The Slender Waist-Chapter 64 - 51: The Delicate Lady Enters the Camp

Chapter 64: Chapter 51: The Delicate Lady Enters the Camp

After returning from Huayuejian, Feng Yun was very silent, unlike her eloquent self when facing Chunyu Yan, nor was she overjoyed by the fact that she had obtained a fine whip for no reason.

Both Daman and Xiaoman couldn’t figure out what was on the young lady’s mind. Though they wanted to console her, the sight of her cold face stopped them from asking anything.

Shi’er Niang became increasingly enigmatic, especially after General Wen left, nobody in Changmen Village wanted to be the one to suffer her ire.

Of course, that’s what they thought.

In truth, Feng Yun was just a bit tired.

In Huayuejian, she deliberately made a lot of noise and conversed with Chunyu Yan in a very loud and clear voice, straining her throat—

If Ge Guang and Ge Yi were in Huayuejian, they would have definitely heard her voice.

Unfortunately, there was no sign of them up until she left. The way Chunyu Yan behaved didn’t suggest he had ever taken anyone captive in her estate...

The brothers weren’t in Chunyu Yan’s hands.

This was more unsettling than if they were.

Why did the Ge brothers vanish into thin air?

Could it be that they were taken away by Pei Jue...

And, how should she rescue her eldest brother from Pei Jue’s hands to spare him the misfortune of his past life?

Feng Yun sent the servants away and, without saying a word, bolted the room door from the inside, picked up the small turtle and nestled on the soft couch, stroking it for half an hour before she could quell the faint anxiety in her heart.

"Xiaoman."

It was Feng Yun who opened the door herself.

Her calm face was as gentle and smiling as always.

"Go to the kitchen and prepare some food, cook a fish, roast two pounds of meat... and also, the noodle soup that eldest brother likes, that too is a must. Remember to have the cook carefully sift the flour and make it tender and smooth, and add some broth to the soup..."

Xiaoman saw that the young lady had regained her smile and smiled along with her.

"Is the young lady going to visit big brother at the camp?" she asked.

Feng Yun hummed lightly in response.

Xiaoman said, "Then shouldn’t the young lady also bring some food to the general?"

Feng Yun nodded slightly, "Okay. Prepare it."

Xiaoman looked troubled as she asked, "What should we prepare for the general then? We don’t know what he likes to eat?"

Feng Yun replied, "Whatever."

It’s not that she didn’t know what the general liked to eat; it’s that there was no need to put in the effort.

In her last life, she cooked so many dishes, broke more than one pot in the process of making broth, yet never saw him show the slightest interest. Whenever she asked what he wanted to eat, it was always "whatever." In this life, she would let him have "whatever."

—

Before leaving, Feng Yun invited Ao Qi to accompany her.

There were many camps in the Northern Yong army, and Pei Jue might not necessarily be at Jieqiu Mountain, while Wen Xingsu’s whereabouts were even more uncertain.

As soon as she spoke, Ao Qi knew what she was thinking. He wasn’t very happy about it, yet he didn’t refuse and even took the initiative to load the items Feng Yun was bringing to the camp onto the donkey cart.

"All this preparation and not a bit for me?"

The young man spoke frankly, his emotions simple and direct.

Feng Yun opened the cart’s curtain with a smile, took the turtle out from the cart, and handed it to him.

"Here, you can pet its head."

Ao Qi’s eyes widened.

This cat could not be touched by anyone other than Feng Yun.

Was she really allowing him to pet it?

He was the only one who got to hold the turtle!

Excitedly, Ao Qi brightened up and as if the turtle sensed something, it burrowed into Feng Yun’s arms. But when it heard Feng Yun say, "Go, your brother will take you horseback riding and feed you fish," the little creature complied.

"It seems you’re easily appeased with food."

Feng Yun chuckled, and all the maids giggled along.

Ao Qi patted the turtle’s head, laughing too.

A delightful atmosphere suddenly pervaded.

Ao Qi cradled the turtle in his arms, carefully removing his clothes to create a pouch, as if he feared it might fall. The turtle itself seemed a bit excited, peeking out from Ao Qi’s embrace to look at Feng Yun.

Feng Yun passed him a greaseproof paper bag filled with dried meat.

"Feed it this if it tries to run."

Ao Qi stuffed a piece into the turtle’s mouth, and it closed its eyes to enjoy the treat.

"Turns out you’re so easy to please," Ao Qi said with delight.

While the turtle was no longer as resistant to him as at the beginning, its little body still tensed when Ao Qi touched it.

Remembering Feng Yun’s words about it being hurt before, Ao Qi was even more cautious.

The soft gaze of the young boy fell upon the turtle as it looked up at him.

The two gazed at each other, and the scene was unexpectedly tender.

—

The donkey cart stopped as the sun set, and Feng Yun leapt down, signaling Alou and two maids to unload the food from the cart.

From the entrance of the camp, she distributed two pieces of dried meat to anyone she saw.

This time of year, it was rare for the camp to have meat, so Feng Yun’s gesture won hearts, and Ao Qi felt quite proud, telling everyone he met:

"Enjoy it, brother."

It was as if the goods were his own.

Some soldiers looked at him enviously.

After tasting a piece of dried meat and thinking that Ao Qi, the guard, might have such good stuff to eat every day, they couldn’t help but feel jealous.

The beautiful young lady once again entered the camp, with various eyes upon her along the way.

With her head lowered, led by Ao Qi, Feng Yun successfully met with Pei Jue.

"General."

Feng Yun had Daman and Xiaoman bring over the food box, placed the food on the desk, and then stood in the middle of the tent, watching him with a smile from a moderate distance.

The tent was quiet for a good while, with only the crisp sound of porcelain clinking.

Feng Yun could feel the sharpness in Pei Jue’s gaze, and Ao Qi also sensed that their arrival did not please their uncle much.

But he had already embraced the young Ao, so what did it matter if he upset his uncle?

The girl was happy, the young Ao was happy, and so he was happy.

"General," Ao Qi saluted with his fists, "The girl said the season has arrived, and the camp’s food is rough, so she specially prepared a meal to whet your appetite."

Nourished by Feng Yun’s provisions in the village these past days, Ao Qi had grown fairer; his bright starry eyes stood out. Standing beside Feng Yun, the young man was a good half-head taller than her, radiating the virile spirit of a dashing young noble.

Pei Jue asked, "You want to see Wen Xingsu?"

Feng Yun replied with a shallow smile.

Pei Jue was just Pei Jue.

No matter how stirring or moving other people’s words, they could not shake him in the slightest.

He would swiftly, coolly, and clearly discern their essence.

Accepting Ao Qi’s good intentions, Feng Yun returned his smile and without beating around the bush, gave a graceful bow and said,

"My elder brother is injured, and I am quite worried, so I’ve come to visit."

Seeing that Pei Jue remained silent, Feng Yun smiled again, "The General cherishes talent. You’ve previously said you wanted me to persuade my elder brother to surrender. Thus, I am here today."

Whether Pei Jue was too eager to gain Wen Xingsu, the talented general, or whether Feng Yun’s soft words and the delicious food had any effect, Pei Jue did not say much more but gestured to Zuo Zhong.

"Go fetch the token."

Deputy Commander Helian Qian was in charge of guarding Wen Xingsu.

Once Zuo Zhong got the token, he led Ao Qi and Feng Yun to the darkroom.

Before even entering, Feng Yun’s heart ached.

Her elder brother, who had been pampered since childhood, was also a commanding officer in the Qi Army. He had never suffered such neglect.

The dim light in the dark room and the musty smell in the air was oppressive, and the oil lamp’s flame seemed ready to extinguish at any moment.

Staying in such a place for too long, one could fear losing all willpower.

Clearly, this was also Pei Jue’s intention.

However, compared to other prisoners, Wen Xingsu was treated exceptionally well; he at least had a competent doctor to consult and two meals a day.

"Elder brother," Feng Yun called out softly.

Originally lying on the straw mat with his back to the door and unresponsive to footsteps, Wen Xingsu suddenly sat up and turned around when Feng Yun arrived.

"Yao Yao..."

"Take it easy!" Feng Yun was afraid he would hurt himself, and as the door opened, she rushed forward to support him.

"Don’t worry, I am right here. I’m not leaving."

She then lowered her head to open the food box, no longer letting Daman and Xiaoman serve, instead personally handing over the food into clean porcelain bowls, touched the edge of a bowl, and smiled affectionately.

"It’s still warm."

Wen Xingsu, with sunken eyes, could only watch her and smile.

Feng Yun sniffed, smiling along, "Elder brother’s favorite noodle soup, with meat broth. The flour has been sifted through fine silk, very delicate. Try it."

Wen Xingsu took the porcelain bowl and placed it on the ground, grasping Feng Yun’s hand tightly, as if he had a thousand words to say, but the words at his lips amounted only to one sentence.

"Why have you come? Have they treated you harshly?"

Feng Yun shook her head.

She wanted to smile, but her eyes misted over.

"I have food, drink, and people to serve me. It’s you who must take good care of yourself."

Her words lacked conviction; a person confined in prison, without the ability to even protect themselves, how could they take care of themselves? But Wen Xingsu smiled gently as if he hadn’t suffered any grievances.

"I am fine, Yao Yao, don’t worry about your elder brother."

His unguarded concern, in those keen, piercing eyes, communicated to Feng Yun silently yet profoundly, all tenderness.

The two gazed quietly at each other, silent for a long time.

Yet their eyes said a thousand words to each other.

Feng Yun suddenly lowered her head and chuckled.

As she chuckled, a lump formed in her throat.

"Who would have thought I would meet my elder brother here, in such a place?"

Wen Xingsu raised his hand, wanting to wipe the corner of her eye, but considering his hand was unclean, he withdrew it and said quietly, "Do not be sad. At least we are both alive."

Natural disasters, human calamities, and endless wars... countless people dying in silence...

Feng Yun understood Wen Xingsu’s attempt at comforting her.

And it pained her all the more.

This was Wen Xingsu.

The renowned young general of Daqi, the upright defender of Xinzhou, a hero admired and revered by many, was now held by Pei Jue in a dank, sunless prison, day after day.

"Elder brother," Feng Yun suddenly opened her arms, looking at Wen Xingsu like she did when she was little, her eyes moist, cheeks blushing, "I want to hug you."

Wen Xingsu was stunned.

Yao Yao had long since grown up and was no longer a youth; not to mention he was her non-blood-related elder brother. Even if he had been her blood-related brother, propriety between men and women had to be observed.

Wen Xingsu was very hesitant.

But seeing the unease in Yao Yao’s moist eyes, and considering the hardship she had undergone in the enemy camp, and her loneliness and helplessness over these past days, his heart ached so much he wished he could take her away immediately...

"Yao Yao, your elder brother is powerless."

"It’s not your fault..." Feng Yun raised her hand to cover his mouth and, bending forward on one knee, leaned in, opening her arms to embrace Wen Xingsu tightly, burying her head in his neck.

"Elder brother."