The Slender Waist-Chapter 13 - 11: The Hand of the Empress Dowager

The following day was brilliantly clear, and Feng Yun prepared to visit the jail within the prefectural government.

She had few dependable people by her side, and she certainly had to accept Pei Jue’s favor.

But...

Many of the old servants in the residence from her previous life had died early, and their appearances and names had become blurry in her memory, let alone remembering their integrity and which could be of use to her, and which were the accomplices of the Chen Family...

"Let’s see how it goes," Feng Yun thought, and had Xiaoman help her with her makeup.

The day she left home, she dressed plainly, but today, feeling cheerful, she changed into a straight-collared deep garment, an elegant, chick-colored flowing immortal skirt, and the temperament and charm of an Aristocratic Family’s noble daughter blossomed forth.

Outside Meixiang Pavilion, Ao Qi was waiting.

Watching the approaching lady, his breathing involuntarily tightened.

Feng Yun bowed slightly, "Thank you, Guard Ao Qi, for showing the way."

Ao Qi returned the gesture, his cheeks burning, somewhat distracted.

The jail was in the southwestern corner of the prefectural government, not very far, but Ao Qi, catching a whiff of that faint fragrance, felt it was the most agonizing journey he had ever made.

He had seen beautiful women before, but Feng Shi Er Niang was different. Daring not to look at her, to come close, or to blaspheme, being around her made his muscles tense uncontrollably. Last night, he even got hot-headed and dreamt something about her...

This was dangerous.

Ao Qi longed to return to the camp early, to leave the prefectural government, to leave the formidable Feng Shi Er Niang...

"Halt!" A stern shout interrupted Ao Qi’s wayward thoughts.

Looking up, they had arrived at the jail.

Two guards stopped Feng Yun, who was walking in front.

"What is this about?"

A spark of displeasure flared in Ao Qi.

Was a lady of the Feng Family something any random person could slight?

Ao Qi pulled out his waist plaque, "By the order of the Great General, we are here to extract a person from the jail. Lead the way ahead immediately!"

In these times, anyone with a few hundred or thousand men under them dared to claim the title of General, and there were countless Generals under heaven, but the First Rank Grand General, there was only one in the entire Great Jin Dynasty.

The guards, seeing Ao Qi’s defiant gaze, chuckled sheepishly and turned with a flustered expression—

The gate opened.

A male Eunuch looking person without facial hair on his pale face, about thirty years old, morose in demeanor, slow and deliberate in his steps, emerged with several Attendants, exuding an air of arrogance.

"The Empress Dowager decrees that all the prisoners in Andu County jail are to be escorted to the Central Capital for interrogation, begin the journey immediately, do not err," he declared in a shrill, piercing voice that was quite uncomfortable to hear. His eyes examining Feng Yun carried unkind intentions.

"Are you the delicate lady of the Feng Family?"

Having lived two lives, Feng Yun was adept at reading people’s expressions.

She had seen this Eunuch before; he served closely with Li Sangruo. His surname was Fang, and in her previous life, he had made things difficult for Feng Yun several times. Clearly, in this life too, he was not very likable.

Feng Yun smiled and curtseyed, "Indeed, I am the lady from the Feng Family of Xuzhou, I have seen the Eunuch before."

Her stance was extremely dignified, and her manners were impeccable, seemingly educated in a great Aristocratic Family, leaving little room for fault.

Seeing the noble lady reduced to such straits, Eunuch Fang’s disdain was almost palpable, "I have heard you have gained favor with the Great General? With flattery and seduction, you’ve made the General break protocol for you repeatedly?"

Feng Yun was slightly surprised.

Was Li Sangruo unable to keep her composure so soon?

In her previous life, when she had just started serving at Pei Jue’s side, this Empress Dowager showed no reaction.

This time, Pei Jue had not touched her but sent a trusted aide to send her back to Andu, and she was also given people from the Imperial Governor’s Office, marking an even heavier grace.

So Li Sangruo was acting out of urgency, fearing Pei Jue’s affection for her?

Women indeed cannot afford to be sentimental, otherwise, even someone as powerful as Li Sangruo could lack confidence.

With an inner sigh, Feng Yun spoke calmly:

"What sort of man is the Great General? How could he be bewitched by a mere woman? Eunuch, by saying this, are you insulting the General or the Empress Dowager?"

"Insolence!" Eunuch Fang, rebuffed by her retort, wore an extremely unsightly expression.

"You, a lowly concubine of the Feng Family, dare to question the Empress Dowager?"

"I am questioning the Eunuch."

"Questioning me is questioning the Empress Dowager!"

"If the Eunuch slaps my face, it’s like slapping the General’s face."

Feng Yun’s righteous words sent a chill through Eunuch Fang’s spine, and he couldn’t help but take a few more looks at her.

This woman had a full chest and a slim waist, tall and supple, with a poise and grace that was particularly captivating.

What was even more extraordinary was that her appearance seemed dignified, yet there was a hidden allure, the type that men adored the most—a noble beauty provoking possessive desires. Even an Eunuch, after all, was once a man, and he was astonished to find that this lady was more enticing than all the concubines he had seen during more than a decade in the palace.

Disaster was imminent!

Before coming to Andu, he thought the Empress Dowager had been overly suspicious...