The Slender Waist-Chapter 383 - 273 Special Symbols

Qi Emperor’s temporary palace.

The atmosphere was incredibly stagnant.

The contest, which was originally believed to be a sure win, had been turned upside down because of the unexpected interference from a young lady of the Feng Family.

At the moment, a host of Qi envoys, headed by Feng Jingyao, gathered in the Emperor’s study, and whenever Feng Yun was mentioned it was with embarrassment.

The rumored Feng Yun was a girl with a dull and obstinate temperament, devoid of virtue or talent, and not well-liked. After the death of her mother, Lu Sanniang, she had almost faded from the sight of these important figures. If it had not been for the marital alliance between the Feng and Xiao, most of them would probably not even have remembered her.

Yet, it was this very girl who, at a critical moment of the treaty negotiations between the two countries, suddenly took action to help Jin Country win, ruining all their plans.

Their loss was beyond expectation. Yan Buxi found it unbearable, and even they couldn’t accept it.

If there hadn’t been a second contest, they would have suspected Chunyu Yan of cheating.

But with the second contest...

They began to suspect that the Qi Emperor had cheated as well.

Yan Buxi was so angry he banged his head against a pillar in the council hall and had to be carried back by guards. A man of his age wept bitterly in the temporary palace before quickly regaining his composure.

For one thing, it was a matter of pride.

For another, no matter how he thought about it, the whole affair seemed utterly bewildering.

In front of all the envoys, he questioned Xiao Cheng.

"Did Your Majesty intentionally lose in order to get Feng Twelve back?"

Yan Buxi had a respected reputation.

He dared to voice what others would not.

He bowed and stepped forward, "Your Majesty’s affection for Feng Shi’er Niang is well known to all. It is not my intention to be deliberately difficult, nor is it a case of being a sore loser, but this matter is really hard to understand..."

Xiao Cheng was not angry.

Not to mention that the ministers would have doubts, if it were not for what he himself knew, he might suspect himself as well.

"If I say no, would my beloved subjects believe me?"

Even the Emperor, who was clearly agitated, had offered an explanation. What could they say if they didn’t believe him?

The envoys sighed, and after a long silence, Feng Jingyao stepped forward with a piece of calculation paper.

"This is something I managed to obtain from the Jin side, the calculation paper used by the lad from Azhou during the contest. Would Your Majesty and the gentlemen please take a look?"

Xiao Cheng examined it for a moment, his brow furrowed, and then he had Jixiang take it down for the Qi envoys to see.

Written on the calculation paper were strange symbols, dense and numerous, yet succinct, completely different from the method used by Yan Buxi.

The crowd was shocked.

"What is written on here?"

No one knew.

Azhou was a student taught by Feng Shi Er Niang...

Feng Shi Er Niang, again, a member of the Feng Family.

The envoys looked puzzled and turned to Feng Jingyao.

"Could it be from the teachings of the Feng Family?"

Feng Jingyao shook his head, indicating that he didn’t know.

"So where did Feng Shi Er Niang learn these terrifying things?"

An envoy lifted the calculation paper and scrutinized it against the daylight.

"It looks like some kind of incantation... Could it be witchcraft?"

The statement sent shockwaves through the crowd.

People quickly recalled the anecdotes from Feng Yun’s childhood.

"The death of General Xie Xian back then... the annihilation of the Xie Family Army, wasn’t it predicted by this young lady?"

The envoys went pale with alarm.

Glimpsing at each other, their eyes flashed with unsettled fear and concern.

Feng Jingyao said, "That is indeed the case."

At the time, the Feng Family had almost burned Feng Yun alive on suspicion of witchcraft...

It was her mother, Lu Sanniang, who had rescued her at the cost of her own life.

Feng Jingyao’s thoughts stretched long, and a chill imperceptibly emerged in his eyes.

"It’s an unfortunate situation within my family. I ask the gentlemen for your understanding."

The crowd politely offered a few complimentary words and did not press further on the Feng Family.

Xiao Cheng, seated at the place of honor, remained silent for a long time without speaking, his refined and noble face slightly pale.

He could not provide the answers the crowd sought, but he was very clear in his heart that Feng Shi Er Niang was no longer a demure beauty, but a fierce and dazzling man-eater.

He ordered Yan Buxi to be taken back for a good rest.

He did not speak another word.

"Your Majesty." Feng Jingyao broke the awkward silence in the study, taking the initiative to shoulder the responsibility, "The loss of Xinzhou City is due to our negligence. At this critical juncture, we still need to establish a course of action."

Xiao Cheng glanced coldly around at the men.

"Whether to pursue peace or war, do my beloved subjects have any plans in mind?"

The ministers looked at each other in dismay.

The Emperor pinpointed the crux of the matter with a single sentence.

The key issue had circled back again.

It was about peace or war, the heart of the decision to be made.

Feng Jingyao saw the ministers whispering to each other but none willing to step forward with a suggestion, he scoffed in his heart, yet his expression remained undisturbed.

"This official believes that since Your Majesty has just ascended the throne, it is inappropriate to start a major conflict. Moreover, Xinzhou is currently under the control of the Jin Court. If we choose to fight, the cost for our side would far exceed that of Jin," he said.

Xiao Cheng asked, "So, Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, you mean to choose peace?"

"Peace is of utmost importance," he replied.

With Feng Jingyao setting the tone, the others, also not wishing for war, echoed his sentiment.

Xiao Cheng thought for a moment and then asked, "Then, as for the demand we can make to the Jin side, do the ministers have any suggestions?"

Feng Jingyao’s complexion had improved slightly from before.

"Demand that the Jin Court waive the tribute for the defeated."

Someone reminded him, "The tribute is a matter of state policy. It is not something we can demand."

Feng Jingyao gave him a cold glance.

"Then does Sun Sir have any insights?"

Sun Shicai had also played a major role in assisting Xiao Cheng to power, and he was greatly trusted by Xiao Cheng.

He said, "Apart from seizing the opportunity to retrieve Your Majesty’s rightful wife, I can’t think of any more useful demands."

Upon hearing this, Feng Jingyao let out a cold laugh.

"What use is a mere woman?"

Sun Shicai retorted sharply, "You, as her uncle, such contempt for your niece... those uninformed might think that Feng Shi Er Niang was raised wild by the Feng Family."

Having said this, regardless of what expression Feng Jingyao wore, he bowed to Xiao Cheng.

"Your Majesty! A virtuous wife can secure the family estate. A distinguished general can stabilize the nation. A capable minister can ensure peace for the people. The talents of Feng Shi Er Niang have been witnessed by Your Majesty and the officials today. If Your Majesty acquires Feng Shi Er Niang, she’d be not just a virtuous wife or Empress, but also an excellent aiding minister, able to restore stability to the state in times of crisis."

"Absurd!" Feng Jingyao exclaimed loudly. "The welfare of our great Daqi hinges on a woman’s hand?"

Sun Shicai was not to be outdone.

"Every person is brought into this world by a woman, Minister. Is such disdain because you come from a home without a mother?"

Sun Shicai had a sharp tongue too.

Feng Jingyao’s anger made his stomach burn, yet he had to feign indifference, calmly arguing with him and laying out the pros and cons.

The two were close to breaking into an argument.

"Enough!" Xiao Cheng suddenly spoke up, his thin lips curling into a self-mocking smile, "Who gave you the confidence that if we demand, they must comply? You seem to have forgotten that she is no longer the Feng Family’s girl to be trifled with. She is the wife of the Great General of Jin Country, a first-rank lady."

Everyone fell silent at once.

Their expressions, a bit awkward.

Feng Jingyao may have had ulterior motives for not wishing for Feng Yun to return. But those who backed Sun Shicai in calling for Feng Shi Er Niang’s return, weren’t they also trying to please the Emperor?

Xiao Cheng looked somewhat weary: "A melon forcefully twisted off its vine is not sweet. You should think of something else."

With that, he slowly stood up, pressing his palm against the desk.

"I am a bit tired; I will go rest for a while. Draw up a decree for me to review."

Seeing the pale face of the Emperor, all the ministers said in unison,

"Your servants obey the order."

The ministers departed.

Xiao Cheng, however, summoned Feng Jingyao to the inner hall.

"Mr. Jingyao, have you ever taught at the Feng Family’s school in Xuzhou?"

Upon hearing this, Feng Jingyao cupped his hands, "In response to Your Majesty, I have not."

Xiao Cheng furrowed his brow: "In today’s world, the only one who could so easily outdo Yan Buxi is Mr. Jingyao."

It was because of this suspicion that during the contest between Feng Yun and Yan Buxi, he had deliberately included several challenging mathematical problems left by Mr. Jingyao from years ago.

Yet Feng Yun still managed to give a flawless solution to each one.

"Your Majesty," Feng Jingyao, aware of what Xiao Cheng was suspecting, sighed, "Today’s matter weighs heavily on me like a fishbone in my throat."

He then gave Xiao Cheng a long bow.

"The Feng Family has raised such an unfilial daughter, causing great Daqi to lose Xinzhou. As the head of the family, it is my inescapable responsibility."

Xiao Cheng waved his hand.

Despite the insinuations from Sun Shicai and a few others earlier, he had not kept Feng Jingyao behind to assign blame.

"Think back, minister, did Shi’er Niang always have a talent for mathematics since she was young?"

Feng Jingyao shook his head, his attitude humble, "When she was three, the Grand Tutor praised her as a prodigy, but that was only because she knew a few more characters than others. It was all flattery in consideration of my father, a case of a false tale believed as truth."

Xiao Cheng’s eyebrows lifted slightly.

"What I am curious about are those symbols, what is their purpose?"

The Emperor’s confusion was Feng Jingyao’s as well.

"I am ashamed. Perhaps when my younger brother returns from Xinzhou, we may get an answer."