“Breaking free from Zhuang Zhou’s dream, two wings riding the east wind, three hundred famous gardens, picking each one empty, frightening to death the bees seeking fragrance…”
Feng Zhiwei sat leisurely in the green wool oiled-cloth carriage, eyes half-open and half-closed, muttering to herself.
The inner court attendant beside the carriage leaned his head over, asking ingratiatingly: “What are you saying? Is the carriage too bumpy?”
“Nothing, nothing.” Feng Zhiwei waved her hand, her small face somewhat pale.
This bee “unintentionally seeking fragrance” had been frightened to death by a certain beautiful big butterfly. The lingering fear remained to this day.
Young Master Gu was sparing with words, but each word that came out could make you feel like you’d swallowed gold.
“I am your person.”
Concise, straightforward, powerful, shocking.
Feng Zhiwei was thunderstruck. She didn’t dare ask another sentence. She immediately packed up and fled from the residence to answer Princess Shaoning’s summons, even forgetting her original intention to delay a bit.
The carriage traveled with many twists and turns, gradually deviating from the main street, stopping before an inconspicuous small wine shop in a deep alley.
“Not going to the palace?” Feng Zhiwei frowned, feeling somewhat uneasy in her heart. Getting out of the carriage and looking around, she vaguely saw heads flashing—they should be Shaoning’s guards.
Recently she had become somewhat more keen of hearing and sight. Strangely enough, since learning some qi cultivation methods from that peculiar booklet, the burning heat in her body had restrained itself day by day. But the two times when the feeling was most obvious were when Fifth Concubine nearly dragged her into the water to drown and that day falling from the building. After these two times, her body felt especially relaxed, with a sense of being reborn and advancing to a higher level.
This sensation occurred both times in life-and-death situations. Was there some connection?
Feng Zhiwei recalled that day falling from the building and Gu Nanyi’s finger point, recalled the black-robed person with familiar build at the top of the Quiet Study building. Understanding stirred in her heart.
The inner court attendant led the way ahead. The small building’s deep courtyard was very quiet, with only footsteps echoing. The door curtain lifted, and Shaoning leaned against the doorframe, looking over with a smile brimming with warmth.
Feng Zhiwei stopped in her tracks.
In an instant, she had the impulse to turn and flee.
She also had the impulse to slap Young Master Gu to death—if not for being frightened by you, would I have been foolish enough to come to this beauty trap without time to think it through?
Beauty trap.
The small courtyard was elegant, flowers luxuriant and lush. Delicate cypress vine tendrils curled lightly, bright impatiens branches swayed with trembling leaves. Above and below the flower wall, myriad fragrances bloomed in full splendor, yet none compared to the romantic charm of the person behind the rolled curtain.
A light pink gold-threaded gauze short jacket with phoenixes soaring across the shoulders, collar and sleeves embroidered with four-united auspicious phoenixes threading through flowers. A matching cloud-霞 brocade makeup flower pleated gauze skirt with deep gold twining branch hidden flower gauze trim—a whole outfit of soft delicacy. On the young girl’s lustrous black smooth double bun were embedded butterfly-shaped pearl hairpins, inserted agate Buddha-hand gold pins. Luminous pearls soft and lustrous, agate noble and precious, setting off those pair of jewel-bright dazzling eyes, making them shine even more brilliantly.
The imperial dynasty’s princess stood in full dress behind the curtain, waist slender as if bound, skin gleaming brighter than snow. Within the room’s deep dim obscurity, she displayed infinite bright and charming beauty.
Feng Zhiwei looked at that face but saw a heart full of confusion.
Her gaze wavered ever so slightly—clearly wavering over other matters. In Shaoning’s eyes, filled with shyness, happiness, and earnest expectation, it created a huge misunderstanding. Suddenly she felt doubly shy, twisting and wringing that bead curtain. Her usual domineering arrogance suddenly went to Java.
“Your Highness.” But Feng Zhiwei had already reacted, bowing from across the curtain. “Not knowing Your Highness summoned me outside the palace, this outer official dares not overstep… I take my leave.”
Finishing speaking, she turned to leave with extremely quick steps. Behind her immediately came a delicate shout: “You… you stop. Stop!”
The first “you” still carried some surprise, hesitation, and exasperation. The second “you” began to restore that young girl’s usual domineering arrogance and reserve.
Feng Zhiwei secretly sighed, stopped, turned around, her face full of unwillingness.
“I summoned you and you actually dare to leave.” Shaoning couldn’t care about shyness anymore. Abandoning the curtain, she ran over and grabbed Feng Zhiwei’s sleeve with one hand.
Her ten fingers were pointed, actually painted with bright red nail polish, applied too thickly and vividly. When the hand reached out, it looked like dripping blood. To the side, Gu Nanyi slightly lowered his face, feeling this pair of hands looked very problematic. With a flick of his sleeve, Shaoning was flung backward.
Low exclamations arose from all sides. The courtyard that had seemed empty just now suddenly produced many people to catch Shaoning.
Shaoning’s body was in midair, light pink dress fluttering softly and gracefully, but her words were fierce with bared fangs and claws, full of killing intent: “Throw this person surnamed Gu out for me—throw him into the stinking ditch!!”
The guards hesitated as they came over. Gu Nanyi didn’t even look, patting his hands and muttering: “So much powder!” He sneezed several times in succession.
Shaoning’s face, having been caught, turned green.
Feng Zhiwei smiled faintly, reminding those guards: “Master Gu is a fourth-rank armed attendant before His Majesty’s carriage, just imperially appointed.”
The sixth-rank guards slunk away dejectedly…
“Help me watch outside… can’t let anyone approach the main room.” Feng Zhiwei stood on tiptoe, instructing Gu Nanyi in a low voice by his ear, then turned to face Shaoning. “Your Highness summons this humble subject—what important matter?” Her finger smoothly pulled, and Shaoning’s face reddened as she was obediently led into the room.
Inside the room, heavy curtains hung deep, light incense fragrance drifted. On the couch was a small table with some pastries and fruits, plus a silver pot with two wine cups. It seemed Shaoning had also planned to invite her for some wine.
“This humble subject must still go sign in this afternoon. Your Highness, if you have matters, please instruct.” Feng Zhiwei turned guest into host, proactively pouring wine for Shaoning, filling it very full, casually sprinkling a few drops in her own cup.
The two drank several cups. Feng Zhiwei chatted idly about everything under heaven except court politics. Shaoning listened absentmindedly, face slightly flushed, staring blankly at the young man opposite—this person’s appearance was merely refined, but his bearing was extremely outstanding. That kind of leisurely elegance maintained regardless of time and place was extremely rare. Suddenly confronted yet unalarmed, groundlessly provoked yet unangered. Clearly of ordinary origins and low official rank, yet smiling at wind and clouds, all matters settled in his heart.
The capital was full of caps and carriages, yet those wealthy young gentlemen, compared to Wei Zhi, all had a few parts more turbid stench and a few parts less gracious dignity.
“Actually, that sinecure position—whether you sign in or not, what does it matter?” Shaoning finally grew impatient with Feng Zhiwei’s obscure evasions. Raising her hand, she drained a cup and suddenly smiled disdainfully. “Wei Zhi, with your great talent, you should be entering the hall as prime minister, joining the military council. What Right Vice Director? When Prince Chu becomes Crown Prince in the future, will you still have to write memorials for him? What Qingming Vice Dean? Are you willing to live under Xin Ziyan, looking up to others, and in the future still unable to escape Ning Yi’s control?”
Shaoning had seen through that Xin Ziyan was Ning Yi’s person?
Her heart stirred, but her expression showed only a faint smile. Feng Zhiwei poured wine for Shaoning, her tone sincere: “Wei Zhi is but a commoner in white robes. In one morning gaining the Sacred One’s favor and rising rapidly through the ranks has already made all the officials envious. Worldly honors and favors—excess is as bad as deficiency. Though Your Highness esteems me highly, Wei Zhi knows he cannot deserve it.”
“What deserving or not deserving? Success makes kings, failure makes bandits—that’s all!” Shaoning sneered coldly. In the dim shadowy light, all shyness disappeared, her brows and eyes carried killing intent. “Wei Zhi, don’t tell me you don’t want it!” She suddenly leaned close to the table, her gaze burning as she stared at Feng Zhiwei. “I saw ambition in your eyes! This can’t fool me!”
“All men in the world have ambition.” Feng Zhiwei sat upright without moving, smiling as she looked at Shaoning. “As long as I serve the country loyally, His Majesty will give it to me.”
“I’ll give it to you!” Shaoning grabbed Feng Zhiwei’s hand holding the pot, her whole body trembling slightly. The butterfly-wing gold hairpin at her temples flashed with brilliant light like sword gleams. “Whatever you want, I can give you everything—as long as you help me kill Ning Yi!”