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Feng Zhiwei turned and smiled at Ning Yi, the curve of her lips never reaching her eyes. “Tell me, what is affection? How will death do us part? The Fire Phoenix General threw away glory, wealth, and family for a man, and what did she gain in return? Men are heartless — are they truly worth a woman’s burning devotion?”

Ning Yi opened his mouth but all his words remained lodged in his throat. He had known Feng Zhiwei had had a difficult life, but he had never imagined how she had supported her family on her small shoulders all these years. Her constant mask and her ruthless determination, her ruthlessness to self and others — had she cultivated all this in the crucible of misfortune?

Those who had crawled out of the mud would never stop striving.

“Who is a good man, and who is reliable?” Feng Zhiwei’s smile burned brightly, her eyes gleaming like a blade. “Are you the right man? Your Highness?”

Her words were frank and bitter, and the surprised Ning Yi had no response.

“Do you think you are reliable?” Feng Zhiwei continued, her voice quiet but her words cutting. “You have learned how to become a dragon, and your life is about trapping dragons, and you plan on killing dragons. In your hand you hold the dragon slaying blade, and if you succeed you will mount the supreme throne to reign over the earth, but if you lose your entire family will be executed and the ground stained with your blood. You walk the thin wire, and if you lose I will die with you. If you win, I will be nothing but one of the three thousand women in your harem. How can you promise me a complete and happy life?”

“Do you think you can compromise and sacrifice for others?” She continued, her smile gentle. “Your heart is hard as iron and your hands ruthless. You have never stepped aside for another. Even at the distant, unimportant Qing Ming, you must stand in my way. Even a minor official like me has you cautious and uneasy, and you must test me and guard against me at all times. In the future, when I become one of three thousand, what freedom will you allow me?”

“In the end, if I must grade you like I would our Academy’s students.” Feng Zhiwei said, straightening her sleeves and refilling Ning Yi’s tea. “Prince Chu Ning Yi does not pass!”

Ning Yi held his tea and was silent. Finally, he burst out into loud laughter.

“I was wrong.” He set down his cup, his eyes burning as he stared at Feng Zhiwei. “I wanted to hold you in my arms, but beautiful women do not easily succumb to kindness. I understand. I woman like you cannot be trapped, and anyone who wants you must first subdue you!”

Feng Zhiwei smiled silently.

“You must willingly accept.” Ning Yi sighed. “But…”

He paused, an unhappy and uncomfortable look crossing his face. Feng Zhiwei examined this rare expression as Ning Yi changed the subject.

“I do not pass, but what about them?” He said, glancing over at the backyard. “Good? Excellent?”

Feng Zhiwei blinked, having long mastered the art of playing dumb: “Who?”

Ning Yi’s face darkened further and he silently reached for his tea.

Feng Zhiwei eyed his gloomy face and happily chuckled to herself.

“Prince Hu Zhuo lives magnificently in the steppes, but he is not completely safe. The Twelve Tribes are not united, and the arguments over resources has never stopped. The Helian Prince is the Lawful Wife’s son, but the Hu Zhuo King has many concubines and consorts, and nothing has stopped him from taking any woman he fancies. The relations between the tribes are incredibly complex.

“There are over ten people in the running for the crown, and even by his side are many contenders just biding their time. Even if he could secure his place, I would be but one of ten wives. After the decades pass, when he kicks the bucket, it is customary for the steppe people to marry their step mothers and their brother’s wives… so he does not pass either!”

Ning Yi peered up at the branches up above, his eyes caught by a branch dancing in the still air, shaking and trembling.

His spirits soared, and he laughed as he asked: “Gu Nanyi?”

Feng Zhiwei fell silent, and in her silence Ning Yi’s face changed and the branch stilled.

After a long moment, Feng Zhiwei finally replied: “You asked the wrong question.”

Ning Yi tapped the table and replied, smiling once more: “I hope I asked wrong. The best is if they are all wrong.”

He poured some tea for Feng Zhiwei, having already mastered himself: “Zhiwei, you are always clever, but affection cannot be analyzed like politics. If affection was nothing but adding here and subtracting there, where would the excitement lie?”

“Does the prince wish to educate me?” Feng Zhiwei cocked her brows, eyeing the heartless man before her.

“No talk of advantage or disadvantage, no discussion of the future. Speak just of the heart.” Ning Yi said, closing his hand around hers. “Your heart.”

Feng Zhiwei lowered her eyes and examined his hands. His fingers were pressed down lightly, holding hers tight. This man never liked giving others a way out.

He valued her. He had compromised for her. She understood this — but how much did this appreciation and willingness go? Once things came down to his most fundamental desires, how far would he be willing to bend?

To give one’s heart could be happiness for the ordinary person; but for them, it meant risk.

And…

Her face was incredibly similar to someone else’s. Until she understood why, she would never be at ease.

“My heart is where it ought to be.” Feng Zhiwei replied, somehow managing to free her hand. Her smile was quiet as she continued: “Perhaps one day when the rivers and seas are overturned, my heart will be overturned as well.”

“I do not want to overturn it, I just want to possess it.” Ning Yi smiled proudly. “Just wait and see. Not every man under the heavens is as heartless as your father.”

Feng Zhiwei lowered her eyes and laughed. How could he say that? His Eldest Brother must be crying out in the underworld.

“This case must still be settled.” Ning Yi said, returning to business. “Old Five has made too much trouble. The Ministry of Punishment and the Ministry of Revenue can no longer suffer his abuse. Since you have put on this show, you have forced yourself into a dead end. Tomorrow when Old Five reaches out to you, what will you do?”

“Since I dare offend you, I naturally have my ways of making it up to you.” Feng Zhiwei smiled. “You have put a lot of effort into the pen monkeys, and now you only need a fire. I can be your arsonist.”

Ning Yi curved his lips as he examined her.

“I am the National Scholar. Everyone under the heavens knows this, and since Da Cheng prophesied that whoever wins the National Scholar will win the world, the Fifth Prince needs me at his side if he wishes to pave his own road. Before this happens, I must declare a stance…” Feng Zhiwei rolled her eyes and leaned over to whisper into Ning Yi’s ear, giggling. “Let us first put on a show!”