Reign of the Phoenix

Mrs. Yin and Butcher Du hurried to the village road to welcome. Upon seeing Murong Zhining, they wanted to kneel.

Murong Zhining stepped forward to stop Mrs. Yin. “Foster Mother and Father, Ning’er doesn’t deserve this. The favor of raising a child is greater than heaven. Ning’er will always be your child. Please don’t stand on ceremony, I’m still the little girl you adopted.”

Mrs. Yin took Murong Zhining to a big compound with green bricks, red tiles, and a red door with a cornice like that of a rich family, her face full of smiles. “I only thought A’Niu had done a great job in the army and was rewarded by the general, who could have known it was because of Little Ling’er that we received such a big return for adopting you less than one year? We’re both ashamed.”

Murong Zhining walked into the courtyard and looked around. “Please don’t say that. Ning’er has nothing else to repay your for your kindness. Besides, you’ve treated me like one of your own. This affection have made me, a helpless wandering child, feel the warmth and love I had never felt before.”

Mrs. Yin took Murong Zhining inside. “None of the households in the village can compare to this house. Even Landlord Ge’s family can’t. They all praised me I picked up quite the treasure that year.”

Murong Zhining smiled. “Both Mother And Father are kind-hearted people, you more than deserve this karmic return.”

The room was bright and spacious. The round marble table in the middle was full wine and food. Butcher Du smiled. “Thanks to Ning’er, A’Niu is now appreciated by General Chiyun and can be considered an official worker for the government. Why didn’t General Chiyun accompany Ning’er? I’ve heard that you two are getting married?”

Cai Sang interrupted, “Uncle and Aunt, General Chiyun is a man who leads the troops. He was supposed to come with Ning’er, but was given a temporary assignment. It’s better he didn’t or else I know you two would be stiff.”

Mrs. Yin nodded. “If General came, I fear both your uncle and I would be frightened speechless. Come, let’s eat, the food is getting cold.”

Cai Sang covered her mouth to hide a smile and whispered, “A grand general would scare auntie so much? If I said that General Chiyun was a prince, wouldn’t she be scared to death?”

Du Youtian rolled his eyes. “You’re much more formidable, you scared him away.”

Just as they sat down at the table, there was knocking at the door. A servant ran in and reported, “Sir and Madam, Master Uncle is here. I wouldn’t let him in; he’s making a scene outside the door.”

Cai Sang stood up. “How did he know we were back? Still planning on extorting me, isn’t he? Tell him, I’m just a maid. I don’t believe he has the guts to extort Princess. Tell him to scram, no one here is related to him anymore.”

Mrs. Yin furrowed. “Ever since General built this house for us, gave us silver and a hundred acres of fertile land, he’s come asking for money. I gave him some at the beginning, but that didn’t last against his laziness. He comes almost every day to cause trouble, it’s no surprise he knows you’re back. Cai Sang, if anything, he’s still your father. Maybe we can let him come in for dinner.”

Cai Sang spat, “He almost killed Ning’er. It was him who had her kidnapped and transported to be sold to a brothel in the capital.”

Mrs. Yin stamped her foot. “That heinous thing! I won’t give him half a copper coin!” She then said to the servant, “Chase him away. If he ever comes again, no need to report to me, just get rid of him.”

Everyone was about to eat when they heard a series of noisy clacking at the door. Cai Sang angrily rose from her seat. “Still not done yet?! I’ll go ask him what he really wants.”

Seeing it was Cai Sang who opened the door, Yin Hua greeted her with a full face of smiles. “My daughter, you’re here too? Daddy misses you to death. How are you and your aunt so cruel to shut me out? Do you despise me now that your lives are looking better?” He pretended to wipe tears.

Mrs. Yin rushed out the door and violently shoved him. “Scram! I don’t have a brother like you! You heinous thing, it was you who sold Little Ling’er to a brothel. Don’t even dream of getting half a coin from me anymore.”

Yin Hua knelt down and cried, “My dear sister, now that you’re well off, you don’t recognize this brother anymore? I admitted I was wrong, but it was because the poverty drove me crazy and you didn’t care about me back then. I had no other choice, waahh!”

Cai Sang took Mrs. Yin back in and was about to close the door when Yin Hua leapt up and reached through the crack, preventing her from closing it. “Folks, please be the judge on this! My sister won’t let my daughter recognize me, is there still any justice in this world?”

Seeing him acting so shameless, Cai Sang frowned. She took out a 50-tael note from her lapel and threw it out, and while Yin Hua picked it up, she shut the door.

Yin Hua had just reached out to pick up the silver note when a foot stepped on the back of his hand. Thinking the other party wanted to rob him, Yin Hua got aggressive. “You blind?! Can’t see that my daughter is very high up now? If you dare to offend me, she won’t spare you.”

The foot that stepped on Yin Hua’s hand didn’t move away and instead ground it into the dirt several times. Yin Hua howled in pain. He looked up and saw a tall man dressed in imperial guard clothes.

Yin Hua’s tears and snot flowed together. “Officer, I’m the father of Cai Sang, the maid of the princess, you can’t NOT know that, right? Let go, it hurts.”

The guard gave Yin Hua several heavy kicks, then bent down and threatened, “If I see you harassing the princess’ relatives again, this hand will leave your body. Pick up the silver note and scram, you’re not allowed to show up here ever again.”

Watching Yin Hua pick up the silver note and flee into the darkness, the guard turned and walked towards the dark woods where a luxurious carriage hid behind the bushes.

Late at night, Lotus Pond Hollow was a stretch of darkness with only two lit lanterns hung in front of Mrs. Yin’s house. In the distance, there was a croaking of frogs mingled with the intermittent screech of crickets, sometimes quiet, sometimes noisy. Just after the beginning of 4th period, two men clad in black arrived at Mrs. Yin’s house. Light as swallows, they jumped on top of the wall and into the courtyard, easily subduing the guards here, then punctured the windows of all rooms and blew sleep smoke inside.

Murong Zhining felt a chill on her face. She woke up abruptly, only to find that her vision was all dark. Her eyes were covered with satin, her hands and feet were tied. Someone was wiping her face with a wet handkerchief very gently as if afraid of hurting her.

Murong Zhining swung her head around a few times, her voice was as weak as a gnat, “Who? Who is there? Why would you tie me up?”

She felt the presence of someone next to her, which she knew intuitively was a man. She could feel the intense pressure that emanated from him.

The man didn’t answer, only using his cold and delicate hands to caress her face. As Murong Zhining struggled in vain, a hand held her chin and hot lips pressed onto her cheek.

Murong Zhining turned her face away, furious. “Chiyun Yuexuan, just what do you want? You think this is interesting? Didn’t you say you’d give me time? Going back on your word so soon? All right, I’ll tell you, this princess has remembered everything and won’t forgive you.”

The hand holding her chin became gentler. Two palms pressed on her cheeks, rendering her unable to turn away, before a pair of hot, thin lips fell upon hers. It startled Murong Zhining. Blindfolded, she could still feel that this wasn’t Chiyun Yuexuan. The smell of this person seemed so familiar to her but she just couldn’t remember who it was.

One hand uncovered the satin covering her eyes, and then untied the silk that bound her hands and feet. Under the flickering candlelight, a handsome and hale face of a man appeared before her. His eyes were gentle as they gazed at Murong Zhining. This face was unfamiliar, yet so familiar.

From the dragon pattern on the man’s clothes, Murong Zhining deduced he should be the emperor of Huayan. Murong Zhining asked in a whisper, “Are you the emperor? Although I find you very familiar, I can’t remember having met you before. As the monarch of a country, how can you treat an unfamiliar woman to you so?”

The man’s sharp brows knitted, his hard-edged chin lifted a little in a cold expression. “You don’t remember me? I don’t believe that you forgot me. I think of you everyday, how can you forget me?” He squeezed her chin and stared into her limpid almond eyes.

Murong Zhining’s heart pounded with nervousness. Suddenly, memories of the man’s various expressions flashed in her head. “Your Majesty… I think I remember. I used to be your maid…”

Yan Feng grasped Murong Zhining’s hand. “Nonsense, I have never considered you a maid. If it hadn’t been for Chiyun Yuexuan taking you from me, Ning’er, you would have been my empress now.”

Murong Zhining pulled back her hand. “No, Your Majesty, you… Ning’er is now the fiancee of General Chiyun. Please have some respect.”

Only now could Murong Zhining see the surroundings. This was a tent, she was sitting on the bed in the middle of the tent while Yan Feng sat on the edge.

Yan Feng pulled her into an embrace. “You just said you wouldn’t forgive General Chiyun. I also know he has greatly wronged you many times. As long as you are willing to be my empress, I’ll make you forget him. I love you, I want to be the one growing old with you, don’t you know?”

Murong Zhining tried to struggle out of his arms but felt no strength in her body. “Your Majesty is the emperor of a country. You reign over the throne of the entire nation and all the women in it. However, I am the fiancee of your official, not to mention that General Chiyun is still your brother. Your wanting to marry me is against both laws and ethics. Please stop this thought of yours and let Ning’er go.”

Yan Feng held her even tighter. “You know that I reign over the country, but you don’t know that I only love one woman – you. I’m willing to give this country to General Chiyun in exchange for you. If I’m no longer the emperor, would you be a normal couple with me? I’ll take you to a deserted place where we can build a warm house, play chess and qin, recite and compose poems, taste tea and appreciate paintings. I promise to accompany you for life.”

Encircled by Yan Feng, Murong Zhining couldn’t move. “How did you know I was here?”

Yan Feng’s tone was tender. “Since the last time someone tried to harm you and General Chiyun, I’ve had the Imperial Guards protect you in secret. They also report your every move to me. I’ve been watching you secretly.”

Murong Zhining tried to struggle a little bit more, but her body was drained of all strength from the Scattered Cartilage Drug. “Can you let go of Ning’er? This is improper. Besides, Ning’er can’t remember the past. Please don’t make it difficult for me.”