The Slender Waist-Chapter 766 - 547 Deep Communication

The new Emperor ascended the throne and changed the era name to "Wenzhi".

The matter of deciding the era name actually did involve some disputes within the court.

Because some court officials believed... the Prince of Yonghuai would disapprove.

To rule the country with literature implies curbing the military—how could anyone not know that the Prince of Yonghuai hailed from a family of Military Generals and had ascended to power through his military achievements?

However, Pei Jue agreed immediately upon seeing it.

"Wenzhi and martial prowess are both indispensable. Excellent."

The Prince of Yonghuai is magnanimous.

No one can fathom his thoughts.

Following the ascension ceremony, in accordance with the traditions of the Jin Dynasty, a grand banquet was held for all court officials.

Feng Yun did not enter the palace to attend the ceremony; she had gone to sleep early.

Late at night, Pei Jue returned, slightly smelling of alcohol.

He bent down and kissed Feng Yun’s forehead, causing her to immediately frown in displeasure.

"Go wash."

She is extremely keen on cleanliness.

She can’t stand even a bit of the smell of alcohol.

Pei Jue’s brow twitched, he didn’t say a word, tucked the blanket around her a bit more, then turned and went to the washroom.

Feng Yun was kept awake by the sound of water in the dark night, unable to sleep.

Why make him wash?

Feigning sleep, wouldn’t that have been trouble-free?

Thinking about those wild entanglements in the dark night, her heart was in turmoil, filled with a bizarre mixture of fear and anticipation...

During the slightly cold spring night, thinking about it made her wryly smile to herself.

She still has to return to Huaxi earlier.

A woman can only stop her wandering thoughts and endure fewer anxieties if she keeps herself occupied with proper matters. Spending long days in the residence in Xijing, her temperament and edges inevitably get smoothed down by him...

Perhaps that’s exactly what Pei Gou intends.

Grinding her down every night, aiming to blunt her sharpness so that she’d dutifully serve as a wife at home. Once she can no longer resist after a few years, he’ll bring back concubines, have some sons, and she won’t be able to say anything...

Hmph!

Men.

"What are you thinking about?" Pei Jue saw her staring blankly, drying his hair and looking down at her.

Feng Yun frowned and shook her head.

Pei Jue glanced at her slightly drowsy eyes, "Does it still hurt?"

Feng Yun pursed her lips.

Lately, Pei Gou had really taken liberties; if not for the Pearl Charms and Jade Gates, she might have literally risked her life at his hands.

Feng Yun didn’t want to indulge him anymore.

He asked, so she deliberately shrank back in feigned fear, nodding her head.

"Let me check," Pei Jue lifted the blanket.

Feng Yun: ...

What a loathsome man, truly relentless.

Feng Yun held his hand, "I’m very tired, and my lord must have been tired after a day’s work too. Let’s rest early."

Pei Jue saw the meaning in her eyes, his dark pupils slightly blazing.

"I’ll apply the medicine for you."

"I’ve already used the medicine, no need to trouble my lord." Feng Yun gave him a sideways glance, quickly changing the subject, "Was today’s ceremony smooth?"

"Mm." Pei Jue tossed aside the cloth he used for wringing his hair, sat down facing her, his slightly undone white undergarment exposing his well-defined muscles that were slightly damp.

Feng Yun’s eyes heated for a moment, then quickly averted her gaze.

"You even dared to accept the Imperial Ceremonial Banners awarded by the Emperor?"

Pei Jue spoke indifferently, "If he dares to give, why shouldn’t I dare to accept?"

Feng Yun smirked, her gaze teasing, "That’s not like you."

In his previous life, the word ’loyalty’ pervaded Pei Jue’s existence. Not to mention the Imperial Banner, even the Nine Bestowments were probably something he wouldn’t accept...

Things are greatly different now.

Feng Yun couldn’t tell whether it was for better or worse, but this current Pei Jue, compared to the one in her memory, was more imposing and more ambitious.

After all, he had been reborn once.

People do change.

And wasn’t she the same?

It seemed that Pei Jue hadn’t noticed her thoughts, glancing at the tea on the wooden cabinet.

"Have you taken your medicine?"

Feng Yun’s brows involuntarily furrowed.

"The medicine from Puyang Medical Official really is hard to swallow. I had it in the morning, there’s no need to take it again tonight, right?"

Pei Jue: "You need to take it."

Feng Yun: "Look, I’m already much better."

Pei Jue looked over, suddenly grabbed her wrist, and in Feng Yun’s surprised eyes, his large hand forcefully circled her waist, kissing her deeply.

After a long while, leaving her gasping for breath, her face flushed like a monkey’s bottom, breathing uneven and collapsing weakly, he finally released her.

"And you still claim to be perfectly well?"

Feng Yun’s eyes flashed with anger, but she was too breathless to speak.

Pei Jue said, "With such a weak body, I can barely fulfill my wants. Drink the medicine obediently and get well!"

Feng Yun wished she could kick him to death.

"Claiming to care for me, or is it just for yourself..."

Pei Jue looked over with a smirk.

She became even more infuriated, "You might as well stop pretending, find a robust woman who can satisfy you thoroughly, no need to hold back, whenever and as often as you wish..."

The laughter that had been held at the throat of Pei Jue was finally released with pleasure.

Gently, he embraced her into his arms and lowered his head to kiss her.

"You know I am exerting force?"

"Hmph!" Matters involving two people, she would certainly notice.

But she was not interested, nor willing to be grateful.

That phrase "unable to fulfill desires" made her very uncomfortable...

"Yaoyao." Pei Jue’s tone became much gentler, as he held her and lay down, looking slightly weary, "If you don’t want to drink, then sleep. You can drink tomorrow."

Feng Yun’s anger had not subsided.

Even though she didn’t know where this anger came from.

"You sleep, I’ll just lie down for a while."

"What is it?" Pei Jue looked at her, his gaze inquisitive.

"I haven’t served the king well, reflecting on my own faults."

"..."

Pei Jue said nothing, his gaze steadily fixed on her.

After a while, he grasped her chin and turned her face towards him.

"The envoy from Nanqi specifically asked to see you. I refused on your behalf."

After Jin and Qi signed the alliance treaty, they became allied nations. With the demise of the Emperor of Jin Country and the accession of the new Emperor, both matters needed to be communicated to Nanqi.

It was only proper for Nanqi to send envoys to Xijing to offer congratulations.

But why would an envoy want to see her?

Feng Yun looked into Pei Jue’s eyes, realizing something, her eyebrows and eyes slowly curved into a smile, playfully smoothing his collar.

"Are you jealous?"

Pei Jue: "Not to that extent."

Feng Yun hummed softly, not taking it to heart.

Indeed, between the two of them, regarding matters of affection, it seemed there was a particular tacit understanding.

Not caring, not asking, not deeply communicating.

In other words, they only interacted physically, not wanting to connect emotionally.

Feng Yun pondered for a moment and said, "Xiao Cheng is a patient and composed person, the king should not underestimate him. However, the king should not have refused, I actually would like to meet the Qi envoy and see what they have to say."

Pei Jue nodded, "If you want to meet, then meet."

Feng Yun smiled, seeing that his expression remained unchanged, aware that he did not take it to heart, she felt indescribable inside.

This is what she hoped to see, that Pei Jue did not care about her matters. But him truly not caring felt somewhat lacking...

The emotion flashed briefly, and Feng Yun did not dwell on it further, only inquiring about the matters of today’s ceremony.

"How were Empress Duan and Empress Dowager Li arranged?"

Following the new Emperor’s accession, the status of the Emperor’s sister-in-law became awkward, but there were generally a few ways to handle it...

One is to be taken as a consort of the new Emperor, which is quite rare but not unheard of. Another is to be sent to the Imperial Mausoleum to grieve for her deceased husband and live in solitude for the rest of her life.

The third is to be sent to a temple to chant scriptures and pray for blessings, similar to grieving for the dead, essentially spending the latter half of life in vain within the Buddhist shrine.

Even more cruel is the practice of live interment with the deceased. Of course, there’s also the more lenient treatment, maintaining the status quo, and keeping her fed and sheltered in the palace until death.

Feng Yun was very curious about how they would be handled.

Pei Jue said, "Empress Duan has taken the initiative to become a nun to pray for Dajin, and has already been sent out of the palace."

Feng Yun’s eyebrows raised slightly.

Empress Duan was already in such a state, unable to care for herself, how could she still chant scriptures and pray?

But an imperial consort without children or value nor posing a danger, going to a place of ancient Buddhas, mean her entire life’s honors and disgraces were also ended...

"And Li Sangruo?" asked Feng Yun.

Pei Jue furrowed his brows, that look was all too familiar to Feng Yun, indicating his hesitation.

She laughed, "Even so, you can’t bear to part with her?"

Pei Jue silently glanced at her.

Feng Yun chuckled, "If that’s the case, why not simply acknowledge this sister and take her back to the residence, to nourish her well and spare her from the loneliness of the deep palace? Or is it that you fear putting her under my watch could lead to mishaps?"

His pupils suddenly constricted, unable to hide the coldness.

"Lady Yun," his voice slightly strained, the frost in his eyes lingering long, "Between you and me, is there really no trust at all? In your eyes, am I so narrow-minded?"

Feng Yun slightly tilted her head, resentment surging in her chest, difficulty concealing her frustration.

"With her in the way, that’s exactly how it is."

That night, the attendants’ ears finally had some peace.

The masters of the house talked for a while, turned off the lights, and rested, no longer like the past few days where soft, shallow moans in the middle of the night entered the ears of the maids, causing their faces to flush...

-

Spring night delighted with rain, drizzling down until the dawn.

When Feng Yun woke up, it was immediately after a fresh clear sky post-rain, the sky as blue as washed.

A servant from the gatehouse came to report, the Qi envoy had sent a letter, requesting an audience with the Princess.

Feng Yun quickly freshened up and changed her attire, heading to the flower hall for the meeting. She certainly did not expect that sitting in the flower hall would be several familiar faces.

Her granduncle Feng Jingyao, her grandaunt Lady Tao, and one steward and two servants from Feng Residence...

Why had not Pei Jue mentioned that Feng Jingyao was the visitor?

Feng Yun curled her lips slightly, memories of old times flooding into her mind as she subconsciously smiled and said coldly:

"It’s been a long time indeed."

Feng Jingyao narrowed his eyes slightly, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes deepening, his gaze filled with displeasure.

"How did you learn to be so ill-mannered?"

Feng Yun laughed again.

She did not perform the ritual greetings of a junior, lazily sitting down at the head seat, her words casual.

"Sorry, Minister Feng. My husband has not set any rules for me."