The Slender Waist-Chapter 373 - 265: The Depression Grows Stronger

In this era, though the political situation is chaotic, thoughts remain relatively active, with the academic trend of speculation accelerating the rapid development of mathematics. Works like "Annotations on The Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art" and "The Island Mathematical Classic" have astounded the world.

However, whether it is family education or private schooling, whether it is a scholar fully versed in the classics or an ordinary teacher, more often than not, they focus on the Four Books and Five Classics, with few having a profound talent in mathematics.

Being able to write does not necessarily mean having advanced knowledge in mathematics.

It just so happens that Yan Buxi of Qi Country is one such individual.

He is proficient in various calculations, a renowned mathematician in both the North and South, originally both Xiao Cheng and Wen Xingsu were his disciples. Thus, once this problem was presented, the envoys from Qi smiled knowingly, confident of victory, while those from Jin were relatively silent, feeling the overall situation slipping away.

This was clearly a one-sided overwhelming advantage.

Just like Pei Jue in relation to Qi’s "Black Bear" General.

The competition is set for tomorrow at 5-7 AM.

Qi wants to clear the chessboard and set up barricades, but before the start of the test, the mathematics questions are still confidential...

A group of Jin envoys, faces filled with worry, gathered in Cuiyu Hall, waiting for the Empress Dowager to come out and discuss strategies together.

Yet Empress Dowager Li was late in arriving.

After waiting a short while, there were whispers among them.

"We have a very small chance of winning the third round; we need to come up with a plan sooner rather than later."

"Do you think our side is bound to lose?"

"With Yan Buxi entering the fray, there’s hardly a chance of victory."

"Losing Xinzhou is a total loss of face; I can’t afford to lose this much honor..."

"Upon returning to Central Capital, how are we to explain ourselves to our colleagues, and how to account to the people, descendants, and future generations of Dajin?"

"So what if we lose? Worse comes to worst, we just won’t acknowledge it."

"That’s unacceptable. Waging war again would weary the people and deplete the treasury, and without trust or integrity, refusing to accept a loss after a bet will invite the scorn of the whole world..."

They discussed among themselves, growing more anxious as they waited.

Before the clean basin, she clutched her chest, vomiting until she was dizzy and her vision darkened.

Tang Shaogong questioned the temple attendant outside the door.

"The officials are getting anxious; where is the Empress Dowager?"

Chen Xi, with drooping eyelids, gave Tang Shaogong an exasperated look and said with a bow:

"Please wait a moment, sir..."

Tang Shaogong looked at the tightly closed door with an indifferent expression and slightly raised his voice.

"The third round is crucial to Dajin Country’s fate; Your Highness mustn’t keep the officials waiting too long..."

Li Sangruo was already feeling miserable, her stomach churning violently, and looking as if she was going to vomit herself to death. Suddenly hearing this emotionless urging, her eyes reddened even further as if they were bleeding.

This Tang Shaogong must have been sent by her father to control her, right?

She was just a pawn. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

A pawn for her father to manipulate, with no one caring whether she lived or died.

At this thought, Li Sangruo felt a surge of anger, and, flinging open the door, she stared straight at Tang Shaogong.

"What do you want with me? Can my great Dajin not find a single mathematician of excellence? And you, with claims of having the talent to lead armies and match wits, who consider yourself a great scholar of this era—what do you know?"

Her face was pale and her clothes in disarray, she disregarded her demeanor and cursed out loud.

The servants were so frightened that they bowed their heads and were silent as cicadas in winter.

Yet Tang Shaogong remained unmoved, neither angry nor arguing back, simply saying calmly:

"Perhaps the Empress Dowager would prefer to speak this way in the presence of the envoys?"

Li Sangruo deflated on the spot.

Staring blankly at him, she let out a scornful laugh.

"I’m insulting you, berating you, and yet you are not angry; why?"

Upon hearing this, Tang Shaogong glanced slowly at her and replied, "How dare a servant get angry at the Empress Dowager?"

That gentle remark was enough to remind Li Sangruo to be mindful of her status.

A person’s identity dictates when they should get angry and when they should not, even if they are the Empress Dowager, they cannot indulge in reckless behavior.

Li Sangruo felt an icy desolation within and slowly closed the door.

"Help me change my clothes."

If one is a pawn, then one must be aware of their role as a pawn.

She knew what kind of Empress Dowager her father liked.

Even if it was all an act, she had to put on the appearance her father needed...

-

This night, Xinzhou City was hit by a heavy snowfall, making it exceptionally cold.

Pei Jue did not return to Chunmeng Hall after nightfall. Feng Yun instructed Daman and Xiaoman to close the courtyard doors early, stoked the furnace fire, and lay on the wooden bed, leaning against a pillow and flipping through a book.

Soon after, Pinshu arrived.

Standing under the eaves, he reported to Feng Yun.

"Someone from Cuiyu has come, asking for your son."

With the final test set for the next day, the people from Jin Country were probably in a state of chaos by now. Calling Wen Xingsu over at this late hour, without needing to say more, Feng Yun could guess the reason.

Wen Xingsu and Xiao Cheng had once studied under Yan Buxi; they were his disciples.

The envoys from Jin were desperately struggling, trying to find a solution with Wen Xingsu.

Feng Yun hesitated for a moment, then opened the window to look out at the snowy courtyard, and instructed Pinshu.

"If my son isn’t back by 11 PM - 1 AM, come and inform me."

Pinshu had come over precisely because he was worried about the young master’s safety.

At this moment, seeing Shi’er Niang from the window, her face as white as snow, composed and calm, he felt slightly reassured.

"I understand." Pinshu gave her a deep bow, pulled his cloak up over his head, and hurriedly left.

Feng Yun stood by the window for a moment.

It really was cold.

Xiaoman came over, "Miss, don’t stand for too long, or you’ll catch a cold and need to take medicine again."

Despite her young age, she was quite talkative, almost nagging Feng Yun every day, fearing the slightest harm might befall her.

Feng Yun smiled, bent down, and hugged the pillow.

"Close it up."

Daman was making up her bed and suddenly asked,

"Will the General come over tonight?"

Feng Yun pondered for a moment, "He won’t."

Tomorrow’s victory or defeat will be revealed, and given Pei Jue’s temperament, he is unlikely to easily give up Xinzhou.

Therefore, tonight perhaps many are waiting, for tomorrow the alliance will be signed, war will end, and prosperity will ensue...

But in reality, at this very moment, the winds howl and clouds surge, and both Jin and Qi are always ready for battle, prepared at any moment for the beacon fires to rise again...

Feng Yun sat down again, but she could no longer concentrate on her reading.

She remained silent for a moment, had Xiaoman bring her a cloak, draped it over her shoulders, and walked out the door without a word.

The baby turtle silently followed behind her, swiftly scuttling past.

"Ah..." Xiaoman wanted to stop it but failed.

She immediately complained, "My lady, look at the baby turtle!"

Feng Yun turned around and looked at the baby turtle.

"Let it be."

Xiaoman was at a loss for words.

Daman also stood up, watching the backs of the person and animal...

"Sister, this won’t do for the lady; she’s of delicate constitution..."

"You follow her, and remember to carry the lamp."

"Oh, alright."

Xiaoman followed with the lamp and saw Feng Yun leisurely walking in the garden, aimlessly, as if merely taking the baby turtle for a stroll.

Flying snow fluttered like cotton, dancing in the sky.

The lady walked through the snow, her step light, elegant and graceful, her dress gently fluttering, like a fairy in a world of white snow.

"The General’s wife surely has a refined taste for leisure."

A chilly laugh echoed from atop the wall.

Feng Yun looked up and squinted slightly.

On the other side of the wall was Chunyu Yan.

He was leaning lazily on a wooden ladder, bottle in hand, relaxed and content, his white robes flapping in the breeze, blending into the snowy night, appearing almost unreal.

"The Princely Heir is crossing boundaries," she said.

Chunyu Yan’s starry eyes narrowed slightly.

"I’m just drinking my wine, not bothering you in the slightest..."

Feng Yun raised her hand and pointed to the wall he was leaning against.

"Your ladder is nearly reaching my eldest brother’s home."

Chunyu Yan choked.

His irritation grew.

"Feng Twelve, if you’re blind that’s one thing, but are you also heartblind? You know full well how the Princely Heir thinks of you, yet you still choose to make me uncomfortable, is that it?"

Feng Yun said, "I speak to matters of fact and deal with businessmen accordingly, shouldn’t I speak in such manner?"

Hmph! Chunyu Yan’s lips curled into a sneer, and he suddenly gestured with his finger toward her.

"Come here. I have some whisperings for you."

Feng Yun stood still, unmoved.

"The Princely Heir might as well speak plainly."

Detached, aloof, and drawing a clear line.

Chunyu Yan laughed coldly, "Isn’t it just making Jin lose a game? Can’t I pay it back to you?"

After a long while without a reaction from Feng Yun, Chunyu Yan’s smile slowly turned rigid.

"Feng Twelve, do you really wish to sever ties with me?"

Feng Yun’s brow furrowed slightly, "I have no dealings with the Princely Heir."

Chunyu Yan’s anger made his teeth itch.

"I ask you once more, will you really not come over, will you ignore me? Even if it means missing out on something, are you willing to let it go?"

Feng Yun paused for a moment, then smiled faintly, "What is it that the Princely Heir wishes to say?"

Chunyu Yan said, "Don’t you want to know about Qi’s examination questions?"

That was his trump card.

Feng Twelve was always realistic; her dealings with him always involved interests, as long as the benefits were good enough, she would relent...

Thinking this, Chunyu Yan felt somewhat eased, confident as he watched Feng Yun, waiting for her to yield with a smile, to make amends with him.

But Feng Yun adjusted her cloak and calmly said:

"What does the Jin-Qi wager have to do with me?"

Before her voice fell, she turned, took the lantern from Xiaoman’s hand, and strode back.

"Twelve! Feng Twelve!"

Chunyu Yan was caught off guard, watching her figure disappear into the snowstorm, scarcely able to believe it.

"Has she taken the wrong medicine?"

Quding looked up from beneath the wall and sighed softly.

"Does the Princely Heir not realize why Feng Shi Er Niang is acting this way?"

Chunyu Yan, puzzled, turned to look at him.

"You tell me."

Quding said, "It’s precisely because she values the Princely Heir."

Chunyu Yan scoffed coldly.

Quding laughed again, "Ordinary people who don’t talk about affection won’t get angry. Anger comes from having affection, after all."

Chunyu Yan glanced at him sidelong, the corner of his mouth curling slightly.

"You old fox, you’re the only one who can deceive me!"

In the middle of the night, Pinshu came over, sounding very worried.

"The Master has not yet returned. My lady, perhaps you should think of something..."

Feng Yun had not yet gone to sleep, and was sitting by the window, reading with the baby turtle.

Hearing this, she sat still for a moment, then stood up.

"Change my clothes for me."

Xiaoman asked, "Is my lady going to look for the General?"

Feng Yun said with a smile, "I’m going to Cuiyu."