Fire Phoenix Chapter 26

   Chapter 26 Another Feather Appeared

As Yun Canglan expected, Yun Yajun did not take the enemy seriously. The Yun's Troops attacked the Peach Blossom Camp after a day's rest. There were over three hundred bandits at Peach Blossom Camp who rose up against the Yun's Troops. Yun Yajun was stuck with arrows and sank into a deep coma. When he woke up, he found only Yun Hu at his side.

Yun Hu told him the rest of the Yun's Troops had all perished during the fight against the bandits at the camp. Peach Blossom Camp was burned down to ashes.

Yun Yajun realized that it was his disregard which led to the deaths of thirty-five soldiers. He was overwhelmed with remorse. Yun Hu told him that the kingdom still needed him, pulled him out his sorrow, and they returned to Can City on the fifth day.

Huo Yang, the Emperor of Can Kingdom, was very pleased with himself. He left the city to receive Yun Yajun. He thanked Yun Yajun for getting rid of the evil for the people without costing a soldier at all, but Yun Yajun could only feel overwhelming grief.

His Majesty, Huo Yang, prepared a feast for that day to welcome Yun Yajun home.

Yun Canglan was glum. Yun Yajun brought her to attend the feast tonight, but she didn't know what to say to Huo Liuyun, so she didn't want to run into him. Therefore, she had left the banquet and was wandering a remote hall in the imperial palace alone.

It had grown dark outside, and candles were lit throughout the palace. A red lantern hung in the entrance of some halls.

They were called Yinjun Lanterns. Concubines of the Emperor would light a Yinjun Lantern every night and wait for the Emperor to pay a visit.

Yun Canglan studied the Yinjun Lantern, lost in thought. Emperors were heartless, and one day in the future, Huo Liuyun would be the Emperor. Yun Canglan wondered if Liuyun would be heartless too.

Huo Liuyun was an ambitious politician. From the first time he held her, she saw that ambition lurked in his eyes. She also remembered his gentleness with her. She swore then; she would help him achieve his goal, and so she built a force of her own. Yun Canglan wanted to stand at his side. However, when someday came and he got what he wanted, was she willing to see that numerous concubines surrounded him?

She had never thought of that before, but when she saw the Yinjun Lantern tonight, she realized it might happen.

She didn't want to sit pining for a man day after day, and it was clear to her that she was not the type to share her husband with others.

Yun Canglan wondered if she had been wrong from the very beginning. She found herself doubting her plans for the first time.

Yun Canglan left the area of the palace to house the concubines and with them, the Yinjun Lanterns and roamed over to another remote area in the imperial palace.

The sudden noise from a darkened corner disrupted Yun Canglan's train of thought.

At the bottom of a huge rockery, a group of children stood in the shadows. A little figure squatted down in the middle, head cradled in his arms.

"Beat him! Beat him to death! Idiot!"

"Beat him hard. You will be rewarded if I'm happy."

Faint sounds floated to Yun Canglan' ears who stood on the other side of the rockery. She frowned and thought the imperial palace was indeed a den of corruption.

She walked towards them and recognizing the leader of those children, Huo Wuling, the eldest Prince of Can Kingdom. He wore luxurious clothes and looked handsome, but there was a soulless look peeking out his eyes..

The small figure in rags for clothes was Yang Gezhi, the tenth Prince of the Ling Kingdom.

"What game are you playing? Why don't you invite me?" Yun Canglan yelled.

Huo Wuling turned around and scowled when he saw Yun Canglan, who was looking as though in high spirits.

"It's you!" He rolled his eye.

Yun Canglan walked up, and standing in front of him, put his hands on his hips, "Of course it's me. I wanted to peep at His Majesty's concubines, but I get lost. I see you are beating someone. I like beating others also."

Yun Canglan flashed him an innocent smile.

Huo Wuling waved his arms impatiently dismissing Yun Canglan, "Go away. I'm busy."

Yun Canglan grabbed his sleeve, yelling, "No, I'm not leaving. I haven't do exercises for a long time. My mom said if I don't do exercises, I won't grow taller. Wuling, let me help you beat this kid, okay?"

Yun Canglan showed her little fist to Huo Wuling and bragged: "I'm strong. Last time, I helped Unibrow beat a beggar in the street. It is said that the beggar died soon after. Wuling, let me help you!"

Huo Wuling frowned. He had heard that his cousin Wu Yunye beat a beggar in the street several days ago and Yun Canglan joined in. Later, his cousin was beaten by his father. Why did Yun Canglan have to catch him beating someone. Today just wasn't his lucky day!

Yang Gezhi was the tenth Prince of the Ling Kingdom. Huo Wuling could beat him as he was the eldest Prince of Can Kingdom. Yun Canglan was crazy. He might accidentally beat him to death, then what? If the emperor knew what was happening, Huo Wuling would be in big trouble.

Huo Wuling shot his subordinates a warning glance, and they stopped beating Yang Gezhi and stood beside him.

"Since you want to beat him so badly, I'll leave you to it. I'm bored. Bye!" Huo Wuling called as he strutted away.

"Wait. Don't leave. I'm to weak to beat him alone. Wait." Yun Canglan shouted after him.

Huo Wuling ignored her and left, followed by his underlings.

"They left, get up!" Yun Canglan smiled and spoke softly.

Yang Gezhi raised his head and worried Yun Canglan might still beat him. His face was covered with his messy hair, and his clothes were in rags.

"It's you! Canglan!" Yang Gezhi suddenly stood up with a look of surprise on his face.

"What happened to you?" Yun asked.

Tears streamed down his face. He said: "After the day that I met you, I was taken to the imperial palace by His Majesty of Can Kingdom. My servants were all replaced. They always bully me!"

He was just a child of seven, who lost his mom. He was forced to leave his hometown and was bullied in the strange imperial palace. Yun Canglan felt sorry for what he was going through.

"Does Huo Wuling keep bullying you like he was tonight?" Yun frowned.

Yang Gezhi shook his head side to side, "Today was the first time. I was blocking his way but not on purpose."

Yun Canglan straightened his clothes for him reminding him, "Since you are in Can Kingdom, you should grow up now. No one can help you except yourself. If you don't want to be bullied, you must become stronger. Understand?"

Yang Gezhi stared at Yun Canglan, his eyes like two large black pools of ink, and nodded his head even though he didn't quite understand what Yun Canglan meant.

"I'm the Young Master of the General's House. If you are in trouble, send someone you trust to tell me. I won't be able to help you for your entire life though. If you want to go back home, you have to depend on yourself. The imperial palace is a place full of liars. You probably know that since you lived in the imperial palace of the Ling Kingdom for seven years."

Yang Gezhi was listening carefully and trying to remember everything Yun Canglan said. He stared at Canglan and realized Yun seemed to be younger than he was.

Yun Canglan knocked dust off his clothes, and suddenly saw a mark on his left arm through the torn sleeve. It was a blood red feather, which looked pretty and coquettish.

Yang Gezhi was indeed one of the seven Feathers.

Unlike the others Yun Canglan had seen, Yang Gezhi's feather was in full bloom and appeared as though it could sway with the wind.

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Chapter end