Rising Phoenix

“My Queen, Patriarch Fire Fox cannot take the throne even if Narta’s child is his. The Child would have been acknowledged as heir to the throne, but even then the future is unpredictable. Too many accidents follow the struggles for the throne, and this would not have been a worthy risk for Kereyid.” White Deer suddenly asked. “And the Living Buddha has even less reason to help Fire Fox in this.”

“True… waiting for the child to grow up is foolish, but who would take the throne today?” Feng Zhiwei smiled mysteriously as she turned to look around. “Yi? Where is Gadd?”

The crowd stirred. They all suddenly remembered that it was Gadd who had first claimed that the King was poisoned and urged Queen Mudan to investigate, but no one knew where he had went.

Blue Bird’s face fell and he hurriedly sent off men to investigate. Soon, a subordinate returned and whispered into Blue Bird’s ears and the man’s face shifted again.

“Don’t worry.” Feng Zhiwei smiled as she examined his expression. “My guards have surrounded this place and the King’s Army is already on watch for Gadd’s movements. As soon as he moves out with this twenty thousand, we can rally behind the King’s Arrow and meet him.”

As soon as she finished speaking, noise was heard from afar. Blue Bird frowned and quickly left to take command of the King’s Army to guard against Gadd’s rebellion.

“Everything is clear.” Feng Zhiwei gestured for the guards surrounding the platform to part as she paced a circle beside them. “Gadd, the former Golden Lion Patriarch’s son, is a traitor. He colluded with Fire Fox and bribed Dama Living Buddha. The Living Buddha fabricated a prophecy to paint me with suspicion so they could frame me for their crimes and banish me without fearing Imperial Court interference or reprisal. With the King dead and the Imperial Court’s influence gone, Gadd could usurp the throne by gathering his twenty thousand man army around the coronation ceremony. Once King, he would reward Kereyid for his support, but he did not know that he was the mantis stalking the cicada unaware of the oriole behind him. Kereyid’s ambition was greater than just a reward — he wanted the kingship for his own family, and once Narta had given birth he would collude with his father-in-law Hongji Le to kill Gadd. Together they would support “Jadran’s firstborn” claim to the throne as the proper order of Heaven and Earth and neither the Steppes nor Imperial Court would be able to oppose them. Then, Kereyid would be the true power behind the throne and the true king of the steppes.”

The straightforward and unwily steppe men listened, their eyes flashing with understanding as the Queen explained the twists and turns of the complex conspiracy, all of them impressed that their Queen could see through everything so clearly.

“I knew that Kereyid brat was nothing good. Someone from the Snow Mountain’s Witch Sect is not one of us. To think that he had so many plots to gain the throne.” An enlightened voice murmured.

“Ai, no matter how many tricks how could he fool a Central Plain’s mind. Look at that Central Plain’s woman, truly impressive.” Some people murmured, impressed that their Queen had defeated the so-called number one fox of the steppes.

“But what about the poison in the Queen’s waistband…” Earth Badger Yelye asked.

“What of it? It was bait.”

A familiar voice called out from below them, and everyone turned to see Helian Zheng calmly sitting up, his hand lazily perched on his knee as he smiled at Feng Zhiwei.

“King!”

The Patriarchs called out in astonishment, though the emotion in the voices were not all the same. With so many powers at hand, it was inevitable that they not be completely united, but at least for today, they could not act.

Feng Zhiwei quietly unwrapped her waistband and tossed it at a figure’s feet.

Medora’s face paled grey and blue.

“This morning, our noble and lofty Aunt Medora so eagerly grabbed onto my waistband and begged my approval.” Feng Zhiwei smiled quietly. “Many witnesses can testify to this.”

“Then what?” Medora lifted her chin, her face pale even as her mouth continued to speak. “Just because I touched you means I put poison there? I’ve risked my life to save the King before. Where were you when I almost died? Why would I collude with Kereyid to poison the King?”

“How many times do you have to remind us of your acts?” Feng Zhiwei smiled lazily. “Please, I’ve only been here for a few days and I’ve already heard this story so many times I almost have it memorized. The Central Plains has a saying: ‘grace is favor without expectation of repayment,’ but after coming to the steppes I’ve learned that favor is given in expectation of repayment many times what is owed.”

A few voices chuckled around them — Medora’s domineering attitude since saving the prince’s life had annoyed everyone, but since Liu Mudan and Helian Zheng said nothing, no one else dared speak. Feng Zhiwei was saying what most of them had thought before, and to finally have it spoken was incredibly satisfying.

“Your mockery means nothing!” Medora exclaimed furiously. “I have committed no crime!”

“You said that you did not poison the King, but I did not accuse you of poisoning the King.” Feng ZHiwei calmly replied. “The one you wished to poison was me. If I’m not dead, how could Aunt Medora become Queen?”

“You…”

“How about we ask your new friend!” Feng Zhiwei smiled coldly, gesturing to the bloodthirsty Narta in Zong Chen’s hands. “Should we ask what she gave you?”

Medora turned to stare at Narta but the pregnant woman paid her no mind. Narta sneered and she spat: “What are you looking at me for? You had something you wanted just as I had something I wanted. We acted together, and we suffer together, nothing more nothing less!”

The pregnant woman turned to Feng ZHiwei. “You are right. Medora hated you for moving to the back palace so I taught her how to poison you. My child is not Helian Zheng’s, and everything that happened in Gan Zhou City was because of Kereyid. I don’t care if I die, I just want that bastard to die as well!”

She glared at Kereyid, her eyes like a ravenous wolf’s, her hatred so deep that she cared for nothing except the suffering of the heartless, merciless man who had betrayed her.

“Everyone will have their place, and sentences will be passed down.” Feng Zhiwei smiled.

“That’s only if you can follow through.” Kereyid finally spoke, his smiling eyes on the heavens.

Above them, the sky darkened.