The Slender Waist

When Chunyu Yan went to the hall, he saw that all the maids from Feng Yun’s quarters were outside the courtyard, even Xiaoman was under the tree shade, teasing the "big cat" with dried meat, his heart stirring slightly.

"Why are none of you attending to your master?"

The maids exchanged glances.

Feng Yun and Pei Jue had been romping on the couch for so long, the maids had long since retired, how could they be in the room and in the way...

They knew in their hearts but it was inconvenient to elaborate to the Crown Prince of Yunchuan.

"Our master is taking a nap and didn’t want us to disturb her."

Chunyu Yan curled his lips slightly.

"At this hour, Feng Twelve can actually sleep?"

On his way back, he had already received the news that Pei Jue was recovering from injuries at the estate.

Hearing that this fellow was seriously injured, he hurried towards Andu without delay.

Traveling day and night, he refused to waste a moment.

Who knew that Feng Twelve would actually have the leisure to sleep in?

Chunyu Yan said, "Go prepare a bowl of noodle soup for this Princely Heir."

Rushing on an empty stomach, because he was anxious, he didn’t feel hungry at all; only now that he had returned to Andu and was sitting in Feng Twelve’s home did he relax completely, suddenly feeling his stomach hollow and unbearable...

Especially since Feng Twelve was sleeping.

Definitely sleeping alongside Pei Wangzhi.

Thinking about it only made him hungrier.

The maid immediately complied, just about to leave when Feng Yun lifted the curtain and entered.

While still in the courtyard, Feng Yun heard the Princely Heir throwing his weight around, asking for food and drink. Upon entering, her gaze swept over and she spotted this fellow who regarded her home as his own, lying on her favorite soft chair.

Dressed in a robe of moon-silver silk, his head adorned with a jade crown and his waist dangling with golden jade ornaments, even the clouds embroidered on his boots spoke of fine craftsmanship; from head to toe, he exuded one word — luxury.

A wealthy idler.

His lips curled with a smile, but his eyes were cold, fixating on Feng Yun, who was slowly entering the room, as if he were a debt collector.

Feng Yun’s gaze slid over him, as she offered a courteous bow.

"I’ve seen the Princely Heir."

Chunyu Yan rose slightly, sweeping his sleeves and folding his hands in greeting.

"I’ve seen the Princess."

That sour tone in his voice.

Feng Yun smiled faintly, asking lightly, "The Princely Heir’s home is just next door, yet you come to my home begging for food, freely ordering my servants around, what’s the reason for this?"

The two of them contested upon meeting; this was the norm.

If they didn’t clash a few words, Chunyu Yan would actually feel out of sorts.

When confronted with Feng Yun’s cool question, he felt invigorated, as if every pore in his body was gradually opening up, like seeing a garden full of blossoming flowers, feeling inexplicably comfortable as he reclined on the chair, his lazy gaze resting on Feng Yun.

"Stingy! What’s wrong with eating a little bit from you. I’ve brought a big business deal with me."

Feng Yun smiled slightly, "Business is business, favors are favors. I thought of just hosting the Princely Heir as a courtesy, but since you are here to talk business, then this meal must be charged."

Chunyu Yan curled his lip, "Harsh as ever, aren’t you? Fine! Feng Twelve, it’s only a bowl of noodle soup. I’m curious to see if you can create some rare gourmet noodles that’ll bankrupt me."

"That won’t happen," Feng Yun replied, sitting opposite him with a gentle smile.

"The Princely Heir is wealthy as can be. For a bowl of noodle soup that’s firm yet chewy, silky smooth, and replete with color, fragrance, and taste—made from kneading dough, boiling it, and finally serving it to the table, requiring the careful cooking of four maids and two servants—all it will take is five hundred coins to relieve the hunger from your journey; how could that bankrupt you?"

A bowl of noodle soup for five hundred coins?

Feng Twelve sure knew how to rob people blind.

Chunyu Yan scoffed, "It seems you don’t want to do business in Chuzhou."

Feng Yun was startled.

"You went to Chuzhou?"

Chunyu Yan looked at him lazily, "Isn’t that what you suggested? Governor Zheng Shoushan of Chuzhou seemed to have some discord with Li Zongxun? You seemed quite eager to dig into Li Zongxun’s corner."

After a pause, he looked up.

"Don’t look at me like that, and don’t misunderstand. I just happened to have business in Chuzhou and took the opportunity to pay a visit to this Governor. A very agreeable and eloquent person, only it’s a shame..."

Feng Yun asked, "A shame what?"

Chunyu Yan said, "Not as you assumed, at odds with the Yecheng Imperial Court."

Feng Yun fell silent.

Her conjecture was based on experiences from her past life.

Zheng Shoushan, the Governor of Chuzhou, later allied with two warlords to revolt against Jin and defected to Xiao Cheng, delivering his allegiance and earning Xiao Cheng’s trust.

Chunyu Yan relaxed, uttering casually:

"I have always said that Zheng Shoushan was the first to defect to Yecheng. As far as I know, he and Li Zongxun’s cousin-in-law Ge Pei are quite close. To celebrate the New Dynasty, Ge Pei was appointed Great General, and this man even sent two of his concubines to him, what do you make of that relationship?"

Feng Yun gave him a look.

There were some things that were better left unsaid.

She changed the subject.

"So, Princely Heir, what business took you to Chuzhou?"

Chunyu Yan, with a nonchalant demeanor, chose a grape from the fruit bowl with his slender fingertips, placing it in his mouth, savoring it carefully.

"If you want to know, you’ll have to beg me."

Feng Yun found this man incredibly amusing.

"Did the Princely Heir come to speak about this matter?"

Chunyu Yan felt as if something was stuck in his throat.

Feng Twelve was too relaxed.

She smiled lightly, as if without a hint of genuine cheer, yet she managed to hold a tight grip on his emotions, and she did it without batting an eye...

This wasn’t a sensation that Chunyu Yan enjoyed.

But compared to the women who either fawned over him or tensed up in nervousness, Feng Yun’s unique sense of ease was much to his liking.

"There’s no harm in telling you."

Chunyu Yan smiled faintly, easily convincing himself.

He was magnanimous.

There was no need to fuss over someone like Feng Twelve.

"This deal of mine just so happens to involve Zheng Shoushan..."

Feng Yun: "I would like to hear the details."

Chunyu Yan leaned forward slightly, fixing his gaze on Feng Yun’s eyes, and said, "These past few years, the winters have grown increasingly harsh, with the snow in Chuzhou piling higher each year. The Governor wishes to engage in a bit of coal trade with my Yunchuan..."

Feng Yun nodded, "Isn’t that just what the Princely Heir would wish for?"

Chunyu Yan agreed with a faint smile, "This Zheng Shoushan is a decent man, but when it comes to business, he isn’t very astute. He has offered a base price far exceeding the current graphite market value and assigned his inept younger brother, Zheng Yanshan, to handle the transactions. This person, even more foolish than his brother, knows nothing beyond indulgence in food and pleasure. Isn’t this just like willingly handing over money to be taken advantage of?"

"So with this deal, isn’t the Princely Heir going to make a huge profit?"

Her tone was steady, neither pleased nor angry.

But her words carried profound implications.

Chunyu Yan detected a hint of mockery in them.

He squinted his eyes, "No need for sarcasm. I am a man of integrity in business. I promised that once graphite leaves Yunchuan, you’d be the sole partner, and all sales must go through you. I won’t go back on our agreement. What’s yours won’t be shortchanged."

"Princely Heir." Feng Yun slightly bowed her head, as if contemplating something, and then after a long pause, she lifted her eyes, her face still veiled with a sheen of frost, without a trace of softening from the significant benefits Chunyu Yan brought up.

"There’s something I’m not sure I should say?"

Chunyu Yan lifted his chin, "What can’t be said between you and me?"

He seized every opportunity to cozy up.

Feng Yun ignored the "hooks" hidden in his words, lightly pursed her lips, and said softly:

"My mother once told me something that I have always remembered. Today, I also wish to pass it onto the Princely Heir."

"Oh?" Chunyu Yan set down his teacup, "What has your mother said?"

"My mother said that if there’s someone who just so happens to be perfect for you, without any flaws, they must be there to deceive you. If there’s a deal where all benefits lie on your side, and the other party seems like a God of Wealth, they are also there to deceive you."

Feng Yun lifted her eyelids, staring intently at Chunyu Yan.

"Does the Princely Heir think this situation resembles what I’ve just described?"

Chunyu Yan scrutinized her with narrowed eyes.

After a long moment, he let out a cold laugh.

"I’ve traversed the south and fought in the north, what kind of people haven’t I seen? To deceive me? Ridiculous! Besides, Zheng Shoushan benefits from giving me advantages, and selling graphite at a high price makes him the one who profits, so how can it be said that there is no benefit at all?"

Feng Yun’s brows subtly furrowed.

"In my opinion, we should not go through with this deal for now."

Seeing her as if bracing for battle, Chunyu Yan was taken aback, and then he smirked.

"Feng Twelve, has Pei Wangzhi’s serious injury scared you witless? Refusing to make money, pushing away the God of Wealth, do you have a grudge against wealth?"

Feng Yun shook her head and replied calmly:

"If this were last year, I wouldn’t stop the Princely Heir. But now, you yourself said Zheng Shoushan and the Yecheng Imperial Court are on very good terms, pledging allegiance and offering concubines, which proves this man is opportunistic and extremely profit-driven. He gives benefits to the Princely Heir? What do you think his intentions are..."

Chunyu Yan slowly leaned in close.

His eyes were slightly narrowed, and his demeanor carried a smile...

He looked as though he was about to kiss her.

Feng Yun tilted her head back, watching him without a flinch.

Chunyu Yan said, "The reason you don’t want to do business is a facade. You want to take this opportunity to strike at Zheng Shoushan, to give the Yecheng Imperial Court a bit of a warning, don’t you?"

Feng Yun remained silent.

Chunyu Yan: "Feng Twelve, you’re not straightforward, always speaking in riddles. Businesspeople only talk about profits. Like me, whether it’s the Yecheng Imperial Court, the Western Capital Dynasty, or the Nanqi Court, as long as there’s a profit to be made, I’m in. But your heart... is biased."

Feng Yun didn’t deny it, nodding her head.

"The Princely Heir is wise, indeed I have such intentions."

Chunyu Yan’s face fell.

"For Pei Wangzhi, you would go this far?"

Feng Yun glanced over, then chuckled softly, "Fear that the Princely Heir might be ensnared and burdened by the current situation is also another consideration."

Chunyu Yan’s expression improved slightly.

"I don’t care about the current situation. The more chaotic the world, the greater the profit."

He had always flourished in war profiteering.

Feng Yun smiled faintly, cautiously reminding him.

"The Princely Heir can disregard doing business with Yecheng or with Xijing. But there’s one thing, as your friend, I must remind you..."

She paused, her lips curling slightly.

"The Yecheng Imperial Court won’t last three more years."

Chunyu Yan chuckled and picked up his teacup.

Feng Yun continued: "Li Zongxun’s defeat by Xijing is only a matter of time. When it comes, helping Yecheng out of their ’coal crisis’, saving Li Zongxun from dire straits, will the Crown Prince of Yunchuan, you, offend Xijing to the point where you can’t back down?"