The Slender Waist-Chapter 651 - 469 Entrusting One’s Assets

On the first day of the lunar month, it took Luo Yue an entire hour to bid farewell to Feng Yun.

As she left, snow began falling over West Capital City. It started as a drizzle, but by the time Feng Yun watched her mount the carriage, snowflakes were gently cascading down.

Luo Yue still seemed completely at ease around Wei Zheng, and from her face, Feng Yun could not discern the "heart-wrenching pain" she spoke of. Smiling and beaming with joy, her eyes blooming like flowers, she boasted to Wei Zheng about the small clothes and toys Feng Yun had prepared for their son...

Her face seemed to be saying:

"Look, I too am loved by someone."

"I have my maternal family, I have my sister."

Wei Zheng, of course, was exceedingly polite, bowing and thanking Feng Yun repeatedly.

Feng Yun smiled and waved to Luo Yue without saying a word.

Everything that needed to be said, that could be said, had already been exhausted in the backyard.

As the carriage gradually disappeared into the distance, she embraced Nurse Tang and strolled back to her residence.

From time to time, visitors came to the residence to wish a happy new year, and Feng Yun assisted with receiving the lady guests until dusk, when it finally quieted down.

Feng Yun asked Pei Jue, "Did Wei Zheng tell you anything?"

Pei Jue, who was changing clothes, turned at the sound and hesitated before responding, "He gave us a wedding invitation."

Feng Yun asked, "When is the wedding?"

Pei Jue met her gaze, "On the eighth day of the first lunar month."

That’s in just a few days.

Luo Yue hadn’t mentioned it, clearly not intending to invite Feng Yun.

Perhaps she also didn’t want Feng Yun to see her forced to smile?

Feng Yun didn’t speak for a long while.

The dim lantern light cast upon her solemn face.

Pei Jue seemed not to expect such a strong reaction from her to this news; after changing, he sat beside her, draping an arm across her shoulders and drawing her close.

"I will not take concubines."

Feng Yun did not move or resist, instead lifting her head to look at him.

"I do not want to attend the wedding banquet at the Wei Residence."

Pei Jue’s brow furrowed slightly.

Some social obligations weren’t about want but about necessity.

Seeing Feng Yun displeased, he hesitated before saying, "If you don’t want to go, then we won’t. We can stay home, claiming illness."

Feng Yun, with a stern face, retorted, "Ill with what? I’m not ill."

Pei Jue: ...

Not giving any face at all?

Feng Yun fell silent for a moment before speaking, "Wen Hui married He Chuandong because they were in love, and even though the He Family had its reservations, they couldn’t object, thus they were forced to welcome her with the honor due to a principal wife. But Luo Yue..."

She lowered her eyes.

"Initially, I didn’t think much of her either. Giving her an opportunity was also with a motive of using her, which led her to such an unbearable marriage into the Wei Residence... Now with another lady of the house, she’ll never be able to turn her life around..."

What she left unsaid was...

The tragic circumstances of Luo Yue and Wei Zheng’s initial encounter, although partly Luo Yue’s own choice, were also a result of Feng Yun’s manipulation.

Pei Jue remained silent.

He knew that Feng Yun was right.

Yet he couldn’t understand why Feng Yun was so kind to these wives and concubines...

"Perhaps it’s a matter of empathy," Feng Yun deciphered his confusion and sighed softly, as if recalling something, and suddenly fixed her gaze on Pei Jue.

"Since the eighth day of the first lunar month is an auspicious day, let’s arrange Xiaoman and Zuo Zhong’s marriage."

Pei Jue was unprepared, yet not surprised.

"Isn’t that too hasty?"

Feng Yun replied, "I have experience, there’s plenty of time."

She intentionally chose that day for Xiaoman and Zuo Zhong’s wedding mainly so she wouldn’t need to attend the Wei Residence feast, and really, it wasn’t suitable to wait any longer. She wanted to return to Andu sooner, and once she left, who knew when she would come back...

Zuo Zhong’s mother had passed away early, and his father worked at the Ministry of Revenue as an eighth-rank deputy official, dealing with accounting and registration. The year after his mother’s death, his father remarried and had more children, with Zuo Zhong’s two younger siblings yet under ten years old.

Over the years, Zuo Zhong hardly ever went home and had almost severed contact with his father.

Feng Yun asked for his opinion.

"Would you like to inform your family?"

Zuo Zhong lowered his head, "There’s no need."

Feng Yun admired this kind of detachment.

Those who provide love and care are family; those who don’t might as well be strangers. Why be bound by rules and live twistedly?

"Then, I’ll take care of the arrangements for you both."

Zuo Zhong murmured an acknowledgment, bowing deeply.

"Thank you, Princess."

Feng Yun smiled lightly, "Why thank me? As long as you treat Xiaoman well from now on, I’ll consider you like my own brother-in-law."

Being addressed with such affectionate terms, Zuo Zhong was taken aback and flattered.

"This subordinate does not dare accept such an honor."

Feng Yun pursed her lips slightly, "You’re worthy of it. Xiaoman has suffered hardships with me; I will certainly stand up for her in the future."

Even if just for Xiaoman’s sake in her previous life, she deserved Feng Yun’s support.

However, both Zuo Zhong and Xiaoman were unaware of what Feng Yun was thinking, and they felt extremely grateful. Xiaoman especially, tears already welling up in her eyes before Zuo Zhong had even left, knelt down gracefully before Feng Yun.

"Madam, in this life, I am willing to toil like an ox or a horse for you..."

Feng Yun laughed and helped her up, "There’s no need to toil like an ox or a horse; just get up early tomorrow to accompany me in shopping for Xiaoman’s bridal supplies."

Xiaoman’s cheeks turned a rosy red.

After bidding farewell and leaving, Zuo Zhong hurried back in less time than it takes to drink a cup of tea, looking for Xiaoman. He held a box in his hands, inside which were all his savings.

"I have saved some money over the years, and I think it should be enough for the wedding."

He then opened the box to show Xiaoman.

"I bought a house in Central Capital years ago and rented it out to others. When the Princess bought properties in Andu at a low price, I also followed suit with Jiu You and bought a few places. I haven’t had the time to manage them, so I let a go-between rent them out. All of these I entrust to you."

Xiaoman was shocked and overwhelmed.

She was flustered, touched, and somewhat at a loss.

"Big Brother Zuo, keep your things. I have some personal money, all rewarded by my mistress, and I have been saving it too..."

As she spoke, she shyly pursed her lips and looked down.

"Indeed, my money isn’t enough, and it wouldn’t be right to have the mistress bear all the expenses. So I’ll just take some of your money for the wedding, and you keep the rest."

She had never expected Zuo Zhong to possess so much wealth.

And even less so that he would give it all to her.

At that moment, Xiaoman found herself enveloped in happiness, handling this sincerity with extreme care, as if afraid she would shatter something precious if she wasn’t careful, not daring to reach out...

Seeing her like this, Zuo Zhong sighed, took her hand, and embraced the box.

"Since we are to be husband and wife, we should no longer divide what’s yours and mine. What’s mine is yours. Take it."

Xiaoman’s arm, in the palm of his hand, was as stiff as stone, tense yet joyful, her eyes brimming with warmth, almost breaking into tears.

"How fortunate Xiaoman is, to... to marry a good man..."

Zuo Zhong looked her in the eye, his lips pressed together.

"Take it, I must go."

Xiaoman stood there dumbfounded, her mind a blank, even after Zuo Zhong had left and his figure was no longer visible. Only then did she take the box back to Feng Yun, grinning like a fool.

"He gave it to me, Mistress. He gave it to me."

Feng Yun, reading under the lamp, looked up, puzzled.

"What?"

Xiaoman’s mouth twitched as if to smile, on the verge of tears, but her eyes shone with joy.

She opened the box in front of Feng Yun and listed everything for her.

"Mistress, Big Brother Zuo said this money is for the wedding. Mistress, he’s so good to me... It’s not just the kindness of a brother, he said we are husband and wife, and now he’s entrusted his entire fortune to me..."

She was speaking incoherently, wasn’t she?

Feng Yun laughed, "Alright, alright, put it away. I understand you’re now a ’Xiaoman’ who is loved by her husband, has a home and even wealth."

Generally, servants getting married wouldn’t have a grand celebration, but Feng Yun didn’t want to slight Xiaoman and wanted to save face for Zuo Zhong, so the necessary grandeur must be present.

The next day, after the snow had cleared up and they had finished breakfast, Feng Yun had Ge Guang ready the carriage and took Xiaoman and several maids to the market to shop.

During the New Year’s festivities, many merchants only did business for half the day. Each person, with a list drafted by Feng Yun, went their separate ways to complete the purchases item by item.

Feng Yun took Xiaoman to a tailor to have her wedding dress made.

"It’s just that we are a bit pressed for time, otherwise I’d have Ying Rong make your wedding dress. The dresses she makes are comparable to those made by the palace embroiderers..."

"This is already very good." Since last night, Xiaoman had felt as if she was dreaming, floating in an unreal haze, "Xiaoman never imagined she would have such good days."

Feng Yun watched her standing there, daydreaming, and couldn’t help but suppress a chuckle.

"You’ve said that many times now. Don’t worry, there will be even better days ahead..."

"Xiaoman doesn’t dare to be greedy. I’m content with this."

While they were talking, the shopkeeper came to call Xiaoman.

"Would the young lady please come to the inner room so we can take your measurements?"

With sparkling eyes, Xiaoman said to Feng Yun, "I will be back soon."

Feng Yun smiled faintly, "Go ahead."

Xiaoman went in, and the curtain behind her swayed slightly, as if a cold wind had blown through.

Feng Yun turned around and caught a glimpse of a figure swiftly disappearing from view.

Her lips curved slightly, and she turned to Ye Chuang, who stood by the door.

"Guard Ye, your sword can see now."

Ye Chuang, who hadn’t seen the figure from his position, understood Feng Yun’s expression and without another word, gripped the hilt of his sword tighter.

"Understood."

Ye Chuang strode out.

Feng Yun sat back down and after a while, Xiaoman came out.

"Mistress, we’re done, let’s go."

Today’s Xiaoman was shy and bashful. Feng Yun didn’t say much, reminding the shopkeeper to finish the wedding dress within three days, and then instructed Ge Guang to pay for it.

Xiaoman refused, insisting on paying herself.

Feng Yun didn’t argue with her, planning to subsidize her in other ways.

What Wen Hui had on her wedding day, Xiaoman would have too.

The group left happily, and then returned home loaded with purchases.

The entire residence buzzed with activity. Pei Yao even sent someone to ask if they needed any help. Feng Yun thanked her for the kind offer but declined.

About an hour later, Ye Chuang returned to the residence.

"Mistress," his tiger-like eyes deep and his expression slightly grave, "that person came from the palace, claiming to be on an errand and carrying medicinal herbs... They didn’t seem to be trailing us intentionally."

Came from the palace.

Does that mean they weren’t following us?

Feng Yun pondered for a moment, then looked up with a smile.

"I understand. Thank you, Guard Ye."