The Slender Waist-Chapter 34 - 29: The Stratagem of Sowing Discord

Feng Yun was completely unaware of the youth’s inner turmoil, and ordered Xiaoman to summon Xing Bing, instructing him to tighten security around the residence in the coming days, especially to guard against people with a Yunchuan accent.

Xing Bing went down to carry out the order.

After some thought, she picked up her pet auk and leisurely knelt on the rush mat, grooming its fur and feeding it dried meat.

Grandmother Han came in with a soup tureen and started to scold as soon as she opened her mouth.

"Miss has always been frail since a young age; the sun is so fierce, and you didn’t think to draw the gauze curtains... Xiaoman, Daman, and the rest of you, if you don’t need your eyes, you might as well feed them to the auk!"

Ever since learning of Feng Yun’s encounter with danger, Grandmother Han had been very anxious for her.

"I was thinking of buying a pigeon to nourish Miss, but neither the large nor small markets in the city are open, and even the grass markets in the streets and alleys have vanished, alas, how can we continue like this?"

Feng Yun asked, "Then what is Grandmother stewing?"

Grandmother Han immediately beamed with joy, her face wrinkling into a smile, "Thanks to Guard Ao who loves fishing, he brought back several palm-sized crucian carps today. I had them stewed in a pot of fresh fish soup on the stove, very nourishing..."

She bent down and, like coaxing a child, handed it to Feng Yun.

"It’s not fishy, why don’t you give it a try, Shi’er Niang?"

Feng Yun did not have much of an appetite, but she could not decline such kindness, and still obediently took small sips.

In her heart, though, she wondered when Ao Qi had developed a fondness for fishing.

The youth had transformed into a fisherman. That future General Ao, feared by enemies, actually had a hobby of fishing? She had been unaware until now.

—

After taking a short rest, Feng Yun already had a full plan in her mind and got up to call Alou over.

"Go instruct the kitchen to cook several large pots of thick rice porridge and set them at the front of the residence, saying that the Great General has opened the storehouse, tightened Northern Yong Army’s belts, to let the public eat."

Alou nodded and complied.

Feng Yun then said, "What were the names of the two concubines who spoke pleasantly last time?"

"Chai Ying, Nan Kui?"

"That’s right," Feng Yun smiled gently, "Ask them to go outside the residence and distribute porridge to the people. Amass some good karma so they may eventually be favored by the General."

Alou felt a flush of enthusiasm upon hearing this.

He didn’t understand why Shi’er Niang was so eager to find concubines for the General, but he was accustomed to following orders. After hesitating for a moment, he went off happily to carry out the task...

After the Northern Yong Army entered Andu City, they did not engage in killing or looting, but the citizens were still extremely fearful and dared not go out easily. Those with stored food survived by staying indoors and out of sight, but those without could neither buy nor borrow food, thus having to endure hunger and eat clay, unable to see an end to their bitter days.

Several men of arms knocked on gongs, going from street to street to announce the porridge distribution in front of the Grand General Residence, but many were initially skeptical.

Could the ruthless King of Hell have good intentions?

They suspected there must be some conspiracy.

Some people sneaked a peek and saw that the porridge at the residence gate was being served by two beautiful, harmless-looking women, making them feel at ease to come and collect it. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Chai Ying and Nan Kui indeed spoke pleasantly.

They conveyed the goodwill of the Great General and did not forget Feng Yun’s kindness; whenever they handed out a bowl of porridge, they always mentioned it was due to the benevolence of Shi’er Niang.

The citizens receiving the porridge were astonished and amazed.

"Heaven above, is this a divine appearance of the Bodhisattva?"

"If it weren’t for the Governor’s deceitful surrender and the burning of the granaries, Andu would not have fallen to such a state; Feng Twelve is redeeming her father’s sins..."

"It’s good enough to be alive, why all the needless talk?"

"Exactly, anyone who gives out porridge to help people survive is a good person."

"The Northern Yong Army isn’t as ferocious as the rumors say, as long as you don’t resist, they won’t kill the citizens indiscriminately..."

Feng Yun, wearing a veil, was just about to step out the door, and hearing these discussions, she nearly laughed.

The Northern Yong Army indeed had not taken food, but if supplies ran low during a major battle, they would be capable of anything...

The newly cooked pots of thick porridge were almost given away, and Chai Ying and Nan Kui’s little faces were flushed red from the heat. Amid the continuous thanks from the porridge recipients, there was a gleam in their eyes, looking very beautiful.

Seeing Feng Yun come out, the two of them curtseyed submissively.

"Shi’er Niang."

Feng Yun was very satisfied with what she saw and felt that these two attractive and kind-hearted concubines should be very much to Pei Jue’s liking.

When he returned, she would arrange for them to attend his bedchamber.

Chai Ying and Nan Kui had no idea what Feng Yun was thinking; they only felt her gaze burning intensely, causing their cheeks to redden even more, too embarrassed to look directly at Feng Yun.

"Keep up the good work," Feng Yun smiled, "I won’t let you down."

The two favored ladies were startled and made a respectful bow in unison, "Yes."

Feng Yun did not linger too long and went back to the residence after giving a few instructions.

But this incident had caused a tumult in the hearts of Chai Ying and Nan Kui.

"Ying Niang, what do you think of Shi’er Niang?"

"She’s a noblewoman from a renowned family, different from us. Dignified, gracious, with an aspiration that reaches the clouds."

Nan Kui gave a hum, her cheeks blushing slightly, "Shi’er Niang is more handsome than my husband, more talented than my husband. If you and I could serve her side by side for a long time, that would be a blessing."

Chai Ying looked at her with a smile, "Do you feel happy distributing porridge today, Lady Nan?"

Nan Kui’s beautiful eyes glistened with moisture, "Happy, I’ve never felt this happy before."

Chai Ying asked, "Happier than serving the General?"

Nan Kui shyly glared at her and, after pondering for a moment, sighed softly, "I don’t know if serving the General would be happier, but it certainly wouldn’t last."

"Why would you say that?"

"Both of us have seen the General, and he is not an easy master to serve. With nothing but our bodies, how could we possibly compare to Shi’er Niang in family background and talent, and hope to stay in favor for long?"

"Lady Nan speaks sensibly. Let’s not harbor such extravagant hopes from now on. It’s more proper to earnestly help Shi’er Niang and find a way out for ourselves."

"When we go back later, and if Lin Ji asks..."

"Why bother with her? Hmph! She’s like a toad lusting after swan meat, not even taking a look at her own reflection, how can she compare to Shi’er Niang? If you were the Great General, would you want her or Shi’er Niang?"

"Shi’er Niang."

The two beautiful ladies locked eyes and began to laugh behind their hands.

Inside the residence, Lin E nearly crushed her teeth in anger upon hearing this.

"Huan Ji, Aqing, you’ve heard it too, haven’t you? Those little hussies have had a taste of sweetness and grown bold, now they dare to gossip about me..."

Shao Xueqing hung her head quietly.

Huan Jiao said, "Why should you be angry, Alou? If they wish to be Feng Shi Er Niang’s dogs, nobody can stop them."

"Idiot," Lin E twisted her handkerchief, her eyes red with fury, "Can’t you two see? This is Feng Shi Er Niang’s scheme to sow discord among us, she’s trying to divide us!"

Huan Jiao and Shao Xueqing looked at each other, unable to respond.

Somehow, the group of sisters who had initially vowed to suffer and enjoy fortune together had developed differing hearts, each harboring their own thoughts.

Some of the sisters no longer dared to be intimate with them because of Feng Shi Er Niang’s deliberate suppression...

Huan Jiao said, "They are all spineless weathercocks. If they knew that you, Alou, are working for the Empress Dowager and will eventually win the General’s favor, they would come crawling back, wagging their tails..."

Lin E’s complexion improved slightly, "Let them gloat for a few days then. Just wait and see, the day will come for us to laugh at them..."

—

At Changmen Academy.

Feng Yun was very pleased to hear Alou’s report.

"Let them die of anger! Those who follow me will be granted wealth and favor. Those against me... I will not allow them a single day of pride. Pass the word, Lin Ji refuses to change her ways, Huan Ji and Xue Ji are abetting tyranny, the three of them will starve for a day, confined to Luliu Academy."

She wanted these people to understand, only by being loyal to her would they have good days ahead, following Lin E would only bring misfortune and hunger.

Alou stared at her.

Feng Shi Er Niang was ruthless.

But he, increasingly, liked that.

After Feng Yun finished her instructions, she continued her routine of writing letters to report to Pei Jue:

"Some concubines are lazy and cause trouble within the inner quarters, slandering the General’s reputation. Starve them for another day as a warning to others."

"Using the General’s name to distribute porridge has brought rich rewards. The people are no longer afraid of the Northern Yong Army, and production can resume. However, giving people fish is not as good as teaching them to fish. Why not take advantage of the situation and return the vast uncultivated lands of Andu to the people? Distribute the fields evenly to benefit both sides?"

"The Emperor in the past divided the nine provinces and allocated the land to the people, for land is the people’s livelihood. However, bureaucrats, great clans, and nobles all scrambled to seize the land; the wealthy own thousands of miles of mountains and adjoining fields, while the poor have no place to plant a single stake..."

"After years of war, people have been displaced and fields lay fallow, the people’s livelihood is dwindling. If the Great General were to distribute the land evenly among the people for farming, it would be a blessing to the region, to the populace, and to future generations."

"However, in times of war when military and civil affairs are combined, it is really difficult for the General to manage both soldiers and people. Wouldn’t it be better to entrust this task to subordinates? I have a lot of experience and am willing to work for the General..."

She boldly recommended herself, scribbling down many suggestions, not caring how Pei Jue would see her or think of her, sealing them in an envelope and handing it over to Ao Qi.

"Trouble you, Guard Ao."

Ao Qi gave a noncommittal hum, tucking the letter into his chest.

Suddenly he asked her, "Is the fish soup delicious?"

Feng Yun was taken aback for a moment, then laughed.

A cook hopes to hear praises for his dishes, surely a fisherman also wishes to be praised for his catch.

Feng Yun said, "The flesh is fresh and delicious, comparable to the finest delicacies."

Ao Qi asked again, "Does the little turtle like it?"

Feng Yun’s eyes curved in amusement, "Of course. The little turtle loves it very much."

The corners of Ao Qi’s mouth uncontrollably rose in elation, clearly very pleased, but the young man’s pride remained unchanged, as he let out a snort and said:

"You’re getting a bargain. When that one’s gone, I’ll catch more."

As he left, Feng Yun smilingly hugged the little turtle, kissing it.

"Your brother really enjoys fishing, little turtle, you’ll have fish to eat..."