“Your Majesty.” After a long moment, Feng Zhi Wei sighed softly, “Some people really took great pains to orchestrate this shocking case. They stole from the Ministry of Rites, burned my manor, colluded with key officials, and forged witnesses. Today, almost every single one of the witnesses they brought worth was fake. To go to such crazed and immoral extent…” 

She signed again as if she is not worried at all about her own life but is more worried that there would be this sort of vicious courtiers around His Majesty. 

Tiansheng Emperor remained silent. 

The hall was silent again. 

Different from the previous oppressive silence, this silence was frighteningly chilling yet scorching hot. There was an undercurrent in the air that made one tremble, like the overnight cooled incense ash in the purple-gold copper furnace. The ash might look cooled, but hidden within it, there are stills some dark amber firey sparks just waiting to splash out the moment the dust is blown away…

“Peng Pei!” 

Sure enough, the silence was blown away in an instant as Tiansheng Emperor’s angry shout resounded like a hurricane in the hall. 

Peng Pei who was leaning weakly against the fence, already semi-unconscious from the pain was jerked awake by this sudden shout. His eyes widened in terror as the Emperor stood up abruptly, pulled a long sword from an imperial guard, and aimed it straight at him. 

“I am going to kill you, you sick evil bastard!” 

“Your Majesty!”

In a hall full of people who watched the unfolding scene in shock, a figure, in total disregard of the sword, threw himself right in the path. 

It was Feng Zhi Wei. 

“Your Majesty…” Feng Zhi Wei put both of her arms around Tiansheng Emperor’s sword-holding hand and said loudly, “Your Majesty could put Wei Zhi in the dungeon because of one person’s words but you can’t kill an important official because of Wei Zhi’s words! Dungeons can’t be touched easily, officials can’t be killed without just cause. If Peng Pei is guilty then he will be handed over to the Ministry for Punishment. If you strike him dead like this, then the injustice this lowly servant had suffered…the injustice…I will never be exonerated even til death…” 

She held onto Tiansheng Emperor, her voice gradually turned into pitiful choked sobs, “…Your Majesty…don’t let anger affect your health… this lowly servant is still counting on you to live on for a long long time…to teach and mentor me forever…” 

Her sleeves slid down, revealing the “tortured and bruised” arms that were completely covered with wounds. 

Listening to her tearful pleas, Tiansheng Emperor remembered that it was precisely because this young man refused to choose loyalties and insisted on relying on no one but the emperor that he was framed for a made-up crime. Moreover, it was himself that had given the order that almost caused him to die in the dungeon. Feeling a prick in his heart, the emperor felt a rare emotion of regret. Turning his gaze on the shocking “torture wounds” on Wei Zhi’s arms, the fiery anger inside him was revived until he felt his heart pounding wildly. With a *clank*, the sword fell to the floor and the emperor’s body swayed. 

Being the closest to him, Feng Zhi Wei immediately realized that things didn’t look good. The old emperor seemed to be truly angry now. It would not be good at all if the emperor suffered a stroke right in front of him. Remembering as well that with her own “tortured wounds” and her big speech, her energy should be spent by this point, it would look suspicious if she continued to be so full of energy. Quickly looking down as if choking back a sob, Feng Zhi Wei pleaded “Your Majesty…don’t be angry…don’t be angry…it’s all my fault…”, her body swayed and fell backward. 

A shadow came up behind her. It was Ning Yi who had rushed over in time to catch her. Holding her waist softly, he looked down at her and said with certainty, “Official Wei, with his injury coupled with anguish, had passed out.” 

Reaching out with another hand to support the emperor, he sent a force of heat into the emperor’s body (internal energy can have some healing effects) and said, “Father, Official Wei’s plea for you to show mercy with your sword was out of his loyalty to you and this empire. Why not turn Peng Pei over to the Ministry of Justice.”

 Tiansheng Emperor had experienced a moment of shortness of breath and dizziness but had stubbornly held on, refusing to collapse in front of his ministers. Feeling much better after Ning Yi’s transfer of internal energy, the emperor had a look that was filled with mixed emotions— One of the reasons he had never liked Ning Yi was because of this son’s martial arts. Back then when all the princes were learning martial arts together, they were all taught by famous teachers hired by the palace. However, Ning Yi was so outstanding that his teacher soon begged to be let go since he no longer had anything to teach him. To have a son that was so outstanding should’ve been a blessing for an emperor but only when it comes to Ning Yi, it just called out the darkness in his heart more and more. All these years, he has been deeply weary of Ning Yi. In fact, Ning Yi most likely knows this as well but impressively, Ning Yi didn’t try to hide his talent. When it comes time to use his martial arts, Ning Yi would still do so, like now. 

Thinking of this, and remembering that despite not being treated well by him, this son of his is still always frank, honest, and open. His heart softened as he thought this son of his is actually the same type of person as Wei Zhi, the emperor replied gently, “We will do as you say.” 

Ning Yi didn’t show any surprise at his unusually affectionate tone but there was a flash of something in Seventh Prince’s eyes when he came over and stood behind him. 

Walking over to Peng Pei who was on the ground like a lump of mud, with his robe soaked (hinting that Peng Pei was so scared that he soiled himself), the emperor kicked his forehead and yelled angrily, “This empire’s law will deal with you!”

Eunuch Jia rushed up to help the emperor to make his exit. Tiansheng Emperor looked at the “unconscious” Wei Zhi in Ning Yi’s arms and then at Gu Nan Yi who had not moved at all since he leaned against the fence, the emperor pondered and stopped. 

“Someone, send Wei Zhi and Gu Nan Yi to the place. Get them to an imperial physician for treatment!” 

————————————————————–

What should’ve been a world-shattering disaster was wiped away completely by Feng Zhi Wei’s quick actions. Outsiders had no understanding of the undercurrents and dangers, the only thing they knew is that this Marquis Wei is truly a legend, everything single thing that happens around him is shocking and unbelievable. Gifted with a sudden influx of gossip to talk about, the citizens of Tiansheng gathered on the streets, in tea shops, in eateries. Scholars and commoners alike, all gathered together to discuss excitedly that day’s “three slaps in the hall”. Those describing the scene were full of energy and excitement as if they themselves are the very protagonist who had the villain underfoot. The enthralled listeners clapped and yelled in between their sharp intakes of breaths. The storytellers at the various restaurants caught on very quickly and promptly compiled a dramatic story of a “Out of jealousy, villainous minister attempts to frame virtuous officials, Marquis Zhongyi’s (Feng Zhi Wei’s title, Zongyi = loyal) three slaps in the hall of justice”. Not only was Official Wei the awe-inspiring hero but Hua Qing and Gu Nan Yi were also given a loyal, long-suffering, and triumphant image. 

That famous line “Heaven allows, the earth allows, but I do not allow!” quickly became a song sung by all. One particular Tan family eatery was quick to jump on the trend. On the left of their door, they wrote “Heaven allows, earth allows, I don’t allow— to pass by without entering.” On the other side, they wrote, “Fried dishes, stew dishes, Tan family dishes– every dish fragrant and delicious.” People flocked to the eatery and business was soon booming. 

Among the commotions, the furious Tiansheng Emperor decides to personally oversee the case. Peng Pei’s minister post was taken from him and sent to the dungeon waiting for trial. The two assistant ministers of the Ministry of Rites were also suspended pending investigation. All the witnesses that testified that day will also be thoroughly investigated. Li Asuo who gave false testimony in court had been sentenced to death. As for the greedy academy student Ni Wenyu, it is said that Prince Chu suggested that he should be deposed of his scholar title, never be hired (by the government), and be put in a wooden head plank with his crime listed in front of the academy gate for three days. The suggestion was approved by the emperor. Whatever happened to Ni Wenyu later– one can imagine without even asking. 

Some people hollered and screamed, some people fidgeted, some people panicked, some are scratching their heads. 

Feng Zhi Wei is the one who is scratching her head.

She had only wanted to pretend to faint and to make her exit naturally so the emperor can deal with the rest. Who knew Tiansheng Emperor suddenly found his conscience and made the exception of sending her and Gu Nanyi into the palace to recover? That made her super anxious— Putting aside the fact the imperial physicians in the palace are not as good as Zong Chen, the worst thing is that in the palace, she has to pretend to be “seriously injured.” With all the eunuchs attending to her without batting an eye, she can’t get out of bed. Which of course means that she can’t find out how Gu Nan Yi is. Even though she and Gu Nan Yi have been put in the same section of the palace but there are still two courtyards between her and Gu Nan Yi. When she asked the eunuchs how Official Gu is, the eunuchs will either reply with a smile telling her to rest and focus on her own recovery first or they would be clueless, only telling her that the palace physicians are all over there but have all been sent away by Official Gu. This of course only added to Feng Zhi Wei’s anxiety. All the physicians are there? Doesn’t that mean they have no idea what to do? Gu Nan Yi sent them away, is there something amiss? 

Those “wounds” on her body were actually created by Zong Chen’s special medicine. When she was being transported in the prison carriage, Zong Chen threw it into the carriage when it tilted. After she used the medicine, red and purple marks appeared all over her skin with bloody frightening-looking bumps. In actuality, she would recover completely if she simply take the medicine in another bottle but before she does, her body would appear weak as well. Feng Zhi Wei is not worried about being found out by the palace physicians. Her only worry is that this would delay treatment for Gu Nan Yi. After patiently waiting for two days, she couldn’t wait any more on this night. Putting on her socks, she got down from her bed, preparing to go visit Gu Nan Yi at night. If someone sees her, then she will just say she was sleepwalking. She is pretty good at pretending to sleepwalk anyway.

All text copyright @ www.Ninja-Reflection.com

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