Feng Zhi Wei remained silent, the expression in her eyes shifting under the light. After a while, she smiled and said, “I don’t understand any of the things you said.”
Manchun ignored her and kept on talking “Except for the one sentence I heard at that time, everything else is my own thoughts that came through deduction. At that time, I didn’t know Official Xin’s words of “betray the whole world but refused to betray him/her” if he was referring to a male or female. I thought it was a man but…it was you.”
She took a deep breath, tears welling up in her eyes, “Last year, His Highness was weighed down in spirit. In truth, his old injuries had not relapsed for many years, but it kept bothering him last year. After returning from the border this year, his spirit had improved. I was just rejoicing over that when that big case suddenly happened. He didn’t come back for two days. He was outside all day and all night. The guards were running all over the place in and out of the palace, and going to every palace department. By nighttime, the guards finally rested but then His Highness was nowhere to be found. He returned in the early morning, covered with night frost, even his eyebrows were wet and his face was frightening pale… after being helped into bed, he only rested an hour before he got up again to attend the three-justice interrogation. After he left, I found blood-stained handkerchiefs by the foot of the bed when I was tidying up and only realized then that his old injuries had relapsed again. I had no idea what was causing his injuries to relapse and he wouldn’t say so I could only hope that he would take a good rest to recuperate properly. Those old injuries would heal if he rested properly but he has not rested, not even for one moment…every day, I would find those blood-stained handkerchiefs at the foot of the bed, by the windows, under the tables… it has not stopped….
Feng Zhi Wei closed her eyes.
The hot air gradually dissipated, condensed on the window, slowly dripping down, like tears that could not be held back.
The two women were silent, each immersed in the silence of their own shock waves.
“I have always thought there is no woman in his heart, always thought there is no one worthy to walk alongside of him…” After a bit, Manchun muttered in a low voice, almost like a whisper as she laughed, “…but it turns out, is not that there is no woman, but she was in disguise, hidden from the whole world, and also…from this manor full of infatuated women…”
Feng Zhi Wei’s face was dimmed in the pale yellow light. The face, both in front and behind the mask, was unmoving.
After a while, she lowered her eyes and asked calmly, “You, already know who I am?”
Manchun looked at her, smiled sadly, held her neck up straight, and said without hesitation, “Yes.”
All the anomalies, the timing of Ning Yi’s change, and the chain of events caused this smart woman who was always by Ning Yi’s side to figure out everything.
A woman who is deeply in love has a superhuman-like sensitivity.
A hint of pain flashed across Feng Zhi Wei’s eyes, “Why do this to yourself?”
Things might be fine if she had tried to do something to her, but, to know a secret you should not have known and still say it out loud, then, there is only one ending.
This Manchun is a very smart and perceptive woman, why…
Manchun smiled strangely, bowed low to the ground, and said softly, “There has to be someone who can say the things he doesn’t want to say for him.”
Feng Zhi Wei was shaken.
“Official Wei, Lord Wei.” Manchun smiled coldly, swaying like a begonia under the moon, “Your fame is noised through the whole world. You are respected in court, and beloved by the people, you are truly one who is superior to all. In a woman’s body, you stir the winds of empires, captivated the world, and also captivated His Highness’s heart, but you yourself, have no heart.”
Feng Zhi Wei’s fingers were slightly cool as they rested on the clothes. The clothes were made of thin silk, slippery, and cool yet her hands were still a little cooler than them. The wind of the spring night penetrated through the gaps in the window lattices. She was disheveled and should’ve felt cold but she had forgotten to keep putting on clothes.
“You and him, see each other almost every day, spending day and night together. You have gone through the rains and the storms and experienced the tumultuous dangers of the court together. You should understand his suffering and difficulties more than anyone else, you should know how much effort it takes to accomplish the smallest thing when you are surrounded by enemies on all sides. You should be able to guess how much he has done for you but you refuse to understand… can you really not understand, or you just refuse to even think about it?”
“It’s more hateful for a person who understands but pretends not to than a confused person who is truly confused.” Mancun sneered, holding her hands behind her back, “Your heart doesn’t ache for his pain, I do. My heart aches until I can’t bear it anymore. I ached until I saw you tonight when I suddenly understood everything. There are some things he will never say then I will say it. I won’t let you pretend ignorance. I will make you remember today clearly, never forgetting it. Every time you want to harden your heart you will remember the me tonight, remember that there was once a person in this world who begged you like this– love him, or let him go.”
Her voice got quieter and quieter as she spoke. Feng Zhi Wei suddenly leaped up like a surge of wind and grabbed her shoulder with her hand.
Her hand landed on Manchun’s shoulder, but before she had even exerted any force, Manchun abruptly fell forward and fell into her arms.
Feng Zhi Wei slowly lowered her head.
In Manchun’s back.
There was a shining dagger in the middle of a brilliant red that was spreading outward, the dazzling red seared her vision.
Manchun’s body had been half-hidden behind the tub. Her last move was to plunge the dagger into her back.
Every time you want to harden your heart you will remember the me tonight, remember that there was once a person in this world who begged you like this– love him, or let him go.
She used ending her life forever on this night to force Feng Zhi Wei to have to remember her.
Not to remember her, but to remember her last plea for the one she loved and ached for.
Blood flowed out, forming a thick pool of blood on the ground. Feng Zhi Wei stared at the blood lost in thought, and said softly, “Why do this to yourself.”
The second time she said this, there was desolation in her voice.
“Getting close to you…exposing your identity…I was going to die anyway.” Manchun struggled to let out a bleak smile, “I don’t want…to die by his hand…to die…then it has to be of value.”
Her body became colder bit by bit in Feng Zhi Wei’s arms, like the moonlight that retreated inch by inch from the darkness in the room.
The last words she said in her life were:
“If in the end, you can’t love…”
“Then please tell him that someone once loved him like this.”
Feng Zhi Wei held the cold body in her arms and sat stunned in the darkness. For a moment, her heart felt empty, not knowing why or where it was.
Splendid clothes were piled chaotically in front of her but she just stared blankly, her emotions tossing and turning in shock, forgetting that her clothes were disheveled and she had not put on her outer robe yet.
There was a slight noise from the door, jerking her out of her stupor. With a twist of her body and a raise of her arm, the light silver cloak fell over her shoulder, reflecting a dazzling star-like color in the blurry orange light.
Ning Yi stood at the door.
Hearing some noise, he pushed the door open and saw the silver light spread out. In the moonlight, the jade vase-like figure flashed by, the delicate skin between the goose-yellow web of ribbons caused him to suddenly feel a shortness of breath.
The shortness of breath was followed immediately by the strong smell of blood.
His heart dropped, and any suggestive thoughts disappeared immediately. He hurried over and asked urgently, “Are you injured?”
But he stopped in the next instant when he saw Manchun on the ground.
Feng Zhi Wei slowly raised her eyes to look at him, and said calmly, “She committed suicide.”
Ning Yi looked at the corpse silently and said after a while, “She is very smart.”
A slight chill crept over Feng Zhi Wei’s heart, knowing that Manchun was indeed very smart– sending her to serve her tonight, was a dead end from the very beginning.
Perhaps Ning Yi had wanted to test this “concubine” or maybe he thought she was too smart or knew too much or…had had other ideas. A causal order from him, promptly caused the beauty to come decisively, knowing the ending but still came to meet her own death and even did everything she could for him before she died.
As many people hate without reason in this world, there are just as many people who love without complaint.
I am curious if this last scene changed your opinion of Ning Yi?
All text copyright @www.Ninja-Reflection.com
Nope. My opinion of Ning Yi didn’t change because of this scene. Ning Yi is heartless when it comes to everyone except for zhiwei – this much is clear.
Not at all. I mean he has always being calculative and very sensitive specially with people next to him and in order to avoid exposing himself or his love ones he might do watever it takes to protect his secret to achieve a greater purpose.
In my opinion he’s being very consistent
I agree with Ree, still the same Ning Yi. The only reason his is willing to “trust” Feng Zhi Wei is he is willing to die by her hand.
Bad, manevolent, manipulative Ning Yi. But that’s who he is. He’s as ruthless as Feng Zhi Wei but at least he knows his heart is madly in love with Zhi Wei.
This Ning Yi is really quite cold blooded. But as Ninja keeps reminding us, neither of the main characters are really very nice. I just finished the series again (rushed through it before Netflix takes it away). Chen Kun’s Ning Yi is much warmer, more vulnerable, and doesn’t really seem to get into offing people so easily. I think he is more logical. Having watched the series with more clarity, I do like the TV Ning Yi better, than the book version.
i think we all agree that ChenKun did a fantastic job while performing . No one on Earth could portray our NIngy yi better . However , the directors did not play fair with the novel , they had built another character . Ningyi in the show was a cynical tailor keeping his head low , a tragic hero with a melodramatic undertones towards his mother . the mother-son relationship in the Drama was suitable for greek tragedy …i mean , tthings were just over board ,especially when they brought her back to the surface and he simply gave up his crown for HER?? that is not Ning yi from the book . Even with Nini , they toyed a lot with her personality .. in the book , she was wild , like a fire with no remorse . they were only vulnerable when with each other ..
The show however was revolutionary in terms of casting, costume, soundtrack , war scenes ,comic relief and with an amazing supportive cast . THe Emperor was brillant , the scholars , even the prostitutes in the brothel were stunning ..All played well . too bad that the 6 last episode was done in a haste .. too much cutting. (same thing happened with the Drama Rebel Princess) ..
Rise of the Phoenixes will remain a great landmark in the chinese Industry . I hope the generations to come might enjoy watching and truly see what does it mean ‘acting with devotion’.
I totally agree with you. Your comments are spot on. They do have to simplify things to film them, because someone writing a book can conjure up anything they want, in as complicated a way as suits them. When it has to be put on stage or screen, however, there are limits. I agree with you about Ningyi and his mother. I particularly disliked FZW’s mother in the series, she is the cause of most of the problems. But I love the series so much, I actually ordered a set on e-bay. Not sure if I will be able to play it here, but fingers crossed.
What one reads from a character on a paper may seem superficial on the surface of it . If one happens to be surprised from NING YI s`orchestered obsession of dealing with people around him , he should straitforwardly go back to read from chapter 1 precisely . He is one of those rare people who feels bitterly cold and difficult to explain . Since our female character is no ordinary ^Phoenix^ , she cracked by fate his coded heart , sailing too close to the sea . SHe opened the both sides of his deep down snowy cave . He is that type of overbearing powerful personae who is capable of bringing down the whole world along with him , setting it onto flames … i can recall the incident when ZiWei fell sick in the NanHAI expedition ..His reaction by burning the whole family down inside that cave even though Tiansheng rules are strict by not interfering in the household internal matters ..was quiet revelatory ..
the writer is clever enough to show his thorny volcanic side whilst on the surface cold as a sword .
thank you NINJA .
I am in the middle of watching the drama. I won’t be able to finish it before it goes away. I just want to acknowledge how palpable the chemistry is between Chen Kun and NI NI. I shamelessly admit that I have watched this series x10, and I still repeat some of their scenes together. I especially love the one when Zhiwei makes herself ugly to attend the banquet with Helian, and Ninyi asks her what a man should look like to deserve to be with her. Their flirting was top-tier in that scene. I was gushing through the whole exchange. 🥰🥰🥰
I also enjoyed that drama scene. I think the dialogue is inspired by the Book Chapter where Feng Zhie Wei attends a party guessing game and she wrote the question ‘What does a woman hate the most?’ (referring to Prince Ning Yi’s choice if to marry) Her answer ‘That he is more beautiful than her.’
In the drama scene, Ning Yi asks the ugly Zhie Wei ‘What could match the beauty of this (ugly) face?’ Ohh such irony…
Thank you very much for your work! I just caught up and omg its been so awesome!! I just cant believe they took so much away from zhi wei in the drama… it feels like they stole her personality and gave it to ning yi :/ is there anywhere where I can find the book ? Even if it is in chinese ;-;
Really love your translation!! Will be looking for mondays <3 certainly a good way to start the week 🙂
I think in an effort to make sure there are equal screen time for both leads, they ended up taking quiet a bit from Feng Zhi Wei’s character like you said and injecting a lot of (in my opinion) needless political stuff.
The Chinese name of the novel is: 凰权 It should come up if you google it.
I have to thank you for uour devotion in translating this book. This C-drama was my first after many years of viewing K-dramas starting with Winter Sonata.
Chen Kun’s performance brought out such a kaleidoscope of emotions that i never encountered in another drama. Ni Ni was at times likable/annoying/devious but would have liked to see more of the fire she has in the book.
Like many others have said, the production company cheated us out of a truly memorable story by changing the book.
It’s a shame such a “wake up” moment as this one was left out. It would have enriched the viewer’s understanding of these two characters from an outsider’s POV.
I can’t wait for your continued Monday segments. I’m out of the country but sign in just to read them. So glad you are providing this for us hopeless addicts.