The Slender Waist-Chapter 630 - 455: As If Three Autumns Have Passed
Two days later, they arrived within the confines of Baihe County.
Feng Yun and her party of over a dozen people were noticeably excited.
"No matter if we hurry or dally, we’re finally about to arrive."
"We don’t even know where His Majesty is waiting for us..."
Everyone was discussing when suddenly they heard a "gurgle."
It was the rumble of empty stomachs. They looked at each other, and finally, all eyes fell on the two young ladies they had rescued.
According to their account, they were twin sisters. The elder one was named Jin Shuang, and the younger one Pin Shuang.
As Xiaoman described them, "They are beauties."
With arched eyebrows, vermillion lips and pearly teeth, and clear eyes brimming with deep affection, Jin Shuang was gentle, while Pin Shuang was more clever. Though very similar in appearance, each had her own merits. Aside from their somewhat coarse skin and excessively thin figures, there really wasn’t anything else to fault...
Still, it was apparent that their family wasn’t well-off. In these past few days, whether the group made their own fires to cook or stopped for meals along the way, the two were very restrained, only eating enough to get by and fearing to cause any trouble for their rescuers.
Perhaps it was this endearing nature that quickly won over everyone’s affection.
Xiaoman leaned in to ask, "Are you girls hungry?"
Jin Shuang’s face blushed as she shook her head.
Pin Shuang nodded, "My sister is hungry, I’m not."
Xiaoman frowned and said, "The lady hasn’t skimped on your meals, so why be so thrifty?"
Pin Shuang replied, "Being able to preserve a life is already a great fortune. In these disaster-filled years, one mustn’t trouble the benefactors further or waste their food..."
They were born in Changmen and had Feng Yun to arrange things, with the Prince of Yonghuai behind them, living more comfortably than most people in this world. Even if they hadn’t experienced it themselves, they knew of the hardships of the common people. After all, they had known suffering and could empathize deeply.
Xiaoman immediately took out some snacks and two pieces of cake and handed them over.
"Have a bite to fill your stomachs for now, and don’t save up anymore."
Pin Shuang was full of gratitude but couldn’t bear to eat herself, instead giving everything to Jin Shuang.
Jin Shuang shook her head as well, "You eat."
The two sisters kept deferring to each other, each wanting to save the better portion for the other.
Watching this scene, Xiaoman was reminded of Daman.
They, too, had suffered a lot when they were young. Their father despised daughters and treated them very harshly, even more so with Daman, never offering a kind expression.
Whenever there was food, Daman would give it to her, even though she was so hungry her head spun and she forced down saliva...
Xiaoman understood the torment of an empty stomach and turned around with tears in her eyes to ask Feng Yun.
"My lady, why don’t you... take them in?"
When they had rescued Jin Shuang and Pin Shuang, they had already begged Feng Yun to take them in, saying their mother had passed away early, their father had remarried, and their brother and sister-in-law were not fond of them...
Thus, they had resorted to showing their faces in public to earn a living, which led to them being captured by Liang Huanzhang’s men...
But Feng Yun had refused.
She didn’t say much more, only that it wasn’t easy to take them out of dire straits while traveling, and once they arrived at Baihe, they would have to rely on their own families.
Xiaoman had her doubts about this...
The lady had taken in so many homeless people in Huaxi, so there was no reason not to take in the likes of Jin Shuang and Pin Shuang...
That’s why she brought it up again.
At her words, Jin Shuang and Pin Shuang stopped eating and looked over in unison.
In their eyes was written a hope—hoping the lady would take them in.
Feng Yun glanced at Xiaoman.
Xiaoman had a soft heart and had offered food without being asked.
Faced with such a plea, she turned stern.
"We still have a journey ahead. Once we reach the city of Baihe, we will let them go on their own."
Jin Shuang and Pin Shuang showed disappointment in their eyes, they lowered their heads and choked up.
"We are grateful to our benefactors..."
Xiaoman silently let the curtain fall and sat down lost in thought.
Feng Yun rested with her eyes closed and, after quite some time without hearing Xiaoman’s stir, she opened her eyes to check.
"Do you think I am too heartless?"
Xiaoman kept her head down, "This servant wouldn’t dare. My lady is the kindest person in the world."
Feng Yun raised an eyebrow and chuckled, "You say one thing and mean another."
Xiaoman pursed her lips, then looked up to ask softly,
"In Huaxi, you took in so many people fleeing famine. Why won’t you take in the sisters Jin Shuang and Pin Shuang?"
Feng Yun was silent for a moment, then said indifferently, "We’ll see what fate has in store for them,"
Xiaoman’s eyes brightened, "Does that mean there’s still a chance?"
Feng Yun glanced at her and, without a word, tacitly agreed.
Xiaoman’s mood changed quickly; in a blink, she was happy again, "I knew the lady wouldn’t just abandon them..."
As the carriage neared Baihe City, Feng Yun was about to send someone to inquire about the whereabouts of the Prince of Yonghuai’s entourage, when she heard Ye Chuang’s excited voice.
"My lady, Jiu You the guard has arrived."
The arrival was indeed Jiu You, riding a chestnut horse, who trotted over, bowed with respect, and then gleefully said,
"The Princess couldn’t have come at a better time. His Majesty has been waiting at the Baihe Posthouse for a long time; he’s so anxious not having seen the Princess arrive that he can hardly eat or drink. He specifically sent me to check..."
Feng Yun knew what kind of person Jiu You was.
All these exaggerations about not being able to eat or drink were just flattery.
"Lead the way ahead."
Then, as if recalling something, she pulled aside the curtain and said, "I rescued two women from the hands of the Andu County Commandant Liang Huanzhang, who claim to be from Baihe County. First, we’ll take them to their homes, then proceed to the posthouse."
Jiu You readily agreed.
He then turned to ask Jin Shuang and Pin Shuang.
"Where do you ladies live?"
Jin Shuang lowered her head, not daring to look into Jiu You’s eyes, and spoke in a soft voice.
"We’re from the Chen Family in Huitong Alley of Baihe County. Right by the entrance is the Baihe Grass Market..."
Jiu You’s brow furrowed slightly.
"Is that the one directly opposite the grass market?"
Jin Shuang nodded.
Pin Shuang, puzzled, asked, "Does the gallant know our home?"
Jiu You scanned the two sisters and suddenly showed a touch of sympathy.
"When I came, I passed by the Baihe Grass Market and saw across the market... a big fire had broken out..."
Before he could finish speaking, he heard Ge Yi let out a low shout, "Look quickly!"
Everyone followed his gaze.
Suddenly, a thick plume of smoke began to billow above the walls of Baihe County, accompanied by intense flames that were quickly swallowed by the sky.
Jiu You said sternly, "That’s the place. When I was passing by, the fire had just started, and many people rushed to put it out. I was worried about the Princess and did not dare to linger, so I hurriedly rode out of the city. Now that I look at it, the fire has grown, it cannot be controlled..."
As he was speaking, the two young ladies tensed up. By the time he was done, Jin Shuang was already swaying, unable to stand steadily, and she fell...
Fortunately, Jiu You was standing close by. He reached out his arm and caught her.
Jin Shuang collapsed into his embrace.
The fragrant and soft young woman in his arms, her warm breath stirring, made Jiu You, in the prime of his vitality, uncontrollably tense, as if he had been scalded. It was awkward whether to let go or not; holding that slender waist, his face reddened as he turned his head and called for Xiaoman...
Xiaoman and Pin Shuang quickly took hold of Jin Shuang and fed her some sugar water, and her pale face gradually regained its color.
-
Feng Yun did not delay and soon entered the city. There was talk everywhere about the fire. By the time they reached the grass market, Jin Shuang and Pin Shuang’s home was left with nothing but ruins and ash flying everywhere...
Their family members had also perished in the great fire...
Officials from the Government Office arrived, several subordinates were investigating the cause of the fire.
Feng Yun asked Ge Yi and Xiaoman to stay behind to help the two young ladies with the aftermath while she accompanied Jiu You to the posthouse.
Winter nights fall early, and the people in the posthouse, who were ready to rest, became noisy again because of Feng Yun’s arrival.
Yuan Shangyi instructed Dong Bai to investigate, and the Grand Princess had Puyang Yi come over to inquire about Feng Yun’s situation...
Feng Yun, thinking of the task Wen Xingsu had entrusted to her, was about to have Huanhuan fetch the silk handkerchief to give to Puyang Yi when Pei Jue sent people away with a cold indifference.
"County Lord, please forgive me. My wife is tired from the long journey and needs to rest early today. Tomorrow, we will go and pay respects to Her Highness the Grand Princess..."
Puyang Yi squinted at Feng Yun.
"My apologies. Then the two of you should rest early, get some more rest..."
What were ordinary words became ambiguous because Puyang Yi repeated them.
Feng Yun glanced at Pei Jue.
Despite not seeing him for just a few days, there was an indescribable...
Feeling of a long-awaited reunion.
Joy and longing quietly took root, and they swirled in each other’s eyes.
Feng Yun pursed her lips to suppress a smile and followed him into their lodging.
The Baihe Posthouse covered a large area, and Pei Jue’s accommodation was on the left side of the posthouse, called the Chaoyang Pavilion, which was very spacious with tables, chairs, and a writing desk.
As soon as Feng Yun entered the room, a servant brought in hot porridge and side dishes. Pei Jue ladled some into a bowl for her and tested the temperature with his hand.
"Eat."
Feng Yun looked at his handsome and stern features, and then at the neatly made bed, squinting her eyes and saying:
"Jiu You said you arrived at Baihe Posthouse yesterday?"
"Mm," Pei Jue nodded.
Feng Yun said with a smile, "Looking at this bed, it doesn’t seem like someone has slept in it?"
Pei Jue looked up at her, "Lady Yun observes, minutely and thoroughly."
With a hint of jest and earnestness, Feng Yun challenged, "Confess honestly, which little lady’s room did you spend the night in yesterday?"
Pei Jue sat down beside her, pushing the bowl of porridge a little closer, his black eyes cold and aloof, his voice as calm and indifferent as ever.
"I spent last night dealing with official documents."
Feng Yun said with a giggle, "I thought you’d say you couldn’t sleep last night waiting for me."
Pei Jue lowered his gaze to her and ran his fingers gently through her hair, "I waited for you."
Those three soft words crashed into Feng Yun’s heart. Even though he wasn’t emotional when speaking, they made her heart race, quickening its beat...
She bowed her head to drink the porridge, avoiding his burning gaze.
"When I was on my way here, I picked out some winter clothes for you, your father, your elder sister, Azuo, and Ayou at the Cheng Yi Workshop, the new designs for this winter. Try them on later..."
"Nothing for Ao Qi?" Pei Jue inquired.
Feng Yun turned to look at him, his tall and lean figure silhouetted against the flickering firelight, his face expressionless.
She chuckled, "Xiaoqi is already married, that wouldn’t be proper."
Pei Jue, who rarely showed his emotions, but in that moment, Feng Yun still saw a fleeting smile in his eyes.
She stared at him in surprise and waved her finger in front of his face.
"The Prince smiled?"
Pei Jue paused, "Eat your food."
