The Slender Waist-Chapter 306 - 214: The Long Wind Embrace

The sky had darkened, and Feng Yun looked at the man who stood before her like a rigid ghostly shadow, not wanting to speak.

Pei Jue asked, "Where to?"

Feng Yun furrowed her brows, "Mingquan Town."

Pei Jue, "Is it urgent?"

Feng Yun raised her eyebrows and hummed an affirmation.

"Earning silver coins is naturally urgent."

Pei Jue’s Adam’s apple moved slightly as if he wanted to say something but remained silent. Without a second word, he leapt off his horse, approached, climbed onto the carriage to scoop Feng Yun into his arms like a bandit abducting the lady of the village, then departed without looking back.

"Wait here for a quarter of an hour."

He helped Feng Yun onto his horse, wrapped the wind-gown around her, and rode away, holding her tight.

He left behind Nan Kui, Chai Ying, and two guards/drivers staring at each other in the cold wind.

"What is the general doing?" Feng Yun, caught by surprise on horseback, took a moment to come to her senses. Held in his embrace with her head buried in his chest, she felt no cold, only a sense of strangeness.

Has he gone mad?

Abducting her halfway, and without speaking a word.

She clutched tightly at Pei Jue’s waistband and after swaying on horseback for a while, they stopped.

It was pitch-dark around them, nobody in sight.

The two of them were clasped together on the horse amidst the long winds, with seemingly endless roads on either side.

Pei Jue lifted the wind-gown, cupped Feng Yun’s chin, and leaned down to kiss her.

Feng Yun shuddered, her back pressed by him, unable to move.

In her line of sight was the man’s rugged face and high-bridged nose.

Rapid and heavy breathing fell upon her face.

His force was great, rough and wild, as if he wanted to swallow her whole.

Feng Yun passively endured, her tailbone tingling, her heart fluttering uncontrollably. She not only felt no cold but also a thin layer of sweat emerged on her body, almost melting into the man’s frenzy.

The time was too long, and she could barely withstand it.

She forcefully pinched the man’s neck.

It was the only place on him she could pinch.

Pei Jue, sensing the tension in the breaths of the person in his arms, finally let go. His eyes bloodshot, he stared at her, his thumb slowly caressing her lips, as if cleaning the lingering moisture, or extending the aftertaste. In the desolate wilderness without starlight, his eyes shone cold and startlingly bright.

"Lady Yun..."

His voice was husky.

"You’ve worked hard."

Any annoyance Feng Yun had felt vanished in an instant, and she lifted her eyes slightly.

"You knew everything?"

"I was in the camp."

"Oh," Feng Yun chuckled lowly, "So you know I’m capable?"

"Capable."

"Not a bad choice to be your aide, right?"

"..."

Pei Jue didn’t speak. Instead, he grabbed the back of her head and pressed her down to kiss her fiercely again, tangling together until Feng Yun’s heartbeat thundered, her face flushed, melting in his arms almost completely out of control. Suddenly, he released her, gasping for breath.

"A quarter of an hour has passed. I’ll take you back."

Feng Yun, short of breath, glared at him as if he were a monster.

And General Pei, true to his word, had said a quarter of an hour and meant a quarter of an hour. He rode back the way they had come and carried Feng Yun onto the carriage.

"I’m leaving."

Feng Yun’s cheeks were red as if about to drip blood.

Watching his figure speed away like lightning and merging into the darkness, it took her a long while to regain her senses.

"Let’s go."

-

The next day was a clear sunny day.

Sunlight streamed through the window lattice, filling the room with a warm glow.

Xiaoman, knowing that today was the completion and topping-off ceremony of the debate hall, wanted to comb Feng Yun’s hair into a unique style, but the more she tried, the more she failed, ultimately feeling dejected.

"After all this time, I still can’t come up with a few good hairstyles. Xiaoman is really inept..."

Looking at the fairy-like young lady in the mirror, she felt all the more that her own skills did not do justice to her lady’s beauty.

"Jiang sister is skillful and quite good at dressing up. Why not ask her to attend to you in the room?"

Feng Yun tilted her head, appraising her.

"What did Jiang Yin tell you?"

Xiaoman was startled by her lady’s reaction, shaking her head.

"Nothing. It’s just that Xiaoman sees Jiang sister with nothing to do, and knowing she’s not someone who can sit still, it might get awkward. So I suggested it to my lady..."

Everyone had gone to the Northern Yong army camp together, but their situations had each become different. Aside from a few who had gotten jobs through Feng Yun and those who left with Wei Zheng including Luo Yue and Shao Xueqing, the status of others became awkward.

They were neither concubines nor servants.

Feng Yun probably understood.

She did not intend to take Jiang Yin into her room nor did she want to make it difficult for her. Hearing Xiaoman’s suggestion, she turned her head and said,

"Call Nan Kui and Chai Ying here."

After a short while, Nan Kui and Chai Ying arrived, both paying their respects to Feng Yun.

Feng Yun invited them to sit and poured tea for them. She casually asked about things in Changmen and about Jiang Yin.

Nan Kui and Chai Ying slightly furrowed their brows.

"Jiang Yin... she’s nimble and hardworking, and she never complains about her duties. It’s just... she’s too silent, not talkative, and doesn’t blend in well with others."

Her presence was too low, so low that people often overlooked her. If she hadn’t taken the initiative to speak up about wanting to join them to Xinzhou, no one would have thought to bring her up specifically.

But...

She was clearly born with good traits.

Among the maids, she was also one of the outstanding ones...

Chai Ying said, "Lady Yun just needs more helpers by her side, and if Jiang Yin proves to be useful, there’s no issue keeping her. After all, she doesn’t want to be a general’s concubine, so staying with the ladies isn’t so bad."

Feng Yun smiled faintly and shook her head.

All these concubines followed her now; she wondered how General Pei felt about it.

"Forget it."

She gave orders to Xiaoman.

"Have her come to my courtyard. She doesn’t need to attend to my daily needs, just help me manage the miscellaneous matters of the courtyard. If she turns out to be reliable, she can then join you two to gain some experience at the Mingquan shop, especially since she is literate."

Xiaoman happily complied.

"I will go and tell Sister Jiang right away."

It was evident that they thought very highly of Jiang Yin.

Feng Yun smiled slightly, not saying much else.

She always had more leniency for the women of this world.

Having said this, she turned back to continue talking with Nan Kui.

At first, when she bought land to build the shop, everyone thought it was just a whim. But as they listened to her detailed plans, they realized she was thinking long-term...

This was going to be a significant undertaking.

Everyone enjoyed the conversation as the Lady laid out her plans, with laughter and talk in the room.

With more people coming from Andu, Chunmeng Hall seemed like another courtyard of Changmen. Wen Xingsu gave Feng Yun convenience by not readily allowing his people to come over and disturb her. Behind closed doors, she was the boss here.

At midday, Ao Qi brought some fish.

With the good news of peace talks, life in Xinzhou had swiftly recovered. Being close to Huaishui, fishermen caught and sold fish daily, so they were no longer short of fish. Nevertheless, Ao Qi still took the time to fish himself during his leisure.

The fish were kept in a bamboo basket, lively and jumping, clearly very fresh.

Upon hearing Ao Qi’s voice, Daman promptly ran out, circling the basket and sniffing it continuously. The creature couldn’t speak, but its eyes seemed filled with joy.

Ao Qi was the one closest to Daman besides Feng Yun.

Even Daman and Xiaoman couldn’t hold it, but Ao Qi could.

Watching their close interaction, Feng Yun said with a smile:

"Xiaoqi, join us for lunch."

Ao Qi, hearing her politeness, looked up and respectfully bowed.

"Thank you, Auntie."

Since she returned from the estate to the city, Ao Qi had never slipped in addressing her—always diligent in calling her ’Auntie’ and in his visits. Whenever he came, it wasn’t just to see Feng Yun, but also Daman, occasionally bringing treats, which was much more comfortable than the awkwardness from the previous days.

Feng Yun’s hanging heart was put at ease.

She knew Ao Qi would eventually come to understand.

And he did, sooner than expected.

Since he addressed her as ’Auntie,’ there was no need for formalities.

Wanting to keep Ao Qi for lunch, she quickly instructed Daman to go down and tell the cooks to prepare extra dishes, and then joined in to look at the fish.

There was a bass weighing about three or four pounds. She had someone cook it, while the fish guts and innards were given to Daman.

While several people were watching the "cat" eat fish, cries suddenly came from outsiders.

Ge Guang came in a rush, standing under the eaves to bow to Feng Yun.

"Lady, it’s... Song Shou’an is outside..."

Feng Yun’s face darkened.

"How did he come here?"

Ge Guang shook his head, "Wrapped in gauze, hardly recognizable."

Feng Yun said, "Let’s have a look."

Song Shou’an didn’t "come" on his own; he was lying on an old door panel, carried over by two attendants. As Feng Yun went outside, he lay there on the wooden board, eyes bloodshot and wide, crying out in panic:

"Lady, please spare my life, I’ve made a mistake."

Struggling to bow to Feng Yun, his injuries prevented his movement, twisting his figure grotesquely. If not for his voice as the only clue, no one would have recognized him as the head of the Imperial Cavalry Division.

"I truly realize my mistake, Lady, you are magnanimous..."

Feng Yun caressed the hand warmer in her hand, ignoring his wails and cries, and simply asked his attendants,

"Who sent him here?"

The attendants bowed their heads, not daring to look at the generals’ wife’s radiant face.

"Lady, it was Division Head Wei."

Division Head Wei?

Feng Yun paused.

Before she could speak further, laughter came from outside.

"Lady, it’s been a long time."