The Slender Waist-Chapter 691 - 499: Inconvenient to Get Up

The next day was another clear and sunny day.

The chrysanthemums in the manor were in full bloom, a sea of golden yellow.

Xiaoman and Huanhuan were exceedingly happy.

Picking flowers for cooking, brewing tea to drink—it was truly delightful.

Xiaoman said, "The day the Prince came, all the flowers blossomed overnight."

Huanhuan teased her, "I think it’s you who has blossomed. Peipei, come see, Xiaoman’s little face..."

"Go away, who’s Xiaoman."

"You, you, Lady Xiaoman."

The two maids flanked her, intent on pinching Xiaoman’s rosy cheeks.

"So radiant and lively, your color has improved."

Xiaoman blushed, batting at them.

The girls joked around, chasing and playfully fighting, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

It was at this moment that Amir came looking for them.

"What are you talking about that’s making you so happy? Where’s my aunt?"

Xiaoman said, "Lady slept late last night and hasn’t gotten up yet. Young Madam, please have a seat for a while, try our new autumn chrysanthemum red tea drink—it’s extremely refreshing..."

Huanhuan curtsied with a beaming smile, adding:

"Replying to Young Madam, we were teasing Xiaoman. Her husband’s return has brightened her complexion."

Amir cocked her head, asking in confusion:

"Her husband’s return improves her complexion? Did he make her angry?"

Huanhuan’s smiling face suddenly froze.

This Young Madam was already a married woman.

Upon hearing this, she should have instantly got the joke.

Why couldn’t she understand?

Curious, Huanhuan asked, "Isn’t it like that with Young Madam and General Ao?"

Amir was taken aback, beginning to understand.

Being watched by several maids, she felt so embarrassed she wished she could sink into the ground.

But being young and bold, she refused to be the butt of the joke. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Thus she flung her arms with a swoosh and laughed it off, downplaying it:

"Him? Oh, that deadset nature of his. It happens faster than pigs and cows mating on our Cangyan Mountain. I sleep deeply and wake up early; I’m in great shape..."

Huanhuan and Peipei had never heard such astonishingly crude words before.

The two of them widened their eyes, unable to resist exploring further...

Just how fast was General Ao?

Xiaoman lightly coughed, glancing at them, then smiled as she led Amir inside.

"Young Madam, don’t mind these two little troublemakers. These private matters shouldn’t be discussed with them..."

Amir’s ears reddened faintly.

She and Ao Qi hadn’t consummated their marriage yet, and her mother at home hadn’t taught her these things. She was still quite ignorant about matters between men and women, knowing only about animal breeding from her tribe...

Thinking it over, she felt she hadn’t misspoken.

She then said with certainty:

"What’s the big deal? Aren’t people and pigs and cows the same? They’re all just animals, and Ao Qi is too."

Feng Yun heard the commotion outside and nearly died laughing.

Amir was indeed a breath of fresh air so early in the morning.

Hearing her laugh, Xiaoman asked, "Lady, are you awake? The Young Madam is here."

Feng Yun yawned and chuckled lazily, "With all the noise you’re making, how could I not wake up? Come in and help me get up."

Amir was startled again on hearing this.

Secretly, she stuck her tongue out at Xiaoman.

"Is my aunt always so frail that she cannot get up by herself?"

Xiaoman was taken aback, suddenly finding the Young Madam very endearing, and couldn’t help but tease her:

"It’s hard to tell... Young Madam doesn’t understand now, but maybe you will the next time you see General Ao."

Amir’s eyes nearly popped with curiosity.

She didn’t understand.

Seeing Xiaoman’s mysterious demeanor only increased her curiosity.

Upon seeing Feng Yun, she immediately asked, "Aunt... why can’t you get up? How did Uncle bully you?"

Feng Yun didn’t expect to hear such a bold question and felt a tickle in her throat, prompting a coughing fit.

Of course, it wasn’t that she couldn’t get up, nor that she was unable to get up by herself...

It was simply more convenient to have her maids help her, a habit she had gotten used to.

"Ahem," Feng Yun cleared her throat, composing herself.

"Did you come to see me this early because there’s something you need?"

Amir, simplistic as she was, quickly forgot about the pig and cow matter as soon as she was questioned.

"Aunt," she bowed with both hands, having learned the etiquette perfectly, "I want to go to the battlefield with you."

Feng Yun paused, "Where did you hear that I was going to the battlefield?"

Amir asked in confusion, "Aren’t you going, Aunt? Impossible. Uncle is going to war; you must be going with him."

Feng Yun was utterly perplexed by her niece-in-law’s logic.

But it didn’t stop her from objecting.

"No. You’ll stay put at Huaxi."

Although the Beiyong Army held the upper hand, taking Amir along was out of the question.

"Why not?" Amir clung to her arm, starting to whine and insist.

"Aunt, Auntie, please be kind."

Feng Yun let her tug her around until she was in a complete mess, not knowing whether to laugh or cry at the situation.

How could she be like a child?

She made up an excuse, "This is what Ao Qi wants, and you should know, he wouldn’t want you to take such a risk."

"What if he said something? What’s the use?" Amir scoffed dismissively, "If Aunt doesn’t listen to Uncle, why should I listen to Ao Qi?"

Feng Yun: ...

-

For two days in a row, Pei Jue was busy and Feng Yun had no chance to talk to him about Amir.

The days suddenly became much brighter.

A victorious report came from the front... three days later.

Wen Xingsu’s handwritten message:

"Our army is invincible, and the enemy doesn’t dare to battle. Having won battle after battle, the soldiers’ morale is high. It only awaits the King’s command, and our iron hooves can cross Yishui and push straight through Yecheng. This general requests permission to take the rear for the Beiyong Army, and the day of great victory is within sight."

Feng Yun was extremely excited upon receiving the news.

"The eldest brother has always been reserved, not fond of extravagant language or boasting. If he says he can lead the army to push through Yecheng, then it’s definitely feasible."

Feng Yun heard the excitement in her own voice.

Since the Central Capital incident, nearly two years had passed.

After hundreds of days and nights, the moment of decisive victory was finally within reach.

Li Zongxun.

Li Sangruo.

The hatred of the previous life could now be avenged; how could she not be overjoyed?

"Hmm," Pei Jue’s expression was far less excited than Feng Yun.

But he had always been like this, so Feng Yun didn’t mind.

"Just one word?" She arched an eyebrow and laughed, "Come on, say a few more words to make me happy."

Pei Jue pondered for a moment, then said, "General Wen has orchestrated plans behind the curtain, and his tactics in arranging the troops are profound. When he returns triumphantly, he must be properly rewarded."

Feng Yun thought this statement seemed a bit abrupt.

It was not at all what she was talking about.

But she couldn’t find any fault with it.

She laughed and said, "Then let me thank you on behalf of my elder brother first."

"As it should be," Pei Jue said, looking at her relaxed and composed appearance, and reached out to stroke her face.

"Rest early today. We leave tomorrow."

Feng Yun nodded, smiling, "I’ll have Xiaoman find my armor."

She was still joyful and hurried out.

Pei Jue sat up straight, his gaze lingering on her slender back, his dark eyes deep.

-

In mid-October, Pei Jue set out from Andu towards Yishui.

The news spread, and everyone at court was overjoyed.

The people had full confidence in the invincible Prince of Yonghuai.

Therefore, even before Pei Jue reached Xiangzhou, the rumors that the Beiyong Army would end the war within a month and recapture Yecheng had already spread far and wide.

Such words could not have come from Pei Jue’s mouth.

But as the tale was told by many, the boast grew larger, and every word had the potential to become a crushing pressure if scorned.

Feng Yun, dressed in military armor, rode a reddish-brown horse by Pei Jue’s side, dissatisfiedly saying, "I don’t know who it is that’s so eager to extend the King’s spirit in secret."

Pei Jue tilted his head slightly and looked toward the distant horizon, not saying a word.

"There have been all kinds of monsters and demons appearing these days. There are always some people who seem to thrive on chaos," Feng Yun said softly, glancing at him again.

"However, it’s not an outrageous boast. Once we cross Yishui, and enter Yecheng, it’s an open field, and Li Zongxun won’t be able to jump around much longer. A month may be an exaggeration, but three months should be doable. As long as the King is willing, we can certainly celebrate the New Year in Yecheng cheerfully this year..."

This was her assessment based on the warfare of both sides.

To her surprise, after Pei Jue listened quietly, he suddenly spoke.

"I’m afraid I’m going to disappoint Lady Yun," he said.

Feng Yun looked at his solemn face, feeling a slight sinking in her heart.

"What do you mean by that?" she asked.

Pei Jue’s lips were tightly pressed.

After a while, he said mildly,

"Bide our time and wait for a better opportunity."

"What?" The horse was galloping too fast, and the October wind slashed at her cheeks painfully, like a knife. Feng Yun had her ears wrapped tightly in fur and did not hear clearly.

She repeated,

"What did the King just say?"

Pei Jue spoke up, his voice calm.

"There’s no need to rush to cross the river and attack the city. We’ll wait for the right moment."

Feng Yun was quite surprised.

Shouldn’t we be seizing the moment?

She didn’t understand the decision, but she rarely offered too many opinions about battle strategies to Pei Jue, and she trusted his judgment of the situation.

Since he had said so, there must be a reason for it.

We’ll wait then.

When Pei Jue reached the Beiyong Army camp on the south bank of Yishui, the entire army was uplifted. The soldiers of the Beiyong Army were eager to test their mettle, just waiting for the King’s command to charge.

However...

People quickly realized they had guessed wrong.

Prince of Yonghuai, widely expected to lead his troops in the campaign against Yecheng, had caused the one-sided battle to come to a halt. The powerful Beiyong cavalry, camped by the bank of Yishui, showed no signs of attacking for a long time.

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