The Slender Waist-Chapter 327 - 229

Finally, she smiled again, "The Minister of the Imperial Secretariat has named you specifically, requesting your presence."

Feng Yun could imagine how awkward Wen Xingsu must have felt before them.

In the presence of so many Qi envoys, he must have been extremely embarrassed.

And all this was because of her.

But Feng Yun did not regret doing so; she believed that once the current predicament was over, it would all be worth it.

"It’s alright." She smiled, as if to convey strength to Wen Xingsu.

"However they embarrassed you, I will help you get even."

Wen Xingsu was taken aback.

It had always been him protecting Feng Yun.

Since when had it become her protecting him?

Feng Yun kept a serious face, regardless of Ao Qi by her side, and called for Ge Guang.

"Prepare the carriage to return to Xinzhou."

Wen Xingsu asked, "Aren’t you going to see your uncle?"

Feng Yun slightly curved her lips, "Tell the Feng Family. Want to see me? Send an invitation and visit me in Xinzhou."

Wen Xingsu, "Ayun..."

He was very afraid that Feng Yun would be labeled as disrespectful to her elders.

Yet Feng Yun did not care in the least, "Don’t try to persuade me. They play the part of the first day, I play the part of the fifteenth. If they can, why can’t I?"

This time, she was determined to make the Feng Family beholden to her moods.

Ao Qi watched her take care of these matters, his heart seemingly filled with a heavy emotion.

What he loved was precisely such a lady.

How was the Feng Family of Xuzhou?

If she was displeased, she could ignore them, showing them who’s boss.

What about conventional wisdom?

She didn’t care, as long as she herself lived freely and joyfully.

If a lady could be so brave, could he, a man, not dare to refuse a marriage?

A true man should stand tall and act with integrity. Matters of love, if one cannot pursue them sincerely, then they are not worth pursuing. Once he grew to be as imposing as Uncle, Feng Yun would naturally regard him highly,

Suddenly, Ao Qi excitedly approached Feng Yun and solemnly bowed with hands folded.

"Thank you, my lady. I now know which path I must take in the future."

Then he turned and gave a courteous bow to Wen Xingsu.

"General Wen, I apologize for any amusement caused, farewell."

Before his voice had even faded, he had already strode away.

Feng Yun was utterly unaware that her momentary words had such a profound impact on the young man.

Puzzled, she asked Wen Xingsu.

"What is he thanking me for?"

Wen Xingsu’s gaze was gentle as he smiled, looking at Ao Qi’s retreating figure, and felt some sympathy for the version of himself that had been trapped in the cage of societal norms.

The impetuosity of youth, bold and decisive.

Ao Qi was much stronger than he had been.

Wen Xingsu smiled absentmindedly.

"Let’s go, I’ll escort you out."

Feng Yun pursed her lips, "Big brother, you are really kind."

No matter what decision she made, no matter how shocking or outrageous, Wen Xingsu would never say a word, even if it meant being against the whole world, he would still say, "I am by your side."

She relaxed completely.

On the way back to Xinzhou, with her eyes closed, she thought of many things.

The negotiations in Xinzhou, what could she gain from them?

What she wanted was not as simple as buying some land or opening a few shops; she wanted more. Enough to protect herself and never again be manipulated by others, powerless to refuse as in her previous life.

-

Li Sangruo sat absentmindedly.

After a long while, she asked a palace maid,

"Has Wei Zheng arrived yet?"

The palace maid said, "The Supervisor has not yet..."

Li Sangruo was somewhat tense and, after a moment of silence, sent the little Huangmen out to check again.

Soon, the little Huangmen returned.

"He’s here, he’s here, Wei Zheng has arrived at Cuiyu."

Li Sangruo gently stroked her cheek, looking at herself in the bronze mirror.

"You may all leave; allow Wei Zheng to come in alone."

She was pregnant and that old thing Puyang Li had said her body was weak after childbirth; if she took strong medicine to induce abortion, she might risk her life.

No matter how much she thought about it, she could not come up with a good solution.

She remembered a doctor had once said that before three months, the fetus is not securely seated, and that one must abstain from intercourse.

Therefore, intercourse could naturally lead to the loss of the fetus...

She caressed her still silent belly, watched the palace maids lower the gauze curtain and leave one by one, then slowly turned around, back facing the door, her fingers combing through her loose black hair, her eyes shadowed...

She couldn’t be blamed for being heartless.

This child of sin should never have come.

As the reigning Empress Dowager, to be pregnant after the former Emperor’s death was truly indecent to spread around.

Her father could not accept this grandchild, and as the Emperor grew older, he surely could not tolerate a sibling from the same mother.

She had to dispose of it unnoticed by god or ghost...

Footsteps approached, growing nearer.

Li Sangruo took a cushion for support, leisurely combing her hair in front of the mirror.

"Subject Wei Zheng presents himself."

The man outside the door made a distinct sound as he landed.

Li Sangruo’s eyes reddened suddenly, and tears began to glisten.

Wei Zheng was not the man she was longing for.

What she wanted was Pei Jue.

But Pei Jue would not enter her chambers, much less touch her body.

She, who was pining, was unable to get what she desired, and had to instead accept one undesirable man after another.

She felt extremely aggrieved, from Emperor of Xifeng to Song Shou’an, and now to Wei Zheng, from reluctant compliance to proactive soliciting, it seemed she had changed, but in fact, it had never changed. None of them were what she wanted,

"Ajue." Li Sangruo murmured lowly, as if in a dream.

"Empress Dowager?"

Wei Zheng didn’t hear a response, and called out again lightly from outside.

"The door is open," Li Sangruo inhaled and said with subdued emotion, "Come in."

Wei Zheng pushed the ajar door open, staring at the slender figure with her hair in a loose bun, languid in posture, and hesitated for a moment.

There was no one else in the room, and the scent was intoxicating.

The aroma intensified the romance.

Wei Zheng, having seen much of the world, how could he not sense the suggestiveness?

If it was in the past, he would have been overjoyed and pounced on her, receiving his beloved’s favor, wouldn’t it be sweeter than honey?

The Wei Zheng of today, however, hesitated a little.

He didn’t know what he was hesitating about; his feet were like nailed to the doorway, as if they couldn’t step over the threshold.

Li Sangruo turned around, "Why aren’t you coming in?"

Wei Zheng said, "This subject is investigating the matters of Andu County and has just found some clues... may I know what orders the Empress Dowager has for me?"

Without mentioning that matter, Li Sangruo could have been less annoyed.

"It’s not urgent at this moment." Her voice was soft, barely alive, and her tone became fragile, completely lacking the dignity she held in court.

"Come in, keep Aiyi company and talk."