There's Something I Have To Tell You (Rise of the Phoenixes)

Chapter 11

It took another week before the Emperor allowed the issue with Zhang Sunhong to be raised again in court, and he delayed scheduling summoning him yet another week, giving the excuse that he was to hold a banquet with his sons and daughter to say farewell to the Jinshi delegation the following evening and did not want to spoil the mood.

The rest of the Imperial Court accepted his decision immediately.

----

Ning Yi spent the afternoon penning another letter to Zhiwei, telling her he wished she would be there with him, reminiscing of the Emperor's birthday where she went on the arm of Helian Zheng. He knew the letter wouldn't reach Zhiwei before the banquet, but he thought it mattered to tell her as soon as he was aware of the banquet.

He sent it off with Ning Cheng to have it delivered before returning to his weaving room. He was finally done with the most intricate robe -- a wedding robe -- he had ever made in his life. He ran his fingers over the beautiful silk. A smile touched his lips and excitement thrummed in his heart.

Ya Le came to see Ning Yi but stopped at the doorway to watch him in his quiet moment of happy contemplation.

Ning Yi, despite himself, heard his mother come in. He turned to her with a bright smile. "Mother," he greeted. "I have something for you." He reached into his sleeve and withdrew a letter.

Ya Le came toward him and took the sealed letter from his hands. Her fingers shook a little. "What is it?"

"A letter," Ning Yi said simply.

Ya Le knew that Ning Yi would not be in this jovial mood if she were in danger, but who would write to her? She broke the seal and gasped.

"My dearest Ya Le,

Your son has informed me that you survived your ordeal. At first, I couldn't believe it. I thought it another trick orchestrated to frame me and use my presence in Tiansheng in this maddening game of theirs.

But he convinced me he was different, convinced me you made him different.

I hope this letter reaches you and you are well. I leave with Prince Helian Zheng the morning after the Emperor's banquet. It is my hope that I can see you once more before then. I may never return to Tiansheng, for fear that someone in this political mess would reveal that I am alive and cause more trouble.

Zhanbi"

Ya Le looked up at Ning Yi, a look of gratitude and of trepidation on her gracefully aging features. "Why would you tell him? Your father could kill you!" she whispered urgently.

Ning Yi placed his hands over hers that still clutched the letter from her long lost love. "Zhanbi faked his death once, because Ning Sheng had lured him to the memorial I had set up for you. He waits only to escape back to Jinshi then perhaps home to Dayue, as he can no longer pretend he is a diplomat here. He has just as much to lose if anyone knows he is alive."

"Why then? Tell me what you want me to do with this," she pleaded, waving the letter. Her heart ached at how calculatingly Ning Yi spoke of Zhanbi's actions. She never wanted this for him.

"I want you to be happy," Ning Yi said tenderly. "This is a chance to start anew, have the life you should have had with him."

"Yi-er," Ya Le whispered her son's name. "I missed that chance a long time ago."

Ning Yi shook his head but still smiled at her. "No, this is your opportunity."

"Your father knows I'm here in your household," she said. "If I leave, he will suspect others know the truth. He will suspect rebellion. There is no more spell that can protect you!"