The Slender Waist-Chapter 218 - 156: Marriage by Rites

Hengqu Pass.

After the rain, the wind was strong, scattering leaves in all directions; the entire camp was bleak and desolate.

The news that Pei Jue would marry in three days’ time in Bingzhou had come over in the morning.

The Northern Yong Army was very cautious, not only calling for a truce but also specially sending an envoy with an invitation, which was written upright and proper:

"This certifies that on the twentieth of the winter month in the third year of Xinghe of the great Jin, Jin Country’s honored Great General Pei Jue and the eldest legitimate daughter of Feng Family of Xuzhou will join in marriage to become a harmonious union, pledging as mandarin ducks. The marriage shall be conducted with proper rites, and invitations are hereby presented to relatives and friends, awaiting the esteemed presence of the Daqi Emperor of Zhengchu at the banquet in Bingzhou."

Full of malice, the grand red invitation was formally written, and presented to Xiao Cheng by the envoy in both hands.

At that moment, everyone in the big tent was stunned.

It was only then that Yan Buxi understood what sort of opportunity Pei Jue had meant in giving Xiao Cheng a chance to meet Feng Yun...

It was downright insulting!

Xiao Cheng’s fists clenched tightly.

After a long while, a smile appeared on his face.

"I bid the envoy farewell."

The Jin envoy looked up at the smile on the Emperor’s face, his back sweating, his scalp tingling, with the surreal feeling of having narrowly escaped death and regained his life. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

It’s like bringing a knife to someone’s house, giving the host a slap in the face in front of everyone, and then saying, please remember to bring a gift when you come to my house for the wedding feast. Nobody could swallow this insult.

When he had come, he had even prepared his will, not expecting the Emperor’s temper to be this mild.

It seemed that the rumors that the Emperor personally led the campaign for Feng Shi Er Niang were nothing but nonsense.

Thus, he cheerfully said a few flattering words and took his leave.

No sooner had the Jin envoy left the door than Xiao Cheng’s expression changed.

"This is outrageous!"

He tore up the invitation and threw it on the ground.

"Pei Jue insults me like this, if I do not avenge this, I am unworthy to be a man."

"Your Majesty!" Xie Congguang’s eyes turned red.

Previously, he felt that Xiao Cheng’s personally leading the troops under the banner of Feng Shi Er Niang was a bit of rallying the troops with a false cry, but at this moment, he truly felt anger for the Emperor.

Who would dare to snatch someone else’s wife and still have the audacity to send a wedding invitation to the door?

It was not only the Emperor’s face that was being slapped, but the face of the entire Daqi.

"This general is willing to lead troops to attack Bingzhou!"

The other generals, much like Xie Congguang, reflected similar reactions, all feeling an indignant sense of humiliation, and thus they unitedly volunteered for battle.

Xiao Cheng saw the generals, each one passionate and angry, but he himself slowly sat back down and calmed himself.

"We should consider this further; let me think on it a while longer."

Sun Tzu’s Art of War says that attacking cities is a last resort.

Even if we fight, we must have a foolproof plan.

It must be a decisive strike.

After the generals had left, Xiao Cheng lowered his gaze, bent over to pick up the torn invitation, and pieced it together on the table.

"Ayun..."

His voice was hoarse, "Why did this happen?"

Before he finished speaking, he began to cough.

Ping’an, with red eyes, stepped forward offering water and a handkerchief to the new Emperor, "Your Majesty, Feng Ji seeks glory by selling herself; she’s not worth your strategizing for..."

"Presumptuous!" Xiao Cheng looked up, his gaze coldly fixed on him, "Since when is it your place, a mere servant, to speak out of turn before the Emperor?"

Ping’an was startled, his hands shaking as he nearly dropped the teacup.

Having followed his master since he was a child, he had always known a noble son from a prestigious family, gentle, kind, poetic, and romantic, but never one to blame the servants.

Ping’an had never seen Xiao Cheng this angry. Even the day he accidentally leaked information to Lady Feng, he was only punished by kneeling for two hours...

Ping’an knew he had spoken out of turn.

No matter Feng Shi Er Niang’s faults, one should not publicly belittle her with words like "selling herself."

It was his own fault for carelessly saying whatever was on his mind.

"Your Majesty, please spare me, I won’t dare again."

Ping’an’s body trembled, too fearful to meet Xiao Cheng’s eyes.

However, the new Emperor remained silent for a long time as if there was no other person in the room.

"Your Majesty..." Ping’an called out softly.

"Slap yourself," Xiao Cheng said in a low tone, having just recovered from his outrage, ""Continue until I am satisfied."

Ping’an inhaled sharply, "Yes, Your Majesty."

Crisp slapping sounds filled the room.

Xiao Cheng sat motionless.

He looked at the invitation on the wooden table, recalling the incident in his previous life when he welcomed Feng Yun back to Qi, enthroned her in the Central Palace, and sent envoys to Jin to announce the glad tidings.

At that time, she was so nervously anxious, uneasily saying, "My virtue and capacity are shallow; I’m afraid I’m not fit to be the empress..."

When he said one word, "You are worthy," she burst into tears, overwhelmed with emotion...

At that time, he had no idea of what was in her heart.

There was so much dissatisfaction.

So much unresolved resentment.

After all, she had been with Pei Jue for three years, merely as a concubine, and yet he had given her the most honorable title, allowing her to be the mother of the nation, not minding that she had accompanied another man, and had borne Pei Jue’s son. What more could she be discontent with?