"Desde que pude entender, fui aprendiendo a no esperar la vuelta de mi padre. Con él presente, el ambiente era opresivo, los sentimientos bajos, sin el dulce y amable hogar de antes con mis padres e hija. Aunque era un hombre inútil para mí."
"Mi madre siempre me enseñó que si bien la mayoría de las mujeres son como enredaderas dependientes, algunas no tenían esa suerte y debían aprender a vivir por sí mismas. Si se quedaban esperando a la mala suerte, prefería tener independencia, con lo que podría ganar la vida."
"Mi madre me enseñó muchas cosas, también a mi hermano. Pero mi hermano no tenía talento, ella decía que yo era la mayor y si el pequeño no era capaz, eventualmente yo tendría que cuidarlo a él y ella, así es como lo vería. Siempre he recordado esto."
"Pelea sin sentido!" Ning Yi protestó, "¿Cómo puede ser justo obligarte a mantener a toda una familia con solo tu débil hombro?"
"La familia Feng no tiene debilidades." La mirada de Feng Zhiwei era clara y tranquila. "Si las mujeres del clan Feng son débiles, ya están en el suelo."
Ning Yi la miró, asintió con una mano suavemente entre las de ella, que eran frías y jugosas, pero con un ligero y duro manto de piel. Las uñas de sus manos le daban una sensación punzante bajo su palma.
Feng Zhiwei bajó la mirada y sonrió, retirando su mano.
"A los cuatro años, mi padre rara vez estaba. Vivíamos en un bosque profundo, lejos del mundo." Sus ojos brillaron al recordar, "Cuando él no estaba, aprendí a ser fuerte por mí misma."
Ning Yi asintió, comprendiendo que su carácter indiferente y decisorio se había forjado a través de los años de lucha.
"Sólo aquellos que han estado en el barro pueden querer liberarse aún más." Continuó Feng Zhiwei con una sonrisa brillante, "¿Qué es un buen hombre? ¿Usted, Su alteza?"
Su pregunta fue directa y aguda. Ning Yi no esperaba tal cuestión, quedando sorprendido.
"¿Crees que eres confiable?" Preguntó Feng Zhiwei con voz baja pero firme, "Estudiaste el arte del dragón de montaña, tratas a los prisioneros como dragones, asesinas a los verdaderos dragones y manejas la espada del dragón. Ganarías controlando al mundo entero, perderías tu vida si te derrotaran. ¿Con qué prometes una vida perfecta?"
"¿Crees que puedes sacrificarte por mí?" Ella sonrió dulcemente pero la mirada era como un cuchillo cortante, "Tu corazón es de piedra, tus manos de hierro y jamás renunciarías a ti mismo por nadie. Incluso rehúses el talento del joven Qingling, te mantendrás desconfiado hacia mí, siempre vigilando. Si llego a ser parte de tu corte en el futuro, ¿cómo permitirías que tu vida sea libre?"
"De acuerdo con todo esto", sonrió Feng Zhiwei, ofreciendo a Ning Yi un tazón lleno de té, "El príncipe de Chu Ning Yi es insuficiente!"
Ning Yi asió su tazón y se rio.
"No fui yo quien estaba equivocado," dijo, poniendo su tazón sobre la mesa. "No me has querido en mis brazos, me he dado cuenta de que no puedes encerrar a una mujer como tú. Tendrás que someterme primero!"
Feng Zhiwei sonrió sin decir nada.
"Necesitas mi consentimiento." Ning Yi suspiró, "Pero..."
Se detuvo, mostrando un rostro incierto y desolado. Era raro verlo así.
"¿Qué sobre ellos?" Preguntó Ning Yi, mirando hacia el patio trasero. "Bien, destacado?"
Feng Zhiwei parpadeó: "¿Quién?"
Ning Yi se puso más serio, agachándose y tomando un sorbo de té sin decir nada.
Feng Zhiwei observó su rostro, sintiendo una alegría inesperada. Sonrió: "Situ Señor Zuo domina las praderas pero no duerme en paz. Los doce clanes de la Hoolo no son unidos y cada uno tiene recursos diferentes. Las discusiones se prolongan anualmente, aunque el Situ nació de la Primera Princesa, la estabilidad de su poder en el reino es incierta debido a los muchos casamientos y la compleja relación entre las tribus. Incluso con la presencia del clan real, hay cincuenta personas que pueden heredar el trono, demasiados para dormir plácidamente! Ning Yi, sin importar cuán estable, solo tendrías una décima parte de las esposas en el campamento real. Insuficiente!"
Ning Yi miró un árbol lejano, sus ramas danzaban extrañamente.
"¿Y Gu Nanyi?"
Feng Zhiwei quedó en silencio, interrumpiendo el flujo de palabras de Ning Yi. Ning Yi la observó con una cara más oscura y tomó un sorbo de té sin decir nada.
Después de un largo rato, Feng Zhiwei finalmente dijo: "Preguntaste mal."Ning Yi slammed his hands on the table, a wry smile on his face: "I actually hope I'm wrong, and that everything is wrong."
He poured tea for Feng Zhiwei, his expression now calm and composed, saying, "Zhiwei, you are known for your intelligence, but emotions cannot be analyzed through political means. When it comes to matters of the heart, if we try to dissect them with logic and calculation, what is the point?"
"Can the King teach me?" Feng Zhiwei raised an eyebrow, thinking, "Can the first man in the world who claims to have no feelings also tell me about love?"
"Forget about gains and losses, forget about the future, just ask about the present." Ning Yi gripped her hand holding the teacup, "Your heart."
Feng Zhiwei lowered her eyes, watching Ning Yi's fingers gently caressing hers, his fingertips lightly touching, refusing to let her retreat. This man, no matter what, always wanted to keep her at arm's length.
"Giving up my heart is a risk; for others, it's a reward. But for you and me..."
...and for that face that was eerily similar to hers, a face she couldn't afford to lose.
"My heart belongs where it should be," Feng Zhiwei retracted her hand, a slight smile on her lips, "Perhaps one day, it will shift and turn, and that's just fine."
"I don't want it to shift, I just want to control it," Ning Yi smirked, "Just wait and see, there are no men in this world who are as cold as you."
Feng Zhiwei smiled, thinking, "You're not cold, you're just pretending. If you say you're not cold, your elder brother would be crying in the dark."
"It's still Xiaoxiao," Ning Yi turned the conversation back, "Old Five has made a mess of things, and the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Personnel can't let him get away with it. You've put yourself in a dead end today, and tomorrow, Old Five will come to apologize. What will you do?"
"I'll certainly have a way to atone," Feng Zhiwei smiled, "You've put so much effort into that monkey, and now it's just a matter of lighting a fire. Whoever is responsible, I'll take the blame."
Ning Yi watched her with a playful expression.
"I am 'The Nation's Savior,' everyone knows, and the prophecy says that whoever saves the nation will also inherit the throne. In this situation, Prince Wu will definitely try to use me to gain power, and before that, I need to show my strength..." Feng Zhiwei's eyes flashed, and she leaned towards Ning Yi, whispering, "Let's pretend now!"
She suddenly bit Ning Yi's ear!
Ning Yi was stunned, the stoic man seemed to have been struck by lightning.
Feng Zhiwei quickly overturned the table!
"Your Highness is being impolite!" Amidst the spilled tea and overturned furniture, she tore at her sleeve, grabbed a piece of broken porcelain, and charged at Ning Yi, brandishing it like a sword, "Defiling one's virtue is a crime!"
The movements were swift and precise, Ning Yi, who had been in a state of chaos, was completely overwhelmed.
"This is not just a matter of personal feelings," Ning Yi said, "You have to consider the consequences."
"What consequences?" Feng Zhiwei tilted her head, her eyes sparkling, "Besides, if you don't like me, you can just kill me!"
Ning Yi smiled, "You're being too harsh. You can't just kill someone because they offended you. Think about the consequences."
"If you kill me, you'll be hated by everyone, and you'll lose support," Feng Zhiwei said, "And what about your family?"
Ning Yi sighed, "I know. That's why I'm not going to kill you."
"Then what are you going to do?" Feng Zhiwei asked, her eyes full of curiosity.
"I'm going to try to win you over," Ning Yi said, "But I'm not going to force you. I'm going to show you that I'm the best choice for you."
"And if you can't win me over?" Feng Zhiwei asked.
"Then I'll just have to accept that," Ning Yi said, "And I'll try to make the best of it."
"So, you're saying that you're willing to take risks?" Feng Zhiwei asked.
"I am," Ning Yi said.
"Then tell me," Feng Zhiwei said, "What are your weaknesses?"
Ning Yi smiled, "I don't have any weaknesses."
Feng Zhiwei laughed, "That's impossible!"
"Impossible," Ning Yi said.
Feng Zhiwei was silent.
"Well," Ning Yi said, "What are your dreams?"
"My dream is to make everyone happy," Feng Zhiwei said.
"And what about your own happiness?" Ning Yi asked.
"My own happiness is to be with you," Feng Zhiwei said.
"Then let's make a deal," Ning Yi said.
"What deal?" Feng Zhiwei asked.
"I'll give you everything you want," Ning Yi said.
"And what do you want from me?" Feng Zhiwei asked.
"I want your heart," Ning Yi said.
"I don't think I can give you that," Feng Zhiwei said.
"Why not?" Ning Yi asked.
"Because I don't love you," Feng Zhiwei said.
"Then why are you with me?" Ning Yi asked.
"Because I want to be with you," Feng Zhiwei said.
"Then let's make a deal," Ning Yi said.
"What deal?" Feng Zhiwei asked.
"I'll give you everything you want," Ning Yi said.
"And what do you want from me?" Feng Zhiwei asked.
"I want your heart," Ning Yi said.