Reign of the Phoenix

Chapter 31 – I will Ask Your Imperial Father for Your Hand in Marriage
Murong Zhining took off Biwu and assessed it. Chiyun Yuexuan had replaced the old red string with a brand-new lanyard woven from red and golden strings. Murong Zhining blushed red. Chiyun Yuexuan must have been tied it to her waist when she was struggling.

Murong Zhining directed a fawning smile at Cai Sang with an innocent expression, “Just now on the horse, he hung it on me when I wasn’t paying attention. I’ll tell Luo Siyao to return it to him.”

Cai Sang’s face instantly relaxed, she lowered her head and smiled in embarrassment.

Murong Zhining inwardly sighed and deliberately teased her, “Never thought there would be a day when I, the princess, have to see the face of a servant before I act.” As soon as she finished saying this, Murong Zhining felt her face burn as Yan Feng’s image suddenly appeared in her head.

The next day, the number of people guarding Murong Zhining’s carriage was increased. On the road, Murong Zhining looked out the window to see Chiyun Yuexuan still steadily following their cavalcade.

Murong Zhining looked at Luo Siyao. “Siyao, take Biwu and return it to General Chiyun for me, tell him to go back to Huayan and not to waste any more time following us.”

Luo Siyao expressed her unwillingness, “I think that whoever hung the bell on the tiger’s neck must be the one to untie it. Perhaps it would be better if Princess returns it to General yourself and takes this chance to make it clear with him. Otherwise, based on my understanding of General Chiyun, he may not give up and will certainly keep following.”

Murong Zhining sighed plaintively, “The two of you, one gives me attitude and one refuses to obey my words. Did I owe you guys rice or silver in my last life or something?” The instantly these words came out of her mouth, Murong Zhining was inwardly startled. Her tone sounded exactly the same as Yan Feng.

Luo Siyao muttered, “What if I take this to General and he tells me to take it back? Princess, you’re making things difficult for me.”

Cai Sang repeatedly nodded. “Siyao makes sense. It seems that Zhining has to personally return Biwu and say things clearly to his face so that he’ll give up. And even if he doesn’t want to give up, he would still find it embarrassing to keep pestering you.”

At dusk when the camp was being set, Murong Zhining called for General Huyan and instructed, “I have something to say to General Chiyun. You don’t have to let people follow. Cai Sang And Luo Siyao will accompany me.”

General Huyan bowed as he replied, “General Chiyun has always been escorting Princess, he also helped out greatly yesterday. Huayan and Shangxia has had a good relationship for generations, so I naturally feel assured that he will not harm you. I will only lead people to follow from a distance.”

Cai Sang draped a coat on Murong Zhining, then she and Luo Siyao supported Murong Zhining on both sides as they headed toward Chiyun Yuexuan’s camp. General Huyan brought a team to follow from far behind.

Chiyun Yuexuan’s guard respectfully led the three girls to Chiyun Yuexuan’s tent. Chiyun Yuexuan came out of his tent to welcome Murong Zhining with a bow, “Greetings, Princess Fengyi. Please enter the tent to talk.”

Murong Zhining turned to order Cai Sang and Luo Siyao, “Wait for me out here.” Then, she followed Chiyun Yuexuan into the tent.

Chiyun Yuexuan’s phoenix eyes were blatantly glued to Murong Zhining, “What has Your Highness come to see me for?”

Murong Zhining looked at him with tranquil eyes. “I’ve come to thank you for your upstanding help yesterday, and also return your lost item that you’ve left at my place.” She handed over Biwu.

Chiyun Yuexuan’s face instantly darkened. “I’ve said it already, I will not accept a returned token of engagement.”

Murong Zhining furrowed her brows and made a puzzled expression. “I don’t understand what you mean, General Chiyun. This jade pendant was only something I picked up several years ago. I heard that it was yours, so I returned it to you. I have nothing to do with this pendant.”

Chiyun angrily strode to Murong Zhining and stared into her eyes. His charming phoenix eyes were covered in frost, “Do you think you can just shoo me away with just some random words, Princess? You think I would believe that you picked it up just because you say so? Then why is it that you immediately lose your manners when I call you ‘Little Tabby’?”

Murong Zhinings’s voice was cold as ice. “I did pick up this jade pendant. I know nothing about ‘Little Tabby’ whatsoever. Now that I am the princess of Shangxia, I want nothing to do with you anymore. I hope that you will not go on with your unnecessary entanglement and embarrass your identity as a general!”

Chiyun Yuexuan furiously grabbed Murong Zhining and roughly pulled her to his chest. “I’ve said it already, I won’t owe any favors nor will I take back a betrothal gift. Don’t think that I covet your princess identity. I only feel guilty towards you and want to compensate.”

Murong Zhining coldly looked back into his eyes, her own eyes filled with disdain. “Really not because of my princess status? Weren’t you all about ‘lowly slave’ and ‘not worthy’ when you opened your mouth before? Chiyun Yuexuan you listen very carefully, I despise your pity, I don’t need your compensation. Pick up your ego and stay away from me.”

Chiyun Yuexuan once again felt his dignity being violently trampled on by Murong Zhining. Overrun by fury, he tightened the arm around her waist, pulled her closer and pressed his face to hers, bellowing, “My ego? Did you forget that your dignity is still under my body and hasn’t been picked up yet? If you dare act this haughty in front of me again, I don’t mind making you lose that dignity once more.”

Taken over by shame and rage, Murong Zhining raised her hand and swatted toward his face, wanting to give him a big fat slap. Chiyun Yuexuan was quick to react. He instantly grabbed her hand and pushed her down, using his body to firmly press her onto the desk.

Chiyun Yuexuan’s eyes burned with fury, his dangerous breath wrapped in a bone-deep chill. He pressed his face close to Murong Zhining’s and glared at her. “Don’t think you can humiliate me as you please because I owe you, I already said I don’t want to owe you any favors. If you insist on leaving the betrothal gift with me, I don’t mind keeping you as well.” He swiftly put Biwu on her neck with a devilishly charming smile. “When I send you back this time, I’ll ask your imperial father for your hand in marriage. I’ll tell him that, the princess is already my wife. I think your imperial father won’t object then.” He stared at Murong Zhining with chilly eyes and a vicious grin.

Murong Zhining couldn’t move one bit as she was pressed under him. This reminded her of all the humiliation that Chiyun Yuexuan had imposed on her. She almond eyes brimmed with tears as they hatefully and intently glared at Chiyun Yuexuan, but her tears stubbornly refused to fall.

Chiyun Yuexuan felt a sudden trembling in his heart as it turned mellow. He quickly got up and pulled Murong Zhining up as well. Retracting the vicious aura shrouding him, he softened his voice, “I only want to return you to Shangxia safe and sound. I’ll leave this leaf with you as a memento. It’s me who’s ashamed about what I’ve done to you. If you don’t want me to bother you, then bother you I won’t.”

Chiyun Yuexuan sent Murong Zhining out of the camp. Cai Sang and Luo Siyao supported her as they went back. Standing outside the tent as his eyes followed Murong Zhining’s thin and sickly figure, Chiyun Yuexuan was plagued with heartache and remorse.

Luo Siyao suddenly ran back and stuffed the phoenix tree leaf in Chiyun Yuexuan’s hand. Giving him a complex look, she turned back and ran to catch up with Murong Zhining. Chiyun Yuexuan remained there to watch as the three girls slowly disappeared into the sunset.

Chiyun Yuexuan stood in sorrow and frustration, his hand still holding the jade pendant that Murong Zhining returned. With a frown, he slowly sat down. Deputy General Wu Siyuan walked over, then sat down next to him and gently patted his shoulder.

Wu Siyuan gently advised Chiyun Yuexuan, “Now that Miss Murong is the princess of Shangxia, the fate between her and General should end here. General is a young hero, there are many beauties in this world that admire you. After you escort Miss Murong back this time, the load weighing on your mind for so many years will be settled. You can then return to Huayan, marry a girl and lead a good life.”

Chiyun Yuexuan caressed the jade leaf in his hand with a lonely look. “You know that I’ve always reserved a place in my heart for that little girl who saved me. Regardless she is pretty as a goddess or ugly as Wuyan , I will still reserve the position of my wife for her. I haven’t been married for so many years waiting for her to come. What I did not expect was that she would appear in such a way.” Chiyun Yuexuan violently punched the ground.

Wu Siyuan patted his shoulder. “The fortunate thing is that, General holds only gratitude for Miss Murong and not the love of a man for a woman. You’ll forget her after a while. You don’t have to keep blaming yourself, General. Letting go is good for both of you.”

Chiyun Yuexuan rested his hand on his forehead in distress, he couldn’t tell if he had fallen for her. When she had angered him just now, aside from humiliation, he also felt a pang of heartache. And when facing those pretty eyes of hers brimming with tears, his heart throbbed like never before. Those eyes destroyed his apathy and touched the softest part in his heart.

When Murong Zhining returned to her tent, her dinner had been well prepared. She had no mood to eat anything and sat down outside the tent staring blankly. Cai Sang pointed at the fireflies flickering on the fields. “Zhining, look at those bugs. Can you see how happy they are? You’re just like these fireflies, always shining whether you are of a humble identity or a noble one.”

Murong Zhining looked to where Cai Sang was pointing to see the fireflies blending into the background full of stars, making one feel as if they were submerging in a starry river. She whispered softly, “I can’t believe I’m not as enlightened as those fireflies. Although tiny, they can still decorate this world into a starry sea, while I drown myself in misery and let my own light fade away.”

Cai Sang caught a firefly and placed it in Murong Zhining’s palm. “You see, not only is it beautiful, it’s also very carefree and free.” The firefly flickered in her palm.

Cai Sang pulled Murong Zhining to chase after the fireflies, their laughter echoed through the night fields. In the distance, a pair of melancholy phoenix eyes silently followed Murong Zhining.