The Slender Waist-Chapter 28 - 23: Deep Affection is Poisonous

Feng Yun’s letter to Pei Jue, like a stone cow entering the sea.

With less than ten days away from the start of autumn, she was getting a bit restless.

So, she bit the bullet and cured twenty catties of meat, packed some pickled vegetables, and added ten jars of aged wine onto the donkey cart. Under the guise of showing gratitude, she sent Xing Bing to the Northern Yong army camp to probe for information.

Xing Bing came from a military background. Without needing instruction from Feng Yun, he knew where to look and what to listen for. That same afternoon, he returned to the estate, excitedly arriving at Changmen Academy to report.

"Lady, the Northern Yong army has moved."

"The supply corps has reached Huaishui Bay. They’ve set up camp there, with the craftsman corps having already arrived, digging trenches and setting traps along the river, building defensive fortifications..."

Seeing Feng Yun furrow her brows, Xing Bing added, "The Qi army’s navy is just across the river, seemingly preparing to cross it..."

The Northern Yong army was renowned for its elite cavalry and bravery. Its signature tactic was a cavalry charge, flanking from both sides and a direct assault by the central forces, effectively disrupting the enemy formation, scattering them once in disarray. However, one weakness was that few of the soldiers were adept swimmers. If the Qi troops really gathered an army of five hundred thousand to cross the river and launch a fierce attack, this method of defense would be without issue...

But Xiao Cheng was not going to attack now.

The navy across the river was just putting on a show.

Deceiving Pei Jue, as well as the Qi Emperor, all to force an abdication...

In her previous life, it was also around this time when Xiao Cheng forced the Qi Emperor Xiao Jue to abdicate on the day of the start of autumn, issuing an edict to step down, and then turned around to personally lead troops across the river, fighting Pei Jue to the death.

The war lasted a full three months, with both sides exhausting their resources and incurring heavy losses of men and equipment, until deep winter when, facilitated by Chunyu Yan, a truce was arranged through peace talks.

The following summer, the war reignited.

This marked the beginning of a three-year-long conflict between Qi and Jin.

Three years later, Xiao Cheng once again sent envoys for peace talks.

The intermediary was still Chunyu Yan.

At that time, Pei Jue, for the sake of Li Sangruo, ruthlessly sent her away from Central Capital. A forsaken, sorrowful woman in Andu, inevitably subjected to ridicule. In extreme pain and resentment, she forgave the father who showed her favor, and she forgave Xiao Cheng.

Xiao Cheng’s deep affection temporarily compensated for the blows and humiliation she had suffered from Pei Jue, making her believe that the three years they had missed were merely a test from heaven, convinced that not a day went by when Xiao Cheng had forgotten her during those three years, believing that his usurping of the throne, the war against Northern Jin, and even his reluctant marriage to Feng Yun, were all to save her from suffering and to snatch her back from Pei Jue’s grasp...

Men, when deceiving, can truly bewitch the heart.

She could clearly see from Xiao Cheng’s eyes the infatuation and love for her, as if it were real.

"The Prince of Nanqi, unmatched among the three sons," she was too naive at that time. Xiao San had the intention of making a woman fall, and had plenty of skill to do so...

With her cooperation, Xiao Cheng cleverly used a divide-and-conquer strategy, turned three of Pei Jue’s top generals against him, and dealt a crippling blow right before battle, which led to Pei Jue’s defeat and retreat to Pingcheng and her return to Nanqi, back to Xiao Cheng’s side...

Xiao Cheng was a man of deep thought and bold strategy.

Feng Yun resented him, but could not deny this fact.

However, if Pei Jue would trust her, Xiao Cheng would not be able to proceed as smoothly as in her previous life...

If the Northern Yong army took advantage of the turmoil within Nanqi to forcefully cross the river and launch an attack on Xinzhou, utilizing the superiority of their cavalry to rush straight in, even if Xiao Cheng ascended to the throne, he would surely fall into disarray...

Given Xiao Cheng’s character, he would still opt for peace talks.

But the bargaining chips would be different then.

What if Pei Jue refused to trust her?

Even if he didn’t fully believe her, he would still send someone to investigate, and they would definitely find some clues...

Feng Yun gazed out of the southern window at the swallows flying back, lost in thought.

Alou hurried over anxiously, calling out "Lady" with a worried expression.

Feng Yun gestured for him to come in. Alou stepped lightly, bowed before her, and looked around before whispering into Feng Yun’s ear.

"Lin Ji has left the estate, meeting with an old flame..."

Feng Yun listened calmly and smiled, "Just keep a close watch."

Then she gave another order, "Pack up, we set off for Lingshan Temple tomorrow morning."

That day at Huayuejian, Chunyu Yan promised her a period of five days and twenty stone of grain.

The amount wasn’t significant, but Feng Yun was like a beggar now. More wouldn’t be considered too much, and less wouldn’t be seen as too little. Grain given must be accepted.

—

Lingshan Temple was located in Shiguan County north of Huaishui, about fifty li from Andu County Office. Shiguan County was the closest county town to Huaishui, and along the way on the official road, they encountered many displaced people.

Feng Yun put on light and loose clothing instead of a woman’s dress, looking more like a handsome young master from a wealthy family, which drew much attention.

Traveling with five rented ox carts and accompanied by over twenty armed and robust men leading the way, no one dared to provoke them. However, the sights of forlorn refugees along the way, their gaunt faces and almost naked gazes, were still frightening.

Feng Yun asked Xing Bing to open the carts, so one could see that they were empty inside at a glance.

Xing Bing knew her intentions and looked slightly worried, "After the start of autumn, the weather gradually gets colder. With insufficient food and shelter, who knows how many more people will starve or freeze to death..."

"If it weren’t for the lady’s efforts in securing the grains, you and I would have become refugees as well."

"Shh... Keep it down, do we have any surplus grain? It’s only because the General took pity on the lady that he sent those two carts, but how can that be enough..."

The world was in chaos and people resorted to cannibalism, bones littered the wilds, and the old were abandoned in ditches - such events occurred daily. People sighed, but they were powerless to help...

When they reached Shiguan County, the number of refugees was even greater.

Feng Yun sent someone to inquire about the situation.

It turned out that when the Beiyong Army’s iron cavalry reached Andu County, the county magistrate of Shiguan, Guo Huaide, immediately surrendered. Pei Jue retained him on the spot to act as the county magistrate and manage the civil affairs, and the official staff of the county office were kept intact.

Therefore, despite changing dynasties, Shiguan County was not greatly affected.

Seeing the refugees fleeing to Shiguan County for sanctuary, the county magistrate opened the granary and distributed porridge at the city gate, doing quite a bit of good.

Seeing those refugees lining up for a bowl of plain porridge and showing smiles that had been long absent from their faces, everyone was deeply moved.

The county magistrate’s decision to defect was worthwhile.

The north and south fought back and forth. Sooner or later, there would be a truce, or even unification, but the dead would not come back to life. The county magistrate maintained stability and the livelihood of the people, which meant preserving the lives of the citizens.

On the other hand, Feng Jingteng, who burnt down the granaries and set fire to the city, was utterly heinous.

"Amitabha!" A young monk approached from the northeastern corner of the city gate, bowed to Feng Yun, "Is the noble lady from the Feng Family?"

Feng Yun was startled and quickly got out of the carriage to return the salute, "How does the young master recognize me?"

The young monk replied: "The lady’s carriage emblem is known to this monk. A noble person has sent me here to wait for the lady, please follow me."

Feng Yun thanked the young monk, and followed his lead towards Lingshan Temple.

This temple was located at the eastern side of Shiguan County town, very nearby. However, upon entering the temple grounds, apart from the young monk leading the way, Feng Yun did not see any other monks.

She joked, "Did the young master shave his head and become a monk overnight?"

The young monk turned around, "The lady jests, this way please."

Feng Yun exchanged a glance with Xing Bing, tightly holding her small curved knife, just in case.

Unexpectedly, the young monk led them into a secret chamber beneath the main hall, standing obediently to one side, "The noble person said that all the grain here can be taken by the lady."

Inside, there were neatly stacked twenty stones of husked rice and overnight oats, not more, not less.

Chunyu Yan actually didn’t play any tricks?

Feng Yun asked the young monk: "Does the noble person who donated the grain have any other messages?"

The young monk smiled and performed a monk’s salutation, pulling out a folded envelope from his sleeve.

Upon tearing it open, Feng Yun saw two lines of elegant characters inside, "To prevent your beloved from starving, I present this grain. Do not forget our agreement, and come to join me soon."

Feng Yun observed Lingshan Temple - apart from the secret chamber storing grain, other places were so empty that a mouse could starve to death.

In Nanqi, temple economies were prevalent, the Imperial Court showed preferential treatment, and famous temples were comparable to noble clans; they owned land and were free from taxes and duties. Hence, apart from monks, many civilians were affiliated with the temples.

Lingshan Temple was the second largest temple in Andu County, and Shiguan County had not been hit by the Beiyong Army, so how could there be only one young monk left?

"The lady is unaware," the young monk seemed to read Feng Yun’s confusion and said with a faint smile, "Not long ago, all the monks of the temple died, and the affiliated civilians have long fled..."

Feng Yun looked at his smile and asked, "Who killed them?"

The young monk’s gaze lowered, "My master."

"Chunyu Yan did it?" Feng Yun felt a chill on her back, imagining the main hall and meditation halls she had just passed, once strewn with bloodied corpses, and couldn’t help but shudder.

"How many people must there have been in a temple, all killed?"

The young monk did not deny, his eyes showing a ghostly chill, "They all deserved to die."

Feng Yun: ...

The young monk did not look at her, bowed respectfully, and said, "It takes time to return to Andu. You should depart soon, lady. It’s not safe after dark."

Feng Yun returned the salute, saying no more, but passed a Plum Blossom Wooden Tablet to the young monk.

"Please, young master, give this to your master, and ask him to wait at Huayuejian as promised, I have good news to share."

The young monk tucked the wooden tablet into his chest, performed a monk’s salutation towards her, then quietly waited to one side, watching Meiling load the grain from the secret chamber onto the ox-cart, his face showing little emotion.

So young and yet so composed, truly a reflection of Chunyu Yan’s tutelage.

Feng Yun did not know what had happened in this temple, but taking advantage of Meiling loading the grain, she made a trip to the main hall, knelt in front of the Buddha statue, and bowed deeply three times before leaving.