The Slender Waist-Chapter 777 - 552 Joy of a Thousand Autumns_3

Is there really a need to crack down on such a place?

Ao Zheng’s face broke into a smile, and in his heart, he was endlessly amazed!

This sister-in-law of his, she indeed has a way with things.

He lifted his wine cup and toasted all around, and laughed loudly: "If not for attending today’s banquet, Ao Zheng would not have gained such insight. Good! The wine is good, the dishes are good, and Changmen is good. Don’t you think so, Minister Ruan?"

Ruan Pu also sat at the table, sitting upright and proper.

Upon hearing this, his face darkened.

Ao Zheng raised his cup, "A toast to you."

Ruan Pu clenched his teeth in secret, at a point of no return as things came to a head. He smiled coolly, tipped his head back, and downed the wine in one gulp.

Ao Zheng laughed heartily.

The guests at the banquet exchanged glances, some speechlessly, others conversing in hushed tones.

Who knows whether, after today’s banquet, when attending court again, Minister Ruan would still have the face to propose the shutdown of Changmen?

-

Between the clinking of cups and the interweaving of wine ladles, laughter filled the air.

Feng Yun and Pei Jue sat side by side at one table. With a bite of food and a sip of wine, her cheeks flushed like peach blossoms, clearly enjoying the taste.

Pei Jue turned his face to look at her.

Feng Yun met his gaze, smiled sweetly with her crimson lips, "The Prince sure can hold his liquor. Look, I’m already tipsy."

Pei Jue’s brow furrowed ever so slightly, observing her raised smile, he quietly withdrew his gaze, touched his forehead as if overwhelmed by the alcohol, and glanced over at his attendant Qian Sanniu.

"Help me to change."

From time to time, guests would leave the table.

Just to relieve themselves, nobody minded...

Unless someone had ulterior motives.

-

Feng Ya did not go to the front hall to entertain the guests like Feng Yun did, naturally, she did not qualify.

After all, Feng Yun was regarded as an official’s wife, not an ordinary woman.

She and Lady Tao were sitting at the back, among numerous ladies and noble daughters.

Lady Tao was very eager for others to know that Feng Ya lived in the Pei Residence, so during her conversations, she occasionally dropped hints to let people understand that her daughter served as a concubine in the Pei Residence...

Most people were confused about their relationship and didn’t speak much, but there were some with nasty temperaments who snidely threw a few barbs their way.

Lady Tao was unafraid, speaking openly: "Her older sister has been married for many years without bearing children; as a younger sister, she naturally should take on some of the burden..."

Such practices were not uncommon, and no one suspected anything. After a sigh, they merely lamented that even the Princess of Yonghuai could fall to such a day.

A maid rushed in and whispered something into Feng Ya’s ear.

Feng Ya grasped her handkerchief and looked up, "Mother."

Lady Tao said with a smile: "Go then."

-

The Pei Residence had prepared resting chambers and lavatories for the banquet guests, not far from the banquet hall.

Feng Ya walked out with her maid, looking around anxiously, she asked:

"Did it work?"

The maid kept her head down, not daring to look at her.

"My Lady, it should have worked. The Prince, with his attendant, hurriedly left the table. I suppose the secret drug has taken effect..."

Feng Ya clenched her handkerchief tightly, her heart pounding with excitement and panic.

That day, Lady Tao came to her with the secret drug, claiming it was a divine medicine from the Western Regions, which upon ingestion, would cause even virtuous and chaste women to disrobe in an instant, and even upright men would inevitably become profligates...

If mixed with drinks, the effect would be doubled.

Previously, Feng Ya had found no opportunity to get close to Pei Jue, but today was just perfect; Feng Yun had collided with her own intention, saying that she was preparing a grand feast and was short-handed, hence calling her two maids to help out.

If this wasn’t divine will, what was it?

The maid said: "I was afraid of trouble, so I smeared the drug inside the cup on Prince of Yonghuai’s table. The Prince drank a good deal... His Highness will surely be besotted with you, my Lady."

Besotted?

Imagining what Pei Jue would look like besotted, Feng Ya’s heart thumped furiously, so nervous it was nearly bursting from her throat.

She was somewhat impatient, quickening her pace.

She never had the guts to drug Pei Jue before.

But Lady Tao said the secret drug was colorless and tasteless, and the Prince of Yonghuai would not notice anything amiss.

Once their liaison was successful, at most, the Prince of Yonghuai would think he had drunk too much and took a fancy, and he couldn’t blame her for it...

She was so beautiful, all it would take was a bit of coy coquettishness. In the presence of so many people, what could the Prince of Yonghuai do other than elevate her to his residence?

"My Lady, it’s over there." The maid pointed towards a half-closed door, whispering:

"The Prince of Yonghuai went into this one..."