“What’s not suitable about that?” She raised her eyebrows high, “We have already done the deed anyway, so we might as well let my father know that I can only marry you in this life, and no one else!”

“Fine.” Feng Zhi Wei stood up, and threw Shao Ning’s skirt on her, “Then Princess you go ahead, just lay on my bed. Tomorrow after I am dragged out to the Meridian Gate to have my head chopped off, then you can go marry my head!” 

“How could that be!” Shao Ning’s eyes widened, “Father dotes on me, and he favors you too!”

“No matter how much your father favors me, I am just an official!” Feng Zhi Wei sneered, “The more your father dotes on you the faster I will die! You are an imperial princess of Tiansheng, who lost your virginity on my bed. Once your father finds out, if I don’t end up on the chopping block, then I will take your surname!” (The last “I will take your surname” is a common phrase that’s equivalent of calling someone bluff or expressing the certainty of one’s point of view.)

“Xiao Zhi.” Shao Ning was silent for a moment, then grabs Feng Zhi Wei’s hand and said nervously, “You are not thinking about backing out now, are you? My father dotes on me very much so if you dare to abandon me then…I…I…I will kill you— “ 

“Princess, you being on my bed now is already killing me. It won’t take that much effort.” Feng Zhi Wei snickered. 

Shao Ning pouted, and hesitated for a moment before she picked up her clothes and started to put them on, “I will do what you say then.” Feng Zhi Wei patted her hand comfortingly and Shan Ning immediately leaned on her. Feng Zhi Wei put a hand around her shoulder and said softly, “Princess, go back first, and after…” 

“No!”

Shao Ning turned abruptly and said decisively, “Xiao Zhi, don’t even think about coaxing me into going back like this. You need to give me an answer to what happened here today.” 

Feng Zhi Wei frowned, thinking inwardly that this matter would’ve been an easy one to deal with if it was any other woman other than Shao Ning. Forcing herself to be patient, she asked, “What kind of answer would Princess like?”

“You need to write me a letter of marriage intent.” Shao Ning got up, walked to the desk, and push the ink and pen towards Feng Zhi Wei. “Black ink on white paper, saying that you, Wei Zhi will ask the Emperor to marry Princess Shao Ning. From today on, Shao Ning will be your wife. If you break this oath, then you will be struck down by heaven and lose your loved one forever.”

She stared fiercely at Feng Zhi Wei’s eyes, turned around, and walked briskly over to the bed. She threw off the blanket to reveal the peach blossom-like dots of red on the bed sheets. Shao Ning shook the proof of her virginity triumphantly at Feng Zhi Wei before wrapping her arms around it. 

Feng Zhi Wei was dazzled by the triumphant show of the blood stains. Standing there in silence, Feng Zhi Wei stared at the paper without saying anything. This is not so much a letter of marriage intent but rather, a confession of crime. Once this document falls into Shao Ning’s hand, then it is no different than handing it to their enemy. From that point on, a chain forever wrapped around her neck. Her life’s ambition and all these years of struggles will all go to waste because of this one letter of marriage intent. 

At that moment, frustration and fury filled Feng Zhi Wei’s heart. She did nothing wrong tonight, but there is nothing she can do when she has to deal with someone as irrational as Shao Ning!

After a bit, she said slowly, “Alright, I’ll write.”

Shao Ning’s chilling expression immediately changed to a smile, leaned on her, and softly blew into her ear, “Don’t change your writing, I know your writing style.” 

Feng Zhi Wei let out a wry smile, thinking inwardly that she can only do what it takes to send her away first and they can figure out a way to destroy the document later. Just when she is about to pick up the pen, the sounds of quick footsteps came. 

Her heart sank but then realized something seemed off– this seems to be just one person’s footsteps. If it was the people who had set this trap, then they would’ve brought as many people as they could so how could it be just one person? And what’s going on tonight? Ning Yi was meeting with Concubine Qing before and had transferred the guards away, but it should be back to normal now so how did this person still come right in without encountering any trouble? 

Could it be…

She held the pen above the paper, seemingly deep in thought, until the ink plopped onto the paper. Pouting with dissatisfaction, Shao Ning give her a push, quickly changed the paper, and said, “Hurry up, I’ll say it and you write.” 

“Princess, what are you doing!”

A deep and authoritative female voice came from the door suddenly and Princess Shao Ning actually trembled in shock. The two of them looked up together to see a middle-aged woman in a deep purple skirt, standing at the door with a dignified expression. Feng Zhi Wei took a closer look and vaguely remembered that it was the most trusted Liu Ma Ma that served the princess. (It looks and sounds like mama, but Ma Ma here is actually a title given to palace maids who earned high status and are in a leadership position among other palace servants) Feng Zhi Wei had met her once in the past. 

Shao Ning who was not afraid of anything seemed to suddenly become much subdued, opened her mouth wordlessly a few times, before finally saying with some annoyance, “Ma Ma, what are you doing here in the middle of the night.” 

Liu Ma Ma stopped about three steps away from them and looked directly at Princess Shao Ning, her tone was neither timid nor overbearing, her posture more dignified than most of the emperor’s concubines, “This old servant came to find the princess! And wanted to ask what the princess is doing here in the middle of the night!”

Shao Ning opened her mouth again, her face flashed red, but again, nothing came out. Feng Zhi Wei was stunned. She has heard of the nannies that are in charge of taking care of the princes and princesses since they were young. The nannies also bore the responsibility of teaching and even reprimanding these young imperial offspring. In other words, in the palace environment where imperial parental-child relations are very tenuous, these nannies almost play the roles of both a strict father and a loving mother to these children. With that being the case, these nannies are often greatly respected by the imperial offspring they have raised. Judging by what she is seeing now, even the usually domineering and spoiled Shao Ning does not dare to contradict this Liu Ma Ma. 

Suddenly, she remembered that she had heard vague rumors that this Ma Ma may have even saved Shao Ning’s life. When Shao Ning was young, she contracted smallpox and was at death’s door. It was Liu Ma Ma who had taken care of her day and night for half a month in order to pull her back from death’s door. Therefore, in Shao Ning’s palace, this Liu Ma Ma could almost be regarded as half of a queen mother. 

Shao Ning might not be able to get a word out, but Liu Ma Ma was not about to let her off the hook. She walked over slowly, not sparing a glance at Feng Zhi Wei, and bowed to Shao Ning, “Princess, this is not a place for you to stay at. Please quickly return back to your palace with this old servant.”

“Ma Ma, wait for a moment” Shao Ning forced out a smile, “Official Wei and I still have a matter to finish.” 

“There should be nothing between the inner palace and the outer palace ministers!” Chen Ma Ma said coldly, “Princess, in front of an outsider, I won’t speak more, but this old servant’s fault increases with every second you are staying. Please leave immediately!” (Inner palace refers to where the emperor’s wives, concubines and kids live. Other in certain situations where they might have to deal with palace guards, the only male the women of the inner palace should be seen with is the emperor.)

“This is not an outsider…” Shao Ning said with a blush and whispered, “Ma Ma, please grant me this wish, this is my….”

“Princess, watch your words!” Liu Ma Ma frowned, her eyes were as fierce as lightning. Shao Ning was so shocked that she swallowed the rest of her words. 

Chen Ma Ma surveyed the surrounding and saw a blue stain cloth protruding from Shao Ning’s arms. Frowning when she saw the slight blood stain on it, she glanced over at Feng Zhi Wei, then suddenly stepped forward and snatched the cloth out of Shao Ning’s hand, “Princess, what is this?”


All text copyright @ www.Ninja-Reflection.com

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