The Slender Waist-Chapter 391 - 280 Dispersing Joy with a Hundred Plays

Chapter 391: Chapter 280 Dispersing Joy with a Hundred Plays

The mist over Zhu River was hazy, and a light fog blanketed the area in the early chill, making it seem as if one had returned to the waterways of Jiangnan.

Reaching the ferry crossing, Ping’an leapt down, turned back with his umbrella raised, and respectfully invited Xiao Cheng.

"Your Majesty."

Xiao Cheng glanced at him, "Your injury has not healed, why not rest for a few more days?"

He turned his gaze to Jixiang, "You, come here."

Jixiang saw the despondency in Ping’an’s eyes, nodded, lowered his head, took the umbrella, and held it over the Emperor’s head, maintaining a distance and a respectful stance, silently moving forward.

Xiao Cheng, dressed in a loose robe, walked with an upright posture, questioning the guard as he went.

"Did the scout say what illness she has?"

Xuchi shook his head, "The Imperial Guard Camp sent out a fast horse in the middle of the night, heading straight to Andu to fetch someone. Some speculate that the lady might be with child..."

Xiao Cheng stiffened, paused for a moment, and glared back sternly.

"With Puyang father and son in Xinzhou City, why the need to go to Andu to seek another doctor?"

There must be some unspoken reason behind this.

Xuchi, upon being glared at by the Emperor, suddenly had an epiphany.

"The scout said, it was Doctor Yao specified by the lady..."

Xiao Cheng frowned, "Ayun?"

Her temperament was such that she disliked causing trouble for others. She would endure if possible, yield if necessary. Even if she truly fell ill from a chill, she would never turn away Puyang Jiu and Puyang Li to seek a doctor in Andu.

There is something fishy about an out-of-the-ordinary occurrence.

As if thinking of something, Xiao Cheng’s eyebrows sank suddenly, and he clenched his fist tightly...

Could it be that she truly was pregnant and didn’t want the Puyang father and son to know, and thus fall victim to Li Sangruo’s malice, which is why she went through all the trouble to seek out Doctor Yao, with whom she was familiar?

At the thought of this possibility, a sudden fire seemed to burn inside Xiao Cheng.

In his previous life, Queque fell pregnant after three years, but in this life, was she now about to have a child with Pei Jue?

He quickened his pace, as if he didn’t feel the drizzling rain above. Jixiang, holding the umbrella, couldn’t keep up even with a light jog and kept calling "Your Majesty".

Gongsun Jiong and Xuchi were also stunned.

"Your Majesty, the sedan is here, this way..."

"Where are you going, Your Majesty? The Garuda Holy Monk is waiting at Songya..."

Xiao Cheng seemed not to hear, striding briskly through the chilling wind and cold rain; in a blink, his robe was half soaked...

-

Yao Ru arrived at Xinzhou just before dawn.

The carriage rocked back and forth, almost costing him half his life.

When he entered, Puyang Jiu was already inside.

Pei Jue sat by the wooden couch, holding her, silent. Feng Yun lay in the bed, her eyes tightly shut, her cheeks flushed with fever, yet her lips were unusually pale.

Xiaoman called out "Madam" twice, but there was no response, scaring the young girl into teary eyes.

Pei Jue was also somewhat nervous, his face cold.

"What exactly has happened to the Madam?"

Puyang Jiu had just arrived,

Upon learning he had summoned Doctor Yao from Andu, Puyang Jiu was displeased, not wishing to elaborate, glancing at Yao Ru, waiting for his explanation.

Unexpectedly, Yao Ru, after just a glance at Feng Yun, bowed without taking her pulse.

"Replying to the General, Madam is merely fatigued, and has fallen into a deep sleep. With some rest, she will be well."

Puyang Jiu looked at him, his gaze now less dismissive.

"Madam herself complained of palpitations and shortness of breath. When I took her pulse, it was deep and weak. Clearly, it is stagnation of liver energy leading to chaotic qi and blood..."

Yao Ru bowed to him slightly, smiled faintly.

"Did the gentleman sense that Madam’s pulses at the inch, bar, and cubit positions are smooth and flowing, indicating an abundance of blood and qi?"

Puyang Jiu raised an eyebrow, "So what if they are?"

Yao Ru answered, "Madam is nearing her monthly cycle and feels unwell due to fatigue."

Puyang Jiu laughed, "Not taking a pulse yet knowing a person’s illness, Doctor Yao is indeed remarkable."

Yao Ru faced the young man, his expression shifting, clearly extremely skeptical, smiled lightly, and spoke gently:

"That’s no talent of mine; it’s simply because I’ve attended to Madam before and remembered her monthly cycle."

Puyang Jiu uttered an "oh" and observed Yao Ru who seemed gentle and composed, unlike an ordinary country practitioner, sparking his curiosity.

"May I ask where the gentleman studied medicine?"

Yao Ru calmly replied, "My father."

Puyang Jiu chuckled, "So the gentleman hails from a family of physicians; where did your ancestors practice?"

Yao Ru unflappably said, "They went from street to street, hustling for a full belly. It’s hardly a notable lineage."

Puyang Jiu found it hard to believe, but since the man had shut down the conversation, pursuing it would be impolite.

He acknowledged with a nod and bowed firmly to Yao Ru.

"Puyang Jiu of Pingcheng, fortunate to meet you, sir."

Yao Ru was slightly startled, but smiled and returned the greeting.

"A pleasure to meet you, Young Master Puyang."

They exchanged pleasantries for a few moments and then bowed before taking their leave.

Puyang Jiu went home, while Yao Ru was arranged by Daman to stay in a guest room, to be called upon when the young lady awoke for consultation.

Although both Doctor Yao and Puyang Jiu said that Feng Yun was not seriously ill, but merely fatigued by worries and nearing her menstrual period, hence her blood and qi were depleted, and she slept particularly deep, they were still not completely reassured.

Pei Jue didn’t say much...

Because if the conversation went on, he would be the culprit.

Puyang Jiu and Doctor Yao had simply spared him some face.

He gently caressed Feng Yun’s sleeping face and kissed her forehead, his eyes lingering for a long time, silent.

He always found himself unable to restrain himself around her, his self-control crumbling at her presence...

"General," a soft cough came from outside the door.

"Someone from Cuiyu has come with an invitation, saying Qi Jun is hosting a music feast in Mingquan Town today and invites the general and his wife to join."

Pei Jue frowned, looking at the half-hidden small face of Feng Yun asleep under the blanket. He intended to refuse and let her rest, but recalling her words from last night, he swallowed his refusal.

"Understood."

Let her decide once she wakes up.

-

As daylight broke, the misty rain cleared, and the weather turned exceptionally bright.

Sunlight showered down, glinting like freshly washed gold.

Heaven had given both Jin and Qi a great gift.

Outside the Yitara Street parliament building, the scene was bustling, with shops busy with customers and business booming. Further away in open spaces, locals had set up tents and stalls selling snacks and drinks, their voices calling out under the warm winter sun.

A scene of thriving prosperity, the country in its prime.

It was only after waking up that Feng Yun learned Puyang Jiu and Doctor Yao had visited her, unanimously diagnosing her as having slept from sheer exhaustion. She wished she could find a hole to crawl into.

"Where’s Pei Jue?"

Calling his full name almost startled Xiaoman.

Xiaoman bowed, "The general left before dawn, saying to inform him when the madam wakes."

"No need to tell him. Let him drop dead." Feng Yun sat up, hissed in pain as she braced her waist, and took a moment before calling Xiaoman.

"Help me up."

Xiaoman looked at her weakly.

"Shouldn’t my lady rest a bit longer?"

"Why rest when we’re going to Mingquan today?" Feng Yun’s voice had an edge of anger—it was the frustration of being wronged by Pei Gou without finding the culprit who caused it.

Xiaoman dared not provoke her further, helping her to get up and get dressed, then asked:

"Should my lady apply heavier makeup today?"

This would conceal the exhaustion that riddled her body.

Unexpectedly, Feng Yun flatly refused, "No, today’s makeup must be exceptionally... sickly."

Sickly makeup?

For Xiaoman, this was challenging.

She called Daman over, and after toiling for half an hour, they managed to help a sickly beauty into the carriage.

Feng Yun didn’t wait for Pei Jue to return and headed straight for Mingquan Town.

She had an appointment with Cong Wentian to visit the sugar factory under construction.

The wooden factory was quickly built, but Feng Yun’s high standards delayed the process.

She wasn’t in a hurry, as production would only start properly next year. After instructing Cong Wentian on some details, she leisurely took the carriage back to Mingquan’s eateries.

The sunlight fell on the flags outside the eatery, casting a fiery red glow, the shop bustling with activity.

Nan Kui and Chai Ying were waiting at the entrance, greeting Feng Yun with bright smiles as she approached.

"Quickly, madam, come and see."

Feng Yun glanced around and noticed that, like them, everyone on the street was looking out eagerly.

"Looking at what?" she asked, curious.

"Today, Qi Jun is hosting a banquet with scattered entertainments and a variety of acts," replied Nan Kui, "everyone’s enjoying it very much..."

"Scattered entertainments," southern variety shows featuring unique costumes, lion dances, acrobatics, fire-spitting, and dancing.

Being called "a variety of acts," it naturally encompassed different performances, adored from the palace to the common folk.

Feng Yun took note of the excitement on the faces around her but said nothing. As she was about to turn back inside, she heard shouts of "They’re here, they’re here," from the street. Turning her head, she saw flatbed carts draped in green cloth, carrying props and performers heading to the parliament house.

"I’ve heard that Qi Jun invited a monk from Tianzhu who has many incredible skills."

"This monk can cut off his tongue and show it to everyone, then grow it back again."

"He can also decapitate himself and then reattach his head..."

"That’s nothing, I’ve seen an illusion of bringing the dead to life in Jiangnan. Without blinking an eye, a person in front of you just flies away..."

The crowd chatted eagerly, their debate loud.

Nan Kui scoffed, "These people really, talking as if they’ve seen it with their own eyes."

"Madam will see for herself at the banquet later, and then you can come back and tell us the truth," Chai Ying suggested.

Feng Yun did not respond, her gaze fixed towards the parliament house, watching a tall, thin figure amidst the crowd.

Tang Shaogong possessed a distinct aura, different from the rest. No matter where he stood, even with everyone around in high spirits, his surroundings seemed wrapped in an impenetrable layer of thick ice.

It was early for the feast; why had he come so soon?

Feng Yun changed to a more comfortable position, casually requesting, "Bring me a cup of my ’Distant Yearning’ tea."

Nan Kui and Chai Ying, more interested in the commotion outside, had not noticed anything else, but Jiang Yin, attentive as always, caught Feng Yun’s glance and suggested:

"Madam doesn’t look well today, maybe you’re not feeling good. How about I make you a cup of nourishing tea instead?"

Feng Yun smiled faintly, "That sounds good."