The Slender Waist-Chapter 428 - 311: United as the Sun

The Young Emperor was critically ill, the political situation in Central Capital was unclear, victoriously returning from the campaign, end-of-year reporting, taking a disabled father home...

This was a journey Pei Jue had to undertake no matter what.

The unknown future was indeed real.

During this departure from the capital for peace talks, state affairs were in the hands of Prime Minister Li Zongxun, acting as the proxy; he would undoubtedly be the first to know about the Young Emperor’s illness. He would not stand by and do nothing.

Perhaps Central Capital was already set with its trap...

Feng Yun’s eyes were half-closed, pondering the upheaval in Central Capital, with not a trace of expression on her face. The hand that Pei Jue was using to twist her hair tightened slightly, causing her pain, which made her hiss and turn her head.

"Be gentle," she said.

Pei Jue looked at her without making a sound.

It was quiet until her hair was half-dry, only then he softly called her name.

"Lady Yun," he said.

"Hmm?"

"Do you want to return to the capital with me?"

"No," Feng Yun’s cheeks were almost pressed against his chest, her breath laced with his scent, and, unable to resist the urge, she involuntarily poked him, her voice as gentle as if rippling through a layer of ripples.

"I have many things to attend to, I don’t want to go."

Pei Jue was taken aback for a moment.

Clearly, he was surprised.

Feng Yun smiled, "My estate has just started; everything relies on me. What would I do in Central Capital? To abandon the people of Changmen and become a house sparrow in the General’s Residence?"

Her voice bore no mockery, yet Pei Jue heard disdain.

"When you leave, I will just enjoy my freedom," she said with a light smile, thinking back to her past life.

On the day she found out she was to return to the capital with Pei Jue, she was so nervous she couldn’t sleep at night.

Central Capital, the imperial city of Jin Country, was a distant and unfamiliar place to her, as was the Grand General Residence—an unknown future. The fear and anxiety she felt about facing the people and events were baseless.

Later, it turned out that Central Capital was unlucky for her—troubles arose one after another as soon as she arrived.

This lifetime, she had met the Pei Family in advance, without the fears and anxieties of her past life, but what she wanted had become an ocean; even if offered a pond, she would not be happy...

Moreover, the present Central Capital was a maelstrom of power struggles. Between Pei Jue and Li Zongxun, it was like a needle against wheat; danger lurked everywhere. She hadn’t lived enough yet; staying in Andu County, with the option to advance or retreat, couldn’t be better...

Pei Jue’s eyes were pitch black.

He should have breathed a sigh of relief for her consideration, yet he felt a strange heaviness because she, without a moment’s hesitation, had chosen to stay.

Feng Yun saw his silence, took his hand, and laid her head on his knees.

"By the time you return, it surely won’t be snowing anymore."

The windows were tightly shut, but the cold wind still blew through unknown crevices.

The night was cool as water, and a delicate fragrance wafted from the Entwined Branch Incense Burner, gently filling her nostrils.

On the candlestick, the wick made slight crackling sounds, carrying the silence of the snowy night, filling the space between the two of them.

Pei Jue did not speak for a long time, his fingers gliding over Feng Yun’s hanging hair, slipping down her shoulder.

In her loose silk nightgown after her bath, the garnet color made her already fair skin seem even more delicate, like a begonia in bloom, radiant and stunning.

Half-drunk, still intoxicated by the remaining wine, leaning against him like this, Feng Yun gradually grew absent-minded...

When Pei Jue had first taken her to Andu in her previous life, was his relationship with Li Zongxun as tense as it was now?

She pondered for a while but could not remember.

Matters of love and affection were the most mentally draining; moreover, she spent her days in the inner quarters, had few contacts, and knew nothing of the world’s affairs or the turmoil within Dajin.

But there was one thing she did know.

In her past life, because of his great merits, Pei Jue intentionally concealed his edge within the court, conducted himself with modesty and caution, and did not have a vixen like her intentionally stirring up enmity around him...

Thus, the Li Family should not have felt that the Young Emperor’s position was threatened, nor would they have deliberately targeted him, and certainly, he wouldn’t have rebelled, nor would there have been a situation like now, where he sent her to Andu for her safety...

Back then, it was simply because he was tired of her, wasn’t it?

The memories of being abandoned, like a thorn in the flesh, still hurt when remembered after a lifetime.

Feng Yun slowly straightened up, a smile that did not reach her eyes.

"Since we have to get up early, let’s not delay. Go wash and sleep," she suggested.

Pei Jue made an affirming noise, but he did not go to the washroom. Instead, he took something out from his body, pulled her close, and silently hung it around her neck.

"I will come back soon to pick you up."

It was a Crescent Moon Gold Ornament, strung with a braided red cord, hanging just below her collarbone—it looked rather nice.

Feng Yun then realized that Pei Jue thought she was unhappy because she could not go to Central Capital and had deliberately given her a gift to soothe her.

"You really know how to pamper someone," she blinked, looking down at the Crescent Moon Gold Ornament, "What is this? Does it have a name?"