Seeing Feng Zhi Wei’s smiling silence and then his superior’s throat-slitting motion, the newbie official became a bit flustered. Taking pity on the official who could only laugh awkwardly, Feng Zhi Wei was about to find a random reason to reject his offer when she suddenly heard Master Gu asking from sitting beside her, “Women?”
The official nodded quickly.
Feng Zhi Wei turned in surprise, to look at the utterly serious, definitely not joking Master Gu.
“Beauty?” Master Gu asked again.
With bright eyes, the official replied with certainty, “Absolutely beautiful!”
Feng Zhi Wei was just wondering what was going on with Master Gu, or if he was trying to find a nanny for Zhi Xiao when she then heard the young master calmly say, “Alright, let’s try.”
*Puff* The wine that Feng Zhi Wei was in the middle of drinking almost came spewing out and she had to quickly cover her mouth with her sleeves. Looking at the wine that was sprayed all over her sleeves, Feng Zhi Wei looked out at the sky, wondering if the sun would rise from the west tomorrow.
Magistrate Peng had been winking at his subordinate nonstop, his eyelashes were batting wildly as if he was having a muscle spasm.
The rest of the accompanying officials of Jiyang Prefecture all either raised their sleeves or cups to secretly observe Marquis Wei’s expression. This is the legendary ‘two-man fighting for one man’s” one man. What would his expression be when faced with betrayal? Looks like Marquis Wei and Lord Gu’s “broken sleeve” love had gone awry. Did the broken sleeve’s sleeve really break? Did they break up? Disagreed? A quarrel? Being petty? Or is this just a game of jealousy to add some spice?
Speculations started to fly, powered by human imagination of all the taboo love. With shining eyes, they were ready to add a new chapter to the legendary storybook. They had even thought of the chapter title: “Lover’s Betrayal by Asking for Beauty in Person, Jealousy and Heartbreak!”
Feng Zhi Wei was still sitting there stunned. As one who is usually so sensitive to her surroundings, she didn’t even notice all the undercurrents in the room. After a while, she laughed dryly, “Alright, let’s try…let’s try…”
Inside, she was thinking that the young master had finally grown up, and suddenly become enlightened. But this enlightenment came abruptly without any warning. He went straight to the point without giving any warning.
Her smile this time was truly a dry one. Facing the guy who was in all seriousness going to “try a woman” in front of her, Feng Zhi Wei’s inside feel jumbled that she couldn’t tell what she felt. Not in the mood to keep up with the friendly pretense, Feng Zhi Wei said, “It’s late, let’s call it a night.”
Pulling the official aside, Feng Zhi Wei told him privately, “Since Lord Gu wants to try, then be extra mindful. Skip over the very experienced women. Go with the ones you were saying before. Someone with a clean background and a good temper to come serve Lord Gu.”
The newbie official looked at Feng Zhi Wei gratefully. He had just learned from his colleagues’ whisperings concerning “the epic stories between Prince Chu, Marquis of Wei, and Guard Gu.” He was just regretting his flattering that went terribly wrong, but who would’ve thought the situation suddenly took a drastic turn and Marquis Wei would be personally arranging a woman for Official Wei with such consideration? The more he thought, the more the newbie official was impressed as he thought to himself: Marquis Wei is indeed Marquis Wei. Even being a “broken sleeve” he is able to break with such dignity and magnanimity…
The newbie official promptly swore that the woman would be the cleanest and the most beautiful. The official then hinted that perhaps he should also arrange a woman for Marquis Wei himself given the situation has already come to this. Marquis Wei listened absent-mindedly and said sadly (he feels that the Marquis must be sad): “As long as he is satisfied then it’s okay…”
The official was moved to tears by Marquis Wei’s “broken sleeve” integrity as he left to promptly arrange for a woman to be brought in. Feng Zhi Wei sat dazed for a while, then without checking on Master Gu who was staying in the side room, she headed straight for the back courtyard.
She circled the back courtyard three times, looking up at the moon and then down at the water, feeling that there seemed to be something amiss with tonight’s moon and water. Just as she was about to make her fourth circle around, a window to one of the rooms suddenly opened. Gu Zhi Xiao poked her head out and yelled, “What are you doing? So noisy!”
Looking as if she had just seen her savior, Feng Zhi Wei strode into the room and asked, “Not asleep yet this late at night?”
Wearing her little belly bib, Gu Zhi Xiao climbed back into bed, rubbed her eyes, and asked, “Where is my dad?”
Feng Zhi Wei climbed into her bed, snuggled right in, ignored Gu Zhi Xiao’s pushing, and wrapped her arms around her, “Your dad…”
Gu Zhi Xiao turned to look at her with sleepy eyes.
Feng Zhi Wei paused in mid-sentence, suddenly realizing she was not quite herself, how could she talk to a child about this? How could she? Gu Zhi Xiao, the devilish girl who wished she could just carry her dad in her pocket all day long, if she found out that her dad was with “bad women”, then she might really throw all caution to the wind and bring out the bird cage?
Feng Zhi Wei sat there, holding the soft little body in her arms. Gu Zhi Xiao was very sleepy and was dozing in her arms. Her soft, tender skin rubbed against her arms, making her feel calm and warm. She thought for a bit, then couldn’t help but smile.
She really got a scare from the young master today…he took such a big step, so big that she couldn’t keep up and almost fell. This strange feeling of lost and confusion…is this the kind of loneliness that comes from watching the people around you who you think you know so well but then they suddenly grow up to the point of being unfamiliar?
She frowned and thought for a long while. Seeing that the little girl was still waiting on her, she smiled, hugged her, and said slowly, “Zhi Xiao, have you thought about your dad getting a mom for you?”
No longer sleepy immediately, Gu Zhi Xiao looked up and asked energetically, “You?”
Feng Zhi Wei let out an “Ah”, feeling like she just came tonight to look for self-torture. Before she could respond, Gu Zhi Xiao had pursed her lips, rolled out of her arms without saying anything, turned her back to her, and acted as if she was going to sleep.
Feng Zhi Wei didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Inwardly she was thinking that since this child had been taught a hard lesson by Gu Nan Yi, she had actually learned to hide her sharp resistance. She was afraid that her father would find out her real feelings and leave her behind again. Feeling bad at the thought that a child this young was forced to be watchful of others and restrain herself, Feng Zhi Wei couldn’t help herself but gently stroked her shoulder and said softly, “Zhi Xiao, you will grow up. Your dad will grow old, we all will grow old. One day in the future, perhaps your dad will leave you or you will leave your dad. Maybe you would feel that’s something unacceptable right now, but when you grow up, there will be a more vibrant and colorful life waiting for you. Our existence will all naturally fade away with time…”
As she talked, she slowly stopped, her expression a bit dazed. These words, are they truly for the three-year-old child Gu Zhi Xiao, or was it for herself?
Life is unpredictable, who dares to guarantee that they will stay together and never abandon each other forever?
Perhaps one day, those who gathered today will be scattered to the four corners of the world. Or perhaps one day, the one who had accompanied you day and night will suddenly forget you.
All text copyright @ www.Ninja-Reflection.com
ps. I am curious what you guys think of our heroine’s reaction. Jealousy? Or the natural reaction at the possibility of losing someone very close to you? Or a mixture of both?
I think there’s definitely a bit of jealousy involved. In her head she accepted that Gu Nan Yi would always be by her side, no matter what. He has always been very decisive and clear about Feng Zhi Wei being his No. 1.
Now and all of a sudden he is branching out and it comes as a total shock to her. This is one of these very few times in which she loses control over her emotions and it is because of jealousy.
I agree with Pfeffermintzee. I think she is jealous. He is, by all description, incredibly beautiful (and to be honest, Bai Jingting is really so sweet looking). So having a man so beautiful, so powerful and so devoted must be head spinning. She might love Ning Yi, but she also probably loves Nan Yi. She can’t let herself have one, and now she might lose the other one.
I think it’s possible to love someone, be a little bit jealous when you realize they might not need you anymore, and yet at the same time, want the very best for them. This chapter was hilarious and thought-provoking at the same time. Thank you, Ninja. I’m sure it’s your competent translation that enables your ardent fans to immerse themselves into FZY’s world and experience all her emotions, even if only for a few minutes every week. You brighten up my Mondays!