The Slender Waist-Chapter 83 - 67: The General’s Illness

In Huaxi Village, there’s a Great Pagoda Tree by the river just outside the stone bridge. The winds are strong at the gap, and the tree’s crown is vast. Several flat stones are placed beneath, and it’s quite common for the villagers to rest, cool off, and quench their thirst under its shade while chatting leisurely.

The past few days, this Great Pagoda Tree was especially bustling—

General Wei picked on two beauties, and Empress Dowager Li felt small and overlooked.

Lady Feng kindly bestowed favors, and two concubines caused havoc in the inner palace.

General Wei spoke out of turn after drinking, claiming Empress Dowager Li had long whiskers and a black mole.

Empress Dowager Li had been a widow for three years, keeping a favored male consort who sullied the royal harem.

It started as gossip which, as it spread, turned into all sorts of indecorous tales that widely circulated among the common folk...

Under the blazing sun, General Wei and Empress Dowager Li also brought some joy to the hardworking farmers amidst the ravages of war.

Only Luo Yue and Shao Xueqing wished they were dead.

They couldn’t climb the high branch they aimed for, and now they found themselves in an awkward predicament.

During lunch, Feng Yun barely took two bites before putting her bowl down.

The rumors grew wilder, and she was about to pour another bucket of oil on the raging fire.

"Xiaoman, come here."

Xiaoman walked over, beaming with joy. She looked at the girl in a broad, lotus-green robe who appeared cool and fairylike, very eye-catching and approachable.

"Does the young lady have orders for Xiaoman?"

Feng Yun crooked her finger at her, "Lean in and listen."

_

After lunch, the cicadas’ chirping was irritatingly incessant.

Xiaoman, holding an umbrella and wearing a veil, strolled under the Great Pagoda Tree.

Hearing the villagers’ discussions, she joined in and murmured a few words:

"That General Wei is a favored consort without manners, badmouthing the Empress Dowager even after sharing her bed. In a few days, the Imperial Court will probably send someone to chop off his head." 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"Don’t let General Wei’s oppression in our village fool you. Before the Empress Dowager, he’s like a mouse before a cat..."

"Those used for favors are at the Empress Dowager’s mercy, to kill as she pleases."

The villagers exchanged knowing looks, at once excited and afraid.

And so,

the news that "Empress Dowager Li will behead Wei Zheng, and the Central Capital’s messenger will soon arrive" spread again like wildfire.

Xiaoman returned, delighted, to find the young lady engrossed in her painting.

Not understanding at first, she peeked over and her cheeks flushed immediately.

That painting...

It was remarkably indecent.

It actually depicted a woman with her chest exposed, her hair elaborately styled, and her seductive eyes like silk...

Xiaoman covered her eyes, "Why is the young lady painting this?"

"With nothing better to do, I’m finding a way to make money," Feng Yun naturally wouldn’t tell her that this was none other than Empress Dowager Li from far away in the Central Capital. This painting, comparable to a vivid erotic artwork, captured even the unique black mole with great fidelity. It would soon become a masterpiece to be passed down through the generations from her hand, Feng Yun.

When Empress Dowager Li sees it, she could also recognize herself at a glance.

—

The night in the village was silent, not even the barking of dogs. Feng Yun was in excellent spirits, and didn’t wake up until dawn when she remembered what she had planned for the day.

She got up, ate breakfast, and went to the kitchen.

The fillings were prepared by the cook early in the morning. Feng Yun personally seasoned them, steam-cooking both the vegetarian buns and the pork-filled ones over a high flame until they were ready to be served.

Xiaoman was eagerly waiting at the side, her neck stretched out. She was knocked on the head by Grandma Han and only then reluctantly went to fetch the food boxes.

Feng Yun instructed the cook, "Tomorrow we’ll have buns for everyone to eat."

The cook happily agreed.

Grandma Han nagged her for not knowing how to live frugally, but Feng Yun wasn’t listening anymore. She, along with her maidservants, boarded a donkey cart and headed for Jieqiu Mountain camp.

Today she was visiting her elder brother and specifically brought Ao Qi along. Additionally, she was leaving her son in his care. The relationship between the brothers was growing closer, and Ao Qi had become one of only two people Feng Yun trusted to play around and be affectionate with her son.

This special privilege filled the young man with starry-eyed pride, and he rode his horse with a straightened spine.

Yet, when they arrived at the Jieqiu Mountain camp in high spirits, they discovered that Pei Jue was not there, having taken Wen Xingsu with him.

Deputy General Helian Qian watched with a smile as the food was unloaded from the donkey cart.

"It’s a long way to the Huaishui Bay camp. Perhaps I should send someone to deliver these on behalf of the young lady?"

Feng Yun thanked him and asked, "I don’t mind the distance, I only ask the general for a route pass..."

Huaishui Bay was the frontline between two armies, and with the roads already sealed off, without a pass, commoners couldn’t travel through, and she couldn’t deliver the buns even if she wanted to.

Helian Qian smiled awkwardly.

"This... the Great General has expressly forbidden it; the young lady shouldn’t make things difficult for me."

The Beiyong Army had their own regulations, and naturally, Feng Yun wouldn’t trouble Helian Qian.

It was just a bit upsetting.

Her elder brother was injured, yet Pei Jue insistently dragged him to the frontlines. How much pain and agony must he be enduring?

Feng Yun gazed into the distance and noticed that the number of soldiers at Jieqiu Mountain camp was noticeably reduced, suggesting that most of the troops had been taken to Huaishui Bay by Pei Jue.

In the training field, a group was practicing, and since Feng Yun entered the camp, they couldn’t stop sneaking glances this way...

Helian Qian pulled a face to scold them, then refocused.

Feng Yun turned back and signaled Xiaoman to leave everything they brought from Huaxi Village to Helian Qian.

"I won’t trouble you with the delivery anymore; General Helian may keep these items for his own use. Huaishui Bay is too far, the items would lose their flavor by the time they arrived and would no longer be enjoyable."

Delighted, Helian Qian stroked his beard, about to express his gratitude, when Puyang Jiu’s voice interrupted.

"It’s no trouble, I’m heading to Huaishui Bay right now, I’ll take it along with me."

Just as the meal was about to reach his mouth, it flew away and Helian Qian’s face immediately darkened.

Puyang Jiu still wore a smiling expression as he approached and sized up Feng Yun from head to toe.

"The lady has become even more radiant."

This man never spoke properly, and Feng Yun did not want to provoke him. She respectfully performed a curtsy as a sign of greeting, signaling to Xiaoman and Xing Bing to prepare to leave.

"Doesn’t the lady want to ask why I’m going to Huaishui Bay at this time?"

Puyang Jiu’s voice seemed teasing, but upon careful consideration, there was quite a bit of seriousness in his words.

Feng Yun felt a sinking feeling in her heart, could it be that her eldest brother’s injury was getting worse?

She asked with a solemn expression, "Would Medical Officer Puyang please clarify?"

Puyang Jiu glanced at Ao Qi standing beside her and smiled.

"May I have a word with the lady in private?"

Feng Yun nodded her head, ready to follow him, but Ao Qi was displeased.

"What kind of words can’t be said in front of everyone?"

Puyang Jiu turned his head and saw that Ao Qi had indeed grown up. Dressed in everyday clothes without the light armor, his figure was tall and straight, imposing and handsome—a nephew personally mentored by his uncle.

But Puyang Jiu wanted to embarrass him.

"Guard Ao is still young, it’s not suitable for him to listen to the adults’ conversation."

Ao Qi’s brow raised, ready to lose his temper at any moment.

Feng Yun looked at him with amusement and said, "Medical Officer Puyang is joking with you, Guard Ao, please wait a moment."

Now that the lady had spoken, Ao Qi had no reason to follow, but Puyang Jiu was known in Central Capital for being a playboy, and Ao Qi particularly disliked him taking the lady away alone, with his secretive demeanor...

Feng Yun silently followed Puyang Jiu to the side, moving some distance away from the others but still under the watchful eyes of the group.

She said, "Let’s talk here."

Puyang Jiu looked back at Ao Qi, who was glaring from afar, and likely understood the lady’s intention.

A lone man and a single woman by a melon patch under a plum tree—she was being cautious.

Puyang Jiu folded his arms and lazily gazed at the gorgeous woman in front of him, silent for a long time.

He wondered how Pei Wangzhi was able to restrain himself while suffering through the torment of yang-excess syndrome, facing the beauty night after night, yet let the desires run wild without acting upon them?

Normally speaking, not a single man in the world could endure such a thing.

This Pei Wangzhi, he could no longer be called human.

"Medical Officer Puyang?" Feng Yun called out to him softly.

Puyang Jiu cleared his throat, pulling his gaze away from the lady’s captivating features, becoming a bit more serious.

"Does the lady know that Wangzhi has a strange condition?"

Feng Yun was slightly taken aback and shook her head.

Seeing her completely oblivious, Puyang Jiu once again lit a candle for Pei Jue in his heart. He could imagine just how well that man must conceal the beastly desires beneath his flesh to ensure that the little lady didn’t detect a thing.

"These days, has he been coming to Huaxi Village every day?"

Feng Yun’s expression was indifferent, and she hummed in agreement.

"Did the illness start after he returned to the camp?"

Puyang Jiu said, "No, he has carried this disease for many years. It’s just that recently, the outbreaks have been particularly severe."

Feng Yun looked at him skeptically.

She hadn’t noticed any illness in Pei Jue, rather, she thought that the Puyang Jiu in front of her seemed quite unwell.

"Medical Officer Puyang, why not speak plainly?"

Puyang Jiu saw Feng Yun’s impatience, but as a man, it was not appropriate for him to speak directly to the lady about such matters, so he vaguely replied:

"Wangzhi is restrained, conservative, and keeps himself clean. Even though he’s constantly tormented by illness, he never acts on impulse..."

Feng Yun understood every word Puyang Jiu said, but when put together, she didn’t understand a single thing.

Claiming Pei Jue was reserved and conservative? It would be more accurate to say he was tender and kind.

"Medical Officer Puyang, my eldest brother is alright, isn’t he?"

Puyang Jiu was taken aback and responded, "General Wen has been seriously injured and will need time to recover, but the lady need not worry. Wangzhi takes good care of General Wen, providing proper convalescence, so no lingering ailments will remain."

Feng Yun breathed a sigh of relief.

As long as her eldest brother was alright, what did it matter if Pei Jue had some strange illness?

Feng Yun smiled and said, "Forgive my ignorance, but what exactly did Medical Officer Puyang call me over to say?"

"This..." Puyang Jiu was a doctor and didn’t need to shy away from the topic, but faced with those clear eyes that didn’t show a hint of impurity, his throat felt clogged.

It was all Pei Wangzhi’s fault for contracting such a contemptible illness!

He said, "The Great General has an exceptionally vigorous energy, far surpassing ordinary people. Unable to find solace, he occasionally takes medicine to suppress it... I am going to Huaishui Bay today for this very reason."

He thought he made himself very clear and asked Feng Yun.

"Does the lady understand?"

Feng Yun replied, "I understand."

Puyang Jiu put on a smiling face, about to suggest she could take the initiative to attend to the General to ease his condition, when he heard Feng Yun add:

"The Great General must need Medical Officer Puyang very much, so much so that even when between the armies at the front lines, he definitely would want Medical Officer Puyang to go and provide comfort..."

Pausing for a moment, she calmly smiled.

"Such a condition must indeed be severe. Medical Officer Puyang had better hurry, not to keep the Great General waiting too long. I shall take my leave first."

Puyang Jiu: ???

As he watched Feng Yun turn and walk away, he felt like his words had been for naught.