Rising Phoenix

Or meeting a rival in love thirty years after a life or death fight over a man only to find out that her dress was more expensive and her husband a higher ranking official?

In that moment, everyone felt like they knew the answer, but in that same moment all of them felt that their answer was not good enough.

There were too many answers — the nature of the creature woman was to never be satisfied. To have a woman know how to be content was harder than asking Helian Zheng not to have stinky feet.

Hua Gongmei was stupefied. She had prepared for politics, history, astronomy, geography, and even arts like gardening, needlework, and tailoring. She was sure that with her talent and learnedness she could answer well no matter the topic, but for all her preparation, she had not been ready for this topic that asked about everything and nothing at the same time.

This simple question was also the most difficult, for everything could be an answer, and no answer could be good enough.

She paused, stunned, her heart sinking. She thought about Prince Chu’s wax ball and this eccentric topic, and then she looked at the elegantly posed Feng Zhiwei and her unending supply of liquor. The mad woman’s blue sleeves were wide and lofty like the ocean, and in that moment she seemed profound and indecipherable.

Perhaps… she had misjudged this woman…

“What a woman hates the most is…” She finally began, slowly forcing out a sad answer, “is her soul mate’s lies.”

Ning Yi smiled, pouring himself another cup of wine.

Feng Zhiwei smiled, gesturing ever so slightly with her cup to salute this brave, unfortunate woman.

Wrong.

If he is willing to deceive you then he was never your soul mate.

Helian Zheng shook his head, flamboyantly reading out the answer.

“What does a woman hate the most?”

“That Prince Chu is more beautiful than her!”

When he finished reading the answer, Helian Zheng tossed the scroll aside and burst out in laughter. The hall was silent for a moment as everyone struggled with their laughter, turning from the yellow-faced, droopy-eyed Feng Zhiwei to the gorgeous and elegant Ning Yi. Tortured expressions filled every face as decorum overruled every outburst of hilarity.

After finally subduing their laughter, the guests began to ponder the question. This worldly and mundane topic demonstrated a casual bravery and a teasing, natural wit willing to target both the lofty prince and herself; truly signs of an extraordinary woman.

Ning Yi’s fury had burned itself away and he paid no mind to the smiling gazes of the crowds as they compared him with Feng Zhiwei. He accepted it — for better or for worse, she had acknowledged his excellence; no matter what, it was better to be prettier than her than to be stupider than her.

He knew that Feng Zhiwei could be quite spiteful, and if it was not for this setting, heavens only knew what kind of question she would have written.

Up above them all, the Tian Sheng Emperor sat happily enjoying the show. The time came and he was about to hand out the awards when Hua Gongmei stepped forward once more, her eyebrows cocked high and her voice resentful as she spoke: “Your Majesty, this question is talentless and meaningless. If this topic wins the first place in a solemn Imperial Feast, does that not mean that our Tian Sheng Dynasty has no talents?”

“It was always just a game.” The Tian Sheng Emperor smiled and replied: “Just a momentary amusement for the you young ladies, why be so serious?”

Everyone’s expressions deepened as Noble Imperial Consort Change let out a breath. None of the guests knew why the Emperor had changed his mind about the seriousness of the game.

Feng Zhiwei tapped her fingers against her table, a half smile on her face. The Emperor had originally set his heart on Hua Gongmei for Ning Yi, but the girl had fallen into Ning Yi’s trap and submitted a topic that utterly disqualified her. The Young Lady Hu could not be allowed to bind Hu Shengshan any closer to Prince Chu, so she could not be chosen either. Noble Imperial Consort Chang’s niece was definitely impossible as well, so instead of getting bogged down in unnecessary complications, the Emperor seized the opportunity presented by Feng Zhiwei’s whimsy. Feng Zhiwei was already the Hu Zhuo Prince’s fiancée so she could be granted the first prize without any complex meaning and the whole competition could be written off as a simple game.

After all, no one had ever outright said that the purpose of this game was to choose a bride, so if the Tian Sheng Emperor chose to muddle the waters, everyone else could only follow suit.

In the end, today’s game had been a battle of wits between father and son; Ning Yi had used Feng Zhiwei to escape the Tian Sheng Emperor’s marriage trap.

“Yes.” Ning Yi smiled, casually retrieving his Luan Jade Pendant and replacing it with a regular jade piece, “just a game for everyone to enjoy.”

The dice had landed and the truth was chosen. When Young Lady Hu had proposed that all ladies, including those already married, propose a topic, the nature of the game had already changed. After Ning Yi’s words, everyone gradually settled down, casting sympathetic glances at Hua Gongmei.

“But the reward must still be given.” Ning Yi spoke once more, gesturing to Feng Zhiwei with the white jade pendant.

Feng Zhiwei could only walk over and fake her gratitude as she reached for the pendant. Ning Yi handed the pendant over, surreptitiously grabbing her finger as he smiled and whispered: “Do you really hate that I’m prettier than you?”

Feng Zhiwei smiled fakely. “How could that be possible?” She replied, pulling fiercely on the unmoving pendant.

But the jade pendant in Ning Yi’s hand did not budge.

“I can become ugly for you, to match you.” He answered, smiling as he held tightly onto the pendant. His smile glistened like a reflection off of river water, twisting his voice insincerely, and she could not figure out if he was joking or serious.

Feng Zhiwei could only continue her fake smile as she pulled harder: “How could that be possible?”

“You never trust me.” Ning Yi smiled, refusing to let go.

“How could that be possible?” Feng Zhiwei snapped, impatiently pulling with all her strength.

Ning Yi suddenly let go.

Poor Feng Zhiwei suddenly lurched backwards.

Helian Zheng rushed forward to catch her.

But he was not as fast as Ning Yi who reached out and grasped Feng Zhiwei’s wrist, helping her find her balance as he said: “Young Madam Feng should not get too excited and throw a fit again.”

His fingers brushed over Feng Zhiwei’s vein before he let her go, a small smile dancing over his face.

Feng Zhiwei paused, immediately deciphering his actions. He was afraid that the Reviving Spring Fruit might have hurt her body and so come up with this scheme to feel her pulse.

She blushed faintly, quickly turning away.

Their exchange was hidden from everyone except the standing Hua Gongmei. Resentment filled her eyes as she stepped forward once more, a devious smile on her face: “Since it is just for fun, this young lady wants to challenge the Feng Family’s Young Miss to another round. Older Sister Feng, do you dare accept?”

Truly a woman who did not understand when to retreat.

Fine. Since Ning Yi had already set her up and thrust her into the spotlight, she no longer needed to hide away.