The Slender Waist

Feng Yun pondered for a long time.

Were it not for the slight tightening of her hand on the letter, the black brightness deep in her eyes, one might almost think she had no reaction to this matter.

"Is this the reason the Princely Heir wants to take me to Yunchuan?"

Chunyu Yan smoothed out his clothes, his expression indifferent.

"The tunnel is not yet unblocked, Yunchuan still needs your support. You have not revealed the method of making coal balls from graphite, and I do not want there to be any mistakes in this business."

He deliberately did not mention concern.

His proud exterior concealed an unease within.

Feng Yun showed little change of expression, turning the letter over and over to check the markings, as if to confirm the authenticity of the content.

This type of secret letter, to avoid exploitation, would always have a mark in a particular place that only insiders would understand.

This letter was no exception.

Feng Yun saw a small flame in the inner lining of the envelope.

Clearly, he wanted her to see it with her own eyes, rather than just hearing about it, as a means to gain her trust.

In other words, the authenticity of the content of the letter was beyond doubt.

Feng Yun’s gaze lingered on the letter for a moment before she faintly smiled, "Cangyan Mountain is a long journey, and it’s not yet clear what has happened. If I were to leave like this, I might play right into someone’s hands."

Chunyu Yan’s heart stirred slightly.

"You do not trust me?"

Feng Yun shook her head, "I trust that the Princely Heir has good intentions."

She handed the letter back to Chunyu Yan and curtsied to him.

"But to flee before the battle, does the Princely Heir still think I am Feng Shi Er Niang?"

Chunyu Yan frowned.

"You have that much confidence in Pei Wangzhi?"

"Not to hide it from the Princely Heir, I’ve already thought it through. I should not rely entirely on him. Leaning on a hill, it may collapse; leaning on a tree, it may shake. Whatever happens, one must rely on themselves."

She spoke calmly, as if nothing had happened. She asked Chunyu Yan in detail about the tunnel excavation, borrowed paper and pen to write down her thoughts, and handed them back to him.

"If there are still problems, I will make a trip to Yunchuan in late April."

It was not until the sound of footsteps had receded that Chunyu Yan came back to his senses.

She had really left.

Without leaving any room for negotiation.

And without showing any signs of nervousness or worry...

Was it because she had too much faith in Pei Jue’s capabilities, or was this woman’s heart simply too cruel?

Chunyu Yan felt a complex bitterness within him.

An inexplicable sense of respect for her began to emerge amidst the bitterness.

If Pei Jue fell, it would be a disaster for her, yet for Feng Shi Er Niang, it seemed that even if the sky fell, she wouldn’t even blink an eye.

-

When Feng Yun returned to the villa, Feng Liang had just come back from school in the village, not studying during the day, causing a commotion in the yard, insisting on going horseback riding. Feng Yun usually didn’t indulge him, let alone at this time.

She directly called over the servants sent by the Feng Family.

"Pack up the young master and the young mistress of the Feng Family, and take them back to Bingzhou immediately, at once."

The servants turned pale with fright.

Looking at Feng Yun’s seated, expressionless figure, wanting to say something but not daring to refute, they only managed to bow and stutter their words unclearly after a long while.

"Madam, please, please be merciful, if we return like this, we servants cannot justify ourselves..."

Feng Yun gestured dismissively, her voice cool.

"You have one hour to take them away."

One hour?

They had just reached mealtime, and she wasn’t even leaving them time to eat.

The servants’ faces turned ashen, one looking worse than the other.

Feng Zhen began to cry pitifully, sobbing incessantly.

Feng Liang, however, was overjoyed.

"We can go home now, Azhen, we can finally go home."

The little rascal, not understanding anything, ran around the yard in excitement, leaping about, ecstatic to escape the cage.

Seeing the master like this, the servants were even more desolate.

They looked at each other for a long while before someone dared to speak up, "Regarding the Shuxiu sent by the master of our house, could the madam please return it..."

Feng Yun curled her lips, "A student not seeking to advance in studies, and a teacher not willing to teach, have you ever heard of someone having the face to return Shuxiu?"

The servants were left speechless.

Every word was infuriating.

Yet none could be refuted.

Feng Zhen was young and more obedient; Feng Liang, on the other hand, had become increasingly uncontrollable.

Reflecting upon it now, that young boy was not simple; perhaps it was all just to get Feng Yun to send him back to Bingzhou sooner.

An hour passed in the blink of an eye.

Feng Yun was still deep in thought in the study when Xiaoman silently came in, occasionally glancing at her but remaining silent.

Feng Yun gave her a sideways glance.

"Want to keep your brother here?"

Xiaoman, who had been somewhat hesitant about how to speak up, was startled by Feng Yun’s question.