The Slender Waist-Chapter 420 - 304: Coronation as King

Bastard!

Feng Yun seemed to curse, yet it was as if nothing had escaped his lips. He knew how to please her, sticking close in a sticky mess, gently teasing and slowly grinding. Feng Yun quickly crumbled.

Her body heated up, the last traces of sleepiness gone as she took control, wrapping around him and hugging his neck, her gown and sleeves in disarray, her eyes seductive and chaotic.

"The Great General who doesn’t know propriety, the Imperial Court has rewarded you with the ceremony of the Nine Dignities, and you don’t go to bathe and burn incense to receive the Emperor’s grace. Shouldn’t you plan for the sake of Dajin’s lands and peoples instead of entangling yourself here..."

Pei Jue hummed lowly, "Intertwined at the waist, you break my heroic spirit. What do lands and peoples have to do with me..."

He kissed her, tenderly entangled, slowly and with difficulty penetrating her, pressing against Feng Yun’s most sensitive spot, completely filled, a sensation of tingling numbness.

Feng Yun’s back stiffened, trembling as she clung tightly to him, weeping and calling out.

"Pei Gou, don’t push your luck..."

Despite her usual decisive and spirited conduct, she was actually incredibly fragile on the bed, her alluring voice sweet as honey. With each breath, she tightly enveloped him, as if wanting to swallow him whole.

Pei Jue’s heart tightened, and even if he wanted to spare her, he couldn’t.

He silently lifted his head, comfortably exhaling, then drew the bonelessly soft beauty into his embrace.

"Save some energy, you’ll have your chance to scold."

His voice was so gentle it was almost inappropriate, laden with an indescribable enticement that would surely astonish anyone who heard it.

The bloodthirsty King of Hell, in private, turned out to be such a master at pampering.

Cold sweat soaked her back, but Feng Yun didn’t feel the slightest chill. As her consciousness hazed, her small hands supported herself on his shoulders, panting desperately, her eyes red as she shook her head at him.

A complex light flashed through Pei Jue’s handsome and cold features, and in the end, he restrained himself, not daring to indulge completely...

The bed curtains were flung into madness, swaying as they sang mildly.

When Pei Jue left, Feng Yun thought she was dreaming.

Until she heard him instruct Xiaoman.

"Don’t disturb the lady. Let her sleep a little longer."

Her throat dry and tongue parched, she wanted to open her eyes and ask him what his intentions were, but she was too exhausted. After a whole night of tumult, her waist was nearly wrenched apart in Pei Gou’s hands, leaving her drained.

When she awoke again, it was already bright outside.

A ray of sunlight leaked through the window, the sky clear and clean.

The snow had stopped, and the day was sunny.

Feng Yun’s long lashes quivered, "Xiaoman."

Xiaoman entered briskly, her voice filled with joy, "Madam, are you ready to get up?"

Feng Yun hummed in response, realizing her voice was hoarse.

Last night Pei Gou went wild, leaving her somewhat unable to control herself. In the series of spasmodic surges, her reason scattered, completely unaware she had screamed herself hoarse.

Seeing Xiaoman’s blushing face, her eyes shyly avoiding hers, Feng Yun cursed Pei Jue in her heart, taking a moment to catch her breath before speaking:

"Has the General returned?" 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Xiaoman replied, "The General has not returned, but Guard Jiu You has. He brings good news. The Imperial Court has conferred the Nine Dignities upon the General. Initially, the General was unwilling to accept, but the Envoy earnestly advised, claiming that only by the General accepting the honor could Dajin showcase its might, to deter petty threats from all directions and earn the people’s praise. After much requesting, the General finally agreed."

"Oh." Feng Yun softly acknowledged.

Thinking she sounded listless, Xiaoman thought she was unhappy and further clarified Jiu You’s message.

"The General will receive the honor in Cuiyu and won’t return for a while. Fearing Madam would worry, he sent Guard Jiu You to inform you."

"I understand."

Feng Yun blinked, and Xiaoman helped her to rise.

Not having slept well, her eyes were bleary as she pushed open the window to look outside. It was quiet, with a few sparrows perched under the eaves, chirping away.

The golden sunlight shone down, illuminating the snowy white rooftops, the air fresh and clear. After the snow, the sunny weather made the world seem transformed.

"Order them to clean inside and out, add more dishes to the stove, let everyone rejoice together in honor of the Emperor’s grace."

Xiaoman agreed with joy.

-

Cuiyu Palace.

The decree of the Emperor of the Dajin, Xinghe:

The Great General Pei Jue has rendered great service and has shown great virtue, and thus the Emperor bestows this honor. He is proclaimed the Prince of Yonghuai and granted the ceremony of the Nine Dignities, with privileges such as "no need to kneel when paying respects, no need to hurry when entering court, and may wear sword and shoes in the hall."

However, the ceremony of the Nine Dignities is extremely intricate, and a great number of ceremonial objects are required. With the Emperor in the Central Capital and the Great General in Xinzhou, the full ceremony cannot be completed. Therefore, the Empress Dowager of Jin, of the Li Family, issues the decree on behalf of the Emperor, granting the crown and the sash, with the rest of the ceremonies to be completed later in the Central Capital.

Li Sangruo stood in the middle of the palace hall in ceremonial attire, her body exhausted, her eyes bloodshot, watching Pei Jue walk through the crowd of officials, his tiger-like eyes sparkling without a trace of illness. Thinking of the urgent report received at dawn, her heart was anxious, suppressing the tears that threatened to fall, just watching him like that.

The ceremonial officer announced, "The Great General is to receive the honor."

Pei Jue: "Thank you, Empress Dowager."

Li Sangruo felt her back grow even colder as his voice remained calm, devoid of any warmth.

His brows, his eyes, were so familiar, yet she felt he was so strange, so distant, as if he were the demon beast that attacked her in the snow, ready to place the cold blade against her neck at any moment.

They said that Kuangkuang’s illness was peculiar and must be related to the Great General.

Li Sangruo refused to believe it.

This man had once kneeled on one knee before the dying emperor, taking an oath:

"Heaven above, earth below, I, Pei Jue, swear allegiance to Your Majesty for all my life, to protect the Crown Prince, and to defend the state, to revitalize Dajin, ensuring the nation’s prosperity, forever without a traitorous heart. Should I break this oath, let heaven and earth annihilate me."

This man had once, against all counsel, helped her Kuangkuang to ascend the throne, with his strong and firm arms, he gently placed her Kuangkuang on the Dragon Throne.

In front of all the officials, he had said:

"Your Majesty must sit firmly."

Kuangkuang was young, unaware of the world, and was frightened into loud cries by the solemn atmosphere of the Golden Throne Hall, his eyes searching for his mother.

It was this man who gently wiped away Kuangkuang’s tears, speaking in a soothing voice.

"With your servant by your side, Your Majesty need not fear."

It was also he who walked to the center of the hall first, the first to bow down.

"Your servant Pei Jue, greets the new sovereign."

Only then did all the officials bow in unison, hailing the Young Emperor.

"We congratulate the new sovereign, long live, long live, long everlasting."

In that moment, Li Sangruo finally felt grounded amidst the chaos following the late emperor’s demise.

With the transition from the old to the new regime, the Empress Dowager ruling behind the scene, countless difficulties, countless storms, it was only with Pei Jue by her side that she felt secure.

Every scene from those three years played out before her eyes at this moment.

The words still echoed in her ears.

Yet, she was no longer the frail widow she had been.

And he was no longer that Mr. Pei in her heart.

She considered herself unchanged.

She had been wary of all her officials, except for him.

Despite Li Zongxun’s repeated warnings in her presence that Pei Jue’s great power would surely lead to rebellion, she dismissed them, unable to believe that the man who had sworn to protect her and her son would revolt.

How unpredictable life is.

Her dearest love had ultimately become her greatest enemy.

"Your Highness," Tang Shaogong reminded her.

Li Sangruo came back to her senses, her gaze landing on Pei Jue.

"Rise."

She intended to say Great General, but then she remembered the imperial edict she had just announced.

From then on, Pei Jue was not only the Great General, but also the Prince of Yonghuai, empowered by the court and granted the Nine Bestowments.

She could stand before him issuing decrees only because she was the mother of the emperor, the Empress Dowager who stood in for the Emperor in handing over the state seal.

So, suppressing her chaotic feelings, she added with a slight smile,

"Prince of Yonghuai, you may dispense with the formalities."

Pei Jue: "Your servant thanks you for your gracious favor."

He looked up, his hands raised, his gaze as cold as autumn frost.

For an instant, Li Sangruo almost thought she could see a flicker of emotion in his eyes, but when she looked closer, it was as if a mist had dispersed, leaving only a chilling emptiness.

She slowly approached and offered the seal ribbon from the tray.

Pei Jue received it.

The Eunuch stepped forward with the crown.

Li Sangruo gave a faint smile, gesturing for Pei Jue to bow his head.

"Prince of Yonghuai, accept the honor."

For the Emperor to place the crown upon a subject’s head is a rite, signifying the Emperor’s favor.

Li Sangruo, representing the Emperor, was to personally crown Pei Jue as king.