Feng Zhi Wei couldn’t help laughing. Hua Qiong whispered in her ear and said, “I have been here for a while but His Highness told me to not rush in, to wait until Peng Pei is ready to start the torture before I make my move. Oh, I almost burst with anger listening to them. It was with great difficulty I held it in. Hehe, killing that Gui Jianzhou, it felt awesome!” 

Feng Zhi Wei patted her on the shoulder and whispered back, “Ning Yi is here, why didn’t anyone notify Peng Pei?”

“There had to be someone available to notify him.” Hua Qing grinned, “They were all blocked by His Highness’ guards.” 

Feng Zhi Wei was lost in thought for a bit, smiled, then tore a piece of her sleeve off, “Is it still bleeding? Let me wrap it up for you.” 

“Don’t.” Hua Qing stopped her, “I want their physician to deal with it, that will make it easier to carry on with my act. I am going to live here now. No one will be able to lay a finger on you two!”

She turned, laid down lazily, and called out to the guards who had shrank off to the far corner, “Go, see why the physician is not here yet?” 

“Go, bring me a bowl of black chicken soup!” (Black chicken, also known as Silkie is considered good healing food.)

“The Ministry of Punishment is so poor that you don’t even have black chicken? Haven’t I heard that the accused will often give you guys money? Once the accused finished stuffing you guys with money then the accuser will come around with more money? Did they say that most murderers are just scapegoat bought by the rich? I have heard that the market price to die for someone is three thousand tael of silver and a house with three courtyards… Oh, the black chicken soup will be here right away? Alright, I will stop talking.” 

“……..”

Miss Hua lay on the square table of the Ministry of Punishment, comfortably sipping her chicken soup and singing a few ditties. After making the prison guards run around wildly doing her bidding, she said with much regret, “Ah, it is such a shame there are not enough people or we could play a few rounds of poker.” 

A while later, Feng Zhi Wei’s manor sent over the bedding and walnuts she had asked for. Yan Huaishi brought over tonics for his wife…there was so much of it that they could almost open up a drugstore. Ginseng, birdnest and sharkfin (all expensive Chinese medicine ingredients) were everywhere. Yan Huaishi also freely dispensed silver coins to all the prison guards and officials he came across. Stick from the wife and carrots from the husband, soon, all the prison guards are enthusiastically helping to carry in all the tonics and medicines.

Munching on the Golden Rose Cake Yan Huaishi had brought, Feng Zhi Wei pointed at the wound on Hua Qing’s arm and asked him with a teasing smile, “Is your heart aching?”

“Yes!” Yan Hauishi answered frankly. Hua Qing was about to glare at him when he grinned and added, “But it is the right thing to do. I just wish it was on me instead.” 

Hua Qing patted him and teased with a grin, “With that body of yours?!”

Her eyes were sparkling, the light in them dancing brightly, full of laughter. 

Feng Zhi Wei watched the two love birds with a smile, there was a hint of joy and a hint of melancholy in her eyes. 

Master Gu who had been silently eating walnuts, watched the pair with his head tilted, seemingly pondering something seriously. 

Yan Hauishi couldn’t stay long so he got ready to leave after all the supplies were brought in. Before Yan Hauishi left, he winked at Feng Zhi Wei who slowly nodded in return. 

“Go to bed early tonight.” Hua Qing said, “I heard the cabinet has been arguing all day over whether this case should be handed over to the Ministry of Justice or the Three Courts. His Highness was also very busy today. He had to be there to make sure the cabinet would come to a favorable conclusion while making sure at the same time the Ministry of Punishment wouldn’t try something else again. He is the prince overseeing the Three Courts so it wouldn’t be good for him to come to see you today. He asked me to tell you, he trusts you so you should trust him too.”

“Of course I should trust him.” Feng Zhi Wei stretched lazily, “If he can’t protect me, then this Ministry of Punishment would belong to someone else. Those brothers of his are all but ready to pull knives on each other. In the battlefield of imperial power, no one can afford to lose.” 

“I am staying here in case someone tries to put three dirt bags on you.” Hua Qing lay down comfortably and grinned, “I know you probably have your own arrangement as well but I can’t be at ease unless I can see with my own eyes.” (Placing dirt bags on a person= a torturing method by tying up somebody then placing bags filled with dirt on them. It was a way to torture someone and kill them without any outer wounds.)

“Who else is more suitable to stay here than you?” Feng Zhi Wei squeezed her hand and said softly, “Sleep.”

She lay down slowly, sleeping on her soft and comfortable cloak. Under the cloak was the straw from the prison cell, making soft rustling sounds. She thought of her mother and brother as she listened to the soft rustling sounds. When they were in the imperial dungeon, did they also lay on this kind of straw? Was Feng Hao who had lived a pampered life, very scared? How did mother comfort him at that time?

At that time, no one went and visited them. No one shed their own blood to protect them. No one brought warm and comfortable cloaks for them. On the last night of their lives, they slept on moldy straw with fear and sorrow. 

There was drumming in the distance. It sounded empty and hollow by the time the sound made its way to her. The dim yellow light of the oil lamp cast dark shadows in on the cell, flickering, appearing like countless distant figures, walking slowly in silence. 

In the quiet breathing silence, Feng Zhi Wei’s eyes were wide open, motionless. 

After a long while, at the corner of her eyes, water droplets gradually gathered, growing bigger and bigger until they finally trickled down, seeping slowly into the hair by her temples. 

This was the first time in two years that she truly shed tears for the death of her mother and younger brother. All the tears she had shed in the palace in front of Tiansheng Emperor back then were all acting. She was crying but inside, her heart was burning with grief and fury. 

Later, on the night of vigil, she escorted the two coffins in the snowstorm, and personally dug the two graves in the woods on the outskirts of the Capital- she didn’t shed tears even then. 

That most crimson memory hidden in the deepest part of her heart, she refused to give herself a chance to indulge in sorrow. 

She only let the tears flow inside, soaking in the bitter sorrow day after day. 

Tonight, in the same sort of dungeon, the past is rushing in one after another, bringing back the echoes of the chilling steps in that snowstorm. 

The tears fell in silence. 

On the opposite side, Gu nan Yi suddenly opened his eyes and listened quietly in the darkness. 

He obviously couldn’t hear anything but he seemed to be hearing everything clearly. 

The tears fell in silence. 

From the distance, there suddenly came the sound of a flute playing. 

Feng Zhi Wei was slightly startled. 

At first, she thought it was Zong Chen. In her impression, he was very good at flute but because she has heard it often, she is familiar with Zong Chen’s playing style. The sound of Zong Chen’s flute is clear and ethereal, like the cloud in the high sky that feels vast and sublime. This flute sound, while no less skillful than Zong Chen’s but feels more deep, warm, and gentle. Although the melody is melancholy, it doesn’t have the mourning and sadness feel to it. Instead, the melody has a faint sense of transcendence and grandeur, causing the listener to feel a softening in their heart. 

The flute is an ethereal instrument, it is easy to play sad tunes but this, this flute is different.

The Ministry of Punishment occupies a vast area and the dungeon goes deep underground. The fact that the flute sound could penetrate, means that the person used internal force to play the flute. Using one’s internal force to play the flute, it can’t last too long, or else it could easily cause internal injury. 

Feng Zhi Wei listened quietly in the dark, cherishing every rise and fall of the melody. The tune is unfamiliar, not like those circulating in the court and marketplace. The beginning of the tune was flat, slowly rising, arousing the complex emotion of wanting to get close but not daring to. 

Gradually, the melody became heavier and heavier before suddenly injecting a light and joyful sound, like the moon breaking through the clouds, like tides chasing after one another. 

Feng Zhi Wei listened to the melody, and the corner of her lips gradually curled up into a smile. At this moment, she feels as she is connected to the flute playerin spirit, knowing that person must be also immersed in joy. 

However, that brisk and agile sound was only for a moment, and suddenly it abruptly changed with a cracking sound, causing Feng Zhi Wei to tremble. The sound of the flute suddenly turned high and agitated, like the burst of the wind and rolling thunder, rolling in the high heavens with rain and fire, causing a huge and irreparable gap in heaven and earth. 

Feng Zhi Wei’s eyes are wide open with bewilderment, the tears at the corners of her eyes had already dried up. At this moment, her attention was completely focused on the sound of the flute, waiting, wanting to know what would be coming next. 

The sound of the flute started again, slightly low, with a bit of confusion and helplessness, making one’s heart tighten. Feng Zhi Wei’s clasped her fingers slightly, waiting in her own heartbeat for the melody to fall into eternal sadness. 

However, the melody didn’t sink into the abyss but slowly turned gentle and soft, like the delicate drizzling rain in the spring, seeping in with the wind into everything it touches. Without force, without arrogance, just simple patience, circling around again and again, like the breeze in the vast universe that can’t be found but is everywhere. 

Feng Zhi Wei suddenly felt tired. After listening to this flute, it felt as if she had listened to a person’s entire life filled with ups and downs, ending with the prosperity of silent thankfulness. 

The tumultuous sea in her heart, as if the moonlight had descended onto it, gradually turned into tranquility. 

She closed her eyes and fell asleep. 

In her dreams, that flute sound is still playing, tireless and soothing. 

 All text copyright @ www.Ninja-Reflection.com

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