The Slender Waist-Chapter 424 - 307 Princess of Yonghuai_2

Xiao Cheng merely sighed.

"Don’t let it become a precedent," he said.

After speaking, he turned his head in the face of Feng Ying’s expectant gaze.

"Since it’s already been taken, let her keep it. If you like it, you can raise another one later," he said.

His words stabbed Feng Ying’s heart like a knife.

Feng Ying’s eyes reddened.

Wasn’t this a blatant display of favoritism?

Her chest filled with rage, and she nearly lost control, her voice trembling slightly.

"Your Majesty... Does Daman receive your favor because she looks like my sister?" she asked.

She had made up her mind, even if driving a wedge was useless, she wanted to disgust Daman, to let her know she was just a replacement for Feng Yun.

To her surprise, Daman turned her head nonchalantly, smiling happily as she said to Xiao Cheng:

"Your Majesty, she also thinks that your concubine looks like elder sister..."

Xiao Cheng smiled faintly, "Indeed, she does."

The heart of a king is unfathomable.

Xiao Cheng lacked the patience to dwell on this matter, he waved his hand to signal Feng Ying to withdraw and then glanced sideways at Daman, his dark eyes deepening slightly.

"Come with me, to attend to my bath," he ordered.

With a sidelong glance at Feng Ying and a brimming smile, Daman followed Xiao Cheng inside, as if Feng Ying did not exist, her voice sweet as an oriole.

"I have brought a type of laughing lotus fragrance from Huaxi Village; it is very elegant, most suitable for Your Majesty’s bath and tea..."

The figures of the two moved past the curtains, their footsteps gradually fading.

Feng Ying looked through the gauze, feeling a suffocating tightness in her chest.

The servants standing by all lowered their heads.

They pretended not to see her embarrassment, but Feng Ying felt an unbearable shame...

On the wooden table by the window, a few small porcelain bottles were placed, covered with a velvet cloth revealing a corner with the words "Golden Boudoir Guest" on it.

She asked the eunuch, "What is that?"

The eunuch glanced at it, lowered his head, and said, "Those are Lady Huaman’s creams and powders. They’ve been put here and have yet to be sorted out."

Feng Ying was slightly taken aback.

Was Daman favored by Xiao Cheng partly because of the Golden Boudoir Guest? Besides the face, one would have to use it on the body as well... 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

The bathing chamber was filled with warm steam; the pristine gauze curtains fell. Daman meticulously entered, arranged Xiao Cheng’s bathing cloth and fragrance powder, and then slowly retreated with her head bowed.

"Daman," Xiao Cheng suddenly called after her.

Daman’s heart skipped a beat.

Xiao Cheng hadn’t touched her for so many days, so of course, she wouldn’t foolishly think that he was in the mood to have her serve him in bed.

Therefore, she was a bit nervous.

"Your Majesty..."

She lowered her head, very submissive.

Xiao Cheng’s eyes fell on her forehead, his voice rich and low.

"Don’t get too clever for your own good."

Daman lifted her head, looking at his expressionless face, at a loss for what Xiao Cheng was really thinking.

Xiao Cheng and Pei Jue were two completely different people; Pei Jue’s face screamed ’keep away,’ and one could feel the cold emanating from him even from ten feet away. Xiao Cheng, on the other hand, was reserved, without any visible irritation, detached, even elegant, and could even pass for affable, but the sense of distance he projected was enough to make one feel abject—it seemed ingrained in his bones...

"I am wrong,"

Daman quickly apologized, affirming her status.

"I’m visiting Sister in Xinzhou tomorrow, and I’ve been thinking that she’s always liked these things. This tortoiseshell is so clever and looks incredibly beautiful, so I want to bring it to her..."

Xiao Cheng didn’t know if she believed him, but he walked toward her.

The distance between them narrowed.

He looked into Daman’s eyes.

Daman felt anxious under his stare, but regarding the matter of bullying Feng Ying and the Chen Family, she was quite at peace, nervous yet fearless.

"Do not test my intentions," he said.

Xiao Cheng’s gaze fell slightly, his demeanor languid with an air of indifference, as if wrapped in an unconcerned chill.

He said, "You are not Ayun. Neither will I look for her existence in you. I indulge you only because this is what Ayun wanted, nothing more."

Daman was momentarily stunned, then nodded.

"I understand, and would never dare to presume," she replied.

Xiao Cheng’s eyes darkened, signaling to her.

"Leave," he instructed.

"Yes." Daman slowly retreated and heard him add, "When we are alone, I allow you to call me brother-in-law."

Daman turned back to look at him, somewhat confused.

Xiao Cheng spoke slowly, "You know what to say to Ayun when you see her, right?"

After a moment’s hesitation, Daman answered, "Yes, brother-in-law."

-

Traveling from Bingzhou’s military camp to attend the banquet, the Feng Family took the water route. When they landed at the dock, the torrential river was filled with frequent traffic of boats, laden with goods, many en route to Mingquan Town.

The thought of the hundreds of acres bought by Feng Yun tormented the Chen Family.

She looked at the gifts brought on the boat and whispered to Feng Jingteng, "Find an opportunity later to make Shi’er Niang disgorge the family assets of Andu."

Feng Jingteng had had an unpleasant argument with her the previous day, but he was easily swayed by the news that his elder sister had already spread rumors about taking Aling as a concubine, so he couldn’t harden his heart against the Chen Family.

"I can’t interfere with this matter directly; isn’t it better to let Daman speak?"

Daman, since boarding the ship, had assumed the demeanor of an imperial favorite. With eunuchs and palace attendants in tow, about a dozen in all, dressed in ornate clothing, she sat apart, not paying her respects to the Chen Family, showing favor only when she saw Feng Jingteng.

The Chen Family became irritated at the mention of her.

"You expect her to do it? Hmph, I told you, she’s just a spy sent by Shi’er Niang, but you wouldn’t believe me. Just you wait and see, you’ll regret it."

Feng Jingteng sighed and shook his head.

"The view of a woman," he commented.

"You..."

The Chen Family was about to erupt when a servant came in to report.

"My lord, the ship has docked. The Princess of Yonghuai and General Wen are there to greet us on the pier."

The words died in the Chen Family’s mouth.

She looked out with the others.

With that glance, rage flared within her.

For Daman, that vile creature, to show off in front of her was one thing, but to see Feng Yun doing the same on the dock...

In the silence, a gentle river breeze blew.

Beiyong Army soldiers clad in iron armor and wielding sharp weapons stood in orderly rows along the dock, numbering over a hundred strong.

The warhorses were silent, the carriages luxurious. Feng Yun stood at the forefront, her face wearing a gentle and peaceful smile, exuding an indescribable air of nobility and elegance.

This unparalleled dignity was hers by marrying the right man.

The Chen Family felt her heart sink, and Feng Ying’s eyes moistened.

It was Daman, however, who upon seeing Feng Yun and Xiaoman, waved her hands in delighted surprise, calling out to them.