The Slender Waist-Chapter 211 - 149: Adhering to One’s Duty_2

If only I could start over?

Xiao Cheng’s eyebrows slightly furrowed, as he looked down at the young woman kneeling on his knees, feeling a choking pain in his chest.

He thought of Feng Yun.

He thought of that address, "Xiao San, brother."

She said, "Right now, all I ask for is peace, your majesty’s protection, and a chance for me and my child to live."

He said, "If you keep to your place, I will not mistreat you."

What does it mean to not mistreat someone?

Feng Ying, hearing him mutter, started to cry even more.

When even consummating the marriage is a luxury, what more could she hope for?

Feng Ying cried, "When will my lord be willing to let his concubine serve in your chamber?"

Her question was straightforward, her face flushed, "I only wish to bear a son for my lord as soon as possible, to spread the branches and scatter the leaves... I ask for nothing more in this life."

Xiao Cheng’s brow twitched.

He thought of Yuchu.

Yuchu, he named with his intentions, was the child he had with Ayun, yet not the fruit of love; he had hate then, and so did she, both of them thoroughly filled with hatred...

Xiao Cheng’s gaze drifted lightly over Feng Ying’s head, looking toward the rainy night’s window, eyes deep and fathomless.

"Wait for her to return."

It wasn’t that he had to wait for her...

It was just that she used to complain, claiming that it was with her that Pei Jue had his first time, that she was the one who had trained him, that she had taught him the joys of intimacy, saying that even if Pei Jue took a hundred, a thousand other women, his body would still carry her mark.

But he was someone who had been taught by another, his body marked by the scent of other women, an aroma that couldn’t be washed away no matter how much he tried.

To say such cruel words.

Was it not because she thought he would not lay a finger on her, arrogant with the favor she had been shown? He confined her to the Cold Palace for reflection, yet she did not repent, even thinking of secretly corresponding with Pei Jue, revealing Queque’s background, how could he not hate...

He raised the boy, who called him father. But she wanted to rip away all of that, even hoping that Pei Jue could save her, and leave the Qi Palace...

Then he would clip her wings, confine her for a lifetime.

Only he did not anticipate that her lifetime would be so brief.

He would stay this lifetime, waiting for her to train him, to see how she would mark him again.

Feng Ying was close to shattering her silver teeth.

Must she wait for Feng Yun to return before they could consummate the marriage? Was Xiao Lang saving himself for her, to be her first? She wanted to laugh loudly, tell him, the girl he awaits is in the arms of an enemy general every day, her purity long gone, making his wait utterly ridiculous.

But she didn’t dare.

Only lifting her tearful eyes.

"What if that sister... does not wish to return? What do you plan to do with her then, your majesty?"

Xiao Cheng’s temples throbbed with pain.

How to deal with her? Ha!

He said softly, "I will settle our accounts with her."

His eyes were tranquil, resembling a dried-up well in the dark night, showing no hint of malice.

But Feng Ying knew in her heart, that refined and precious face was deceiving; when Xiao San, the young master, was ruthless, he was second to none.

She nodded, nodded desperately, tears falling like rain.

"This concubine dares not, is very obedient, always listening to my lord’s words."

Xiao Cheng: "You may leave."

Feng Ying’s gaze dimmed.

"This concubine takes her leave. Your majesty, please take good care of your dragon health."

Xiao Cheng hummed softly, revealing neither pleasure nor anger.

It was drizzling outside, and Feng Ying walked slowly. The servant girl did not dare to talk too much, holding the cloak and following her for a while before stepping forward to drape it over her master.

Feng Ying glared at her fiercely.

"Do you want to freeze me to death?"

The maid changed color, "This servant dares not."

It was the mistress herself who said not to add clothes for her immediately, it was her who wanted the emperor to see her pitiful appearance; in the end, the one who got scolded was still her...

-

Yan Buxi entered the city accompanIed by the chanting of the Qi Army.

The Qi Army, unlike the previous days when it yelled and cursed without rhyme or reason, was now neatly arranged, high-spirited, chanting in a long, rhythmic tone that powerfully echoed into the city,

"Alive we’re comrades, in death we share our parents."

"What joy is there in victory, what regret in defeat."

"..."

The voice urging surrender was infectious; soldiers and civilians alike, listening to that mournful tune while trapped within the city walls, couldn’t help but feel melancholic and moved.

Especially the palace-grievance-like melody written by Xiao Cheng, carried over by the whining of the wind, making people feel inexplicably heartbroken and touched...

The deep affection Qi Emperor held for Feng Shi Er Niang was also entirely reflected in the melody.

Clearly, Xiao Cheng had also started to wage psychological warfare.

Being besieged in the city already predisposed one to psychological vulnerability; mournful, homesick, and sorrowful tunes could easily shake people’s hearts.

-

Atop the city walls.

Pei Jue and Wen Xingsu stood shoulder to shoulder.

"General Wen, do you write poetry?"

Wen Xingsu listened to the chanting, his brow slightly furrowed, unsure of Pei Jue’s purpose in asking and did not respond directly; instead, he countered, "Does the Great General write poetry?"

Pei Jue’s face was expressionless, "No."

Wen Xingsu said, "Xiao San is talented."

But Xiao San was known for his nobility and aloofness, and never cared for romantic entanglements. Had Wen Xingsu not heard it with his own ears, he would not have believed that Xiao San’s hand, accustomed to manipulating powerful forces, could write such things...

"What a pity," he sighed.

"Not knowing the weight of affection, not knowing to cherish it until it’s too late, no one else to blame."

He was speaking of Xiao Cheng, but in truth, he was sounding a warning to Pei Jue.

...not to take Ayun for granted when you have her...

Pei Jue said, "Is it really deep affection, or is it using emotion to attack the heart?"

Wen Xingsu was silent for a moment. Based on his understanding of Xiao San, it was more psychological strategy than affection. But such things were not convenient to discuss at length with Pei Jue.

So he switched topics and mentioned the reason for his visit, to persuade Pei Jue to stop Feng Yun. Offending powerful families was something absolutely not to be done.

"Shi’er Niang is acting rashly out of a sense of loyalty, wanting to relieve the General of worry, but now is truly not the time for such recklessness..."

"There’s nothing wrong with it," Pei Jue said. "General Wen, an honorable gentleman, need not intervene; let her be."

Wen Xingsu found it difficult to understand.

This was not indulgence; this was harming Feng Yun.

"General, do you really want her to bear such a reputation?"

"What is reputation? I, the General, do not care about it," Pei Jue, with a cold gaze in his eyes, said. Just as he saw Yan Buxi’s carriage enter the city gate, he turned and said, "General Wen, would you care to join me in meeting Yan Buxi?"

Wen Xingsu and Xiao Cheng had once studied under Yan Buxi; there was once a teacher-student relationship.

Wen Xingsu bowed slightly, "Wen lacks the face to meet with an old acquaintance."

Pei Jue gave him a look, nodded without insisting, and then called Shi Yin over, gave a few instructions, and promptly left with long strides.

Wen Xingsu stood still for a moment,

Standing at the windy spot, feeling unanchored...

His Ayun.

Xiao Cheng could snatch her away brazenly, Pei Jue could demand her openly, yet he could do nothing, not even prevent her from once again becoming a spoil of war in front of the two armies.