The Slender Waist-Chapter 573 - 410 Despondent

Blood gushed from the neck.

Yuan Kang’s body stiffened, his eyes bulged, and he could no longer open his mouth.

"Do it!"

Ao Qi was the first to draw his ring-pommel saber, squeezed his legs against the horse’s flanks, and spurred his horse forward.

Behind him, a tide of Red Armor Soldiers surged up around Yuan Kang’s carriage in an instant.

This time, while fleeing east, Yuan Kang had only brought his two sons and about a dozen attendants.

The attendants, terrified by the charging Beiyong Army, didn’t wait for Ao Qi to act; they dropped their weapons one after another and knelt to surrender.

The autumn wind was cold and piercing.

Yuan Kang’s blood splattered on the carriage, creating a dirty mess.

His corpse leaned forward for a good while before slowly falling against the carriage wall, his head hanging out the window, blood pouring down like a small stream.

"Ah—my son—"

Yuan Tao of Yonghuai had just been knocked to the ground by Pei Jue, crying out in pain, nearly fainting, unable to get up for a long time.

Hearing the commotion on the other side of the bridge, he finally realized what was happening, slowly turned his head to look, and let out a piercing scream.

Ao Qi forcefully pried open the carriage, and Puyang Zong, covered in blood, was helped down by others, while the Grand Princess ran toward him with reddened eyes, losing all composure, and forcefully supported him.

"Zong’er, my poor Zong’er..."

Puyang Zong’s face was pale, and he could barely stand, his voice weak.

"Mother, I’m alright..."

Alright, how could he be alright?

The Grand Princess grabbed his wrist and looked down.

The index and middle fingers of his left hand were cleanly cut off at the joints, revealing white bone, which made her dizzy, prompting tears to fall immediately.

"It’s all mother’s fault, mother shouldn’t have punished you, shouldn’t have sent you to Huaxi Village..."

Puyang Zong hung his head low, leaning it on the Grand Princess’s shoulder, his lips struggling into a smile more painful than tears.

"... do not blame mother... Huaxi... apart from the poor food... everything else... was fine..."

"Zong’er?" The Grand Princess felt the weight on her shoulder growing heavier and called out to him anxiously.

Puyang Zong tried to respond to his mother, but as his vision darkened, he slowly slumped down, unable to hold himself up any longer, and lost consciousness...

"Zong’er! Zong’er!" the Grand Princess shouted loudly, "Quick, where is the Medical Officer, where is the Medical Officer."

A man carrying a medicine box ran over as fast as a flying arrow, out of breath.

In the initial rescue efforts, a doctor had already been fetched from Shiguan County, but Feng Yun frowned as she watched him frantically trying to stop Puyang Zong’s bleeding.

"Your Highness."

She slowly approached the Grand Princess, gently suggesting:

"Wrap the severed fingers well, and quickly find Doctor Yao; perhaps there’s still a chance to reattach them?"

The Grand Princess’s muddled mind felt like a ray of light had torn through, and with Feng Yun’s reminder, she suddenly became clear-headed.

Yes!

There was Doctor Yao.

Although she was skeptical about reattaching the fingers, Doctor Yao was highly skilled in medicine, especially in treating external injuries. At this time, seeking his help couldn’t be more appropriate...

"Quick! Send for Doctor Yao from Huaxi Village on a fast horse... no no no, we shall immediately take the Commandery Prince to Huaxi Village..."

"Your Highness," said Feng Yun as she saw the Grand Princess losing her composure, unable to make up her mind, and she advised further: "Going back and forth will only delay matters. Why not send a fast horse to invite Doctor Yao to Shiguan County?"

Shiguan County?

The Grand Princess’s eyes brightened.

Indeed, meeting halfway in Shiguan County would save time.

She nodded vigorously and said, "Do as the Princess says, go now!"

An Attendant responded.

Feng Yun also instructed him, "Remember to explain the situation to Doctor Yao and bring all necessary medicines."

"This servant understands," the Attendant replied hurriedly as he mounted his horse, called out, and in the blink of an eye, galloped away.

Only then did the Grand Princess turn around, her face showing a pale smile.

"Thank you for the reminder, Princess."

Feng Yun smiled back, "Your Highness is too courteous. I merely offered a suggestion, it’s not worth much."

The more modest and polite Feng Yun was, the more the Grand Princess’s ears burned.

"Just now I was frantic and lost composure..."

She was referring to the unpleasantness that had occurred with Pei Jue.

Feng Yun smiled faintly, knowing that the Grand Princess was not only concerned about herself but also Pei Jue’s perception, and shook her head with a gracious smile.

"It’s a trifle, the King will not take it to heart. Your Highness, please escort the Commandery Prince first," she said.

The Grand Princess bowed to her, then called for the Attendants to help the weak Puyang Zong onto the carriage.

The crowd at Tonghui Bridge began to disperse gradually.

Feng Yun glanced around indifferently before returning to Pei Jue’s side.

"Did you intentionally provoke the Grand Princess?" she asked.

Pei Jue grunted in acknowledgment, his expression cold.

"Can a severed finger really be reattached?"

Feng Yun smiled slightly. "I have only read about it in a book. Whether it is feasible or not, we’ll have to ask Doctor Yao."

Pei Jue gave her a deep look, took her arm, and led her to the side.

On Tonghui Bridge, a dozen bound attendants of Yuan Kang were brought forward. At the same time, the Prince of Yonghuai managed to rise, clutching his chest, just in time to see the body of Yuan Kang carried by two Beiyong Army Soldiers and placed before him.

"My son..." Yuan Tao collapsed onto Yuan Kang’s body, weeping uncontrollably.

The attendants from the Royal Residence also followed suit, wiping away tears as if mourning the death of their own parents.

Pei Jue approached emotionlessly.

"Prince of Yonghuai, my condolences."

Prince Yonghuai lifted his head, his eyes swollen red, looking as if he had aged ten years in an instant.

"You killed my son, it was you, you killed my son..." His lips trembled uncontrollably as he muttered, slowly pushing himself up from the ground, then lunged at Pei Jue with force.

"I’ll fight you to the death..."

Pei Jue remained motionless.

Yuan Tao’s arm was already in Zuo Zhong’s grasp.

He showed no courtesy to the Prince of Yonghuai, gripping his arm tightly and twisting it before pulling him behind.

Yuan Tao collapsed to the ground once more.

"Just kill me... My son is dead... I don’t want to live anymore... Pei Jue, if you dare, kill me..."

Tears streamed down his face, displaying a look of utter defeat, as if truly resolved to die.

Pei Jue was silent for a moment, then suddenly bent down, gripping his shoulders firmly with both hands.

Yuan Tao’s face immediately turned pale.

Pei Jue applied more pressure.

He let out a pained cry, his arms hung limply, his lips quivering as he stammered:

"It hurts, it hurts oh... Prince of Yonghuai... spare me..."

Pei Jue stared at him coldly.

Not until Yuan Tao’s forehead was covered in a layer of cold sweat did he slowly let go, saying coldly:

"You can’t even endure this much pain, and you want to die?"

Yuan Tao hung his head, his face ashen, "Please, just make it quick. I beg you."

Pei Jue took the towel handed over by Jiu You, pressed his lips, wiped his hands, and spoke softly:

"Take him back to Andu."

The attendant responded, "Yes."

The Beiyong Army was strictly disciplined, and the scene was as silent as death.

Feng Yun turned to board her carriage, and saw Ao Qi approaching slowly on horseback,

The Young General, clad in armor, looked strikingly valiant, with an added seriousness to his demeanor unlike his usual self.

"This general pays respect to Your Highness, and Princess."

He dismounted briskly and saluted Pei Jue and Feng Yun one by one, with full propriety and caution, without a single error.

This was indeed the image of Ao Qi, Pei Jue, and even Feng Yun had hoped to see.

Distance, boundaries, staying within one’s role.

But seeing Ao Qi truly become like this, Feng Yun’s heart did not feel as light or peaceful as she had imagined.

Pei Jue said, "You handled today’s matter well, I will commend you for it later."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Ao Qi saluted, paused for a moment, then added, "It’s getting late, are you two heading back to Huaxi Village?"

The journey from there to Huaxi Village was not far, and they were already fatigued from the travel earlier; to continue on throughout the night would be too much for Feng Yun.

"How about staying in Shiguan for the night?"

He glanced sideways at Feng Yun, his words carrying a hint of inquiry.

Feng Yun nodded and smiled lightly, "I leave it to Your Highness to decide."

Pei Jue grunted, then heard Ao Qi say, "Then I shall escort you to Shiguan immediately."

Saying this, he remounted his horse.

Feng Yun glanced at Pei Jue.

Pei Jue said, "You lead the men back to the camp. I have Zuo Zhong and Jiu You here, everything is fine."

Ao Qi looked towards Feng Yun hesitantly.

"I’ll accompany my uncle for part of the way."

The term "uncle" broke the tension and made it impossible for Pei Jue to refuse.

This was the Red Armor Army’s station.

Publicly, as the superintendent, Ao Qi was expected to see off and welcome guests as a matter of courtesy; privately, a nephew escorting his uncle and aunt was perfectly natural.

-

The three of them, with a retinue of more than twenty light cavalry, left from Tonghui Bridge, slowly making their way to Shiguan.

Before their arrival, Ao Qi had already dispatched someone to the post station to prepare the accommodation.

The Post Director had the meals ready early and came out to welcome them.

On the road, Ao Qi was very silent.

He seemed more reserved than usual, as if he had turned into a completely different person overnight...

During the meal, he suddenly raised his cup.

"With tea instead of wine, a toast to my uncle and aunt."

Feng Yun’s breath hitched.

She smiled and raised her cup in return, saying nothing more.

Pei Jue did not reach for his cup, looking back at Ao Qi with a calm gaze that seemed to flicker with a sharp, cold glint.

"Speak if you have something to say."

Ao Qi had always been in awe of his uncle, and Pei Jue’s natural authority intimidated him. Had Pei Jue looked this stern on any other day, Ao Qi would have been anxious already.

Perhaps it was really because he had grown up, but now he was as calm as can be, even wearing a slight smile on his lips.

"Uncle, my wedding date is set for the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month. Mother thinks that holding the wedding in Xijing would be too troublesome and suggested having the banquet in Andu instead. She also asked me to seek uncle’s opinion." 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Feng Yun looked up to meet his gaze.

In that instant, she read a sense of resignation and self-abandonment in Ao Qi’s smile.