The Slender Waist-Chapter 669 - 483: In the End, Feng Pei

"Ayue,"

the Grand Princess stared at Yuan Yue with a slight smile.

This was by far the most tender and approachable smile Yuan Yue had ever seen from his aunt.

"In your opinion, if something unforeseen were to happen to the Emperor, who else in the Dajin Royal Family could inherit the great power?"

The flames in Yuan Yue’s eyes seemed to be fueled by a splash of oil when meeting the Grand Princess’s smile... burning fiercely.

Her lips curved slightly as she fixed her gaze upon him unblinkingly.

Yuan Yue’s heart tightened, unable to speak the words.

Yet the sudden hope that emerged on his face was like a ray of light bursting forth at dawn, shining into the eyes of the Prince of Zhuangxian and the Grand Princess.

A faint sweat formed on the Prince of Zhuangxian’s brow...

His son was too young.

Too naïve to understand his aunt...

"Cough!" As the Prince of Zhuangxian slightly bowed his head with hands clasped, about to speak, he heard the Grand Princess say coolly,

"Stop wishing for it. Since you were allowed into the palace to attend to the sick, just focus on serving well. These are thoughts you should not entertain."

Yuan Yue, startled by the harshness in his aunt’s tone, felt the hairs on his body stand on end.

"Aunt..."

The Grand Princess took a sip of tea from her cup, then slowly set it down before speaking.

"Do you think that Pei Jue put you by His Majesty’s side so you could seize an opportunity? Hmph..."

Watching Yuan Yue’s face suddenly change color, the Grand Princess met his gaze coldly.

"You and your father should go back, light some incense, and pray to the Buddha for the Emperor to wake up soon and recover fully."

A lump formed in Yuan Yue’s throat.

"Aunt, I don’t understand,"

he finally voiced, using the advantage of his favored position, the words in his heart, "There’s no one else in the Dajin royal house. If the Emperor dies, then I am Emperor Xifeng’s closest kin by blood..."

The Grand Princess looked at his youthful, impassioned face with a cold, dispassionate smile, and slowly retorted.

"Who says the new emperor must be Emperor Xifeng’s biological nephew? When it comes to succession, any member of the Royal Family will do, or perhaps even changing the entire dynasty’s surname... When the time comes, who would dare to question it?"

Yuan Yue was shocked, his palms sweating.

He was young, impetuous, but not foolish.

With this reminder from the Grand Princess, he understood.

"Pei Jue intentionally put me before the Emperor as a warning to my father and aunt not to act rashly..."

A trace of satisfaction appeared in the Grand Princess’s eyes.

As Yuan Yue said this, he startled himself, a glint of fear flashing in his eyes.

"Or is it that he’s actually waiting, waiting for me to make a mistake, or even hoping for me to do something to the Emperor... something he wants to do but cannot? Using someone else to do his dirty work?"

The answer was in Pei Jue’s heart.

The Grand Princess couldn’t give it to Yuan Yue.

"No matter what, it’s enough that you understand. Once in the palace, be cautious and try to behave."

Yuan Yue pursed his lips, not speaking.

The Grand Princess gave him a cold glance, then turned toward the silent Prince of Zhuangxian.

"Go back, pull yourself together, gather your spirits, and prepare for the campaign. Do not disgrace your own family’s honor."

"Elder sister..." the Prince of Zhuangxian’s voice wavered as he looked at her with anticipation, clearly fearful.

The Grand Princess furrowed her brow and said indifferently,

"Leave. We cannot afford to lose this battle. When I chose West Capital City over Yecheng, I was certain that Li Zongxun was no match for Pei Jue. Besides..."

She looked at the Prince of Zhuangxian with a smile that was not quite a smile.

"Being a prince is not so easy. We, from the moment of birth, enjoyed all the glory and wealth that our status brings. When the state is unstable and the dynasty faces troubles, it’s time for sacrifice when sacrifice is due."

The Prince of Zhuangxian’s eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at the Grand Princess.

He was her biological brother.

Today, he had come hoping his elder sister would find a way out for him, whether it was feigning illness or begging for leniency, anything so he wouldn’t have to face the frontlines...

He had not anticipated such a response.

"Elder sister, you know full well I have no talent for leading troops into battle. Isn’t this sending me to my death?"

The Grand Princess waved him off, speechless.

Yuan Yue and his father Yuan Yin exchanged glances, bracing themselves they stood up, bowed to her, and took their leave.

Yuan Yin’s legs felt weak, thinking of going to the battlefield he felt as if half his soul had already fled...

But Yuan Yue, with sharp eyes, seemed pondering something. As he lifted his foot to cross the threshold, he paused and slowly turned back to look at the Grand Princess.

"Aunt, do we... truly have no chance?"

Us?

For the second time, the Grand Princess looked at her articulate nephew and gave a slight smile.

"The world is like a game of chess, each move anew."

-

The news that the Prince of Zhuangxian was appointed the Supreme Commander in the campaign against the rebels spread like the wind throughout the north and south of the great river.

The nation was in shock.

The nobles within West Capital City were aware of what a coward the Prince of Zhuangxian was, but the common folk did not know...

This was truly a prince of Dajin, the current Young Emperor’s royal uncle.

If even he was personally leading troops to the frontline, what was there to fear?

The terrified Prince of Zhuangxian never dreamed that his deployment would greatly boost morale and stabilize the public’s heart, indeed contributing a bit to the Western Capital Dynasty’s cause.

With a Prince formally in command and Wen Xingsu guarding the banks of the Tonghui River, great confidence was bestowed upon soldiers and civilians alike.

Even those civilians who had been preparing to flee paused in their tracks, deciding to wait a while longer and see...

-

Mid-February, Ao Qi came to the Pei Residence to bid farewell.

Having just been wed, he was now to leave his parents and bride, and return to Shiguan camp.

Everyone knew the situation there.

Pei Chong maintained a somber face, silent.

Ao Zheng followed at his side, sighing heavily.

Pei Yao, barely restraining the tears that threatened to overwhelm her eyes, gripped her son’s hand, her heart aching with reluctance, yet she uttered not a word of obstruction, nor did she voice any plea for him to stay; she simply admonished him to stay safe on the march.

Ayou and Azuo, the youngest of the siblings, were also pouting, their eyes dropping tears like golden beans, as they tried to bravely say between sobs that they would take care of their parents...

Feng Yun observed this scene.

Suddenly, she felt a deepening respect for the Pei family, for Pei Yao.

This family of military heritage must have grown accustomed to such separations...

With every war that approached, they had no choice but to bid farewell to their dearest, hearts heavy with reluctance, as they headed to a battlefield uncertain of victory or defeat, a future unpredictable...

Even if there were tears and fears, these also had to be swallowed down inside.

"Grandfather, father, mother—" Ao Qi paid his respects to each elder in turn, then slowly turned his head to look at Feng Yun, "Aunt."

His voice caught slightly in his throat, he paused a moment before slowly bowing.

"Once I return triumphant, I will devote myself to the elders."

After speaking, he glanced sideways at Amir.

"I am off."

Amir did not cry.

From beginning to end, she was calm, as though she were an outsider...

Pei Yao had just been thinking to herself, blaming her for being clueless and heartless.

Yet before Ao Qi’s words had faded, she responded with a radiant smile.

"Go on, then."

And then, right before everyone’s eyes, she swung herself onto the bay horse led out by her maid and proudly raised her head, giving a firm slap to the crossbow Feng Yun had once given her.

"Father, mother, aunt, your new daughter-in-law bids farewell."

She then looked toward Ao Qi, whose face registered shock, and provocatively said:

"I’ve never seen such grand scenes before. Haven’t you boasted of your prowess in war? Come, let’s go have a look. Drive—"

With that, she rode off at breakneck speed...

Only then did Ao Qi react, calling out "Hey" to her.

Amir didn’t look back.

Ao Qi hastily bowed to the elders and spurred his horse into a gallop, chasing after her.

-

In early March, more victorious news came from the Tonghui River.

Yecheng Army’s Ge Pei and Ao Qi leading the Red Armor Army encountered each other; Ge Pei’s vanguard, led by La Chaozong, suffered three defeats in three battles, ultimately being pierced through the throat by a single sword thrust from Ao Qi, becoming the first general to die in battle.

Ge Pei was scolded fiercely by Li Zongxun, who then personally led a large reinforcement to the Tonghui River, swearing to overcome this tough nut to crack.

Wen Xingsu urgently sent a message to the Western Capital, asking for instructions on the next actions to take.

Defending the Tonghui River to prevent the enemy’s advance and repelling the enemy to push deep into Yecheng’s territory would require completely different strategies and tactics.

The victorious reports from the front lifted the spirits of the Imperial Court, but when deliberating in Chongzheng Hall, without exception, the old and new factions started to disagree once again...

Ruan Pu and the rest of the Old Faction advocated for settling with what had been gained.

Their reasoning was that the nation, without a reserve heir and facing internal and external troubles, could not sustain a protracted war. As long as the Yecheng Army didn’t cross the Tonghui River, there was no need to engage in a drawn-out battle, and certainly no rash advancing across the river for a counterattack...

On the other side, Ao Zheng and the members of the New Faction argued for striking while the iron was hot.

Their reasoning was that Yecheng was in no better position to carry on this war than the Western Capital; Li Zongxun mobilized his troops for a sudden attack, seeking swift and decisive action. How could they fulfill the enemy’s desires? Moreover, it wasn’t up to the Western Capital to simply call a halt when they wished—it also depended on whether Yecheng agreed...

Both sides had their valid points.

And then the matter was once again laid before Pei Jue.

Pei Jue hadn’t gone to Chongzheng Hall that day; instead, from before daybreak, he had been practicing his martial arts and then locked himself in his study, meeting one after another visitor...

With the situation critical, Feng Yun saw him so busy that, despite several attempts to take her leave and return to Andu for a while, she couldn’t find an opportunity to speak up.

Unexpectedly, after several ministers left the study, Pei Jue sent for her.

Feng Yun pondered briefly, then had an inkling of what to expect.

Entering the door, she treaded lightly, her expression extremely solemn.

"Your Highness."

She stood in front of the wooden desk, bowing to Pei Jue.

Her bow was that of a subordinate to a superior.

"May I know what commands you have for summoning me, Your Highness?"

Pei Jue looked up at her, concealing the emotions on his face, meticulously solemn.

"I wish to hear the views of Minister Feng," he stated.

Feng Yun, noting the deep scrutiny in his eyes, bowed deeply and smiled, saying:

"It is right for Your Highness to ask me. What conclusion could you and I arrive at together?"

Pei Jue hadn’t expected her to pose such a question, and his brow furrowed, leaving his face expressionless.

Feng Yun curved her lips into a smile, "You and I, Feng and Pei—naturally, we must see it through to the end."