The Slender Waist-Chapter 44 - 37: Strategy from Tianzhuang

Feng Yun returned to the kitchen.

In Tianzhuang, the food was not plentiful, the basics such as oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and cereals were brought from Andu City, while the firewood was collected by Xing Bing along with his Meiling men, all stacked neatly outside the kitchen.

Feng Yun was busy over the stove, while Xing Bing paced back and forth in the yard outside the kitchen, frequently glancing at her as if waiting for orders and observing her situation.

During this time, Feng Yun had increasingly found Xing Bing to be reliable, a man of action who was careful and not talkative.

Feng Yun held her breath, boiled a couple handfuls of well-sprouted bean sprouts, then chopped some lotus root to stir-fry in the pot. When the kitchen maid wanted to help, she rejected her.

The smell of food was becoming stronger in the courtyard.

The Beiyong Army guards, who were used to simple fare in the camp like dry cakes soaked in hot water, were captivated by the aroma, their eyes shone brightly, and they swallowed their saliva incessantly.

Feng Yun called Xing Bing over and pointed to the prepared dishes.

"Take them to the injured guest in the little house."

Xing Bing glanced at her, found a bamboo tray, and placed the bowls and plates on it.

Feng Yun softly asked, "Do you have someone you can trust?"

Xing Bing thought for a while, "Ge Guang, Ge Yi. They were under my command, one a Wa Chang and the other a lieutenant, their martial skills were taught by me, they’re loyal and reliable, close as brothers."

Feng Yun nodded and did not ask further.

Xing Bing quietly went about his work, saying nothing else.

Watching the two conferring with heads close together, Ao Qi walked over with his sword at his waist, blocking the entrance of the kitchen with his brows arrogantly raised and a hint of disdainful immaturity.

"Why the secrecy? Just speak openly if there’s something to say."

Feng Yun turned to look at him, "What would Guard Ao like to hear?"

Then she lightly raised her eyebrows and smiled faintly, "I was saying that Guard Ao is indeed handsome. Such a good-looking young man coming to my humble estate to stand guard, what a waste of talent."

Ao Qi watched the laughter flicker in her eyes, and he was powerless to resist, especially at the phrase "Guard Ao is indeed handsome," which left him on the verge of cursing his mother.

Knowing well that the girl spoke contrary to her heart, why did he find her words so pleasing?

Ao Qi’s slightly chubby jaw tensed up, and he hurriedly shifted his gaze towards the stove, avoiding eye contact with her.

But he had no resistance to the food prepared by Feng Yun; his soul seemed to have been hooked away as his feet involuntarily walked over to look at the plate of sliced lotus root.

"What is this, and why have I never seen it before?"

Feng Yun asked, "Do you want to eat some?"

Her tone was so gentle that Ao Qi’s face instantly flushed red.

This Feng Family girl was truly hateful, using delicious food to tempt him.

Gurgle! His stomach growled embarrassingly loud.

"No!" Ao Qi replied defiantly, but he regretted it as soon as he spoke the words.

Especially when he noticed that a small turtle was secretly enjoying its meal under the food platform, his mood soured even further.

He really wanted to be Feng Yun’s cat!

"Isn’t it time for the meal? Let’s have the meal. I’ll serve it."

Feng Yun stopped him by the arm, "Didn’t you say the Great General is coming? Won’t you pay your respects to him?"

With the mention of Pei Jue, Ao Qi’s spirits dampened. Lately he hadn’t been so eager to see his uncle, and their encounters weren’t filled with the joy they once were; sometimes he even wished the uncle wouldn’t come...

"Fine then." Ao Qi’s mind was in a whirl of thoughts, and with a turn of his head and snobbish attitude, he said, "Then when the General arrives, let’s see how he deals with you and your lover."

"Lover?" Feng Yun called out to him as he was about to leave, "Guard Ao, what did you say? Say it again."

Ao Qi rolled his eyelids, "I didn’t say anything."

Feng Yun: "I heard it."

Ao Qi: "Then why ask?"

"Believe it or not, I’ll let the small turtle tear your mouth apart?"

... "Ao Qi looked at her as she darkened her face, her beautiful eyes filled with ferocity, knowing that he had misunderstood, and all his unhappiness evaporated."

But his stubborn nature persisted. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"Who told the maiden to stare longingly at him? He has such an indecent appearance, it’s no wonder people would think..."

Feng Yun couldn’t help but laugh in exasperation.

Ao Qi actually said Wen Xingsu had an indecent appearance?

In Tai City, at the Feng Family, who didn’t say that Wen Xingsu was upright, honest, and a gentleman?

So Ao Qi noticed some kind of wickedness in him at a glance?

Feng Yun retorted, "Then since Guard Ao is also quite good-looking, should I avoid looking at you in the future? If I see you, must I walk away? Otherwise, you’d be my little lover?"

Ao Qi’s face was reddened by Feng Yun’s provocation.

In Feng Yun’s emotionless teasing, he felt flustered, his heart racing much faster than usual, especially when she said "Guard Ao is also quite good-looking" and "my little lover," it was clearly meant as an insult, yet coming from her lips, it sounded almost like heavenly music...