Legend of Fu Yao

Meng Fuyao broke down as she pushed the tiles in front and screamed, “Three bullying one, I’m not playing anymore. Change player!” Then, she dragged Ya Lanzhu to the table while she watched from the sidelines.

Ya Lanzhu took over. She did not bother to take a calculated risk or keep tabs on the tiles of others. Therefore, those trying to control the situation were unable to do so as she played happily and randomly without care. Meanwhile, Lord Yuan Bao continued to discard its card in a corner—when it lifts up one of its claw: one bamboo, two claws: two bamboos so on and so forth. When it showed off its butt, the tile was a whiteboard, if it stuck out its tongue, it would be a red ‘zhong’ etc.

They played till dawn, and the house, ten acres of land, a dozen attendants, and the ruby bracelet that Meng Fuyao lost all ended up in Ya Lanzhu’s hands. Meng Fuyao flipped the table in anger. ‘Indeed, there is a difference in moral standing, but there are no limits to biasness! How hurtful.’

She got changed, laden with grief and ran — straight to the execution grounds.

Today, at Heaven Demon Dynasty’s capital, its dragon execution grounds on the main street was where Zhan Beiheng was to be executed!

Dragon execution grounds.

For officials above the fourth rank and royals, the dragon execution grounds was where they enjoyed their last moments.

The foggy drizzle made the execution grounds more slippery than usual, washing away the dirt to reveal clearly the grains on the ground. The grains on the ground was slightly red, a result of countless people’s blood soaking through the floors. Beside the execution grounds sat a ferocious-looking Black Dragon with its fangs bared, waiting for its new blood sacrifice.

The table for the officials to sit was already on the execution grounds. Kou Qihong, the main in charge of this case sat in the seat in the middle, while Meng Fuyao sat beside him as the vice.

The huge executor’s knife gleamed. The whole area was surrounded by bamboo screens—after all, it was the very first time a royal was being executed ever since the start of Tiansha. Zhan Beiheng could be considered the most distinguished person that the execution grounds had seen. In order to give Zhan Beiheng the deserving treatment as a royal, bamboo screens were set up and other than the officials, the citizens were stopped three streets away. Even when he was executed, it was taken place inside the bamboo screens to prevent the head of a royal from rolling around, hurting the dignity of the royal family.

High summer was over, and the cold traces of autumn seeped through the hearts of people. The raindrops that landed on the execution grounds swirled the crimson red blood into beautiful flowers that bloomed in sorrow.

The sound of the cart clanged in a monotonous tone, almost a little terrifying in that silence. Gradually, in the ox cart, a disheveled Zhan Beiheng in cangue ¹appeared in the field of vision of the numerous officials.

To think that the distinguished and imperious Prince Heng in the days of yore would end up in such a state. The many officials of Tiansha revealed wistful, desolated expression as they looked up at the grey skies. The troops across River Qi would eventually make their way there, they thought, like the grey skies hanging above the city, Zhan Beiye would make his way there. They could not help but feel that it was an ominous omen. It was as though the end of Prince Heng was the end of Tiansha; that the fresh blood flowing out Prince Heng’s neck was but the start of the river of blood that would be flowing.

A royal could end up with his head on the ground in an instant, why couldn’t the palace collapse the same?

In that instant, the capital was silent.

In that instant, the entire world, surprised, was paying attention to this bizarre case as they waited for the storms and schemes to unfold themselves.

In that instant, Meng Fuyao watched Zhan Beiheng, thinking about the Grand Preceptor Zhou that died by his assassination.

The two turncoat officials that did not care about their own glory or shame, spending a lifetime to destroy this dynasty and even many years after their death, they continued their revenge.

Zhan Beiheng got down the shabby cart, stoic, and was lead onto the execution grounds. The bamboo screens on the four sides were placed, blocking every last bit of sunlight he had.

The last chapter of life was too coming to, concluded.

In that absolute silence, a heart-wrenching scream came from behind the bamboo screens.

“Heartless emperor, my gross injustice!”

That howl with immense pain and indignation struck the grey skies like a pestle, as though clearing up those grey clouds ever so slightly. It was only but a second, as the grey clouds once again covered the sky, hovering over the city.

Meng Fuyao suddenly stood up.

As the crowd watched her, she calmly stood up, poured a glass of wine and said, “Let me send Prince Heng off.” Without a care, she walked towards Prince Heng.

“General Meng.” The official in charge of this case called her, reminding her of her current position.

Meng Fuyao turned around, with a loud voice, she clearly enunciated every word. “Despite his wrongdoings, Prince Heng has been punished by the laws of this nation. He had always treated me well, how can I bear to let him go his way without a cup of wine in the cold weather?”

The officials lowered their heads slightly hearing her words.

Behind the bamboo screen, tears welled up in Zhan Beiheng’s eyes. In such a situation, all the officials avoided him like the plague. Only this halfwit, pea-brained general showed him such kindness in face of adversity!

Meng Fuyao made her way behind the bamboo screen. Zhan Beiheng looked up, with tears in his eyes, as he watched the young lad bringing the wine over, kneeling beside him and placing the wine beside his lips with the utmost respect.

The young lad smiled slightly, pure eyes filled with honesty and straightforwardness. Looking at such a gaze, Zhan Beiheng’s anger gradually dissipated. He thought of the days where he had locked her up in the woodshed and revealed a slightly guilty smile.

He did not know of the encounter Zhan Nancheng had in the Meng Residence, nor did he know that the doll had come from the ninth concubine’s room. If he had known that this sincere young fellow in front of him was the culprit behind his current situation, forget about smiling, he would probably rush up and bite a chunk of meat off him.

But now, all that filled his mind was something else. ‘Zhan Nancheng, how dare you to kill me, don’t blame me for being cruel then…’

He smiled, though he did not drink the wine. In a low voice, he whispered, “General Meng… he treated me in an unjust manner, and I do not need to speak anything of loyalty with him. Let me tell you something, you can choose to remember it or not, but count it as my last gift to you.”

“Oh?”

“His Majesty has an unmentionable aliment that will relapse every autumn. In the previous years, he would use the excuse of going to the north to hunt to recover in secret. It won’t be possible this year… who knows what methods he will use to treat his illness…”

“Oh…” Meng Fuyao smiled. “That certainly is worrying, what kind of illness?”

“One that nobody knows. I only know that when the Zhan Family had not gotten the position of the emperor, he did not have this illness. It was after father had ruled the world…” Zhan Beiheng stopped short and finished the cup of wine.

“… And finally, for coming to send me off, I thank you.”

Meng Fuyao lowered her head to meet his gaze. She wanted to take this moment to tell him the truth and anger him to the point of no return. But watching him with a face full of gratitude, she swallowed back her words and felt that taking his life would suffice, there was no need to be too cruel after all.

‘Let him bring this last bit of ‘warmth’ on his way, perhaps in his next life he could be a better person.’

Meng Fuyao kept the cup and made her way out of the bamboo screens. The bamboo screens slowly covered the young man’s slim figure as the image of Fuyao’s side profile could be seen through the cracks.

The gaze that was sharp like an eagle’s and that slim figure was somehow familiar.

Zhan Beiheng frowned as he contemplated.

A burning flame that certain night and a young lady on the horse with a cold gaze entered his mind.

‘Those eyes… Those eyes…’

It was as though the frozen lake had experienced an earthquake as the waves of water rushed up, soaking his heart stone cold.

Zhan Beiheng, in his heavy cangue, suddenly jumped up.

He yelled, “You-”

Sha!

With a flash of light, the knife landed down in a familiar fashion!

The world turned cold in that instant.

Blood spattered everywhere on the floor and on the bamboo screens, forming a bloody scenery on the ground – vaguely resembling the mountains and the sea.

The brush of the ghost, a blood red painting of the country!

The execution grounds finally had its fill of the blood of a royal. The autumn rain slowly regained its quietness as the officials at the execution reported the happenings to Zhan Nancheng. Naturally, the news of Meng Fuyao sending Zhan Beiheng off without qualms had already reached the ears of Zhan Nancheng and not only was he not upset by that, he even showed an expression of ease. ‘This fellow really isn’t a heartless, unloyal person.’

Meng Fuyao looked upon with a cold gaze and gave an insincere smile. It was but petty tricks, with the most scheming future by her side, even a person who had never eaten pork had watched a pig run. ‘I might not be good enough to deal with him, but you? More than enough.’

She rode her horse back. From the palace back to her residence was a purple bamboo forest that she would have to pass by. It could be considered as one of the more quiet and secluded areas in the city center. As the bamboos swayed in the wind, the crisp rustling of the leaves was like nature’s music.

“This is perhaps one of the only peaceful areas left in the capital that is riddled with storms.”

No reply came from the back. Meng Fuyao frowned, Tie Cheng did not like to speak but at the very least Yao Xun would entertain her? That fellow was the best at sucking up to people.

She looked up and carefully observed a droplet of water on a bamboo leaf. On that droplet, a pink figure was reflected.

Meng Fuyao suddenly jumped out.

With a flick of a hand, she flew off her horse without looking back and suddenly, all the bamboo leaves surrounding her released a “Sha” sound and uniformly shot towards her.

The bamboo leaves folded uniformly into half and headed straight for Meng Fuyao’s back.

Meng Fuyao, with her agile body, turned to let those dagger-like bamboo leaves shoot past her. She stretched out her hand, and they floated on her palm, surrounded by a pale yellow orb. Smiling, she looked at the ball of pink and commented, “Tai Yan, has no one taught that men and women don’t pass in person?”

Tai Yan’s head popped up from behind Yao Xun. Her cheeks were blushing while her hair was combed into a low ponytail that did not match no matter how one looked at it. She frowned as she looked at Meng Fuyao. “Men or Women, they are but ants, there is no difference.”

“Is that so?” exclaimed Meng Fuyao. “Then, Tai Yan, could it be that you have your arms around the waist of an ant and you can’t even reach the shoulder of the ant? You are so tiny.”

Tai Yan’s sparkling eyes sent a death gare in Meng Fuyao’s direction. “Are you insulting me? Has no one told you the consequences of scolding me? Also, I am not as tall as him? If I were to kill him, wouldn’t he be shorter than me?”

Meng Fuyao immediately drew her blade.

The moment Tai Yan had said “If I were to kill him”, Meng Fuyao had readied herself and headed straight for Tai Yan.