The Slender Waist-Chapter 17 - 14 Crown Prince of Yunchuan

Slipping out of the mansion without being noticed by Ao Qi was no easy feat.

But, fortunately, Ao Qi had gone to drink with Ye Chuang as soon as night fell, leaving just two guards who saw Feng Yun retire to her room and close the door. They retreated to guard outside Changmen Academy.

Feng Yun easily left through the back corner gate.

Huayuejian had closed its doors before the Northern Yong army entered the city. The entire street was silent and deserted. Instead of walking conspicuously in front of the gate, Feng Yun chose to enter from the back door near Linhe, accompanied by Daman and Xiaoman.

The door was ajar and opened at a touch.

Inside was a tranquil courtyard, with a lotus pond and lush bamboo, exuding a refined elegance.

This place was the largest pleasure ground in Andu County, but who was behind it remained unknown to the common man...

Feng Yun had learned in her past life, after Xiao Cheng became the Emperor of Qi, led his troops northward and fought against the Northern Yong army for three months before negotiating a truce, that the person who facilitated the negotiations was none other than Crown Prince Chunyu Yan of the neutral Yunchuan.

And Crown Prince Chunyu Yan was at Huayuejian at the time.

Yunchuan bordered Jin, Qi, and Xihe, showing goodwill and allegiance to both Jin and Qi, yet proclaimed kingship without naming themselves emperor.

Crown Prince Chunyu Yan was the legitimate eldest son of the royal family of Yunchuan, habitually traveling among Dajin, Daqi, Xihe, and even smaller countries like Minyue, making friends on all sides and reaping many benefits.

The maid led Feng Yun up to the second-floor pavilion and curtsied deeply.

"Princely Heir, the Feng Family maiden has arrived."

"Allow her to enter alone," came a voice, indifferent as if just wakened, clear as a spring, lingering slowly.

Pleasant to hear, yet cold.

"Miss, please!"

The maid parted the curtains, and a faint fragrance nearly took Feng Yun’s breath away in an instant.

Inside the room, a light smoke curled up, and the scent from within the pear blossom canopy was very rich.

Crown Prince Chunyu Yan lay lazily on the couch, and through a layer of drooping curtains, Feng Yun could only see a vague figure in the inner room, wearing wide sleeves and robes, loosely tied at the waist, too indistinct to discern...

It was still that Crown Prince Chunyu Yan, never willing to show his true face. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Feng Yun bowed slightly, "Feng Yun has seen the Crown Prince of Yunchuan."

A cold laugh came from behind the curtain.

"Feng Yun of the Feng Family, truly the foremost beauty of the eight counties in Xuzhou."

Although the words were a compliment, they felt like needles to the ear, each one piercing.

Feng Yun had had several unpleasant encounters with Crown Prince Chunyu Yan in her previous life and knew his mad and twisted nature. Thus, she observed her manners, distant yet courteous.

"I presume the Crown Prince already knows the purpose of my visit. I’m willing to trade agricultural techniques for a hundred thousand bushels of your millet and wheat..."

"Agricultural techniques?" A mocking voice responded as if to say Feng Yun was overestimating her abilities.

The curtain stirred without wind, a servant knelt forth with a sandalwood tray, calling softly to the prince. A slender, pale hand reached out from behind the curtain, grasping a celadon cup...

The subtle grace of the motion was hard for Feng Yun to ignore.

If she hadn’t suffered at his hands in her past life, she might well have been utterly charmed.

"Do not underestimate the agricultural techniques I have, Your Highness. They can bring Yunchuan multiple harvests and substantially improve your farming disadvantages. In the long run, it will be a profitable deal for you."

Crown Prince Chunyu Yan laughed.

"Just with your sweet words, you’re asking for two hundred thousand bushels from me. Miss Feng, your ambition... is truly extraordinary."

Feng Yun took a deep breath, pretending not to hear the sarcasm and humiliation in his words.

The celadon cup clinked lightly, and Crown Prince Chunyu Yan asked again, "Who sent you? Pei Wangzhi or Xiao Ziceng?"

Feng Yun replied, "Your discernment is appreciated, Princely Heir. As a girl managing a vast estate with dozens of mouths to feed and no grain to use, survival is tough... Of course, I also wish to earn General Pei’s favor and secure peace."

A woman in troubled times yearns nothing more than to survive. Evidently aware of her situation, Crown Prince Chunyu Yan seemed convinced by her words and then inquired, "Yunchuan has two hundred thousand bushels of grain stored in Andu County. How did you come to know of it?"

This was something Feng Yun only heard about after the fact in her past life; she wasn’t sure if the two hundred thousand bushels of grain really existed, let alone where Crown Prince Chunyu Yan had hidden it...

That was also why she was testing the waters.

Feng Yun bowed her head and spoke faintly, "Not to deceive Your Highness, but a celestial being revealed it to me in a dream..."

"Trickster," came a cold laugh laced with an icy tone.

"Sang Jiao, Yin You. Drag her out, kill her."

Feng Yun felt a chill.

If there was anyone bizarre enough to claim the title of the first, it would be Crown Prince Chunyu Yan, with no one daring to be the second.

He was indeed the sort who would kill without a second thought.

"No!" Feng Yun feigned fright, stepping back two paces and biting her lower lip in hesitation before she shook her head and murmured, "Aji, do you remember the twin lotus at Jiming Temple?"

It seemed like only a moment, yet as if ages had passed, before she heard Crown Prince Chunyu Yan’s cool voice from within the tent.

"Who are you?"

Feng Yun answered, "Lian Ji."