#face li xifeng

[ashlinyack]

Forbidden Phoenix Chapter 5

               The presentation of the tea to Her Majesty had been probably the most stressful thing Xifeng had endured thus far in her life, and yet she knew more was to come. Covering her face as she sat on her bed trying to relax her being from the nerves that welled up deep within her, unable to gather the energy to go and sit at the table to eat her evening meal, she simply reflected on the whole ordeal that had happened this afternoon – from the moment she had presented the hair pin to the moment she had served the tea. And why did she feel as though she may return home any moment if it were truly up to the Empress even though she knew fully that this decision laid sully with the Emperor.

               After Xifeng had finished her midday meal, Qian had brought the hairpin she had custom made for the Empress to her and she departed to the courtyard to meet with the other ladies once again. Glancing about she only saw that a handful had also brought gifts for the Empress, so she felt glad to not be the only one in this regard – however she did not know how many had had a custom piece made for Her Majesty. It was always difficult to discern these things from a simple glance.

               As they waited, another young lady who was within the selection approached them. “Greetings Lady Li. I am Lady Ming Ruolan. My father is a Minister for the Department of State Affairs. I have heard much of you. I hope that is not wrong of me to say.” The young lady bowed her head, the shyness of her being showing in that moment. Xifeng looked at the lady that had approached her, tilting her head slightly – Lady Ming had soft features, not remarkable but not unbecoming either. Her eyes were very doe like in nature and a soft brown that reminded her of early fall. She wore a simple gown that was a soft pink with white hydrangeas forming small pools of petals along the hem of the skirt and sleeves.

               “I believe our fathers are good friends Lady Ming. I may have seen him at my father’s manor a time or two, but I did not venture far from my mother or grandmother’s side until recently. So, you must forgive me for my lack of social skills. It is a delight to meet you today, Lady Ming. I hope we both fair well in the selection process to serve His Majesty in his harem, however I know we must overcome the hurdles that are before us.” Offering a kind smile, Xifeng moved slightly closer to rest a reassuring hand gently on Lady Ming’s, attempting to communicate that she had her friendship in these days, and henceforth.

               “I see you brought a gift for Her Majesty, Lady Li? I did not think to, though I could easily recite a piece of poetry for her if she so desires. I am versed in poetry and song. And having one over tea is sometimes enjoyable. At least my grandmother enjoyed it.” A soft laugh escaped Lady Ming’s lips as the nerves and discomfort seemed to melt away in the moment, more and more ladies showing up and waiting for the time to partake in serving Her Majesty. There were several others with small trinkets to give the Empress as well it seemed, so it was not just herself doing it. However, Xifeng felt that she was the only one to go out of their way to get a custom piece made for the Empress, versus looking through the family heirlooms for a unique piece to suit her taste. Or making a simple scented satchel with a floral pattern on it to show their skill in embroidery. While yes, she could showcase her skills in embroidery, she would rather do that on a grander level than a simple satchel.

               The Matron had then appeared, ordering them up in the arrangement that they would go and present themselves to the Empress in a room that had been set up in their living area. Xifeng was tenth to go, while the Lady Ming was twenty-four out of the remaining thirty-two candidates for the selection. The matron explained that they were to make one of the three teas that were offered – a green tea, a white tea, or the herbal tea. They had to decern which one would be best to go with the cakes that were on the table at the time they entered the room. This would show their ability to pair things together well and plan for banquets in the future should the need arise.

               Xifeng waited patiently for her turn, the nerves slowly building as her turn came closer and closer to happening. Out of the nine girls that went before her, only one did not continue. No one knew why, they just knew she was now headed to pack her belongings and head to the Western Gate to find a carriage to head back to her family’s manor.

               When it finally was Xifeng’s turn, the nerves that had been growing in her stomach suddenly became a large lump in her throat. She entered the sitting room following behind the Matron a few steps, trying to remember how to breath and stay calm. It was only the night before that the Empress had said words to her regarding her eyes. The Empress sat upon one of the chairs across from the table that held the cakes – it looked like a plate of honey cakes that sat there on the table, one of Qian’s specialities that she knew of. A smile came to her lips, and she relaxed more knowing now she was confident on the pairing and how she would present.

               Bowing low towards the Empress, she greeted her. “Greetings Your Majesty. May the day find you well. I have brought you a small gift of gratitude for allowing me to be here and possibly serve His Majesty in future days.” While still bowed, she offered up the box that held the hair pin, remaining still as could be. The Empress’ handmaid Xiaofan stepped forward from beside her Mistress and took the box and took it over to be inspected.

               “Please be at ease Lady Li. It is very kind of you to bring me a gift. You may set to making the tea.” The Empress nods to the table behind as she sets the gift to the side for the time being, letting a soft sigh escape her. She was the first of the candidates to present something to the Empress, however she would not be the last she knew. Moving to the table, Xifeng set the pot of water on to warm before grabbing the jars one by one to smell each of them, ensuring that she did indeed grab the right one needed. Once she had the white tea, she sprinkled some of the course leaves into the stone grinder and took the wheel to it, gently rolling back and forth to not only open the oils of the tea but break the leaves down into smaller portions. Once the water was at an acceptable temperature after the three boils, she added the leaves slowly, stirring for a moment before letting it set and steep.

               Pouring the first cup, she rolled it gently around for a moment before pouring it out, not impressed with the colour nor the aroma that was arising from it, wishing for the floral notes of the white tea to full come to life within the water and on the tongue. Pouring the second cup, she was more satisfied with its colour and the floral scents that arose from within, knowing well that this was the cup that would be acceptable to present now. Setting the tea on the tray beside the cakes, she took both over to serve to the Empress, offering a small bow once again. “I do hope this is to your liking Your Majesty.”

               The Empress looked up at Xifeng with cold, calculating eyes, as though she was trying to dissect her and pull apart every piece of her being there on the spot. Her maid took the cup of tea and offered it to the Empress, who took a small sip. She closed her eyes and tilted her head to the side slightly, nodding her head before taking a cake to see that the pairing worked. “I suppose you have done well knowing what the cake is and how to pair what tea it is. That does not mean I like you still. You are to pretty. And that doesn’t last long in a harem – you either become injured, or you become old and forgotten. And you bribe me with gifts to ensure a place within the harem as though I can be bought. Do you think me a fool? No matter how wonderous the gift is, I can still determine whether you stay, or you go.”

               Xifeng felt the colour drain from her face as she clutched the tray tightly, trying not to drop the cakes. She took several steps back and nodded her head, setting the tray back down on the table and bowing once more. “Thank you, your Majesty for allowing me to serve you today. I shall take my leave.” Turning on her heals she departed silently from the room, holding the tears back that wanted to escape.

               Now in her room, she sat silently, holding herself barely together and just wishing to go home to her Grandmother. To lay her head in her lap and have her stroke her head softly as she would calmly say everything would be alright, that nothing would be wrong in the morning. Xifeng let out a strangled sob, the tears falling as she realized suddenly just how much she missed her family, and how much they meant to her. Even with doing this whole thing for them – it was not going to change the fact that they had been everything to her. She was the only daughter for her family and had been loved dearly by every member, coddled by them and kept from the outside world even. Now out on her own for the first time in her life, she felt as though she was drowning in the middle of the ocean.                Laying down on the bed, Xifeng closed her eyes and continued to cry until she was fast asleep. She never heard Qian come in with the evening meal, nor her trying to wake her to change and undo her hair. Never felt the blanket go over her either. Not till the sudden banging outside would she wake up, and that startled her even more.

#forbidden phoenix #chapter 5 #romance novel #roamnce

[proelio-procusi-ar]

Li Xifeng tag dump

as a note Li is her family name Xifeng is her given name

#ic li xifeng #headcanon li xifeng #face li xifeng #music li xifeng #musings li xifeng #wardrobe li xifeng #aesthetic li xifeng

[cross-d-a]

I want to know ALL about Wu Xie embarrassing time traveler!Li Cu!!! ✨✨ I'm also v intrigued by Nie Huisang death death death

(Also, Cross you have so many wips; I read in awe. And to think I thought I had a lot of star wars fix-it ideas! I only have anything at all written down for two of them!)

(this refers to the WIP tag game I completed a few days ago!)

Wu Xie being EMBARRASSING & Li Cu Time Travel: 

I’ve got a series of interconnected oneshots planned where Li Cu just- accidentally hops back in time to every drama/book and helps out the Iron Triangle. and it’s more like LI CU embarrassing WU XIE haha

I thought it’d be HILARIOUS if Li Cu got to see how Wu Xie (UR MY DAD BOOGIE WOOGIE WOOGIE) is so YOUNG and STUPID and EMBARRASSING when he’s young!! Wu Xie making (ACTUALLY) innocent doe eyes at an emo Xiao Ge?? GROSS. Wu Xie accidentally (DELIBERATELY?) setting off multiple traps in a tomb?? Li Cu is 10000/10 going to RECORD THIS on his phone and bring it BACK to the future and make fun of Wu Xie FOREVER. Also!!! There are SO MANY SNAKES in Ultimate Note!! And?? Conveniently?? Li Cu has a lil’ snake buddy?? MAYBE HE COULD HELP??? 

I basically want Li Cu being the Actual Competent One and the baby Iron Triangle floundering. Mostly Wu Xie. I want Wu Xie floundering. I also want Wu Xie SO EMBARRASSED when Li Cu hops back to his own time. 

li cu: DAD UR AN IDIOT 

wu xie: i DONT WANT TO RELIVE IT PLS AND THANK 

li cu: nO!! U ARE GOING TO SUFFER!! UR SO STUPID u set off FIVE TRAPS

wu xie: i hate you 

li cu: no u don’t u just told me u loved and appreciated me for saving ur life like ten minutes ago. there were tears in your eyes. actually they were streaming down ur face. u might have been hugging my leg and sobbing

wu xie: tHAT WAS SIXTEEN YEARS AGO FOR ME OK i am an OLD MAN

Nie Huaisang death death death:

I think it’s hilarious that you picked out one of the resurrective immortality fics considering we were JUST talking about the old guard hahaha. This one I actually have a good chunk written so far, so here is a long snippet near the beginning. Context is that Nie Huaisang’s mother is VERY pregnant and she’s riding through the mountains to visit her family before she gives birth. WARNINGS for gore (kinda??) and child death and just- DEATH in general:

There are beasts in the mountains. Ravenous, born of fury and blood, more ragged spirit than flesh. Their claws are jagged and broken and their maws drip with sizzling saliva. They have roamed the mountains for years and years, and have only grown more enraged, voracious.

The Nie Clan have always harnessed the butchery of their past. Binding rage and ruin to themselves, channeling it through their hearts and into their swords until they are one and the same. Until it feeds upon their flesh and their spirit, gnawing on their bones, carving out a little space for itself between brittle ribs. Until, one bloody piece at a time, it consumes them whole.

The Nie Clan’s power is also the source of their doom, and these beasts who roam and know only hate hate hate are Nie-furen’s doom, as well.

They descend upon the Nie in the dead of night, a roiling mass of snapping teeth and furious howls. There is blood, screaming, desperate flashes of Dao magic and heavy blades. But there are too many and it is not enough.

But the mighty Phoenix of the West has always been filled with unmatched fury and she is full of new life and about to burst. She will not let her child die here today. Not before he can breathe sweet fresh air and keen that first high cry. Not before his father can cradle him in his arms and his older brother can plant a kiss on his forehead.

That rage within her swells. It devours her spirit and bleeds out her eyes as she screams screams screams- a raging beacon of power and brutality and every ancestor’s grief.

She slaughters everything in her path.

When she comes to, she is soaked in blood and there is pain in her belly and an ache behind her eyes and in every breath- but she is alive. She lies amidst the ruins of her people and the lingering darkness of vanquished spirits and Shan Xifeng—

She goes into labour.

It is long and hard, lasting through the night into the bloody dawn and beyond. She manages to crawl to the edge of their encampment but no further. She twists into a curl of agony and cries into the clouded sky.

Her son is born on the cusp of evening, just as the sun slides behind dark, ragged peaks. He is born soft and warm and silent.

Shan Xifeng cradles him in quaking hands. Cups his cheek to her breast. His tiny head is blood-streaked like his mother. Blood-streaked like her friends and family around her.

It is an irony that on one of the most important days of her life, she is surrounded by her loved ones and yet they are all dead.

“Little one,” she murmurs, and tilts his limp head. “Little one, please.”

But he is silent as the dead around her and that grief swells again in her breast. It gnaws on her ribs and scrabbles at her throat and she is shaking shaking shaking.

“No,” she spits. “No! He has done nothing wrong! Nothing! Does he not deserve his first breath? His first cry? Does he not deserve the family that awaits him?!”

She screams into the sky and tastes blood between her teeth. “Take me instead! I beg of you! Please let him live! I would give my life! Every single one of them, so that he may live!”

Her sword quakes along with that dark raging thing within her and she clutches her dead son close.

Then—

The faint, elegant curve of a fan in the corner of her eye. The shift of cloth, the echo of a breath. The glimmering of ethereal gold and silver, like someone has spun the stars and sun above into delicate thread.

Summoned, like a beast to blood.

“All of them?”

Shan Xifeng knows better than to face an unknowable thing and so she bows as low as her broken body will allow. She stares into the bloodied dirt and breathes in dust and rasps, “Yes.”

“Hm.” A flicker of a stretching smile, coy, with a hint of sharp teeth. She does not see the fathomless dark behind those stark white teeth, a gaping void of ravenous benevolence. It is hidden behind the flare of the fan. “Do you understand what you ask for?”

“I do,” she says without hesitation.

The grin widens, lips scarlet and dark against bone-white skin. “Then I shall grant your wish.”

A shift of cloth, then a cool hand cups Nie-furen’s cheek, guiding her up. Her eyes flicker open and she sees what no mortal has ever seen, and then that fan whispers against her cheek and blood-red lips press against hers and the last thing she feels is her golden core trembling spasming dying as life is pulled from her breath- all the lives she has ever lived, the one she lives now, and every life she could have ever lived.

Shan Xifeng falls into the bloodied dirt beneath, still clutching her dead son to her breast. And then there is no one left living in that small clearing.

Pale, bony fingers trace a delicate line through the blood that lingers upon her cheek. It is still wet and useful. Stained fingers press against scarlet lips and the life held between stark white teeth is breathed anew into that blood.

Carefully, bone-thin fingers trace a deliberate character upon the newborn child’s left cheek. The blood shines, brilliant and devastating, before fading back into a gruesome name across pale skin. Slowly, the child begins to twitch, brows wrinkling in displeasure, before a high keening wail escapes tiny lips as the child take its first breath.

“Your mother does not know what she’s doomed you to.”

A day later, travelers upon the road hear a faint keening noise not far from their wagon. When they find the clearing, they gag and retch. When they find the weak, whining child clutched in his dead mother’s arms, they shake their heads and then stare at the crest emblazoned upon the woman’s clothes.

Two days after that, the child is delivered to Nie-zongzhu’s disbelieving arms.

“No,” he says, violent spirit quaking deep within him. “No. It- it is not true.”

The traveler ducks his head and clasps his hands in a bow. “I’m sorry, Zongzhu. We were not able to take the bodies with us. You’ll have to send someone to check, but…it was the crest of your house. And…” he hesitates, then nods to his companion who stumbles up and offers a sword.

Not just any sword. A dao.

Shan Xifeng’s dao.

Feng.

“No,” Nie-zongzhu cries, falling to his knees.

“I-I’m so sorry,” the traveler stutters. “I am so, so sorry, Nie-zongzhu.”

Nie-zongzhu sobs, clutching his newborn child to his chest. “Little one,” he weeps. “Oh, little one. At least life is kind enough to have spared you.”

“Yong,” the traveler blurts.

Nie-zongzhu stares uncomprehendingly, tears running hot down his cheeks.

“It- it was written upon his cheek in- in blood. I- I think that is what his mother named him. She must have done it with her dying breath. She must have wanted you to know. He did not enter this world nameless.”

“Yong,” Nie-zongzhu echoes, trembling. “It- it is a good name, for my brave little boy.” He cups his son’s cheek and sobs. “Brave like- like his mother,” he murmurs, voice thin and quaking. “She named you well.”

And perhaps it is bravery that made Shan Xifeng give up the chance to ever be reborn. Perhaps it is bravery that saved her son’s life.

But it was all a mother’s wretched love, and Shan Xifeng did not write the character for brave upon her son’s cheek.

No, it was not Yong for bravery, but Yong for eternal.

And it is not his mother who wrote it.

Perhaps it is bravery that saved her son, but is the curse of eternity really a kindness?

No, no Shan Xifeng did not truly understand what she asked for.

But Nie Yong soon would.

The next section starts with:

The second time Nie Yong dies, he doesn’t even realize it.

He is four years old.

and the third section starts with:

The third time Nie Yong dies, his Adie kills him.

He is nine years old.

It’s basically an Angst Fest with a happy ending bc...I just need a happy ending Always. I just REALLY love resurrective immortality and I love making my favourite characters Suffer :)

I hope these were fun and satisfying to read!! 

♪(ﾟ▽^*)ﾉ⌒☆

(also omg NO it’s a CURSE!!! I WISH I could just finish SOMETHING!! ANYTHING!! OMG!!! I am so envious you’ve managed to restrain yourself to a few!! Also!! I am SUPER excited to find out more about your fix-its!!! :D)

#tag game #my fic #cross talks #wip tag game #ask game

[sophieakatz]

“I hate knowing we have to hide.”

Mara sat next to Xinping, letting her head rest back against the cool cavern wall.

“I know,” she said. “But it’s the best course of action for now.”

“Better than blowing the whole thing open?”

“Yes.”

Xinping’s pointed ears twitched as she turned her yellow eyes - Increased night vision. Increased chance of intimidating an opponent. Decreased ability to hide in the dark. - to look up at Mara.

“You could get us the screentime,” she said. “The right time to get into a news station. The biggest audience. The biggest allies viewing it -”

High chance of the video getting thousands of hits. High chance of spawning conspiracy theories. High chance of getting arrested. High chance of being imprisoned again. High chance of treason charges. High chance of - 

“Not yet,” said Mara, shaking herself out of the possibilities and back into the present. “The world isn’t ready yet. They’ll think we’re just trying to bring down the AHI.”

Xinping snarled. “We are trying to bring down the AHI.”

“And we will. Soon. We’ll get our lives back. And our families. Xifeng, too. She’ll come around.”

Xinping buried her face in her paws again. “You said that ‘cause you know it’ll make me shut up,” she accused.

"Yes,” Mara admitted. “But it’s true. I have reason to hope that it’s true. Your sister loves you. She won’t keep up the Initiative’s lies forever. She won’t be Greenhawk forever. She’ll come back and be Xifeng.”

“But how long til she does, though?”

There wasn’t a good answer to that question, so Mara said nothing.

For more about Mara and Xinping, check out my play, Hero’s Chance.

For more seven word sentence starters, check out the tag.

Tip the writer here

#seven word sentence starter #snippets #science fiction #superheroes #superpowers #american hero initiative

[murderincrp]

PROFILE LOADED...「LIANG XIFENG」「U/A」「TWENTY-NINE」

“Twenty-nine-year-old RED POLE (ENFORCER) FOR THE MENG TONG that goes by the alias ‘FAYE’. No known allies.”

✘ THREAT LEVEL HIGH. PROCEED WITH EXTREME CAUTION...

[ BACKGROUND... ]

“I don’t understand why she has to be there all the time,” a spiteful comment, meant to be inaudible, perked the young woman’s attention as soon as her ears caught wind of the remark, coming from the ‘soldier’ standing on her right, a man two years her senior and yet two ranks below Xifeng. His resentment did not come with a surprise, and if she tried hard perhaps she would be able to understand his sentiment, but she was never the type – having been taught this early on – to show sympathy for any of the ranks below her; occasionally, her father schooled her, those with the upper hand could not be trusted either. When one swims in a pool of sharks 24/7, one has no other choice but to become a shark too. Lesson number one.

“Do you know what you should be worried about?” the woman’s voice reverberated through the empty warehouse, bouncing off the walls and the large delivery containers, rolling back to cut through the initial silence shared between the five present members of the Meng tong. Turning to her side in a sharp angle, she looked up at the solider and smiled. “Why am I that better than you, and why you lack so much as to necessitate my presence?” She saw his body twitch. If he had completely lost his mind, he would have attempted to injure her. She knew that at that point, soldier Li wanted to kill her with his bare hands, at the cost of his head later on. But, she was unafraid, instead turning back around to watch the delivery containers be opened, unfazed by the temporary commotion her bold words caused among the circles. With the Mountain Master’s blessing, Liang Xifeng lacked fear in certain pivotal spheres, but simultaneously, her inexhaustible courage and disregard for other people’s resentment were exactly what led her to the position she holds even today.

Born to a Liaison Officer father, chief connection between the different units of the tong, and mother who, in turn, was daughter of the former Administrator (or the business and financial advisor of the criminal clan), Liang Xifeng was meant to grow up in the life of crime, whether she wanted to or not. However, contrary to what some might assume, Xifeng never felt herself to be at a disadvantage in life because of how and where she had been raised. It all started with her name really; unwilling to give their daughter an elegant, floral name – a fashion of many parents – her own parents opted for Western Phoenix, a title which conjures strength, fearsomeness and immortality, hoping this would bless their daughters path. And indeed it had because as she grew, Xifeng – who later renamed herself to Faye – embraced the code and lifestyle of the black society clan whose members abounded her childhood. With her father as role model, Xifeng showed determination to become like dad before she turned ten, and got exactly what she wanted. Instead of perhaps fighting his daughter’s requests and attempting to provide a different future, Xifeng’s father was proud to witness her tenacity and set the foundations of the young girl’s life-to-be, ensuring that she learned and understood the three most valuable lessons early on. Number one: when you’re swimming in a pool of sharks all the time, you have no other choice but to become a shark yourself. Number two: Trust has a heavy price to pay and should be handed out wisely, because once you have spent it all, you have signed your death sentence. And number three: Your mental strength has to match your bodily courage; without coordination, you have achieved nothing.

Women among the clan members were not unheard of; but women climbing far up the ladder faced more arduous challenges than their male counterparts. Seen as smaller and weaker (and in some people’s eyes as disposable) Xifeng had to have not two or three or four, but six eyes open and all her father’s knowledge and training put to perfect use if she wanted to make herself known in the circles. Starting from an uninitiated member where she was given little opportunity to shine except in the sphere of hitmen for hire, Xifeng took her baby-steps to the rank of a soldier when she was just seventeen years old, establishing herself as the youngest known hitman with a confirmed kill before she celebrated her eighteenth birthday in her homeland. The Shanghai born-and-raised slowly gained the trust and respect of her superiors, becoming a known name (as Liang Faye) in the hitman-to-hire circles, but her loyalty remained inseparably tied to the Meng tang whose ultimate approval she strived to get. She was their member after all. For rent or not, Meng was her home, her identity, her blood and her strength. She was born out of it through her parents and she swore that if she had to die for it, then she would gladly do so. It was this shatterproof fidelity that got her the attention of the leader and this helped her – despite the rumours which claimed she could only go higher up because of her father’s and grandfather’s legacy – to become what she is today: just a couple of ranks below the big boss, an overseer and enforcer of his decisions and operations.

Xifeng did not utter a single complaint when, at the age of twenty five, she was transferred to Seoul, to take care of Meng’s business there. Given her own unit of soldiers, Liang Faye received the position and opportunity she dared not dream of as a younger girl. Still, even in the newly gained greater freedom in Korea, she does not let her guard down. Though her connections are limitless, so are the dangers. With the fate of Meng’s Korean business on her shoulders, and her name as a highly successful, nine out of ten, hitwoman becoming established among the Korean gangs as well, Xifeng has to balance several raging fires of the crime world, while keeping her own head on her shoulders. Nevertheless, Xifeng is not afraid of fire, for one simple reason: she is a phoenix and believes she will rise from the ashes. Absorbing power from what may seem a superstition, she fully embraces the old saying nomen est omen and treads life not with care but with fiery viciousness, something one may not accept from a small and bashful looking woman such as herself.

[ BEHAVIOR... ]

Xifeng is a type that keeps to herself. She doesn’t speak much about her private life, even less about her family. She was taught at an early age to mind her own business and focus only on what is relevant to keep her going. Although her behind-the-curtains life features an endless sequence of crime, her main-stage day-by-day existence is quiet and devoid of much attention-attracting. Still, this does not mean that she is a bore.

She knows how to have fun and how to ‘mingle with the crowd’ when she has nothing else to do. She may be the talk-back offer-a-bunch-of-ironic-comments type, which may or may not agitate others, but Xifeng can be quite a sociable and extroverted person when she wants to. On a daily basis, she is not difficult to deal with, but she can be rather prideful when it comes to her ‘work’. She considers herself one of the best and most capable so it’s not wrong to say that she, when her ego is bruised, gets quite huffy.

#mi:accepted #mi:unaffiliated #ni ni #kpop rp #krp ad