The Slender Waist-Chapter 305 - 213 Offering Help in a Time of Need_2
But since she had already come, she didn’t turn her away.
"You rest for two days first, and I’ll call you when we need help," she said.
Jiang Yin’s eyes showed disappointment, but she was very submissive, "Your servant will heed Madam’s arrangements."
-
Daytime sunlight couldn’t linger into the evening, and as dusk fell, the weather turned abruptly. In the Beiyong Army camp, the cold wind was bitingly sharp, cold as chunks of ice. The banners on the barracks flapped loudly in the wind, and the felt doors designed to block the drafts reflected a chilling light.
It was cold, so very cold.
Under the pitch-black sky, several patrolling guards had just come off their shift and were hunched over, blowing on their hands.
"This cursed weather, if only we had some liquor to warm up our bodies," one said.
"We’re not fighting anymore; you can drink all you want once you get home for the New Year. Just hang in there a few more days," another responded.
"It’s too cold; I wonder when we’ll get our winter clothing."
"General Tan said it’ll be soon. The Empress Dowager is about to arrive in Xinzhou; they wouldn’t come without bringing our winter clothing, how would they explain to the General?"
"That’s not certain. Only the clothes on your body can keep you warm... If it wasn’t for the General going to Pingyang, we probably wouldn’t have half a garment to our names."
The men walked together toward their barracks.
Standing guard for an hour was enough to make one’s body stiff with cold.
They were wearing winter clothing for their shift, just put on, and their brothers without winter clothing to protect against the cold, and with insufficient coal, would be even colder.
"Drive—"
A resonant voice came from outside the barracks.
The men reflexively turned around and saw several men driving several ox carts, shouting loudly:
"Madam has sent us to deliver winter clothing, open the doors, brothers of the Beiyong Army."
The soldiers at the guard post looked at each other in puzzlement.
They hadn’t heard that Madam was sending winter clothing?
Even though it was a time of truce, they didn’t recognize the people outside and couldn’t afford to be careless. They replied through the barred gate:
"Where did this winter clothing come from?"
"Made by Madam," was the response.
The soldiers hesitated for a moment.
"Wait, I’ll go report."
It was getting dark, and Pei Jue had not yet left the camp.
Helian Qian, Shi Yin and several Generals were all gathered in Pei Jue’s tent to air their grievances, all of which were various complaints about the Imperial Court.
Pei Jue listened silently.
On the table, there lay official letters delivered by messengers.
They stated that the Empress Dowager would arrive in Andu County in two days and instructed Pei Jue to go and welcome her...
The air was heavy with tension.
Helian Qian, with his loud voice, cursed the Prefecture Treasury so loudly that it carried far, with no one to stop him.
That was until a loud report came through.
"Reporting to the Great General, several men driving ox carts laden with goods have arrived, claiming that Madam sent winter clothing. The guards dare not let them pass, requesting instructions from the General..."
Pei Jue was slightly stunned.
Before the other Generals could react, his towering figure had already taken long strides out.
Everyone glanced at each other and followed to see what was happening.
This time, the winter clothing was personally delivered by Xing Bing, who stood outside the barracks door in the cold wind, blowing on his hands and pacing back and forth. From the distance, he saw a line of people approaching.
The man in the lead was Pei Jue.
"Great General. It’s me, it’s me, Xing Bing."
Xing Bing greeted him with respect in his voice.
Without waiting for Pei Jue to ask, he started praising his young lady’s initiative.
"Madam has ordered us to hurry the making of winter clothes at Changmen, and now we have delivered five thousand pieces, the remaining fabric and hemp padding should be enough for about ten thousand more pieces. Ying Rong said that these have already been cut and prepared, generally it would still require six or seven days to sew them all up..."
Five thousand pieces?
Helian Qian and others showed signs of surprise and delight.
"Quick, quick, open the gate."
Pei Jue did not move, and looked at Xing Bing to ask.
"Where did the Madam get so much fabric and hemp padding for winter clothes?"
Xing Bing said, "Bought them. Bought them from the Crown Prince of Yunchuan."
Seeing the solemn expression on Pei Jue’s face, he cheerfully added, "I heard that the Madam used the Great General’s betrothal gifts as collateral with the Princely Heir, and that’s how she got these materials. Madam also set up the Cheng Yi Workshop at Changmen, recruited many women from the villages, and they have been working day and night..."
In just a few short sentences, there was an untold amount of human and material resources.
It was in places they couldn’t see, where countless people toiled hard.
The fifteen thousand pieces of winter clothing were hurriedly made in a short time, which was Feng Yun’s greatest act of kindness towards the General and the soldiers of the Northern Yong Army.
"The Madam is greatly kind!"
Helian Qian led the way in clasping his hands and bowing in the cold wind.
The crowd responded in unison with a shout.
But Pei Jue walked toward the stables without uttering a word, leaving only one sentence behind.
"Let Tan Dajin distribute them."
-
Feng Yun did not waste any time, and as soon as Nan Kui and Chai Ying arrived, she took them to Mingquan Town.
Shop assistants were coming in continuously over the past few days; the shop was being arranged at a breakneck pace, with no moment to spare. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞
Along the way, Nan Kui occasionally peered out from behind the curtains.
The sky was dimming, and everywhere was the silhouette of trees, swaying wildly in the cold wind.
She was somewhat anxious and leaned close to Feng Yun to ask,
"Why does Madam think that both Ying Niece and I are up to the great task?"
Feng Yun glanced at them.
"What do you think?"
The affairs of Mingquan Town could have been handled by someone else, Feng Yun did not lack their assistance.
Before coming to Xinzhou, some concubines had made cutting remarks right in front of the two of them, saying that the Madam had summoned them for no reason other than their beauty, asking how different it was from working as entertainers at Yutangchun?
Facing Feng Yun’s gaze, Nan Kui shook her head.
"I don’t know why Madam has chosen us, but I know, Madam wants to promote us, for our own good."
Feng Yun let out a light laugh.
"There’s only one reason. You are women. Just like Wen Hui and Ying Rong, both beautiful and gentle, capable women. I can’t bear to see you buried in obscurity."
Chai Ying and Nan Kui both looked at her attentively.
How can a woman avoid being buried in obscurity?
Madam didn’t spell it out, and they seemed to understand yet didn’t quite grasp it.
"Thank you, Madam, for making this possible..."
Feng Yun smiled, offering no reply.
Others might think what she was doing was a joke, or perhaps had ulterior motives, but she was willing to wait for the day when these people could no longer laugh at her...
The carriage moved forward slowly, and she rested with her eyes closed.
Suddenly, the sound of horse hooves approached, and Ge Guang, who was driving the carriage, saw a man on horseback rush past them, stand with his sword across the middle of the road, whereupon the horse voluntarily came to a halt, neighing as if to greet its master.
The carriage belonged to Pei Jue.
And so did the horse.
Feng Yun parted the curtains to look out, the man who suddenly appeared had a serious face, a towering stature, sitting rigid on the horse without saying a word, a very frightening sight.
