Rising Phoenix

Ning Yi closed his eyes, his whole body slightly trembling as his face went paper pale — with her sharp eyes, Feng Zhiwei could see that Ning Yi’s wound was seeping red, and may have already been ripped open.

After a moment, Ning Yi kowtowed, quietly replying: “This was a guard in my mansion… but this son minister does not …”

At the point, the Tian Sheng Emperor interrupted, and coldly replied. “Since that is the case, you will stay in the side palace for now, and you can come out when this situation is cleared!”

This was already a matter of house arrest, waiting for conviction, and though it was not exactly what the various Princes had expected, they still watched with happiness, though a long sigh could be heard by the sharp eared.

Ning Yi bowed in position, and after a long moment said: “I understand.”

A guard stepped forward, half supporting and half dragging Ning Yi. Ning Yi shook the guard’s hands off of him, stood up on his own, turned and left. As he walked to the hall entrance, facing forward into a beam of the red-gold setting sun, he suddenly spoke, calmly saying:

“The Emperor’s line is as thin as the sun’s rays, setting over the western mount.”

After he finished speaking he swayed —

And passed out.

Though everyone clearly heard his words, they all acted as if nothing had been said.

Feng Zhiwei stood, her hands clasped in her sleeves, watching the guards escort Ning Yi as he was carried away, coolly watching the drama unfold. “This Royal Highness, even though he appears badly injured, is really only wounded in skin and flesh. His pulse just now was also strong and steady, it is impossible that he should be this weak.”

At this juncture, using this method to retreat and excuse himself, how exquisite.

The Tian Sheng Emperor sat silently for a long while before he tiredly waved his sons away, gesturing for them to leave. When Feng Zhiwei stepped forward to ask for permission, the Tian Sheng Emperor suddenly said, “Mister Wei, please stay for a moment.”

Feng Zhiwei stopped, and the Tian Sheng Emperor’s eyes turned to Gu Nanyi, and Gu Nanyi looked up at the Emperor.

The Sheng Tian Emperor watched Gu Nanyi.

Gu Nanyi looked up at him.

Cold sweat beaded on Feng Zhiwei’s forehead, and she hurriedly spoke: “Your Majesty … this commoner’s friend has an incredibly simple mind, and …” Her face grew embarrassed and she stumbled, “in the common matters of the world, he largely does not understand … if you…”

Her words were clumsy, but the meaning was utterly clear — this child was very slow, and if he wandered off there would be danger…”

The Tian Sheng Emperor pondered for a moment, but eventually said nothing and waved for Shao Ning to leave. The Princess pouted, but said nothing and obediently retreated.

Feng Zhiwei watched indifferently, seeing this child’s spoiled nature, but also her cunning and propriety. If her decisiveness in the brutal murder of the assassin could be counted upon, then she was both cruel and daring enough to carry the burdens of a Lord, clearly far superior to her full blooded brother.

Shao Ning walked by Feng Zhiwei and secretly bumped him with her shoulder, her eyes smiling as she said, “Perform well… hehe, I didn’t scare you, did I?”

Feng Zhiwei smiled lightly and stepped backwards, saluting properly: “Greetings to Princess.”

Shao Ning rolled her eyes and walked away chuckling, her steps light and. Fast, the bottoms of her thin shoes still covered in brain juice…

The Tian Sheng Emperor smiled as her daughter sauntered away, but the happiness quickly fell away as he turned his eyes back to Feng Zhiwei. “Mister Wei, We would like to hear your understanding of the circumstances today.”

Feng Zhiwei blinked — was the old man testing her? But this topic did not seem appropriate for a freshly minted “National Scholar.”

“Your Majesty,” She said, bowing. “This commoner has no title, and does not dare speak of matters of the nation.”

“How is this national?” The old emperor’s eyes narrowed, “This is family business.”

“The Son of Heaven has no private business.” Feng Zhiwei smiled lightly, replying simply.

“En?” The Emperor looked down, his gaze sharp as a blade.

Feng Zhiwei saw the gaze and knew that she could not pretend ignorance today; she silently died — this old man has clearly made his own decision, why did he have to make her life difficult.

“The Crown Prince is the greatest title in the land, neither easily granted nor easily taken away.” She replied after her slight pause.

She lowered her gaze and looked at the tip of her shoe — the stained blood was impossible to unsee, and had dripped on her when she was treating Ning Yi. Feng Zhiwei sighed again — Ning Yi, it is not that I do not want to help you, but your old man does not want to tear down the Crown Prince, if I go beyond my limits and make wild suggestions, I will be the first to die.

No Matter what, her own small life was her priority.

As for him … he had another move, right?

The Tian Sheng Emperor silently examined Feng Zhiwei. How rare for such a young man to be so clear minded, and for one with both the understanding and the courage to speak plainly and frankly — this daring was already more impressive than that of many experienced ministers.

Perhaps it was because he was not experienced that he could be so clear in his understanding?

The Tian Sheng Emperor did not believe in every superstition surrounding the Zhuo Ying Scroll and the scholar who solved it — the fate of a country depended on wise rulers and capable ministers, depended on unity between the upper echelon and the lower rings, and depended on the heart of the people. To have one man controlling the fate of an entire country — the Emperor believed that other than himself, there was no other person who could carry that burden.

But this young man in front of him seemed to have some use…

“Not in vain has the Zhuo Ying Scroll been preserved these six centuries.” The gloom disappeared from the Tian Sheng Emperor’s face, and he smiled down at Feng Zhiwei, his expression one of great contentment.

“You have given the correct answers today and have not sullied the great reputation of Zhuo Ying; we are pleased. For many years, our imperial order has stood unanswered. Today the one who has solved the Zhuo Ying Scroll will receive the status of special expert to the Empire, is granted a hundred-room mansion and a thousand hectares of land. The scholar is granted the title of Zhao Hua Palace Scholar and the title of Pen and Ink Servant to the Imperial Study, to serve at the left and right hand of the Emperor, and to ready himself for consultation…

For land, we grant you the suburbs of Dijing at the foot of Mount Mei, and the decision of house will be handled by the Seventh Prince and the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs. In the future, if you contribute greatly to the country, you will be promoted according to your deeds. Are you satisfied with these conditions?”

As the Emperor spoke, the senior ministers gathered today recorded the order, and among them, Yao Ying – Grand Secretariat of the Eastern Court stood, eyebrows twitching.

Satisfied… incredibly satisfied … satisfied to the point that she was in fact unsatisfied.

Was this a matter of granting her a title and a reward? This was barbequing her on the fire!

The title of Scholar by itself might seem a nominal gesture at best, and would by itself only ever reach the 6th rank, but the Zhao Hua Palace was a main palace of the Imperial Court, and had never had a Scholar in residence. The Imperial Study’s Pen and Ink servant was an entirely new and bizarre creation — the Emperor’s Imperial Orders were all recorded by the various experienced and powerful ministers that numbered as Cabinet Grand Secretariats, but this Pen and Ink Servant and the line that he should “to serve at the left and right hand of the Emperor, and to ready himself for consultation” was already a bequeathing of ministerial power. The Imperial Study’s Great Commoner Minister — it looked like Feng Zhiwei was already doomed to this name.

As for the land and the house, even though Feng Zhiwei did not understand the exact details, just by looking at the face of these powerful ministers, she was already quite sure that this matter was incredibly problematic.

The old man was raising her so high today, did he intent to let her fall heavily to her death?

“Your Majesty…” Yao Ying licked his lips, pondering his every word. “This sir is young, and is not familiar with Imperial affairs, perhaps we could give her the initial title of Han Lin scholar, and leave him room to climb in the future…”