The Slender Waist-Chapter 43 - 36 The Show Begins

Puyang Jiu’s sudden visit to Tianzhuang caught Feng Yun off guard.

Alou was in the courtyard desperately winking at her.

Feng Yun calmed herself down, pretended not to recognize him, and returned the greeting slightly.

"May I ask who this gentleman is..."

Alou saluted, "I went to fetch a doctor, but all the medical institutions in the city were closed, no one could be found. Therefore, Guard Ao hastily rode back to the camp and brought over Puyang Medical Officer..."

Ao Qi stared at Feng Yun, his eyes burning with an intensity, as if clasping knives, "Wasn’t it said that the lady was unwell? I see the lady has the energy to cook, it seems her health is quite robust."

This General Ao had a foul temper; getting a pleasant look from him was exceedingly difficult.

Feng Yun did not know Alou’s claim, glanced at him, and pretended to be slightly uncomfortable, pressing her forehead gently.

"It must be the intense summer heat. I felt somewhat unbearable on the way here riding in the donkey cart, suffering from a severe headache. That’s why I had Alou go into the city to find a doctor. Unexpectedly, after returning to the estate, as the weather cooled down, I felt much better..."

Ao Qi obviously was not so easily fooled.

His gaze landed on the small donkey cart in the courtyard, then slowly moved towards it, his handsome pupils gradually darkening.

Feng Yun’s heart skipped a beat.

The bloodstains on the shaft of the cart had not been completely wiped away, which went unnoticed earlier, but Ao Qi discovered them...

Ao Qi pointed with the handle of his knife, "What is this? Has the lady been injured?"

Feng Yun bowed slightly and responded indifferently, "On the way back, I picked up an injured refugee, who looked quite pitiable. It just so happens that the estate needed more hands for the farm work, so I took him in..."

Ao Qi glanced at her, pressing closer, "Just as well, Puyang Medical Officer is here, let him take a look at the injury."

Feng Yun pursed her lips and looked toward Puyang Jiu, who from beginning to end, had an unserious expression, as if he were a bystander here for the spectacle.

Meeting eyes with her, Feng Yun knew she could not refuse, smiled faintly, said nothing further, and gave Puyang Jiu a formal bow.

"Then I’ll trouble Puyang Medical Officer. Alou, lead the Medical Officer over to take a look."

Just now at the stove, she had already burned the bloodied clothes Wen Xingsu had been wearing, and the Zhanjiao had been placed under her bed. If Ao Qi and Puyang Jiu harbored suspicions...

That’s not right...

Suddenly, Feng Yun thought of a possibility.

Wen Xingsu had encountered a skirmish with the Beiyong Army, and four of his men had died. Surely, the Beiyong Army knew that a Qi Country spy had escaped, and thathe was an injured man from Qi.

No wonder Ao Qi noticed the bloodstains, his tone so serious...

He clearly came prepared.

However, they may have guessed that Wen Xingsu’s military rank was not low, but not necessarily that he was Wen Xingsu himself...

Feng Yun’s heart fluctuated like choppy seas, her face, however, betrayed nothing; she lowered her eyes slightly and led them over.

Upon reaching Wen Xingsu’s room, just as she was about to enter, an arm stretched out.

"The lady should stay back." Ao Qi said coldly, without a trace of courtesy.

Feng Yun raised her eyebrows, "What do you mean, Guard Ao? Are you taking charge in my own home?"

Ao Qi said, "Men and women should not touch; it’s best for the lady to stay outside while Puyang Medical Officer attends to the man’s injuries."

Feng Yun looked at him quietly.

Ao Qi looked back at her, dominant, defiant, as if enwrapped in some furious emotion, his eyes unusually steadfast.

Feng Yun slightly furrowed her brows, her gaze filled with inquiry. Ao Qi responded with silence, his steadfast look gradually made her somewhat uncomfortable...

Eventually, he lost the standoff, his ears reddening under Feng Yun’s gaze, irritated and inexplicably angry, he glared back fiercely.

"Why does the lady look at me in such a way?"

Feng Yun smiled, "I am wondering, what kind of crime does Guard Ao intend to accuse me of?"

Ao Qi tensed involuntarily.

The sunlight slipped through the latticed window, casting a jade-like glow on the lady’s skin, continuing down to her slender neck and delicate collarbones...

She was composed and serene, in contrast to him who had come to seek justice, but gradually became disoriented in front of her, increasingly nervous...

This Feng Shi Er Niang, daring to question him while harboring a Qi Army spy, as if it were the most natural thing in the world...

Ao Qi was enraged, his face and ears flushed with anger.

Angry at her brazen confidence, as if she had him completely figured out...

Determined not to fulfill her expectations, Ao Qi averted his gaze, snorted coldly, "The lady would do well not to disappoint the Great General. Otherwise, no one can protect you."

Feng Yun bowed slightly toward him.

"Thank you for the advice, Guard Ao. But I am merely a woman, my life as light as chaff. If the General wishes me to live, I shall smile through the pain; if he wishes me dead... whether or not I disappoint him, what does it really matter?"

Ao Qi’s eyebrows twitched, and his entire being seemed to freeze.

From the day she entered the camp until now, Ao Qi had never heard Feng Yun speak a word of defeatism. She was always calm and graceful, humble yet unyielding; even in the face of great troubles, she kept her composure. So why would she speak like that today...

What annoyed him even more was the fact that seeing her distress made him feel inexplicably uncomfortable, and he had an overwhelming urge to beat up the person who bullied her...

It seemed mother was right; it was perilous to provoke a beautiful woman carelessly, as it could lead to a man losing his wits and falling into an abyss from which there was no return...

Ao Qi didn’t want that, and immediately became more alert, his demeanor turning serious again, his gaze sweeping over Feng Yun with dissatisfaction.

"The lady need not worry too much. As long as you obey the orders, the General won’t make things difficult—"

Feng Yun smiled and retreated to the side, silently waiting.

In her past life, Wen Xingsu had died at the hands of Pei Jue. Could it be that the wheels of history were still going to turn back to this point?

—

The hut was quiet.

After a while, Puyang Jiu came out, hands covered in fresh blood, causing Feng Yun’s heart to pound, but she still managed to restrain herself from rushing in.

"Medical Officer Puyang, how is the patient?"

Puyang Jiu tugged at the corner of his mouth, subconsciously catching her gaze, and seeing no trace of nervousness, he arched his eyebrows in response.

"Could the lady send someone to fetch a basin of clean water for washing up..."

Feng Yun gave Alou a look.

Waiting for Puyang Jiu to wash his hands was a lengthy ordeal.

It seemed the gentleman had some kind of quirk; the clean water was changed over and over again, and cloth after cloth was used, until finally his "precious jade hands" were clean enough to answer her question.

"Thanks to the lady’s timely rescue and excellent application of the right medicine, and since the patient has strong constitution, with more rest he should recover..."

Feng Yun smiled faintly, "Thank you for the trouble, Medical Officer Puyang."

Puyang Jiu looked at Feng Yun with a profound gaze, "In these times of war and chaos, Andu County is not stable either. The lady should be careful about bringing people into her home. Beware of the danger of inviting wolves into your house and setting yourself on fire..."

Feng Yun slightly bowed her head, "Your advice is well taken, Medical Officer. Next time I will be more prudent."

Puyang Jiu did not say much more, glancing at Ao Qi.

"Then I shall take my leave first, General. I will report back to you."

General? Feng Yun’s expression shifted subtly.

This meant that Pei Jue had been alerted to the situation.

That meant Puyang Jiu’s examination must have also unearthed something...

Feng Yun lowered her gaze and formally bid farewell, "Please take care, Medical Officer. Alou, see him out."

Puyang Jiu reciprocated the gesture, seemingly hesitant to speak further. Eventually, at Ao Qi’s urging, he left Feng Yun with a smile that was not quite a smile.

"The Great General has cast a wide net to capture Nanqi spies. If the lady is willing, you might consider taking a more active role."

Feng Yun replied with a smile, "I’m just a weak woman without the strength to truss a chicken. I can’t be of any help to the General."

Puyang Jiu watched her feigning ignorance, a master at playing dumb even when it was crunch time, sparking his interest as he curled his lips into a wry smile.

"People are bound to make mistakes. If the lady is willing to show goodwill, even if there is an error, I believe the Great General would likely be lenient."

He almost spelled out that the person inside was a Nanqi spy.

But he chose not to say it outright, preferring to let Feng Yun be anxious.

Feng Yun, too, was patient, playing along with his cryptic messages.

Before leaving, Puyang Jiu patted Ao Qi on the shoulder, "Watch her well."

After Puyang Jiu and his medicine servant left, the Beiyong Army soldiers in the courtyard did not disperse.

Ao Qi remained motionless, keeping vigil over the place.

Feng Yun frowned slightly, "Guard Ao, there isn’t much grain in the manor to prepare meals for so many people..."

Ao Qi: "You need not prepare meals for others, but the General’s meal, the lady should still make ready."

Feng Yun’s heart sank a bit.

Locking her gaze on Ao Qi, she was about to speak when he nodded affirmatively, "You still have time, lady. Prepare a good meal and then think carefully about how to plead with the General."

Feng Yun: ...

Well then, although Pei Jue had not restricted her movements in the General Residence, from the very first day she joined the camp, he had been on his guard against her. By deploying people like Ao Qi and Ye Chuang, who were trusted aides, the show of power was far beyond that of treating a mere concubine...

How could such a cautious Pei Jue not know that she had saved a man from Qi Country?

Feng Yun glanced at the group of armed guards in the courtyard and gave Ao Qi a smile.

"You’re right, Guard Ao. Please excuse me then."