Rising Phoenix

“And the second thing?” Feng Zhiwei spoke quickly, but the Tian Sheng Emperor asked even more quickly, slightly leaning forward. If he did not need to maintain Imperial dignity, he would probably have already flown from his seat.”

“Wool.” Feng Zhiwei replied. “The Yan Family in our South Sea region carries out oversea business all year round and has procured a type of long wool sheep. This sheep’s wool is dense and thick, and can be spun and weaved into a soft, light, and warm cloth, far better than the fabric we use currently for our winter clothing. This sheep is not suited for the hot and humid weather of our southern land, and because the Min Jiang Textiles Department is afraid the introduction of this material will harm our local cotton producers, the Yan Family has been prevented from popularizing this wool. If we can raise this sheep in northern Tian Sheng where the environment fits this sheep, we will not only build an industry that will rise the quality of life of our people, we will also establish a fetter that contains Da Yue’s economy.”

“As for how to popularize Lamaism and this new wool…” Feng Zhiwei lifted her chin and smiled. “All the esteemed ministers here are capable and experienced and will definitely have many good plans to help lessen Your Imperial Majesty’s cares and burdens. This Wei Zhi will not overstep his place.”

Demonstrate talent and capability, but also maintaining decency and propriety. All the high ranking and powerful officials sitting in this room, whether they supported or opposed this new proposition, could not help but reevaluate this young scholar.

And this talented young man stood in the solemn, munificent Imperial Study, at the center of all political plans, in front of this crowd of dragons and phoenixes, and his bright, shining feathers did not dim at all in comparison. Her bearing was elegant but not proud, humble but not groveling, a jade tree swaying in the wind, yet standing firm even in the highest reaches of the nine heavens.

Everyone could not help but lean forward somewhat, unconsciously looking up at this young man, brightness in their eyes — this young lad was brilliant and learned, and would definitely blossom in the future!

This young lad was too sharp, and perhaps might shatter in the midst of his climb!

This girl had suddenly shifted style, shedding her humility and common-pretense, directly pushing the Yan Family to the forefront of political power. Dangerous!

This last thought only belonged to His Highness Prince Chu’s, a smile frozen on his face as he sat straight in his seat, gazing up at this cunning woman, beautiful and gorgeous, like a demon-red mandala blooming in the depth of night.

—

In the Fifteenth Year of Tian Sheng, June, Qiu Shangqi, General of the Five Armies was appointed Northern Expedition¹ General, and given charge of two hundred thousand soldiers and ordered to take command of the northern border.

That same month, the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Production received an Imperial Edict commanding them to begin secretly planning an introduction of the English Longwool Sheep in cooperation with the Southern Sea Yan Family’s Dining representative. The Yan Family representative volunteered the English Sheep free of charge for the first three years, and only asked for thirty percent of the profit each year afterward. The generosity of the Yan Family gained the Emperor’s appreciation, and an edict was passed down, granting the family the title of Imperial Merchant, charged with organizing and supervising business and trade between Dijing and the southern lands.

All these events were related to Feng Zhiwei, but few people would be able to guess her involvement.

The matter of deciding Northern Expedition General had involved heated and furious debate. This general needed to win decisively and then after victory take charge of reconciliation, therefore the person filling this position needed both to fight fiercely and also possess sophistication and prudence, two conditions that seemed almost contradictory. Furthermore, after the dynasty had been founded, the Tian Sheng Emperor had grown wary of many of the old generals and had killed or exiled most of the capable and experienced leaders, so in the end the Tian Sheng Emperor ordered Qiu Shangqi to remedy his failures and sent Chunyu Hong along as his deputy, finally balancing the demands of the various forces at play¹.

As someone sent out on the expedition as a punishment, even though the title of general seemed powerful, it was difficult for Qiu Shangqi to have lofty hope. In his anxiety he paid a visit to Wei Zhi, the “son of a close family friend,” and asked him to care of the Qiu Mansion while he was gone from Dijing.

“My friend’s son.” Qiu Shangqi’s hair had greyed dramatically and tears marked his eyes as he held Feng Zhiwei’s hand, entreating her. “The situation in the Imperial Court is delicate and complex. Your Qiu brothers are not sophisticated enough, and Old Three was just raised to Field Officer in the Hu Wei Army. Both within and without the mansion, I can only rely on you to watch after my people for me.”

Qiu Shangqi looked at Feng Zhiwei with sincerity in his teary, old eyes. Because the plan had not been carried out to completion, Wei Zhi had not yet been rewarded for his contribution, but it was clear to everyone involved that His Imperial Majesty greatly appreciated this young and talented man —it was only a matter of time before the scholar would gain remarkable success in his official career. On the other hand, the Qiu Family young masters were all various types of worthless, gaining positions in the Hu Wei Camp through family merit and idling their lives away within the city. It had been acceptable before because the Qiu Family had been part of the Fifth Prince’s entourage, but now that the Fifth Prince was in exile, his followers all needed to lower their heads and bide their time, not even daring to breath too loudly. If he did not cling to a big tree, Qiu Shangqi was afraid that if he ever lost his political power, or if the worst fate were to befall him on the battlefield, then the large family he left behind would be helpless, and so he tried his best to solidify his friendship with Wei Zhi and hoped the talented young man would watch over the Qiu Mansion in the future for the sake of “old family friendship.”

“My father’s dear friend, rest easy.” Feng Zhiwei responded earnestly. “The Qiu Mansion is my home as well, and the sons of the Qiu Family are my brothers. Whatever I have, they will have as well.”

As she spoke, she brought out a silk bag and placed it in Qiu Shangqi’s hand. “Uncle, when you arrive at Cang Lan City near the border, open this.”

Happiness covered Qiu Shangqi’s face — at this point, Wei Zhi’s wisdom was common knowledge in the Imperial Court, and he was sure that there was some sort of secret master plan hidden within the silk bag! He very carefully stored the bag in a pocket within his robe and bid Feng Zhiwei farewell.

The army set out for its long march, and when they finally were nearing the distant Cang Lan City, Qiu Shangqi could no longer resist and secretly opened the silk bag.

Two Hundred thousand soldiers saw their general cry out in shock and spit out a mouthful of blood before falling from his horse.

The piece of paper he had taken from the silk bag floated up, carried away by the wind and into the Cang Lan River. The beautiful handwriting on the little paper faded into the water, disappearing, never to be seen again.

“The Qiu Mansion is my house, the sons of the Qiu Family are my cousins. Your wife is my aunt, and you are my uncle. From today onwards, your things belong to me. Congratulations, and many thanks.”

“Junior Feng Zhiwei pays her respects.”

The length of road between the Wei Scholar Mansion and General Qiu’s Mansion only measured some dozen or so steps.

Feng Zhiwei steadily measured this length with her calm gait, breezing down as if on a light stroll through a cool garden. The distance between her and the mansion was now as simple to cross as an easy walk.

There was no more being cast out, no more wandering in the night snow, no more hiding in brothels or being framed, and she did not need to run, hunted, to Qing Ming. There were no longer secret dangers crowding around her, and the headache of rebellion leading to her firm footing in the Imperial Court was conquered.

Beside her were Yan Huaishi and Chunyu Meng, and the young Yan family scion seemed even more high-spirited than Feng Zhiwei. He had just finished discussing the matter of importing English Longwool Sheep with the Ministry of Revenue, and some days ago, a group of senior Yan Elders had arrived in response to his letter home, undoubtable bringing great compliments to their successful junior. Young Master Yan’s eyebrows and eyes creased as if within the happy smile on his face were written the big word “Winner.”

Chunyu Meng had recently become Ji Cao Military Consultant to the Ce Branch of the Chang Ying Guard. The Chang Ying Guard had three branches, the Yun, Yu, and Ce¹, and the Ce was the most trusted, with a camp right next to the center of the Imperial Palace, their guards allowed to rest within the Palace itself. Originally, Chunyu Meng had been unable to enter the Ce Guard, but with the rebellion and the housecleaning throughout all dimensions of the Imperial Court, and not to mention his father’s powerful position as deputy to the Northern Expedition General, the Chunyu Young Master had also gotten a nice, cushy job.

After the initial rebellion uproar, Feng Zhiwei had convinced Chunyu Meng to not report to the Chang Ying Guard immediately, saving him from this gigantic mess, and so now Chunyu Meng admired Feng Zhiwei from the top of his head to the tip of his toes, taking on the role of horse-squire to Feng Zhiwei as she rode, and even willing to be her little slave boy.