Rising Phoenix

The Tian Sheng Emperor's heart was still filled with gloom so he casually nodded at Feng Zhiwei's request. She smiled and stepped forward, gently rolling up Ning Yi's sleeve. Carefully moving, she picked up the sharp silver knife and placed it against his wrist.

Yesterday she had held his wrist to take his pulse, and today she would cut him, administering a test of life and death.

Ning Yi's dark, deep eyes reflected back her misty gaze, circles of light shining in an abyss, dim and blurred, so close and yet so far apart.

Feng Zhiwei turned, avoiding his eyes.

The silver light flashes as the knife cut, spilling blood.

A light golden liquid fell, too bright to face.

Cries filled the court as the Emperor's face fell.

Ning Yi lifted his head, staring in disbelief at the light gold blood flowing from his wrist. The blood flowed downwards into the golden basin, mixing indistinguishably with the water colored gold by the basin's light.

Feng Zhiwei stared at the knife, clearly in disbelief.

The court was still, filled with men turned to statue.

"Ning Cheng is here…" A loud guard's cry startled everyone from their daze, the warrior escorting Ning Cheng before the court.

As soon as Ning Cheng was brought forth, Helian Zheng walked forward, without a single word ripping his robe.

Ning Deng's robe lay tattered, revealing his wounded left shoulder for all to see.

"Your Majesty, the proof!" Helian Zhang laughed. "Yesterday, my guard wounded this villain in his left shoulder!"

A chain of irrefutable evidence was lain out, the dust settling into place.

A portion of the men in the court looked as if dead men walking, while others could barely hide their expressions of extreme joy.

Ning Yi's wrist bled true, and he could say nothing as he stared dazed at the gold basin.

In the basin before him, Feng Zhiwei's shadow shivered over the growing pool of light gold blood.

The Second Prince stepped forward angrily, roaring: "Sixth Brother, are you insane?"

Xu Boqing shook his head quietly: "Your Highness, we ministers knew you were worried about the Hu Zhuo case, but you cannot solve it with such extreme methods … this … ay …" His worried voice fell silent.

Ge Hongying, Vice Minister of Public Works, immediately followed: "This one hopes the Hu Zhuo prince will follow the right principles, or else…"

Seventh Prince shook his head, rebutting: "Impossible! Impossible! Sixth Brother would never do this! With Sixth Brother's intelligence, how could he not understand? There's definitely some villain framing him…"

The Fifth Prince took the opportunity to harshly rebuke his brother: "Sixth Brother! You clearly have not thought through this matter! Admit your sin to Father Emperor and the Hu Zhuo Prince and beg for mercy!"

"Beg for mercy? For violating the law, the Prince must be dealt with as a commoner!" The Tian Sheng Emperor erupted, veins trembling as his anger silencing the court. "Guards!"

"Ah ya…"

A soft cry interrupted the Tian Sheng Emperor's orders, despite its quiet volume clearly filling the court.

The ministers turned: Feng Zhiwei had slipped on water on the ground as she had been retreating back into the crowd, and the silver knife she had dazedly held twisted and cut her hand.

A servant immediately rushed forward and everyone turned away from the minor affair, but the servant cried out in shock, pointing soundlessly at Feng Zhiwei's wrist.

Feng Zhiwei's blood dripped downwards, light gold!

Suddenly, every gaze was focused on Feng Zhiwei's hand, utterly baffled.

"You… You…" The Emperor stuttered in his shock, posting at Feng Zhiwei. He almost asked whether his minister was also a member of the Luo Ri royal family, but the words were too ridiculous to speak out loud. How could there be such a coincidence? That legendary royal family had already long ago been extinguished.

Ning Yi suddenly burst into laughter.

He leapt forward, grabbing the knife from Feng Zhiwei and tossing it, the blade painting a silver curve through the air and cutting the hands of the Second Prince, Xu Boqing, and Ge Hongying before falling to the ground.

The three victims cried out in shock as the Second Prince roared furiously: "Sixth Brother, you're insane!"

Ning Yi beckoned, pulling the silver knife back into his hand, smiling as he toyed with it. "I'm not insane, it is those who black-heartedly covet power who have gone insane… everyone, take a look at your hands!"

Xu Boqing took his hand away from his wound and looked down, crying out with shock.

All of their hands bled light gold!

The Tian Sheng Emperor shot upright.

Helian Zheng was shocked speechless.

"You have all spoken and so now it's my turn to speak… Yesterday, Son Minister was accompanying my brothers the entire day." Ning Yi smiled, slowly pacing down the court, the knife in his hand glittering cold in the pale sun.

"At noon, while Dazaer was locked away in the Ministry of Punishment, Son Minister was attending a drinking party with my brothers at Master Wei's mansion. I soon drank too much and Master Wei brought me to rest in a guest room, and he watched over me while I rested. When I recovered, we brothers all left the Wei Mansion together.

"Old Ten was too drunk and did not dare return to the Imperial palace, so he and I went to Seventh Brother's mansion where we chatted the night away, drunk and happy. Today, we were summoned to the Imperial Palace at daybreak. In all this time, Ning Deng was by my side, the two of us never leaving each other's sight. I could not have ordered him to go assassinate Dazaer. Master Wei and Seventh Brother can vouch for me."

Feng Zhiwei bowed in agreement as Seventh Prince helplessly nodded, his face awkward.

"As for my wounded guard…" Ning Yi sneered, turning to an attendant. "Go, bring one of the prince's guards, anyone will do."

At those words, even if the other ministers did not understand, the faces of the various princes changed.

"Father Emperor." The Fifth Prince began, walking forward and saluting. "Yesterday, when we sons were drinking together at the Wei Mansion, two assassins broke in and injured all the guards that were with us. Guard Ning was also injured at that time, all of the son ministers saw it happen…"

"If you knew it wasn't him, why did you not say so earlier!" The Emperor roared furiously.

The Fifth Prince fell hard to his knees, slamming down onto the golden ground.

"And as for the light gold blood…" Ning Yi glanced at Director Liu of the Imperial Medicine Academy and Hu Zhuo's Grand Physician, proffering up the blade. "Your Majesty can examine the basin and the blade."

Director Liu instantly collapsed, kowtowing as if trying to pound garlic.

The Grand Physician was rooted in place, sweat dripping down his head like rain.

This matter had wound around like mountain roads, any turn barely inches from a drop. The onlookers were just stirring out of their terrors when they realized — Prince Chu had perfectly turned the tables!