The Slender Waist-Chapter 441 - 321: Ambition of a Wolf Cub

Feng Yun entered the room, and Si Hua and Nong Qin bowed their heads.

To keep out the cold wind, a thick curtain hung across the room.

The atmosphere was so quiet it was suffocating.

Wen Xingsu’s call of "Yao Yao" rang out unusually clear...

Feng Yun thought he had seen her. Smelling the strong scent of alcohol in the room, she furrowed her brows, approached the plush wooden couch she had prepared herself, signaled to Pinshu to bring over some water, wrung out a towel, and personally wiped Wen Xingsu’s face.

"Chunyu Yan is just a madman, big brother, why bother with him? If he toasts you and you don’t want to drink, then don’t, there’s no need to give him face."

That gentle voice faintly entered his ears, and in the flickering light and shadow were hazy silhouettes. Wen Xingsu, with half-closed eyes, dreamily opened them then closed them again.

"You should go... I am not a gentleman..."

His throat was dry, his voice somewhat hoarse.

Feng Yun was stunned, then laughed softly, bent over to squeeze the towel again, and instructed Xiaoman.

"He’s so drunk... Go and have the kitchen prepare a bowl of hangover soup for the lord."

It was a faint wooden fragrance in his nostrils that confirmed he was not dreaming.

Yao Yao was right in front of him, looking after his drunken self...

Wen Xingsu stiffened, then pulled the covers over his body.

"You go enjoy the fireworks, don’t mind me."

Feng Yun pried open his hands, hooking her lips in a slight smile.

"You are my elder brother, if I don’t take care of you, who will?"

Feng Yun pulled away the cover that was pressing against his neckline, wiped his neck, and said:

"After drinking the hangover soup and bathing, you’ll feel better. If you still feel unwell, let Dr. Yao come and take a look. His medicines are not unpleasant to take."

"No need..." Wen Xingsu watched the curtains sway slightly, his eyes flitting about, filled with the shadow of Feng Yun.

That little hand occasionally brushed against his skin, sending waves of lascivious heat up his body, the flames of desire seeming to burn from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

His hands fumbled helplessly with the bedding, his dark eyes as deep as ancient wells, he restrained his breathing, his Adam’s apple rolling as he sighed vaguely.

"You’ve troubled yourself for me, elder brother."

Feng Yun really didn’t like him being so blasphemous.

Glancing at Wen Xingsu’s eyes, she found the eyes of her drunk elder brother exceptionally deep and enchanting, and couldn’t help herself as the corners of her mouth went wildly upward.

Elder brother is ever a modest gentleman, always measured in his speech and deportment, never showing a hint of loss of composure to others.

This was also the first time Feng Yun had seen him in such a drunken state.

"I know you’re suffering."

Feng Yun sat on the edge of the couch, staring at him.

"I also understand why you would join Chunyu Yan in his madness."

Wen Xingsu’s head ached slightly; her misty apricot eyes staring at him made his emotions surge, particularly difficult to suppress.

Indeed, drink brings forth distant thoughts...

Like a man trekking through the wilderness parched to the extreme suddenly sighting a spring, his blood roared within him, his emotions were so agitated he was hardly able to control himself.

Several times, he wanted to grasp that soft, pale hand, pull her into his embrace, and pour out his full heart of longing.

"On New Year’s Eve, every family gathers together. You, I, Chunyu Yan; the three of us... we make up a group having our New Year reunion, yet we are all people with no family to return to. Elder brother pities him for being alone abroad, worried for his family..."

Feng Yun didn’t notice the change in Wen Xingsu’s expression and spoke softly, again with a smile.

"This is also my first New Year on my own."

"Yao Yao..." Wen Xingsu grasped her hand, the palm slightly sweaty, his dark eyes tinged with a blot of crimson.

Feng Yun gave a bitter smile, pushed his hand away, bent down, and wiped away the fine sweat reappearing on his forehead.

"Elder brother, you don’t have to comfort me. I haven’t finished speaking yet. Although it’s my first time spending New Year on my own, I really like it. It’s much more comfortable than any New Year I’ve spent in Feng Residence after my mother passed away."

Wen Xingsu curled his empty palm.

"It’s my fault for not protecting you properly."

"What nonsense are you talking?" Feng Yun, while wiping his sweat, felt the heat on his body and pushed the blanket a little more to the side.

"The heated kang is too warm; if you’re uncomfortable, should I switch rooms for you?"

"I’m fine here." Sweat dripped down Wen Xingsu’s back.

He was well aware that the heat on his body came not only from the heated kang but also from those desires deep in his heart that he couldn’t attain.

Wen Xingsu hesitated for a moment, looking at his hand that was sticking out, slowly retracted it, and tucked it under the covers, clenching it tightly.

Everything was set in place.

He couldn’t allow this hand to personally break the order and reveal his wild ambitions...

The two talked for a while. Wen Xingsu’s eyes grew red, he seemed to be forcing himself. Feng Yun waited for the servants to bring the hangover soup, had Wen Xingsu drink it, then let Nong Qin and Si Hua take him to bathe, and she and Xiaoman walked out together.

The fireworks were almost over.

Everyone at Changmen was having a great time.

Joy was written on everyone’s face.

Chunyu Yan was nowhere to be seen.

She asked Xing Bing, "Where is the Princely Heir?"

Xing Bing replied, "The Princely Heir said it was boring, so he went back to rest."

Feng Yun nodded slightly, a flash of tightness crossing her heart.

The Crown Prince of Yunchuan, accustomed to pride and getting his way in everything, unfortunately found his family happiness incomplete.

Yet, in such times, how many could truly attain completeness?

The universe is indifferent, treating all beings as mere straws and dogs.

Feng Yun raised her head to look at the snowflakes dancing under the night lamp, and Luo Yue’s secret message came to her mind.

The message did not say much, and Feng Yun did not know the source, but considering Luo Yue risked so much—the future of the child in her womb and Wei Zheng’s career—to tell her this, it was most likely not a falsehood...

The problem was, due to the heavy snow, the couriers had been delayed. By now, it might have already happened.

Mountains and rivers of barriers; anything she did now might be too late...

Yet, half an hour ago, she had still summoned Lin Zhuo, giving him explicit instructions to hurry back to the Central Capital on horseback...

"Princely Heir, Princely Heir..."

Suddenly, a calling voice came from behind.

Feng Yun turned around, her gaze sweeping over the figure standing under the eaves, slightly startled.

Chunyu Yan had come again at some unknown time, draped in a long brocade fur coat, tall and slender. His delicate features, half-hidden by the mask, took on a spectral quality, but those beautiful eyes, male or female indiscernible, were like the meticulous craftsmanship of a painter, exuding an enchanting aura under the night lamp. His slightly pursed lips were even more bewitchingly attractive.

"Talking behind someone’s back can be quite pleasing," he said.

Feng Yun met his gaze, startled for a moment before realizing.

Chunyu Yan was scolding her.

But how could he know what she had just said to Wen Xingsu?

Unless he or his people had been hiding under the window behind Wen Xingsu’s house...

She smiled, not bothering to deny it.

"Does the Princely Heir not sleep late at night, preferring to listen in from the corner?"

"I can’t be bothered with you."

Chunyu Yan’s voice was languid, drawing out the last syllable, then he turned with a flick of his sleeve and walked away, leaving Feng Yun with that meaningfully deep look, chilly to the extreme. Were it not for the festive multitude during the New Year, combined with that mask, it could scare a person sick.

Feng Yun touched her tense throat, saluting him from a distance with a smile,

"Take care, Princely Heir."

His gentle voice quivered like a soft spring breeze, tightening Chunyu Yan’s back.

He hesitated in his stride, then continued on with increased length.

Feng Yun breathed a sigh of relief and said to Xiaoman, "Let’s go back to the room."

The two of them walked away, one after the other.

Not far away, Jiang Yin, who had been playing with fireworks with Nan Kui, turned her head back, not loosening up until Nan Kui pulled her.

"He’s come."

-

Central Capital.

Snow was swirling in the sky.

On New Year’s Eve night, Li Zongxun had the four-year-old son of the Prince of Runan, Yuan Shuo, adopted under the Emperor of Xifeng’s name, knelt down to call Li Sangruo "Empress Mother", performed a grand ceremony, and entered it into the family records.

He moved so swiftly he didn’t even wait for the posthumous title for the recently deceased Emperor of Xinghe to be decided.

Li Sangruo sat beneath the hall, weakly accepting a cup of tea, and after returning to the back palace, she wept again.

"The child has his own mother. Today he recognizes me as his mother, but who knows whom he’ll show filial piety to once he grows up and stands on his own feet..."

She was quite furious.

Tang Shaogong watched as usual until she finished her tirade, then asked, "Does Your Highness have another plan?"

Li Sangruo glared at him, her breath weak.

Without her own son, indeed, she did not have a better solution. If she did not recognize Yuan Shuo as her son, she would be utterly without support...

"I just don’t want to be making the wedding dress for others."

Tang Shaogong replied calmly, "Your Highness can rest assured. In the dead of winter, it’s not unheard of for the grieving Princess of Runan, having lost her child, to fall ill."

Li Sangruo stopped crying and looked up at him, her mouth twitching to reveal a strange smile.

"Uncle Shaogong, you truly are a heartless man."

Tang Shaogong kept a blank expression, "If Your Highness dislikes this arrangement, I can think of other solutions."

"No need," Li Sangruo lay down lazily, staring at the ceiling of the bed canopy, "What are you planning to do with Mr. Pei?"

Tang Shaogong looked at her curiously.

"Does Your Highness still care about him?"

Li Sangruo’s hum was nebulous, "I should at least know, what kind of end you’ve arranged for him?"

Tang Shaogong said, "The Prime Minister has his plans. Your Highness is still weak, please take care of yourself."

On the fifth day of the new year, the snow and wind had not stopped, with rooftops and beams all laden with snow.

Before dawn, a fast horse broke through the long street, braving the snowstorm into the inner city.

"Report—"

"The Northern Rong tribal alliance is invading the northwest of Dajin!"