The Slender Waist-Chapter 388 - 278: Fulfilling Happiness and Responsibility

Chapter 388: Chapter 278: Fulfilling Happiness and Responsibility

Feng Ying listened as a servant girl reported back the news; Xiao Cheng hadn’t asked Jin to hand over Feng Yun. Overjoyed, she felt a long-held tension release from her body and, taking the servant girl with her, went to change her clothes.

When she emerged fresh and clean from the dressing room, she found Li Sangruo blocking the doorway, her cold face stretched tight, her eyes bottomless pits.

"Close the door, no one is allowed to enter or exit."

She was looking at Feng Ying, but her command was not for her; it was directed to the guard behind her.

The guard acknowledged her order and left. Li Sangruo took two steps closer to Feng Ying, giving a forced smile.

"Madame Feng, don’t you miss your elder sister dearly, longing for a family reunion? Then why not persuade His Majesty to request her return to the country?"

It was at this moment that Feng Ying realized this madwoman was here to cause trouble.

"May the Empress Dowager temper her anger." Her voice was gentle, and she smiled, offering no contradiction to Li Sangruo nor taking offense at her harsh words, merely voicing her pretended helplessness, "As a lady not yet titled as a consort, I lack the standing to make such a request before His Majesty..."

She slowly bowed, showing submission to Li Sangruo.

"Aying’s elder sister is also a poor soul. If she has offended the Empress Dowager in any way, I hope you will find it in your heart to forgive her. Alone and without family, she is bound to make mistakes in her actions."

Li Sangruo gave a cold laugh.

When they met yesterday, she had hinted to Feng Ying to persuade Xiao Cheng to bring Feng Yun back, to have her at her mercy, to twist and mold as she pleased.

At that time, Feng Ying had said things that made Li Sangruo believe the woman had truly understood, but to her surprise... She was a fool, actually treating Feng Yun as her real sister.

"Madame Feng is certainly pure-hearted."

She then lazily walked to the window and watched a few rowdy soldiers laughing and talking in the corridor, her brows slightly furrowing before she broke into a smile again.

"Alone and without family... Madame Feng reminds me that whether she returns or not isn’t really a matter of concern."

With that said, she flicked her sleeve and pulled open the door, prepared to leave.

"Your Highness," called out Feng Ying suddenly.

"There is something I’m not sure if you’re aware of."

Li Sangruo raised her eyebrows and looked back, her gaze cold and indifferent.

"If Madame Feng has something to say, speak plainly."

Feng Ying looked at Li Sangruo, her expression worried. She hesitated, her voice muffled and low, "There is a matter I didn’t wish to trouble Your Highness with, but seeing your genuine feelings for General Pei, and given how well we get along, I simply cannot bear to keep it from you..."

Li Sangruo was inherently impatient.

Her temper had gotten even worse with pregnancy. Listening to these roundabout words, she felt irritated.

"You’ve seen my situation. What more could there be to anger me?"

Feng Ying seemed to sigh with relief.

"If so, I shall speak frankly. The Pei Family has prepared gifts to meet with my family in Xinzhou... Alas, no one took my elder sister’s marriage seriously before, but now that the Pei Family wants to acknowledge their daughter-in-law, my family, though reluctant to let her marry far away, cannot refuse amidst peace negotiations. Besides, with the son-in-law being Jin’s Great General, it is an honor. I heard my father and uncle discussing last night about preparing a proper reception..."

Before she could finish, Li Sangruo’s face had already changed.

"What do you mean by telling me this?"

Feng Ying suddenly forced a bitter smile, approaching Li Sangruo, looking into her eyes, and spoke softly, "I empathize with my elder sister, who can’t be with her beloved. And I empathize with Your Highness too... just like me, you love but cannot possess."

Li Sangruo’s eyes turned bloodshot as she stared back, scoffing coldly.

"The Empress Dowager and Madame Feng are not alike. How dare you, so weak and powerless, compare yourself with me?"

Feng Ying lowered her gaze, "You are right, Your Highness. But Aying is just a weak woman unlike the Empress Dowager, holding great power. I merely scrape by, what else can I do? I only hope His Majesty will be a little more compassionate towards me."

After speaking, she curtsied again, "There is a banquet hosted by His Majesty tomorrow and my elder sister will attend. I must go and prepare so as not to disgrace His Majesty. Your Highness, I take my leave."

Li Sangruo watched her coldly as she left, slowly flicking her sleeve.

"A banquet tomorrow, how delightful."

Everyone had gone, and the dressing room was silent as a crypt.

After a while, one of the partitions was pushed open from inside.

A stunningly beautiful girl emerged, radiant and smiling.

"This is what’s good about a house of one’s own making."

Knowing all its structures, where to hide people.

"Miss," Xiaoman followed behind her, naively marveling.

"I didn’t expect that Madame Feng would defend you so staunchly behind closed doors..."

Feng Yun glanced at her sidelong.

Xiaoman felt a chill down her spine under her smiling gaze.

"Miss, did I say something wrong?"

Feng Yun’s face was cool, "You didn’t say anything wrong. She really did defend me."

Xiaoman gave a puzzled sound, feeling something was off but couldn’t pinpoint what it was.

Daman stepped forward and asked respectfully, "These past days Madame Feng has been wearing a veil. Has your face not yet healed?"

Xiaoman was surprised, "But you didn’t hit her that hard that day. If it had been me, she wouldn’t have been able to leave the house, let alone for half a month."

Daman glared at her.

Xiaoman then remembered the embarrassing fact that she had not dared to hit Feng Ying that day and stuck out her tongue. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Daman said, "A dog that doesn’t bark bites much harder than one that does."

Feng Yun walked ahead, with Daman following close by.

Xiaoman, head tilted in semi-understanding, trailed behind them.

"Qi Jun is hosting a feast tomorrow, do you really want to go, girl?"

No one answered her.

Feng Yun’s steps quickened, and Daman didn’t look back either.

-

After the treaty was signed, Xiao Cheng indeed announced that a banquet would be held at Mingquan Town the next day to invite the envoys and their families from Jin to celebrate the alliance between the two countries and the eternal bond of friendship for a hundred years.

Jin readily accepted the invitation.

On Feng Yun’s way back to Xinzhou, there were jubilant crowds everywhere.

The people of Changmen were also very happy.

The opening of trade between the two countries, signing trade agreements, was a huge boon for Changmen.

Places with docks and ferry crossings saw their property values soar.

Especially Mingquan Town.

The council hall there would become a major commercial hub for Dajin after the peace talks, and being next to a ferry crossing, the value of its land had skyrocketed, more than tenfold since before the negotiations.

And Feng Yun had several hundred mu of land bought at a cheap price.

Upon hearing the news, Xing Dalang beat his chest and stamped his feet in frustration.

"If only I had known, I would have sold all the provisions and used the money to buy land."

At that time, amidst the chaos of war, whether it was gold or silver or the five baht coins, all had devaluated significantly. Feng Yun managed to move the heap of five baht coins that Feng Jingteng couldn’t take with him, which was only enough to purchase those lands, but provisions and raw silk were stable assets—if she had been willing to exchange some at that time, she could have bought even more...

Feng Yun did not agree with that statement after hearing it.

"Nothing is absolute in life."

She looked over again and earnestly admonished Xing Dalang.

"Remember this, no matter when or how great the potential profit, you should never gamble all you own. Use spare and excess money—if you lose, it’s just a loss, but your entire livelihood and life should never be gambled away lightly."

This was after the success of the peace talks, and there was a trade agreement in place.

But what if the negotiations had collapsed halfway and war broke out again?

Wouldn’t that lead to bankruptcy? In chaotic times, food is the most important thing for survival.

"Without provisions, with so many people under me, shall I turn to banditry?"

Xing Dalang took the lesson to heart, flushed with embarrassment, and bowed to Feng Yun.

"This humble one will remember the mistress’s teachings and will not speak without thinking again."

Feng Yun smiled at him, not harshly, but encouraged him a few more words, and only then did Xing Dalang excitedly walk away.

The young lad was very talented and sharp-witted, and Feng Yun planned to train him well.

Daman came over and asked reverently, "Madam, are you going to Qi Jun’s banquet tomorrow?"

Feng Yun was expressionless. "It’s up to the General."

Since when did she start listening to the General so intently?

Daman’s lips pursed slightly, but he said nothing.

Feng Yun glanced at him and waited until Xing Dalang was far enough away before speaking.

"How is it?"

With his back to her, Daman pulled out a letter from his sleeve and presented it to Feng Yun.

"From Lady Chen."

Feng Yun did not hurry to open the letter but stared at him.

"Who gave it to you?"

Standing by her side, Daman felt a flurry of emotions hearing her cold, emotionless voice.

"Today, at the council hall, Jiang Da secretly passed it to me."

Daman’s eyes were filled with worry, yet they appeared incredibly bright at that moment.

Feng Yun smiled faintly, her gaze dark as she lowered her head, opened the letter, glanced at the contents, and handed it to Daman.

"Read it... and then burn it."

-

The sky gradually darkened.

Pei Jue came back very early today and did not rush in and out as usual but stayed at Chunmeng Hall for dinner with Feng Yun.

What was more surprising was the General had barely stepped into the room when Jiu You followed close behind with several guards, each holding a chest, moving all of the General’s clothes and personal belongings.

"Madam, where shall we put the General’s things?"

Xiaoman reported to Feng Yun with a beaming smile.

If the Great General moved in, the Left Guard could see her every day.

She was on the verge of overjoyed madness.

Feng Yun glanced at her, "Just put them in my room for now."

Pei Jue’s belongings weren’t extensive and wouldn’t take up much space in her room. His lifestyle was simple, without many peculiar preferences; in fact, he wouldn’t impact her much at all.

It’s just that...

She found this arrangement rather strange.

What happened to the agreed-upon faux marriage, living carefree without responsibility?