The Slender Waist-Chapter 670 - 484 Two People’s Sincerity

Keep you company until the end?

Pei Jue looked at the faint smile on her beautiful face, suddenly leaned down, and grasped her hand.

"Good."

In this lifetime, I will keep you company until the end.

Feng Yun felt that Pei Jue’s expression was very strange.

Such a rigidly serious person was actually engaging in tender exchanges in front of others.

She glanced at the Attendant who nodded and stood to one side.

"My lord."

With a hint of reproach.

Pei Jue slightly loosened his grip, looking up.

"Everyone, leave."

"As you command."

The attendants withdrew one after another.

The study became quiet.

The breeze softly brushed through, and it seemed as though the bamboo leaves were whispering outside the window. The two people faced each other, seeing themselves reflected in each other’s pupils, stock-still as though time had frozen in that moment.

"Pfft," Feng Yun broke the silence, unable to restrain her laughter.

"Staring at me like that is rather frightening."

Pei Jue raised his eyebrows.

Feng Yun pushed his arm away and walked past him slowly, looking up at the map on the wall, her brows slightly furrowed.

"Although I don’t want to boost the morale of others, Li Zongxun has been plotting for a long time, and in over a year, he’s employed every deceitful trick in the book, recruited troops and horses. Taking advantage of the crisis in Xijing, he has mobilized his entire force; he is not to be underestimated."

Pei Jue grunted in acknowledgment.

Feng Yun continued, "If the Northern Yong Army meets the enemy head-on, casualties will be inevitable... "

She slowly turned her head to look at Pei Jue.

"Has the king thought of a strategy to deal with this?"

Pei Jue appeared eager to hear her suggestions.

"I’m curious about Minister Feng’s esteemed opinion."

Feng Yun extended her hand towards the map.

Her fingertip followed the course of the river to the east, stopping at a mountainous terrain.

"To the east of the Tonghui River lies Chuzhou."

Pei Jue: "That’s right."

Feng Yun asked: "Has Zheng Shoushan entered the battle?"

As she mentioned Zheng Shoushan and Chuzhou, Pei Jue didn’t seem surprised, and simply nodded calmly, "Without the route through Chuzhou, Ge Pei couldn’t have arrived so quickly..."

"My lord," Feng Yun’s eyes revealed a trace of amusement, "I have a plan that can kill two birds with one stone."

She hadn’t forgotten Zheng Shoushan’s betrayal of Li Zongxun in her previous life, nor had she forgotten the goodwill she had accumulated with Zheng Shoushan by selling him coal balls for winter use.

The things that had happened in her last life, happening again in this one, perhaps that was just following the will of heaven?

She slowly rose to her feet, pointing at Chuzhou on the map.

"What would you say if I told you that I have a way to turn Zheng Shoushan against his ally, to direct his spearhead toward Yecheng—would the king find it absurd?"

"Not at all," Pei Jue said indifferently, without even asking how Feng Yun planned to do it, "People are naturally driven by self-interest. Betrayal is a common human emotion."

Betrayal is a common human emotion?

That statement felt somewhat awkward.

As if he were often betrayed by others.

Feng Yun looked at him.

With the atmosphere having reached this point, she took advantage of it and bowed to Pei Jue.

"I am willing to undertake this important task, to do my utmost to persuade Zheng Shoushan to submit to the king, and to deliver an unsuspected counterstrike to Li Zongxun."

Pei Jue asked, "Do you want to return to Andu?"

Feng Yun was taken aback.

Pei Gou certainly knew how to focus on the main point.

Feng Yun didn’t lie, speaking honestly, "Indeed I do wish to. My entire fortune is in Andu, and I fear unforeseen complications with the war impending. Of course, another purpose is Zheng Shoushan. I had Ren Rude reach out to him before, offering him benefits, which was laying the groundwork for today’s defection. The time for harvest has come, and I ask the king’s permission to return..."

Pei Jue’s dark eyes deepened.

"Lady Yun, since you have considered it thoroughly, make your own decision."

Even though they were husband and wife, she was still her own person.

That was a promise the two had from the very beginning.

Pei Jue hadn’t forgotten, and of course, Feng Yun hadn’t either. She just hadn’t expected that after their marriage, Pei Jue would take those promises to such lengths...

Feng Yun: "Then should I set off in three days’ time?"

Pei Jue hummed in agreement, showing no sign of displeasure.

The huge weight that had been on Feng Yun’s heart thus fell away. Thinking of returning to Andu, her whole demeanor became unavoidably cheerful; her eyes and mouth softened as if dipped in honey.

"Then I must spend these three days accompanying the king well. I wonder if the king has the time to share a meal with your princess tonight?"

Pei Jue gave her a glance.

"It seems I have been neglecting Lady Yun in recent days."

Lately, Pei Jue had truly been busy, and Feng Yun used to sleep early, often falling asleep before he returned to their room, leading to fewer intimate moments...

His gaze turned fervent, subtly signaling a certain change. Feng Yun, feeling his intense stare, found her heartbeat quickening, and her ears began to burn discreetly as she hurriedly lowered her head, searching for another topic...

"Suddenly, I’m craving for the banquet at Magu, and I miss the Magu Wine even more..."

As she spoke, her voice halted.

She slowly looked up.

Seeing no change in Pei Jue’s expression, she laughed lightly.

"I was overthinking it. How could there be a Magu feast or Magu Wine in Xijing... Nevermind, I’ll go see what’s cooking in the kitchen later and see if I can come up with a few new dishes..."

She said and bowed to Pei Jue.

"The king is busy. I will take my leave first..."

A pair of large hands reached out, holding her arm.

Pei Jue’s gaze was profound.

"I too enjoy Magu Wine."

Feng Yun’s pupils widened as if caught in a storm, completely taken aback.

She looked at him, spellbound, forgetting to speak or move.

Pei Jue seemed oblivious to her astonishment, his tone indifferent but his eyes intense, "Magu Wine has an amber hue reminiscent of flowing light. The taste is smooth, and the entrance is mellow, with a rich aroma..."

Feng Yun’s knees went weak.

Her heart throbbed rapidly, and she could barely catch her breath.

The emergence of the Magu banquet and Magu Wine, as well as their widespread fame among poets, beauties, and scholars across Jiangnan, were things that happened two years later—

Magu Wine, fermented from sweet millet, has a unique taste, more intoxicating than ordinary wines. Once drunk, it feels like being in a fairyland, with endless floral fragrances...

With its introduction, Magu Wine created a trend of "wine debts" during that turbulent era of frequent wars—

Live each day as it comes.

With each passing day, cherish the beauty.

Whether rich or poor, one must drink Magu Wine.

In these decadent times, the tender wine seems like the perfect match...

Feng Yun even remembered the intoxicating aroma of the wine and often longed to drink a cup of Magu Wine again.

Regrettably, in their current era, the second year of Tian Shou, Magu Wine did not exist.

The moment she carelessly mentioned the Magu Banquet and Magu Wine, she hurriedly stopped herself.

Then she thought, there were many things Pei Jue hadn’t heard of.

She intended to play it off vaguely.

Who would have known, Pei Jue said he liked it, too.

"Your Highness?" Feng Yun looked at her.

"Mmm." Pei Jue was also looking at her.

In the quiet of the study, it was as if a secret too shameful to be shared flowed between them, their gazes sticking together, strangling, entwining...

Neither willing to let go of the other for a long time.

Feng Yun’s heart was a tangled mess, boiling like a pot of hot water.

But she still harbored a glimmer of hope—

Having lived once again, changes had not been unheard of.

Perhaps it was just a coincidence in names.

Perhaps Magu Wine had arrived early.

She tried to control her frantic heartbeat and asked with a faint smile,

"Where did Your Highness hear of Magu Wine?"

Pei Jue’s eyes were serene.

"And you, Lady Yun?"

Feng Yun: "Central Capital."

Pei Jue: "Me too."

Feng Yun: "When did you hear of it?"

Pei Jue: "The seventh year of Xinghe."

Feng Yun stepped back and slowly sat down.

Li Sangruo’s son—the Emperor of Xinghe passed away in Central Capital, in the third year of Xinghe.

In this world, there would be no seventh year of Xinghe.

The most incredible event had unfolded.

Pei Jue was just like her...

Another reborn individual.

It was shocking and frightening to have the act of rebirth and fate defiance occur to one person.

Now, it was happening to both of them?

Feng Yun gazed at Pei Jue.

She tried to muster a slight smile, to appear calmer and more composed, yet she couldn’t hide the fervent pounding of her heart.

"You’ve come back too, haven’t you?"

Pei Jue pondered for a long time.

A very soft, quiet utterance of agreement.

But it landed like a heavy hammer on Feng Yun’s heart.

"Yes, Lady Yun, I’ve also returned."

Feng Yun’s lips moved slightly and after a moment, she restrained a cold chuckle.

"No wonder you could foresee the betrayal of Hu, Chu, and Han, and set a brilliant trap. So, you’ve suspected me for a while now, haven’t you?"

"Not for very long." Pei Jue approached, lowered his head, and leaned in to look at her.

"Since the day you asked me if people could return to the past..."

He slowly took hold of Feng Yun’s slender shoulder, sat down beside her, and gazed at her intently for a long time, eventually unable to resist pinching her fair cheek gently.

"Is that considered early?"

Feng Yun remembered that time.

At Shiguan Dock, under the moonlight, they had a candid exchange of hearts...

She told Pei Jue if life could be restarted, she wished to return to before her mother’s demise.

She also remembered Pei Jue saying it was best to remain in the present.

"Ha!" Feng Yun met his gaze.

Unwilling to believe such mystical things could happen, yet compelled to believe that someone else indeed had been reborn just like her...

And it was Pei Jue, entangled with her in a web of love, hate, and unresolved grievance.

She slightly curled her lips, glancing at him.

"You weren’t telling the truth, were you?"

Pei Jue’s eyes flickered, watching her.

Feng Yun: "You’ve been suspecting me for a long time. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have indulged me after the fall of Andu City, nor would you have married me in Bingzhou..."

Pei Jue moved closer, wrapping one arm around her and lifting her face with the other hand. His voice was low and tinged with a hint of melancholy.

"Whether you were reborn or not, I would have married you."

Feng Yun offered a gracious smile, her gaze sharp as she stared at him.

"So, does this mean Your Highness regrets not marrying me in our last life?"

Pei Jue acknowledged silently.

Feng Yun laughed softly.

Once the truth was out, the grievances inside her surged forth like a tide.

"What’s there to regret? Sending me back to Andu, committing adultery with Li Sang, or watching helplessly as I married into the Qi Palace?"

Her words were sharp.

As if carrying knives.

Imbued with the bitterness of unresolved clashes from their last life, she aimed to pierce Pei Jue’s heart with each one.

Pei Jue looked deeply at her and suddenly grasped her wrist.

"Come with me."

His fingertips were forceful, his palm warm, his touch against Feng Yun’s skin possessed an incredible tenderness.

But after what had just transpired, it was hard for Feng Yun to calmly feel his emotions.

She looked down at the hand that gripped her like a vise.

"To do what? Silence me with death?"

Pei Jue looked back at her, his dark eyes containing a hint of amusement.

"To talk elsewhere."