The Slender Waist-Chapter 384 - 274 Unparalleled Shamelessness

Feng Yun’s joy seemed to lag half a beat behind everyone else’s. It wasn’t until she returned to Chunmeng Hall and everyone else’s excitement had subsided that her own happiness suddenly burst forth. Upon seeing the little turtle rush out to greet her, she sprinted towards it and hugged it tightly.

"Little turtle, sister won."

"Won, won!"

The little turtle had grown plump with winter fat and was becoming difficult for her to lift. So they both ended up tumbling onto the wooden couch, the little turtle seemingly sharing in her joy as it flipped itself belly-up and ceaselessly nuzzled against her...

The entire Chunpei Academy was filled with jubilation, from top to bottom everyone was exceedingly excited. Feng Yun specifically instructed the kitchen to prepare a few extra dishes to celebrate.

The servants followed their mistress’s lead in the revelry, but Feng Yun gradually became calm.

She sat by the window with the little turtle, nursing a cup of clear tea on the lounging couch, and quietly stroked the turtle’s back fur, an eerie silence settling over her.

Xiaoman and Daman exchanged glances.

"Madam, why are you not pleased?"

"Hmm?" Feng Yun looked up in surprise ans slightly pursed her lips in a smile, "I’m not unhappy, I was just thinking about something. Go on, close the door behind you. Don’t mind me."

It was the same in the past.

When they were first sent to Jin Army’s barracks by Feng Jingteng, Feng Yun often behaved this way. At times, she would close the door and appear to be in a bad mood, but once she opened the doors again she would return to her usual self.

The maids withdrew in order.

The room’s door closed.

Feng Yun let out a sigh of relief, lowered her head, rested her chin on the little turtle’s head, ans whispered softly, "Little turtle, tell sister, what should I do next?"

When events followed the trajectory from her previous life, Feng Yun felt fear and panic. However, letting things unfold completely opposite to her past life did not diminish her anxiety.

Change meant that there was less and less she could reference.

The memories in her mind would become ineffective; it was not just the small and minor changes, but even the major decisions affecting her fate could no longer be made based on previous experience...

Today in the council hall, she seemed unsurpassed and victorious.

But the tree that stands out in the forest is the one most likely to be blown down by the storm.

Jin and Qi, Li Sangruo, Xiao Cheng, the Feng Family, had all come to regard her as a thorn in their side, pushing herself into everyone’s view also brought her to the enemy’s attention...

There would inevitably be more turmoil to come...

She was pondering this when the laughter and chatter in the courtyard suddenly stopped.

Then she heard Xiaoman hesitantly calling to her from outside the door.

"Madam, the gatekeeper has sent word that the master of the house... the master has urgent business and seeks an audience..."

Feng Jingteng didn’t come alone; he brought his young daughter Feng Zhen and young son Feng Liang, carrying gifts as if visiting relatives, his face all smiles.

In the flower hall, with a light gray floor mat spread out, Feng Yun was dressed in simple clothes and sipping tea, with a big cat lying at her feet. She made no move to greet her father.

When Feng Jingteng walked in and saw Feng Yun seated and motionless, his expression immediately stiffened.

Scolding didn’t seem right, nor did leaving.

Feng Liang was young and didn’t have much guile. Seeing Feng Yun, he called out to her.

"Elder sister is behaving rudely. Mother said you’re a child with no upbringing, that you have no manners..."

Feng Yun’s hand, holding her cup of tea, paused slightly.

The reprimand that was stuck in Feng Jingteng’s throat finally found its vent.

"Aliang, do not be disrespectful!"

Feng Liang took it seriously. Scolded by his father, his eyes immediately reddened, tears pooled, his lower lip jutting out, he stubbornly said, "It’s true; elder sister is disrespectful to father, disregarding filial piety, like a wild child..."

Feng Jingteng had come today to seek reconciliation, and before he could even speak, his son had completely undone any good impression, and in a moment of annoyance, he snapped at him...

"You are being disrespectful. Who taught you to act this way..."

Feng Liang burst into tears, sitting on the ground and kicking his legs.

"Father hit me, father hit me, I’m going to tell mother..."

"He did not speak incorrectly," Feng Yun finally spoke up, stopping Feng Jingteng from going further, her voice level and detached.

"What fault does a child have? They listen to how adults teach them."

Feng Jingteng’s face was beet red.

"It is the servants of the house who are poorly disciplined, always babbling nonsense in front of the young master."

Feng Yun chuckled disdainfully, unbothered by the matter.

She gave Feng Jingteng a fleeting look.

"Master came to visit today not merely to discuss the virtues of filial piety with me, right?"

She did not invite Feng Jingteng to take a seat.

Nor did the serving maids come forward to offer tea.

The atmosphere grew exceedingly awkward.

Not wanting to stand and talk, Feng Jingteng pretended to ignore those gazes and coughed lightly before seating himself with his two children.

"It’s about Andu..."

"My lord." Feng Yun’s face darkened, "I do not wish to bring up this matter, and you need not feel guilty. Because I am doing very well now."

The voice was slightly indifferent, pleasant and gentle, no different from before, yet somehow it seemed to carry an added authority.

Feng Jingteng couldn’t help but scrutinize her.

Had Heaven replaced his daughter with a different girl?

He sighed, thickening his skin as he said, "In Mingquan Town, I saw Ayun calm and composed, defeating Mr. Yan, and I was quite moved..."

Feng Yun smiled, "Moved by what?"

Feng Jingteng hesitated for a moment before saying, "Your mother was right..."

The smile on Feng Yun’s face instantly froze, and she set down her teacup with a thud, "Do not speak of my mother, you do not have the right."

Feng Jingteng felt as if he had been struck by lightning. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

In all these years, despite their estrangement, Feng Yun had never spoken such harsh words to him.

"My lord." She didn’t bother with pretenses in the absence of outsiders, and refraining from using his name was already her exercising restraint, "One doesn’t visit the Hall of Three Treasures without a reason. You’ve come to find me, so just speak directly about what you want."

Feng Jingteng said, "The peace treaty has been signed, and you are married. Your father is now an official in Bingzhou, not far from here, so we should visit each other more often..."

Feng Yun let out a cold laugh.

"It’s not that simple, is it?"

A slight dread crept into Feng Jingteng’s heart.

He had always thought of his daughter as stubborn and a bit wild, difficult to control, someone who would go silent and unyielding when cornered, unable to be shrewd, never realizing she could be this domineering.

Her ferocity was subtle but enough to send chills down one’s spine.

"Then I will speak directly." Feng Jingteng lowered his head to look at Feng Zhen and Feng Liang, "Your siblings are at the age for learning, but since I will be in Bingzhou, they cannot attend the family school if they come with me. I don’t trust others to teach them, so I was wondering if Ayun could spare some time to teach your siblings mathematics..."

Not just Feng Yun, but Daman and Xiaoman were also shocked.

So Feng Jingteng had brought his children over with the intention of having his daughter act as a free tutor?

Feng Yun looked at the two younger ones, Feng Liang wore a face of disdain, looking down on her as the eldest sister, while Feng Zhen, being younger, was still naive, looking innocently at her beautiful sister, unaware of the subtleties in the adults’ conversation.

"Has my lord never looked in a mirror?"

Feng Jingteng was at a loss for words, "Ah?"

Feng Yun smiled, unexpectedly agreeing with a twist in her words, surprising everyone.

"It’s not impossible for me to teach them, but you’ll have to leave the children here."

"How could that be possible?" Feng Jingteng reflexively rejected the idea, "Your siblings are still young and cannot be away from their parents..."

"Neither can I be away from my husband," Feng Yun stated earnestly, "Andu is so far from Bingzhou, I surely cannot run to Bingzhou to teach, can I?"

Of course, Feng Jingteng wouldn’t leave the children with her.

Wouldn’t that be akin to leaving hostages?

He said, "Your granduncle’s intention is for you to come and stay for three to five months. Once the family school in Bingzhou is established and a suitable teacher is found, you can return."

He added, "You haven’t visited home in so long, don’t you miss it? Staying at your maternal home for a few months, I believe my son-in-law wouldn’t mind, right?"

Feng Yun’s eyes narrowed as she let out a cold laugh.

Her granduncle was much more ruthless than her father.

The illustrious Feng Family of Xuzhou, how could they lack tutors?

Was it because she had made a name for herself in Mingquan Town that the Feng Family finally recognized her value and wanted her back? Or was it one of Xiao San’s crooked schemes?

"My lord, please return," Feng Yun said, "I do not wish to be at odds with the Feng Family. I shall discuss this matter with my husband and consider it later."

Initially, Feng Yun only wanted a safe haven to prevent the tragedy of her previous life from repeating, but as things had developed to this point, she knew all too well that hesitating would only lead to a dead end. Therefore, she had to think further ahead and tread more carefully.

Becoming enemies with the Feng Family indeed presented no advantages to her.

A peace treaty did not necessitate reconciliation, but giving a slap and occasionally offering a sweet date, letting them believe that she could be won over and persuaded, was certainly better than being treated as an enemy.

Don’t say everything, leave room for flexibility.

Feng Jingteng left in high spirits with the two children.

Before leaving, Feng Yun had someone fetch two packets of tea leaves from the storage chest.

"Try this. This tea is called ’Endless Sorrow.’"

Endless Sorrow.

Feng Jingteng pondered the four characters, finding them to be of beautiful connotation, feeling happy to receive a token of filial piety from his daughter even though she still didn’t wear a pleasant expression.

Feng Yun offered a slight smile.

Endless Sorrow.

A sorrow without end...

"Daman." Feng Yun glanced sideways, "Follow them."

Daman met her gaze, "This servant understands."