Half-covered in her cloak, Feng Zhi Wei finished putting on her outer robe. With a corpse lying in front of them, any suggestive moods that might’ve existed were gone. Feng Zhi Wei didn’t realize until she finished dressing that Ning Yi had also changed his clothes. The apricot-colored robe looked especially elegant and ethereal on him.
The two of them standing together, even if they were wearing other people’s faces, they still gave off a harmonious vibe, looking like a perfect match.
Feng Zhi Wei suddenly reached out her hand, lifted Ning Yi’s mask, and peered at his face carefully.
Surprised by her sudden action, Ning Yi touched his own face and asked with a raised eyebrow, “Did I grow a flower on my face?”
Feng Zhi Wei examined him somberly for a few moments before nodding, “You grew a flower pimple.” Ignoring Ning Yi who wasn’t sure how to respond to her, Feng Zhi Wei put his mask back on and said with a thoughtful expression, “This is a dangerous thing. You are a prince, it is best to not venture into something this dangerous personally. Find someone you can trust and just send them with me.”
“You are willing but I am not.” Ning Yi smiled, “Except me, no one else in this world can pretend to be husband and wife with you.”
Like a considerate and gentle husband, he helped Feng Zhi Wei step out of the door.
The faint smell of blood was blown away by the wind.
In the far distance, came the sound of the night drum (for indication of time) , breaking through the blur and desolation of the night.
It’s about 10 at night.
Second Prince’s night feast starts at 11.
The two of them went down a tunnel in the manor but it was an ordinary plain looking courtyard when they exited. A team of people silently met them, changed a carriage at the door, and headed out of the city.
Shuyu Villa is located in Kuangshan Mountain, on the city’s outskirts. The villa is built in the middle of the mountain and spirals up the mountain, merging in with the nature with its unique appearance. The exquisite pavilions nestled among the green trees and brown stones, a flowing spring water cascading down the side, passing through the whole villa. The melodious sounds of the water can be heard all over the mountain, hence the name of the villa.
It is hard to imagine someone as coarse as Second Prince would have such an elegant property under his name.
Inside the carriage, Feng Zhi Wei carefully read the information about Official Huang and his wife Ning Yi had handed her. After pondering a bit, she couldn’t help but ask Ning Yi, “Since Huang Zhiqiu is a subordinate of Shannan Inspector Xu Minglin, they must spend a lot of time together and are very familiar with one another. Human skin masks only work well on strangers, how could it fool Xu Minglin who is very familiar with Huang Zhiqiu?”
Ning Yi smiled and said, “This Official Huang does not work in the capital of Shannan. He works in the branch office of Weiming County, Shannan Province. He doesn’t hardly get to see his superior at all in a year. If it wasn’t for the fact that the case happened in his jurisdiction and he was tasked with delivering the case file to the capital, he would’ve never had this chance to curry favor with a chief official, let alone be invited by the prince to join him for a banquet.”
Feng Zhi Wei let out a smile, “It seems that Your Highness has to play the role of a country bumpkin well tonight.”
“I for one am looking forward to seeing Madam Huang…” Ning Yi leaned close to her ear and chuckled, “Unlike Official Huang who is soft-hearted behind his tough talks, and not good at socializing, it is said that this Madam Huang lost her mother when she was young and was sold into a brothel by her father, tasting all the hardships of this world. She is very fierce and capable. It is said…” He chuckled, blowing on the wisp of hair by her temples, “Official Huang has only been to the playhouse once. He was still a stranger to the charms of women before he stepped in, but once he met Madam Huang, he immediately redeemed her (from the brothel) and married her the next day… Some people say that it was Madam Feng who forced herself on Official Huang.”
Feng Zhi Wei choked slightly and almost let out a cough. After a while, she slowly turned her head, stared at Ning Yi, and her lips twisted into a chilling smile, “You did this intentionally?”
“How is that possible?” Ning Yi smiled innocently, “The key factor is that the only people who got the invitation this time were Xu Minglin and Huang Zhiqiu. You can’t ask me to pretend to be Xu Minglin, right?”
He lay back, spread out his hands and feet, peered at Feng Zhi Wei, and said with a smile, “Madam…to make sure you don’t expose any flaws, should we practice a bit in the carriage now?”
The curtains of the carriage were rolled up a bit. The pale moonlight came through the curtains, the man in apricot-colored robes lay there lazily, his black hair spread out, the collar of his robes unbuttoned, and his smooth chest can be seen through the gaps. Although he had someone else’s face on but the elegance he exuded was still that of the most desired person in the capital. One casual gesture immediately turned into a heart-swooning temptation.
Feng Zhi Wei smiled, tenderly reached out her hands…grabbed his collar, buttoned up the buttons tenderly, and patted his face just as tenderly, “Sir, you are using your charm on the wrong person. When the chance comes, you should go seduce some young innocent ladies. The yellow-faced wife at home, she just needs to be put off to the side for show.”
Ning Yi took the opportunity to grab her hand, rubbed it against his face, and said with a soft chuckle, “Three thousand miles of water, but I only want the cup that’s you (a Chinese saying meaning there are lots of choices out there but there is only one person for me.)… I have to thank Second brother for tonight’s feast, otherwise, how would this husband have the chance to have my lady personally adjust my clothing.” As he rubbed her hand against his face, he disliked the fact it was someone else’s face. Taking the mask off, he put Feng Zhi Wei’s fingers on his face.
Feng Zhi Wei frowned as she stared at him, thinking inwardly that this person is sure greedy. They are almost to the villa gate but he still took off his mask. What if someone sees them?
Lights and shadows flashed, but Ning Yi’s mask had not yet been completely smoothed out on his face. In a moment of anxiousness, Feng Zhi Wei turned and hopped on top of Ning Yi’s body.
……..
The captain of the guard sent by Second Prince to greet them lifted up the carriage curtain and was greeted by the sight of Official Huang lying in the carriage with Madam Huang straddling on top of him. Official Huang’s face could not be seen but he could see Madam Huang with her back to the carriage door, sitting astride on top of her husband, reaching out to grab her husband’s collar while saying viciously, “You are not allowed to look at any of those foxy tramps!”
Held down by his wife, Official Huang groaned and said angrily, “Let go! Let go! How shameless!”
Madam Huang raised her head high and said, “I don’t care! Look at you old man! You are so proud of yourself tonight! What do you have to gloat about when they invited Official Xu? Aren’t you all excited because it is said there are lots of women in Shuyu Villa! You greedy old man!”
The guard was completely dumbfounded. Madam Huang suddenly turned her head around, glared at the guard captain, and said loudly, “What are you staring at a married couple’s bedroom pleasure for?”
Official Huang was shouting angrily from below, “You shew! Get down! Get down!”
The guard promptly lowered the carriage curtain, covered his mouth, and went running back. Immediately, there came a burst of low laughter from the waiting team of guards.
“….bedroom pleasure? Or horse carriage pleasure?”
“The pleasure of the shouting lioness?”
“Ha ha….”
All text copyright @ www.Ninja-Reflection.com
Together they are the best 🙈😂
That would have been a wonderful scene in the drama. Too bad it wasn’t included.
“You’re willing but I ‘m not, Ning Yi smiled, “Except me, no one else in this world can pretend to be husband and wife with you.”
“He disliked the fact it was someone else’s face. Taking the mask off, he put Feng Zhi Wei’s fingers on his face. ”
These two highly important quotes sum up Ning Yi s’ overbearing pride (that of a imperial descendant) . I won’t comment about the romantic aspect of the sayings as much as it stroke me the insinuation behind what makes Ning Yi such a ” Shakespearean Tragic Hero .
In brief , trenchant, haughty, magnanimous, full of himself, unpredictable, unyielding to any compromise or defeat , threatening to a point where he smiles to utter clear death threats , fearless-heart yet unconditionally generous and warm .
He is truly worthy of an Emperor/ no common person ..what a pleasure to read such scenes of them together. You feel smarter just by reading their lines !
The narrator is brilliant, she makes the foreshadowing of ” faint smell of blood was blown away by the wind /风/..!
Lastly, I need to thank you Ninja for this valuable translation. You make me smile deep down 💓
I wish I could read the rest sooner 😭
Another worthy conversation between our two leads. How can their innuendos get any more suggestive.
Wonderful, can’t wait to see what happens at the dinner. Monday seems so far away.
Thank you for all your hard work.