Rising Phoenix

“A mere 6th rank title, does the Great Secretariat think our National Scholar is unfit?” The Tian Sheng Emperor glanced sidelong, and Feng Zhiwei suddenly saw a great resemblance to Ning Yi.

“This Minister does not dare!” Yao Ying immediately acquiesced.

Feng Zhiwei unhesitantly followed:” This Minister receives the edict!”

There was no need to be false, and no need to pretend to decline; this matter could not be refused, and whether the Emperor was offering a reward or a trap, she had to take it. If she refused, he would suspect her heart, and in the end, Feng Zhiwei did not believe this position beyond her capability. This high position would give her the strength to speak equally with the strong powers in this world.

She was tired of making concessions and being bullied.

Even if every step forward brought her closer to a cliff’s edge, this path was still better than being cast aside and trampled in the dust.

As she retreated from the hall, the gathered ministers were already poised to swamp and congratulate this new star.

Under the glow of the setting sun, this elegant, young star stood like a solitary jade tree in a clearing, an amiable, reserved smile on his face as the envious onlookers examined her.

The setting rays dazzled the eyes, and the crowd squinted up at the young man standing at the head of the stairs, each person already planning how to approach this new Minister, serving so closely to the Son of Heaven.

Feng Zhiwei exchanged pleasantries with everyone, speaking and receiving the friendly and cordial greetings when her eyes suddenly sparkled.

A man had squeezed through the press of bodies and was addressing her with a smile: “Mister Wei really is a promising youth, I’m envious, envious!”

The words were intimate and friendly, but held the reserve of one with great power.

It was the General of the Fifth Chief Army Qiu Shangqi, her uncle.

She had not seen this face for a long time, though she had often thought of it, and everyday they had been apart had passed with the length of three autumns.

“Uncle Qiu!” Feng Zhiwei immediately pushed separated the crowd of people with light gestures and walked forward, bowing deeply. “It has been a long time! This little nephew is blessed to see you in good health!”

Feng Zhiwei’s words startled Qi Shangqi — he had come to form ties with the Son of Heaven’s new favorite minister, and suddenly he was his uncle?

“Uncle, many years ago when we met at the Si Bo Pavilion, this young nephew had the chance to witness your handsome and chivalrous bearing, and I have admired and remembered that to this day. When I came to Qing Ming this time, my father had reminded me to pay Uncle a visit, but I have been kept busy by my school work and beg Uncle’s pardon…” Feng Zhiwei’s story was full of lies, but she delivered her tale with a sincere voice and frank eyes.

Qi Shangqi was already convinced — the Si Bo Pavilion was a hall in his back garden that all visitors would be invited to; this young man must be a family friend’s descendent, and had accompanied his father to the manor many years ago. His house received countless guests every year, so it was natural that he would have forgotten this young scholar. Qiu Shangqi’s heart burst with joy, and he immediately adopted a familiar manner even though he had no memory of this young man, and so smiling and acting as if he suddenly remembered their meeting, he said: “Ah, so you are that capable nephew! How many years has it been, is your father still well? This uncle constantly thinks of you and your father, but the mountains are too high and the rivers too wide — we have been unable to meet again, what a shame. Nephew, when you have time, you must come to the manor…”

“I dare not refuse Uncle’s invitation. Qiu Mansion’s Si Bo Pavilion has a wonderful view, and all these years it has featured in this nephew’s dreams…” Feng Zhiwei smiled as if already transported back to that pavilion — truly, I really miss that wife of yours and those servant girls…

The two men’s shoulders shook with happy laughter, and their eyes were filled with the joy of reunion after a long separation…

The officials pushed to the side were all envious of Qiu Shangqi — he was already a high ranking military officer, and now he had this relation with a civil service official close to the Son of Heaven, how perfect…

The two men held each other’s arms and conversed pleasantly, and after agreeing to often pay each other visits, only then could they reluctantly part. Afterwards, Feng Zhiwei laboriously made her escape from the herd of officials and snuck away to her dormitory to rest. The Emperor’s edict had been open ended, and had given her a few days to prepare before she took control of her house, before she assumed her ministerial role.

As soon as she stepped into the door, she was greeted by Chunyu Meng’s punch. “What a guy, you really surprised me!”

Yan Huaishi was also there, smiling sneakily: “Half a day apart, and you have already flown past the dragon gate.”

Feng Zhiwei ignored their antics and quickly said, “Pack your things, and get read to leave Qing Ming Academy. Brother Yan, do you have a place to stay close to the Dijing Imperial City? Let us go there, and it will be easier to hear the news there…”

Neither of them had any idea what she was talking about, but Feng Zhiwei had already turned to Chunyu Meng. “The Chunyu family should be alright, but you should listen to your father and delay reporting to the Chang Ying Guard.

“What are you saying?” Chunyu Meng was still reacting when Yan Huaishi interjected. “Isn’t the assassin already dead? Is the Emperor planning something big?”

Feng Zhiwei paused, suspecting that there were multiple plans in motion. Also, when the princes had been busy gathered and attacking Ning Yi, the Emperor’s expression had been very colorful, and truly the situation was not as simple as it seemed.

“Don’t ask. If you trust me, then we must leave.” Feng Zhiwei replied, already moving. When she turned, Young Master Gu was already prepared, clutching his beloved pillow.

That night, after the Emperor left Qing Ming Academy, chaos ran through Dijing.

The year was Geng Yi, and historians would one day call this day the beginning of the “Geng Yi Reformation¹.”

The sweeping changes were not so obvious in the beginning, and those involved did not understand the ramifications. It was only many years later, when someone studied this time and carefully tracked the events that the light dawned on this person and the truth was understood.

First, the Tian Sheng Emperor summoned the Crown Prince to the Imperial Palace and held a private conversation with his son. Later, the Crown Prince was seen leaving the Palace, an anxious expression on his face.

Then, an attempted assassination on Prince Chu was discovered. Servant women in the side palace where he had been confined had tried to poison his food, but were caught by the Yu Lin Guards.

The Tian Sheng Emperor hastily summoned the Crown Prince for the second time that day, and nobody knew what their disagreement was about. The servants outside could clearly hear the shattering of plates and cups.

The next day, the Emperor ordered the Fifth Prince to take temporary control of the Chang Ying Guards.

The Chang Ying Guards had always held the guard of the Eastern Palace, but that same day, the Fifth Prince ordered the Chang Ying Guard to the Imperial Palace, bringing his own Yu Lin Guards onto palace grounds and stationed them at the Eastern Palace, saying that the Imperial Palace did not have enough guards and the Chang Ying Guards were needed there.

The Crown Prince stormed into the Fifth Prince’s hall and angrily denounced his actions, but while the Fifth Prince was respectful and spoke of abiding to established rules, he refused to return the Chang Ying Guard, claiming that the Chang Ying Guard and the Yu Lin Guard were both Imperial Guard forces — why did the Crown Prince insist on using the Chang Ying for the Eastern Palace? Did he have some hidden thoughts?

The furious Crown Prince threw tea ware and injured the Fifth Prince.

Prince Chu’s Nine City Yamen Bureaucracy agreed to help the Crown Prince, but acted completely to the contrary. Most of the Imperial ministers were greatly disappointed with the Crown Prince’s heartlessness, and though respectful on the surface, were slow and hesitant when it came to real action.

The only major player remaining in the Crown Prince’s court was the Tenth Prince, who had so far been ignored because of his youth. Now that the Crown Prince no longer had Ning Yi’s assistance, he could not stop himself from pouring out his woes to this little brother. The Tenth Prince advice the Crown Prince to not tolerate such insubordinate and act with the dignity of the Crowned Heir, to show those who dared ignore him his power! Acting with this advice, the Crown Prince forcefully seized the Nine City Yamen Bureaucracy, and at the Inspections Department discovered evidence of the Fifth Prince’s private affairs, of his hidden association with border generals, his private seizure of fine croplands, and his plans to frame powerful old ministers.