
And yes, thank you Ninja for this amazing weekly adventure and your fabulous translation of this book. It is wonderful.
Thank you, Ninja. Another refreshing translation. Trust is truly important in any relationship. Hoping with the “memory loss” there will be more affection shown to our hero.
Yes, Ning YI had no active role in it, her brother and mother were killed by Dacheng association, also knowing it would turn her and NY into enemies.
Ning yi’s people hate that he would steer away from his focus on the throne for her.
Killing her family solved many things for Ning yi’s people, it had to be done anyway because the Emperor isn’t completely stupid.
This conniving plan worked and she blamed Ning Yi.
The old magic/medicine only removed her thoughts on NY being in control over the guard, they replaced it with the Emperor having control of the guard.
But NY truly didn’t order her family dead.