Reign of the Phoenix

Murong Zhining leaned back against Chiyun Yuexuan’s chest. Behind them, the carriage followed in a leisurely manner.

In the carriage, Luo Siyao poked fun at Cai Sang, “You must have been scared. If it weren’t for General Chiyun, you would have been a concubine in the Bai family by now. Are you still gonna call him beast this and that from now on? “

Cai Sang mumbled, “Him saving me is a completely different matter from the crime he committed against Princess, alright? In any case, I still won’t forgive him.”

Luo Siyao pinched Cai Sang hard. “Keep your voice down. Her mood just barely got a little better. If she hears you, it’s all ruined. Can’t you stop mentioning the things from the past? General really saved you for nothing.”

There was a worried look in Cai Sang’s eyes. “Princess is already like this, but General Chiyun is facing the death penalty for resisting the decree. What will happen when they return to Huayan? I’m really worried for Princess.”

Luo Siyao comforted her, “I have never seen General troubled by anything. No matter what difficulties he encounters, he always solves them. Let’s not mention Princess, no matter what she becomes, the emperor can’t never bear to make it difficult for her, you really have nothing to worry about.”

Outside, Chiyun Yuexuan gently rested his chin against Murong Zhining’s head. “We’re gonna be home soon, just cross the river ahead and we’ll reach the border of Huayan.”

Murong Zhining looked around. “Along the way, there are some places really familiar, like I’ve been there before. Recently, I’ve always had some strange dreams. In them, you treat me so cruelly. But in reality, you’re obviously very gentle to me.” She finished with a soft sigh.

Chiyun Yuexuan’s face was full of shame. He hugged her close and more gently than ever.

When the cavalcade entered the territory of Huayan, Chiyun Yuexuan was still deep in thoughts. He didn’t know when the poison in Murong Zhining’s body would act out and he dared not consider the consequences. This matter was too heavy for him, he could only take it one step at a time without a plan. Moreover, what awaited in Huayan would only be more severe. It would not only Murong Zhining’s life and death that he had to face but also the censure from Yan Feng.

As he was making various speculations, a team of about 200 people appeared in sight. It was a Huayan army led by a general in his 40s.

The general dismounted the horse upon seeing Chiyun Yuexuan and saluted. “I, General Feng Wenbin, am here by imperial decree to welcome General Chiyun. His Majesty the Retired Emperor has ordered me to escort your team back safely to the imperial capital.”

Chiyun Yuexuan frowned. “How is it the decree of the retired emperor? Shouldn’t it be His Majesty the Emperor sending you to seize me?”

Feng Wenbin bowed and cupped his fists. “I’m indeed here on the decree of the retired emperor. I’ve been waiting here for several days to welcome you. My garrison is in charge of this area. Since it’s getting late, your team should be tired. Please rest for a night in my camp and continue the journey tomorrow morning.”

Feng Wenbin led the way in the front while Chiyun Yuexuan followed behind, full of worry as he tried to speculate various possible situations that might happen after his return.

After bringing Chiyun Yuexuan to a big tent, Feng Wenbin seemed a bit restrained. “This camp has been set up especially for your arrival. I apologize for the limited conditions here. The tents next to yours are prepared your subordinates and their families, all of them are close together so it’s convenient for General to come and go. If General needs anything, feel free to let me know.”

Murong Zhining was taken into a tent in the east side right next to Chiyun Yuexuan. The tent was spacious with not only a desk and chairs but also a large and soft bed. The space was even bigger than the inn room and very comfortable to stay.

Cai Sang helped Murong Zhining change into a clean set of clothes and sat her down on a chair. “Princess rest first. After dinner, I’ll help you bathe and change again. General Chiyun’s tent is right next to ours. He’s currently having a talk with General Feng. He’ll come to see Princess shortly.”

Murong Zhining nodded with a smile.

A woman looking to be around 50 years old entered the tent with a tray of fine tea and pastry. She carefully placed it on the table beside Murong Zhining. “Please use some refreshments, Mrs. Chiyun. If there’s anything you need, just tell this old servant.” The woman kept her head low in a respectful manner.

Cai Sang shook her head and sighed, “Such horrible fate for the family members of sinned officials. They all used to be noble madams and young misses.”

Murong Zhining smiled. “You need not be so stiff, Nurse. Cai Sang, reward her some pastry, she doesn’t have it easy.”

Cai Sang handed a plate of jujube paste cake to the woman. “This is from Princess. Take it with you and enjoy it slowly. I’ll call you when you’re needed.”

Receiving the plate, the woman kowtowed to Murong Zhining with great gratitude. When she looked up to see Murong Zhining, she was shocked to trembling all over, and the plate in her hands fell to the ground with a series of clanks.

Cai Sang immediately scolded the woman, “What a clumsy servant. It’s not like our princess will eat you or anything, she hasn’t done anything and you’re already scared to this state? In fact, you scared our princess! “

The woman prostrated on the ground, trembling.

Murong Zhining smiled tolerantly. “Cai Sang, don’t scare her, just let her leave.”

The woman didn’t dare to look up and retreated outside the tent on her knees. Cai Sang suddenly realized something. “Wait a moment! Come back, raise your head.”

The woman stopped and prostrated again, but refused to look up.

Cai Sang kicked her to the ground. “You think I won’t recognize you if I don’t look up? There’s actually a day I can see you in this state. Serves you right.”

The woman crawled to Murong Zhining’s feet and kept kowtowing to her.

Murong Zhining was puzzled. “Cai Sang, why are you being so harsh? Who is she?”

Cai Sang grabbed the woman by the hair to lift her face for Murong Zhining to see. Right at this moment, Chiyun Yuexuan strode into the camp.

The sight inside startled him. “Cai Sang, we are in someone else’s camp. It’s only a plate of pastry, just forget it. Don’t make it hard on the servant and scare our princess.”

Murong Zhining also felt sorry for the servant. “Cai Sang, forget it. It’s just a plate. Even if she broke it, it’s still her reward, she can do whatever she wants with it. Let her go.”

However, Cai Sang angrily grabbed the woman’s lapel and gave her a heavy slap. “Princess forgot you, but I can never forget you, Mrs. Zhuang. What a small world, isn’t it? Cai Sang greets ‘madam.’”

Mrs. Zhuang repeatedly banged her head on the ground. “I’m sorry, Miss Murong, I’m sorry, Miss Cai Sang. I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! Please forgive me.”

Murong Zhining frowned. “How does she know me?”

Since Chiyun Yuexuan had investigated Murong Zhining’s life before, he quickly realized the woman’s identity. He shouted furiously, “Miss Murong? You have the nerve to call her that?! She is now Princess Fengyi of Shangxia and my wife. You think she’s still the home-raised daughter-in-law who you can bully as you like?”

The guard outside came running in upon hearing the commotion. “This old servant is clumsy and has disturbed Madam Chiyun, her sin deserves a thousand deaths! How do you want her punished, General Chiyun? She also has a silly son in this camp. Both the mother and the son have been condemned.”

Mrs. Zhuang was less than 40 years old. However, after just a year or so since being assigned to the army, she who used to live a pampered life now looked like an old woman in her fifties dressed in coarse linen that was covered in patches, oil and crumples.

Cai Sang said, “Go and bring her silly son over.”

Mrs. Zhuang crawled over and hugged Cai Sang’s leg. “Miss Cai Sang, please spare him. He’s just a fool. All the bad things were done by this old slave. Please punish me and spare my foolish son.”

The fool was brought over and pushed into the tent. It was unknown what he had been through in the past year, but he looked yellow, thin and hungry. After just a glance at Murong Zhining, the fool called out with a smile. “Wife… My wife…”

Furious, Chiyun Yuexuan kicked the fool to the ground. “You f*cking dreaming? She’s my wife. She has nothing to do with you!”

The fool still smiled foolishly. He crawled around and picked up the pastry that fell to the ground, stuffing it into his mouth. The sight was especially worrying.

Murong Zhining looked at him in doubt. “This child is really pitiful. Although I don’t remember what happened, he seems so poor and innocent. Forget it, I don’t remember anything anyway, just let them go.”

Cai Sang pulled the fool up from the ground and gave him a piece of red bean cake from the dish. He happily gobbled it, shouting, “Good… Delicious. My wife… good…”

Cai Sang shook her head. “This fool was unlucky to be born in the Zhuang family. We can let him off, but the old wicked woman must be punished.”

Mrs. Zhuang banged her head so heavily that it bled. “Thank you, Miss Cai Sang, thank you for sparing my foolish son. This old slave is willing to accept any punishment.”

Murong Zhining shook her head and sighed. “Her situation is already the biggest punishment. Forget it, Cai Sang.”

Cai Sang nodded and handed another piece of snack to the fool.

She then took out a silver ingot from her clothes package and stuffed it into the guard’s hand. “Little Big Brother, please take care of this fool. Don’t let him starve or freeze from cold, he is too pitiful already. In the future, if there is any dirtiest and most tiring job in the army, you can send that old woman to do it.”

The guard assented before taking the fool and Madam Zhuang to withdraw. As she left, Madam Zhuang never stopped expressing her gratitude.

Cai Sang couldn’t help but sigh with emotion. “There’s still karma, so it seems. Good people get good results and bad people get their retribution. If Princess still has her memory, I wonder how she would have handled that poisonous woman.”

Murong Zhining pulled on Cai Sang’s hand with a smile. “Shouldn’t people keep looking forward? Immersion in your past sufferings is bad for both yourself and others.”

Chiyun Yuexuan laughed and pulled Murong Zhining to him. “My Ning’er is the most kind and reasonable.”

Cai Sang grumpily rolled her eyes at him. “Still, people shouldn’t be too kind. Like tamed horses always get ridden, kind people are often bullied. Princess is an example.”

Chiyun Yuexuan angrily glared at her. “Audacious! For the sake of the princess, I won’t argue with you.”

The next morning, Feng Wenbin had his troops lined up early to wait on Chiyun Yuexuan. Chiyun Yuexuan helped Murong Zhining into the carriage, getting ready to set off.

Feng Wenbin cupped his fists towards Chiyun Yuexuan. “We are ready. Please give your order, General.”

Just then, a soldier came running in panic. “Reporting to General Feng, something has happened in the camp!”