The Slender Waist-Chapter 612 - 442: Seductive Eyes Like Silk

The noise from the yard was incessant, with voices from the outside banquet where someone was issuing drinking commands. The sound pierced through, making Feng Yun’s ears numb.

Lady Tu sat beside her, watching her expression.

"Did Ayun not sleep well last night?"

Feng Yun said, "It was alright."

Lady Tu smiled, "You should come and play at the Tu Family Fort when you have free time. Just treat it like celebrating the New Year or visiting relatives."

Feng Yun nodded, "I certainly will."

The two chatted amiably.

Before long, night had fully fallen.

Lady Tu rose to take her leave before the banquet ended.

"I must leave first, if I leave any later, it will get even cooler."

Feng Yun said in surprise, "What’s the rush? You can go back with me after the banquet, it won’t take too long..."

Lady Tu shook her head, smiling as she refused: "I appreciate your kindness, Ayun, but I won’t stay today. I have two grandsons at home that I can’t stop worrying about. Next time I’m free, I’ll bring them over to Changmen..."

Feng Yun knew she was resolute in her decision and didn’t press her to stay.

"Then be careful on the road, the journey to Tu Mountain is long..."

"Don’t worry, I have Old Tu with me." Lady Tu said with a smile. She then took Feng Yun’s hand, looking reluctant to part.

"Remember to come find me at the fort."

Feng Yun gave a slight smile, "I will."

Lady Tu said, "I’ll temporarily keep the notes your mother left behind at your place. Whenever you finish reading them, it won’t be too late to give them back to me."

Feng Yun warmly expressed her thanks, and also said, "If there’s any book you fancy, feel free to take it home with you..."

Lady Tu said, "Still calling me ’Lady’? So distant. Given the friendship I had with your mother, wouldn’t it be appropriate for you to call me Aunt Rong?"

Feng Yun laughed softly, "I couldn’t ask for more. I’ve wanted to change how I address you, but I was afraid of being presumptuous towards Aunt Rong, which is why I hesitated."

Lady Tu immediately beamed with joy, "Your mother is gone, and your father is as good as dead. From now on, the Tu Family Fort is your maternal home. If anyone bullies you, just send someone to tell me, and Aunt Rong will avenge you..."

Feng Yun responded with several hums and, out of the corner of her eye, saw Puyang Jiu walking by not far away, which made her smile even more intensely.

After seeing Tu Boshan and his wife off into their carriage, she didn’t return to the banquet, but instead started walking in the direction Puyang Jiu had left, silently following him.

-

Puyang Jiu stepped out from the restroom, startled upon seeing Feng Yun standing right in front of him.

"Sister, sister-in-law, what are you... are you looking for me?"

Feng Yun asked, "Is there anyone else here?"

Puyang Jiu glanced at his servant, then at the two maidservants not far behind Feng Yun, shaking his head.

"No."

Feng Yun gave a bow, "Medical Officer Puyang, I have taken the liberty of waiting here since it’s inconvenient to speak with so many people in the hall..."

Puyang Jiu, with a snort of laughter, smoothed the wrinkles on his clothes. "Whatever you wish to say, say it plainly. Wangzhi and I are brothers; there’s no need for formalities with me..."

Feng Yun smiled, "What if what I ask is about His Highness’s private affairs?"

Puyang Jiu’s expression stiffened as he understood.

Was there something regarding Pei Jue that required Feng Yun to come and find him? And find him like this: sneaking around, as if afraid of being seen?

It must have to do with that medicine, right?

Strange to say! Pei Wangzhi would rather take medicine than touch his wife, was there some secret between this husband and wife?

Puyang Jiu imagined a multitude of scenarios on his own, and without waiting for Feng Yun to speak, he complained profusely, spilling everything about Pei Jue’s condition and his medication regimen.

"Sister-in-law, you really should persuade him. I’ve said it a thousand times, medicine is always somewhat toxic, and less is better. When the cure is right in front of you, why bother seeking out this quack? Right?"

Pei Jue referred to him as a quack, and he had even begun to jest about it himself.

Feng Yun was slightly taken aback.

She had truly not expected that after marriage, Pei Jue was still taking medicine...

If she couldn’t stand it even with the medicine, what would it be like without it?

Feng Yun felt a chill run down her spine, sensing that Puyang Jiu’s gaze was as sharp as a knife, and toxic.

Thus, she didn’t linger any longer but offered a faint smile.

"I’ll make sure to persuade him. You won’t have to worry about this matter in the future, Medical Officer Puyang."

Puyang Jiu watched her leave and lifted his chin, chuckling.

"Persuade him well, persuade him well. Just don’t say I told you so..."

Feng Yun didn’t look back.

Puyang Jiu laughed sharply, but suddenly felt a chill down his spine, as if some wild beast had its gaze fixed on him...

On reflex, he turned his head and met a pair of dark, silent eyes, and yelped in fright.

"Pei Wangzhi, are you trying to scare me to death?"

-

When Pei Jue arrived at the floral hall, Qian Sanniu came up to greet him, beaming and bowing.

"Your Highness, the mistress said she suddenly felt unwell and has already returned to Huaxi, asking you to come back on your own after you finish up here."

This wedding ceremony was attended by not only the distinguished figures of Andu County but also many relatives and friends who had traveled from both Xijing and Central Capital.

For Pei Jue, acting as the uncle, leaving too early would be inappropriate.

He paused for a moment before nodding and heading to the floral hall.

After sitting patiently for another quarter of an hour as guests gradually began to take their leave, Pei Jue finally stood, greeted Ao Zheng and Pei Yao, and prepared to leave.

Pei Yao quickly followed out.

"Wait a moment!"

By her side was Cui Zhi, holding a food box in hand.

"Your wife didn’t eat much and mentioned feeling unwell before she left. Her complexion didn’t look too good. Take these with you; if she gets hungry later, at least she’ll have something to eat."

As she spoke, seeing that Pei Jue had made no move, she added:

"These dishes were prepared by chefs from Nanqi brought in for the wedding banquet. Your wife should like them... take them with you and let her try."

Pei Jue gestured for Qian Sanniu to take it, "Then I shall leave."

"Go, go." Pei Yao turned her head for a glance at the big red lanterns, "It’s awfully cold, it’s better to head back early."

Pei Jue noticed her worries, and his brows furrowed slightly.

"Ao Qi is grown up, you should worry less."

Pei Yao sighed, "The things I can manage, you must not worry about for me, go back and take care of your wife."

Pei Jue nodded, but then he remembered what Feng Yun said, and just as he was about to leave, he stopped again.

"I need to talk to my elder sister alone."

To speak alone meant not wanting Cui Zhi to be around.

Just as Pei Yao glanced over, Cui Zhi understood and quietly put down the food box, silently excusing herself.

"What’s the matter?" Pei Yao asked with slight annoyance, "You don’t like the girl?"

Pei Jue didn’t give a definite answer.

He was indifferent to Cui Zhi; it didn’t matter to him whether he liked her or not.

But he had to take seriously what Feng Yun said.

"How does elder sister plan to take care of her?"

Pei Yao didn’t seem to understand, and looked at him hesitantly.

"What do you mean by this, younger brother?"

Pei Jue: "Do I need to spell it out more clearly? Xiaoqi has just gotten married."

Pei Yao was initially shocked as if she had just realized what he meant, and she let out a bitter laugh.

"What do you take your sister for?"

She said with regret, "I do like Azhi, yes, but things have come to this point, it’s already decided, I have no intention of bringing her and Xiaoqi together, nor will I suggest that Xiaoqi take her as a concubine."

Pei Jue remained silent.

"It’s all fate," Pei Yao remarked again with emotion, "but the Ao Family owes her. We were wrong first about the marriage; I want to compensate her..."

Pei Jue still did not speak, just looked on indifferently.

Pei Yao continued, "Given her current situation, wherever she goes, she’s bound to be humiliated. I took her in to protect her under my watchful eye, firstly to keep her safe and secondly, when this matter dies down, to find the opportunity to find her a good family..."

Pei Yao, the General’s fierce daughter, was straightforward and fiery in dealing with others, and quite hot-headed, but she had a soft heart beneath her sharp tongue; she couldn’t bear to see Cui Zhi fall on such hard times.

"I just can’t bear it, I must resolve her issues before I can rest easy," she said.

Pei Jue made a sound of agreement, not objecting.

"Elder sister surely has her own plans, but one thing..."

He paused, and Pei Yao asked, "What is it?"

Pei Jue said solemnly, "She is Li Zongxun’s granddaughter."

In Xijing, Cui Zhi was all alone with no relatives, but her closest kin were in Yecheng.

Pei Yao could be kind, but she had to be wary...

"I understand," Pei Yao said after a moment of silence, followed by a bitter smile, "That’s why I want to keep her by my side. With me watching, nothing wrong will happen."

Pei Jue had the utmost respect for Pei Yao and did not intend to meddle too much in her affairs.

Seeing that she had said this, he didn’t say more. He bent down to pick up the food box as if mentioning it casually.

"Has General Wen not come?"

All the commanding officers of the Beiyong Army had received the invitations for Ao Qi’s big wedding.

Wen Xingsu was certainly no exception.

But he hadn’t come.

He suspected this was the reason for Feng Yun’s poor complexion...

Without thinking too much of it, Pei Yao laughed, "General Wen sent someone with a congratulatory gift and mentioned that something suddenly came up in the camp that he couldn’t get away from. It’s not a big deal, the job comes first. Don’t mention him; even my own father didn’t make it back for my wedding. I understand."

Pei Jue didn’t say anything more and left with the food box.

Rushing back to Huaxi, Ta Xue’s hooves were nearly sparking with the pace at which he ran. He thought Feng Yun, feeling unwell, would be resting in the house...

Unexpectedly, the lights in the Warm Pavilion were shining brightly...

Feng Yun was sitting lazily in the host’s seat, with wine and meat, along with two beautiful women playing music and singing for her.

This carefree appearance, where did it look like someone feeling unwell?

Pei Jue stood outside the door, motionless.

Upon being reminded by a maid, Feng Yun, engrossed in the pleasures of women, finally raised her eyes and noticed the figure of a man standing at the door.

The emotions Pei Jue was worried about were nowhere to be seen on her face...

Not having gone to the male guests’ side, she didn’t even know that Wen Xingsu had missed Ao Qi’s wedding feast. She just looked at Pei Jue, pondering Puyang Jiu’s words, and a slow smile spread across her face.

"You’re back, my lord?" she held a goblet, apparently having drunk a lot, her cheeks flushed, "Ah, what are you holding in your hand? Is it a dish to pair with the drinks?"

Then, without waiting for Pei Jue to speak, she turned her head and called Xiaoman.

"Go take it from him, it’s for my drinks."

Xiaoman complied, carefully approaching Pei Jue, daring not make a sound or raise her head.

The lord’s demeanor was too frightening.

She was scared.

Pei Jue silently handed the food box to her.

As if granted amnesty, Xiaoman quickly took it and placed it all on Feng Yun’s wooden table.

Feng Yun looked at the delicate dishes and was quite satisfied.

"That’s thoughtful of you, elder sister is kind indeed."

Then, she signaled the female entertainers to stop the music.

"It’s getting late, all of you may go rest."

Clutching their instruments, the entertainers slightly bent their knees, "Yes, lady."

They bowed their heads and left.

Xiaoman and Huanhuan, and the others, also left one by one, daring not even breathe too loudly.

Pei Jue said, "I heard Lady Yun wasn’t feeling well and left early?"

Feng Yun didn’t respond, but suddenly stretched out her hand towards him; a section of her pale wrist flicked out from the sleeve, white as jade.

"Come here," she said with a seductive look in her eyes as she gazed at Pei Jue, "Come here... for your punishment."