The Slender Waist-Chapter 693 - 500 Trust is Gold_2

"You put it well," Feng Yun smiled at him, "With Your Majesty’s explanation, I now fully understand."

Pei Jue stretched out his hand, pulled her close, embraced her gently, and pressed her against his chest.

He said nothing.

But it was more eloquent than words.

Silence fell for a moment.

Feng Yun smiled slightly, "Have you tired yourself for the day, Your Majesty? Do you wish to rest for a while?"

Pei Jue looked down, gazing at her upturned face, "Why doesn’t Lady Yun ask me?"

"Ask what?"

"Why not attack?"

Feng Yun began to laugh.

"Didn’t Your Majesty say it earlier? The soldiers are exhausted, and we should not act rashly. Victories aren’t conjured out of thin air. Behind every victory, not only are there enemy corpses strewn for miles, but also casualties among our own soldiers..."

"You think so too?" Pei Jue asked.

"Of course," Feng Yun’s lips puckered slightly, and she earnestly added, "Surrounding without attacking expends food and supplies. It’s merely a matter of spending more money and time. Rushing to attack might end the war sooner, but it would cost lives. Money and lives compared are insignificant."

Pei Jue’s dark eyes were deep.

He stared at her for a long time.

He hadn’t expected Feng Yun to genuinely believe he had done the right thing.

"Lady Yun..."

Pei Jue’s voice trailed off, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly, and after a long while, he finally said, "But that’s not actually why I’m doing this..."

"Is that so?" Feng Yun was slightly surprised, her brows furrowing, "Then what is Your Majesty waiting for?"

Pei Jue’s eyes were deep and dark, "Waiting for an opportunity."

The cold wind howled over the top of the tent, making the canvas flap with a sound that thundered through the air.

Pei Jue remained still, a serious countenance upon his face, eyes deep as abysses, as if hiding secrets that could not be exposed to daylight...

"I trust. I wait," Feng Yun made eye contact with him for a moment, then slowly smiled, "I trust that the person who can humiliate me on the chessboard must have superior strategic insight. Thus, whatever decision Your Majesty makes, I will support and wait."

Trust is golden.

Pei Jue felt warmth in his heart, pinching her earlobe.

"I won’t disappoint you."

Feng Yun wrapped her arms around his waist, "Then we shall wait and see."

After thinking for a bit, she rested her face against his chest again and sighed languorously.

"However, it would be best not to drag this out until the New Year. Winter is cold, and not only will the soldiers suffer from the chill, they’ll also be plagued by homesickness."

Pei Jue patted her back and said nothing.

-

Not taking the initiative to attack did not mean the war was over.

The Beiyong Army did not relax but tightened the encirclement around Yecheng slowly but steadily...

This process was slow, greatly differing from the aggressive tactics on the front, causing more and more questions to arise within the Imperial Court...

Some even mentioned the past relationship between Li Sangruo and Pei Jue.

Several ministers at court went as far as to jointly write letters, time and again sending them to Yishui, asking when the Prince of Yonghuai would commence the attack on the city.

Such matters inevitably reached Feng Yun’s ears.

She let them go in one ear and out the other, not taking them to heart at all...

The responsibilities of the Chief Historian of the Royal Mansion were actually very heavy, commanding the staff, managing the administrative orders of the Royal Residence, assisting internally, advising the Prince to follow the righteous path, to abide by rituals and laws, and also handling the communication between the Royal Residence and the Imperial Court...

If Pei Jue wasn’t her husband, with many things that could be omitted, it would be enough to exhaust someone to death.

When a woman gets serious about business, she doesn’t dwell on the trifles of romance and love.

Besides, Feng Yun didn’t believe that Pei Jue would alter his strategies for a woman.

He was decisive and wasn’t one to lose perspective. Otherwise, how could he have achieved the glorious military successes of the Beiyong Army, invincible in every battle?

But when the Emperor is not in a hurry, it’s the eunuchs who are driven to desperation.

A few upset maids would have been bearable, but Amir, with his single-minded temperament, was nearly bursting with anger.

"Aunt, you must go and ask your husband for clarification right away," he insisted, almost combusting with fury. "An officer can be killed, but not humiliated. We must not let this go without getting to the bottom of it."

Feng Yun: "...Is that phrase not used this way?"

"Is that so?" Amir pondered for a moment, then sampled the phrase himself and began counting on his fingers.

"An officer can be killed, but not humiliated... a chicken cannot be stewed with tofu... Ah, that’s not right, did I get it wrong? Impossible. Ao Qi said it exactly like this..."

Feng Yun couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time.

What had they done to Ao Qi to make him say such things?

"Then you should hurry back and get Ao Qi to repeat it," she suggested.

Amir shook his head stubbornly, "No, no, no, I am right. I have heard people say that Empress Dowager Li instructed someone to find a male favorite based on my uncle’s portrait... It’s disgusting, made me so angry I lost my appetite..."

Feng Yun felt a headache coming on listening to her.

"I shouldn’t have brought you here..."

Upon hearing these words, Amir promptly closed his mouth, suppressed a smile, and then pointed toward the outside, making her exit.

"I’ll be good, I’ll heed aunt’s words, I won’t say too much or waver the army’s morale..."

"Close the door!" Feng Yun said with a laugh.

Once Amir was out of sight, Feng Yun took her time settling down to sip some tea.

"This Amir is going to be a handful for Ao Qi."

At that moment, Feng Yun was still quite optimistic.

She had no idea that this wait would actually last a whole month.

In the blink of an eye, the Winter Solstice arrived, and Yishui grew cold.

Winter clothes and coal briquettes from Huaxi were delivered to the camp in succession. The soldiers all changed into warm winter clothing, lit the furnaces, and yet the battle still had not commenced...

The atmosphere in the camp grew tense.

The noise level started to rise.

The questioning of Pei Jue by the Great Jin Imperial Court had never ceased.

But Pei Jue carried on without explanation, acting on his own volition.

Therefore, many voices began pouring into Feng Yun’s ears.

"The duty of the Chief Historian is to advise the prince and to correct his errors... Princess, we cannot wait any longer, if we continue to wait, in this freezing cold, it won’t be the Yecheng Imperial Court that we wear out, but rather we might wear ourselves out..."

Feng Yun remained silent.

After much contemplation, she finally slowly put down her tea cup.

"Alright, I will speak to the prince."

Previously, Feng Yun had agreed with Pei Jue, but as the days grew colder, she too felt... they could no longer delay.

Feng Yun fastened her cloak and, accompanied by two maids, braved the cold wind of the great camp on her way to the Central Military Tent...

Before arriving, she saw Pei Jue, accompanied by his guards, coming out in a hurry, with a stern expression and composed strides.

"Your Highness..."

As Feng Yun stepped forward and bowed, ready to speak, she was interrupted by Pei Jue.

"There’s no need to speak. The Southern Camp is choosing commanders, preparing to march."

Feng Yun was overjoyed beyond expectation. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"Your Highness?"

She paused, steadied herself, and then gently asked in a low voice, "Has the opportunity you’ve been waiting for arrived?"

Pei Jue barely smiled and nodded solemnly to her.

"Lady Yun, come with me to the Southern Camp."

Feng Yun’s lips curved slightly as she clasped her hands in a fist, "I obey the command."