The Slender Waist-Chapter 619 - 447 Before the Holiday Season

In the days leading up to the New Year, Andu County’s market was filled with an array of holiday goods, and the streets and alleys were crowded with people.

From time to time, hawkers’ calls could be heard, selling this and that. Vendors shouted out their wares, children played merrily, and this lively scene, which took place once a year, was irreplaceable.

Yuan Shangyi could always find happiness amid the bustling market filled with the scent of fireworks.

"Wife, if only I could be with you every day," he said.

Feng Yun couldn’t help but chuckle, "When Ayuan grows up, he won’t be like this anymore."

Yuan Shangyi asked, "Doesn’t my wife like it?"

"Of course, I like it. I’m also very grateful for Ayuan’s company," she replied.

Feng Yun carefully cherished the pure heart of a small child and enjoyed running around outside with Yuan Shangyi. How could she not like it?

With her response, Yuan Shangyi became cheerful again.

"Then let’s go have some tea," he suggested.

Little children naturally didn’t like to drink tea, but he loved listening to stories in the tea house, stories told by the storytellers about all things under heaven and tales of far-off lands.

Feng Yun was happy to indulge him, "Let’s go."

The waiter invited them inside, and Feng Yun asked for a private room on the second floor, separated from the people in the main hall by a curtain.

People came and went in the tea house.

The noise of conversation was loud and bustling.

No one knew that sitting in the private room was the Young Emperor. There were always those who enjoyed discussing state affairs, talking about the changing conditions of the world, the disintegration of Dajin, and the alliances and betrayals.

"The Western Capital Dynasty and Yecheng will inevitably come to battle," one said.

"People who have the means in the north have either moved south or relocated. Don’t be fooled by the current prosperity of Andu—a war would reduce houses, shops, and estates to ashes... poof, gone in smoke..." another remarked.

"How can you be so sure?" someone questioned.

"With armies facing each other at the frontlines, where would one escape when war breaks out?" the man retorted.

"Do you think the Prince of Yonghuai would allow Yecheng to strike at Andu? You worry unnecessarily. Haven’t you seen what a mess the Yecheng Imperial Court is in? They aren’t even capable of challenging Andu..." another voiced his opinion.

"What sort of mess is Yecheng in?" someone inquired.

"Haven’t you heard about the recent incident? The coal that Military Governor Zheng Shoushan purchased was hijacked by bandits, and those bandits roam the very place where Li Zongxun’s Yecheng Army is stationed... The feud between Li and Zheng has grown intense," the speaker explained.

"Bandits hijacking coal, what feud could that start?" another wondered aloud.

"It seems you haven’t grasped the situation, brother. The bandits are actually men of the Yecheng Army in disguise... Despite Zheng Shoushan’s silence, he must be cursing them in his heart. Our noble fellow from Huaxi Changmen, so righteous—she directly replenished the hijacked goods in the dead of winter and sent them to Chuzhou. Her generosity is clear to see. As soon as Zheng Shoushan makes the comparison, he’ll see clearly. If Yecheng attacks the Western Capital Dynasty, do you think Chuzhou will lend a pathway?" he speculated.

"You’re overthinking it, brother. I just heard that Li Zongxun has married a young niece to Zheng Shoushan’s cousin. With the two families united through marriage, how bad can their relations be?" another man argued.

"Ah, there’s something you don’t know. Such hasty alliances always have an ulterior motive. Ultimately... just you wait and see, Yecheng Imperial Court will crumble like rotting wood unable to withstand a storm," someone added.

"Hey kid, the affairs of the world are unpredictable. Maybe the Western Capital Dynasty will start fighting among themselves before Yecheng falls apart..." one man said.

"Where did you get that notion?" another asked.

"What kind of man is the Prince of Yonghuai? He would never allow the Young Emperor to grow up and govern on his own..." one speculated.

"Eh? Brother, are you suggesting..." another began to ask.

The voices were indistinct, but Feng Yun noticed that Yuan Shangyi’s brows were furrowed, realizing he had overheard, yet she just smiled at him without speaking.

This was the marketplace.

People talked about everything.

She wanted Yuan Shangyi to experience it for himself.

"Wife," Yuan Shangyi looked up at her, leaning against her, but he did not continue.

"What’s the matter? Is Ayuan not happy?" Feng Yun asked.

Yuan Shangyi shook his head.

After a pause, he finally asked, "Does the Prince of Yonghuai want to be Emperor?"

Feng Yun was taken aback momentarily.

Such a question must not have arisen solely from overhearing snippets of conversation in the marketplace.

She responded with a question of her own, "What does Ayuan think?"

Yuan Shangyi said, "If he wants to be Emperor, I would let him have it."

The initial surprise was expected, but this response was unexpectedly frank.

Feng Yun looked down into the child’s eyes and involuntarily glanced at the curtain.

The servants stood guard outside.

She whispered, "Ayuan, do you trust me?"

Yuan Shangyi nodded.

Feng Yun said, "Then such words should not be spoken outside..."

She paused, then admonished, "Careless words from you, a moment’s heedlessness, could lead to countless heads falling."

With his kind nature, Yuan Shangyi changed his expression and nodded vigorously.

"Wife, I understand now. I won’t say it again..." he promised.

Feng Yun was touched by the trust placed in her by a child, "Good boy."

In fact, ever since Pei Jue was granted the Nine Bestowments, such rumors had been rampant, and it was impossible to stop them.

However, Feng Yun had not expected the news of the coal hijacking to have spread so widely among the people, suggesting that Li Zongxun’s men were behind it...

Could Li Zongxun and Zheng Shoushan be unaware?

At this critical juncture, the alliance of the Zheng and Li families through marriage could only mean that Li Zongxun was sacrificing a lot...

"Wife, Ayuan doesn’t want to listen to stories anymore..."

Yuan Shangyi tugged at Feng Yun, who smiled at him and was about to suggest they leave when a shout from the street outside interrupted them.

"The soldiers are coming, the soldiers are coming—"

In Andu City, tea houses and taverns are always bustling with noise and excitement, and it’s quite common for government officers to pass through.

The clatter of horse hooves ceased right at the entrance of this tea house.

Everyone inside didn’t know what had happened and craned their necks to look outside.

Immediately after, several soldiers wearing their uniforms came in, weapons in hand, with menacing looks on their faces.

"This official just received news that someone is spreading rumors about the Prince of Yonghuai among the people, leading to idle gossip about the Imperial Court... Whoever it is, step forward."

The tea house fell silent at once.

No one spoke.

The few who were just talking animatedly, spittle flying, all turned pale.

"Won’t admit your guilt, will you?" the leader of the soldiers snorted heavily and scanned the crowd in the tea house, "If the spy won’t come clean, then it’s up to you to point them out. Who is it?!"

He shouted loudly.

The people in the tea house shuddered in unison.

Even Yuan Shangyi, in a private room, tensed up.

Feng Yun embraced him, soothed him with a gentle stroke, and shook her head without making a sound.

At this point, a feeble response finally came from the outside area.

It was not an accusation but an attempt by the shop owner to defend himself.

"Official, the customs of our Dajin allow for freedom of speech. There has never been a reason to punish someone for their words."

"Hmph! Since when is it your place to tell me how to do my job? The problem with you people is that you harbor villains and spies, allowing them to slander the Prince of Yonghuai with filthy words. You won’t talk, will you? Fine, if none of you are willing to speak, then this official will take everyone in this tea house back to the office for a thorough interrogation..."

It seemed he was serious.

The tea house could no longer remain calm.

Noise erupted, with some so bold as to curse the government officer for being heartless.

What was happening? The government officer immediately advanced to arrest someone...

Seeing this, the few who had been engaged in high-minded discussions showed their mettle, refusing to let others suffer in their stead and stood up after pushing away their chairs.

"We are but ordinary citizens discussing state affairs, each offering our own views, but never have we defamed the Prince of Yonghuai... We are citizens of Andu, not spies from elsewhere... May I ask which official has made these accusations? Is there any evidence?"

"Evidence? You have all admitted to discussing state affairs, what more evidence is needed? Men, take these disrespectful spies back for questioning!"

"Yes, sir."

"And this tea house, I doubt it’s clean either. Search this place. We must find the evidence of their secret communications with Yecheng."

"Yes, sir."

The tea house was full of porcelain and earthenware, and the sound of smashing and shattering accompanied by screams was relentless.

Feng Yun’s brows furrowed, and she held Yuan Shangyi’s tense hand, whispering his name softly.

"Ye Chuang."

Because she was accompanying the Emperor, in addition to Meiling’s troops, Ye Chuang and Lin Zhuo had also followed the entire way. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

They had heard and seen everything that just happened.

Ye Chuang lifted the curtain and entered, bowing respectfully, "Madam, please give your instructions."

Feng Yun said, "Find out who’s in charge of arresting people and bring him to me..."

Ye Chuang hesitated, his lips pursing slightly, "Those people were indeed out of line, with their mouths running wild with rumors, smearing the Prince. It might be good for them to taste some hardship; kill one to warn a hundred. No one will dare to speak nonsense in the future. It’s best if Madam doesn’t get involved..."

Feng Yun looked up, fixing her gaze coldly on him.

"From your words, are you suggesting that it was the Prince’s intention to arrest these people?"

"This..." Even though Ye Chuang now followed Feng Yun, he was very aware of Pei Jue’s character after many years at his side.

If Pei Jue cared about what others said, he would have cleared all the ill reputation long ago...

But as a subordinate, he also hoped these people would be taught a lesson.

However, with Feng Yun’s command, Ye Chuang had no choice but to follow, hesitantly bowing and stepping out.

"Understood."

Shortly, Ye Chuang returned.

"It’s the Andu County Commandant, Liang Huanzhang."

The Commandant is a military official appointed regularly in border counties, exclusively responsible for military affairs, commanding between two to five thousand soldiers for local defense. After the split of Dajin, Andu County was considered a border region, with heavy troops stationed both inside and outside of Andu.

This Liang Huanzhang was newly deployed.

In fact, he was somewhat related to Pei Jue due to marriage.

His wife was a cousin of Ao Zheng, and had risen to prominence alongside Ao Zheng, which is why he landed the lucrative post of Andu County Commandant.

Feng Yun observed him calmly, without a word.

The matters of great clan families and their connections were the most complex, engulfed in a web of intermarriages. Seriously considered, within a certain circle, almost anyone could be connected through marriage. She had long stopped caring about such ties.

What mattered to her was the motive behind this man’s actions...

The crashing noises were getting closer; the men were heading up the stairs.

Feng Yun gave Ye Chuang a meaningful glance.

Understanding, Ye Chuang stepped out.

Whatever he said, the chaos subsided quickly, and the footsteps receded.

Ye Chuang returned, bowing, "They’ve left. They took six or seven people, claiming they were spies from Yecheng."

Feng Yun smiled faintly, still holding Yuan Shangyi’s hand.

"Where is the Prince today?"

Ye Chuang paused, shaking his head slightly.

They were husband and wife; shouldn’t the Princess be the one who knew the Prince’s whereabouts the best? Why inquire from him?