Feng Zhi Wei turned her head and slowly looked towards the fake rocky mountain. 

“Who’s there?! Come out!” 

There was a murderous flash in her eyes.

No matter who was passing behind this fake rock mountain decor. After seeing this thing, and hearing these words, then the only fate waiting for them is to be silenced forever. 

There was silence all around, with only the high and low of nervous breathing, and some small vague sound of small shifting movements. 

Feng Zhi Wei sneered coldly and flicked her sleeve upward, lifting up the vines on the rocky mountain. Feng Zhi Wei was just about to drag out the person when her hand suddenly stopped mid-air. 

Behind the fake rocky mountain, hidden between the vines.

The one who was eavesdropping was none other than Shaoning herself! 

Now, even Feng Zhi Wei was too stunned. 

Her first reaction was to destroy the anklet in her hand but seeing Shao Ning’s eyes staring straight at the anklet she knew then it was already too late. 

In Shao Ning’s heart, she must’ve thought that the anklet was secretly taken as a precious token by Wei Zhi during their night of passion. She pretended not to know but she must have been filled with a mysterious joy, imagining her lover caressing her intimate item under the moonlight thinking of her. 

Until this moment, all that secret joy and exhilaration was shattered by a shocking thunderbolt. 

Qian Yan didn’t know Shao Ning. He only saw a little eunuch staring at the anklet in the most rude manner. Not seeing Feng Zhi Wei’s expression, Qian Yan quickly withdrew his hand and scolded in a low voice, “Who is it? And…” 

Shao Ning suddenly walked over. 

She was still a little shaky when she took the first step but she became steady by the second step. Not only had she stabilized but she walked faster and faster. Before Qian Yan could finish his sentence, she was already standing in front of him. 

Seeing the expression in her eyes, Feng Zhi Wei’s heart suddenly jumped and subconsciously reached out a hand to pull her. 

Unfortunately, it was already too late. 

Shao Ning suddenly pulled out a knife and stabbed Qian Yan in the chest!

Blood burst out!

Splattering all over Feng Zhi Wei’s hands. 

Qian Yan stared at Shao Ning with wide eyes filled with disbelief. He opened his mouth to say something but in the end, no words came out. He let out a heavy gasp and fell backward. 

Feng Zhi Wei caught him and turned her head abruptly to stare at Shao Ning. 

Shao Ning, however, did not look at her at all. She didn’t even look at Qian Yan. Very calmly, she wiped the blood-stained knife on the vines and put it away.

*Ding*

Between Qian Yan’s loosened fingers, the blood-stained anklet fell to the ground, the sound was like a steel nail, piercing right to one’s heart. 

The anklet fell at Shao Ning’s feet. 

She looked down, with an expression as if she was looking at an unfamiliar anklet. Looking at the gold anklet that had once been close to her skin, rubbing against a woman’s most precious area day and night. (I was a bit puzzled why the ankle would be a woman’s most precious area…my best guess is that in the olden days, ankles were one area that could be “accidentally” exposed certain times and seemed to be considered a very sexy thing to men.) 

The exquisite plaything is still as bright and beautiful as that night when she was with her lover, her heart bursting with so much happiness that it almost flew away. 

That night in bed, her lover’s fingers gently stroked her ankles, the anklet fell like a flower from a branch when his fingers passed by. She knew it but lay in the brocade quilt smiling and said nothing. In the darkness, her skin was as shiny as snow, her black hair fell like clouds, and she too, felt like she was in the clouds. 

But now…

A smile appeared at the corner of her lips, not sad, not angry or sorrowful, but a faint mockery and a hint of coldness. 

Like a cereus flower blooming vibrantly in the night but was suddenly covered with snow. 

Then she slowly stretched out her foot.

Slowly, forcefully, and decisively. 

Crushed the anklet into pieces.

The gold anklet made a low cracking sound under the thin-soled boots, instantly turning into ash, but seemingly unaware, she kept on grinding it to the ground, again, again, and again….

Uncertain of the passing of time, until that anklet has completely turned into powder mixed into the mud, no longer recognizable, she finally lifted her foot slowly, raised her head, and stared at Feng Zhi Wei who was holding Qian Yan. 

Feng Zhi Wei’s face was pale, a hand pressed on Qian Yan’s wound, watching Shao Ning’s every move, waiting for her to do what she did to Qian Yan, to abruptly pull out a dagger and stab her. 

Or run up ferociously, dump all her resentment like a flood on her head. 

Shao Ning looked at her and suddenly smiled. 

Surprisingly, it was still the usual brilliant joyful smile, the sort that shows flowers are blossoming in her heart just from the sight of Wei Zhi. 

She smiled happily at Feng Zhi Wei, walked up to her, affectionately grabbed onto Feng Zhi Wei’s arm, leaned her head on her shoulder, and said softly, “I am leaving the palace tomorrow. I wanted to see you again in the palace and happened to meet you here. Are you…happy or not?”

She glanced at Feng Zhi Wei with a smile, her thick eyelashes raised, and her eyes brimming with happiness as she looked into her eyes. 

Not seeing the blood on the ground. Also not seeing Qian Yan who was stabbed by her and laying dying in Feng Zhi Wei’s arms. 

Feng Zhi Wei stood there stiffly. 

Even her bones were stiff. 

The skin on her shoulder was smooth and soft, Shao Ning’s magnolia fragrance enveloped her, fragrant to the bone, but what she felt was — chilled to the bone. 

She turned her neck bone, feeling as if her bone was creaking uncontrollably as she turned. With some difficulty, she looked down at Shao Ning, into her crystal-clear eyes. 

This was the only difference between Shao Ning and her. Her eyes were clear and bright, like perfectly polished crystals, reflecting everything inside her. 

However, at this moment, even the brilliant Feng Zhi Wei could not read the thoughts in those crystal-clear eyes. Or rather, she could understand but felt chilled to the bone because of understanding, so cold that she would rather she didn’t understand. 

Is this kind of frightening paranoia, calm insanity inherited by all those who possess the Ning family’s royal blood? 

“Now that I have seen you, I am satisfied.” Shao Ning didn’t wait for her answer but continued talking on her own, “After I leave the palace, I will have another identity living in a different world. Wei Zhi, you should know father’s meaning. I am yours, so you must treat me well.” 

Seemingly listening but seemingly not, Feng Zhi Wei pressed on Qian Yan’s chest tightly, hot blood gushed out, but it couldn’t warm her fingers. 

After a while, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The breath was full of the smell of blood and a heavy smell of rust. It forced its way into her throat and choked her to the point where she couldn’t help but want to cough. 

Yet, in the end, she just opened her mouth calmly.

She said:

“Yes.” 

===============================

Shao Ning’s figure disappeared step by step behind the rock mountain decor, just like when she came. 

Feng Zhi Wei stood there holding Qian Yan.  

*Boom.*

In the distance, a huge cannon roared, and brilliant fireworks rose into the sky. Long gold, red, and green streaks of light scattered in the sky and fell like raining stars. The newly minted scholars who had their backs to this side raised their heads and cheered in surprise. 

Only she, beneath the fireworks, stood alone and lonely. 

The wind blew through on three sides and swept up her hair, the ends of which were still stained with Qian Yan’s blood.

All text copyright @ www.Ninja-Reflection.com

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