The Rise of Phoenixes Novel Translation #291

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

After a while, she opened her eyes and heard hurried footsteps. A young eunuch passed by with sweat all over his forehead. Feng Zhi Wei called out to stop him. 

The eunuch was a little impatient at first but immediately changed his expression to one of eagerness once he turned and saw that it was Feng Zhi Wei. He came running over, saw Feng Zhi Wei covered in blood with Qian Yan in her arms, and stood stunned with his mouth wide open after letting out a surprised “Ah!” 

“Find a way to go to Haoyuan Building and ask Prince Chu to come.” Feng Zhi Wei instructed him. 

The young eunuch had been in the palace for some time and knew what things to see and what things he should not see. He knew today he saw something that would bring trouble and quickly hurried off without saying anything. 

Feng Zhi Wei took Qian Yan to hide behind the rock mountain and gave his wound some simple treatment. This place is remote and no one else had made their way over but Tiansheng Emperor would be here soon, she must find an excuse to take Qian Yan away. 

Shao Ning’s knife didn’t hit the target squarely. She was distracted and her knife missed the heart slightly. Qian Yan could still be saved, but he needs to leave the palace right away. 

Ning Yi arrived in a hurry. He knew that Feng Zhi Wei would never send someone to inform him in that manner if she had not run into the direst difficulty. Thus when he came he didn’t bring a single guard but headed straight for the flower hall and found Feng Zhi Wei behind the fake rock mountain covered in blood. 

His expression immediately changed. 

Leaping over, he raised his hand to take Feng Zhi Wei’s pulse, and asked in a grave voice, “Is it bad? What happened? I will send you back immediately…”

His slightly urgent voice paused, finally spotting Qian Yan. 

“What happened?”

Feng Zhi Wei’s gaze fell to the ground, there, the crystals were crushed but the golden thread was still there. She pointed her chin at it and said, “Ni Wenyu hid Shao Ning’s anklet and was found by his mother who came searching for her son. Qian Yan stopped her and came asking me about it…and was seen by Shao Ning.”

This time, even Ning Yi took a sharp intake of cold breath. He didn’t need Feng Zhi Wei to say anymore but had already figured out everything. Looking at Qian Yan’s wound, deep enough his internal organs were visible, clearly, the perpetrator was full of hatred and determination at that moment. 

The two looked at each other, and for the first time, were a bit shocked because of Shao Ning. 

“Take him out of the palace quickly.” Also not one who would waste time expressing surprise, Ning Yi immediately sent people to the Haoyuan Building to fetch the casual robes he kept in the palace. Hurriedly changing Qian Yan and Feng Zhi Wei’s clothes behind the mountain to cover up the blood, Feng Zhi Wei then jumped into the water immediately. 

At this time, the ceremonial artillery started up again, accompanied by the noisy ceremonial music, covering up all the sounds. Feng Zhi Wei jumped down then immediately climbed up socking wet, wringing out her clothes in the night wind. Ning Yi looked at her with concern and said, “Go back and drink a bowl of ginger soup, you don’t want to catch a cold.” As he spoke, he wiped quite a bit of blood from Qian Yan’s chest onto his forehead, making it appear that he had injured his forehead. 

Feng Zhi Wei forced a smile and said, “It’s okay.” Ning Yi got Qian Yan up, held her with the other hand, and walked out.

Once the three of them walked into the crowd, everyone looked at them in astonishment. Ning Yi said to Scholar Hu who had hurried over, “Grand Scholar Hu, please ask His Majesty to excuse me. Marquis Wei accidentally fell into the water just now, and the newly-minted scholar Qian Yan went into the water to rescue him. He did manage the rescue but he also hit himself on the fake rock and passed out. We will go over to Haoyun for some simple treatment and wait for His Majesty’s orders.”

“I think Marquis Wei can just go ahead and go back, no need to wait for some imperial decree.” Scholar Hu glanced at Feng Zhi Wei who was sneezing, “His Majesty is very fond of you right now and is counting on you. His Majesty won’t mind and will for sure tell you to go home to rest. This new scholar too, it will be fine for him to go back.” 

Feng Zhi Wei found the word choice strange. What did “counting on you” mean? But this was not the time to ask and everyone’s stare was indeed uncomfortable, so she hurried left. She didn’t bother to go to Haoyun but left Qionlin directly and returned home. Handing Qian Yan over to Zong Chen for treatment, Feng Zhi Wei then sent people to Qian Manor to tell them that Qian Yan had gotten too drunk and would not be returning that night. She was busy until three o’clock in the morning.

During this time she also checked on Qian Yan’s injuries. Although the wound was severe his life was saved. Her mind was whirling with thoughts such as how she would deal with the aftermath of this matter such as the new scholars will soon have their imperial test and be appointed as officials but what should they do with Qian Yan who had suffered such grave injury? Or her thoughts would jump to the fact she still needs to go to Imperial Court for work in a couple of hours. She climbed into bed to sleep but it was a fitful sleep filled with chaotic lights and shadows. Sometimes it would be Shao Ning laughing sweetly, leaning against her delicately. Sometimes it would be a man and woman utterly naked and entangled in her bed. Sometimes the sweet smiling Shao Ning’s expression would change and abruptly pull out a dagger to plunge right into her heart…She was startled and woke up with a start to see the faint light coming through the window and the sound of knocking on the door. 

“Marquis, His Majesty has sent someone to deliver his decree…” 

There was some anxiousness in the housekeeper’s voice. Feng Zhi Wei focused her attention and got up to dress. Welcoming the emperor’s decree through the front door with the already set up incense table, Tiansheng Emperor took the opportunity of the “drowning” incident last night to praise her. He rewarded her with countless precious medicines, clothes, brocades, gold and silver, and all kinds of novelties tributes. He also praised her for doing a good job with overseeing the spring examination and selecting a group of promising talents for the empire. Lastly, the emperor promoted her from the third-level marquis to the second-level marquis, and so on. 

Feng Zhi Wei received the decree and wondered what Tiansheng Emperor was up to now. As the Minister of Rites, it was her duty to preside over the Spring Examination well, so certainly not a reason for promotion. She also has not made any notable achievements lately. Everything that had to do with Second Prince was all done behind the scenes and Tiansheng Emperor probably had no knowledge of it so why all this? Did he finally remember her imprisonment in the dungeon previously and is placating her with this? 

Although she had questions she couldn’t ask. After receiving the imperial edict, she had to go to the palace to express her gratitude, so she had to rush to the palace once again. 

The emperor received her at Haoyuan Building. Ning Yi and others were also all there, looking like they probably hadn’t slept at all the previous night. Although the old emperor was smiling, he couldn’t hide the fatigue on his countenance. Feng Zhi Wei’s heart sank, what else had happened? 

“You have been tired overseeing the Spring Examination.” Tiansheng Emperor looked at Feng Zhi Wei with what could even be called a kind expression. Feng Zhi Wei looked at this pretentious old man and an image of Concubine Qing with him in the East Hot Spring came to mind. Despite the contempt that had bubbled up inside, Feng Zhi Wei’s mouth was quick to rattle off a bunch of meaningless words such as “severing the empire with loyalty until death” and so on. Just when she was on a roll rattling on, she suddenly saw Ning Yi across from her, slowly lifting the lid of his tea cup. His gaze slowly swept over her with a half smile on his face as his little pinkie under the cup made an upward hooking gesture. 

Feng Zhi Wei was taken off guard, causing her mouth to begin to stutter, “This is your servant’s duty, I dare not…I dare not…” 

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