The Slender Waist-Chapter 562 - 402: The Number One Villain

Feng Jingteng’s complexion changed.

Dealing with Feng Yun was difficult enough, let alone the troublemaking Crown Prince of Yunchuan.

If he couldn’t complete the task, not only would his trip to Huaxi have been in vain, but more importantly, how would he explain it to Xiao Cheng?

Because Xiao Cheng never mentioned restricting the silver coins for the house repairs, nor did he say anything about being extravagant...

Those ideas had all been Feng Jingteng’s own.

For one, he did it to curry favor.

For another, he was hoping to benefit from it...

Regardless of the Feng Family’s rapid rise in Xuzhou, the junior branch under Feng Jingteng and his wife, from the Chen Family, was declining day by day, with an increasingly tight grip on their funds.

Feng Jingteng felt his scalp tingle just thinking about it.

"Princely Heir, Princely Heir, please don’t joke with this old man," he rushed forward, smiling radiantly at Chunyu Yan, folding his hands before him in a bow.

"I am on imperial duty. I beg the Princely Heir to show mercy, please show mercy."

In the course of doing business and traveling everywhere, Chunyu Yan was used to not offending people, especially not the prominent clan families.

However, in dealing with Feng Jingteng, Feng Yun’s own father, he almost seemed to bear a grudge, making a perfunctory smile as he adjusted his mask, his lips curving into a meaningful and cold sneer.

"You flatter me, Feng Gong, but with profit at stake, the Princely Heir naturally cannot shirk his duty," he returned the bow, idly commenting, "Who doesn’t know that Changmen’s mathematics is unparalleled? To be taught by Feng Twelve would be worth it, not just for one house, but even ten."

Feng Jingteng’s heart sank with a thud, sensing disaster.

If Chunyu Yan was set on competing with him, then Feng Yun might very well choose Yunchuan over him.

"Shi’er Niang, Shi’er Niang ah, listen to your father," he said.

He stopped dealing with Chunyu Yan, turned around, and lowered his posture, compromising with Feng Yun.

"As for the repairs, you have the final say. Whatever amount of silver you need, I will ask His Majesty and ensure that it is arranged satisfactorily for Ayun."

Feng Yun and Chunyu Yan exchanged glances, expressionless.

"The saying goes, ’A distant relative is not as helpful as a close neighbor.’ Not only are we neighbors with the Princely Heir, but we also have frequent business dealings; naturally, I should be given priority over him..."

"No, no, no, that won’t do," Feng Jingteng became anxious, raising his voice, "There has to be some reason in all things. I was here first, the Princely Heir came later, how can he go first? That’s against the rules."

Feng Yun furrowed her brows in contemplation, appearing to be struggling with a difficult decision.

Chunyu Yan was the picture of serene indifference, his demeanor bordering on amusement.

The two of them made eye contact from time to time, seemingly filled with significance.

Feng Jingteng was anxious, trying to convince her with logic and move her with emotions.

"Shi’er Niang, we are father and daughter, and I am also Ayun’s stepfather. It’s most proper for me to help Ayun with the construction of the house; how could outsiders have such conveniences?"

Feng Yun seemed swayed by his words, knitted her brows, and asked Chunyu Yan with a tone of helplessness.

"What does the Princely Heir think?"

Chunyu Yan looked into her eyes, sighing in tacit understanding.

"Since that’s the case, I shall concede the favor to Feng Gong."

Feng Jingteng breathed a sigh of relief and was extremely grateful.

Little did he know that Feng Yun had been working to have clearer transaction records with Chunyu Yan, having extorted a sum from him after the Mingquan trials by teaching him the mathematics, along with Quding.

Quding became obsessed upon learning and would visit Changmen to inquire whenever he encountered a problem. He had quickly become an expert in the field.

Feng Jingteng was completely in the dark, manipulated by the two of them; as he was still rejoicing, he saw Feng Yun frowning slightly, sighing with apparent reluctance.

"I’ve always disliked dealings with the Feng Family; I would prefer to do this business with Yunchuan..."

She spoke so frankly.

It made Feng Jingteng extraordinarily awkward.

"Shi’er Niang..."

She too was a Feng.

How could she speak so casually about such things?

Unconcerned with Feng Jingteng’s reaction, Feng Yun proposed, "Well, I do have one more condition. If the gentleman agrees, we can sign the contract immediately."

Another condition?

Feng Jingteng felt his head was about to explode.

"Ayun, please speak quickly," he urged.

Feng Yun said, "Hou Zhun of Xiufeng Mountain has now pledged allegiance to me. He has become my man, so I have to take care of his affairs. I would ask the gentleman to bring Hou Zhun’s family from Jiangxia to Huaxi."

Feng Jingteng was stunned.

He had, of course, heard the news of Hou Zhun’s allegiance to Feng Yun.

It wasn’t just him; Feng Jingyao and Xiao Cheng were also aware.

In their view, the person Hou Zhun actually aligned with was Pei Jue and the Beiyong Army. The reason he came to Huaxi and claimed to side with Feng Yun was ostensibly to shake off his crimes in disguise.

To side with Feng Yun meant washing his hands of past life and toiling on farmland.

Seeking refuge with Pei Jue would mean being suspected of collusion or defection.

His ailing mother and family kin were all in Nanqi; their silence did not imply that they would let Hou Zhun off the hook. It was merely that there was a treaty between the two states at the moment, and Nanqi was invested in developing its national strength and had no wish to raise an army, so they turned a blind eye.

But no matter what, as long as Hou Zhun’s family was in Nanqi, there would always be constraints.

Therefore, this was not simply a matter of asking a favor to bring someone from Jiangxia to Huaxi; Feng Jingteng simply had no say in the matter.

He hesitated before speaking, "I will report this matter to His Majesty, but if Shi’er Niang is also willing to agree to one condition of mine, I believe it will be easier to persuade His Majesty."

Feng Yun’s eyebrows lifted slightly.

"Please speak, my lord."

Feng Jingteng observed her eyes and brows, hesitating for a moment before lowering his voice.

"I’ve heard you have a beauty remedy called ’Golden Boudoir Guest’?"

Feng Yun calmly hummed in acknowledgment, "Did Daman tell you?"

She prepared excuses for Feng Jingteng, who, caught off guard, sighed in relief and nodded in affirmation.

"Your sister has recently fallen ill, sick in the skin, unable to bear the wind. I hear your ’Golden Boudoir Guest’ works wonders for restoring beauty. If you could provide the recipe and restore your sister’s looks to their former glory, His Majesty will surely agree to this matter..."

He sounded guilty, speaking without much confidence.

Because Xiao Cheng didn’t love Feng Ying that much, would he change his actions for her sake over just her appearance?

He was banking on Xiao Cheng still having feelings for Shi’er Niang and wanting to be on good terms with Huaxi. As long as the requests came from Shi’er Niang, Xiao Cheng would fulfill them, taking the opportunity to add his own private demands, sneaking his own requests in as well.

Feng Yun’s demeanor was easygoing, "That should be no trouble at all. Xiaoman..."

She turned and beckoned Xiaoman over, "Go fetch a jar of ’Golden Boudoir Guest’ from my room and give it to the lord to take back with him."

Feng Jingteng whispered, "And the recipe...?"

Feng Yun glanced at him, "You’ll bring the Hou Family in exchange."

She was not willing to be taken advantage of.

Feng Jingteng internally breathed a long sigh of relief.

If she had given the recipe without a second thought, he might have had to suspect Feng Yun of some deceit.

"Alright, then it’s settled."

Having conducted his business, Feng Jingteng saw that Feng Yun had no intention of keeping him, so with his servants, he took his leave, heading to the butcher Wang’s restaurant at the village entrance for a bite, and then mounted his horse and hit the road.

Chunyu Yan, on the other hand, stayed put.

He directed his servants to drive the carriage through Changmen.

The carriage was laden with goods, covered in green cloth and bulging, its contents unknown; as it entered the courtyard, Sang You called the servants to unload.

Feng Yun was suspicious, "This is Changmen, not Yun Village. Princely Heir, unloading goods here, could there be a mistake?"

Chunyu Yan smiled, "On my trip out, I obtained quite a few novelties; I brought them back for you to see."

Feng Yun stepped closer and pulled off the green cloth.

There were exquisite porcelains, fine ebony agarwood, and several bolts of soft, smooth fabrics that were clearly precious.

"Such valuable items, how could I dare accept them?"

She quickly refused and bowed, "Princely Heir, I appreciate the gesture, but Feng Twelve gracefully declines..."

"They’re not for you, so what’s the hurry?" Chunyu Yan pursed his lips and glared at her, visibly displeased.

"These were gifts from merchants, they cost nothing; just help me appraise them... Really now. Did you think I would spend money to buy things for you? Dream on!"

Only then did Feng Yun relax.

Sang Jiao and Yin You exchanged glances on the sidelines, seeing their master’s wild demeanor, they couldn’t help but sigh internally.

Clearly, he had seen items he thought were nice and wanted to buy them as gifts for Feng Shi Er Niang, yet he spoke so gruffly.

They worried for Chunyu Yan, yet he remained unaffected, utterly at ease as he slouched in Feng Yun’s floral hall, elbow propped on a wooden table, never taking his eyes off of her.

"You owe me thanks for the help I gave you just now; how do you plan to do so?" 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Feng Yun held a mouthful of tea as she heard him, her eyebrows lifting slightly. After a long moment, she put down her teacup and finally said,

"Even without you, Princely Heir, Feng Jingteng would have agreed."

The corners of Chunyu Yan’s lips turned downward, "So you say I was completely useless? Feng Twelve, to throw me aside like a spent grinding stone, to dismantle the bridge after crossing, to be ungrateful... you’re truly the strongest at it."

Feng Yun softly snickered, amused, and then softened her tone, "Tonight’s supper features salt-fried chicken wings; you’re welcome to join us."

Chunyu Yan hummed, with a smile emerging on his lips, though his words dripped with sarcasm.

"Is Pei Jue returning?"

Feng Yun glanced at him, "What does that have to do with you having a meal, whether he comes back or not?"

Chunyu Yan, "Have you ever seen an adulterer boldly visit in the presence of the husband?"

He finished with a righteous air, and upon seeing no reaction from Feng Yun, he slowly smiled again, finding some enjoyment, his handsome eyes revealing a strange, tender mirth.

"Well, it’s fine. I, the Crown Prince of Yunchuan, am not afraid. The title of ’World’s Greatest Adulterer’ befits no one else but me."