All the princes gathered here in her mansion, but which one was the target?
The late summer breeze blew through her air, carrying the scent of crude, cold iron, and a layer of cold sweat covered her body.
Feng Zhiwei stood in the veranda, stuck between advancing or retreating. Finally, she stepped forward a few times, and then hesitantly looked backwards.
A pair of hands suddenly lunged forward from the corner of her vision, dragging her into the bushes lining the sides of the veranda!
Feng Zhiwei whirled, taking in the figure hiding under the trees.
Her pupils focused, and then she smiled. “So it was you, Esteemed Princess!”
Princess Shao Ning wore short clothing, her face half-covered as she crouched by the bushes, anxiously scolding Feng Zhiwei. “Aiya, what are you doing walking back and froth? You really want to scare me to death...”
Was it not because I heard your anxious breathing that I deliberately waffled to draw you out?!
Feng Zhiwei remained smiling, peering at Princess Shao Ning with an air of innocence. “Why is Your Highness dressed like this? If you had informed this Minor Minister earlier, I would have properly welcomed you. But you’re here just in time, the Princes are still at the pavilion drinking, is Your Highness interested in joining us?”
“I’m not here to play.” Shao Ning smiled coldly. “Don’t play the fool. Since you’ve seen me, give me a straight answer. I am moving against Ning Yi today, are you in or out?”
“This Minor Minister does not understand what Your Highness is saying.” Feng Zhiwei smothered the growing anger in her heart and continued placidly. “This Minor Minister only knows that if anything happens in my mansion, the whole grounds will be confiscated and investigated, and my entire family will be executed.”
“How could I let the blame fall on you.” Shao Ning smirked. “Look, all the princes are here today, so if anything happens it will not be your fault.”
So this coincidental gathering of princes was Your Highness’ doing?”
Shao Ning did not reply, but instead said: “They rarely get drunk like this, but it makes sense that it would be today. The Hu Zhuo tribe’s murder case is already creating a huge disturbance, and no matter the decision, the political situation will definitely change. They are all very stressed, so they also very naturally let loose. The heavens are helping me.”
She clutched Feng Zhiwei’s sleeve and hurriedly continued. “I will not kill him in your mansion. First, I will destroy Father Emperor’s affection for him. Since you’ve seen me, you cannot remain a bystander. Later, when you bringing him sobering tea, take this...” The Princess’s fingers moved and she stuffed a little paper bag into Feng Zhiwei’s hands. “and help me add this.”
Feng Zhiwei silently held onto the little paper bag as Shao Ning continued coaxing her: “Ning Yi will not let you off. This is the best opportunity to get rid of him, if you let this opportunity slip by, you will regret it!”
“Princess.” Feng Zhiwei slowly began. “Since you have dragged me into this, you need to tell me the entire plan or else I will not be able to help.
“The Hu Zhuo Prince’s follower caused trouble in Dijing and beat to death a minor officer of the Ministry of Personnel Affairs. The minor officer graduated from the Han Lin Academy, so all his civilian minister compatriots have been riled up and are demanding a severe punishment, not to mention the many students who have gathered for the Provincial Exam coming together to write a Ten Thousand Word pet.i.tion to Father Emperor.
“But the Hu Zhuo Tribe is incredibly important for the war effort, and its prince claimed that if anyone dared touch his man, the whole tribe would seek reprisal. The killer has been apprehended and is being held in prison by the Ministry of Punishment, and now the three interdependent judicial departments under Ning Yi’s purview — the Ministry of Punishment, the Dali Court, and the Department of Supervision — are all experiencing great headache.
“And then?”
“I have already sent someone into the Ministry of Punishment prison.” Shao Ning smiled coldly. “The killer will ‘commit suicide’ tonight.”
Feng Zhiwei’s heart trembled as she understood Shao Ning’s plan. Before this quandary was resolved, the easiest solution was of course if the killer committed suicide to escape punishment, taking the decision out of the hands of the ministry, but how could the Hu Zhuo Prince possible believe that his man would kill himself? When the inevitable investigation was launched and the truth made known, then Ning Yi would definitely be in trouble. Feng Zhiwei was sure that Shao Ning would have evidence planted to trace back the faux-suicide to Ning Yi’s servants and then back to the man himself.
When the Hu Zhuo Prince discovered that it was Ning Yi who had ordered his retainers to poison and fake the killer’s suicide, he would be furious, and this case would inevitably influence the war effort, and at this point it would already be an inconsiderable matter for Ning Yi to lose the Emperor’s affection. It was not even clear if Ning Yi would be able to survive the other Princes’ joint attack.
It was indeed an insidious plan.
Shao Ning clearly had a clever schemer under her employ, yet it was still somewhat odd that this schemer seemed so honest. They had intentionally planned this gathering of princes here at the Wei Mansion so that Feng Zhiwei would escape culpability, and no matter how she looked at the matter, this entire scheme seemed to take her into consideration.
So in truth, today truly was a great opportunity to rid themselves of Ning Yi.
“This is not poison.” Shao Ning smiled coldly. “it will only have effect when the right moment arrives. You do not even need him to drink it. As long as you place it near his head and have him breathe it, it will be effective. You can also take his pulse and rub the powder into the skin around his veins.”
As she spoke, Shao Ning crushed a green pill a rubbed the powder on Feng Zhiwei’s fingers.
“Help me.” Shao Ning stared into Feng Zhiwei’s eyes, her face beginning to blush. “As long as Ning Yi is gone, you will have made a great contribution, and with my help, there will definitely be a day that you will rise up to success and prosperity. When the time comes, we can...”
Shao Ning’s blush deepened, and she lowered her head in embarra.s.sment.
Feng Zhiwei did not know whether to laugh or cry and quickly changed the subject. “Since I have been dragged in by the princess today, then I have no choice but to take part... but we are surrounded in every direction by Kungfu masters, and killing is very simple.”
Shao Ning’s face went pale, and she could not resist the doubt in her heart and looked up. Before she could turn her eyes back downward, Feng Zhiwei had already disappeared from the long veranda, taking the little paper bag with her.
After ordering the guards to leave and opening the lock, Feng Zhiwei slipped back into the guest room.
Ning Yi lay on the bed, peacefully sleeping, breathing evenly.
Feng Zhiwei stood for a quiet moment, watching his face. His thick, long eyelashes painted arced shadows over his eyes above the straight line of his nose. His thin lips met, lightly pressed together in a beautiful curve.
The sleeping figure of the man before her lacked some of the heartless coldness he kept around him in his waking hours, and right now he lay there warm and peaceful, like a gentle lotus leaf basking in the sun.
This man.
The one who had tried to kill her so many times, as if from birth the two had been destined to stand opposed on a chess board, facing off from the corners of the sea and the ends of the sky.
Feng Zhiwei turned to the dark circles beneath his eyes, wondering to herself at the road of struggle this man had walked all his life, and how many nights of restful sleep he had ever had.
As if he could feel that he was being watched, Ning Yi opened his eyes, turning lazily towards her. His waking eyes were clear and bright, without any of his normal depth or mystery.
Feng Zhiwei stood calmly under his gaze, smiling.
Ning Yi smiled as well, suddenly murmuring: “When you look at me like that, you make me think that you are my wife, waiting on me by my bedside...”
Feng Zhiwei blinked: “Just pretend you are still sleeping off the alcohol, and are still in a dream.”
Ning Yi laughed, not at all angry as he reached forward to grab her, pulling her towards him. Feng Zhiwei did not struggle, and sank into his arms, gradually enveloped by the light fragrance of liquor and his cool, deep musk.