After returning from the Imperial Garden, the next day was Xiliang’s Autumn Prayer Festival. On this day, the emperor would go to the Temple of Heaven and Earth to pray for a bountiful harvest, favorable winds, and rain. High-ranking officials and noblewomen would also pray for a prosperous year on this day, hoping that everything, like the autumn crops, would be prosperous. All the major temples’ incense would be plentiful and nonstop, and the streets would be filled with people. In previous years, such a lively day would inevitably have some conflicts and disputes. This year, however, things seemed to have escalated quite a bit—- a group of foreign merchants were watching the spectacle at Jialan Temple and accidentally bumped into the Regent’s wife’s carriage. Although it didn’t seem serious at the time, it soon became known that the Regent was seeking a famous physician, one skilled in treating pediatric convulsions. With the Regent’s birthday approaching, this unexpected incident created a tense atmosphere in Jincheng.
That night, Feng Zhi Wei had her routine meeting with the Regent and did not shy away from the topic. She expressed her concern for the health of Regent’s son and gave him a medicinal powder for the treatment of pediatric convulsions. The Regent thanked her and accepted the gift. As she was about to leave, Feng Zhi Wei said casually, “Your Highness only has one son. I imagine you must be very cautious with him most of the time. If I may dare to say something a little presumptuous—sometimes children shouldn’t be raised too delicately, or else Heaven might start to take notice of them as well.”
The Regent was momentarily taken aback, chuckled, and said, “This is a new perspective from Marquis Wei is quite refreshing.” He personally escorted her out. When Feng Zhi Wei was some distance away and lifted the curtain of her carriage, she saw him standing by the door, under the dim light, his expression shifting in the fluctuating light.
The next day, there was no major change in Jincheng, though there were more soldiers in the streets. With the Regent’s birthday approaching, the patrols inside and outside the city had been tightened, but this wasn’t anything out of the ordinary.
That night, Feng Zhi Wei received a letter. She read it briefly, then burned it on the flame of a candle.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. She answered it herself and found Deputy Envoy Wang Tang standing there. Wang Tang, a seasoned and steady official from the Cabinet, had been sent as an envoy because he is from Minnan and thus was familiar with southern customs. His presence had indeed brought much convenience to many along their travels.
He came in, and after exchanging pleasantries, Wang Tang didn’t avoid the presence of Gu Nanyi, who was standing nearby and said directly to Feng Zhi Wei, “I was just at the outer court, discussing the ceremony for the Regent’s birthday with Xiliang’s Ministry of Rites. I happened to encounter Miss Gu along the way. For some reason, there were some red marks on her face. When I asked her, she wouldn’t say anything, which made me worry a little.”
Feng Zhi Wei’s expression darkened. She had already sent Ning Cheng to protect Gu Zhixiao. Ning Cheng had been very enthusiastic for a while, but for some reason, he became despondent as a defeated rooster and hadn’t even raised an objection to this assignment, and left without making a fuss. Had he been secretly slacking or encountered some setback, causing Gu Zhixiao to be bullied?
She immediately turned to Gu Nanyi and said, “Go check on her quietly. Otherwise, we all won’t feel at ease.”
Recently, Gu Nanyi was no longer constantly by her side, as if he were intentionally trying to train himself to get used to being apart from her. He would sneak into the palace to check on Gu Zhixiao whenever he could. Hearing her words, he paused, nodded silently, and floated out without a sound. (the author purposefully used the word “floated out” here so while it seemed a rather strange word to use, it’s supposed to be a funny reference to Gu Nan Yi’s super fighting ability.)
Wang Tang watched him disappear and praised, “Lord Gu’s martial arts skills have become even more impressive .” He then took out a letter from his sleeve and smiled, saying, “Just now, when I passed by the front hall, an urgent letter had arrived, it was from Prince Chu, specifically addressed to Marquis Wei, so I brought it along.”
Feng Zhi Wei had been sipping tea and paused for a moment when she heard this. During this trip to Xiliang, Ning Yi had acted very uncharacteristically. Apart from sending his comically quirky guard to spy on her, he hadn’t sent her a single letter. It was actually she herself who had recently written a business-like letter to him, picking a few things that she felt were relevant to say about the situation in Xiliang. Calculating the time, it was indeed time for a reply to arrive.
She smiled, a very strange look appeared in her eyes, and she stretched out her hand for the letter.
Just as her fingers touched the envelope, she saw through the window Qian Yan hurrying over. He seemed to be holding a small thin piece of paper, his shadow flickered on the wall.
Feng Zhi Wei paused for a moment. Suddenly, across from her, Wang Tang flicked his finger, tapping the corner of the envelope. A faint smoke began to spread out into the air. Feng Zhi We’s eyelids immediately dropped, and her body leaned back in her chair as if she had fallen asleep. Wang Tang sneered, stood up, and opened the door, blocking Qian Yan right at the doorway and said, “Marquis Wei is tired and shouldn’t be disturbed. If you have something, I can pass it on for you.”
“Alright.” Not doubting him at all, Qian Yan handed over the letter with a smile. “This is a letter from Prince Chu.”
Wang Tang took the letter, watched Qian Yan leave, then turned around, placed the letter on the table, and retrieved his own letter that had the medicinal powder. He didn’t disturb the seemingly asleep Feng Zhi Wei but went to close the windows, lowered the curtains, and then left the room, shutting the door behind him.
The room fell silent. No one came to disturb her. Feng Zhi Wei had many secrets, and with Gu Nanyi always by her side, she preferred not to have any servants following her around at all times. With her study door closed, no one would dare to enter without permission.
The incense in the purple-gold holder wafted into the air. In the faint smoke, Feng Zhi Wei seemed to be in deep sleep, her expression peaceful.
On the floor of the study, a dark light suddenly appeared. Upon closer inspection, it wasn’t just a dark light but a section of the blue brick floor was slowly opening up.
This hidden mechanism in the floor was located behind a flowerpot stand in the corner of the room. Normally, no one would walk there, so they wouldn’t have noticed the hollow space underground. The person who had dug the tunnel was obviously very meticulous.
The tunnel opened up, four figures swiftly emerged like lightning, each occupying a corner of the room. They were armed with crossbows, surrounding Feng Zhi Wei. One of them even pulled out a colorful silk pouch, releasing a cloud of green mist. Slowly, a figure emerged. He was dressed in ordinary clothes, but with an elegant and refined air. It was Jin Siyu.
He gazed intently at the seemingly sleeping Feng Zhi Wei, his expression filled with unease and doubt. The person before him was known for being the most cunning and deceptive in the world. To think that she had been so easily rendered unconscious, it really was hard for him to believe. Yet, with two rounds of drugs and the crossbows aimed at her, there was still no movement from her, leaving him no choice but to believe it.
He walked over to Feng Zhi Wei’s side, quietly studying her sleeping face. In a daze, he was transported back to that year at Pu Yuan, those days that were peaceful on the surface but tumultuous underneath. He would visit her every morning, and she would be sleeping in late most of the time. From under the blanket, only her small face would peek out, her soft black hair spilling onto her cheeks, like a delicate flower.
In the blink of an eye, that flower had grown thorns, piercing and drawing blood from one’s hand.
All text copyright @ www.Ninja-Reflection.com
Thank you, Ninja!