The Slender Waist-Chapter 711 - 513: Do as One Pleases

Feng Yun was not very fond of living in Yecheng.

This palace was filled with traces of the Li Family father and daughter everywhere.

Especially after the tiff with Pei Jue, thinking of Li Sangruo made her feel anything but comfortable. No matter what her identity was, in Feng Yun’s heart she had only one status—enemy.

Pei Jue was very busy today.

Even after the siege, there was much to be handled.

Deploying troops for security, dismissing and appointing civil and military officials to maintain order, gathering intelligence, supplying food and medication, every aspect interconnected, moving one part affecting the whole.

Li Zongxun had occupied Yecheng for two years, and it would take a great deal of effort to completely transform it.

Feng Yun was both annoyed and had idle time on her hands.

And idle people, once they get restless, invariably look for something to do.

While searching for something to do, she wandered into Fangyun Hall.

She glanced sideways at Xiaoman, "Should we pay a visit to the Empress Dowager?"

Xiaoman stole a glance at her and muttered, "Didn’t Mistress come all the way here for that?"

Feng Yun laughed.

She wasn’t Li Sangruo, who having gained power ran to flaunt herself in front of her enemies.

Of course, the reason she didn’t do this wasn’t due to kindness; she feared the consequence of extremes and being bitten back.

But today was different.

Pei Jue had angered her.

If she couldn’t find trouble with him, couldn’t she find Li Sangruo instead?

-

Inside Fangyun Hall.

Li Sangruo’s adopted son, Yuan Shuo, was crying bitterly, and her already irritable mood could not soothe him; she furrowed her brow and pulled out a handkerchief.

"Cry any more, and I’ll gag you with this," she threatened.

There were two palace maids in Fangyun Hall, and a small servant attended Yuan Shuo.

Seeing the indifferent and unfeeling eyes of Li Sangruo, Yuan Shuo almost instantly stopped crying.

Muttering silently with tears rolling down, he pouted and called out softly.

"Mother..."

And he resumed quietly shedding tears.

Cry, then.

Mouth agape, crying silently.

How could such a young child, facing such upheaval, keep calm?

Knowing Li Sangruo was irritated by him, not daring to wail loudly, he sobbed and asked:

"When can we go out..."

Li Sangruo sneered, "Go out for what? To go out is to seek death. How do you want to die? Beheading, being cut in half, or quartered by five horses..."

Having been Emperor for two years, Yuan Shuo had learned some things; he wasn’t clueless. Hearing her words, his little face paled, feeling a tumult within, and he immediately began crying and retching.

Li Sangruo was exasperated.

"Take him to the outer hall, don’t let me see him and get annoyed..."

Her words had barely ended when a soft laughter was heard.

Very gentle, very mild.

Yet the eyes of the woman who fluttered in with the draperies were utterly void of any smile.

"Why does the Empress Dowager need to demonstrate power over a child? What does a child know? The land and the Dragon Throne are not as real to him as a piece of candy."

As her voice trailed off, she bent down to look at Yuan Shuo, smiling gently, showing the palm of her hand.

There was indeed a piece of candy in her hand.

It was her own product from the Mingquan Town Candy Shop.

Feng Yun had a fragile constitution; she couldn’t tolerate hunger, and would feel faint if hungry. Whenever she went out, she would always carry a few pieces of candy in her pouch, and whenever she felt unwell, sucking on a piece of candy would get her through the spell.

The candy was very pretty, and Yuan Shuo liked it; he turned back to look at Li Sangruo.

"What a good child," Feng Yun said with a smile: "Go on, eat it. The Empress Dowager is kind-hearted and won’t fuss over a piece of candy."

Tears still hung from his face, but Yuan Shuo happily took the candy and was led to the outer hall by a palace attendant.

He had been Emperor; he wasn’t lacking candies.

But in his current imprisoned state, a piece of candy from outside and a warm, smiling Princess of Yonghuai could bring a child immense psychological comfort.

As the child left, Li Sangruo scoffed.

"You really know how to play the good person," she said.

Since being saved from the city walls and kept under watch in Fangyun Hall, no one had mistreated her, and Li Sangruo knew her life was not in danger.

Whether Pei Jue acknowledged her as his sister or not, she wasn’t sure, but the Xijing Dynasty, it seemed, still had to recognize her as the Empress Dowager.

Li Sangruo sat down and began to pour tea, with graceful sleeves sweeping gently, a contrived elegance about her, unwilling to give Feng Yun the upper hand.

"If you came to see me embarrassed, you’re going to be disappointed. There’s no ridicule here in Fangyun Hall. Whoever mocks me, mocks..."

Li Sangruo lifted her eyelids, her gaze coldly fixed on Feng Yun, her lips forming a small smirk.

"What do you think? You might hate me to death, but what’s the use? My brother doesn’t have the heart to see me die. He protects me, cherishes me, what can you do to me?"

Xiaoman became anxious upon hearing this.

"Presumptuous!"

She didn’t care about any Empress Dowager title.

In her heart, her own Mistress was the most important person in the world.

"You’re a prisoner at the base of the steps and still dare to be unruly. Do you really think our Princess is kind-hearted and wouldn’t discipline you?"

Feng Yun burst into laughter.