The Slender Waist-Chapter 547 - 389: Come Clean

The weather remained arid and scorching, the sun hanging in the sky like a fireball.

Sitting in the study, Ren Rude’s sweat slid down his forehead and drenched his scholar’s robe.

Feng Yun had Xiaoman pour him a cup of herbal tea and smiled, "Have a drink first, sir, and then take your time to talk."

Ren Rude did not stand on ceremony, nodded, and drained the tea in his cup.

Drinking Yuanhenmianmian in the summer was extremely comforting, and he felt considerably cooler.

Ren Rude sighed contentedly, "Returning to Huaxi Village is indeed more comfortable. This trip out has worn me to the bone."

Feng Yun said, "Mr. Ren has worked hard."

Ren Rude smiled faintly and gave a salute to Feng Yun, "Fortunately, your servant has not failed his mission and indeed found a coal seam..."

Once Feng Yun entrusted a task to Ren Rude, she never worried that he would not be able to accomplish it.

This Mr. Ren who claimed to have extensive connections wasn’t exaggerating in the least.

He had introduced Feng Yun to Tu Fort Master of Tu Family Fort, and helped move Kong Yun’e from Tai City to Andu, and in each and every case, Feng Yun derived great benefits.

She trusted that Ren Rude would help her succeed this time too.

Because in her past life and this one, Ren Rude’s goal had been singular—to gain her trust and affection so that she would become estranged from Pei Jue, betray him, and return to the embrace of Xiao Cheng of Nanqi.

Until his goal was achieved, Ren Rude would continue to curry favor with her.

In that case, Feng Yun could feign ignorance and continue to use him for her own purposes, ensuring maximum benefit.

However, to show respect for Ren Rude, she deliberately let a hint of surprise show on her face.

"Really?"

"I speak nothing but the truth," Ren Rude stated.

"Mr. Ren, please accept my bow."

Feng Yun bowed deeply with her hands clasped in front, her voice full of admiration, "Yecheng fears retaliation from Xijing, and its blockade is extremely tight. That you found a way so quickly, Mr. Ren, truly inspires awe in this young lady."

Praise heard a thousand times remains fresh and delightful.

Ren Rude stroked his beard, his smile growing even broader.

"The younger brother-in-law of Governor Zheng Shoushan of Chuzhou, a man who once took Five-Stone Powder, looked like a withered tree and was weak to the point of fainting by the roadside. By chance, I was wandering through Chuzhou and saved his life, forming a bond of goodwill..."

Feng Yun inquired, "On your trip to Chuzhou, did you make contact with him?"

Ren Rude nodded, his gaze fixed on Feng Yun’s eyes, his voice dropping slightly.

"Yecheng isn’t the problem; Zheng Shoushan’s brother-in-law is only too eager to make some money to support his concubines, and Zheng Shoushan himself is very henpecked. What the brother-in-law says in front of his brother-in-law carries weight. Besides, isn’t Yecheng in dire need of this item? My current concern is Xijing..."

Feng Yun smiled lightly, "What is there to worry about Xijing?"

Ren Rude sighed, "To help my lady secure the coal route, I called upon many old friends, but none dared to respond. Trade between Yecheng and Xijing has ceased, and Xijing even prosecutes traders as traitors. Even the transactions of Prince of Yonghuai, Yuan Tao, and Marquis of Xuanping were scrutinized. Prince Yuan Tao is currently under investigation by the Imperial Court, and if the Marquis of Xuanping hadn’t fallen ill and lost his wits in the Governor’s Office, he probably would have had difficulty escaping disaster..."

Stopping there, he took a sip of tea, gradually composing his expression.

"May I ask if the Prince of Yonghuai is aware of this matter?"

If the Prince of Yonghuai were aware, then he would be condoning Feng Yun’s actions, knowingly breaking the law.

If the Prince of Yonghuai were unaware, then it would mean Feng Yun was recklessly bold, committing her offense brazenly...

Either way, the response would be wrong, so Feng Yun just smiled lightly.

"That is something Mr. Ren need not concern himself with; I’ll manage the Prince on that front."

Ren Rude’s gaze swept over Feng Yun’s face, his expression filled with worry, "Without the Prince’s approval, I feel uneasy."

Feng Yun laughed, "I’m not afraid; what is there for Mr. Ren to fear? If the sky falls, won’t I be there to support it?"

"That’s not the case," Ren Rude replied, exhaling slightly as he looked worriedly at Feng Yun, his words taking on an unexpectedly earnest tone.

"Some things shouldn’t be mentioned by me, but since I am much older than my lady, I suppose I’ll play the part of a respectfully straightforward elder. If I speak out of turn, I hope my lady will forgive me."

Feng Yun beamed, withdrawing her hand from the teacup, and said indifferently, "What need is there for formalities between you and me, Mr. Ren? We’re both from the same province, old acquaintances. I’ve confided such secrets to you; what could there possibly be that I can’t hear?"

Ren Rude found these words greatly to his liking.

"When there are secrets between husband and wife, mistrust readily blossoms. My fear is that if the Prince learns of this, it will bring endless trouble..."

Feng Yun nodded.

"I understand that you mean well for me. But, as for my relationship with the Prince..."

She trailed off, furrowing her brow as if deep in thought, while excitement churned within her.

Was Ren Rude finally remembering his duty as a go-between, ready to drive a wedge between her and Pei Jue?

"Although the Prince and I are husband and wife, it’s not always suitable to share everything."

She paused momentarily.

Her tone shifted considerably when she mentioned Pei Jue.

"You’ve seen it yourself, Mr. Ren; Changmen is my domain, not the Prince’s."

Without spelling anything out, she gave Ren Rude the opportunity to surmise and speculate wildly.

Ren Rude’s expression conveyed an air of understanding as he spoke with profound meaning:

"After all, the young lady is not originally from Jin. A defector en route, you will naturally put some distance between yourself and the Prince. Achieving mutual trust is truly challenging."

His instigation was silent and stealthy.

Impressive.

Feng Yun nodded in agreement, then shattered Ren Rude’s illusions with a single sentence.

"Who asked for my heart to be pleased by him? Since it is so, I should follow it. Married or not, one can only accept the reality..."

She frowned lightly and pursed her vermillion lips, seemingly trapped by emotions. Already a beauty comparable to heavenly fragrance and national grace, such pretense only made her more delicate and radiant, causing Ren Rude to sigh deeply.

"Madam need not worry. There is plenty of time ahead. There will come a day when all misgivings are resolved and hearts are opened wide."

Unexpectantly, he had become an advocate for Pei Jue.

If Xiao Cheng knew that his guest, whom he paid in silver coins, was up to other tasks, wouldn’t he cough up blood?

Feng Yun slightly pursed her lips, her eyes inadvertently brimming with laughter.

"It will happen, I believe there will be such a day. However, for now, the affairs of the coal paths still require Mr. Ren’s considerable effort."

Ren Rude knew what concerned her and patted his chest in promise.

"Madam, rest assured. Zheng Shoushan’s brother-in-law remembers my kindness. Knowing that I teach in Huaxi, he can get coal and graphite from the workshop without the slightest suspicion—everything is very secure."

Feng Yun thanked him again.

They then agreed upon more specific details, which she put on paper and handed to Ren Rude.

"I appreciate your efforts, sir."

Ren Rude took over the paper and suddenly became a bit emotional.

Feng Shi Er Niang truly trusted him.

Such trust in him.

He pondered for a moment, then sighed and said, "On my journey to Chuzhou, I have uncovered another matter. I wouldn’t normally speak of it, but since Madam places such trust in me, I dare not betray it. I must open my mouth, even at the risk of being annoying."

Feng Yun calmly said, "Could it be that there are words or deeds unfavorable to me arising from Yecheng? Mr. Ren, please speak freely."

She believed that Li Sangruo hated her to the bone.

On her own territory, the Feng Yun known to the world was certainly a demonized version of Feng Yun, not her true self.

Thus, she did not mind.

Unexpectedly, Ren Rude shook his head and said unexpectedly:

"This matter is related to the Governor’s office."

Feng Yun feigned surprise, looking at Ren Rude.

"I would be grateful for your instruction, sir."

Ren Rude narrowed his eyes and whispered, "This is not something to be told to outsiders..."

"Understood."

"The Marquis of Xuanping has always had dealings with the Yecheng Imperial Court. Yang Lingxiang’s disturbances at the Governor’s Office were orchestrated by Yecheng..."

Feng Yun had already understood in her heart, as Jin Ge had also reminded her. Even if Yang Lingxiang was still refusing to confess, the connection with the Marquis of Xuanping and Yecheng couldn’t be denied.

Nevertheless, she maintained a shocked expression.

After all, this was a secret disclosed by Ren Rude himself.

"In that case, the jade pendant belonging to Master He and the disguised note are both the doing of Yecheng?"

Ren Rude nodded emphatically.

"There’s a strong possibility that the Marquis of Xuanping is just someone in the middle, just like I am to Madam."

Feng Yun smiled.

"Mr. Ren and I are different. They are ignoble, while we are honorable and upright."

Ren Rude smiled awkwardly, "That’s true, that’s true."

-

After Ren Rude returned to his residence from Changmen, he pulled out a piece of letter paper and immediately began to report to Xiao Cheng.

Ordinarily, it was routine and he would write things that seemed trivial and were actually of no use, but today he wrote with unusual earnestness.

"Shi’er Niang does not doubt me, and her trust remains unshaken."

"During our conversation, I noticed Shi’er Niang wearing a look of concern. Upon inquiring, I learned of the coal path matter. Pei is unaware, and Shi’er Niang has kept many secrets from him, likely planning her own way out. Their relationship is persistently distant and disintegration is only a matter of time."

He wrote fluidly, his pen moving faster than ever before. At the end, he added another note.

"His Majesty should plan this slowly, there’s no need to fight for immediate results."

After finishing, he waited for the ink to dry, then handed it to Jin Ge and let out a long sigh.

"Life in Huaxi is so comfortable; if the day comes when I have to return to Tai City, I will truly find it hard to leave."

Jin Ge stayed silent.

Ren Rude suddenly turned his face towards him, staring at him.

"How about you? Do you have no longing to return home?"

Jin Ge was startled by his gaze and lowered his eyes.

"I’m alone in the world; it’s all the same to me wherever I am."

Ren Rude snorted heavily through his nostrils, and his gaze playfully teased him.

"Still not willing to confess honestly?"