The Slender Waist-Chapter 345 - 242 Autumn Osmanthus Wine

Fang Fucai came personally to receive them, which fully demonstrated how much the Empress Dowager valued the Great General.

The carriage entered Cuiyu, and along the way, Fang Fucai always wore a smile. He was adept at serving others, helping them on and off the carriage with a bow, much more meticulous than both Daman and Xiaoman.

Feng Yun glanced at Xiaoman, "Learn from him."

Xiaoman looked at the young lady’s smiling lips and felt somewhat uneasy, "Your servant cannot compare to Eunuch Fang; you’re putting me to shame, my lady."

She was clever.

Once they were out the door, they no longer called her a young lady, but a wife.

This highlighted Feng Yun’s status and also let people know they had support.

After all, being from Qi and going to see the Empress Dowager of Jin Country, both she and Daman had some fear and needed to elevate the General to ensure safety.

Daman was much more cautious; as soon as Feng Yun alighted from the carriage in Cuiyu, she began to watch the surrounding people very carefully, as tense as Xiaoman.

Feng Yun was much more composed.

With wide sleeves and soft fur wraps, she entered the hall gracefully and bowed deeply.

"Your servant pays respect to the Empress Dowager."

She did not look up.

But she could feel the gaze of Li Sangruo and the full assembly of civil and military officials upon her.

There was a long silence in the hall.

Li Sangruo did not speak, so she maintained the posture of paying respects without moving an inch, not even changing the slight smile on her face.

The Feng Family’s education was very strict; her mother had also restrained her, and Feng Yun’s etiquette would not allow Li Sangruo to find any fault...

The Empress Dowager did not call for her to rise for a long time.

The flower hall was silent.

Not until Pei Jue’s voice was heard. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"When I called you, you said you were unwell, but as soon as the Empress Dowager summoned, you complied."

In one sentence, he gave Li Sangruo face while also reminding everyone that his wife was "unwell" and, if she continued to "bow down" like this, it would seem as if Li Sangruo was intentionally making things difficult.

The words were neither light nor heavy, yet hidden within were all signs of marital affection.

The sourness in Li Sangruo’s chest nearly suffocated her.

Jealousy is indeed madness and chaos...

At that moment, many vicious thoughts flashed through her mind...

To be torn limb from limb, to be dismembered by five horses, to be fried and cooked alive, she wished she could use the cruelest and most evil methods to kill this Feng Shi Er Niang with her own hands, yet what she wanted to see most was Pei Jue’s disgust for her...

"Look at her, such a beauty she has left your servant speechless," Li Sangruo’s gaze slightly narrowed, her smile growing deeper, "Lady, please take a seat."

"Thank you, Empress Dowager."

The Palace Attendants were very tactful, placing Feng Yun’s seat behind Pei Jue’s.

It was not too far from him but was also not convenient for talking unless one disregarded propriety.

"Are you feeling better?" Pei Jue turned back, indeed disregarding propriety.

Feng Yun did not expect him to still have things to say in public.

She lowered her eyes slightly, her cheeks flushed, and with a look that was both protesting and coy, she hummed in response.

"The General worries; your servant is much better."

That soft and lingering voice.

Pei Jue raised his eyebrows but said nothing further.

It was just a brief conversation of two sentences, where neither said much, yet it was as if they had said everything—when General Pei turned to look back, the mark on his neck; the General’s wife intentionally covering it with a high collar which still revealed hints of red; and that look that was both reproachful and playful, all were tangled signs of ambiguous affection.

The General’s wife did not mention where she was feeling unwell, yet everyone present understood.

The Great General was very close to his newlywed wife.

The flower hall was quiet, with only the occasional sound of cups and dishes clinking.

Li Sangruo’s heart was cold; she lowered her eyes to hold her cup, hiding her emotions.

Feng Yun pretended not to notice the scrutiny of others, sitting with dignity.

Combining two lifetimes, she and Li Sangruo had not seen each other for many years.

Li Sangruo’s facial expressions had not changed much; however, her eyes seemed to have weathered frost, not as resolute and composed as when they had last met. In her twenties, she enjoyed the supreme power of Jin Country, receiving the best care, yet she looked rather haggard...

Feng Yun wondered if it was her own illusion.

She even felt that Li Sangruo’s face showed signs of illness.

Beneath the extravagant clothes and thick makeup was an inscrutable anxiety...

Feng Yun was familiar with this emotion.

In her last life, this was exactly how she had felt.

Li Sangruo’s gaze swept over, "Is Lady Feng from the Feng Family of Xuzhou?"

Feng Yun nodded, "Indeed."

Li Sangruo smiled, "I have heard that the Feng Family from Xuzhou has a deep heritage of learning and a broad range of knowledge. Lady Feng must also be well-versed in poetry and literature, possessing great talent, yes?"

Feng Yun slightly lifted her eyes, "The Empress Dowager flatters me; your servant only has a basic understanding of literature and is not skilled in the arts."

She looked directly at Li Sangruo, who also stared back at her.

Feng Yun smiled submissively, her gaze deferential.

In her last life, Li Sangruo had also said these words, but she was not nearly as polite as today; after praising her talent, she had demanded that she entertain the crowd with singing and dancing.

Treating her like a courtesan.

This time, Feng Yun waited for her next words, but Li Sangruo did not dare to say them.

To demand a performance from a concubine with no status was not considered beyond the bounds for the Empress Dowager...

But for the wife of the Great General, she did not dare to be so presumptuous, not even if she lacked all sense of propriety.

"Then that is most excellent."

Li Sangruo said this, her gaze flitting across Pei Jue almost imperceptibly.

"The late emperor’s anniversary is approaching, and I intend to copy some scriptures to offer at the Imperial Mausoleum. If you have some free time, madam, come to Cuiyu in the next few days and join me in copying scriptures."

Pei Jue’s eyebrows furrowed.

He thought she would refuse, and indeed she should have refused.

Unexpectedly, Feng Yun said, "If Your Highness does not disdain my poor calligraphy, I shall obey."

A smile curved Li Sangruo’s lips, as if a warm spring had been poured into her agony-wracked insides, soothing her greatly.

Pei Jue lowered his gaze and lifted his cup to drink.

Feng Yun could only see the back of his head and remained silent, making calculations as she reached for the chopsticks and tried a taste of the exquisite dishes on the table.

Roast chicken and marinated goose, flaky pastries with fruit, all served in beautiful vessels—it was a feast for the eyes not to be missed.

She ate quite elegantly, her slender and pale fingers brushing over the celadon and white porcelain cup, her movements graceful and serene as if she were a lady in an ink painting of a misty rain-swept scene, truly a "sight that could captivate any scholar at first glance."

Li Sangruo clenched her fingers tightly, feeling as if the stench of fish was rolling in her throat, so nauseated by the sight of food that she wanted to vomit. She barely suppressed it, immediately feeling dizzy and lightheaded.

She propped herself on the table and slowly stood up.

"My lords, please enjoy your meal without restraint; I will return shortly."

Pregnancy nausea is truly uncomfortable.

She angrily thought about the little tyrant causing turmoil inside her, her face inevitably showing traces of change, her smile becoming much uglier as she excused herself to change clothes and left the table.

"Your Highness, wait!"

It was Feng Yun’s voice from behind.

Her gentle and soft tone made Li Sangruo’s heart flutter as if she was speaking ironically.

But when Li Sangruo turned her head, she saw only concern on the other’s face.

"Is Your Highness feeling unwell?"

Li Sangruo forced a smile, "Not at all."

Feng Yun said, "It seems I have been over-worried, I thought..."

She hesitated, then gave a light, playful laugh, "I’ve been impolite, please forgive me, Empress Dowager."

It was deliberate.

Li Sangruo was furious to death.

But the rising nausea blocked her throat, and before she could speak, she made a gesture of covering her mouth and barely managed not to vomit on the spot, though her expression clearly revealed everything.

She was about to throw up!

She was about to throw up!

Li Sangruo hurried away quickly.

The officials exchanged glances, but after a moment they resumed their lively discussions.

It was as if nothing had happened.

Feng Yun thought carefully about Li Sangruo’s expression just before.

What reason could there be that would make the Empress Dowager, usually so dramatic about even a slight cold, feel unwell and yet try so hard to conceal it?

This "illness" must be something that cannot be revealed to others.

Feng Yun subtly stretched out a foot and rubbed it against Pei Jue’s back.

"Great General."

Pei Jue, holding a cup in hand, turned back and said, "Madam."

His tone was not kind, was it? Feng Yun’s eyes were brimming with emotion, the corners of her mouth curling into a smirk, like a greedy little fox.

"I would like some of the Autumn Osmanthus Wine from your table."

"Autumn Osmanthus Wine" was the name of the drink being served, a name Feng Yun found extremely elegant after hearing it from their mouths.

Pei Jue frowned, "What wine should a woman drink?"

Feng Yun said, "I want it."

Her cheeks were flushed, coquettishly charming.

The casual way she said "want" carried a slight hook, as if to melt away one’s resolve.

The secretary next to him, who was talking with a colleague, shivered when he saw the woman, feeling a chill breeze as if carrying fragrance drift by, and suddenly faltered in his words...

No wonder the Great General pampered and indulged her, willing to offend the Empress Dowager to keep this woman by his side.

What man could resist such beauty?

Pei Jue indeed handed her the pot of Autumn Osmanthus Wine, his expression cold as if he was displeased with his wife, yet his tone inexplicably tender, "Drink less."

"I know," Feng Yun said, "I won’t embarrass you, General."

Pei Jue locked eyes with her, his reply brief as gold: "One sip."

Feng Yun laughed lightly, "How can one sip be enough? I am greedy for this and want to have more."

Maybe it was the slanting light of the night lamp, but her porcelain-like pale face seemed to be blushing faintly; even her proper words sounded stirring to Pei Jue.

This woman!

His mouth tightened, and with a cold, stern face, he poured her a small half-cup.

Feng Yun took a small sip, savored it, and smiled with a trace of delight.

"Good wine."

When Li Sangruo returned, she saw Feng Yun in this flirtatious state.

Her fair skin flushed with an abnormal red, she looked tired from the alcohol, propped her cheek, and her eyes softened as they gazed at Pei Jue, as if they could drip water.

The usually aloof General Pei, with a hint of irritation in his dark eyes, was staring at his little wife—that was the look of a husband towards his wife, a mix of complaint and helpless indulgence...

The way the two of them looked at each other vexed Li Sangruo’s heart.

What angered her even more were those well-dressed officials, who, amidst their toasting and bantering, had their eyes stuck on her as if glued, occasionally surveying her body.