The Slender Waist-Chapter 398 - 286: Counter the Move Part 2

"Madam, it is my fault," said the Empress Dowager. "Lord Feng, my apologies." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

In front of the Feng Family, Li Sangruo stood up again and walked in front of Feng Yun, bowing deeply.

"I beg the madam to forgive me for being temporarily blinded and speaking nonsense."

For the Empress Dowager to humble herself to such an extent was unexpected, and to pursue the matter further would seem improper on the Feng Family’s part.

Feng Jingteng looked over, somewhat troubled.

Even the Chen Family fell silent, with nowhere to direct their anger.

No one had expected someone as proud and aloof as Li Sangruo to bow her head so low.

"Your Highness shames me too much. As a mere woman, how can I deserve such a courteous apology?" Feng Yun said, feeling guilty, hurriedly helping Li Sangruo up and speaking in an even more humble and soft voice:

"It is not important if others misunderstand me. My reputation has not been good for a day or two now; let’s just put this matter to rest and not mention it again..."

Li Sangruo breathed a sigh of relief, while Feng Yun’s brow furrowed.

With a vague and distracted look, she scanned the surroundings.

"But matters of evil spirits must not be taken lightly."

She then turned to look at Tang Shaogong, her gaze so clear it showed no trace of deceit.

"Evil spirits daring to afflict the Empress Dowager, if not exorcised, I fear it could affect the national fortune. Your Highness, we must rid ourselves of this evil spirit!"

Taking advantage of the situation, she turned the tables.

Feng Jingteng, who was quietly sipping tea, almost choked upon hearing this.

Everyone knew that "evil spirits causing trouble" was just an excuse Li Sangruo used to save face.

Not just Li Sangruo, even Feng Jingteng had not expected Shi’er Niang to be someone who would pursue revenge so persistently.

He coughed twice and cooperatively asked, "Does Ayun have a plan?"

"Father is being foolish!" Feng Yun cast a reproachful glance at him, then sincerely looked at Li Sangruo, "Your Highness must have heard that Qi Jun has invited a monk from Tianzhu with boundless magical powers. With him here, what evil spirit wouldn’t reveal itself quickly?"

Countering each move and coming up with a new strategy.

Behind Feng Yun’s calm voice was cold coercion.

People most fear ghosts and malevolent spirits; her own mother was driven to death by them...

Li Sangruo also wants to use evil spirits to clear herself? Think again!

Feng Jingteng laughed and agreed, indicating he would immediately report to Qi Jun and respectfully invite Master Garu to perform a ritual to cleanse Jin Country of evil spirits.

Li Sangruo and Tang Shaogong had to swallow their objections and agree.

Once the Feng Family left, Li Sangruo cursed openly.

"How can Feng Shi Er Niang be like a dog, biting and not letting go..."

Tang Shaogong lowered his eyes, "Your Highness, be at ease. If your heart is clear, what is there to fear from Master Garu?"

Li Sangruo was speechless.

Anxiously, she lay back on the bed and silently wept.

"Where is the Great General? Why has he not come to see me..."

-

Pei Jue and Pei Chong were shut in the inner room talking, with the doors tightly closed, letting no air in or out.

No one knew what the father and son were discussing.

Ao Qi, who was accompanying his mother, waited in the outer room, growing more impatient with each passing moment.

"How much longer will Grandfather and Uncle have to talk? Why haven’t they come out yet?"

Mrs. Ao frowned at her restless son.

"What are you rushing for? Just wait."

Ao Qi was the junior, with elders above him; however distressed he might be, it was not appropriate for him to leave.

"Grandfather isn’t going to punish Uncle, is he?"

"Mind your own business." Lady Ao’s face was stern, and she could faintly guess her son’s worries, "Your aunt isn’t someone who brings peace. It’s one thing for her to act recklessly on normal days, but to dare to push the Empress Dowager, she must have the gall of a bear and the heart of a leopard..."

"It wasn’t her who pushed." Ao Qi stiffened his neck, disagreeing as he looked at his mother, "Aunt has a kind heart and would not take someone’s life. Moreover, she isn’t stupid..."

Seeing his mother’s face growing uglier by the second, Ao Qi’s voice also became quieter.

But he did not stop talking, stubbornly responding, "Even a fool as dumb as a pig knows that pushing the Empress Dowager will bring no good outcome; how could she, who is so intelligent, bring trouble upon herself?"

"Hmph!" Lady Ao, always wary of Feng Yun’s influence on her son, became even more irritated hearing him speak in her defense, "Just wait and see how much trouble your aunt will cause for you..."

What Lady Ao was most worried about, in fact, was not Feng Yun causing trouble...

But rather Pei Jue unconditionally taking her side, with ears so soft, fearing he couldn’t maintain control over the household.

Had it not been for her and her father arriving just in time, he would’ve led troops to forcefully enter the Empress Dowager’s residence.

This was an enormous crime...

Lady Ao was secretly afraid.

"A hen that crows at dawn will ruin a household."

Ao Qi suddenly changed his expression, startling Lady Ao; she thought he disliked hearing her speak this way about Feng Yun. Unexpectedly, he suddenly turned around, abruptly pulled open the door, and with a dark face, stopped two maidservants walking in the corridor.

"Come over here."

The two maidservants started in fright.

After exchanging a glance, they approached Ao Qi and solemnly bowed in salute.

"General Ao."

Ao Qi asked, "What were you talking about?"

The maidservants lowered their heads, "We... we said that the Empress Dowager fell from the watchtower because malevolent spirits were at play. The wife of the General has asked Qi Jun to intervene, letting Master Garu help catch the ghosts..."

Ao Qi was not yet informed about the incidents at Empress Dowager Li’s side; it was only after the maidservants’ piece-by-piece account that he learned Feng Yun had actually gotten Xiao San’s help.

"I’ll go take a look."

His face was ashen, and his eyes were as sharp as a young wolf cub’s, glittering intensely.

The two maidservants were trembling with fear, not daring to speak more, but Lady Ao was livid.

"You wretched boy, stop right there!"

"Mother!" Ao Qi, with his neck stiffened, turned back, "You all took Uncle away, leaving her to deal with the Empress Dowager alone; it’s simply unreasonable. I must go to help her!"

"Do you need to help? What is your status?" Lady Ao glared, wishing she could dig out that donkey brain of his and wash it thoroughly.

"Xiaoqi, you’re not a child anymore. You cannot continue to act so impulsively. If not for the sake of your parents’ reputation, then at least consider your own. If word of your little scheme gets out, what decent family’s daughter would dare to marry into the Ao Family?"

"I had no plans to marry anyway! Whoever likes it can marry or not. The Ao Family doesn’t just have me as a son; isn’t there still Azuo if you want someone to carry on the family line?" Ao Qi did not take his mother’s words to heart and declared firmly. Without glancing at Lady Ao’s furious expression, he forcefully pulled open the door and rushed out like the wind.

He was extremely anxious.

But Feng Yun was not in her chamber.

The guard told him, "The lady went to see Master Garu exorcise the ghosts."

Ao Qi’s heart chilled even more, feeling that the turn of events was odd.

Feng Yun, who hated Xiao Cheng so deeply, why would she join hands with him?

And Xiao Cheng, if there was no benefit for him, why would he lend a hand?

Thinking of this, his heart became more anxious, and he quickened his pace.