Rising Phoenix

As he stared at the leaf flute, Gu Nanyi was brought back to that night in Longxi Province. There in the Ji Yang Mansion, she had sat next to him folding the leaf in her soft fingers, gleaming stars in her eyes.

He though back to that day he truly began to understand death and loss as he lay on the rooftop in the rain, playing the flute until his mouth bled.

The cold and salty taste in his mouth seemed to echo the bitterness of life.

He was unsure whether he preferred his old tranquility or this new desire to learn.

He knew bitterness, and he knew the sweet happiness that came after bitterness fled.

Gu Nanyi stared down at the paper leaf flute for a long moment before standing and finding a box to safely store it in.

Meanwhile, Gu Zhixiao pattered around on the felt carpet, completely baffled that her father should make her a toy only to take it away.

Someone who did understand silently lifted Gu Zhixiao, leaning her face into the infant’s smooth cheeks. Her face was fine and smooth like a spring flower, but her heart was already old in the rivers of time.

Unspoken affection spread from heart to heart in one ripple of the flowing river, and in the distance another stretch of time tensed as it readied to explode.

…

In a little border town.

To the North the Steppes and to the South the Central Plains. Tomorrow, this little town named Hui Yao would receive Medora’s Bridal Team and the De Zhou City horse farmer would bring home a new wife.

Helian Zheng had sent Blue Bird guards to escort Medora. Golden Lion men had all frequented King’s Court and many had suffered from Medora’s rampant arrogance, and so the King had sent unfamiliar guards with his Aunt to prevent any unfortunate incidences, not even allowing Medora’s maidservant to accompany her.

The huge bridal team had booked all the inns in town, with Medora’s room in a central location and guarded through the night. Lights were lit and many formidable women watched her at all times. Even if Medora wanted to die, she was not given space to even speak to others, much less attempt suicide.

Feng Zhiwei has spoken, asking them to respect the honorable Medora as she had been in King’s Court; and so that nothing bad should happen to her, no one was to speak with her. Whoever violated the rule need only bring back their head.

After all that had happened, none of the steppe people dared offend this Central Plains woman, none of them even thinking of disobeying their formidable Queen’s commands.

Medora sat quietly in her room, staring numbly into an oil lamp. Her eyes were swollen like peaches from weeping the three days they had been on the road. She had thrown tantrums, attempted bribes, begged, faked illness, and done everything she could think of, but nothing worked. The people surrounded her like iron walls and were silent like stone mountains; wherever she turned and ran, she would find only an impassable barrier.

In the coming day, all the dust would settle. De Zhou City was far from King’s Court and the journey back would be difficult, and once she was married to this other man, she would have no face to return.

Medora grit her teeth and desperation filled her eyes. She thought and plotted, unconsciously gripping her belt.

One of the older women watching her immediately stepped forward and sat next to her, burning eyes glaring at Medora’s offending hand as if afraid that Medora would take the band and hang herself if she blinked.

Medora smirked with bitter amusement, letting her hand fall loose.

The door squeaked open and another woman walked in. The woman on watch sighed in relief, smiling as she called out: “You’re here. Then I’ll be going to rest.”

The new woman nodded as the other one yawned and exited.

This new woman came to sit beside Medora, her limbs stiff.

Medora sighed once more, despairing as she left the desk to lay down on her bed.

“Do you still want to return?”

An almost recognizable man’s voice shocked Medora, and she trembled and turned.

There was only the elderly woman watching her, but when she met the woman’s eyes, the woman squinted.

As her eyes narrowed, a flash of gold filled the room and the illusion shattered. Medora immediately recognized the man.

“Ke…” Medora began calling out before her words died at the man’s gaze.

“Feng Zhiwei truly is impressive…” Kereyid said, stretching out the discomfort from his attire and disguise. “Almost all of my sect has come, following you from King’s Court. So many different people trying different arts, and only today were we able to find a weakness to exploit…”

“You came to rescue me?” Medora said in disbelieving excitement. She had never spoken with Kereyid, and somehow this man who cared nothing for his wife and son had come to save her?

“You could say that.” Kereyid chuckled in a quiet voice.

Medora immediately turned to pack her things and called out happily, “Let’s go!”

“No.”

Medora’s head whipped around in astonishment as Kereyid smiled, meeting her eyes. 

”Truthfully, I cannot get you out so easily. We are strangers, and I am not going to lose my people just to bring you away.”

Medora’s face darkened and her hands stilled. Her voice was cold as she replied: “Then why are you here?”

“I’ve brought you a way to return.” Kereyid answered, taking a small paper bag from his robes. “This is a special medicine that my sect has invented. When you take it, bruises will slowly appear over your body as if you had been abused. Your pulse will weaken, but your body will not suffer. When you find a way to escape, you can present yourself in this manner to Jadran. With your relationship with him, just imagine what he will…” Kereyid smiled.

Medora was pleased, but suspicion still remained. She loved her beauty and was unhappy with the effects of the medicine, so she asked: “How can I be sure you’re not plotting against me? What if the medicine’s effects never wear off…”

Kereyid easily held out another small bottle. “The antidote.”

Medora silently looked at the bottles while Kereyid raised an eyebrow. The man calmly continued: “The medicine takes effect slowly, so if you take it now, the bruises will gradually appear after your marriage. This way, you’ll gain Jadran’s belief more easily and he will understand that Feng Zhiwei arranged for you to marry a ruthless man and suffer at his hands. If you want me to take the medicine to prove its effects, I cannot. Whether or not you believe me is up to you. If you cannot take the risk, then that is fine.

With those words, he began to put away the medicine. Medora immediately stepped forward and grabbed the paper bag and the antidote, her gaze glittering sharply as she slowly replied. “I have never been pushed so hard… what does it matter if it kills me? If I did not long to see Jadran and speak to him face to face, I would have stabbed myself in the heart that day!”