Both of them fell silent. After a moment, Ning Yi gently reached for Feng Zhiwei, holding her warm, clammy hands. When his icy fingers touched her, Feng Zhiwei instinctively grasped them in her own, her heart longing to give them warmth, but she immediately conquered herself and pulled back her hand.
Ning Yi was deep in thought and did not notice Feng Zhiwei’s reaction. Finally, he spoke: “Zhi Wei.”
Feng Zhiwei murmured in reply.
“Are you truly going to walk this road?” Ning Yi asked in a heavy voice, his eye’s unreadable in the dim moonlight.
Feng Zhiwei slowly shifted her head, her heart a tangled mess.
“You must understand.” Ning Yi continued, his words slow. “There are things I must achieve, and now that I have walked down this path, I cannot retreat. Sometimes, those in power cannot do what they wish, even if they want to step back, their subordinates and followers will not allow it. You... do you understand?”
Feng Zhiwei remained silent, only quirking her lips.
“The Imperial Family have secret guards called the Golden Key.” Ning Yi suddenly explained, going on a tangent. “The Golden King is domineering and is charged with solving every major, unresolved case. They hunt down all manners of important criminals from the shadows. This key is only ever wielded by His Majesty, and none of the princes are involved.
Feng Zhiwei looked into Ning Yi’s eyes, confused.
“I am just informing you of their existence.” Ning Yi explained, staring in to her eyes, a faint smile on his face. “All ministers should tread carefully.”
“It has always been the case that anyone who wants to keep their life must be very careful.” Feng Zhiwei replied, smiling.
Ning Yi gazed into her face, reaching out his hand to touch her hair. Feng Zhiwei moved out of the way, hurriedly saying: “Careful, people are watching.”
“You blame me, I understand.” Ning Yi replied calmly, not giving way. “Relax, no one will dare watch me.”
Feng Zhiwei’s heart jumped as she understood the extent of Ning Yi’s control over the palace guards, but she smiled and immediately replied: “Blame you for what?”
“When will you stop playing the fool?” Ning Yi said quietly, his words a light breeze by her ears.
Feng Zhiwei shifted her head, dodging away, but as she moved Ning Yi lips moved by her. Feng Zhiwei cried out quietly, reaching up to touch a droplet of blood blossoming from her earlobe.
Feng Zhiwei glared furiously at the petty man before her. She had only bitten him to set the scene! Even if he wanted his revenge, why did he bite so hard?
She looked up at the blood on his smile; and in the dark night his eyes shone brilliantly, his usual elegance fading away, leaving only his bewitching seductiveness. For a moment, he looked like a beautiful demon from the legends.
Ning Yi looked down at the drop of blood on her clean, white ear and his gaze deepened. But then he pushed her gently aside, saying: “Someone is coming. Go.”
Feng Zhiwei stepped backwards, and before she had finished turning around her face was already covered in her cla.s.sic smile.
Ning Yi watched as she calmly thanked the attendant who had come to lead her away, surrept.i.tiously wiping the blood from her ears as she left. When she was out of sight, Ning Yi slowly sat, leaning against the railing.
“I had to taste your blood.” He murmured, touching his lips and examining the blood on his fingers. His eyes sparkled as he smiled to himself: “Even blood from such a black heart is still red.”
A few days later, an Imperial Edict was dispatched rewarding Wei Zhi’s great contribution with a promotion to Vice Minister of Rites.
The same day, the Imperial Court founded a new General Department of Sea Vessels in the South Sea Province and named the Yan Family Head as the first Manager in charge of the South Sea maritime businesses, a new position that would report directly to the Ministry of Revenue.
While the news about a business man getting an official position did not receive much attention, Minister Wei’s promotion caused a great commotion of praise and envy.
Although Minister Wei’s position as a.s.sistant to the Emperor gave him access to the Imperial Cabinet, he was not officially a member. Typically, a new Minister would need to spend some time establishing a record in the six ministries before any hope of promotion — for Minister Wei’s first posting to be that of Vice Minister demonstrated the Imperial intention for a future promotion to Cabinet. Vice Minister Wei was already a Third Rank Official at such a young age, surely his future was boundless. In the coming days, the Wei Mansion thronged with visitors and congratulations.
But Master Wei had no time to welcome these well-wishers. On the first day of her new posting, she was given the task of sorting through all the young masters throughout the country, organizing them according to background, moral quality, and personality for the Tian Sheng Emperor. The Emperor had finally decided to find a son-in-law for Shao Ning.
When Shao Ning heard of this, how could she remain calm? She cried, threw tantrums, and ran around chasing Wei Zhi. Feng Zhiwei could only rush here and dash there to hide from her, all the while bemoaning her fate — dear sister, why are you so foolish! Since His Majesty had charged Wei Zhi with this matter, clearly he had no intention of choosing this official as a candidate. Even if His Majesty wanted to select his new favored minister, her Sixth Brother would never allow the matter. The more trouble she created, the sooner she’d be shuffled off into her marriage. Why did this silly child not understand?
But Shao Ning paid no mind to any scheming. She believed that the road to love always took twists and turns, but the future was bright. This bright future was something that they both needed to fight for, so how could Wei Zhi abandon her? And so, the young Princess turned Feng Zhiwei’s life upside down.
On a particular morning, after the a.s.sembly in the Imperial Court, Shao Ning cornered Feng Zhiwei on her way out.
Feng Zhiwei hurriedly bowed and mumbled quickly: “Greetings Princess Good Morning Princess this Minor Minister wishes you the best please pardon me I have important business farewell farewell.” And before Shao Ning could open her mouth, Feng Zhiwei was already darting away.
“Stop right there!”
Feng Zhiwei rushed away, a clueless and unhearing expression plastered on her face as all the surrounding ministers chuckled at her.
“You must not do that anymore!” Shao Ning called out, not giving up her chase, yelling as she ran: “Don’t do it! Don’t do it!”
The various ambiguous smiles on the minister’s faces morphed into alarm — what was this matter? Do what? Don’t do what?
Feng Zhiwei felt sweat rolling down her face as she rushed away... Princes, please speak more clearly... speaking so vaguely will lead to my death...
“Master Wei, stop!” A sweaty Imperial Servant called out, rushing to Feng Zhiwei’s side. “His Majesty requests your presence!”
Shao Ning’s eyes reddened. She knew that the Emperor was making his final decision about the Imperial Son-in-Law today and had summoned Wei Zhi to explain the matter.
“You will not get away!” Shao Ning ground her teeth, clapping her hands as she called out, “Come!”