Chapter 5: Fate
The storm finally subsided around dawn. The courtyard outside was covered in puddles and potholes, and raindrops from the previous night clung to the leaves. The rain had made the air feel fresher, and a cool breeze drifted into the room through the window.
The servants were cleaning and sweeping the courtyard. A few of the bolder ones even craned their necks, trying to get a glimpse of the situation inside the bedchamber. News that Wen Ning’an had stayed the night in the palace had spread like wildfire, though no one in the palace associated it with anything romantic. They simply remarked that it seemed the Emperor and General Wen had reconciled.
Wen Ning’an woke up very early. When he opened his eyes, he saw that Feng Qi was also awake, staring at him, lost in thought.
Feng Qi glanced at the still-gray sky outside the window and said, “Not going to sleep a little longer?”
“This subject…”
“Shh—” Feng Qi raised his index finger and placed it on Wen Ning’an’s lips. “Don’t be so formal. Use ‘I’.”
“Your Majesty, this subject dares not overstep. This subject…”
“Wen Ning’an.” Feng Qi’s face fell.
Seeing the gloom on Feng Qi’s face, Wen Ning’an froze and fell silent.
The atmosphere, which had just begun to ease, grew stiff again. Feng Qi wanted to slap himself.
“Yixin, I didn’t mean to… that is…”
“It’s alright.” Wen Ning’an smiled and lowered his head, avoiding Feng Qi’s gaze.
“I will definitely change in the future.”
Wen Ning’an still wore a gentle smile.
After a moment of thought, Feng Qi asked, “Yixin, what are your plans for today?”
“Since I’m already in the palace, I’ll take this opportunity to collect my salary today.” The official documents from the Ministry of Revenue had already passed through all the departments’ reviews, and the request for salary had been issued. Wen Ning’an could collect it today.
Salary?
Feng Qi raised an eyebrow, seemingly plotting something.
“Yixin, wait a moment.”
Feng Qi summoned Eunuch Fu and whispered a few words in his ear.
Wen Ning’an frowned. What is Feng Qi doing?
Feng Qi pressed down on Wen Ning’an, who was about to get up to wash, so Wen Ning’an could only lean against the head of the bed and wait, full of suspicion.
A short while later, Eunuch Fu returned with two wooden boxes. The boxes were exquisitely carved with flying dragons and emanated a faint, woody fragrance. Feng Qi took the boxes and handed them to Wen Ning’an.
When Wen Ning’an opened them, he saw that one contained an ancient-looking key, and the other, a token. The token was carved with the character “Feng,” surrounded by auspicious clouds and a prostrating Qilin.
Feng Qi explained to Wen Ning’an, “This token will allow you to enter and leave the palace freely, without obstruction. From now on, you won’t need to announce your arrival no matter where you wish to go.”
“This subject…” The words “This subject thanks Your Majesty for your great favor” were swallowed back down his throat, replaced by a simple “Thank you.”
Feng Qi then pointed to the key. “The private treasury has two keys. One is with the Ministry of Revenue, and the other belongs to me. And now, I’m giving it to you. You can take whatever you like from the private treasury. This key belongs to me, and the treasury is also mine. If you wish to use it, not even the Minister of Revenue can stop you.”
Wen Ning’an stared blankly at the “gifts” in his hands. The once-light key now felt inexplicably heavy.
Wen Ning’an felt he couldn’t bear the weight of this affection, but he didn’t dare to refuse, for fear of angering Feng Qi again. For some reason, Feng Qi’s temper was rather abnormal lately, and he especially couldn’t stand being contradicted or disobeyed.
“Your Majesty…”
Watching the stunned Wen Ning’an, Feng Qi felt an inexplicable sense of pleasure. He wrapped his hand around Wen Ning’an’s, which was holding the key, and caressed it idly.
“Want to thank me, hmm?”
Eunuch Fu, standing to the side, lowered his head and feigned ignorance. Accompanying a ruler is like accompanying a tiger. To have served by Feng Qi’s side for so many years, he was naturally more perceptive and tactful than others.
Wen Ning’an’s ears turned red, and he didn’t know how to respond.
Feng Qi smiled faintly, and Wen Ning’an, unable to bear it any longer, clutched the boxes and fled the bedchamber as if escaping.
Watching Wen Ning’an’s retreating back, Feng Qi’s eyes darkened. He turned to Eunuch Fu. “Fu Che, when do you think Yixin will let down his guard and obediently stay by my side?”
Fu Che could see his master’s concern for Wen Ning’an. Although he didn’t understand where this sudden emotion came from, he couldn’t help but say, “Your Majesty, if you want to win someone’s heart, it naturally requires a continuous accumulation of sincere love.”
Not forceful seizure.
Fu Che could also see that Feng Qi’s feelings for Wen Ning’an were not love, but possession. A frantic possessiveness, like a fish thrown onto the shore, desperate for its home in the deep water.
A dangerous aura emanated from Feng Qi’s eyes, as if a storm was brewing within them. If its master was angered, the storm would swallow a person whole, leaving not even bones behind.
“I am already exercising great restraint.”
What Feng Qi wanted was to imprison Wen Ning’an, to bind him to his side, so that Wen Ning’an’s heart and eyes would only have him. But he hadn’t done so. Perhaps what was left of his sanity was stopping him.
One day…
After collecting his salary, Wen Ning’an looked at the bank notes in his hand, his heart still unable to calm down.
The token and the key lay quietly in his pocket, and every word Feng Qi had said swirled in his mind like a spell, impossible to dispel.
Wen Ning’an couldn’t understand why Feng Qi was suddenly being so good to him, nor did he dare to delve too deeply.
Whether it was a whim or a sudden awakening, Wen Ning’an had no way of knowing. He only knew that he liked this kind of interaction, liked Feng Qi being good to him, talking to him like this, instead of the torment, ridicule, cold glares, and disgust of the past.
Not only did Feng Qi grant Wen Ning’an the right to use the private treasury, but he also sent someone to bring him a box of silver notes, perhaps knowing that Wen Ning’an’s disposition would prevent him from using that right.
Wen Ning’an did a rough count. These silver notes were truly… a huge sum!
Wen Ning’an calculated in his mind. He and his family had always lived a simple life. Suddenly having such a large sum of money, he didn’t know how to spend it. He might as well do something he liked…
Having made up his mind, Wen Ning’an had a servant from the Wen Residence contact a broker for him and then headed to Hanfeng Street on the west side of the capital. Just as Ren Feiyang had recommended, there was an abandoned shop there. Although the storefront was old and dilapidated, covered in dust and cobwebs, its advantage was its large space.
The broker was a chubby man. When he smiled, three layers of greasy flesh instantly squeezed out on his face.
“What does General Wen plan to do with this empty building?”
Wen Ning’an said, “I want to open a shop. I haven’t decided what to sell yet.”
“I see.” The broker beamed, saying enthusiastically, “The deed will be delivered to the Wen Residence within the day.”
“Thank you for your trouble.” Wen Ning’an slipped a few silver coins into the broker’s hand.
After another look at the dilapidated building, Wen Ning’an left. As he passed through a secluded, dark alley, a sudden commotion from a corner caught his attention.
Wen Ning’an took a few steps closer and saw a group of shifty-looking men surrounding a woman, spouting vulgarities, their hands restless, their eyes filled with naked greed and lust.
Even though the woman was some distance away, Wen Ning’an was still stunned by her beauty. Her long, dark hair was casually draped over her shoulders, her peach-blossom eyes were like water, and her skin was flawless, made even fairer by the fiery red robe she wore. She was truly… a peerless beauty!
One of the ruffians pinched the woman’s chin and said with a lewd smile, “My lady, would you let your big brother see the scenery under your robes?”
The woman’s back was against the wall, with no room to retreat. She raised her hand as if to resist, but another man grabbed her wrist fiercely.
“Hehe, why is my lady so disobedient? Let this master… oof!”
Before he could finish, a small pebble flew out of nowhere and struck his wrist. He cried out in pain, clutching his hand and bending over.
“Who’s there?!” The leader of the group immediately became alert. Seeing Wen Ning’an not far away, he sneered, “Tsk, tsk, just a pretty boy trying to be a hero. Ignore him!”
…
Half an incense stick’s time later, the group of men were rolling on the ground, screaming in pain. The “pretty boy” had beaten them black and blue.
Wen Ning’an raised an eyebrow. He hadn’t even used any special techniques, simply dodging, punching, and kicking, and he had beaten these boisterous ruffians until they were crying for their mothers.
“If you don’t want another beating, then scram.”
The men looked at Wen Ning’an, who had the appearance of a fair-skinned scholar, yet had effortlessly taken down five or six strong men. They all tucked their tails between their legs and fled.
The woman let out a sigh of relief and smiled at Wen Ning’an. “Thank you, young hero, for saving my life.”
Wen Ning’an was a little dazed by the woman’s bright smile. He waved his hand. “It was nothing. But you should know how easily your looks can attract trouble. Next time, don’t take alleys. It’s very dangerous.”
“It’s alright,” the woman said. “If they had really done anything out of line, they would have stopped as soon as they saw my body.”
What’s wrong with your body?
Wen Ning’an thought to himself, Better not to ask. That would be rude.
The woman caught the fleeting curiosity in Wen Ning’an’s eyes and smiled as she untied her outer robe.
“Can’t you tell either?”
After the woman removed her outer robe, revealing her fair neck, Wen Ning’an’s jaw dropped.
An Adam’s apple?
Wen Ning’an’s gaze moved downwards, stopping at the… man’s flat chest. He felt as if all his previous knowledge had just been completely overturned…
Can a man have such a delicate face?
“But, young hero…” The man leaned forward slightly, closing the distance with Wen Ning’an. “Why do you look so familiar? I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere before…”
Wen Ning’an shook his head without hesitation.
With such an unforgettable, devastatingly beautiful face, if he had seen it before, he would definitely remember.
“Is that so… What’s your name? I’d like to thank you in the future, it would be easier to find you.”
Wen Ning’an said, “It was a small effort, no need for thanks.”
“No, what goes around comes around. Since I’ve received a favor, I must repay it. Actually, I’m a fortune-teller.” The man asked, “How about I read your fortune? I’m very accurate. Others have to pay enough to buy a house to have me read their fortune.”
Wen Ning’an didn’t believe in such things, but refusing would be a loss of face, so he smiled and extended his hand.
The man held Wen Ning’an’s hand and studied it for a while before muttering to himself, “So that’s how it is, no wonder you looked familiar…”
Wen Ning’an didn’t hear clearly and asked, “What is it?”
“Let me tell you, the Purple Star from the East has arrived. Yours is a fate of great wealth and nobility. In the future, you will surely be in a position second to one, but above ten thousand! No, no… there’s something else… Oh my god! There’s also a Crouching Dragon and a Qilin! What does this mean? It means that in the future, even the most noble person in the world will submit to you. In other words, you will be the most noble person in the world!”
Wen Ning’an smiled faintly. What nonsense is this? So mysterious and cryptic. He really has the air of a charlatan.
“You have to believe me! Don’t mind my overreaction. It’s just that this is the first time I’ve seen the Qilin and Crouching Dragon fate, which only exists in ancient books, so I was too surprised! And…”
The man seemed a little puzzled. “The Cauldron of a Prosperous Furnace… auspicious for a husband?”
Wen Ning’an’s eyes widened.
What did you say?
“No, no, I must have read it wrong. If you are the supreme being of the world, how can you also have a fate that is auspicious for a husband? Although this line is indeed for being auspicious for a husband… Perhaps it’s a special case! Ancient books can also have errors.”
The silhouette and face of a certain person inexplicably appeared in Wen Ning’an’s mind, and his earlobes turned red for no reason.
The man stood on his tiptoes and patted Wen Ning’an’s shoulder. “I’m determined to be your friend! My name is Qin Zhaohuang. Tell me your name!”
So I can latch onto your thigh in the future!
The moment he calculated the Crouching Dragon, the words “Are you still looking for a wife? A beautiful one! Although the hardware is wrong!” almost escaped Qin Zhaohuang’s lips, but he managed to force them back down. If he scared away this golden thigh, who would he cry to?
“Wen Ning’an.”
“So it’s the God of War, General Wen! Then I’ll be on my way. We’ll meet again if fate allows!” Qin Zhaohuang clasped his fist and smiled, then put on a cloaked hat to shield from the sun and left.
After Qin Zhaohuang left, Wen Ning’an turned his head, feeling incredibly awkward.
Auspicious for a husband? It was probably nonsense.
You can’t believe the words of a charlatan!
