The Rise of Phoenixes (天盛长歌) - Chapter 7 (Fanfiction)

Chapter 7 - Clearing debts means making room for new ones

written by kakashi
edited by Bunny

 

There were places of comfort even in the ruthless Capital, places where a restless heart could quiet down, if only just for a moment. The weaving room in Ning Yi's residence was such a place, one he liked to sit in when time allowed, sometimes weaving, sometimes tailoring, to pretend he was just a commoner, a commoner with no bigger problems than going about his daily business. 

Sipping wine next to a friend in such a place when it was getting dark outside was even better, even if that friend was currently obsessed with taking his pulse almost hourly, needlessly fretting over his health like an old woman. 

"The medicinal wine Zhao Yuan sent is very effective," Ziyan said with his eyes closed, concentrating on feeling the beat at Ning Yi's wrist with his fingertips. "Last time when I took your pulse, you were very weak. Now, you are much better."

He gently placed Ning Yi's arm back and smiled at him warmly. 

"Then you can stop fearing I'm being poisoned," Ning Yi suggested lightly. 

He really hoped this was the end of it, he did not want the elder man to worry so much about him. His father though, that was a different story. Ning Yi wanted the Emperor to worry himself sick and feel very sorry for treating his son badly, even though it seemed the Emperor was showing symptoms of the exact same illness. 

"I am beyond glad that you're alright!" Ziyan declared and leaned back with a sigh.

He genuinely seemed to be, but that was clearly not all. There was something else Ziyan had come for, Ning Yi saw it in the slight tension in his friend's body and the way his eyes shifted to him and away again with a sparkle. 

"Ziyan, you didn't come today just to take my pulse, did you?" Ning Yi suggested.

"I came to assuage your fears and worries," Ziyan agreed immediately. "Don't you want to know where Feng Zhiwei is?"

He had indeed hoped he would soon get word, but had not expected it to be from the Headmaster, but from his bodyguard, whom he had once again sent to trail Feng Zhiwei as soon as she had left his residence. Knowing this woman a bit by now, he suspected she would once again not comply with his wishes and go to Qinming Academy because defying him seemed to give her more pleasure than anything else. 

"Your Highness, that little raccoon is very cunning. I didn't know what to do, so I turned to Headmaster Xin for help!" that miscreant of a servant was defending himself. Ning Yi rolled his eyes angrily. Not once had he been able to catch Zhiwei!

"Good thing he found me," Ziyan said smugly, observing Ning Yi's face.

"So Ziyan, you have news to share then?" Ning Yi wanted to know.

"Of course, I do. I have good news and bad news. Which one would you like to hear first?"

"The bad news." Said without even a moment of reflection. Maybe a trait of character, maybe something every prince learned from a very young age - never be happy to then receive a death blow, because you simply wasted your happiness that way. Rather be dying and then be unexpectedly happy until your last breath. 

"There is a bodyguard protecting Feng Zhiwei", Ziyan said mysteriously, "I think it has something to do with Qiu Mingying."

Oh. That was indeed a problem, since it removed Feng Zhiwei from his easy grasp. But it also meant others could not get close either. 

"So the good news is, I don't have to worry about Feng Zhiwei's safety," Ning Yi concluded. 

"Yes. This bodyguard is skilled in martial arts. He beat over twenty men sent to apprehend Zhiwei to a pulp. Qiu Mingying really is something."

"Of course. If Gu Heng's wife were an average woman, that would have been surprising," Ning Yi remarked drily. But... twenty men against one scrawny "boy"? His brothers sure liked to play dirty! And Ziyan thought he would not longer worry? Far from it. If his brother was out for blood, she was in grave danger. 

"Monitor Ning Yan's movements," he told Ning Cheng, "let me know immediately when it looks like he is going after her again."

"You have always seen Feng Zhiwei as a pawn," Ziyan said warningly. "But be careful not to become someone else's pawn yourself."

"Isn't that the beauty of playing Go?" Where the attacker became the attacked in one move, where pawns became kings and kings were turned into useless sacrifices in the next. Yes, Feng Zhiwei was his pawn - and with every step she took away from him, she just ensnared herself more. Her repeatedly stated wish to distance herself from him... he would not allow this to happen. So, he didn't mind being a pawn for a few moves - in the end, he would always be the one to pull the strings.

One of his guards approached. "Your Highness, Chief Gu of the Royal Guards sent a letter," he informed him with a bow. 

Gu Yan was positioned very close to the Crown Prince, expertly fooling him to believe he was still loyal to him. With this letter, he was informing Ning Yi of his eldest brother's plan to deal their other brother Ning Yan the final blow soon. That one was foolish enough to believe the words of a sorcerer - Ziyan's man - who had foretold him power and fortune at the expense of the Crown Prince. Hence the wooden witchcraft figure that was buried at the Crown Prince's residence... with the Crown Prince's knowledge, because Ziyan was pretending to be his ally and ensnaring Ning Yan for him.

Time to change a few parameters of this game they were playing.

Make the Crown Prince a suspect himself. Amplify the natural suspicion, nay paranoia of his father the Emperor. Making clear that eight years ago, his own brother Ning Qiao, had died unjustly, because he had been framed by the Crown Prince, just like Ning Yan was going to be framed.

They had been waiting for this moment. But now that it was here... will I be ready? Ning Yi asked himself. Ning Yan was just a stepping stone. This game was not over yet, would not be for a long time.

"So you do know where Feng Zhiwei is right now, don't you?" Ning Yi addressed Headmaster Xin, patting his arm. 

"It has only been a day and you're dying to see her?" Ziyan snorted. His guards also smirked knowingly. 

"I'm asking because it has got to do with something else," Ning Yi claimed, benevolently not letting himself be angered by their insistence to turn him and Zhiwei into a future couple in their heads.

"Ah?" Ziyan smiled. 

Ning Yi didn't care for their quiet amusement because he knew what he wanted. A clearing of debts. But the clearing of debts meant there was just ample room for new ones. 

***

Are all men insufferable and annoying? Feng Zhiwei asked herself, while waiting for a rabbit to come along and walk into her trap. She was so hungry.

There was a new one of the annoying sort in her life, named Gu Nanyi, an excellent fighter but horribly rude person. He hardly talked but when he did in short sentences, it was to question her decisions or give her orders. Currently, he was lounging lazily on the other side of the river, letting her do all the work.

Well, he had saved her from a large group of men she had first mistaken for the Prince of Chu's guards until they had attempted to kill her. Ever since, this Gu Nanyi had not let her out of his sight, claiming he was sent by "someone" to protect her. Who that someone was, she had no clue, but she felt an urge to tell him to go mind his own business.

Why would they not just let her go where she wanted to go!

Eventually, a rabbit did come along and she managed to entrap it, but when she had made her way across the river to meet up with Gu Nanyi to have him skin and fry it, he was no longer there.

Somebody else was though.

Somebody she really did not want to see, despite his angelic face, because seeing him always meant trouble. He looked out of place, too, in his fine clothes, away from the capital, though she would never have mistaken him for a weakling. When she had dressed his wound not too long ago in that carriage, she had in fact felt the taut muscles of a fighter with considerable strength under her hands. On top of that, given his intelligence, she knew he was not an easy opponent in any kind of situation.

And he never made it easy for her, in any kind of situation.

"You're a girl. How can you be so cruel?" he immediately lashed out at her, pointing his chin at the rabbit in her arms.

"It's you," she sighed. Why would he not leave her alone? "Where is he?"

"Who? Ah, that man? I have something personal to tell you, so I had someone take him away," Ning Yi replied, looking at her like he was considering whether eating her would be to his benefit. She would not be cowed by his bullying behavior this time though.

"You're an important person. I'm just an ordinary person. Why are you spying on me and meeting me in the middle of nowhere?"

He looked up into the sky as if this was no concern of his at all, as if she wasn't even speaking.

"I don't deserve this treatment. Please forgive me, Your Highness," she added quickly, lest she angered him.

"If you hadn't almost gotten yourself killed, why would I need to spy on you?" he said sharply. So she already had angered him.

She lowered her eyes and hoped he would go away. "I apologize for troubling you, Your Highness. I have no family in this world. My life has no value. I don't deserve the concern of a prince."

There was a short silence, but then, to her surprise, he said: "I think you do."

She lifted her eyes slowly to meet his. There was no mockery there this time. Which was a mockery in itself. What did he even want from her!

"All right. I'll stop teasing you, little raccoon," he said in a more pleasant tone of voice. "I'm here today to give you a chance to return that favor you owe me. Once you have returned it, we won't owe each other anything. We can part ways in this world. What do you think?"

Oh. Would he really?

"Deal!" she said quickly, before he could change his mind.

He stepped closer and bent forward a little to look at the rabbit with a smile, even extending his hand to scratch it behind its ears. "I want you to go to East Palace and switch out the wooden figure. Will you do that?"

"I will," she said to his bent down head. "I promise you. Once it's done, we won't owe each other anything."

He righted himself to his full height. "Deal!" And from behind his back, he took a small bundle. Another wooden figure. Another plan.

May you get what you want, Zhiwei wished for him, may you get what you want and may we not owe each other anything anymore. Ever again.

***

Switching the figures wasn't hard - she just had to sneak in to the East Palace with Gu Yan's men, disguised as one of them. She did briefly wonder what this was for, but it should not matter to her, did not matter to her. The most important things was having it done, be done.

But then, the question where to go from here still needed to be answered. Qingming Academy... it wasn't the worst of places. Besides, she had always liked to learn and it was one of the best schools in the country.

Now that she was done with Prince of Chu... she could live there in peace for a while, until other opportunities presented itself and she would move on, maybe to another country entirely. There were so many things she wanted to see!

Her and her new "friend" were walking on the road towards the Academy when they heard a group of horses approach. Feng Zhiwei turned her head, as anyone would when hearing hoofbeat, and was just about to turn it back when a shock went through her. It was the fifth Prince of Zhao, Ning Yan! Because she knew about the wooden figure, he was likely out to kill her.

In desperation, she pulled Gu Nanyi off the street - maybe Prince of Zhao would not recognize her? They raced by, gravel spraying them painfully.

But no such luck. Gu Nanyi yelled: "You on the horse. Get back here!"

"Don't talk to him," she urged.

"It was his fault," Nanyi insisted stubbornly and planted his heels into the ground.

And now, it was too late. Prince of Zhao had stalled his horse and had turned around. A satisfied, cold smile spread on his face when he saw who he had just overtaken.

"What a coincidence," Ning Yan said, approaching them after dismounting, with several armed guards in tow, "look who we have here."

"You rode too fast. We almost got hurt!" Nanyi complained angrily. "Apologize!"

"Haha," Ning Yan chuckled, "I can apologize. But if I apologize, will you be able to be true to your word?"

"Of course," Nanyi said.

"Then, I apologize sincerely," the Prince said and made a mock bow. Slowly, he stepped closer. Zhiwei felt how her knees began to shake. She didn't want to die. She was much too young.

"Wei Zhi," the prince said. "You said that you were going to help me. You even said you'd die for me. Will you be true to your word?"

"What would you like me to do, Your Highness?" her fear made her voice shake miserably.

"I want you to die," said Ning Yan with a triumphant smile. Behind him, his guards pulled their swords in unison, the rasping sound making shivers break out all over her body.

"Help me...," she whimpered as she hid behind Nanyi again.

Before Ning Yan's vicious looking men were upon them though, fast hoofbeat was to be heard again and like a whirlwind, another group of men made their appearance.

Zhiwei would never have thought she could be that glad to Ning Yi. But she was. She could have kissed him, that's how glad she was. And that bodyguard of his was there too, looking fierce and resolute and giving her a nod of encouragement.

"What is this? Ning Yan, what are you doing here?" the Prince of Chu beamed at his elder brother upon dismounting.

"This servant owes me a lot of money," Ning Yan lied. "I'm going to take him with me."

"Ah?" Ning Yi replied and started waving his hand at her. "Come. Come here." And much more commanding: "Come here, I said!"

Hastily, Feng Zhiwei left the safety of Nanyi's shadow and hurried over to hide behind Ning Yi. She wasn't quite sure whether this felt equally safe, safer, or not safe at all, but it was a solid back and on top, the back of a prince.

"Ning Yan, we are princes of Tiansheng," Ning Yi said to his brother after throwing her a look over his shoulder to assure himself she was where he wanted her. "He is just a servant at House of Lanxiang. What would people think if they heard a prince like you was asking for money? Why don't I give it to you?"

"You're right," Ning Yan agreed darkly, "He is just a servant at House of Lanxiang. What if people heard you were protective of him?"

"Had it been anyone else, I wouldn't have interfered," Ning Yi smiled pleasantly. "But this servant is Zhu Yin's brother. I wouldn't want to let a beautiful girl down."

"Are you trying to cause me trouble?" Ning Yan snarled and for a heartstopping moment, it seemed like the two groups would be at each other's throat when Ning Yi's men pulled their swords and charged forward just as Ning Yan's men did.

"Stand back!" Ning Yi bellowed. His men obeyed immediately, slinking back behind him like nothing had happened - yet the tension remained. The two princes took several steps towards each other threateningly and Feng Zhiwei held her breath. Because of her. This was because of her! Two royal princes looked ready to butt heads over her. What should she do? She had never wanted this!

But good things come in threes and maybe, all things considered, today was her lucky day.

Hoofbeat once more and yet another prince appeared. This one, she knew when he dismounted, was Ning Sheng, the Prince of Yan, second eldest son of the Emperor. Like the Crown Prince, he was also part of the Chang bloodline and his cruel face that swept a look of disdain over her was frightening - yet, she saw no hostility there, only annoyance.

The brothers greeted each other and when the second prince asked who Zhiwei and Nanyi were, Ning Yi explained that they were just ordinary people heading to Qingming Academy.

"But! They were very impudent and said that Ning Yan and I rode on our horses too fast and scared them. So we were teaching them a lesson," he said, with a look at her that seemed to say do I really have to come save you every time?

"Yes," Ning Yan readily agreed, obviously afraid of his second brother's displeasure or...afraid she would say something about the figure? "They are just peasants. How dare they? Get out of here!"

Zhiwei would not have to be told twice. "Don't talk. Hurry," she whispered to Nanyi and pulled him along in the direction of Qingming Academy.

But she threw a look in Prince of Chu's direction right before taking off. Lucky... or not? Once again, he was her savior. He had agreed to clean the slate but now, she had added a fresh debt. No wonder he looked so pleased. Or...

He did look pleased and she guessed it was because this confrontation was in line with his plan - like the appearance of this second brother meant trouble for Ning Yan, which was likely caused by that wooden figure she had switched. But when he looked at her, his face showed something else.

It was like he didn't quite know what to feel when he looked at her.

Chapter 8