After the imperial audience with the emperor and the banquet, things seemed to quiet down for a while. As expected, Gu Nan Yi used this period of free time to oversee Feng Zhi Wei’s martial training very closely.
In contrast to his usual casual and laid-back style when teaching her martial arts, this time he was unusually stern and impatient. Oftentimes, his teaching bordered on forceful. Moves that could be learned in three days, he demanded to be mastered in half a day, even that seemed too long to him. He even carried a small whip in his hand, as if he were ready to beat Feng Zhi Wei at any moment.
Feng Zhi Wei actually didn’t have that much time to devote to training. She was a high-ranking official and needed to attend to countless affairs, so how could she have the time to train from dawn to dusk? But she didn’t voice a single objection. She cleared her schedule and cancelled all social engagements. Aside from writing a few letters, summoning a few people each day, and arranging some mysterious tasks, she devoted the rest of her time to training with Gu Nan Yi in the inner courtyard. They started their day at the first crow of the rooster and didn’t end until the third night-watch bell. Most days, she would be so exhausted that she wanted to crawl back to her room instead of walking. She forced herself to hold it together in front of Gu Nan Yi, but the moment she shut the door behind her, she then really did crawl into her bed.
Even so, she never once complained. Whatever Gu Nan Yi taught, she learned. The only thing she objected to was when Gu Nan Yi wanted to transfer his internal energy to her or open up her inner meridians (which supposedly would help one to progress a lot faster in martial arts learning, but I believe both of those options would cause harm to Gu Nan Yi.). Whenever he brought up such ideas, she would resolutely threaten to quit training altogether, so Gu Nan Yi had no choice but to give up. Feng Zhi Wei even instructed her secret guards to keep a watch over her room carefully. It was not a big problem if others came near, but Gu Nan Yi was absolutely not allowed inside– in case she fell too deeply asleep from being exhausted, and he snuck in to transfer his inner energy to her.
On the seventh day, Gu Nan Yi finally stopped introducing new martial arts techniques. At last, Feng Zhi Wei had managed to swallow his entire curriculum in a rush. The rest would just be practice and refinement. Feng Zhi Wei breathed a big sigh of relief. Just as she was about to either call for someone to stretch her muscles or collapse into bed for an entire day, she received an invitation from Lu Rui, to attend a royal hunt at the southern imperial gardens.
This was already the third of such invitations in recent days. Feng Zhi Wei could decline no longer, so she took a carriage and headed for the imperial gardens. However, Gu Nan Yi didn’t accompany her. He had only assigned his shadow guards to protect her well. Feng Zhi Wei made no objection to his decision. Ever since that night, the two of them had maintained a calm and peaceful appearance.
The Xiliang Imperial Garden was located on the western outskirts of the city, a vast forested area seven miles outside the city gates. When Feng Zhi Wei arrived, Lu Rui was already waiting. Seeing her, he smiled and said, “Marquis Wei is truly difficult to invite. Even after three invitations, you still didn’t come. If today’s invitation hadn’t borne the name of the Regen, I doubt we could’ve gotten you to come at all.”
Feng Zhi Wei was taken aback for a moment. She hadn’t paid attention to whose name had been on the invitation. She recognized Lu Rui’s steward and assumed the invitation came from him. She quickly offered a few words of apology and then asked, “Where is the Regent?”
“The Regent’s birthday is coming up, so he is extremely busy right now.” Lu Rui replied with a smile. “But he wouldn’t dare to neglect such a distinguished guest, so he sent me to accompany the Marquis well here in the Imperial Garden.”
Feng Zhi Wei thought to herself, the birthday festivities probably aren’t what’s keeping the Regent so busy. More likely, he’s focused on getting in touch with Jin Siyu and Lu Zhi Yan. Judging from the current distribution of powers with Jin Siyu and Lu Zhi Yan, if you add Xiliang into the mix, it creates the perfect situation of encircling Tiansheng. Moreover, Minnan had just gone through an internal strife and is still recovering from it. It’s a perfect opportunity to strike while Tiansheng is weak and then divide the spoils to suit each party. Of course, the Regent might also be considering an alliance with Tiansheng, but he hasn’t made any move yet, thus one can’t tell what he is really planning.
Over there, Lu Rui had already ordered someone to bring over the horses. Pointing toward a more remote western path, he said with a smile, “I hear there are quite a few exotic beasts over that way. Why don’t we hunt a few for fun?”
Feng Zhi Wei smiled and agreed. With a kick to their horses, which were both great mounts, the two shot off like arrows. The guards couldn’t catch up and were quickly left far behind.
Once they had entered the forest, Lu Rui finally reined in his horse, cast a sidelong glance at Feng Zhi Wei, and said with a sly smile, “Last time, you left without a word. Very impolite of you.”
“The Grand Marshal welcomed his guest with traps of blades. I’d say the lack of decorum started with you.”
Lu Rui smiled, as delicately as a noblewoman, and said lightly, “A guest? Perhaps a guest now, but a prisoner the next moment.”
“Oh?” Feng Zhi Wei raised an eyebrow.
“The envoys from Da Yue and Changning are both in Jin City. I’m sure Marquis already knows,” Lu Rui said, a mocking smile on his lips. “I am not sure if it’s because Marquis is really that unpopular or what, but from what I hear, both Da Yue and Changning have reached out to the Regent with offers of alliance. Their terms are quite favorable to Xiliang. The only condition… is your life.”
He smiled, raising his whip, and looked at Feng Zhi Wei with great admiration. “To think that one life could be worth a whole empire. Marquis Wei is truly extraordinary.”
“It’s my honor,” Feng Zhi Wei replied with a smile. “Has the Regent made up his mind?”
“And why must I tell you?” Lu Rui yawned. His pale face had a sickly greenish tint, as if he hadn’t slept in days. “Just because you rejected me?”
“Such a petty heart, Grand Marshal.” Feng Zhi Wei tapped the reins, eyebrows raised with a smile. “You and I can both be counted as politicians. We should both know that in this world, nothing should be agreed upon just by being asked once. Isn’t that so?”
“Then what does Marquis Wei intend to answer now?” Lu Rui’s eyes lit up instantly. “I’m fully prepared, just waiting for a word from you!”
“Oh?”
“I was once the late emperor’s most trusted minister and highest-ranking regent beneath only one man. Do you think Yin Zhi Shu can really afford to underestimate such power of influence built over so many years?” Lu Rui laughed mockingly. “Of the three chief ministers entrusted with the regency back then, I am the only one left, but precisely because I’ve shamelessly survived, many senior ministers from the previous reign were able to be saved as well. After years of careful management, at least within this imperial city, catching Yin Zhi Shu off guard and taking his life wouldn’t be difficult. But to raise arms, one must have a legitimate cause. I don’t have proof of a rightful imperial bloodline, so I cannot gain the support of the senior ministers at court. That token of legitimacy… I hope Marquis Wei can grant it to me.”
“Grand Marshal had said quite a bit, but what I hear is that your confidence is not complete.” Feng Zhi Wei looked leisurely toward a distant corner of the imperial city and smiled faintly. “To overthrow the Regent, it must be sudden and unexpected, and it must happen inside the capital. Clearly, once he manages to leave the city, even if the person you back is the rightful heir to the throne, there’s no way the ascension to the throne could go smoothly—wouldn’t you agree?”
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