** Li – old Chinese measurement equates to 500 meters (0.3 Miles). Hence, the party was waiting for them 7km and 4.5 Miles from the city walls.
Silence is a golden sound – saying in Chinese, you keep quite you will win the gold medal with a mental strategy.
Safflower – although the varieties are more yellowish orange, I had a peek and the dried version looks more reddish. In Chinese this flower is given the name ‘Red flower’.
**Medicinal - drugged soup** - remember Official Xia has been added things into Feng Ming’s beverages to help him sleep better.
---- --- --- --- --- -- --- --- ---- --- --- -- ---- ---
The men’s laughs ceased.
Rong Tian lowered his head, “He won’t be making a move now, however if he incites you to make any changes to the original journey plans, it may be the prelude of his treachery.”
Feng Ming affirmed the King’s warning with a nod before quietly leaving the cart with Li Er.
“Prince, Official Zhang has been awaiting your arrival.” Official Xia greeted the Prince with a big grin as he pointed towards his welcoming party.
“Since the Prince has outdone himself in Fan Jia, Prince’s status as reached a new plateau. Countries are eager to cater to you. This time they sent a delegate to greet us fifteen Li ** away from the city! Prince is certainly the pride of Xi Rei.”
Feng Ming heeded the King’s cautions so he was on alert. He watched the old man’s moves very closely whilst he nodded his head absentmindedly.
Nearby Official Zhang was gathered with a small crowd of important figure heads, they were pleased to see him.
“It’s been many days, pray the Prince has been well?” The warm official smiled ear to ear as he lifted his cupped hands to greet the Prince. “Yong Yin’s Zhang Qian at your service, we have been looking forwards to this reunion.”
“Sorry for all the trouble.”Feng Ming sincerely replied.
“The hostel for the Prince and his guests have been prepared, Zhang has readied a grand feast. Please Prince proceed towards the city.”
Everyone was weary from being on the road for days on end so naturally the chance to rest was enticing. The envoy from Xi Rei made haste and entered the city to celebrate their achievements thus far.
When night settled in, the promised grand feast was buzzing with energy and the scent of tantalizing food permeated the air. Official Zhang played personal host to the Prince. Feng Ming invited General Tong, official Xia and Li Er to accompany him.
Rong Tian stayed hidden in Feng Ming’s new sleeping quarters at the inn. Before Li Er’s departure the King commanded, “Go along, be careful.”
Li Er was a clever one, during the entire evening he stayed beside the Prince. Each time alcohol was thrust in front of his master he would swiftly interfere and down it in his place. Lie Er was an abnormally attractive youngster, even for his age he was a skilled courtesan. Switching on an air of charm and seduction was child’s play as he immediately attracted many of the guests. He gave Feng Ming a run for his money in the limelight.
After three rounds, Official Xia’s face was flushed as he radiated alcohol’s warmth. He shuffled closer to the Prince and tug softly at Feng Ming’s sleeve. Gaining the Prince’s attention he whispered, “Li Er is acting strange today, Prince better stay alert.”
Although Li Er had been dragged a short distance away by Official Zhang he kept in check by using his peripheral vision. Seeing that Official Xia was only chitchatting to his master he returned to the duty of consuming endless cups of heavy wine.
Official Xia glanced towards the outside and asked, “Prince, I want to talk to you privately. Perhaps if would be better to step outside.”
If the same question had been asked yesterday, Feng Ming would have darted outside with no reservations. Today he shook his head calmly and whispered, “It’s cold and dark outside, Official Xia if you have something you wish to tell me, you can do it here.”
The old man chortled and stroked his beard. He was rather tipsy and started to speak rumblings like a drunkard. “The Third Princess is famous far and wide, yet she is not the most beautiful woman in the world. Do you know who has that t.i.tle?”
Feng Ming blinked and shook his head.
The old man heaved and looked out of the window to the starry sky. In a sad tone he gave the answer, “She is a songstress from Fan Jia, her name is Mei Ji. She was originally born into n.o.bility. At fourteen she was given the t.i.tle of the most beautiful woman in the world. Unfortunately, her father committed an offence to the King. The King had every male in the family executed and all the women were abducted and sold to various trades. She eventually wounded up in entertaining men by performing as a singer.”
The Prince looked at the female entertainers that were performing for him and his party. He thought about the stories he knew from his other life, how women were treated like a commodity in the flesh trade. Such a tragic life she must have had. It was like her life came from the dramas on television. He couldn’t help but to sigh, “How sad.”
“However, with her virtue and intelligence, within a year she became well acquainted with the big guns from several countries. She acc.u.mulated enough wealth to be able to buy her independence back from her masters.”
As he spoke Xia’s face was becoming more animated and so was his demeanor. He knitted his brows, “However, she did not want to leave the entertainment business, rather ascended back into a n.o.ble status she remained a lowly singer.”
“Oh?” Feng Ming was surprised and pressed, “Why did she?”
There was a faint smile on the old man’s lips, “When she was asked, she said that ‘All men in the world are the same, there is no one worthy to entrust her happiness and future to.’ Even if she left the industry she would still hold the same sentiments.”
The Prince shook his head.
“Her ideology is a bit extreme, surely after a while she will figure out that she wants someone to be there for her. Once she finds the right man to settle down with she would change her mind.”
“Prince, Mei Ji has a prestigious t.i.tle thus her suitors come in endless streams. If they weren’t dignitaries they were wealthy and extremely capable people. None of them has ever convinced her otherwise. Finally, one day an anonymous youth asked to be served by Mei Ji.”
Feng Ming tilted his head in curiosity, “That kid captured her heart?”
“Correct.” Official Xia firmly replied. He stroked his beard and nodded.
“This young man sat in front of Mei Ji for four hours and did not utter a word and left.”
“What? He didn’t even say anything? How did he manage to win her heart? Was he mute?” Feng Ming frowned, a bit disappointed.
His subordinate laughed, “Prince, you are really an interesting character. The young man had not even conversed with her, but when he got up to leave Mei Ji finally broke the silence.”
“She said, ‘I was wrong.’”
nbsp; "Wrong?"
“Yes, after intensely staring into the juvenile eyes in silence for hours on end, it dawned on Mei Ji that not all the men in this world are the same. She finally felt a slither of hope that men can be trusted. When the young man left, she told her maids, ‘If that youth becomes a King one day, Mei Ji is willing to serve him as a concubine.’ Not long after she paid her dues and left the limelight. She has since lived in seclusion and her whereabouts are unknown.”
The Old man was lost in thought his eyes were distant as if he was savoring the elegant and sweet memories of Mei Ji.
“Such a beautiful woman carries her self so, how can men not dream of her?” The corners of his mouth curled into a bittersweet smile. “Does Prince know who the youth was?”
Feng Ming blanked momentarily he wasn’t acquainted with many people let alone ones with such capabilities. Within a second the answer hit him and he blurted, “Rong Wong?”
“Prince is really clever.” The man reached over to pour Feng Ming a bowl of medicinal soup.
“King Rong was quite young when he left Xi Rei on his first official tour. Indeed it was our King that stole the heart of the number one beauty. This news made an incredible impact across every country. It also heightened caution, as a formidable power was rising in Xi Rei. King Rong became a ‘legendary hero’ at the same time Ruo Yan was given a similar t.i.tle.”
A distasteful sourness was welling in the back of Feng Ming’s throat. He had known Rong Tian and Ruo Yan were famous across the realms and idolized as heroes. It was that he thought his lover’s claim to fame was contribution to some type of historical event. He was not pleased to find that the King’s heroic t.i.tle was issued under the premise of courting women.”
Official Xia was unaware of the Prince’s displeasure he continued to praise the King, “Rong w.a.n.g makes Xi Rei proud, his words can persuade many. On the battlefield he is flawless, who can put up a fight against him?”
Feng Ming pouted and bitterly muttered, “Silence is a golden sound. Mental strategies are better than someone who hogs the spotlight. It is more effective to keep your plans under wraps, like me. I would not be yelling out commands.”
“Silence is a golden sound.”** The man repeated thinking about the Prince’s words before his face became animated again.
“Does Prince…want to see just how attractive Mei Ji is?”
A woman like her to be won over by the likes of the Regent King was very tempting. It immediately perked Feng Ming’s interest so he swiveled around and asked, ‘Do you have a painting of her portrait?”
If there were cameras in this age it would have been great, they could capture her and he could have seen her in much refined detail.
“I don’t have any portraits.”
Seeing the Prince’s disappointment Official Xia exposed a sly smile.
“However I have caught word that, Mei Ji lives in the outskirts of this city. The distance is around 3 Li, in place called ‘Endless Red Valley’. There are several hot springs, safflowers** are in bloom all year round it is truly a beautiful sight. We can sneak out and take General Tong’s horse and ride there to seek her out. On the way back we can enjoy the hot springs, doesn’t it sound good? If we leave and return within four hours we are guaranteed not to be noticed.”
Face with such a tempting suggestion Feng Ming was feeling restless he knew the hidden dangers behind the invitation. Had it not been for the Regent King’s insight and now the cloud of doubt hanging over the Official’s head he would have nodded and rushed out of the city with out anyone detecting them.
Feng Ming s.h.i.+fted his eyes and nodded, “Alright, I will go with you.” and he continued, “Can you fetch Li Er for me? I will head back to my room and change into more appropriate riding gear. I will meet you back in the courtyard. I will secretly ride General Tong’s prized horse and about Official Xia’s horse…”
The old man rushed, “Prince does not need to worry about my ride. Please go and prepare.”
Feng Ming took advantage of the drunken atmosphere to slip out unnoticed. The feast was still in full blast. When he made his way to the exit he signaled Li Er with his eyes before quickly pacing towards his bedchamber.