The Slender Waist-Chapter 574 - 411: The Infatuated Person

The inn’s hanging screen swayed lightly, making a rustling sound.

On the candlestick, a spark burst with a crackle, emiting a dazzling spark.

Time flowed quietly by, and for a good while, no one spoke.

Pei Jue looked across the wooden table at Ao Qi for a long time, gently caressing his wine cup, a slight movement in his eyebrows.

"Your mother never sent a letter to tell me about it."

Ao Qi said, "The matter hasn’t been settled, so it was inconvenient to inform my uncle."

Pei Jue’s brows creased slightly, and his eyes half-closed.

"Have you thought it through?"

Those simple three words seemed to contain a multitude of emotions.

Ao Qi felt a pang in his heart, an indescribable discomfort. The overwhelming embarrassment and sorrow made it hard for him to breathe for a while.

He was in the presence of the uncle he respected most, where he could have cried his heart out, confiding his troubles. However, ironically, the person he was infatuated with was his uncle’s woman...

Sometimes, Ao Qi felt he was quite despicable.

Other times, he felt he was not to blame, just unlucky, a step behind his uncle...

He had liked Feng Yun before she became his aunt.

Ao Qi picked up the teacup from the table, drank forcefully, making a gulping sound. He appeared very content, moistening his throat before spreading a big smile on his face.

"If my parents are happy with it, then I’m happy too."

Pei Jue asked, "Whose family?"

Ao Qi previously had a marriage arrangement with the fourth young lady of the Cui Family, but on the night when Li Zongxun fled to Yecheng, Central Capital City plunged into chaos. The Cui father and son failed to take away their family in time, and under the pursuit of the Beiyong Army, they retreated from the Central Capital with Li Zongxun’s forces.

The Cui family members who were left behind, all males above the age of fourteen were executed, and those under fourteen, along with wives, concubines, and daughters, were all confiscated as slaves.

The fourth young lady of the Cui Family was no exception.

She was originally a young lady of a noble family, her future clearly laid out before her: marry the man of her dreams, take care of her husband and educate her children, living a smooth and orderly life.

Who could have foreseen such an unexpected turn of events, that due to her father and brothers’ actions, she would be implicated and reduced to slavery in an instant.

Now as a slave, she naturally could not marry General Ao, and the marriage arrangement was no longer mentioned by anyone.

After the Cui Family’s incident, people nearly broke down the doorsteps of the Ao Family’s home.

All of them came to propose marriage for the Ao family’s young master.

The Ao Family of today was incomparable to its position during the times of Xifeng and Xinghe dynasties.

An illustrious family, with both father and son holding high official positions.

Ao Zheng was honored as the Prime Minister, with a distinguished family background.

General Ao’s wife was the elder sister of the Prince of Yonghuai, and they were very close.

Ao Qi himself led the Red Armor Army, was skilled in battle, and had a commanding presence.

One could imagine he was the ideal husband in the hearts of many noble daughters...

If he wished, he could easily choose someone to his liking in Xijing.

However, Ao Qi responded with a calm smile, "The one from Heibei Gorge, the daughter of the great chieftain of the Mahe Tribe."

Pei Jue looked at him fixedly, remaining silent for a long time.

The marriage with the Mahe Tribe was something Ao Qi had reluctantly agreed to in order to save him,

If Ao Qi was to sacrifice his own marital prospects over a promise, as his uncle, Pei Jue found it hard to come to terms with it.

"Xiaoqi," Pei Jue said, "I have now recaptured Pingcheng, Rongzhou is in hand. The Northern Rong dare not invade..."

In other words, the marriage arranged under duress was nothing more than child’s play.

If Ao Qi refused, the marriage could not be counted upon.

Otherwise, the great chieftain of the Mahe Tribe wouldn’t have, after so much time, merely sent some local beef and mutton jerky as a gesture of goodwill without mentioning the matter of taking his daughter to marry Ao Qi.

For the Mahe Tribe, as long as they maintained this close and friendly relationship, other tribes would not dare to bully them, and they would have sufficient means to survive at the base of Cangyan Mountain.

All of this, Ao Qi knew.

Before today, both Ao Zheng and Pei Yao had said the same to him...

But Ao Qi refused.

"A gentleman’s word must not be broken. That’s what my uncle taught me."

He picked up his teacup once more and with a nearly hoarse voice said faintly, "My uncle need not worry about me, just be sure to come and enjoy the wedding feast when the time comes."

Then glancing at Feng Yun, "Don’t forget, aunt, to prepare a big gift for me."

When he was still a little guard around Feng Yun, he used to catch fish to pay homage to her every day, and he had joked that when he would marry in the future, he would expect a good gift from her as a return.

Pei Jue didn’t know about this.

But Feng Yun remembered.

She smiled, "Of course. Write me a list of what you like, and I’ll prepare everything accordingly."

Ao Qi’s eyebrows rose, "There’s nothing else I really want, but if you could give me the young-lady, that would be great."

Of course, this was a joke.

The young-lady was Feng Yun’s darling, how could she possibly give her to him?

Feng Yun laughed, "When you have time off, come to Huaxi, and the young-lady will keep you company."

Ao Qi replied, "In three or five years, she’ll probably have forgotten about me."

His voice was hoarse and faintly sad.

How many relationships in this world can endure three or five years?

Feng Yun pressed her lips together in a light smile, "The young-lady is lucky to have so many people fond of her."

As the two conversed, Pei Jue remained silent, until Feng Yun picked up her teacup for the third time and put it down again. He himself got up and refilled her empty cup with tea.

Feng Yun was slightly surprised and smiled at him.

The cup was already empty, but every time she finished speaking, she would subconsciously reach for it...

It was an unthinking gesture that she hadn’t noticed herself.

But it subconsciously betrayed her slight unease about Ao Qi’s affairs...

It shouldn’t be like this.

Feng Yun steadied her heart and smiled, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Pei Jue glanced at her but said nothing more.

The food at the post station was simple, only the drinks were decent. Pei Jue was very silent during the meal and unconsciously drank a few more cups.

As for Ao Qi, perhaps still apprehensive about his previous drunkenness in Huaxi Village, he did not touch a drop of alcohol tonight.

"My family has prepared a mansion for me in Andu but I haven’t had the time to go there. My parents are far away in Xijing. Could I trouble Aunt to help me tidy up?"

Asking an aunt to take charge when his parents were not around seemed reasonable.

But this mansion was prepared for Ao Qi’s wedding.

It was his bridal house.

Ao Qi asking Feng Yun to help him arrange it, it’s hard to say he had no ulterior motives...

Pei Jue lowered his gaze, slowly lifting his drink to sip.

Feng Yun thought for a moment and said calmly, "My own wedding was arranged hastily, and I really don’t know those many etiquettes. I’m afraid there might be negligence..."

After speaking, she glanced at Pei Jue, with a cautious look.

"Why not ask your eldest sister to send one of the housekeepers from her side over?"

Pei Jue replied, "Alright."

Disappointment surged in Ao Qi’s eyes. He poured himself another cup of water, tilted his head back to drink it all at once, then heavily set the cup down.

"It seems Aunt has many complaints against me."

Feng Yun smiled and said, "Where does that come from?"

Ao Qi hummed softly, "Puyang Yi had her mansion designed, Aunt helped her with the blueprints and decisions. General Wen built a mansion, and Aunt personally took great care, fearing the slightest negligence. How come when it comes to me, her grandnephew, in merely tidying up arrangements, Aunt is so reluctant?"

He really had a sharp tongue.

Feng Yun felt he was doing it on purpose.

He obviously knew what was going on, yet he deliberately made it difficult for her.

In front of Pei Jue, should she accept or should she not?

"You should accept," said Pei Jue in an indifferent tone, speaking deliberately, "Xiaoqi is alone in Andu, it’s only right that we take more care of him."

After that he said sternly, "But one thing, your Aunt’s health isn’t good, and she can’t do everything personally. It’s fine for her to help you with one or two things, but don’t trouble her with anything else."

He spoke with the tone of an elder.

It was also a warning, not to overstep.

Ao Qi understood and respectfully saluted them.

"Thank you, Uncle. Thank you, Aunt."

-

Ao Qi left after dinner.

It was too late, so he didn’t return to the main camp. Like Feng Yun and her husband, he stayed in the post station, though in a separate guest room.

In the past, every time he left, he felt a sense of reluctance, talking a lot and repeatedly discussing this and that with Feng Yun...

This time he was very straightforward, drawing the curtain without looking back.

The post station was outside the city, quite desolate. Listening to the wind howling over the roof, Feng Yun waited for the post station staff to clean up the bowls and chopsticks, then asked for hot water to wash up.

Staying overnight outside, she felt inconvenienced everywhere, her mind uneasy, almost not talking at all.

"Are you unhappy?"

Pei Jue’s voice suddenly appeared beside her ear, startling Feng Yun.

She glanced back and smiled, "What do I have to be unhappy about?"

Pei Jue didn’t speak. His dark eyes slightly condensed, his gaze falling directly into her eyes, as if trying to see through her, yet as if offering her a calming strength, peaceful and forthright.

"I let you accept Xiaoqi’s matter."

Feng Yun was slightly surprised, then smiled brightly.

"How could that be? I actually don’t care whether I help him or not. It was for fear that you would be displeased, and that’s why I refused."

Some things, once said, would no longer be a concern.

She sighed with a smile, "Don’t look at me like that, I’ve been open and straightforward, I’ve never seduced your nephew, this is completely a false accusation..."

"I know." Pei Jue lowered his gaze, "Would Lady Yun like to go out for a walk?"

Feng Yun was taken aback, "Now?"

"Mhm." Pei Jue gently pulled her into his embrace.

"This post station is not far from Shiguan Dock. The night view of Shiguan Dock is worth seeing."

Feng Yun looked at him doubtfully.

"When did Your Majesty have the leisure to see the night view of Shiguan Dock?"

Pei Jue’s eyes grew darker, as if shrouded in thick fog, inscrutable.

"I’ve heard people talk about it."

Feng Yun made a sound of acknowledgement, "Going out this late, wouldn’t it be too odd..."

Pei Jue asked, "Odd in what way?"

It felt like a clandestine meeting between a man and a woman on the dock under the moon.

Feng Yun raised an eyebrow with a carefree sigh.

"It wouldn’t be odd at all; it’s just out of character for Your Majesty, who has no reason for it."

Pei Jue tightened his arms, drawing her even closer. Feng Yun leaned into his chest, enveloped by his familiar scent, feeling the warmth of his body comforting her, which prompted her to unfold her arms and wrap her hands around his waist.

"Let’s rest early, we need to start our journey back to Huaxi early tomorrow."

Pei Jue glanced down at the post station.

"You wouldn’t like it here."

Reading the implications in his words and thinking again about the Shiguan Dock he wanted to visit, Feng Yun’s cheeks suddenly heated up.

Could this troublemaker be planning to do what she thought was something foolish?