The Slender Waist-Chapter 412 - 297: Forced to Add Nine Tin Gifts_2

-

The snow in Xinzhou had been falling for three days before it stopped.

Pei Chong had been injured on the battlefield before, and when faced with such severe cold weather, his body was in unbearable pain.

During these three days, he had stayed in Ao Qi’s house without stepping outside. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

The news had spread everywhere; of course, Pei Chong wasn’t unaware.

But he didn’t ask, nor did he seek out Pei Jue, and Lady Ao didn’t know what he was thinking.

Ao Zheng had come over from Cuiyu early in the morning.

With red eyes from a sleepless night, he immediately asked Lady Ao,

"What on earth is the Great General thinking? We can’t drag this on any longer, we must make a decision quickly..."

In last night’s deliberations at Cuiyu’s palace, Ao Zheng already experienced the feeling of being in a no-win situation.

"Hurry and have the Great General make a decision. With the snow stopped today, we should visit Ajue to gauge his intentions. If the Imperial Court really bestows the Nine-tinelled Rite, once branded with ambition overriding his master, that hat will be impossible to remove..."

Ao Zheng sighed.

"He’s always known how to conceal his sharp edge, but who knows what mischief he’s fallen prey to recently, how strange and bewildering..."

Upon hearing this, Lady Ao was not pleased.

"My brother has a far better head on his shoulders than you do. What mischief can he fall prey to? It seems to me it’s you who hasn’t returned all night and have had your ear bent by someone else, until your loyalties have been skewed..."

Lady Ao was a fiercely protective sister.

As soon as someone spoke ill of Pei Jue, she would launch into a full-blown defense.

"If you ask me, we should press them. Otherwise, they’ll soon be walking all over us. Today they dare to kidnap Ajue’s woman; will they dare to attack his father tomorrow?"

Ao Zheng glanced sideways, "I thought you didn’t think much of your sister-in-law?"

Lady Ao lifted her chin, "Whether I think highly of her is one thing, whether others do is another. I may not think highly of her; that’s something to say behind closed doors in our own home. But if others don’t, that’s an insult to Ajue, a slap in his face."

Ao Zheng: ?

The heart of a woman, he could never understand.

"Enough, I won’t argue with you. I’m going to speak to the Great General..."

As he was about to go inside, Lady Ao stepped in front of him and stopped him.

"Father has denied guests for three days now. You think you can just see him whenever you want?"

"Am I a guest? I’m his son-in-law."

"Well, you’re also the son-in-law of the Liu Ji and Xie Ji families..."

"You!"

As they spoke, they began to bring up the matter of the two concubines that Ao Zheng had taken again.

After half a lifetime of quarreling, Ao Zheng was both tired and helpless, unable to out-argue her, and as he looked at Lady Ao, his face turned pale with anger.

Lady Ao snorted, her mouth ready with a sarcastic remark.

Just as the two were about to start arguing again, Ao Qi’s voice came from behind.

"Grandfather has arrived."

Ao Qi had a stern look and didn’t even glance properly at his father as he walked out, pushing Pei Chong’s wheelchair with straight shoulders.

The couple immediately fell silent, no longer arguing.

Seeing the state of his daughter and son-in-law, Pei Chong knew what was going on.

He didn’t say much, just ordered, "Prepare the carriage, we’re going to Chunmeng Hall."

-

The cold wind swept through the trees of Chunpei Academy, howling like a wild beast.

The weather was cold, but Feng Yun was sweating profusely.

"Hei! Ha!"

She grasped the knife with both hands, lifted it forcefully, and then chopped down hard. Her stance was full-on, but she couldn’t control her strength, and her whole body lunged forward with the knife.

"Madam!" several guards screamed in fright.

Feng Yun had mentioned earlier that she wanted to practice martial arts with everyone to strengthen her body, but it was all talk and no action.

Now, sick and confined to the yard in the freezing weather, she suddenly took an interest in practicing with them.

The lady was frail, and neither Ge Guang nor Ge Yi could teach her effectively, which was quite frustrating.

So she went to look for Pei Jue.

Pei Jue was even harsher, wrapping the blade of Jian Shui in cloth and handing it to her.

"Take it and play."

Feng Yun felt insulted, so she took advantage of Pei Jue discussing matters with Wen Xingsu in the study and pulled Ge Guang, Ge Yi, and a few guards aside for a secret training session.

It was a shame that she exhausted all her energy just lifting the heavy ring-pommel knife. How could she perform any slashing moves?

The knife’s tip hit the ground with a loud "thud," embedding into the crevice of the blue bricks and resonating with a metallic hum.

Feng Yun saw that it was firmly stuck and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"I’m this powerful?"

She gripped the hilt with both hands, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t pull it out, and finally, with a frown, she called for help.

"Won’t anyone come to help?"

An arm reached out obliquely and wrapped around her waist, effortlessly pulling out the knife and placing it in front of her.

Feng Yun jumped in surprise and turned to see Pei Jue’s serious, unsmiling face.

"General, what brings you here?"

Pei Jue looked at the sharp ring-pommel knife.

"This knife is not suitable for you."

He lifted his hand, and his warm palm brushed her face. Feng Yun’s heart tightened, and her facial hairs stood on end, but he had already passed by her, elegantly swirling the knife and creating beautiful flourishes in front of her.

With a display of majestic power, it was truly a sight to behold.

Feng Yun suddenly felt indignant, "Wasn’t it you, General, who said you would teach me to kill? It’s been so long, and all you’ve given me is a dagger. Who could I possibly kill with that?"

Pei Jue held the long knife levelly, his eyes cold and severe.

"Who does Lady Yun wish to kill? I’ll help you."

Feng Yun didn’t speak but snatched the knife and swung it at him with a few gestures.

Pei Jue didn’t dodge or evade, just stared deeply at her.

Feng Yun’s hand went limp, and the knife dropped down.

"Is this the legendary ’death by a look’?"

Pei Jue gently embraced her from the front, holding her hand and guiding her through the motions of the knife, one by one.

"The essence of knife skills, the footwork should be fast, heavy, and stable, eyes on the tip of the knife, strength in the wrist..."

He taught with earnest, while Feng Yun half nestled in his embrace, dancing with the knife following his lead, but her eyes weren’t on the tip of the knife; instead, they were fixed on his stern face.

Beneath the cold, shady trees, the Great General looked exceptionally handsome.

"All right." Pei Jue suddenly stopped, sheathed the knife, picked up a dry branch from the side, and shaped it round in a few quick moves before handing it to her.

"Practice like I just showed you."

"..."

Feng Yun held the branch, looking utterly bewildered.

What had he just taught?

She had been too focused on watching him and hadn’t remembered a thing...

"Great General." Zuo Zhong hurried over, giving Feng Yun a way out of her embarrassment.

"General Pei and the head of Chunpei Academy and his wife have arrived."