The Slender Waist-Chapter 27 - 22 The Wicked Woman King of Hell_2

Ao Qi might or might not have reported the issue at Huayuejian, but no one had come to inquire about it.

This left Feng Yun feeling slightly uneasy. "Xiaoman, what has Guard Ao been up to recently?"

Xiaoman was stunned by her question. "Guard Ye mentioned... Guard Ao seems to be ill?"

Ao Qi was ill? No wonder he hadn’t been seen these past few days.

Feeling cheerful and in high spirits, Feng Yun decided to do a good deed. She cooked a fish that Ao Qi had caught, making a rich and savory fish soup, which she put in a celadon soup bowl. She asked Xiaoman to carry it as they both went to visit him in his living quarters.

"Guard Ao!" Ye Chuang was not present, and the door was slightly ajar. Feng Yun knocked and it opened.

The setup in the living quarters was simple, suited for the two young men staying there. It wasn’t very particular. Clothes were draped everywhere on wooden racks, Ao Qi’s loop-handled saber leaned against the bed, and boots were kicked far apart—one to the east, the other to the west...

While it was a bit messy, Feng Yun didn’t expect Ao Qi to react so drastically.

He seemed to have just been awakened, his eyebrows raised high and his head drenched in sweat. Not knowing what he had dreamt of, he saw Feng Yun and sprang up like he had seen a ghost, desperately holding onto his quilt and blushing visibly.

"You, you go out."

Feng Yun frowned at him. "Guard Ao, where are you feeling unwell?"

"Get out!" Ao Qi’s face turned completely red, a picture of utter despair.

He covered himself tightly, fearful that Feng Yun would see what was hidden under the quilt or even notice the creases on the bedding from his restless sleep, not to mention the unkemptly strewn clothing and socks that made him feel too ashamed to face her...

Ever since he had caught his uncle in Feng Yun’s room, Ao Qi had been struggling. The lady had invaded his dreams almost every night, draining his energy and tormenting him greatly, feeling like he was about to collapse...

Yet there she was, standing before him, her face filled with concern.

"It doesn’t look like you’re sick," Feng Yun exchanged glances with Xiaoman.

Guard Ao’s clenched teeth and robust appearance looked anything but ill.

Ao Qi leaned against the head of the bed, his clothes soaked with sweat, clinging tightly to his body hiding his fiercely pounding heart, "How do you know I’m not sick? I am sick."

"Alright, alright, you’re sick." Feng Yun, good intentions met with ingratitude, sternly called Xiaoman.

"Put the soup down, let’s leave."

Just as Ao Qi sighed in relief, Feng Yun suddenly turned around.

"Guard Ao, why not speak to the General about returning to camp to recuperate?"

Ao Qi’s face changed slightly, was this an attempt to send him away?

A wave of intense dissatisfaction made the young man glare at her defiantly, arrogantly lifting his chin.

"Who said I’m sick? I’m not sick."

Feng Yun regarded him curiously.

It had to be said, Ao Qi had a delicately pleasing face. Despite his fierce tone, he was hard to dislike.

She nodded, pulled the door shut, and left.

Reflecting on Ao Qi’s abnormal reactions, she suddenly halted.

Had something happened on the night of the drinking that made Ao Qi so wary of her?

What could have possibly happened with Ao Qi? It must have been her taking liberties with him.

It’s all so unclear! Feng Yun turned back to look at Xiaoman.

"No more getting drunk."

—

The night deepened.

In Central Capital’s Luocheng, inside Jiafu Palace, the bronze lotus lamp emitted a dim light.

The hall was eerily silent, the meal on the table had long gone cold.

Li Sangruo sat erect on her knees before the nanmu table, her posture dignified and graceful, her eyes tightly shut. Her skin was well-maintained but showed slight signs of exhaustion.

Deep palace loneliness, even as Empress Dowager, could not resist the solitude of the long night.

Eunuch Fang continuously wiped the sweat from his forehead, his face composed while inwardly he could not count how many times he had cursed Feng Shi Er Niang to death.

Sixteen Mei Ji!

Sixteen Imperial Consorts and thirty-two maids, and they couldn’t control one Miss Feng?

Not one of the sixteen Imperial Consorts was of any use!

Lin E had promised confidently, yet was subdued almost instantly.

In this palace, three Imperial Consorts could make a spectacle enough to cause an uproar. Sixteen Imperial Consorts managed to do nothing, neatly subdued by Miss Feng, rolling up their sleeves to do menial work, serving her like slaves.

Eunuch Fang felt for the Empress Dowager’s distress.

This Feng Shi’er Niang, when he had asked around, he was told she was nothing more than a beautiful idiot and didn’t take it to heart.

Who would have thought the idiot could be somewhat capable...

Eunuch Fang fretted anxiously, fearing the Empress Dowager’s wrath.

While lost in troubled thoughts, Li Sangruo suddenly opened her eyes and looked towards him, "I heard Miss Feng’s beauty is incomparable, unmatched throughout the eight districts of Xuzhou, is it true?"

Eunuch Fang startled, seeing that the Empress Dowager appeared very interested, straightened his robe and bent over to her, making a deep bow.

"Your Highness, this servant has failed his duty, I am at fault."

Li Sangruo’s eyebrows lifted slightly. "What I asked was, is Miss Feng truly of an unparalleled beauty? Enough to captivate the Great General?"

"Not compared to Your Highness. Her features are coarse, not even a fraction as lovely as Your Highness’s," Eunuch Fang said against his heart, disregarding the stunning presence of Miss Feng he had once encountered, the allure that almost drove him mad with desire to kneel before her.

Li Sangruo’s face darkened, she nonchalantly said, "Seems like you, old servant, don’t wish to keep your head."

Eunuch Fang forced a smile.

The Empress Dowager was merely jealous, but she was not foolish. The palace had its own ways of gathering information, plenty of eyes and ears; it was a matter easily looked into and not deceived.

But Eunuch Fang knew the Empress Dowager.

Women of beauty, they never easily accept defeat.

Miss Feng might be beautiful, but she could not overshadow her.

"The light of a firefly dare not compete with the bright moon? Miss Feng’s slight beauty is too trivial, she is not even fit to carry the shoes for the Empress Dowager..."

Eunuch Fang raised his hand to his neck and smirked ominously,

"Just with a nod from Your Highness, this servant has ways to ensure... Miss Feng won’t cause any more trouble for Your Highness."

Li Sangruo lowered her eyelids, and with a cloth, gently dabbed her forehead, her voluptuous body subtly shifting towards the table to nonchalantly reach for the cold ginseng soup, and let out a faint sigh.

"Those favored by the Great General should not be handled too harshly... Unless you have a way to make the Great General forsake her. Until he abandons her, there should be no grievances against me..."