Feng Tianlan shook her head. The mention of the two words, “Lady Phoenix,” reminded her of something that the emperor, Si Ming, had said to her. He had told her never to admit to being Lady Phoenix, so it seemed to Tianlan that this situation likely had something to do with her.
A passerby saw that the two girls looked out of the loop, so he kindly explained, “Did you two know that there was a Demonic Beast battle in Misty Forest a few days ago?”
“We know about it, but what has that got to do with Lady Phoenix?” As soon as Luo Yunzhu finished saying this, it clicked in her mind. “Don’t tell me that ‘Lady Phoenix’ refers to the Fire Phoenix that soared through the sky that night?”
“So you do know about it. It’s just like you said – Lady Phoenix called on the Fire Phoenix and saved millions of lives. Now, all the people want to welcome her, kneel down before her, and decorate her with gold. She’s a goddess who has descended to earth, and that’s why she can summon the Fire Phoenix. You two better become a little more pious, perhaps. Then Lady Phoenix might look on you kindly and grant your wishes.”
Luo Yunzhu thought that she understood what this stranger was saying, but there were things she couldn’t quite grasp either. “So, you’re saying that the woman inside that sedan called on the Fire Phoenix and saved millions of people from dying. Now, she’s been crowned Lady Phoenix so that everyone can worship her and place gold on her. Is that right?”
The kind passerby nodded and replied, “You are a clever young lady. If Lady Phoenix hadn’t stopped the Demonic Beast battle, not just this little town, but perhaps all of South Winds Nation might have been destroyed. So, Lady Phoenix deserves to enjoy all this attention. Besides, the local officials have agreed to send a request to the emperor to confirm her status as Lady Phoenix.”
“But that’s not…” Luo Yunzhu finally understood. She looked at Feng Tianlan, then looked at the figure inside the sedan. She still couldn’t see the person clearly. Yunzhu became a little anxious as she asked, “How can that woman be Lady Phoenix? Obviously…”
Luo Yunzhu looked quizzically at Feng Tianlan when she felt Tianlan tug her sleeve. “Tianlan, why are you pulling on me? Lady Phoenix is obviously…”
“Look at Lady Phoenix over there,” Feng Tianlan shook her head slightly and made Luo Yunzhu look over at the sedan with the red muslin cloth. It was much closer to them now, so they could get a better look now.
Luo Yunzhu stuck out her head but still couldn’t see clearly. She stretched her neck out a little more. “I can’t see.”
“Lady Phoenix is a goddess who has descended to earth. She’s not someone you can get to glimpse so easily. It’s already a blessing to see her from afar like this, so be content,” the kind passerby said as he stood on tiptoe, wishing he could chop off his head and throw it into the sedan and get a closer look.
Luo Yunzhu patiently waited for a while longer. When the sedan came even closer, she finally saw clearly who it was through the red muslin cloth. “Is that Tu Xiupei?!”
When he heard what Luo Yunzhu said, the passerby became a little angry and chastised her, “Don’t spout nonsense. The great name of Lady Phoenix is not for you to utter so disrespectfully. Besides, Lady Phoenix’s last name is not Tu. It is Feng. She’s really the daughter of a phoenix.”
“How can Tu Xiupei be Lady Phoenix? She’s not…”
“Let’s go back,” Feng Tianlan said. She tugged at Luo Yunzhu and walked ahead.
“Tianlan, she’s pretending to be you, and you’re just going to let it be?” Luo Yunzhu felt horribly mistreated. She couldn’t wait to rush forward, yank Tu Xiupei out of the sedan, and tell everyone loudly that Tianlan was the real Lady Phoenix.
“The higher one stands, the greater one falls.” Feng Tianlan looked at Luo Yunzhu, who was so angry that she was about to explode. She knew Yunzhu was mad on her behalf, and she felt a warmness in her heart. “I’ll talk to you about this when we get back.”
The emperor, Si Ming, had told her that Lady Phoenix’s identity was too dangerous and advised her not to admit to it. But the emperor had clearly come at a good time and heard about what had happened. He’d purposely let Tu Xiupei take on the identity of Lady Phoenix and bear the danger instead of Feng Tianlan.
“She even dares to say her name is Feng. Her skin must be even thicker than the city walls. What on earth could she have used to stop the Demonic Beast battle? I suppose she could use that thick skin of hers.”
