The Slender Waist

Feng Yun went back to freshen up, changed into a clean set of clothes, and when she emerged, the courtyard was already bustling with activity.

Many villagers had gathered around to look at the game they had brought back.

Today, while venturing into the mountains, some attendants took advantage of the time Feng Yun and the craftsmen were surveying rock and soil layers to follow Uncle Sun on a hunting expedition.

Uncle Sun’s ancestors had been hunters, skilled in the craft; there were traps he had previously set throughout the mountains, and this time the group had a bountiful harvest.

Besides small animals like wild rabbits and pheasants, they had also caught a young deer and a fox.

A crowd was gathered around watching cheerfully, while the alligator cub peered out through the gap under the door, incessantly licking its lips. The alligator cub had grown quite a bit, and Feng Yun, fearing it might scare the villagers and provoke gossip, would have it stay inside when there were too many outsiders around.

Seeing such a well-behaved cub, Feng Yun’s heart nearly melted.

She approached and stroked the head of the alligator cub, "You’ll get to eat in a bit."

As Feng Yun stepped outside, Granny Han asked, "What would the lady like to eat? Shall Granny make you a chicken soup with vegetables? We’ll simmer pork bones and poultry bones first to get the flavor, wait until the broth turns milky white, then add the greens in and cook together..."

"Granny, please do as you see fit," Feng Yun said. "Just save the offal for the alligator cub."

Granny Han’s face wrinkled into a smile, "That goes without saying. You don’t need to tell me, Granny has it all planned out for the cub."

Feng Yun acknowledged her and then asked, "Big brother mentioned he would come over today, right?"

"Is the elder lord coming?" Granny Han had no knowledge of this affair. After thinking briefly, she sighed, "How can siblings from the same mother be so different? If the young lord had even half of the elder lord’s sensibility, there would be no need for such worry."

These past few days, Feng Liang had been disciplined severely by Feng Yun several times, which had made him quite restrained. But his ingrained nature wasn’t something that could be changed overnight; he always managed to do something annoying.

Just today, after Feng Yun had gone up the mountain, some villagers had come to Changmen to complain that Feng Liang had beaten up their child.

Although everyone attended the same village school, and Feng Yun promoted equality and fraternity among the students, regardless of their social status, Young Master Feng did not share the same view; he saw everyone as inferior villagers...

The first thing Feng Yun did upon her return was to lock Feng Liang in the firewood storage.

At this moment, while the outside was bustling with excitement as people divided up the game, Feng Liang was within, kicking, punching, and wailing like thunder.

Feng Yun pretended not to hear it and responded to Granny Han with a smile.

"Perhaps the Feng family’s seed isn’t that good."

Granny Han gave her a look, "Nonsense, then how come you turned out so well?"

Feng Yun smiled with a twinkle in her eye, "That’s because my mother is wonderful, and it has nothing to do with Feng Jingteng."

Granny Han chuckled aloud with a snort.

As they spoke, Ge Guang’s voice came from outside.

"General Wen is here."

The weather was nice during the day, but it had become rather chilly at night.

As Wen Xingsu entered, he was only wearing a wide-sleeved robe. Feng Yun was about to ask why he was dressed so lightly when from his carriage stepped Puyang Yi.

On her body was precisely Wen Xingsu’s wind-gown.

Feng Yun was taken aback for a moment, then saw Puyang Yi wink at her.

"Does the Princess of Yonghuai not welcome me?"

Feng Yun shook her head with a smile and said teasingly, "Wearing that dress and having your hair styled like that, I almost didn’t recognize you."

She turned her gaze to Wen Xingsu, "How come you arrived with big brother?"

Before Puyang Yi could speak, Wen Xingsu quickly said, "I was passing by on my way from the camp to Huaxi Village when I ran into the Lord of Pingyuan County..."

He did not want Feng Yun to misinterpret the situation, and Puyang Yi, catching his intent, glanced at him with a playful smile, "I left home when it was still sunny and bright, so I dressed a bit lightly. Who knew the temperature would drop once the sun set... Fortunately, I met General Wen, otherwise, I might have frozen."

Wen Xingsu smiled gently, "The County Lord jests."

Puyang Yi looped her arm through Feng Yun’s and walked inside, "Lady Yun, I have come to offer an apology."

Feng Yun had an inkling of the reason, and her lips tightened slightly into a smile without responding.

After welcoming them inside and having the maid serve tea, Puyang Yi stood up from behind the desk, held the tea cup with both hands, and bowed deeply to Feng Yun.

"I offer tea in place of wine, to apologize on behalf of my unworthy brother to Lady Yun."

It was only then that Wen Xingsu became aware of the day’s events on the mountain.

His gentle gaze grew colder, and he remained silent.

Puyang Yi tried to strike up a conversation with him several times, but he lightly deflected each attempt.

The same face, the same smile, the same elegance—the General who had given her his cloak to fend off the cold—yet Puyang Yi felt something was different.

His aloofness made clear just how much he despised Puyang Zong.