Feng Zhi Wei looked at him quietly then suddenly said, “After this parting, we will not meet again. And in all honesty, I did wrong Your Highness, but I don’t regret it. We belong to enemy states, each acting for our own. I believe Your Highness also understands this. Before parting, I have a few words to gift to Your Highness, we will count it as an apology— though I plotted against you in Dayue but it wasn’t entirely to cause you trouble. The ones I killed for Your Highness were all the most fiercely against you, the most powerful ones. You have long want to take action but couldn’t because you were under too much surveillance. You were also worried that if you did eliminate them, the consequences would get out control thus you hesitated all this time. In truth, in order for a man to achieve great things, he sometimes shouldn’t worry too much. I went ahead and gave you the strongest medicine. Now that things have progressed to this point, you have to move your great army no matter what. I suggest that once you return, to immediately lead your troops northward. But do not take the route through the Yuezhong Plains. Go through the mountains of Eastern Yue mountains. Between the Eastern Yue’s evergreen mountains, there is an old path that’s been abandoned for many years….” By the moonlight, she drew a simple map on the ground,pointing out the path. Jin Siyu lowered his head to look, his eyes already bright.
“…go straight through here and you will come out at the border between Dayue and the inland. If you launch a surprise attack and take this city, then the heart of Dayue will be laid bare before you! At that time, the entire court of Dayue will surely be shaken by your divine lightning attack. You should then seize the opportunity and spread rumors about having been given a divine mandate. This will win you the hearts of the people and weaken the resistance within the court in preparation of building a momentum for your future ascension to the throne. After that, direct your troops….” Her finger drew a sharp line on the ground, pointing straight at the captial of Dayue. Jin Siyu’s eyes flickered repeatedly, revealing the faint boiling excitement rising in them.
“…even if things go wrong, that old path can be used for retreat into the the Evergreen Mountain. It’s a location that be used for boh attack and defend. There is a good location within that vast mountain range that makes it perfect as a base, to lie in wait, to grow your forces, and gradually expand your influence into the neighboring eight counties…” Gesturing as she spoke, Feng Zhi Wei gradually unfolded a grand and intricately thought out military strategy in front of Jin Siyu.
Jin Siyu looked at the terrain on the map, inhaled sharply and muttered, “Just this one plan, and an entire nation can be toppled!”
As a general, to receive a strategy that could help him conquer the world is indescribably thrilling. In that instant, he forgot that his hands were tied, forgot that Feng Zhi Wei, his enemy, sat before him, forgot the poisoned arrows on the ground that were meant to delay time. His eyes blazed as he stared at the map on the ground, muttering nonstop as he calculated the possibilities.
Feng Zhi Wei glanced at him with a smile, a trace of melancholy and loneliness in her gaze. She walked past him quietly, took the hand of the cook who had been lying in wait on the side of the boat, and silently slipped down the boat.
Her long black hair was swept up by the sea breeze, scattering them by the side of Jin Siyu’s face. A faint fragrance came over him, but Jin Siyu didn’t turn his head, remaining immersed in his excited thoughts.
Feng Zhi Wei smiled faintly, the smile was one of loneliness and desolation.
Men…they all loved power and land more than beauty.
That’s why a beauty should never allow herself to fall in love easily, foolishly confident that their overlord will exchange his kingdom for her.
She pressed her lips together, and walked out with a firmness in her gaze. Jin Siyu was completely unaware, fully focused on analyzing his plan. It wasn’t until nearly half an hour later that he finally looked up and let out an excited laugh, his eyes bursting with confidence. Turning his head, he belatedly realized Feng Zhi Wei had already left.
He froze, feeling a sense of loss. But then as if a thought had just occurred to him, he let out a low shout, “No!”
—————————————-
Feng Zhi Wei went down from the window. At the edge of the boat, the ugly cook looked up at her, grasped her hand tightly as they made their way down.
Feng Zhi Wei felt a little uncomfortable— Ning Cheng was gripping her hand too tightly. But they were making their way on the boat’s body where any inattention would cause them to slip, so she didn’t dare to shake him off.
The two of them reached the bottom deck, where the sampan boats were stored. Ning Cheng was still holding her hand tightly. Feng Zhi Wei was taken aback for a moment, but in the next moment, the ugly cook suddenly leaned in, very close, to the point that he was about to touch her face.
Feng Zhi Wei’s heart lurched— Ning Cheng was not completely one of her own. She had to use him this time because there was no other choice. But this man was unbridled and unruly. If he suddenly attacked her while they were in this boat, in the middle of the ocean, then she would have no chance of survival!
Besides, he is wearing a mask and with them being on Jin Siyu’s boat, who knows if this was really Ning Cheng?
Startled, and with warning bell ringing inside her, she raised her hand, and a few poisoned needles were already between her fingers in the next instant. She planned to go ahead and give him a needle if he got too close!
Sure enough, Ning Cheng continued to lean close, and suddenly raised his hand.
Feng Zhi Wei was immediately certain that there was something wrong with this Ning Cheng.
Her hand flicked!
The needle shot out, a black light flashed in the darkness. Suddenly, a pure and fresh water chestnut fragrance rushed into her nose.
Something sparked in her mind, and she was instantly struck with an overwhelming regret. But there was no time to react, and she could only shove the person beside her with all her might.
The ugly cook’s body tipped, the needle whizzed past his nose, piercing straight into the cabin wall with a thud.
Feng Zhi Wei stared at the needle blankly and instantly broke out in cold sweat.
Seemingly unable to react either, the ugly cook never expected Feng Zhi Wei would attack him, and stood there in shock. Feng Zhi Wei stomped her foot and complained in a low voice, “Why is it you!”
Over their heads, someone let out a gleeful snicker, seemingly very happy. The next moment, a filthy figure, completely covered in black grime, jumped down nimbly, pointed at the “ugly cook” and laughed heartily while holding his stomach.
“That’ll teach you to bully me! That’ll teach you to torment me! You deserved to be stab to death!”
“Ning Cheng….” An utterly stunned Feng Zhi Wei looked at the black oily guy who looked like he had spent a year in the chimney filled with garbage. Looking back at the ugly cook, Feng Zhi Wei was so surprised that she stuttered a little, “Then you are not…not…”
“Bah!” Ning Cheng spat viciously, pointing at the ugly cook, “Ask your good guard!”
Feng Zhi Wei looked at the ugly cook in astonishment. The person turned his back to them, slowly tore off the mask, took out a foldable hat and veil, put them out, and then used his internal energy to re-straighten his body that was twisted. After a series of crackling of bones, Gu Nan Yi’s appearance was restored.
Feng Zhi Wei was speechless. The ugly cook was Gu Nan Yi? Gu Nan Yi could cook?
Gu Nan Yi glanced at Ning Cheng who was looking thoroughly pleased, and said slowly, “He cooks, I serve.”
Feng Zhi Wei understood instantly— she had assumed Ning Cheng was the ugly cook and Gu Nan Yi was hiding elsewhere because Gu Nan Yi would never cook. What most likely happened was that Gu Nan Yi used force to make Ning Cheng hand over the cook’s mask. Then Ning Cheng still had to cook the dishes, while Gu Nan Yi was the one who delivered them, allowing him to see Feng Zhi Wei. This ship’s security was very tight. Even though the chef used the excuse that his family’s culinary secret cannot be seen by outsiders, and cooked behind closed doors, but there were still people who would show up from time to time to check. So Ning Cheng, before and after cooking, was probably forced by Gu Nan Yi to hide either inside a smoke pipe or the garbage basket. The whole situation is clearly understood after one look at Ning Cheng, with cabbage on his head, seaweed around his waist, and boots covered with lard.
No wonder this guy was so full of resentment that he didn’t let out a peep even when he saw that she had mistaken the cook for him and had almost attacked Gu Nan Yi.
All text copyright @ www.Ninja-Reflection.com
ps. So why was our heroine disappointed at Jin Siyu’s reaction? My personal opinion is that while our heroine’s heart never swayed in Jin Siyu’s direction, she did wonder how real Jin Siyu’s feelings could be and maybe even felt a tiny bit guilty at using his feelings for her. Obviously she didn’t feel bad enough to change any of her plans but I think she had wondered given how obsessed Jin Siyu was of her, mabye his feelings for her was real somehow. To be clear, our heroine was very rational and knew the one Jin Siyu had fallen for was “Shaoyao”, a fake character she had come up with to appeal to him but there was no doubt that Jin Siyu’s feelings were real in his own way. I think our heroine’s disappointment came from the fact that Jin Siyu’s reaction proved to her that while throne seeking princes can fall in love…but that love is nothing compared to their thirst for power…which is just another proof to add to her nagging doubt that Ning Yi would choose her over the throne. My guess is that watching her adopted mother, Mama Feng- a woman she admired so much, lose her sense of self due to her obsession with her husband who in return just used her ruthlessly for his own convictions, also contributed to our heroine’s distrust of men when it comes love.
Thank you again for translating!
Really appreciate your hard work, thank you!
Another great work. Thank you, Ninja!