Feng Zhi Wei was silent and lowered her long eyelashes while attempting to pull her hand out of his. Instead of letting her go, Ning Yi pulled her into his arms and whispered by her ear “Zhi Wei…Zhi Wei…do you still have a heart…”
His voice trembled slightly, the scorching breath brushed against her ear, seemingly sending the searing heat right onto her heart producing an icy droplet of dew. Those lips slowly yet firmly moved closer and suckled the lingering wine droplet away from the corner of her lips. The fragrance of the white pear flower is added to the scorching breaths, mellow and light, like a pear blossom.
The night wind carried the peach blossoms with it.
Feng Zhi Wei was silent the whole time. The strength of pear flower wine suddenly overcame her, surprisingly fierce, causing her to feel a little dizzy, making her hands and feet slightly weak as well. The person’s familiar fragrance came shockingly close, like the March spring breeze. The fragrance and warmth of the peach flowers, bit by bit seeped in, and the frozen icy emotions are seemingly about to shatter.
Yet, in the very last moment, as the lips are about to get an inch closer, she suddenly raised her hand and put the wine bottle into Ning Yi’s hand.
Ning Yi was at the height of his fervor until the frigid wine bottle was suddenly thrust into his hand, startling him. By the time he could respond, Feng Zhi Wei had already pulled away. In the twilight, it was hard to read her expression with her lowered eyes. Ning Yi’s heart trembled yet again when he sees her gleaming lips.
There came suddenly a very sweet voice that is filled with curiosity: “Yiyi Daddy, what are they doing?”
Ning Yi and Feng Zhi Wei turned in unison to see two figures standing underneath the bridge, one large and one small. The small figure was in the big figure’s hands and is looking at the two of them with big round curious eyes.
Feng Zhi Wei held a hand to her forehead and groaned– please, Master Gu, don’t you know children need to avoid this kind of scene?
Then Master Gu could be heard answering stoically, “Not enough wine, the man stole the woman’s wine to drink.”
“………”
Feng Zhi Wei laughed dryly and promptly slid down the bridge rail to get down. Smiling a pacifying smile at Master Gu, Zhi Wei asked, “Why did you guys come to find us?”
Master Gu glanced at her then ignored her.
There was a slight embarrassment on Feng Zhi Wei’s expression– ever since they returned from Pucheng city, Master Gu has been showing more and more of his emotions in his unique manner. For example, this posture right now…is this the legendary…jealousy?
Gu Zhi Xiao is two and half years old, the noisiest age. Either she doesn’t speak or she speaks with shocking fluency. Gu Zhi Xiao asked loudly “Yiyi Daddy saw that you came and then ran away, he said you went to hide from a woman.”
Feng Zhi Wei had just answered “Oh,” when Zhi Xiao immediately said “Yiyi Daddy said, hide from woman, but don’t hide from man, hateful!”
Feng Zhi Wei choked on an “uh” sound and looked up at Gu Nan Yi in disbelief– Master Gu, did that really come out of your mouth?
Master Gu lowered his head to look at Gu Zhi Xiao– Daughter, you did a good job adding that last word!
He picked up the little girl with satisfaction, put her on his shoulder, turned around, and beckoned with one hand.
A very obedient Feng Zhi Wei immediately put herself in the empty space on the other side– Whenever Master Gu summons you, if you ignore him…you will die a miserable death. For example, like he will haul you on the other side of his shoulder.
A smiling Gu Zhi Wei sat on her father’s shoulder, looking at the night view of the Capital from afar. Her sleeve in Gu Nan Yi’s tight grasp, Feng Zhi Wei left without a background glance. The moonlight shined down like frost, pulling the three figures’ shadows longer and longer, until they gradually converged into one.
On the Wangdu Bridge, Ning Yi, with the wine jug in hand, stared at the three figures that gradually faded in the moonlight. In his eyes, there were desolation and loneliness like the falling flowers.
After a long while, he tilted back his head, drained the wine jug in one shot, and threw the fine porcelain wine jug into the water.
The sound of the jug falling into the water spread far and wide while he sat unmoving. After a while, there were light footsteps approaching.
“Was that the world-famous Official Wei…” behind him came a woman’s voice. The voice was soft and sweet, carrying with it a hint of habitual seductiveness and smile. Seemingly casting a glance towards the direction Feng Zhi Wei had disappeared, “Your Highness certainly favor him highly…Ah!”
The last half of that teasing laugh was savagely cut off in the throat.
The woman opened her eyes wide, terrified as she stared at Prince Chu who was fluttering elegant moments before but is now holding her throat with one hand with a ruthless expression. She had just made a joke offhandedly but who would’ve thought Ning Yi would turn abruptly and come at her with lightning speed? Her eyes went dark for a second, and in the next second her throat was caught.
The moonlight shined on her face revealing delicate brows, a slightly tilted eyes at the corner, with very thick and vulgar makeup. It was none other than Yiner from the brothel who had once taken Feng Zhi Wei in.
“Yo…Your…Hig…” Yiner’s eyes widen in terror, feeling that the hand holding her throat showed no sign of loosening. Remembering how ruthless this particular man is, her heart is filled with fear and regret. As she blinked her eyes, her tears flowed, carrying the makeup on her face with it, and landed on the back of Ning Yi’s hand.
Ning Yi suddenly let go, as abrupt as when he had attacked. Yiner stumbled back, coughing as she held her throat, not daring to say a single word.
Ning Yi turned away with his hands behind his back, his shadow dark and long under the moonlight.
“Although you are not my subordinate, you should also know my rules.” After a while, Ning Yi said coldly, “My affairs, is that something you can probe about?”
“Yes…” Shaking, a kneeling Yiner pressed herself close to the ground. (Ning Yi’s question is said in a questioning form but the sentence is formatted as a statement so that’s why Yiner’s answer is yes- meaning she is not worthy to inquire into Ning Yi’s affair. In the drama, Yiner is a much smarter lady because she really could’ve easily gotten herself killed here.)
“Tomorrow, I’ll buy Lanxian (the brothel) for you. You don’t have to do that business anymore.”
Yiner who had assumed she was about to get punished, raised her head in joyful surprise, thinking she must have heard wrong.
“I am very clear in my punishment and reward.” The tone of Ning Yi’s voice has returned to his normal calm, “You have been at Lanxian for two years, and have always done well. Back then, Fifth (prince) wanted to change His Majesty’s edict and was searching for a top embroider, it was you who got the news through your sisters in the brothel. I still haven’t rewarded you for that so I will do that now as well.”
Her face was still stained with tears but Yiner’s eyes were already brimming with joy as she stammered, “On the master’s end…”
“On your master’s end, I will take care of it. She won’t say anything about it. You haven’t left Lanxian. The place will be yours in the future, so you will need to take care of it.”
“Yes! Thank you, Your Highness!” A tearful Yiner bowed deeply to the ground.
Ning Yi didn’t speak and Yiner didn’t dare to move. This cunning prince makes her more fearful than her actual master. (I believe the master she is referring to is Zhi Wei.)
“You didn’t meet me today or anyone else…right?” After a while, Ning Yi asked softly.
Yiner’s body trembled, knowing that if she answered a single word wrong then the hand that had loosened around her throat will once again, without any hesitance, wrap itself around her throat.
“This lowly servant was serving guests in Lanxian tonight, and never came out.” She immediately replied, “I wasn’t even aware Your Highness has returned to the Capital.”
“And Official Wei?” Ning Yi asked softly again.
“I have never seen Official Wei. I have only heard legends of him on the markets. If Official Wei ever comes to Lanxian then I will definitely serve him diligently.”
“Hm.” Ning Yi turned around, “You didn’t remember wrong?”
“Your lowly servant will also answer thus in front of my master, so naturally, there is no mistake.”
Nodding, Ning Yi smiled and said, “Prepare well to be the owner of Lianxian, congratulations.”
He strode away elegantly, and when he was about ten feet away, dozens of black shadows dashed out under the tree by the roadside and went away with him.
Yiner knelt face down on the ground for a long time, listening to the surging river, on her back, her clothes are soaked through with sweat.
All text copyright @ www.Ninja-Reflection.com
So close…and yet. Till next week.
Our heroine continues to cause more pain for our hero. The scene with her leaving with the baby and Gu Nan Yi could not of been easy.
Yes. I want her with Gu Nan Yi. It would be such a good thing for her.
Thank you so much for your hard work as always. With Ning Yi being the way he is, I am surprised that him and Gu Nanyi never got into it.
Feel his pain. Thanks for your hard work.