Reign of the Phoenix

Chapter 36 – General Chiyun Goes Missing
Chiyun Yuexuan took out a dagger from his clothes and held it, then rode Flash towards the inn. Murong Zhining called out behind him, “Be careful, watch out for your own safety!”

Murong Zhining looked to the direction of the distant inn while hearing the ceaseless noise of people and horses. An unsettled feeling arose in her heart.

Just shortly later, fires could be seen burning to the sky where the inn was at. Fiery flames surged and lit up the sky as the sound of fighting accompanied the long neighs of Flash echoed. Frightened, Murong Zhining hugged her own shoulders and curled up into a ball. The commotion lasted for a long time. After she remained there, laying quietly for half an incense stick of time, during which she heard the sound of over ten horses leaving, calm was finally restored in the vicinity. Murong Zhining sat there all alone in the middle of the deserted patch of land, spending a long night hiding in fear.

Up until dawn, Chiyun Yuexuan still hadn’t come back. Murong Zhining stood up, still in a daze, and headed towards the inn. She wanted to see what had happened.

The inn was burned to the ground and all that was left were broken walls. Several corpses of people dressed in black were scattered around, the server had also lost his life on the spot. The scene was extremely silent. There was no one here alive to tell Murong Zhining what had happened last night.

A whiny sounded. Flash trotted towards Murong Zhining. Overjoyed, she stroke its head and asked, “Where’s General Chiyun?”

Flash only let out a low neigh and kept digging the soil with its hooves, as if to tell her that its owner would never come back.

Murong Zhining’s legs went soft. She stumbled to the ground, her mind completely blank. She refused to think of Chiyun Yuexuan’s whereabouts and repeatedly lied to herself: Chiyun Yuexuan must have returned to Huayan for some urgent matter and didn’t have the time to say goodbye.

After a long internal struggle, Murong Zhining wiped her tears, then held Flash’s reins as they slowly headed for the main road. She had decided to return to Nanjin on her own. Flash was too tall, she couldn’t get on it without Chiyun Yuexun’s help. But she couldn’t bear to leave it here either, so she led it down the main road, slowly following a straight line southward to Nanjin. At night, she would stop by the fields to find a place to rest. Flash would always eat grass not far away from her, occasionally digging the ground with its hooves fretfully. Murong Zhining’s eyes burned with tears knowing that Flash was missing its owner.

Murong Zhining traveled by day and rested at night. She firmly told herself, she must return to her imperial parents and get to the bottom of things once and for all.

The third day on the main road, Murong Zhining looked utterly weak and miserable. Pulling the reins, she unsteadily walked step by step. After several days in a row without properly eating anything, her footsteps had become extremely shallow. The hand holding the reins loosened and fell as Murong Zhining fell to the side of the road. Flash whined uneasily beside her, its hot breath sprayed right on her face.

In a distance behind, a troop appeared on the main road. Murong Zhining frantically tried to get to her feet, wanting to flee to the fields, but unable to gather any strength to stand up. She told Flash with sorrow, “Hurry and run, you don’t have to follow me.”

Flash animatedly dug the ground with its hooves and didn’t leave. Murong Zhining gradually lost consciousness.

……

Feeling something cold on her face, Murong Zhining was jolted awake to be greeted by Tuoba Lan’s worried eyes. Tuoba Zhi’s deep voice also echoed feebly by her ears. “Miss Murong, you’re finally awake.”

Tuoba Lan wiped her face with a wet cloth. “Big Sister Murong, why did you faint on the road? Where is General Chiyun?”

Tuoba Zhi tugged on Tuoba Lan’s sleeves. “Miss Murong is very weak right now, don’t ask so much. Let’s talk after she gets better.”

Tuoba Lan muttered an assent.

Murong Zhining looked around. She was lying inside the Tuoba family’s horse carriage, Tuoba Lan was patiently feeding her warm water.

Tuoba Lan heaved a sigh of relief, “It’s lucky that we’re the ones who saw you, big sister. If it had been some bad people, I can’t imagine the consequences. Big brother has sent people to cook porridge for you. Just relax and rest.”

The carriage traveled unhurriedly. Soon after, someone rode a fast horse over with a crock of millet porridge. Having recovered a litte, Murong Zhining anxiously asked, “Where is Flash?”

Tuoba Lan blew on the hot porridge. “You mean that black horse? Welp, it’s following right behind.” She lifted the curtain with one hand to reveal Flash slowly and steadily following the carriage. Murong Zhining was caught between grief and joy knowing that Flash had taken her to be its master when Chiyun Yuexuan wasn’t present. Tears quietly trickled down her face.

Tuoba Lan could guess her situation to some degree. She comforted while feeding Murong Zhining the millet porridge, “General Chiyun is a blessed person, he will be fine. You should be at ease and take good care of yourself.”

When the sun finally set, the cavalcade stopped at a large inn with fluttering wine flags. Tuoba Zhi came over to carry Murong Zhining off the carriage. Murong Zhining blushed in embarrassment. “I… I can dismount myself, Miss Tuoba only needs to give me a hand.”

Tuoba Lan gave her a nudge. “Let my brother carry you, you’re too weak right now.”

Tuoba Zhi lifted up Murong Zhining and carried her upstairs into a room, then he carefully placed her down on the bed.

Murong Zhining looked at him gratefully. “Thank you for your help, Mister Tuoba. I’ve troubled you again this time.”

Tuoba Zhi gently and politely looked back at her. “Miss Murong is too serious. It’s my blessing to be able to take care of you. I’ll definitely deliver you to Nanjin safe and sound. You can travel with us without worry.”

Murong Zhining lowered her head and asked in a small voice, “How much longer until we arrive at Nanjin?”

Tuoba Zhi’s eyes never left Murong Zhining. “At our current speed, it should take about half a month. Your body is currently unsuitable for quick traveling. If you need to send a letter to inform your family of your safety, I will have someone deliver it on fast horse.”

Murong Zhining quietly spoke, “No need, I’m only afraid that I would have to trouble you for too long a time.”

Tuoba Zhi’s response was a sincere smile. “I’ve said it already, it’s my blessing to be able to take care of you. If you can put your trust in me, Miss Murong, you can confide what’s in your heart to me. If you don’t want to say it, I won’t probe.”

Murong Zhining gave him an apologetic look. “When we reach Nanjin, I’ll tell you all about it.”

Tuoba Zhi smiled gracefully. “Good.”

Tuoba Lan tiptoed into the room and patted Tuoba Zhi on the shoulder. Startled, Tuoba Zhi’s eyes quickly turned from Murong Zhining to her. “Lan’er, you’re being naughty again. If your future husband doesn’t possess a big gut, I’m afraid he may not live for long.”

Murong Zhining covered her mouth and smiled beautifully.

Tuoba Lan pouted. “I only wanted to hear what you two were talking about. My future husband will certainly be a hero like General Chiyun, how can he not have a big gut?”

It must have been a slip of the tongue, because Tuoba Lan immediately stuck out her tongue shyly right after. Tuoba Zhi and Murong Zhining looked at her and nodded in unison. “Uh huh….”

Tuoba Lan flushed beet red in embarrassment.

Tuoba Zhi was secretly delighted for a moment there. From Murong Zhining’s expression, he could tell that she didn’t hold any special feelings for Chiyun Yuexuan. Back in the manor, he once suspected that they were a couple, before he discovered that Murong Zhining’s attitude towards Chiyun Yuexuan was especially cold. Tuoba Zhi also speculated about her identity, he hoped that Murong Zhining wasn’t a princess who was impossible for him to reach.

Tuoba Lan mischievously pushed Tuoba Zhi out of the room. “You’re leaving. I want to help Big Sister Murong bathe and change clothes.”

Tuoba Zhi reluctantly left the room.

Tuoba Lan ordered the hot water to be poured into the big bathtub in the room. She helped Murong Zhining untie her sash. “Lan’er will help Big Sister Murong bathe and change.”

Murong Zhining refused with a red face, “How can I let you do this? You are a noble young miss yourself, how can I let you serve me?”

Tuoba Lan misspoke, “Big bro said Big Sister Murong is the prin… princess…” She quickly covered her mouth. “Don’t worry, Big Sister Murong. My brother and I aren’t trying to please you because you’re a princess. No matter if you’re a princess or not, we like you all the same.”

Murong Zhining was secretly taken aback, it seemed she had underestimated Tuoba Lan’s observation. she stroked Tuoba Lan’s babyish face. “I know you guys are good people, it’s just that I have my reasons for not telling you the truth. I’m so sorry.”

Tuoba Lan smiled sweetly. “Being able to serve you is a blessing of Lan’er.”

Tuoba Lan gently washed Murong Zhining’s back. Suddenly, her eyes were caught on the brand with the characters “Chiyun,” clearly distinguishable and terrifying.

Tuoba Lan’s hand holding the towel froze a little. She didn’t dare to pry, though. Murong Zhining could feel her hesitation, she said, “Do you want to ask about that mark? It was from one time when I tripped and fell right on the burning seal.” Murong Zhining didn’t want to ruin the image of Chiyun Yuexuan in Tuoba Lan’s heart. She didn’t want to tear open the scar on her heart either.

Tuoba Lan felt bad as she gently stroke the mark. “How could you be so careless. It must have hurt a lot.”

A layer of mist gathered in Murong Zhining’s eyes. Compared to the physical pain, her heart ached much more intensely.

After the bath, Tuoba Lan helped Murong Zhining changed into new clothes – a set of bright yellow gowns made of Fragrant Cloud silk. Murong Zhining looked charming and lovely in it. The Fragrant Cloud silk was a kind of half-transparent material with a light texture very complicated to produce. It was a rare luxury only affordable by extremely rich and noble families.

The servant had also set the food on the table. Tuoba Zhi elegantly walked into the room. He came to accompany Murong Zhining for dinner.

Gentle and hospitable as ever, Tuoba Zhi personally served food into Murong Zhining’s bowl. Murong Zhining looked at him gratefully. “Thank you for your cordiality, Mister Tuoba. Ning’er is scared for having nothing to repay you.”

Tuoba Lan teased, “You can repay whenever you want, big sister. My brother is still single.”

Tuoba Zhi slightly knocked her head with the chopsticks. “Your Big Sister Murong is of noble birth. How can your brother be worthy of her?”

Murong Zhining blushed. “Mister Tuoba said it too seriously. There is no such thing as status incompatibility in this world, only whether if one has enough fate!”

Tuoba Lan foolishly nodded. “Yeah, Big Sister Murong is right.”

When it was bedtime, Tuoba Lan dug her heels in and refused to leave. “Let me stay here with you, big sister. We can chat about things, and the bed in this room is big enough.”

Murong Zhining smiled. “I would love that.”

While Tuoba Lan was only one year younger than Murong Zhining, but her personality was still that of a child. She pestered Murong Zhining, asking this and that, “Is General Chiyun your sweetheart? Lan’er feels that, although he is very cold, he’s just the right match for you. Oh, right! There’s no way General Chiyun would leave you for no reason. Where did he go?”

Murong Zhining tried to hold back her tears. “It’s not like that between me and General Chiyun. General Chiyun… he… has no fate with me. We lost contact several days ago. Even until now, I… still don’t know whether he’s still alive or not.”

Tuoba Lan’s expression turned solemn. “General Chiyun will be fine. He is the most manly, most handsome guy Lan’er has ever seen.” She paused a little before continuing, “Right, how did you get to know General Chiyun? Tell me about it, please? Lan’er wants to know.”

Helpless as she looked at Tuoba Lan’s innocent face, Murong Zhining scratched her nose a little. “I’m so tired right now. I’ll tell it to you another day.”

When Murong Zhining turned her body around, tears were already streaming on her face.

In the morning, Tuoba Zhi had already arranged for a lavish breakfast table when they woke up. Tuoba Lan excitedly pulled Murong downstairs and sat down at the table. With great interest, Tuoba Zhi watched the two girls eating, his eyes full of smiles. “Today, we’ll pass by a villa a friend of mine owns. I’ve decided that we will stay there for two days.”

Tuoba Lan pursed her lips. “That Mister Lian again? He’s a playboy, he’ll teach you bad things.”

Tuoba Zhi rolled his eyes at her. “Lan’er, you are becoming more and more unruly these days. Since the road has been so difficult and tedious, it’s reasonable to play for just two days. When your Big Sister Murong gets better, we can travel a little faster. It won’t delay our schedule.”

Afternoon, the cavalcade arrived at a small town. Tuoba Lan introduced to Murong Zhining in high spirits, “This is Xingzhou County. They have the most delicious tangerines here that’s famous all over the country.”

Tuoba Zhi rode his horse along the carriage. “Lan’er, you only know how to eat. But you’re right, we come at the right time for tangerines.”

The instant they entered through the entrance, a handsome young man wearing a plum-red brocade robe and a jade crown was there to welcome them with a group of male servants. The young man was tall and refined. Judging from his outfit and manner, he indeed looked like the amorous and romantic type.