The Slender Waist-Chapter 733 - 526 King’s Concerns

Puyang Zong left three days later.

At that time, Awan had just been laid to rest.

She was buried in the cemetery at Huaxi.

This was a piece of auspicious land carefully selected by Feng Yun after Huaxi turned into a township.

She had planned to bury the deceased of Changmen here in the future.

But no one had expected that Awan, so young, would be the first to reside there.

On the day of the burial, Puyang Zong did not go. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

He had not left his house for three days and refused to speak; Ruan Shi, weeping, had visited Taiping Garden, then the Grand Princess herself came to Huaxi to scold him bitterly, which finally prompted him to start preparing for the return to the Capital.

Not taking much luggage, just a single carriage, he drove desolately out of Yi Garden, stopping outside Awan’s restaurant at Huaxi Wharf.

On the day Awan died, the restaurant closed down.

Now, two of the door panels had been removed, yet the door was left half-closed.

Puyang Zong stepped down from the carriage.

The owner of the neighboring cake shop recognized him and greeted him with a smile.

"Is sir returning to the Capital?"

Puyang Zong politely cupped his hands in response.

"I heard sir is going back to take up an important post. Will you return to Huaxi in the future?"

Puyang Zong forced a smile.

"I will."

The lady owner was surprised to see him walking into the shop and said, "Lady Wan had an accident, doesn’t sir know? This restaurant is preparing to be sold off, it is not open today, there’s no food..."

He used to eat here frequently.

Everyone in the neighborhood knew it.

The story of a dashing prince smitten with the lovely restaurant owner was something many were keen to witness...

Some had joked with Awan, saying that since Puyang Sir came to eat every day, he might have taken a fancy to her, and wanted to take her back to be his concubine.

The term ’concubine’ sounds nice, but it just means a mistress.

Although everyone was well aware of some things, they couldn’t help but tease.

Back then, Puyang Zong listened, his thoughts indeed quickened...

Until he heard Awan rebuking someone in anger, and then he dropped the idea.

He and Ruan Shi were bound by an arranged marriage. They didn’t get along well, and their feelings for each other were very thin.

Especially after he was punished and sent to Huaxi by the Grand Princess, Ruan Shi preferred living alone in Andu City and was reluctant to come to the village to suffer with him.

She is the daughter of Shang Shu Pu She, pampered since childhood, a completely different person from Awan...

Awan was someone who could make his heart race and blood boil, unique among all the women he had met.

But he knew he would not divorce Ruan Shi.

Their destinies were tied together, not by affection, but by the interests of their two families...

So, he came to Awan’s restaurant to dine every day, but never said an improper word...

On the day of Awan’s death, it was the only time he mustered the courage, wanting to step forward and pour out his feelings, to give her, and himself, a chance.

At least to let her know that his sentiments were sincere.

Unfortunately...

It was a missed opportunity.

This was the regret that had kept Puyang Zong locked up in his room for three days, unable to comprehend the painful twist of fate.

It was just a few steps away.

If he had gone there, Awan might not have died.

This realization tormented him immensely.

Fighting with anyone else was not as painful as fighting with oneself...

At this moment.

Puyang Zong stood at the entrance of the restaurant, unadorned, clad in a plain white cape, his face pale as he slowly approached, seemingly soulless.

He could hardly remember how embarrassed he was when he first came to Huaxi, yet he still remembered every word and smile of Awan.

It was as if the lovely and approachable owner was still there, curtsying to him with pursed lips and a smile.

"What will sir have today?"

Sir.

Puyang Sir.

Heading to Xijing, he would just be Prince of Danyang, or some other official post.

But no one would ever again call him "sir".

"Prince?"

"Puyang Sir?"

Many voices around were calling out.

Soft or firm, Puyang Zong only snapped back to his senses after a long while.

Feng Yun stood at the entrance of the restaurant, watching him, silent.

The ones calling him were Xiaoman and Alou by her side.

It was then that Puyang Zong realized there were tears in his eyes.

He quickly wiped them away with his sleeve and lowered his eyes to greet her with cupped hands.

"Princess."

Feng Yun watched him go from emotional turmoil to stabilizing and felt a sudden tug at her heart.

For Awan.

She asked, "Would the Prince like to come in and sit for a while?"

Puyang Zong nodded and stepped over the familiar threshold.

The shop was small and currently empty.

But the air seemed to still carry the familiar scent, and the tables and chairs were arranged just as they were when Awan was alive.

Objects evoke memories.

His tightly pressed lips turned deathly pale.

Feng Yun said, "There’s still no trace of the murderer. Do you, Prince of Puyang, suspect anyone?"

Puyang Zong looked up, gazing at her.

"Lady Wan was sincere and enthusiastic towards others, and she never made enemies or incurred hatred in Huaxi. I cannot fathom who would have the heart to take her life..."

Feng Yun suddenly asked, "Do your family members know about your feelings towards Awan?"

A thin layer of window paper was thus punctured.

The head of Puyang Zong was lowered even further.

He did not deny his feelings for Awan, and after a while, he shook his head slowly.

"I’ve never mentioned it to anyone. Even Lady Wan did not know..."

Feng Yun said, "Awan knew of them."

The gaze of Puyang Zong heated up as he looked at her.

Feng Yun went on, "Feelings are born from the heart and seen in the eyes. One might hide it from the world, but how can one conceal it from the person in question?"

Puyang Zong gave a wry smile, "Thank you."

He was grateful to her for telling him Awan’s feelings. Whether true or false, they were after all some comfort.

They spoke a while longer about Awan’s life before and after her death.

Besides the Feng Family, they had no other suspicions.

Puyang Zong, grinding his teeth, said, "It’s a pity that without solid evidence, I’m powerless against them."

Feng Yun pressed her lips together, "One always has to pay the price."

Upon hearing this, Puyang Zong actually let out a sigh of relief.

"Then I can leave with peace of mind."

After bidding farewell, he slowly walked inside.

At the doorway, he couldn’t help but look back.

"Previously, I always thought time was abundant, that I could say what needed to be said another day, hindered by various reasons and hesitations. Who knew it would lead to a lifelong regret."

After speaking, he departed.

Having boarded the carriage, he turned towards the official road leading to Andu...

Feng Yun stood outside in the cold wind watching him depart, repeatedly pondering his parting words.

-

Pei Jue hadn’t been to Andu Great Camp for quite some time, and, having some leisure today, he rode out early in the morning with his guard.

Wen Xingsu was on a leave of absence due to his wedding, so Tan Dajin was the one to receive Pei Jue.

Tan Dajin took him around the camp, reported on military matters, and inevitably touched upon Wen Xingsu’s high-profile wedding.

Pei Jue’s brow twitched slightly, then he abruptly asked:

"What do you think of General Wen’s wedding?"

Tan Dajin was startled.

What kind of question was that?

He looked at Pei Jue’s expression, realizing that he wasn’t asking about that...

But Pei Jue was indeed a man of few words and rarely beat around the bush.

Tan Dajin felt a bit unsure of what the king was thinking,

"I believe it was splendid. Solemn, joyful, and lavish, befitting one of life’s greatest celebrations. The soldiers were envious, the commoners sighed with admiration..."

The gifts and dowry were piled like mountains and seas, eyes dazzled by gold, silver, jewels, silks, and satins. The banquet was filled with exquisite delicacies, missing nothing. The bride and groom, both of outstanding talents and families, who wouldn’t praise such a sight?

However, after Tan Dajin finished speaking with a beaming smile, he noticed Pei Jue’s face had grown even more somber.

"My king..."

Tan Dajin became thoroughly confused.

General Wen’s wedding had nothing to do with the king, it seemed.

What was troubling him?

Pei Jue looked over and said, "Then what do you think of my wedding?"

Tan Dajin was caught off guard.

He wanted to say something positive but could not find anything to highlight.

He could only vaguely reply: "Your marriage took place at a difficult time. With Bingzhou under siege and the pressing danger of formidable enemies nearby, it was rushed and not possible to prepare the betrothal gifts and the various wedding necessities, but we did our best..."

Pei Jue said, "She did not receive any betrothal gifts."

Tan Dajin was momentarily taken aback, then he remembered.

The twelve sets of betrothal gifts, barely scraped together, almost ended up being exchanged for winter clothing. In the end, it was the Princess who personally traded with Chunyu Yan for the fabric and cotton used to make winter clothes, thereby addressing the urgent need of the Northern Yong Army at the time...

Tan Dajin chuckled.

"Times have changed, I had nearly forgotten."

Pei Jue remained silent.

Tan Dajin, observing his expression, understood perfectly.

It was after seeing General Wen’s wedding that he realized he had shortchanged the Princess and wanted to make amends, wasn’t it?

Tan Dajin laughed, "Why worry, my king? I may not be one to guarantee other matters, but when it comes to preparing gifts, I am quite the expert. Just give the order, and I assure you, I shall handle it with grandeur and grace..."

Pei Jue looked at him coldly, "Broke."

Tan Dajin: "..."

If others heard the powerful Prince of Yonghuai speak of poverty, they would either disbelieve or laugh out loud.

With power comes wealth; this is an unchanging truth through the ages.

But Tan Dajin, having been with Pei Jue so long, knew him all too well...

He never engaged in crooked ways to amass wealth.

Before he was married, if not for Tan Dajin’s arrangements, he would likely be even poorer...

After marrying, he simply handed all his household finances to Feng Yun, even appointing the Chief Historian of the Royal Mansion as his own wife, ensuring that not even a single extra penny could escape Feng Yun’s watchful eyes without her knowledge.

Unless he first asked Feng Yun for money to then attend to the wedding preparations.

But it was clear Pei Jue was not inclined to do so...

After pondering for a long while, Tan Dajin said, "What should we do then? Suppose I lend you some, but, well, I do not have such a fortune at my disposal either."

Pei Jue glanced at him, waved his hand, and walked away.