Rising Phoenix

"Okay!" Ning Cheng called back somewhat unhappily, lifting a finger as he muttered. "Just because she doesn't like the goose fat roll."

Ning Yi turned back into his room, and just as he was gently pushing open the door, he froze.

A smile bloomed on his face.

As he stood before the door, his tranquil and elegant smile half shadowed in the dark, he cocked a smooth and happy brow.

He left his hand on the door, but instead of pushing it open, Ning Yi stood quietly, luxuriating in this strange, mysterious happiness.

He had not thought that woman had such an amusing side to her; the feast was over, but she chose to sneak in through the back window.

When he had half-jokingly asked her to come to his room, her promise had been so fake that he had been sure she was just teasing.

But to think she actually had come. Had she gotten drunk and lost her reticence and reserve?

His heart soared with joy.

He quietly moved over, the smell of fresh cleanliness and quiet incense filled the air with charm and romance.

Ning Yi chuckled to himself; she had moved so quickly and already washed up.

As he opened his mouth to summon Ning Cheng for the dessert, a tinkling giggle filled his ears as a warm, young body fell into his arms.

Meanwhile, Feng Zhiwei was squatting over the toilet, her feet growing numb.

She had thought herself finished many times, but as soon as she stood up, her belly was overcome by a new round of quakes.

She grew dizzy and her legs softened, but that little bit of seafood still would not let her off.

The Xi Yard was quiet. Many Yan Family members had returned from their city residences, but the stayed the night in the front yard. The prestigious inner yard was still and silent, and even though she did not want to listen in, she could not help but hearing everything that occurred in Ning Yi's room.

Ning Yi opened the door and stopped. He did not speak or rebuke or question, and his room was quiet and peaceful.

Feng Zhiwei laughed in self mockery — why would there be rebuke or questioning? What had she been thinking? Yan Huaiying could only enter the residence because Ning Yi had allowed it.

Ai, tomorrow when I greet the Young Madam, will I have to call her Ma'am?

Feng Zhiwei held her belly. Tonight truly was turning out terribly; this lifetime, seafood was definitely her nemesis.

Suddenly, footsteps neared and a voice called out: "Wei, Wei, come out."

She had been squatting for too long and Gu Nanyi had come looking for her.

Feng Zhiwei's heart jumped. Ning Yi did not know that she was outside his room in the latrine because of a seafood emergency; if she called back and confirmed her presence, what would Ning Yi think?

Feng Zhiwei hurriedly ordered her affairs and headed for the latrine door, trying to move as silently as possible, but Gu Nanyi grew increasingly worried. He knew that he should not barge into the women's outhouse, so he finally raised his palm and struck.

The side of the bathroom collapsed in a loud clatter.

…

Meanwhile, the girl within had leaped into Ning Yi's embrace.

She was like a soft bundle of silk and clouds in Ning Yi's arms, her sweet peony scent filling his nose. Trembling in his arms, timid and mournful and aggrieved and excited, she called out quietly: "Your Highness…"

Ning Yi's excitement crashed to his feet.

How could Feng Zhiwei be so soft and gentle and offer herself with heavily powdered face and open clothes?

No. Though Feng Zhiwei was this soft, and her smell this sweet, she would not offer herself for his enjoyment.

He would consider it heavenly grace if Feng Zhiwei did not push away his hand.

Then this woman was surely from the Yan Family…

Emptiness filled his heart and his happiness fled, leaving only disappointment and anger.

The trembling woman in his arms clung to his shoulders, awkward and stiff and clutching uncomfortably at his neck.

Suddenly, Ning Yi realized he hated the smell of peonies. He snorted coldly.

Later, he would uproot every peony in his mansion!

And that Ning Cheng, what was he doing, letting this woman climb into his bed!

Just as Ning Yi was about to push the woman away, he heard a huge crashing sound outside.

Booms and clatters filled the air behind his back window, and Feng Zhiwei cried out in alarm.

In his shock, his first reaction was to rush over, but the woman in his arms clung even more tightly, her deathly grip in his way. Ning Yi cocked a brow and lifted his hand for a killing strike, and then he froze.

What was Feng Zhiwei doing at his back window?

Why was she there?

Ning Yi fell still, the emotion in his eyes rapidly changing as he listened quietly to the conversation outside.

"What are you doing!" Feng Zhiwei yelped, still startled.

"Too slow." Gu Nanyi replied calmly. "Come, sleep."

Feng Zhiwei coughed, choking on dust.

Ning Yi smiled thinly.

Though his smile was almost identical to the one on his face when he had first pushed open his door, its previous clarity and happy brightness and fled for a cold darkness filled with the gloom and grey of a mandala flower blossoming in the night.

As Yan Huaiying stared up at that smile, she felt her last vestiges of restraint disappear.

With that quirk of his lips, Ning Yi slowly placed his raised palm on her shoulder, and then in one smooth motion ripped open Yan Huaiying's clothes.

His violence revealed an elegant, snowy shoulder to the quiet moon, the skin watery and lustrous like jade or pearl.

Yan Huaiying cried out in surprise, not think that His Highness would be so eager when there were people right outside. Did she need to serve him in bed immediately? She blushed fiercely and cast a timid glance towards the window, terrified and happy and ashamed, but unable to refuse the prince.

Ning Yi began unbuttoning his own collar, revealing his smooth skin. The embarrassed Yan Huaiying did not know where to look, and after a moment's hesitation she put her blushing face into his chest.

A strange smile crept over Ning Yi's mouth as he walked over to the back window and threw it open.