Rising Phoenix

Helian Zheng already had several concubines at King’s Court. The various patriarchs had all followed steppe custom and gifted women to Helian Zheng when he had attained adulthood, and though Feng Zhiwei considered them all spies, if the big king wanted to have fun she did not care enough to interfere. Since coming to King’s Court, she had been too busy to even meet these direct subordinates.

Helian Zheng’s expression turned embarrassed and he snuck a glance at her as he replied:” Queen, according to custom, the three days before and the three days after the Queen titling ceremony, you… cough, cough, serve in bed.”

A few coughs went around the table and someone accidentally bit down on a bone. Even Feng Zhiwei paused for a moment before replying: “Ah? Me? Oh.”

After those three sounds, she shut her mouth and continued eating, leaving king Helian Zheng cautious and uncertain. He glanced once more at the noble queen, but the woman in question seemed to have already forgotten the matter as she focused on eating. Big king Helian Zheng was so anxious that he twisted and turned as if suffering from hemorrhoids.

He twisted and turned until the meal was finished and still the king did not hear the queen’s explanation. As everyone departed, Helian Zheng followed Feng Zhiwei back to her room, but could only sigh sadly and retreat as she calmly shut her door.

The King’s Court palace was built in the steppe way with the King’s palace surrounded by the residences of his women. Whoever the king required would come attend him in his room, including the queen. As a lonely Helian Zheng lay on his belly in his quiet room, he wondered if he should change this rule and make husband and wife live together like the Central Plains people.

Suddenly the door opened. A quilt flew through, quickly followed by a pillow, and finally Feng Zhiwei stepped in with a silver edged black dress, calmly stepping over to her blanket.

Helian Zheng immediately flew from the lowest vale to the highest peaks of heaven, and he excitedly pushed himself to his feet and called out: “My queen are you joining me in bed?”

“The queen is here to sleep.” Feng Zhiwei declared, pointing a finger at the man. “Just say another word.”

Helian Zheng fell back down on his felt carpet, murmuring unhappily: “This woman never lets anyway be happy for more than a minute.”

Feng Zhiwei ignored his mumbles and spread her quilt on the felt carpet beside him. She lay down and said: “Settle down. Sleep. Tomorrow will be a busy day.”

“Can we start by doing something tonight?” Helian Zheng asked shamelessly. “Something happy and relaxing that will let us both feel life’s wonders?”

He wiggled his way over to Feng Zhiwei, settling a hand on the corner of her blanket.

“We could.” Feng Zhiwei replied casually, her hands behind her head. “But I can’t guarantee that afterwards you won’t feel depressed and dismayed, wishing you were never born.”

Helian Zheng rubbed his face sadly against her blanket, flopping down bonelessly as if trying to smother himself. Only after a long while did he reply in a quiet, resigned voice: “Never mind. I know it’s impossible. It’s already quite nice that you’re willing to sleep here, at least you care enough to worry.”

“The queen likes clever boys.” Feng Zhiwei replied lazily, breathing deeply. Then she stirred in surprise: “Yi?”

“Yi what?” Helian Zheng asked quietly as he slowly lifted her blanket and shifted himself inwards.

Just as he was almost under her blanket, Feng Zhiwei grabbed her quilt on both sides and tucked the blanket under her back.

Great king Helian could only watch sadly as Feng Zhiwei wrapped herself up.

Feng Zhiwei ignored his little maneuvering, closing her eyes as she explained. “I’ve been holding my breath all this time, and just now I accidentally breathed in and to my surprise…”

“You’re wondering why it doesn’t smell?” Helian Zheng’s eyes gleamed. “Since we met, I’ve been washing my feet every day!”

“Then how often did you wash your feet before?”

“Let me think…” Helian Zheng replied as he fell into deep though. Finally, with complete seriousness he answered: “I washed them in Gan Zhuo City once.”

In other words, from Gan Zhou City to Dijing until meeting Feng Zhiwei, he had not washed his feet…

“Ai, to be frank I see it as another weapon, one that Gu Nanyi could not even defeat.” Feng Zhiwei replied, shifting onto her side.

“I thought that perhaps one day you would sleep by my side and I would regret it to my death if a small drove you away.” Helian Zheng casually explained. “If you like someone, you have to bring out the best in yourself. A man unwilling to change his faults for a woman cannot be a good man.”

Feng Zhiwei opened her eyes.

The man before her lay on his belly, propping his cheek up on his hand, his amber eyes glowing quiet purple as he watched her in the moonlight.

His sleeping robe lay ajar revealing his honey caramel chest. A great charm flowed within his diamond eyes, yet his expression was one of childish roguishness and joy, the two completely different temperaments mixing together in a unique atmosphere.

This was the man who had climbed a wall in the dark of night, yet held no grudge for being paraded around as he sat stuck to the wall. He had defied the steppe gods for her and thrown aside his pride to suffer a public whipping.

A tough, gentle man.

“You are a good man.” Feng Zhiwei said slowly, reaching out and touching the young king’s brow. “Yet I am not fortunate … you and your steppes took me in at my lowest, and you knew that I could not give you anything, but you still wanted me as queen. No matter what Dama says, I will protect your steppes as your mother protected your father’s steppes.”

“Zhiwei, before we’ve walked down the road, do not be so sure about the ending.” Helian Zheng replied, his eyes dimming a touch as he reached up and grabbed her hand. “You owe me nothing. Accompanying me here has already give me life’s greatest happiness. I do not want you to be like my mother and throw herself away to protect Kuku. I want you to love yourself, to protect yourself, or maybe one day to open your heart and let me protect you.”

Feng Zhiwei silently pulled her hand away and closed her eyes once more.

Helian Zheng lay back down, quietly watching her sleeping face. He murmured quietly, perhaps to himself, perhaps to her, his words as steady as the night sky.

“I will wait for you always. You will not come to me and refuse to let me go to you, so I will wait. When you are tired, you can always turn around and step back, and I’ll still be here.”