Like Dragons Flying and Phoenixes Dancing by Ming Yue Ting Feng Chapter 17 Part 2

So I’m not sure if I translated the title of the chapter correctly because it would make sense a little later, but not in this particular chapter.

Anyway, I just wanted to let all the readers know that I will be going on a hiatus for a bit to focus on school and work, Evida will continue to translate the next chapters. I will continue from where I left off (Chapter 18) on my own blog, but it won’t be updated on a regular basis as I will only be translating when I have time. I’m sorry for the short notice because I forgot to mention it in the last chapter. I just wanted to thank all of you guys for all the support as that was my greatest motivation! Thanks for all the love!

 

The Mrs. Long San Who Wishes To Be Divorced Part II

The fourth day after Feng Ning's departure, the Feng Ning and Yu Mama who should have originally arrived home before noon, still had not returned. Long San couldn't help but admit, he was extremely worried. He sent someone to inquire after them; and finally after nightfall, Yu Mama and Feng Ning's chariot reached home.

Feng Ning jumped down first, and seeing Long San standing by the door, happily rushed over: “Long San, Long San, I’m back.”

Long San nodded his head in reply, then saw Yu Mama unexpectedly limping down supported by a servant, and said in shock: “What happened here?”

Long Er received the news and came out, the moment he saw Yu Mama’s injury, he frowned and shot a look at Feng Ning. Feng Ning waved her hands and shook her head: “It’s not my fault, Yu Mama twisted her foot.”

Long Er coldly glanced at her again, and did not say anything. He sent someone to call Doctor Chen, then went over himself to help Yu Mama, and went into the house.

Feng Ning creased her face: “Why is Er Bo so fierce?”

“Were you acting unruly again?” Long San’s tone was also bad.

Feng Ning pouted, and quietly admitted: “I wasn’t acting unruly, at most it would count as not being able to control my temper.”

“What exactly happened?”

“I quarreled with the elder monk, Yu Mama came over to pull me away, and as a result fell down and twisted her foot.”

Long San only felt so angry that he couldn’t even sigh, and could only ask: “How can you even quarrel with a monk?”

Feng Ning also felt quite wronged: “He wouldn’t let me eat my fill, saying something about eating less and not talking throughout the process*, these I all endured, but he starved me for two days, and after the exorcism, there wasn’t the least bit of food. On the last day he still wouldn’t let me eat more, and even wanted me to go on top of Feng Tai** and use some spell and then do the expulsion once. He said I suffered evil influences in the water, and must be immersed in water, hearing those several monks reciting some scripture thing and carrying out some kind of method, and with that basin so deep, so big……” Feng Ning gestured as she spoke: “Of course I was unwilling, so I just asked a few questions.”

Feng Ning mumbled, remembering her tone when she asked wasn’t very good, now felt somewhat guilty, and then she spoke again: “The elder monk scolded me, I started feeling anxious and my voice also became loud. Yu Mama, seeing us get rather noisy, hurriedly came over, which resulted in her twisting her foot.

Feng Ning, under Long San’s glare, became quieter and quieter, and then didn’t have anything else to say, so she acted pitiful and looked at him. Long San was somewhat angry, this woman, goes out for only three days and causes trouble. Feng Ning, seeing no pleasure on his face, also became upset, and softly blurted out: “I was starving, and also didn’t sleep well at night, Yu Mama snores, and they also wanted to throw me into the water, I already endured a lot, you can’t blame me.”

Long San didn’t know what to say, and could only shake his head, turn around, and leave. Feng Ning followed behind him the entire way: “Really can’t blame me……” But Long San didn’t respond, he walked to Yu Mama’s residence to check on her injury, Feng Ning leaned by the doorway and looked, and decided she had better retreat first.

In Yu Mama’s room, Doctor Chen attentively looked over her injury, after all, she was older and shouldn’t fall over, but fortunately it wasn’t anything major, only then did Long Er and Long San relax.

Long San said to Yu Mama: “Mama, don’t blame Feng Ning, I will properly scold her.” Long Er looked at him, Long San looked back at him.

Yu Mama replied: “That girl ah, everyday acting so crazy, the spirit can’t be expelled, we still have to think of how to deal with this.”

Long Er opened his mouth a few times, glanced at Long San, and stopped himself from saying the words “expel the person”.

Long San turned towards Docter Chen: “Are there any other methods of treatment?”

Docter Chen shook his head: “San Ye, Madame’s head injury definitely isn’t much of a problem anymore, she also doesn’t have any other problems with her health, she only needs to take medicine for her dizziness and oft occurring nightmares, the rest, I positively can’t do anything about. This matter of memory loss, is also the first time I’ve come across it.

Although this answer came as no surprise to Long San, but he was still somewhat disappointed. He and Yu Mama and Long Er talked for a while, and then returned to their own residences. As he was leaving, Yu Mama said: “San Ye, Feng Ning is indeed very different from before, but this is affair is just too odd, you and her right now are quite close, it is still better if you stay on guard some.”

Long San nodded in reply, and saw Long Er’s expression had much of the same opinion as Yu Mama; he silently walked out. He stood at the courtyard door for a while, then finally decided to return to his own room.

These three days while Feng Ning was gone, he was concerned for her, but now that she returned, he actually somewhat didn’t want to see her. If he saw her, he would think of the issue of whether to divorce her of not, and this matter made him feel somewhat frustrated.

But even if he didn’t take the initiative to see her, Feng Ning would actively come nonetheless. Sure enough during the night, Feng Ning came holding her pillow.

“Long San, let me tell you ah, these last three days have indeed been painful, the bowls at the temple is this small, one meal, one bowl of rice, with only vegetables and Tofu to fill the stomach, it is really easy to go hungry. And on top of that ah, I didn’t sleep well, Yu Mama’s snoring is very loud.” She appeared to have forgotten the unpleasantness of earlier, endlessly complaining to him.

“Then sleep by yourself, then you don’t need to hear snoring.”

“No good, I’d rather listen to snoring than drown.” After Feng Ning laid her pillow down, she lay down: “I’m going to sleep first, so tired, so tired.”

Long San looked at her peaceful sleeping face, unclear of what he was feeling, he didn’t know how she would turn out if she were to recover her memories one day, he didn’t know how she would fare after she left the Long Residence, he also didn’t know from now on, who would accompany her when she was alone and had nightmares.

Should they really send her away?

 

* Not sure exactly what she’s saying here, so this is just a guess.

** Again, I’m not too sure, I believe it’s just the summit of a mountain there.

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Like Dragons Flying and Phoenixes Dancing by Ming Yue Ting Feng Chapter 17 Part 1

Sorry guys, I’ve been so tired and unmotivated recently, this chapter isn’t boring, but the latter half of the chapter kind of annoys me a tiny bit haha, so unfortunately it will only be the first part of the chapter today. The next chapter is super cute though, so wait for it!

Also, I don’t know if it was ever clarified, but Long Da, Long Er, and Long San are called as such because in Chinese family hierarchy the oldest child  would be called  老大 Lao Da – ‘Eldest child’,  then 老二 Lao Er ‘second eldest child’ and 老三 Lao San for ‘third eldest child’, and so on down the line; therefore, Long Fei (which is Long San’s name in case you forgot) is often called many different ways e.g. Long San, Lao San, San Ye, etc. All containing the number 三San (three). I thought I should mention it just in case it got too confusing because of all their different names. Hopefully I didn’t just make it more confusing haha.

The Mrs. Long San Who Wishes To Be Divorced (Part I)

Once Long San hardened his heart, he no longer thought of exactly how Feng Ning was doing at the temple, over there there was Yu Mama and there were bodyguards, Feng Ning herself also knew Martial Arts, moreover, there were no rivers in the surrounding area; she should be safe with no problems. He put it from his mind, and started arranging a search according to the portrait.

The next day, Long Er returned. The two brothers held a meeting and straightened out the context of some matters. One, was settling the troublesome affairs of the Long Family business in other parts of the country when Long Er went out this time, he confirmed that this matter had something to do with the Feng Family; second was, there were no news at all about the stolen treasure in JiangHu, it could be assumed that, if it wasn’t lost in the river, then the other party already discovered that it was a fake; third was, Long San got someone to keep an eye on the Feng Family, to watch their recent activity, but there wasn’t any information on the treasure or of the previous attack on Long San; fourth was, the two attacks and drowning of Feng Ning, should not have been the doing of the same person. Long Er hearing this, furrowed his brows: “Then it seems the things Feng Ning stirred up is not limited to just one.”

“That person that she remembered, I already sent his picture out, and yesterday also made inquiries at the places Feng Ning had often been to, no one has ever seen him. According to the past Feng Ning’s personality, she should not have had feelings for someone with this kind of appearance, those silk rope love tokens, perhaps wasn’t meant for him. As for his actual identity, let’s wait for news and then see.”

“Speaking of feelings, you should also take note of yourself.” Long Er said: “When you’re dealing with that Feng Ning, you should still keep your guard up. The so-called ‘hard to change one’s inherent nature’[1]; at that time, she was already able to fool around all over the place, so she’s not some faithful or dependable woman. Now, she’s lost her memory, and with you being friendly with her this way, she immediately stuck on to you; this can also attest to her personality.”

“Er ge, no matter how you put it, I am still her husband. These days she’s helplessly scared, naturally she would look for someone to rely on; being dependent on me is excusable.”

“This is exactly what I’m afraid of.” Long Er said bluntly: “You are starting to speak on her behalf. Lao San, any kind of behavior can be justified. But this Feng Ning, just as we were preparing to strike the Feng family, made a move and stole the item, after being caught, she immediately loses her memory. After losing her memory, her entire person changes, the item that was stolen disappeared without a trace and with no news, and now, it is a fact that she had something to do with the attack on you, all these timely coincidences are too uncanny. I certainly don’t care what kind of person she’s become now, if she’s a threat to our Long family, I absolutely won’t let her get away with it.”

“Er ge, I haven’t not guarded against her, only, just like you said, her person has entirely changed, being excessively hostile towards her is not fair.  She definitely has no bad intentions, don’t worry, I will handle this properly.”

Long Er said: “In my opinion, you should just take this opportunity to divorce her and send her back to the Feng family, and also conveniently settle the matters with them.”

Long San didn’t immediately reply, his heart somewhat hesitant.

Long Er raised his eyebrow, asked: “What?”

“Er ge, let’s wait until after we’ve finished investigating the circumstances on the Feng family, and then decide on what to arrange.”

“What does you divorcing her have anything to do with the situation on the Feng family? Regardless of what the ultimate details behind the attack and theft are, in the end it is the work of Feng Ning. She already violated all Seven Reasons for Divorcing a Wife[3], you can confidently and justly divorce her. We should take advantage of this, while we have evidence against the Feng Family in our hands, and conveniently settle this matter.”

“Then if the Feng Family don’t actually treat her well?” The one he was worried about was Feng Ning: “Right now, she no longer has memories of the past, she already feels left alone with no one to rely on, and is easily scared and flustered; then as soon as she finally becomes familiar with us, she gets divorced and sent home, if by chance the Feng family take their anger out on her, or did not treat her well to begin with, then with her living in that kind of environment, what would be done then?”

“Lao San!” Long Er was shocked: “Are you pitying her?”

Long San didn’t speak, this woman could create trouble to torment him with every day, when she spoke she would also piss people off; but he pitied her?

Long Er said: “Just be at ease, this Feng Ning has been wanting to return home all along, no matter how things are, a married woman’s parents’ home is always more favorable than their husband’s home. First divorce her, and then we can slowly investigate what the truth behind this matter is, right now this is the perfect opportunity.”

But Long San still did not say anything, he thought of Feng Ning’s sweet smiling expression, of her agreement in the letter to leave him, and also of her miserable expression as she looked at him and said: “Don’t abandon me ah, Long San.”

Sending her away, just as she finally started adapting to this house, was it really okay?

In the end, Long San and Long Er didn’t actually reach an agreement on the matter of divorcing Feng Ning. Previously, because of their ancestor’s promise of marriage, it was difficult to say anything, now it was holding evidence, the Seven Reasons for Divorcing a Wife, even an attempt on husband’s life; if these were revealed, forget divorce, they could even report it to the government.

 

 

[1] 本性难移Běnxìng nán yí – Long Er refers to this phrase which means ‘it’s hard to change one’s inherent nature’. It usually goes in the idiom江山易改，本性难移 ‘It is easier to change mountains and rivers, than to change one’s inherent nature.”

[3] This actually cracked me up haha. -- 七出之条Qī chū zhī tiáo or the ‘Seven Reasons for Divorcing a Wife’ are as such: A husband can divorce his wife if she: 1. Is not filial, 2. Has no son, 3. Is promiscuous, 4. Has a tendency to be jealous, 5. Has a serious disease, 6. Is a gossip monger or has a big mouth, 7. Steals.

 


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Like Dragons Flying and Phoenixes Dancing by Ming Yue Ting Feng Chapter 16

The Mrs. Long San Who Causes Others to Worry

This question didn’t bother Long San for very long, as he was unable to figure it out, naturally he was temporarily not impatient. He could always accommodate matters, thus he fell asleep. His hand was still being held by Feng Ning, just under the blanket, one big one small, two hands holding each other in one place. He ignored this, and quickly fell into the land of dreams.

This night, he was awaken from sleep twice by Feng Ning’s nightmares, however, when he woke up early the next morning, he still felt like he slept very well. Feng Ning was in even greater spirits, laughing very cheerfully. But she was about to leave with Yu Mama to the spiritual temple at the outskirts of the city, to let an elder monk perform exorcism. As this was arranged by Yu Mama, she was unable to refuse.

Unexpectedly, Long San could sense her unease. He didn’t point it out, but he did a few things to distract her.

He accompanied her to eat breakfast, and also drew a simple drawing of the man she spoke of last night. Feng Ning looked at it, furrowed her brows, and thought for a while and said it should be more or less the same. But she also recalled another question: “Say, Long San, that colored silk rope, it couldn’t also be his, could it?”

Long San said: “At that time, that guy had his face covered, I didn’t actually see his appearance.”

Feng Ning opened her mouth, but didn’t say anything. Long San asked: “What, did you think of something again?”

Feng Ning shook her head, Long San stared at her, staring until she felt guilty, and quietly stammered: “I was just thinking, I couldn’t have had any relationship with him right? He’s so ugly.” Mentioning the matter of relationships with other men, Feng Ning still felt ashamed and uneasy, but the truth was indeed laid out there, that man’s appearance was repulsive, one look and one could tell he was not a good person. She couldn’t have been that unperceptive and fooled around with him, right? Just thinking of this possibility made her feel quite disgusted. She curled her lip, with an expression of being unable to bear the thought.

Long San couldn’t help touching his face, fortunately he didn’t lack in looks, moreover, seeing his considerable popularity with women, and having enjoyed many admiring gazes, he should be the very good looking type.

He lifted his eyes, and met Feng Ning’s clear gaze, he hurriedly put on a stern expression, and insincerely rubbed his chin, pondering: “It seems he may not be, moreover, that silk rope, since you cannot remember clearly anymore, it also may not necessarily have anything to do with that kind of relationship.”

Feng Ning drooped her head: “Long San, you’re a good person, you’re comforting me.” This kind of situation for a man is incredibly insulting, she felt extremely sorry towards him.

Actually, she did use all her strength to try to remember, hoping she could know exactly what had happened a little faster, but when she exerted too much effort trying to remember, she would get a headache, but she was also scared people would say she was pretending. As a result, every time she got a headache, she would endure it. Fortunately, this headache problem didn’t happen too often, and also wasn’t too hard to bear.

“This matter, leave it to me to investigate. Just feel at ease and go with Yu Mama.” After Long San said this, Feng Ning nodded her head, went back to her room, fetched her things, and prepare to set off with Yu Mama. Before she left, she handed Long San a letter, telling him not to look, and only said to wait until she came back, and then return the letter to her. Long San failed to understand the reason why, but nevertheless nodded his head and agreed.

Yu Mama was calling people to hurry, Long San sent Feng Ning to the gate. Surely enough, the carriage was already parked over there waiting, maids were carrying while Yu Mama was on one side waiting.

Long San told Feng Ning, once she was there, she should do as she was told, must not be unruly and get angry, that place was an important Buddhist location, and Yu Mama was very serious. Feng Ning fiercely nodded her head. Long San said, Yu Mama is already very old, don’t be naughty and cause trouble while over there and cause her to worry and get angry. Feng Ning responded okay again.

And then Feng Ning asked: “Then after three days, will you come pick me up?”

Long San blanked, he subconsciously resisted, and rapidly said: “I’m very busy, you and Yu Mama will come back together.” These last two days, he was overly close to her, this really should not be.

Feng Ning was somewhat disappointed, and gloomily replied a single “Oh.” And then turned around and climbed into the carriage with Yu Mama. Long San was about to turn and return to the house, when he suddenly saw Feng Ning open the carriage door and rush down again.

“Long San, Long San, could you help me tell Yu Mama, that the few days that I’m in the temple, I want to sleep with her in the same room.”  Indeed, she was still concerned about the nightmares. Long San helplessly could only go forward and tell Yu Mama. Yu Mama was astonished, looked at Long San, and then looked at Feng Ning, ultimately still agreeing.

Feng Ning once more mounted the carriage, Long San stood at the door watching, waiting for them to be on their way. In the end, the coachman had just raised the whip, when Feng Ning pushed open the doors once again, and came down.

“Long San, Long San, if the temple’s food can’t satiate my hunger, what do I do? Can you help me tell them, to have the monks give me some more food.”

Long San sighed, and called: “Feng Ning.”

“Mm.” Feng Ning answered, her expression very innocent; she really wasn’t trying to cause trouble.

“It’s only three days, you won’t go hungry, and will also be able to sleep well, it’s only trying some methods, doing some exorcism, just a ritual, that’s all. That temple also doesn’t have any rivers surrounding it, and there are also bodyguards going with you, you’re not in the least bit of danger. You must not make any more disturbances, obediently go with Yu Mama.”

“Oh.” The disappointment in Feng Ning’s voice was very obvious. She silently walked towards the chariot, taking a few steps, and turned around again: “Long San, if I’m exorcised away, don’t blame me, I didn’t go willingly.”

“Mm, I won’t blame you.” Long San answered, mentally thinking, it’s not like you’re a demon, how would you be exorcised away.

Feng Ning pursed her lips, turned around preparing to walk towards the carriage. Before even lifting her foot, she turned around again：“Long San, it’s only three days that’s all, can’t you come with us?”

“Feng Ning……” Long San’s dragged the sound, warning her.

Feng Ning rapidly turned around, and rushed towards the chariot: “I got it, I got it!” She jumped onto the carriage, and waved goodbye very hard to Long San. This time the carriage finally started moving without a hitch, speeding up, and gradually disappearing before Long San’s eyes.

Long San entered the residence, thought for a bit, then went to Feng Ning’s room. The maid who was left behind to take care of things seeing him come, was very surprised. Long San waved his hand and said it’s nothing, sending her away.

He stretched out his hand and picked up that jewelry box, felt around it, opened that interval layer, and discovered that this time, there was unexpectedly a paper filled with words hidden inside, resembling a letter.

Long San’s heart stirred, could it be another mysterious person who did it, in order to pass information to Feng Ning? He opened the letter, took one look, and was unexpectedly shocked. This was actually a letter Feng Ning wrote to Feng Ning.

As it turns out, she was actually really afraid, afraid that after this trip to get exorcised, she didn’t know what would happen, after all, this time, her experience was unimaginable. She feared, going this time, she would lose this present her. So she wrote a letter of reminder.

The letter said, if she couldn’t remember what happened during this period of time, but still remembered that this box has a hidden interval layer, then she definitely returned to being the past Feng Ning. She hoped that the past Feng Ning would listen well to the words of the present Feng Ning.

She said she didn’t know what had happened in the past, but staying at the Long Residence during this period of time, she can confirm that the Long residents were all good people, she hoped the past Feng Ning, no matter what she did, or planned to do, would have a clear conscience, and not make any mistakes.

She said, she felt that she herself shouldn’t have been a bad woman, so she believed that no matter what the past Feng Ning did, she must have had some reason, some difficulties. She urged herself, if she really had difficulties, then it would be better if after she takes care of relationship with all parties, she sincerely had a talk with the Long Family, because she believed it would definitely be possible to properly talk things over and resolve everything.

She even wrote down, that Long San treated her very well, it was only because she could completely rely on him, that she could find a sense of security and a bit of happiness in this unfamiliar place where she was loathed. She said, although Long Er is very petty, but he isn’t a malicious person. Yu Mama is strict, but also isn’t really horribly mean. There was also that untalkative and not often seen steward Tie, actually, he is also an honest and considerate person. She said after she lost her memory, she was instead able to look at these matters from another perspective, hoping her past self would could also let go of her prejudices, and properly assess and handle matters.

The letter even wrote, she had already agreed to divorce Long San, and give him freedom, hoping her past self wouldn’t rescind her own promise, and at the appropriate time, talk it over with her family, and clearly settle it with the Long Family.

At the end of the letter, she wrote: if there is sincere treatment, there must be some in return. Since you are me, you will definitely know my intentions, you musn’t make mistakes, if you treat people well, people will treat you well.

And at the very bottom was a small line: to prove the legitimacy of this letter, I will leave my fingerprint here. If you doubt the source of this letter, please press your fingerprint and compare the two, and then you will know the truth. To the side of this line of words, there really was a distinct fingerprint.

After Long San finished reading this letter, he really didn’t know what this feeling in his heart was. This Feng Ning; this seemingly carefree, simple-minded, trouble making, Feng Ning who only cares to eat, was actually this scrupulous.

He sat in her room for a long time, thinking, then also taking out the letter she handed to him, deciding to open and secretly take a look. This letter’s content was more or less the same as the one of the letter in the box, only in the beginning she explained that she was worried that she would forget the things that happened during this period of time, so she wrote a letter to Long San to pass on to her.

Long San suddenly felt like he knew what Feng Ning would do. He set about rummaging through Feng Ning’s room. In her closet, in her chest, as well as beneath her bedding; sure enough, all hid a letter with the exact same content.

“Don’t blame me, I didn’t go willingly.” Long San thought of Feng Ning’s words, his heart somewhat feeling tenderness towards her.

As he returned the letters back to their original places, he thought, thankfully this person was Feng Ning, if it was someone else, in this sort of situation, he feared if it wasn’t weeping to death, she would have bothered the surrounding people to death. But Feng Ning, in his mind what he remembered the most was actually her arrogant, proud, and mischievous laughter.

Long San’s heart started to feel jittery, this woman wouldn’t really go one trip to the temple, and return as the previous her right? He unexpectedly didn’t want her to return to her old self.

Long San paced back and forth, no longer calm, one moment thinking, Yu Mama handles matters well, she wouldn’t let Feng Ning meet with any accidents, another moment thinking, it’s still not clear who the assassin is, could this trip have leaked some news and put her in danger? And another moment thinking, if Feng Ning really returns to her former self, how should he treat her? He even thought, maybe he should simply just go to the temple and accompany her?

In the end, he felt that Feng Ning was indeed an expert in blindly disturbing people, she’s not even here, but she can still make him extremely nervous. He still had a lot of important matters to attend to, he definitely couldn’t stay disorderly and with no propriety.

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Like Dragons Flying and Phoenixes Dancing by Ming Yue Ting Feng Chapter 15

Hi everyone! Sorry for the lack of DFPD update last week! I had to go take a break to study for finals, but I’m planning on getting as many DFPD and Eastern Palace chapters out as I can before school starts.

This chapter is shorter than the rest, but it’s still adorable because of Long San and Feng Ning (who already seem like a couple if you ask me), and also takes another step to solving the mystery.

Enjoy!

 

The Mrs. Long San who wins an inch and wants a mile

Long San’s heart stopped a beat from hearing her soft words, but quickly fixed his expression, and very fiercely said: “You are this annoying, if you’re not thrown, what use are you if you’re kept?”

Feng Ning sitting on the ground, turned her head and longingly glanced inside the room, she said: “I know martial arts, I can be your bodyguard as well as assassin.”

The corner of Long San’s mouth hooked upwards: “To help kill all the women that bother me?”

“And the men too.” She even nodded.

Long San’s forehead creased, he really wanted to remind her, that there was only her bothering him right now. Feng Ning stood up, seeing that Long San didn’t seem to have the intention of exerting all his effort in blocking her, she bent over and squeezed into the house at lightning speed.

Like the night before, she rapidly shook off her cloak, arranged her pillow, and with a ‘whoosh’ slipped into the quilt. Long San closed the door and stood next to the bed with his arms crossed looking at her.

Feng Ning cajolingly smiled, wrapped herself well in the quilt while saying: “I’ll only sleep a while.”

“You said the same thing yesterday, and in the end you slept until daybreak.”

“Then why didn’t you wake me up?”

Long San choked on his words, why didn’t he wake her up? Really, can’t even be a good person; he put on a straight face: “Last night I couldn’t sleep an entire night because of your disturbance, today you’ve come again to disturb me, say, when will you stop having nightmares? If you’re always like this, how will I rest?

Feng Ning laid motionless, not speaking. Long San knew right away from seeing her that she was pondering over it; he waited to see how she would argue this, but saw that she seemed to have thought of something, her expression slowly beginning to look pained and bitter. Her being like this, he also started to get nervous, what’s wrong with her?

In the end Feng Ning asked: “Why can’t I sleep here?”

Long San carefully replied: “If you sleep here, what about me? I didn’t get to sleep yesterday.” He also knew how to act pitiful.

Who knew Feng Ning’s expression was even more pitiful than his, she asked again: “Then why can’t you sleep? Are you afraid that I will involve you? I said before that after we settled this whole affair, I would return home. You don’t like me, I know; you marrying me was also forced, but despite that, we are still husband and wife of almost three years, sharing a room, sharing a bed is reasonable. Why do you have to make it seem like I’m very filthy.”

The more she spoke, the quieter she got, speaking until finally she actually felt very wronged: “I know I had done wrong before, you are also only willing to be this close to me to find the treasure and the assassin. But I really was very scared these past two days, can’t you just take it as the obligation and responsibility of a husband?

Hearing those words, Long San was unable to respond, she lost her memory, but the fact was he still remembered all those matters that were difficult to mention. Even though the her today is certainly like a newborn, but the best course of action was for him to keep an appropriate distance from her.

Long San’s silence made Feng Ning even sadder, the atmosphere in the room was dense with awkwardness, no matter how shameless she was, she couldn’t endure this kind of treatment, if she kept lying down, it would be too self-degrading. She no longer spoke, she silently sat up, draped her cloak back on, put the hood on, held her bundle of clothes and pillow to her chest, and in just a moment, wrapped herself back into a sphere, then with her head drooped down, wordlessly walked out.

The door opened with a creek, and then it was a gentle sound. Long San rigidly stood there, not knowing what the feeling in his heart was, this woman really had guts, whenever she goes wild, she makes people want to throw her a distance away, when she’s pitiful, it makes them feel that even if their voice is just a little louder, it would be unfair to her.

Long San was unable to control his own limbs, by the time he came around, he realized he had opened the door, and gone out to look for Feng Ning. Under the serene moonlight, Feng Ning’s plump silhouette appeared especially pitiful. She walked all alone in the alleyway, but she wasn’t headed to her own yard.

Long San followed her from a distance, watching her walking, walking, and then sitting on a stone chair. He also stopped, wanting to see exactly what she was planning to do, in the end he waited for a very long time, she sat motionless, while he couldn’t hold it in any longer and walked over.

He walked to her side, she looked up in surprise, then lowered her head again. He asked: “Why aren’t you returning to your own courtyard?”

“I wanted to go find Yu Mama.” Just when he thought that she wouldn’t reply after waiting a long time, she spoke.

“Yu Mama?”

Feng Ning quietly replied: “Yu Mama is quite imposing, if I sleep with her, I’ll probably be less scared of nightmares.”

“Then why aren’t you going, what are you sitting here for?”

“Yu Mama also doesn’t like me, she is not as close to me as you are. I’m trying to think of a good way of saying it, otherwise she definitely won’t let me stay.” She hung her head and quietly mumbled: “I’ve thought for a long time, but still haven’t thought of anything, she’s probably sleeping by now, right? If I go knock on her door now, will she be angry?”

Long San gazed at the lustrous black hair exposed from the edge of her hood, wanting to heave a sigh, he softly called: “Feng Ning…..”

She stubbornly wouldn’t raise her head, and said with a tone of having been wronged: “I didn’t disturb you ah, my sitting here didn’t hinder your work did it.”

Long San really heaved a sigh, he crouched down, meeting her eyes, and they were black and moist, with feelings of sadness and injustice showing through them. Long San sighed again, and held out his hand to hold hers.

Her hands were withdrawn within her cloak, when he touched her, she suddenly pulled back, unwilling to let him lead her along. Long San didn’t need to use force, he spread out his palm in front of her, and softly said: “Yu Mama or me, who do you pick?”

Feng Ning bit her lip, looking at his large palm, hesitating, then hesitating again, finally she still grumpily said: “It was you who drove me away.”

“So stingy.” Long San imitated her complaining tone.

Feng Ning’s mouth twitched, having been teased, her eyes revealed a bit of a smiling expression, but her face was still making an effort to remain serious, she said again: “Then at this moment, it was definitely you yourself who came to find me.”

“Right.” Long San inwardly clenched his teeth.

Feng Ning finally raised her eyes and met his, she carefully looked at him, confirming that he wasn’t playing her, hesitated for a moment, and then at last, put her hand on his large palm.

Her seriousness about the matter let him suddenly experience a wonderful kind of feeling of having been entrusted, he pulled her up, and led her along towards his courtyard. Feng Ning’s mood was all at once better, once again having a lot of energy. She happily smiled with her eyes curving, turned to Long San and said: “Help me hold my pillow, okay?”

“Not okay.”

“Then hold the clothes.” With one of her hands being held, the other one was left holding two things; it indeed required some effort.

He glanced at her, and grumbled in a low voice: “Win an inch, wants a mile.” But still reached his hand out and took the bundle of clothes. Feng Ning seemingly didn’t hear, and only sweetly smiled, smiling all the way back to his room.

This time entering the room, she didn’t act as though she was going to war, she climbed onto the bed, seriously arranged the pillow, and then asked: “I don’t have to sleep an entire night sitting on a chair right? I can sleep on the bed right?”

“Mm.” He answered as he pulled out a new blanket from the cabinet, unfolded it, and threw it onto the bed, burying her under it just right. “Hurry up and sleep, don’t mess around.”

“There’s a blanket.” Feng Ning poked her head out from under the quilt cheerfully: “Great, I want the new, you use the old one.”

Long San ignored her childishness, minded his own business, and went off to rinse his face and mouth and tidy up. When he came back, he saw that Feng Ning had already divided the bed, she had her eyes shut, and was sleeping wrapped in the new blanket, leaving the outside half to him.

Long San took his outer robe off, let his hair down, blew out the candle, and went to bed, trying hard not to let himself feel uncomfortable. He also wrapped himself well with the blanket, not touching the person next to him. After lying down for a while, suddenly in the middle of the darkness he heard Feng Ning say: “Long San, you really are a good person, I will remember your kindness, and in the future will definitely repay you.”

Long San was not in a good mood: “I’m waiting.”

“Believe me, at the very least, I’ll agree to divorce, I won’t tie you down. I’ll properly talk with my family, at that time, you can go marry the woman you love, no need to stay with me for the rest of your life.”

Long San shut his eyes, and with a muffled sound said: “Hurry up and sleep.”

He heard Feng Ning softly laughing, heard her steady breathing, and then he also gradually sank into the land of dreams. Not knowing how much time passed, Long San suddenly woke up, somewhat absent-minded, but very quickly realizing what had roused him awake. The Feng Ning to his side was struggling and panting hard.

He turned over, and was about to call her, when Feng Ning suddenly loudly screamed, and sat up. It gave Long San a fright, he sat up and called her: “Feng Ning……”

Feng Ning blankly turned her head around, her breathing uneven, evidently not having awoken from the dream. Long San called her again, reached out his hand and touched her shoulder, Feng Ning conveniently snuggled over, leaning against his chest. Long San patted her back, and asked: “You drowned again?”

Feng Ning nodded her head, then shook her head: “I saw him.”

“Who?”

“The man who pushed me into the water.”

“Didn’t you say you only recognized the voice, and didn’t see his face?”

“Not that one, the one that hit and pushed me into the water the day I injured my head, I saw him in my dream. I was running past the shore, he caught up to me, and then we started fighting, the scene was scattered and in fragments, but I saw his face, he had a square face, triangular eyes, wide mouth……” She was seemingly worn out, her voice became quieter and quieter, Long San softly stroked her back, she relaxed, her eyelids fighting to stay open.

“What else was there?” Long San helped her lie back down, and covered her with the blanket.

Feng Ning blinked, finally couldn't resist her sleepiness, closed her eyes, and quietly said: “He also had a huge nose, didn’t look as good as you.”

Long San tucked her in, and also lied down, listening to Feng Ning speaking in her sleep: “I know him, I should know him, but I don’t remember anymore.”

“It doesn’t matter.” Long San kneaded her creased forehead: “If you don’t remember, then you don’t remember, you’ll figure it out eventually.”

“Mm. I’m so tired.” Feng Ning felt herself almost falling asleep, she held his hand, not feeling afraid anymore, and she persevered to finish telling him her dream: “He’s very tall, he chased me all the way from the forest to the hill, and he took out a concealed weapon, as I avoided it, I stumbled on a stone, and he struck me. That hill was very high, I fell down……” As she spoke, she got quieter, finally falling asleep.

Long San meticulously went over everything she said, this person’s facial features were very characteristic, he should be able to release the information, make discreet inquiries to look for this person. He shut his eyes, intending on arranging this the minute he woke up.

But there was still something that was not quite right, he mulled over it for a moment, but couldn't put his finger on it. Just as he was about to fall asleep, he suddenly had an epiphany, Feng Ning said she had run from the forest all the way to the hill, the forest was located at the lower reaches of the river, the high hill was on the upper reaches, this was not in the direction of coming out of the city, just the opposite, it was in the direction of going towards the city.

Long San felt the matter was now even harder to guess exactly what happened, that caused Feng Ning who ran out, decide to return?

 

 

 

Like Dragons Flying and Phoenixes Dancing by Ming Yue Ting Feng Chapter 14

The Hopelessly Muddled Mrs. Long San

Long San didn’t say anything for a long time, he looked over the room, then called Xiao Qing over: “Who has come to Furen’s place in the last few days?”

Seeing Long San’s expression, Xiao Qing was somewhat nervous: “There wasn’t really anyone, only Yu Mama comes over from time to time, Doctor Chen came to check her illness, there’s also the servant who brings the meals, otherwise, it would be two days ago Xia Er came over to deliver a new handkerchief.” Xiao Qing paused, and then added: “It was a new handkerchief from each courtyard.”

When Xia Er’s name came up, Feng Ning‘s heart stirred, could it be that the one who took the silk rope was also her? Long San’s countenance was normal, but he told Xiao Qing to tell the servants to prepare hot water, explaining that Feng Ning had gotten a fright from falling into the water while she was outside, and needed to soak in hot water to cleanse and relieve fatigue. Xiao Qing received the order and left, Long San turned to Feng Ning and said: “I will arrange for two guards to come and keep watch over your place here every day. If anybody is to go out, we will make sure to investigate thoroughly, besides Xia Er, there may be others keeping a low profile.”

When Feng Ning heard this, she felt extremely moved, she was clearly a suspect for his attempted murder, there was also a chance that she may have had inappropriate relations with another man, but he really didn’t blame her, and even protected her, Feng Ning at once went forward and hugged Long San: “Thank you.”

In such an unfamiliar and ruthless place, with an empty and helpless past, an unfathomable and unreliable future, fortunately she had him.

“I won’t keep anything from you anymore, it’s all my fault.” If she had just spoken up earlier, with someone like Long San to handle matters, maybe that Xia Er wouldn’t have been able to leave; perhaps now, even if everything had been asked, she wouldn’t have had to die for no reason, and she herself would not have had to suffer the pain of drowning.

In the middle of this, two male servants came in carrying a large wooden basin filled with hot water, Xiao Qing and another maid followed in from behind holding the bathing equipment; seeing this, Feng Ning was going to let go of Long San, but unexpectedly, Long San held her tightly, and rather loudly while using an intimate tone, said: “Come on, don’t panic, it’s already all over, you have me. Now that I know everything, I’ll take care of everything in your place.”

Feng Ning’s mind moved fast, understanding the situation, she very correspondingly and softly said: “Husband, you’re so good to me.” Her fake act of coyness caused Long San’s body to stiffen, the servants and maids were all shocked.

Long San hugged her tight, and said into her ear: “You had better stay a little fiercer, so you don’t scare anyone.” Once he finished speaking, he let go, and once again smiled as usual and said: “Have a nice soak and rest early, I will come see you again tomorrow.”

Feng Ning was left fuming from being secretly mocked by Long San, but she could not blow up in front of the servants, so she could only fake a smile and send him off. She turned around, saw the big bath basin full of water, and felt a little faint; she inwardly said not good, this phobia of water is getting increasingly serious.

The servants and maids had all withdrawn, Feng Ning stood to the side of the bath tub, not daring to go in, finally with no other choice, she called Xiao Qing over, had her pull open the screen, stand on the other side, and speak with her; just like that, dispersing her thoughts, continually reminding herself that she couldn’t drown in the bathtub; only now could it be regarded as having taken a bath without a hitch.

Long San was in the middle of going over secret reports sent from all over Jiang Hu, when he heard the pounding sound of knocking from outside, he opened the door, and only saw a Feng Ning who had used a cloak to thickly bundle herself into a sphere, before Long San could say anything, Feng Ning had already rolled into the room.

Seeing the light lit, files placed on the table, and a tidy bed, Feng Ning said: “Oh, you haven’t slept yet. Great.”

Long San was about to say: “Even if I haven’t slept, I still don’t want to chat with you.” But before he could speak, he saw Feng Ning throw her thick cloak off, beneath the cloak she was actually only wearing her middle garments[1], with her hair undone, and on top of that, she was even carrying her clothes and pillow, it was no wonder she was so round.

Long San blinked, but before he could recover, Feng Ning had already climbed onto his bed with lightning speed, spread out his blanket, burrowed herself in, and lied down.

“What are you doing?” He was dumbfounded for a long time, and finally recovered his voice.

“I had a nightmare.” Feng Ning shrank into the blanket, wrapping herself in it.

“A nightmare?” Long San walked to the edge of the bed intending to pull her up: “I don’t care for matters of dreams.”

“Don’t drive me away.” Feng Ning only had her head exposed, her large clear eyes revealing a miserable and pitiful feeling. “The moment I close my eyes, I start sinking into water, I’m scared.”

“Once you close it a few times, you’ll get accustomed to it.” Long San certainly did not want to indulge her, this woman, really, you give her an inch, and she wants a mile.

“I can’t get used to it, it’s frightening, I’ve woken up twice now, I’m unable to breathe; I’ll die. Tomorrow, you’ll find a corpse in my room.”

“Then go find Xiao Qing to sleep with you.”

“But I have more peace of mind here.” Feng Ning even rubbed her stomach, and said: “Mm, as expected, I’m not scared anymore.”

Long San was not happy: “If everyone was like you, having a nightmare and running over to find me, would I get any sleep?”

Feng Ning opened her eyes wide: “Are you saying those female friends of yours?” She thought about it and also got upset, pouted, and retorted: “They aren’t your wives, I am. I can come to you if I have a nightmare, if they have a nightmare, they can go find their own maids.” She covered herself with the blanket, and mumbled from inside: “In any case, I’m not leaving.”

Long San stood next to the bed glaring at her: “Covering yourself with the blanket, isn’t it the same being suffocated?”

“You’re right.” Feng Ning poked her head out: “So don’t drive me away, I’m afraid of suffocating.” She looked at Long San’s extremely unwilling expression, and cajolingly said: “I won’t inconvenience you, look, I even brought my own pillow.”

“What about the blanket?”

“The blanket’s too big, not convenient to carry over.”

“The bed?”

“You’re not sleeping anyway, you go work, and I’ll sleep first. Once you’re done, wake me up, and we can switch.” As she spoke, she actually even delicately yawned, bleary eyed, she really was tired.

Long San was extremely angry, she was even able to come up with this kind of negotiation, he intended to reach out, drag her up, and drive her out, but Feng Ning pitifully begged: “I’ll only sleep for a while, really, don’t drive me out, I’m really tired.”

She shut her eyes, the hand he reached out paused, and he actually felt his heart soften. Never mind, just let her sleep for a while, he hadn’t finished looking over his files anyway. He very fiercely warned her: “I’m only letting you lie down for a while, later when I want to sleep, you have to get up.”

“Mm.” Feng Ning answered softly, and very quickly appeared to have fallen asleep. Long San stood by the bedside and looked at her for a while, hearing her soft, lingering breathing, he thought for a bit, then turned around to go look at his documents.

After looking for a while, Long San was somewhat absent-minded, suddenly realizing he had been distracted, this entire time, he didn’t turn a page, he also didn’t take in anything that he read, on the other hand, he was exceptionally and distinctly aware of Feng Ning’s breathing.

He got angry, gave her a quick glare, and decided to look at the files for a little longer and then force her up; why should she be able to sleep soundly, while he sat on a hard chair hard at work in the middle of the night. He glanced at her again, but found that she wasn’t breathing, he walked over, checked her breath; she really wasn’t breathing, he was just finding it strange, when he suddenly saw her struggling as she twisted and turned; alarmed, he hurriedly pushed her: “Feng Ning, Feng Ning……”

Feng Ning suddenly opened her eyes, opened her mouth wide, and breathed in hard, with a look of panic, she subconsciously grabbed his hand, and hugged his arm. “Long San, Long San…..”

“You had a nightmare?” Long San leaned over, and moved the hair from her face, seeing her empty eyes, he couldn’t help but start feeling anxious.

Feng Ning panted, and after a long time, finally recovered; she glanced at him, once again exhaustedly shut her eyes, and very quietly murmured: “Hold onto me, don’t let me fall into the water.”

Long San frowned, softly patting her: “Alright, I’ll hold onto you, don’t be afraid.”

That night, Long San didn’t sleep, not only did he not sleep, but because his arm was being hugged by someone, he could not move, so he leaned his body onto the bed, and half of it had been pressed numb.

The next day, Feng Ning slept until she woke up naturally, feeling rested and refreshed, she was in an extremely good mood, Long San with a dark face, his pent-up frustrations flaring up. The rumor of these two husband and wife sleeping in the same room spread quickly, Long San and Feng Ning’s different expressions let everyone’s imagination run wild with all kinds of thoughts.

Upon hearing this gossip, Feng Ning excitedly ran over to find Long San: “Have you heard?”

“Heard what?” Long san was in a foul mood, when he thought of how he had stayed up all night for this crazy woman, he would make him angry; and now, she was acting as happy as though she had picked up a treasure, and this made him even angrier.

“The servants are all saying, Long SanYe has been ‘seized’ by Mrs. Long San.”

Long San’s gave a cold smile: “Congratulations to you Mrs. Long San.”

“Ayy, same, same.” Feng Ning outspokenly clapped Long San’s shoulder: “Your scheme prevailed, didn’t you want everyone to think that we’re very close, let the assassin hear of it, and let him think that I’ve definitely told you his secret, so as to expose him?”

Long San was not at all surprised that she understood his intentions, she is clever, and he was aware of that, but he was still angry: “This plan only needed us to stand closer together, chat, go out and roam the streets and eat, to accomplish its goal, there was no need for you to come and steal my bed.”

Hearing this, Feng Ning looked at Long San for a while, then spat out a complaint: “You’re so stingy.” Once she finished speaking, she ran off.

Long San watched her from behind, making up his mind, tonight, no matter what, he would not open the door for her.

Long San didn’t know why he guessed so accurately, at night, Feng Ning really came again, she knocked on the door, he wouldn’t open it, coldly telling her through the door to go back, he secretly looked out the window; she was like yesterday, bundled in a large cloak, round and plump; definitely carrying her pillow, clothes, and whatever else.

Feng Ning knocked for a long time, Long San just wouldn’t let her in, so she fumingly sat in front of his room’s door, and said: “Long San, you’re not opening the door, your guards in the distance are all peeking, and this is humiliating.”

“If you’re afraid of being humiliated, go back.”

“Tomorrow everyone will say, Long San and Furen lost affection after one night.” As she spoke, Feng Ning peered around everywhere as if she were a thief, she had though it would be as smooth as yesterday, charging in and taking a good nap, in the end, it turned out to be this difficult.

Long San very smoothly replied: “That’s perfect, the assassin will think I already know the secret, and then swiftly kicked you aside, this way it’ll be even easier to convince him.”

“So mean.” Feng Ning hugged her pillow against her knees, leaning against the door and said: “Long San, tomorrow they’re taking me to a Buddhist Temple to exorcise me, if by chance I am driven away, you won’t see me again.”

“Do you think you’re an evil spirit? What do you mean “being driven away”?”

“Who knows, if by chance I really am possessed, once they exorcise me, I will cease to exist. At that time, you’ll be heartbroken.”

“Many thanks for your concern, no need for you to worry if I am heartbroken or not.” Long San was really not in a good mood, is this crazy woman ever going to finish.

“Long San, the way we’re speaking separated by the door, it’s the same as if we were sitting in the room speaking.”

“I don’t even feel like speaking through the door, I’m going to sleep.”

“Then why are you still speaking?”

“……” Long San for a moment, choked with nothing to say, turns out he was equally foolish. Very good, then he won’t speak anymore, he was really going to sleep.

“Long San, Long San……” Feng Ning waited for a long time, there really wasn’t any more movement inside, she despondently said: “Are you really ignoring me?” No one responded, she waited a bit, and then said: “You really don’t care about me anymore?” Still no one replied.

After a long while, she said again: “Did you fall asleep?” There was no sound from the room. She once again waited a long time, then said: “If you get nightmares, I’m right here with you, don’t panic ah.”

Long San fumed and grinded his teeth, just endure it and ignore her. But after a while, he heard her voice again: “Long San, good night, I won’t disturb you.”

Inside the room was very quiet, Feng Ning leaned against the door, feeling a little cold, she wrapped herself tightly, and spoke again: “Long San, tomorrow, first thing in the morning, the servants will pick me up from the front of your door, there will certainly be a new rumor. They will definitely say Long SanYe is indeed very charming, see that Mrs. Long San, kick her and she still won’t leave.”

The more she spoke, the more she chattered on without thinking, talking to herself: “I would definitely tell them, I really like SanYe. In this lifetime, I will follow only him, and will never part.”

In the middle of her incessant talking, the room’s door finally opened, Long San with a dark face, towered above, glaring at her: “What exactly are you trying to do?”

Feng Ning had been in the middle of speaking, when the door opened, almost causing her to fall over, she raised her head, with her pitiful dark eyes like a small deer looking back at Long San: “Don’t abandon me ah, Long San.”

 

[1] 中衣 Zhong Yi – The layer between the outer and the undergarments.

Evida's Questions................

So on both of the stories we're following we've reached enough chapters each to know our respective heroine. We have Feng Ning, who goes around kicking Long San's head just to take some steam off and then we have Ji Qing, who is such an introvert that she barely can speak up to Feng Jin Cheng, even to tell him about his daughter. I would like to know your opinion about these woman, what do you think about them and why? Also, I would like to role play as each respective heroine's BFF, what would be your advise to them?

Like Dragons Flying and Phoenixes Dancing by Ming Yue Ting Feng Chapter 13

Hi everyone, here’s a new chapter of Dragon Flies Phoenix Dances (龙飞凤舞)! I realize everyone is very intrigued with the mystery, and I thought I might give a clue that the title of the book is a big hint in of itself, and if you figure it out, kudos to you! I won’t go any deeper as it would ruin the mystery for everyone, and I’m sure no one wants that. I do have to mention that I haven’t actually finished the novel yet, so I don’t know the details of the unraveled mystery, but I read far enough to figure out the general scheme.

Anyway, I would love to still send my translations out by Saturday, but as Ramadan has started, it’s been tough to juggle fasting, working, and school work, on top of translating; and working on an empty stomach and dry throat is not exactly pleasant. So bear with me everyone, I’ll try to churn these chapters out (as well as work on Eastern Palace (forgive me Sutekii)) as fast as I can!

Enjoy!

 

The Mrs. Long San Who Makes a Narrow Escape

 

Feng Ning’s survival instinct dominated, with her strength at its peak, her savior’s limbs were restricted, ironically unable to fully utilize them and so both of them, coiled together in this difficult situation, were flushed downwards by the river water. The two of them bobbed up and down, swallowing several mouthfuls of water.

Feng Ning was so scared her entire body went rigid, she screamed and shouted, causing that person to also be dragged down and submerged. With no other choice, he could only forcibly push her away, grasp her arm and place it on his back, pull her head out of the water, and loudly scream into her ear: “Calm down, don’t be afraid, it’s me, don’t be afraid, I’m here……”

Feng Ning shuddered and struggled to look at him, finally realizing that the person saving her was Long San. Her eyes started to warm up, and she loudly shouted: “Long San, Long San, don’t abandon me! Don’t abandon me……”

Long San propped her head up, looked into her eyes, and said: “Don’t be afraid, listen to me, and let’s get to the shore immediately, okay?”

Feng Ning wasn’t sure whether it was water or tears on her face, she only cried: “I’ll listen to you, I’ll listen to you, don’t abandon me, don’t abandon me, I’m afraid of water, I’m scared……”

Long San loudly said: “I’m going to loosen my hold, don’t struggle, don’t kick me, relax, I won’t let you sink, do you understand?” Feng Ning frantically nodded.

Long San, seeing that she had seemingly understood, released her arm, and held her against his chest: “Hold onto my shoulder, I’ll swim you onto the shore.” Feng Ning couldn’t stop trembling, she was like a child, tightly clinging onto his neck and shoulder, not daring to loosen her hold even a little bit.

Long San strove to keep both of them steady in the midst of the current, he had also swallowed a lot of water, he had one hand supporting Feng Ning, and the other wading through the water, his two feet treading hard, using both hands and feet simultaneously, he was finally able to drag the rigid, rock-like Feng Ning onto the shore.

The two of them, battered and exhausted, collapsed onto the shore, Long San coughed a few times, finally getting his breath back. Feng Ning’s fear of water was very serious, she hugged him tightly, unwilling to let go in the slightest. Long San seeing her trembling so wretchedly, could only half-drag-half-carry her somewhere far from the water, rubbing her back and her arms: “It’s alright now, we’re already on land, it’s alright……”

Feng Ning, seemingly unable to hear anything, had her head buried in his shoulder, continuously shaking, with both her arms and legs tightly wrapped around him. Long San had no other choice but to pat and coax her, patiently waiting for her to calm down.

After a while, Feng Ning was still unwilling to let go, two people who appeared to be bodyguards came running over, they said to Long San: “San Ye, we were unable to overtake him.” Feng Ning shivered, and lifted her head, Long San said to her: “The person who pushed you into the river, we didn’t catch him.” He turned around and asked the other person: “What about that servant?”

“Drowned. There’s no hope.” This answer frightened Feng Ning immensely, causing both her arms to tighten, once again holding tightly onto Long San.

Long San was left with no choice, he instructed one of the bodyguards: “Bring a carriage and two sets of clean clothes.” That person accepted the order and left, Long San then made the other bodyguard start a fire.

Feng Ning with her head still buried, very quietly said to Long San: “I remember now, it was that person.”

“Who?” Long San asked while attempting to pry her off so that they could both stand up. But the minute he moved, Feng Ning once again forcefully wrapped herself around him: “Don’t abandon me.”

Long San helplessly sat on the muddy floor, holding a wet, mud-ridden, disheveled Feng Ning. Not wanting to imagine in the least what he must look like at the moment.

Feng Ning nearly drowned to death twice, traumatizing her a great deal, Long San could only divert her attention and ask her again: “Who were you talking about?”

“The person who shouted that a woman fell into the river in order to draw me over; that person, he was the one who asked me where the thing was when I had injured my head that time. His voice, I remember it.”

“Did you see what he looked like?”

Feng Ning shook her head, when she remembered sinking into the water at that time, she would start panicking again.

Long San lifted his eyes and looked at the already darkened sky, the bodyguard on one side had already started a fire, Long San patted Feng Ning: “Let go of me first, let’s go warm ourselves by the fire, we don’t want to catch a cold.”

The moment Feng Ning heard this, she hurriedly tightened her arms, shaking her head over and over: “I’m not letting go, don’t leave, let the fire come over here.”

Long San inwardly grinded his teeth, she thinks the fire can walk. He forcefully pulled her off, scaring Feng Ning to the point she began to cry loudly: “You want to abandon me, you don’t care about me anymore……” Long San heartlessly struggled free of her bind, pried off her wrapped limbs, and harshly picked her up, moving next to the fire; all the while also laughing at her: “You’re usually so fearlessly brave, just like a mother tiger; but once you fall into the water, you become a useless person.”

“You’ve never been near death from injuring your head and falling into the water.” Feng Ning whispered, hugging Long San’s arm, and sitting next to the warm fire, finally feeling peace of mind.

“You’re just a pile of weird problems, you have amnesia, you’re scared of water, and your appetite’s unusually large, when this is all over, how about I take you to Bai Qiao City and have you checked up.”

“What place is that?”

“It’s a city famous for its medicine, there are many good doctors there. My good friend Nie Cheng Yan lives there, he will definitely be able to find a cure for you.”

Feng Ning’s lips twitched: “You have so many good friends, there’s probably several close female friends there as well.”

“There actually are.”

“Hmph.” Feng Ning at this point had regained her energy, and started bickering with him: “Then how come that close friend of yours Nie Cheng Yan didn’t cure your philandering disorder.”

“I really shouldn’t have hauled you out.” Long San smacked her forehead: “I’m just asking for trouble.”

“Why did he want to kill me?” At the mention of hauling her out, Feng Ning’s heart was still in fear. “Shouldn’t he be my accomplice? I remember his voice, that day it was he who asked me where the thing was. If he didn’t find it, wouldn’t it be even harder to find after killing me?”

“This only goes to show that the threat of keeping you alive is worse than not finding it.”

“He’s probably afraid that I’ve defected to your side, right?” Feng Ning felt that this possibility was very likely: “I definitely have a secret he can’t let anyone know about in my grasp.”

Long San didn’t say anything, he poked the fire, making the fire burn brighter, that bodyguard had the sense to leave them some space to talk, and had gone elsewhere to hide himself.

Feng Ning watched Long San’s movements, and asked: “How did you come to be here?”

“These last few days, you had been acting weird, naturally I sent people to watch your movements. You don’t have friends, but you suddenly received a letter, and said you were going to turn in early, clearly there was something wrong. But by the time I received news of this, you had already ran off; fortunately I asked the guard at the city gates, he recognized you, so I assumed that you probably ran here.”

Feng Ning chewed her lips, but still said it: “It was Xia Er who gave me the letter. The day she left, she secretly told me, I wasn’t Mrs. Long San. Today, in the letter she arranged for us to meet here, saying that it was to tell me the truth.”

“You’re not Mrs. Long San?” Long San was surprised.

Long San slightly narrowed his eyes and closely looked at her expression: “You believe it?”

“She said it so strangely, of course I had to find out exactly what was going on.” Recalling it, Feng Ning, still had some lingering fear. “Who would’ve thought it was this kind of situation.”

“You’re not Mrs. Long San?” Long San stared at Feng Ning as he said this.

Feng Ning touched her own face: “You guys couldn’t have gotten the wrong person, right?” Compared to that Xia Er, she was actually more willing to believe Long San, moreover, to have an entire household of people lie and not make a single mistake, wasn’t very possible.

Long San cast a sidelong glance at her: “Are you implying that I can’t even recognize my own wife?”

Feng Ning gave a “hmph”, and said: “What’s so strange about that? You don’t understand a single thing about your wife anyway, forgetting what she looked like is a possibility.”

“That is true.” He deliberately followed along. Provoking Feng Ning to glare at him. Her entire body was in a pitiful state, so her glare lost all of its intensity, and she even gave a loud sneeze to boot.

Long San couldn’t help but start laughing, Feng Ning flew into raged humiliation, she “hmph”ed and let go of him, sitting at a farther distance.

At this point, the weather turned cold, there was no moonlight, leaving the shore to depend on the burning heap for light. Feng Ning sat and sat, and finally couldn’t help shifting towards Long San again: “Say, those words that Xia Er said, they were to pique my curiosity, and draw me here, right? It wasn’t actually because she wanted to tell me that I’m not Mrs. Long San, right?”

Long San replied: “You’ve never changed your face, and at the same time in the same place, there’s someone asking you the whereabouts of the treasure, and also for that same reason used a maid to bait you, if you’re not Feng Ning, then who else could it be? If you’re not Feng Ning, why would he want to kill you?”

“That also makes sense.” Feng Ning wrung her fingers.

However, Long San continued to ask: “The matter of Xia Er, isn’t really what you were concealing from me, is it?”

Feng Ning lowered her head and did not speak, mentally whispering why is this wasteful squanderer this smart for, so annoying.

Long San spoke again: “Feng Ning, you’re isolated and alone here, if you don’t speak up when you have something on your mind, we can’t help you, if something were to happen again, what would you do?”

Feng Ning was silent for a long time, then finally replied in a low voice: “I won’t be so foolish again, as long as I am not near water, I should be able to defend myself.”

Long San’s expression turned grave: “So you stilldon’t want to say it?

Feng Ning started to feel sad: “I don’t want you to hate me.” Long San’s expression told Feng Ning that he loathed this kind of situation even more. Feng Ning brooded for a long time, then finally said: “Then promise me, the things I did in the past, no matter what it was, you cannot hold it against the me right now.”

Long San nodded, Feng Ning said: “Then after we return, I have something to show you.”

But Feng Ning never expected that the horrible happenings of today had not ended yet. She and Long San returned home, she took him to her room, grinded her teeth, and made up her mind to honestly confess: “I discovered a clue, perhaps the past me really had something to do with the attack on you.” She paused, looked at Long San, and emphasized again: “The past me, not the me right now.”

She opened the jewelry box as she spoke, but she didn’t expect to find that the space between the two layers, was empty.

Feng Ning was stunned in an instant: “This… It was definitely in here. That night, I had searched for a long time, I had seen those silk ropes in here, just like the ones you showed me.”

Long San understood what she was trying to say: “You thought the assassin was related to you in some way? So you didn’t dare to tell me, and wanted to find out by yourself?”

Feng Ning nodded: “My dowry maid died at such an opportunely time, so I thought she must have known something, I noticed Xia Er was flustered when she saw me, so I tried to probe her, and it turned out that she really did have a problem, but I didn’t expect that I actually ended up harming her.”

 

 

Like Dragons Flying and Phoenixes Dancing by Ming Yue Ting Feng Chapter 12

Hi everyone, I'm sorry for the late releases, I'm sure Evida's pulling her hair out trying to keep up with the schedule as I turn in late translations. I'll try to figure something out, but for now, please be patient!

I also have to apologize about a mistake I did in translation in the last chapter when Feng Ning insults Long San. It's actually a phrase in Chinese that I did not recognize, so I wrote it more literally, but it actually goes more along the lines of a 'wasteful squanderer'. Basically someone who doesn't bother with house affairs and likes to extravagantly waste money. (The line I'm talking about is when she insults him and then kicks him.)

This chapter reminded me of why I was so frustrated with Long San at the start, though he's not even half as bad as Long Er in Three Marriages, but I love my female leads, so I get angry at anyone who snubs or hurts them (even if they have somewhat of a reason to do so *cough*).

The Mrs. Long San who is plotted against

Feng Ning's mood was indeed better for a spell, but not waiting for her to rampage on for too long, that "wasteful squanderer" husband of hers already came to retaliate. Long San wasn't uncivilized like Feng Ning, naturally he wouldn't break things, he also wouldn't beat the other person up, he just used his probing eyes to stare at Feng Ning.

"Say it, what exactly is wrong with you?"

What is there to say, Feng Ning cast her head to one side, she would rather die than admit that she was taking her anger out on him. Actually, the moment Long San came over to reprimand her, she had already begun to feel guilty. She is now but a vicious suspect who had conspired to kill her husband. she was ashamed to face him, but this matter she choked back and couldn't say, her heart felt painfully suffocated.

Long San crossed his arms, and said: "I admit, you are different than before, and I don't believe you have any bad intentions, but that doesn't mean you can act unruly and make a scene in my household. You unreasonably went to my courtyard and caused a ruckus, who do you think you are?"

His tone of voice was per usual, his expression had no sign of resentment, but Feng Ning was very clearly aware that he was really angry. She began to feel flustered, but in spite of that, she still did not dare to say what exactly was bothering her, those clues that she found, she just couldn't bring herself to speak about it. She bit her lips, resiliently not speaking.

Long San stared at her for a while, then coldly said: "If you don't want others to get fed up with you, then don't go making trouble without reason."

His words were like knives painfully piercing her heart, she didn't know what she should say, but he just turned around and left.

Feng Ning watched his back, suddenly feeling like the energy she had stored up in advance was gone. Today's dinner, there was no one to accompany her. The food was sent to her residence, Feng Ning did not dare to complain about the simplicity of the dishes. She was like a child who did something wrong, sitting there restlessly.

Feng Ning was someone who could not hide what was on her mind, during the night, she was unable to sleep peacefully. She thought about the things that she did in the past two days, she and Long San had agreed not to hide anything from each other, not to tell lies, and to go after the truth together. But right now she has a clue, yet she  was keeping it from him, she was someone who did not act on her words,  this made her mood worsen from the pent-up frustrations. But being irritable by herself hadn't been enough, she had to come back and use him as a punching bag. She thought back, had she let him lose face in front of his henchmen?

The more Feng Ning thought about it, the more she felt that she had done wrong, she felt that she had to do something to restore her and Long San's good relationship. Thinking of this, she could no longer lie still, she put her clothes on, ran to Long San's courtyard and knocked on his room door.

Long San draped an outer garment over his shoulders, loosely tousled his hair and opened the door, it was clear that he had just fallen asleep. Seeing Feng Ning come over, he looked at her without much expression: "What?"

Feng Ning clenched her teeth, said: "I'm here to apologize."

Long San sounded an "mm", and replied: "I'm listening."

The way he held himself, high posture, not giving her any way out of embarrassment, made Feng Ning not very happy. She lowered her head, looked at his bare feet wearing slippers, really wanting to stamp on them. She moved the tips of her toes but still endured it. She mumbled to herself: "I shouldn't have thrown a temper, shouldn't have made you lose face in front of your henchmen, shouldn't have kicked you, shouldn't have flung the table......"

When she was acknowledging her wrongs she was actually quite honest, Long San was a bit surprised, he stared at the top of her head, lightly coughed twice, and said: "Then you tell me, why were you acting so unreasonably?"

Feng Ning was caught off guard, why must the reason still be analyzed when I'm apologizing? But the reason she was angry can't be told, what to do? She lifted her eyes and looked at Long San, he was staring at her waiting for her to speak, she stammered a bit, then finally composed herself: "I was jealous, I went to Jade Clothes Pavilion, and came across that Qin Ya Yin, she took the love token you gifted her and flaunted it, I...... of course I would be angry, once I was angry, I couldn't think straight, once I was unable to think calmly, I wanted to go find you...... so......"

"Love token?"  The corners of Long San's mouth hooked upwards grinning: "You were really jealous?"

Feng Ning was very unhappy, but this time since she wants to reconcile, she can only summon up the courage and force herself to admit it: "mm." She thought for a bit, then added: "This, even Xiao Qing saw, she can confirm it. So just forgive me okay? Next time I won't throw this kind of unreasonable temper."

Long San looked at her reaction and gently laughed, he warmly and tenderly closed in next to her ear and said: "Once you're willing to tell me the truth, you can come and find me." He lightly pushed her out, and closed the door.

Feng Ning looked at the tightly shut door in a daze, dumbfounded. After a long while she finally came around realizing her lie had been seen through, the unspeakable frustration in her heart, only after a while did she say through the door panels: "Don't be so stingy ah, I only have you, my single friend to speak with......"

Unfortunately no one answered her from inside, Feng Ning blankly stood there for a while, gloomily lowered her head and left.

In the next two days, sure enough, Long San did as he said, and did not see Feng Ning. Feng Ning had stamped down the fire, and exchanged it for a cold shoulder, naturally she was unhappy. But she thought it over, and felt she still couldn't tell Long San, she made up her mind to first investigate herself, just in case the matter wasn't as bad as she imagined, if the assassin was actually someone else, then she could at least straighten her spine and work it out with Long San. Thus, she paid exceptional attention to any news of that Xia Er, waiting for the moment she got better and can leave bed, intending to find her and investigate to the bottom of the matter.

Unexpectedly, things still didn't go as she anticipated, the next evening, Feng Ning suddenly received news, Xia Er continuously did not get better, so her family had come to take her home to recuperate. Xiao Qing also told Feng Ning, she heard that Xia Er's family decided they might as well take this chance to sell her to prostitution.

Feng Ning was shocked, and hurriedly ran to the side entrance of the Long Residence,  parked there was a shabby carriage, a young man handling the carriage, an old woman waiting on one side, Xia Er together with several maids, appearing to say goodbye. Feng Ning anxiously stepped forward, but didn't know what to do, under these circumstances, it was really much too inappropriate to investigate anything.

Seeing Feng Ning arrive, everyone was stunned, no one spoke any longer, the old woman came over to urge Xia Er onto the carriage, Feng Ning looked at the man handling the cart, then looked at the old woman and Xia Er, she really could not come up with any excuse to retain her, she had no other choice but to advance two steps, and call: "Xia Er......" Several maids cautiously and carefully looked at her, as if afraid that she would bother Xia Er. Feng Ning thought for a while, and finally could only say: "You haven't completely recovered, take care of yourself."

Xia Er stooped and curtsied, softly saying: "Many thanks for Madame's concern." She stood up to leave, but her legs suddenly went weak, she stumbled, and almost fell head first, Feng Ning subconsciously reached out her hand and supported her, but she never expected, that in the moment that Xia Er neared her to hold her arms for support, she extremely quietly and very quickly said one sentence: "You are not Mrs. Long San, quickly escape."

Before Feng Ning could recover, Xia Er had already retreated two steps, allowed that old woman to help her onto the carriage, the young man handling the cart whipped the horse forward, and the three quickly left. A few of the maids who saw her off began to weep, supporting each other back into the house, Feng Ning foolishly stood there, watching that carriage disappear without a trace, suspecting the words she had just heard were an illusion.

She's not Mrs. Long San? Then who was she? If she's not Mrs. Long San, then this entire Long residence's people have all been lying? How could that be possible?

Feng Ning was like a wandering soul, walking step by step back to the Long Residence. Walking, walking, unexpectedly she heard Long San's bright laughter, what was ear piercing was, along with his laughter, there was also a woman's delicate laughter . Feng Ning lifted her head, turns out she had arrived at the stone corridor garden, Long San was leading a young woman out, the two of them chatting and laughing, looking very happy conversing.

Feng Ning followed them in the distance, watching Long San send that woman through the entrance, cup his fist and salute: "Then, I will have to request this of Lady Yuan."

"San GongZi, rest assured, I will definitely honor your trust in me." That Yuan-whatever-lady gallantly cupped her fist, said goodbye and took her leave.

Long San turned around, saw Feng Ning holding the corridor pillar, impatiently watching him in the distance, he walked over and slowly said: "My courtyard's stone table has been replaced with a new one, do you want to go try lifting it?"

Feng Ning was not at all happy with his mocking, she pouted and retorted: "If you're willing to reconcile, then I can also go flip your table again."

"You're not even willing to speak the truth, how are we supposed to reconcile? If you want to go back to being the Mrs. Long San who is treated coldly, naturally I'll comply." Long San finished speaking, and unhurriedly walked off.

Feng Ning stood leaning on the corridor pillar, mentally thinking, if the truth were told, forget reconciling, she's afraid he wouldn't even want to look at her anymore. Moreover, Xia Er said she wasn't Mrs. Long San, what did that mean?

Feng Ning secretly made inquiries on Xia Er's whereabouts  after leaving the Long Residence, but heard that she was from outside of town, so she ought to have directly left the city. She dragged Xiao Qing with her again to stroll around the entire the city in an attempt to remember even the slightest memory, unfortunately, every single place was unfamiliar to her.

But to Feng Ning's surprise, two days later, a great opportunity came. Feng Ning received a letter, on it wrote "If you want to know the truth, meet me at the Liang river bank at youshi 酉时(about 5-7 pm in ancient times). I am taking risks to meet you, this should by no means be made public." The signature on the letter was Xia Er.

Feng Ning at once mentally calculated, at youshi, the sky would still be light, if she left and returned early, she should still be able to make it before the city gates closed. Xia Er doesn't know martial arts, so she shouldn't be able to do anything to her, and if there is anything fishy, she could always flee.

Thus, Feng Ning found an excuse, said she didn't feel good and would turn in early; actually, it was the old method again, she climbed over the wall, and secretly left the Long residence. She rushed the entire way there, when she reached the city gates, she happened to see the gate-keeper brother from the other day, she greeted him, then went through.

Feng Ning's ability to remember directions was pretty good, even though she had only taken this route once, but she remembered it very clearly, before it reached youshi, she already stood at the bank of the Liang river. The sound of the river water slapping the shore made her feel dizzy, the river itself she dared not look into, only standing far in the distance, looking all around for her.

After looking for a long while, she only saw several people who appeared to be fishermen carrying nets and bamboo baskets on their backs, holding firewood, walking towards the city, not even one female could be seen. Feng Ning thought, and wandered along the riverside, could it be that the that place Xia Er is waiting at is not here? She walked a length, and didn't see anyone. Just as she was thinking of whether she should turn back, she heard a androgynous voice shriek, followed closely by someone standing on the bank of the upper reaches of the river loudly shouting: "Quickly help, a woman fell into the water, help......"

Feng Ning's first reaction was Xia Er, she didn't even have time to ponder that as she subconsciously ran towards the direction of the voice, in the river, a young woman struggled with all her might, but the more she struggled, the more she sank towards the bottom of the river, it was Xia Er. Feng Ning seeing the current circumstances, felt a sudden daze, as if the river water swept upwards and was going to drag her down. Her entire body stood rigid on the spot, without the chance to divert her attention or to do any sort of movement, a sudden attack from behind, ruthlessly pushed her into the river.

Before Feng Ning could even scream, she had already been submerged by a wave of ice-cold water. Her nose, mouth, ears all filled with a rush of water, she couldn't breathe, chest was going to explode, her four limbs were out of control, struggling; in the midst of this, through the water she could see an indistinct silhouette of a man distorted by the water ripples, very quickly disappearing on the shore.

Feng Ning didn't want to die, but the ice-cold water dragging her downwards, that kind of ingrained fear tightly encircled, her four limbs were heavy, head was dizzy, as if her entire person was being sliced into fragments  by the river water, the pain was getting worse, her awareness about to dissipate, she could only feel that her body was about to split open, and the darkness corrode her.

Suddenly a pair of arms reached over, dragging her entire body out of the water. All at once, air overflowed her lungs, Feng Ning subconsciously opened her mouth wide and breathed in hard, her four limbs doing everything it could to struggle free, she didn't want to die in such a dubious way. A voice next to her ear loudly yelled: "Feng Ning, it's me, it's me, don't be afraid, don't panic......"

Feng Ning was not clear headed at all, she couldn't recognize who it was , she only knew that at this moment, she was a person near death, grabbing onto a floating log; she tightly held  onto the other person, doing everything she could to raise her head upwards, she didn't want to fall into the water again, she was so frightened.

Like Dragons Flying and Phoenixes Dancing by Ming Yue Ting Feng Chapter 11

 

Feng Ning is burdened with angst and guilt, but still striving to solve the mystery of her past. A lot of questions and self doubt begin to arise from her recent discovery. Hidden thoughts and an outburst that may well be a signs of  her blooming emotions.

The Mrs. Long San Who Unreasonably Makes a Scene to Vent

The rope's thickness and color was indeed the same as the one she saw in Long San's room that day. Feng Ning stared at those threads as if she saw a ghost, her heart beating wildly.

She couldn't have, how could she have been capable of doing this kind of thing? But those silk ropes were undeniably vivid, very clearly right before her eyes, so many ropes, and all of them weaved into that fancy knot, seemingly the result of practice.

Feng Ning's legs in a moment went weak, falling onto the chair. How could this be, how could she have an illicit affair with someone? How could she have planned to assassinate her husband? How could she be such a fierce and malicious woman?

Feng Ning could only feel cold sweat coming down, and spurts of chills down her spine. Yu Mama was right, she had a woman's intuition as well as an elderly person's insight, that's why the disgust and loathing towards her,  the coldness and severity, there was a reason behind it all.

Feng Ning tried hard to recall, Long San had said that she had liked to take her dowry maid out to play, Xiao Qing said her dowry maid had died of illness a while ago, just before her accident. In other words, if her outings were secret trysts with her lover, then her maid must have been a witness, and it just so happened that right before she went to steal the treasure and flee, the single attestant happened to die.

Could it really be this timely? So awfully coincidental.

Feng Ning did not dare to think about it, it couldn't be that that maid's death had something to do with her, right? Xiao Qing had clearly said that that maid definitely died of an illness, Doctor Chen also had examined her, this must be the fact, and it couldn't have anything to do with her, right?

Feng Ning covered her face, only feeling like she had suddenly been hit by a bolt of thunder, it was even more shocking than when she found out she had lost her memories, she stared at those silk ropes until the horizon began to suffuse with white.

Today was Long San's first time seeing Feng Ning eat with such low spirit, he looked at the dishes, they were clearly all her favorite foods, wasn't she so happy eating these the past few days that her eyes were all curved? But today, it was as if she didn't know flavor, and only cared about stuffing her mouth with food.

"What's wrong? Feeling unwell again?" She would sometimes have nightmares and come to him to complain, but that had never affected her appetite in the least, he feared today there was some sort of plight, Long San pondered, but his expression remained unchanged.

Feng Ning put her chopsticks down, suddenly conveying her thoughts: "Long San, you said that when you injured your head and fell unconscious last time, you became right again when you hit your head a second time, then how about me, can I recover if I am struck again?" She wanted badly to know what kinds of things she had done before, wanted badly to know that she wasn't such a bad person.

Long San also put his chopsticks down, and said: "I don't mind if you want to go and try, but before you do, please write a suicide note, clarify that it was you who wanted to be struck, this way, if you don't come back, I can justify myself in front of your family."  (afaasun: ha ha ha….)

Feng Ning's mouth twitched, and stood up with a clatter: "How can you act like this, whatever the case, you should at least try to persuade me, show some concern for me."

"Then just don't do it, if you become stupid after injuring your head, I would have to tell you the story again, and that would be rather tiring."

Feng Ning didn't say anything, exerting all her strength to glare at him.

Long San sighed and spread his hands out: "Then you tell me, what exactly is it that you want to do?"

Of course Feng Ning was unable to say anything, for a while she could only glare: "When I think of it, I'll tell you." And then she turned around and left.

Long San looked at the leftover dishes in front of him, and found that he had actually been wondering if that crazy woman had eaten her fill.

Feng Ning's thoughts were completely filled with those silk ropes, and had not noticed that she had eaten less than usual during this meal. She was both ashamed and confused; so this is what doing something worth feeling guilty over felt like. She didn't dare tell Long San about her finding the silk ropes, there was finally someone who treated her well, if she said it just like that, wasn't she just asking to be loathed?

The more she thought about it, the sadder she got, she still couldn't believe it, how could she be such a bad person? But this method of injuring her head again was indeed very dangerous, and inconvenient, Yu Mama the capable person in deciding the course of action in these matters, was also unreliable. But she ate the medicine, she also visited her former haunts, yet there was still no progress to be seen.

Feng Ning was extremely depressed, wandering around the entire residence, suspecting everything she saw. Those servants who evaded her gaze, could they possibly have some inside information? Those maids who turned and ran at the sight of her, could they possibly know some secret?

Feng Ning's eyes suddenly narrowed, and that maid really turned and ran after seeing her, this person, she had never seen before.

"Stop right there." Feng Ning shouted, causing the flustered and panicking maid to stop in her tracks. Feng Ning walked over with big strides: "Which staff are you part of?"

"This -this lowly servant is a maid of the clothes bureau."

"Clothes bureau?" The clothes bureau takes care of the family's tailoring, sewing, mending, and laundry, for no reason Feng Ning's heart thumped, in a stern voice she asked: "Why were you so flustered after seeing me?"

"This- this lowly servant had only suddenly remembered that there was still some work to be done, I was anxious to get back, it was not at all because I saw Furen and got flustered."

"What's your name?"

"Xia Er."

Feng Ning stared at her, not speaking anymore; Xia Er also did not dare to lift her head, agitatedly she said: "If Furen doesn't need anything else, this servant will be going back to the yard to work." Feng Ning steadily made an "mm" sound, Xia Er anxiously bowed, turned, and ran away.

Feng Ning went back to her own residence, and called Xiao Qing over: "I want two new set of clothes made, who is responsible for handling these matters?"

"In the past, Furen's new clothes were all handled by Ping Er who would find a tailor from outside to make them, the money was allotted by Yu Mama."

Feng Ning had heard before from Xiao Qing that Ping Er was that dowry maid who died of illness. She sighed inwardly, it seems that this household in terms of clothing and living accommodations indeed did not mistreat her. Seeing that she did not say anything, Xiao Qing asked: "Does Furen want new clothes made?"

"Mm, I would like to look at the new style, do you know where I used to have them made in the past?"

"I do, it was made at the eastside of town, Jade Clothes Pavilion, that place is one of the most well-known."

"Oh." Feng Ning replied: "Then where do you guys get your clothes made?"

"All servants have their clothes made by the family's clothes bureau."

"Including Ping Er's, right?"

Xiao Qing did not understand why she brought this up, but she still replied: "Yes, at that time, Ping Er's clothes were all made by the clothes bureau, there was also the matter of embroidery, cleaning clothes, cleaning blankets; these were all done by the clothes bureau."

Feng Ning thought about it, then that being said, the clothes bureau's maids must have pretty good relations with the other residents' maids, who wouldn't want nice clothes, at the very least, they had the opportunity to come into contact with each other.

The next day, Feng Ning took out a set of clothes, tore a button off, cut the threads of the lapel, and personally went to the clothes bureau. The clothes bureau's yard wasn't very big, hanging bamboo poles to dry clothes with, in one room, several maids were busy working, seeing Feng Ning come, they were all taken aback. Feng Ning looked closely, that one named Xia Er was also there, when she saw her, a look of frenzy flashed through her eyes.

Feng Ning laughed, and walked directly towards her: "You're called Xia Er, right? We met yesterday, I remembered I had a set of clothes that needed mending, and Xiao Qing isn't around, so I personally came to send it over, and could you mend it for me?"

That Xia Er composed herself, took the clothes, and agreed. Feng Ning, as if nothing had happened, looked around touching things here and there, exchanged some idle gossip with some maids, the lady who managed the bureau came in to receive her, Feng Ning politely greeted her, asked about the temperature, if the work was exhausting, the entire room awkwardly and timidly responded to her questions.

Xia Er had very quickly mended both the lapel and the buttons, Feng Ning laughed and praised her skills, after giving thanks, she took her clothes and left. When she got to the door, she suddenly turned around and said: "Oh right, Xia Er, there's still another matter." She very clearly saw Xia Er's expression quickly change from relief to being defensive, she lightly laughed: "I want two new sets of clothes made, before it should have been Ping Er who picked for me, but you and her were close, I assume you must know my tastes, moreover you're very skilled, you would know good workmanship, why don't you accompany me?"

Xia Er's face drained of color, Feng Ning said: "Tomorrow then?", she looked towards the managing lady who nodded her head in a flurry and replied yes, Feng Ning only now was satisfied, and with a laugh, she left.

After walking out the clothes bureau, Feng Ning's face dropped. Excellent, when she said that Ping Er and she were close, no one expressed any surprise at that, seems like that it was true. Judging from this, she might really be able to dig some secrets out from this Xia Er.

But the next day, Feng Ning wasn't able to drag Xia Er out, the reason for this was that she fell ill. This illness of hers was menacing, only yesterday she had been healthy not doing over half a day's work, but she actually came down with such a high fever.

Sick servants have a separate room to recuperate in, in order to avoid infecting the others. So Xia Er was put in a small room, and with Feng Ning's position, it was not convenient for her to enter, she entrusted Xiao Qing to visit and look around. Xiao Qing reported back, the fever was quite high, even after drinking herbal medicine the fever didn't go down, Yu Mama already sent Doctor Chen over to examine her.

Feng Ning felt that this incident was very odd, did Xia Er get herself sick on purpose, so that she could avoid her? The meaning behind this supposition made Feng Ning depressed, could she have really resorted to murder?

She was in low spirit, thinking about this matter while going with Xiao Qing to the Jade Clothes Pavilion that she had often gone to get her clothes done. Jade Clothes Pavilion was indeed a top quality shop, a variety of cloth colors, and many different styles of clothing, it was a feast for the eyes, and there were even cabinets full of handkerchiefs and small ornaments. Those madams and young ladies in the shop were extremely excited.

Feng Ning stood at the doorway, not having much of an impression of the place, seeing how crowded the shop was, she also lost any interest in entering, just as she was about to return to the house, she heard a woman's voice: "Oh, what a coincidence, lady assassin is also here."

Feng Ning had just turned her head, saw Qin Ya Yin, and nodded her head in greetings: "Hello Ms. Qin."

Qin Ya Yin smiled brilliantly, and lifted up her wrist: "Look, Long San GongZi's gift to me." It was a jasper bracelet, Feng Ning could not tell if it was well made, but Qin Ya Yin's attitude put Feng Ning in a rotten mood. She roughly pulled her wrist over to take a closer look, Qin Ya Yin laughed, was about to say something, but was interrupted by Feng Ning's lift of the eyes, and she spoke emphasizing every word: "Miss, wear this plaything well, I've received San Ye's order to murder according to this item. Miss, look forward to it, don't worry, I'll give you an enjoyable one."

After she finished talking, she gave a cold laugh, and without a single glance at Qin Ya Yin's rigid and contorted expression, she turned around and arrogantly walked out.

The moment Feng Ning returned to the Long Residence, the first thing she did was rush straight to Long San's courtyard. Long San was in the middle of giving orders to two servants, when they saw her coming, everyone stopped speaking, Feng Ning didn't care at all whether they were guarding against her or not, she just rushed straight to Long San, stretched her leg out and gave him a kick, while also berating him: "wasteful squanderer.........."

She moved quickly, her actions completely went beyond Long San's expectations, this time being kicked head on, before he could even understand what was going on, Feng Ning had already finished the deed and ran for it. She ran out the room, passing by the small round table, as she was passing, she also flipped the table, by the time the sound of the table falling to floor rang out, she had already disappeared out the courtyard.

Long San with a dark expression, loudly roared: "Feng Ning!" Unfortunately, she didn't even leave him a shadow to scold.

Xiao Qing's pace was slow, by the time she ran back she already saw Feng Ning walking towards her own small courtyard, she worriedly stepped forward to console her: "Furen......" But when Feng Ning turned around to face her, she actually excitedly made a fist: "That was a good vent."

After making such an unreasonable scene, she was in a great mood!