Feng Laoban

“Feng-laoban,” I say, just as I recall her being called in the drama.

She smiles and gestures towards the stools, so we take a seat together.

Feng Ruoyi is the matriarch of the Feng clan, who are the wealthiest, best-connected merchants in Xiyang and the surrounding area. Almost nothing in this city is imported or exported without a Feng merchant getting their hands on it—and turning a good profit. They made their start by building the first gold mines in the hills north of Xiyang several hundred years ago and only grew from there, trading the gold for goods which benefited all of the city. They’re so influential, one of Feng Yu’s older sisters is a minister and Feng Ruoyi herself is often invited to the palace for tea. Queen Zhu is right to remain in her good graces, as the economy of the city would stall if Feng Ruoyi is in a bad mood. The army can be as good as it can be—without food and other supplies, no one will last.

I watch Feng Yu pour the tea and accept a cup. After Feng Ruoyi takes a sip, I take one as well. Oh. That’s more flowery than I expected.

“So, my son tells me I have you to thank for protecting the merchandise.”

I shake my head. “I wasn’t alone. Dai-shimei also helped, and Feng Yu protected the merchants.”

“Mhm,” she replies, glancing at Feng Yu, then back at me. “It’s just as well I took the warnings seriously. Travellers reported sightings of these monsters in recent days, but never in such numbers.”

“I wouldn’t have been able to fight them off just by myself,” Feng Yu adds. “It was great luck that Murong-xiaojie and Dai Xuan found us.”

Feng Ruoyi eyes me intently. I can’t figure out if I’m supposed to be afraid of her. She is imposing, even dressed as simply as she is. Her clothes are less elaborate than mine, functional even. But the way she holds herself and her gaze are nothing short of the authority the queen projects. She’s obviously someone at the top of her game, used to being obeyed. But Feng Yu didn’t warn me about her and he doesn’t seem at all nervous. Still, I can’t relax just as easily.

“We were sent on patrol by Sect Leader Dai, because Huoyun Sect heard the same rumours… though the plan was just to assess the situation, not deal with it.”

“I believe it is dealt with,” Feng Yu says. “At least for the moment. I searched the area, but couldn’t find any traces of more monsters.”

“Yet we don’t know where they came from. These kinds of monsters don’t appear out of thin air, and if they do, they never are as numerous. In all my years, I’ve only ever seen them as lost stragglers. They must’ve been sent on purpose and that means they might appear again.”

I try hard not to jump up and grab both of Feng Ruoyi’s hands. She gets it! A smart person! Everyone! We finally have a smart person!

“That’s what Huoyun Sect thinks as well,” I say with as much gravitas I can muster. “But the investigation is something we have to do ourselves.”

“Then what can we do?” Feng Ruoyi asks.

“For once you can distribute a warning about the southern forests to all travelling traders, so that there aren’t any more victims until this is conclusively dealt with. Then, as much as it would pain you, temporarily stop your own people from travelling though the forest.”

The way she smiles tells me she knew these answers already—she just wanted to hear me say the same. She then glances at Feng Yu… and… oh. Now I know why. She’s trying to see if the woman her son is running after is a dummy.

“This will cost me a hefty sum and even more potential profit.”

I nod. “What I’m about to ask you will cost you even more.”

“I’m listening.”

Feng Ruoyi is leaning back and crosses her arms. Feng Yu has been silent for a while, seemingly content to let us battle it out among ourselves.

“This is only speculation on my part, nothing official or even anyone else’s opinion… But I believe this attack should be seen as a warning sign of something bigger to come. What that could be, I don’t know, but if Xiyang is under attack, the supplies in the city need to be organised and distributed well. This is tedious, costly work… especially if some things need to be supplemented and purchased.”

Feng Ruoyi takes her tea cup, downs the liquid in one go and slams it on the table like she just drank strong wine.

“Well said! I already started the process of taking stock of our emergency supplies to create a report. It will be ready in a few days.”

Finally a sensible person! Finally! I try not to let my grin show and raise my tea cup instead.

“Feng-laoban is a wise leader. She doesn’t need my suggestions. I apologise for overstepping.”

She says nothing as Feng Yu refills her cup carefully. She takes another sip and observes me more intently. I try not to stare back, looking at the surrounding gardens instead, which look well-kept and beautiful, even in the falling evening light. In the distance, a fish jumps in a pond.

“Our family colours suit you,” Feng Ruoyi says and I swallow. “Where are you from?”

“Huoyun Sect.”

“That I know. Before that. The family name Murong is unusual and rare. I don’t recall anyone else in Xiyang with that name.”

Which was intentional, as far as I remember from Murong Zhiyu’s invented backstory. No local roots to investigate, not even something that could remotely tie her to the royal family. I don’t look at Feng Yu as I answer, because I don’t want to drag him into it if I make a mistake now.

“If you want to know if I’m from a bigger family, I have to disappoint you, because I don’t know the details myself. If I can believe the people who took me in, most of my family died in a flood when I was too little to realise what was happening. I was found in the aftermath. They didn’t have a daughter, and so no heir to the family, and they adopted me. But soon a daughter of their own was born and they didn’t pay much attention to me anymore… So when I asked to attend the tryouts for the local sect, they weren’t opposed to losing another mouth to feed.”

“Huoyun Sect?” Feng Ruoyi asks.

“No, a bigger one in the southern plains. Sect Master Dai was visiting it during the tryouts, and saw me perform. Apparently my genuine qi is much more suited to her teachings than to the southern ones, so she asked the local sect if she could take me on. They agreed, my temporary family agreed, and I moved to Xiyang when I was only six.”

Feng Ruoyi seems mesmerised by my story. I would be too, if someone told me something as fantastical… but this is a world in which dragons and phoenixes live, so what even is fantastical?

“Did you ever see them again?”

“My temporary family? No. I don’t think they miss me. They only adopted me as a means to an end anyway.”

“I’m sorry.”

“You don’t have to be. Sect Leader Dai is like a mother to me and Shimei feels like an actual sister. I’ve never felt lonely with them.”

I can see compassion in Feng Ruoyi’s eyes… but also a glint. A glint of opportunity. Ah. Of course. Marrying her son off to an influential family means losing him to them. Marrying him to a woman without family means he will stay and his bride will join the Feng clan. I’m an ideal target for her if she wants to keep her undercover spy. I look at Feng Yu. In that regard we are very alike—both assuming a secret identity assigned by our mothers.

“I’m glad to hear it. And I’m glad to finally have met the young woman my son has been pursuing for so long now. As you know, I have five children, and as the middle child, Yu’er doesn’t have to get married in a rush… but if he wishes…”

I bite my lip. I can’t do anything but lead them on further. I can’t afford any of them turning away from me. Not such a great ally in the face of the impending attack.

“I’m in no rush myself. I can barely comprehend the simplest of my master’s teachings.”

“I will, of course, not force you to leave your training behind,” Feng Yu says quickly. “That was never my intent.”

I nod. “I will consider it”

She nods back. We chat about various things after this, not touching on the topic of marriage again. Feng Ruoyi is a quick thinker and skilled conversationalist, certainly a master of her profession. Yet Feng Yu seems to be able to keep up with her, as they discuss topics regarding the city’s defence and supply routes. I take a more passive role, but I understand enough.

“As soon as the report about Xiyang’s supply status is done, I will immediately deliver it to Queen Zhu,” Feng Ruoyi concludes, and I can only agree.

Still, I realise that she would’ve taken those measures anyway and probably also took them in the original timeline, which ended in the city being destroyed, which leaves a sour taste in my mouth. We talk some more about random topics, until I excuse myself. Dai Xuan hasn’t come back here and I want to meet her, so I have to go to Huoyun Sect. Feng Yu accompanies me to the front gate and takes my hand before I step out into the street.

“I hope many people will see you wearing my family’s colours.”

“They’ll just think of me as another one of your victims.”

Feng Yu laughs softly. “I don’t care as long as they think of you as mine. Don’t forget your promise.”

“Don’t forget yours either.”

He raises my hand and kisses it, his lips lingering. I shouldn’t encourage him, but I am weak to pretty men, so I let him do what he wants. How will I ever convince this fool to take his eyes off me and consider Liu Renqing instead?

“When can I see you again?” he asks.

“I’m sure you can find me. You always do.”

Oh wow, I didn’t mean for it to sound cheesy, but here we are. Feng Yu certainly seems to think so, given his sappy smile. I’m so sorry, my man.

“I shall,” he says and leans forward to whisper in my ear. “Good night, your highness.”