The Slender Waist-Chapter 387 - 277: Dare Not Disobey

"Dogthing!"

In the neighboring courtyard, as Sang Jiao heard the Princely Heir cursing someone inside, for an instant she thought she was the target. Just as she was about to come forward to apologize, she faintly sensed something was off.

The voice of the Princely Heir was not right.

Restrained, suppressed, filled with annoyance and resentment.

If he were scolding her, why would the Princely Heir need to be like this?

To directly execute her would likely bring no one who dared to utter a word of objection.

Sang Jiao’s heart was filled with trepidation as she pricked up her ears to listen; inside, the cursing did not resume for some time.

After about a quarter of an hour, the Princely Heir finally came out from inside.

His complexion was flush, his eyes murky yet carried a cold, fierce energy. That gaze swept over her like seeing the killer of his father.

"Go, call for Quding."

Sang Jiao bowed her head and replied cautiously.

"Mr. Quding has been sitting in the reception hall for a while, waiting for the Princely Heir."

Quding sat upright, his heart starting to drum with tension as he saw Chunyu Yan approach with a stern face.

"Quding."

A low shout startled Quding into quickly standing up.

"Princely Heir."

Chunyu Yan asked, "Tell me honestly, were those questions leaked by you?"

With a cry of alarm, Quding sprang up, gathered his robe and walked towards Chunyu Yan, then bowed deeply, "The Princely Heir has keen insight. Although I love wealth, I have my principles. I would not dare touch things not entrusted to me by the Princely Heir."

Chunyu Yan narrowed his eyes, his gaze chilly.

"Are you really not the one?"

Quding inwardly wailed.

It was the Princely Heir who wanted to do a favor, yet failed to deliver it, and now he blamed others for leaking the questions.

Indeed, handsome men are all arrogant.

"I swear to the heavens."

Quding raised his hand, clenched his teeth, and swore with even greater vehemence.

"I swear upon the lives of my entire family..."

"Enough." Chunyu Yan sat down with a cold look in his eyes, eyed Quding from top to bottom—making him so uncomfortable that he finally spoke.

"Then where did you get the questions from?"

This...

Quding felt a tinge of panic.

He feared that this was exactly what Chunyu Yan would ask.

And as feared, it happened.

Having been around Chunyu Yan for a long time and in order to gain trust, it was hard to avoid exaggerating his own abilities.

Over time, everyone considered him a scholarly guest under the Princely Heir, accomplished in both character and learning, a disciple of the sage Ghost Valley, knowledgeable in both astronomy and geography...

The more he boasted, the more he feared.

This time, when setting the questions, Chunyu Yan approached him, and Quding had no choice but to tough it out.

It’s not that he didn’t understand mathematics, just not as proficient and talented as people thought...

If not for this incident, he would never have admitted the truth.

However, the matter was of great importance, especially since Feng Twelve and that young boy from Xing Zhou had managed to easily defeat the renowned Yan Buxi, reducing him to a laughingstock. This was simply impossible; there had to be something amiss.

And the problem had originated from him...

So he had no choice but to tell the truth.

"Half of the questions came from a book I read."

"A book?" Chunyu Yan lifted his eyebrows and sneered, "What book?"

"A book called ’Miraculous Mathematics.’ I came across it many years ago. Some of its mathematical puzzles were intriguing, so I memorized them." Quding continued, "Could it be that Feng Twelve also happened upon that book by some serendipitous chance?"

Chunyu Yan pondered for a moment, "Unlikely."

His tone was hesitant; he didn’t want to admit it, yet he couldn’t deny it.

"If Feng Twelve didn’t have the true skill, even if she luckily won, in the next round, Xiao Cheng and I would set questions, and she wouldn’t be able to beat Yan Buxi."

Quding thought about it and agreed, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, "Otherwise, perhaps the Princely Heir should ask Feng Twelve herself?"

Chunyu Yan shot him a look.

Feng Twelve wouldn’t even bother with him anymore, how would she reveal the true details to him?

He stood up to return to his room and then commanded Sang Jiao.

"Close the door, do not respond to anyone who comes looking."

-

After the rain paused, the wind died down, and only a remnant of the rain’s sound lingered, Feng Yun lay there motionless, as if she’d just been fished out of the water, covered in fragrant sweat.

She quietly breathed for a while before finally opening her eyes and staring reproachfully at Pei Jue, her tone full of grievance.

"Didn’t we agree that you’d be tender with me? Liar."

Pei Jue uttered not a word.

His black pupils flickered like flames, clearly unsatiated.

Feng Yun pretended not to see and lifted her chin slightly, parting her lips, "Thirsty."

The young mistress, fresh from her indulgence, her face as blooming as the peaches of March, alluring and radiant, issued a coquettish complaint that seemed to fan straight into one’s heart.

Pei Jue brought the cup of water from beside the bed to her lips.

Feng Yun unceremoniously took a couple of sips from his hand, then pushed it away. Pei Jue reassured her with a peck on her forehead, gazing at her, his eyes turning incredibly soft for the moment, "Want some more? I’ll feed you."

Feng Yun’s face flushed immediately.

He had said the exact same thing earlier.

Cajoling her, feeding her more and more...

Even though she knew he was talking about the water in the porcelain cup this time, Feng Yun couldn’t help her mind from wandering, her cheeks lightly flushed, her hair falling gracefully, her body subconsciously shrinking back.

"No more, you drink."

Pei Jue gave her a look, said nothing more, stood up, and drank the remaining water in the cup — tilting back his head in one swift gulp.

He drank quickly and eagerly; the movement of his Adam’s apple was sensuously angular, the definition of his waist and abdomen contracting and relaxing in rhythm with his drinking as if breathing...

Feng Yun subconsciously raised a hand and pressed it on those muscles, an unintentional touch, but the warm tips of her fingers seemed to carry a summoning caress. Pei Jue’s eyes darkened abruptly, he set down the cup and grasped her hand, pressing her into the bedcovers, arching slightly and looking down at her with a gleaming gaze.

"Dare to provoke me, hmm?"

Feng Yun’s face blushed like rouge, she shook her head, about to speak, but Pei Jue had already bowed his head, lightly suckling and slowly kneading down her neck, stirring up a tantalizing itch, a fiery heat that surged to her limbs and through her bones...

Her mind blanked out for a moment, Feng Yun instinctively wrapped around him, quivering slickly, her throat unconsciously letting out broken moans, reason gone, until the man with his low husky breathing besieged her once again...

"Pei Dog, you’re doing this on purpose..." Feng Yun’s ears tingled, her entire body limp as a puddle of water, annoyed at him for his insatiability, yet hating herself for her weakness.

"Husband," Pei Jue corrected her, his narrow waist exerting a bit of force, panting twice before propping up on his arms and looking down at her, "You seduced me."

"The accused first files the charge!" Feng Yun felt as if she was about to burst into flames, marshaling her last bit of sense, she tried to push him with all her might.

"No more... we must rise early tomorrow."

Pei Jue held onto her waist, preventing her from moving, and glanced down, his eyes suddenly a crimson tide.

As the jade cup dew turned a light rosy hue, her willowy waist powerless to hide beneath the fragrant covers, the tender beauty’s nest became the hero’s burial ground. How could he withstand such a temptation? Gently grinding, slowly sinking, he forced her to quicken her breath, her soul almost swept out of her body, yet still unsatisfied, as if countless ants were crawling all over her, she ultimately gave in.

"Pei Dog, Pei Dog... truly detestable."

The scolding changed in tone, devoid of any intimidation, sounding more like a whine.

Pei Jue caressed her back with one hand, seeing her powerless appearance, swooped in for another kiss, and slowly thrust again.

-

The next day, delegates from both Jin Country and Qi Country were in full attendance.

The signing of the treaty proceeded more smoothly than expected.

In front of everyone, Xiao Cheng, instead of demanding the return of his legitimate wife as people had anticipated, requested that after the peace negotiations, Jin would open up the three waterfront cities of Xinzhou, Andu, and Wanning. Similarly, Qi would open Bingzhou and Fuzhou to facilitate trade between the two countries.

"Please consider and consent, Jin Empress Dowager."

This condition surprised the Jin delegation.

Li Sangruo was even more incredulous.

A great opportunity had presented itself; even if he did not ask for Feng Yun’s return, he should have proposed some difficult terms for Jin that would benefit Qi.

But these terms...

Rather than being in Qi’s favor, they seemed to provide a win-win situation that also gave great benefits to Jin.

Li Sangruo stared at the Qi monarch, of unmatched elegance, and slowly squinted his eyes.

"Has Qi Jun truly considered this?"

Xiao Cheng responded, "This is a result jointly decided upon by myself and my ministers. After years of war, the economy is in decline, and the people’s livelihoods have suffered greatly. The current peace talks with Jin are a great opportunity to revive confidence. I can’t think of anything more important..."

His speech was calm yet impactful like a stormy wave breaking over the heart.

Xiao Cheng’s broad perspective commanded respect, even from the Jin envoys.

Ao Zheng was the first to stand and bow deeply to him.

"With such boundless benevolence, Qi Jun is a blessing to the people of the world." 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Xiao Cheng replied with an unfazed expression, "You flatter me too much."

His gaze then turned to Chunyu Yan, speaking unhurriedly, "If there are no objections from anyone, I would ask Crown Prince Chunyu to middle the signing of the peace treaty."

Chunyu Yan’s lips curled slightly, signaling his servant to bring up the document.

"I dare not refuse."