The Slender Waist-Chapter 644 - 464 Xijing Turbulence_2

The Noble Consort personally came to greet him, and after the court officials had paid their respects to the Emperor, it was time to honor the Empress Dowager as well.

Feng Yun uttered a sound and, with the support of her maid, bent down to exit the carriage—

Pei Jue offered his hand.

He stood quietly, his gaze gentle.

Feng Yun glanced at him and silently placed her hand in his palm.

Almost instantly, she felt countless eyes around her, all fixed on her and Pei Jue...

Side by side, they walked forward, joining everyone in offering salutations to the Noble Consort.

The Noble Consort beamed at the well-matched pair before slowly scanning the surroundings.

"My lords, dispense with the formalities. His Majesty has traveled a long way by carriage and boat and must be tired. We can forgo any dispensable ceremonies. You may all return to rest, and tomorrow I will host a banquet to welcome His Majesty and cleanse away the dust of travel."

All the courtiers responded in agreement.

-

The Imperial Carriage entered through the Dongyang Gate and separated onto the Imperial Avenue.

Feng Yun was to turn left, following the Pei Family back to the Pei Residence...

Yuan Shangyi, naturally, would accompany the Noble Consort back to the palace...

Whether it was a natural fear of that palace or something else, Yuan Shangyi poked his head out when he saw Feng Yun’s carriage turn away.

"Princess..."

The coachman immediately stopped the horse.

Feng Yun’s heart skipped a beat. Lifting the curtain to look over, she spoke warmly:

"Your Majesty, is there anything else you wish to command?"

Her tone was polite but distant, a reminder for Yuan Shangyi to be mindful of their public demeanor.

Yuan Shangyi was an understanding child,

but he was still ultimately a child...

He did not want to part with Feng Yun and knew that once back in the palace, opportunities to see her would decrease. He could no longer invite Dong Bai from the Yangxin Restaurant to Changmen whenever he pleased like at Huaxi. Even if the Female Historian was displeased, she could not stop him...

In the palace, with the Noble Consort around, he could no longer do as he wished.

"Princess..." Yuan Shangyi, with tears reddening his eyes and a crying tone, called out to Feng Yun, like a child loath to be separated from his mother, full of reluctance and longing.

"You must come to the palace to see Us..."

Feng Yun gave a faint smile.

Noticing the Noble Consort’s gaze upon her, she upheld both hands in a respectful salute to Yuan Shangyi.

"Your servant accepts the order."

Yuan Shangyi had more to say.

But seeing Feng Yun keep her head low, maintaining the respectful posture of a salutation for a long time without rising, he pursed his lips and swallowed his words back down.

"Let’s go." He dropped the curtain, silently shedding tears as the carriage rolled on.

Dong Bai was scared witless, continually comforting him with a handkerchief.

"Your Majesty, don’t cry. It’s a day of joy, crying wouldn’t look good."

Everyone was celebrating the Emperor’s return to court; it was naturally a joyous occasion.

But Yuan Shangyi did not feel any happiness.

He even thought that any joy he had would be stripped away clean the moment he entered the imperial city.

No one would protect him anymore...

And no one would listen to him patiently as Feng Yun did, understanding a young child’s innocent wish not to be an Emperor...

The people in the palace, including the Empress Dowager, are all the same.

They only impose pressure on him, placing the entire burden of the world on his tender frame, using the big stick of morality and ethics to compel him to be the most obedient, most compliant Young Emperor in their eyes...

"Only my wife truly cares for me."

Yuan Shangyi’s low voice, with sobbing, made Dong Bai’s hair stand on end.

"My little ancestor, please stop talking."

He peered through the curtain, and then wiped Yuan Shangyi’s tears, soothing him with a gentle voice.

"Tomorrow night’s banquet, my wife will come to the palace, and Your Majesty will be able to see her again."

"What’s the use?" Yuan Shangyi pouted, holding back his tears, "She sits on that end, I sit on this end, she calls me Emperor, I call her Princess, I can’t talk to her intimately, nor can I lean on her to sleep, I can’t be held by her... I also can’t smell the fragrance on my wife anymore..."

As Yuan Shangyi spoke, sorrow overwhelmed him.

He was like a child who had lost his mother, tears flowing ceaselessly.

"How good it would be if she were my mother..."

Dong Bai was nearly scared out of his wits.

He wasn’t old, but having spent a long time in the palace, he knew all too well how many eyes were watching them in that devouring palace...

The Emperor is the Emperor, even if he says something wrong, he can still save his life.

But it was different for him: one misstep could mean losing his head.

Dong Bai, deeply worried, "Your Majesty, please pity your servant, stop saying these things... If they fall into the ears of those with ulterior motives, who knows what troubles may arise..."

Yuan Shangyi looked at him with tear-filled eyes.

"That’s just it, just like how you are now. You all have your reasons, telling me to follow you, to do as you say... What kind of sovereign am I? I’m just a puppet..."

Dong Bai took a deep breath, so anxious he nearly went to cover the Young Emperor’s mouth.

But Yuan Shangyi was not entirely thoughtless.

It was the unbearability of separation from Feng Yun that led him to speak without restraint.

After venting briefly, he spoke no more, lowering his head and resting his head softly on his knees, despondent...

-

Feng Yun was also thinking of Yuan Shangyi and the look in the Empress Dowager’s eyes...

Her heart was restless, a coldness growing in her eyes.

"We’re home." Pei Jue lifted the carriage curtain, just as he had waited for Feng Yun to alight before.

Feng Yun bent her body and bowed her head, and Pei Jue reached out his hand, embracing and lifting her down.

With so many people at the entrance to the Pei Residence, Feng Yun didn’t expect him to do that, and was caught off guard.

Pei Jue said nothing, holding her hand, striding inside.

He was eager to bring her home, though it was no longer the home in Central Capital, not the Grand General Residence they had lived in together for two years, but his urgency was still revealed in his hurried footsteps...

Yet Feng Yun was somewhat distracted.

She asked, "Ayuan called me that way earlier, the Empress Dowager won’t be displeased, will she?"

Pei Jue looked back, "Why?"

Feng Yun furrowed her delicate brows, "Worldly affections, all carry a possessive heart... Ayuan depends on me, the Empress Dowager won’t be happy."

Pei Jue had not thought about these things.

Nor did he care.

"What if she’s displeased?" Pei Jue extended his hand to encircle her waist, pulling her closer.

"You are my wife, even if she is displeased, she has to endure it."