The Slender Waist-Chapter 628 - 453: Startled Awake by Drowsiness

Feng Yun stayed in Huaxi for another three days, making sure all matters that needed to be arranged were taken care of before preparing to set off on her journey.

Before she left, she made a special visit to the Prince of Danyang.

Puyang Yi and the Grand Princess followed the Young Emperor’s Imperial Carriage back to the capital.

Before departing, she specifically came to bid farewell to Feng Yun, asking her to take care of her brother. Puyang Zong’s hand had not fully healed, and the Grand Princess, fearing he might encounter problems if he returned to the capital, had him stay in Andu over the New Year.

Now that Feng Yun was leaving, naturally she could not look after him.

Therefore, she brought Alou and Xing Bing with her.

"If the Commandery Prince encounters any inconvenience in Huaxi, he can seek help from either of them."

Puyang Zong seemed like a changed man after his injury; he was more courteous than ever. Accompanied by his wife, Lady Ruan, he bowed deeply with clasped hands, speaking very humbly.

"The servants left by my mother before her departure will ensure that I have no worries about clothing and food, Princess. You may rest assured on your journey."

Feng Yun bowed to him and took her leave.

Puyang Zong returned the bow and personally escorted her to the door.

Their interaction was cordial and accompanied by laughter, a world away from Puyang Zong’s first day in Huaxi.

-

The people of Huaxi, upon learning that Feng Yun was leaving, rushed over to see her off.

The carriages stopped on the village road outside Changmen, crowded by quite a number of people on both sides.

With fond farewells, some had tears in their eyes, while others, weighed down by concern, watched Feng Yun’s several carriages and numerous attendants with unease, tentatively asking her:

"Madam, after you leave, will you come back...?"

Feng Yun was the backbone of Huaxi, and its current prosperity was all thanks to her. Many people feared she might never return.

Without her in Huaxi, even with Changmen still standing, would Huaxi still be Huaxi?

Others had their private doubts.

"Madam is leaving so suddenly, could it be that Andu is about to be at war again?"

Once bitten, twice shy; they resembled a flock of startled birds, tense at the slightest rustle.

Feng Yun knew their concerns and looked at the villagers who had come to see her off. She stood at the front of the vehicle and said with a smile:

"Huaxi is my home, how could I not return? Everyone, don’t worry; I will return to Andu after the New Year. As for the concerns about war, there is even less need to panic. With a hundred thousand Northern Yong soldiers stationed here, what is there to fear?"

"With your words, Madam, we are at ease."

"Madam, we’ll be waiting for your return."

"Waiting for you to come back, Madam."

Reassured by her promise, everyone put on smiles and wished her safety and peace.

Wang’s sister squeezed through the crowd, carrying a medicine chest in her hand which she handed over to Feng Yun.

"Doctor Yao specially prepared this. The journey to Xijing is long and bumpy; inside there are salves to apply, pills to take, and sachets to revive the spirit. If Madam feels any discomfort, they will come in handy."

Feng Yun’s carriage was actually well stocked with medicines.

It was her habit when traveling, but she accepted the gift regardless.

"Thank you, Sister Wang, and please extend my thanks to Doctor Yao as well."

Once Sister Wang had set the precedent, many people came forward to offer gifts. Realizing she couldn’t continue to accept everything, Feng Yun smiled and declined each offer with a bow, quickly instructing Ge Guang to start the journey.

"Go back, all of you, go back."

She sat in the carriage, waving goodbye to the villagers.

The familiar faces on both sides of the village road slowly slid past, full of reluctance.

Then, she saw Ren Rude and Jin Ge among the crowd...

They exchanged glances from afar, Ren Rude saluting her with a clasped fist.

Feng Yun smiled and nodded in response.

Jin Ge, on the other hand, showed little reaction but kept his gaze on Feng Yun’s departing carriage until it rounded a bend and disappeared from view. Only then did he address Ren Rude.

"The master will have difficulties again..."

Ren Rude glanced at him, "What difficulties might those be?"

Jin Ge met his look: "Just a few days ago, the master reported to the Emperor that the Prince and his wife of Yonghuai were estranged and intended to live separately over the New Year... Now, what should we report?"

Ren Rude, stroking his beard and with a meaningful smile in his eyes, looked at Jin Ge and said:

"Isn’t that easy? It all depends on how you word it."

Jin Ge furrowed his brow, "How would the master put it?"

Ren Rude snorted lightly, "The Prince and Princess of Yonghuai harbor their own schemes; dissatisfied with the Prince returning to the capital alone, the Princess, suspecting something, lead her retinue to follow after three days..."

Jin Ge was taken aback.

Slowly, he raised a thumbs-up.

"The master really has a way with words, able to bring the dead back to life."

Whether it’s black or white, good or bad, all depend on his eloquent mouth, however he chooses to spin it.

Suddenly serious, Ren Rude solemnly bowed toward the sky and declared earnestly:

"Alleviating His Majesty’s worries is this subject’s duty, it’s nothing."

Jin Ge: ...

Qi Jun, far away in Tai City, whether or not he knew the true situation, Jin Ge was unsure. But all this time, Ren Rude had been boasting without being chastised, which at least indicated one thing—the Emperor liked what he heard.

He said, "Madam, you always know how to serve your master."

Ren Rude slightly pursed his lips, his gaze lingering on the village path for a long time without moving away. His expression seemed somewhat solemn, and his voice was faint, as if tinged with a hint of sorrow.

"Living in Huaxi for so long, I actually can’t bear to see it engulfed in the flames of war again, destroyed in an instant..."

Jin Ge caught the implication in his words and hesitated before lowering his head to look.

"Sir, I don’t understand... Why would war break out again, destroying everything in an instant? Look, the docks are being built, and the village is turning into a township; it’s obviously getting better day by day..."

Ren Rude pursed his lips and chuckled sarcastically.

"Isn’t there bound to be a battle between Xijing and Yecheng sooner or later?"

This statement was no lie.

Yet, Jin Ge still harbored doubts in his heart.

Ren Rude smiled mysteriously for a moment.

"Let’s go back; don’t you need to buy New Year’s goods for your Lady Kong?"

Jin Ge glanced at him and readily agreed.

Xiao Cheng had him obey Ren Rude, which actually involved a reverse surveillance on Ren Rude as well. Over these days of interaction, he discovered that Ren Rude indeed had connections. Not to mention others, just the sources of information alone were enough to leave others far behind.

Jin Ge believed Ren Rude would not speak these words without cause.

There must be something that Ren Rude knew about, which he did not.

-

Perhaps because she was tired, once she sat in the carriage, Feng Yun leaned against the cushion and began to doze off, with her pet resting by her side. It must have been bored; not long after the carriage left the city, it darted down and went its own way.

Feng Yun opened her eyes and looked, but didn’t call for it.

The pet had its own way of finding the path; it went out to get some fresh air and would return on its own when it felt like it...

However, Xiaoman was somewhat worried, "It’s not familiar with these roads; won’t it get lost?"

Feng Yun said with a smile, "Do you think it’s like you?"

Xiaoman stuck out her tongue and sat back. Amidst the carriage’s jolting, she peeked out through the curtain for a long time and suddenly let out a deep sigh.

"The maid suddenly remembers when we first left the city to surrender, in such a flustered and uneasy state. Looking back now, it feels just like yesterday..."

Feng Yun glanced at her with a light chuckle.

"At such a young age, why all these reflections?"

Xiaoman pursed her lips as if pondering something, "I later thought that we were able to escape death and now lead such a wealthy and comfortable life—all because Madam has changed. No longer the weak and bullied woman you used to be, you can lead us to better days..."

Feng Yun chuckled silently, saying nothing.

Xiaoman suddenly turned her head to look at Feng Yun, "Now, Madam has changed again."

Feng Yun raised her eyebrows with a smirk, "Gotten old, have I?"

Xiaoman stared at her and shook her head.

"The maid can’t quite put it into words, but you’ve changed."

Feng Yun asked, "For the better, or for the worse?"

Xiaoman shook her head again, "Neither better nor worse. Just different. Like with the King... there was a time when the maid felt that Madam was quite distant towards the King. But now, you’ve become kinder to him..."

"Have I?"

"Yes," Xiaoman nodded earnestly. "In the past, Madam would never agree to spend New Year’s with the King in Xijing, but now you’ve gone."

Feng Yun’s heart skipped a beat.

Xiaoman’s words were very simple.

Almost unadorned, just expressing what she had observed and felt.

Yet it was like a heavy hammer, striking Feng Yun’s heart.

She never believed she had changed, including this trip to Xijing. Although it was due to Pei Jue, she had also weighed her gains and losses in private, finding many reasons for the journey—seeing Luo Yue and her child, getting a glimpse of the Empress Dowager’s character, understanding the situation in Xijing.

But Xiaoman was the person closest to her.

And the one most attuned to her emotions.

If she hadn’t changed, why was she increasingly soft-hearted towards Pei Jue?

"I won’t change," she affirmed quietly.

She gently embraced the hand warmer, smiling faintly, as if reassuring Xiaoman, as well as the self within her heart.

Two lifetimes had passed; how could she allow herself to stray again?

The winter sun shone on the carriage curtain, somewhat dazzling.

Feng Yun closed her eyes, "I’ll take a nap."

Xiaoman acknowledged softly.

Amidst the bumps and sways of the carriage, Feng Yun drifted between sleep and wakefulness. She didn’t know if it was because of Xiaoman’s words, but her consciousness brought her back to her previous life, dreamlike and ethereal...

Until the carriage suddenly stopped, causing Feng Yun’s body to lurch forward.

Xiaoman, in front of her, prevented a collision, but the sudden halt still startled Feng Yun awake.

Feng Yun opened her eyes, "What has happened?"

Xiaoman did not reply but looked out through the curtain. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Ge Guang said from outside, "The road ahead is blocked, so I’ve sent someone to find out why..."