The Slender Waist-Chapter 79 - 64: The Past of the Wind Chime_2

The first time was too painful, there wasn’t much pleasure to be had. Everyone longed for the Great General, but he wasn’t that easy to win over.

Only after scaling mountains and fording streams could their paths cross, and that beautiful scene became the trembling of the soul. When one obtained him fully only after hardships, that sense of satisfaction swiftly overcame fear and brought about an odd desire for conquest.

Back then, she adored the way Pei Jue could hardly control himself...

"Do you have other matters?"

Her wild thoughts were interrupted by Pei Jue’s voice, and only then did Feng Yun realize she was still sitting there.

If she did not sleep, Pei Jue found it hard to sleep as well.

It was as if she was anticipating something...

A fire suddenly seemed to burn in Feng Yun’s heart.

In the dead of night, a solitary man and a lone woman together, even strangers might see seeds of ambiguity grow, let alone men and women who had been intimate?

As soon as the mind wandered, the details of their past time spent together would emerge—those wild entanglements in the dark nights, the inch-by-inch awareness of him, almost instantly numbing her to the core...

Feng Yun silently took a breath to steady her heart and said indifferently, "General, you’ve slept on the floor in Changmen Village for three or four nights—it could harm your body. Why not rest in the spare room tonight? I’ll have Xiaoman prepare a soft couch for you..."

Pei Jue’s voice was cold, "I am strong and healthy; I don’t mind sleeping on the floor."

Feng Yun’s gaze swept over his tall and sturdy body, helpless.

She could no longer discern Pei Jue’s thoughts.

Did he desire her or not? It didn’t seem like either.

But after discussing for so long and still not reaching an agreement, it proved one thing.

Even if Pei Jue had some interest in her, it was not great enough for him to give up his bottom line...

He was calm and self-restrained, unwilling to compromise easily.

So was she.

Feng Yun thought it over and decided not to think about it anymore, letting him be.

"It’s getting late, General, please rest."

Feng Yun bowed formally and walked toward the wooden couch, neatly unhitching the golden hook of the curtain.

With a puff, a layer of curtain divided them.

Feng Yun lay on the bed, her thoughts turbulent.

In Tai City, Xiao Cheng had become a groom, Feng Ying had also married her suitable match...

They were living happily there, while here it was cold and quiet.

Having come back to life, many things had changed, but the love between Xiao San and Feng Ying remained steadfast, with fate still on the familiar track she knew.

The scoundrel and the cheap woman were finally together, as if by divine will!

She shouldn’t be emotional, shouldn’t be swayed by them.

Neither Pei Jue nor Xiao Cheng could influence her any longer.

Feng Yun closed her eyes and repeated in her heart fifty times.

"Not seeking a life partner to grow old with, only to live this life in unconstrained dominance."

—

Pei Jue left before the sky had brightened.

Zuo Zhong went to the stable to fetch a horse and found the General standing in the courtyard, staring at a string of Wind Chimes hung under the eaves. They were made of feathers, leaves, and pinecones, quite unique.

Pei Jue was so engrossed that he didn’t notice Zuo Zhong approaching.

Zuo Zhong had to raise his voice to remind him.

"General, it’s time to leave."

Pei Jue returned his gaze and grunted.

"Who made these?"

Zuo Zhong called Ao Qi over to ask. Upon seeing them, Ao Qi felt that his uncle’s expression was overly pensive, somewhat perplexing.

"The lady made them; she made several strings. She even promised to make me one later."

Pei Jue glanced at his delighted face.

Zuo Zhong also looked up at the Wind Chimes swaying under the eaves.

"The lady is indeed crafty with her thoughts."

The wind chime let out a crisp tinkle, but Pei Jue remained silent.

Zuo Zhong glanced at him, speculating, "After the war is over, why doesn’t the General also move to live in the village for some time? The countryside and the Tianzhuang are quite enjoyable."

Pei Jue walked away with a cold look in his eyes, quickening his pace.

By his ear was the clear, tinkling sound of the wind chime, as if chiming softly in the solitude.

Ao Qi and Zuo Zhong exchanged a glance, both feeling the General was ill.

—

Feng Yun didn’t wake up until the sun was high in the sky.

Once awake, the whole world seemed different.

Thinking back to the events of the previous night, she gave herself two resounding slaps.

She hit hard, and it was very painful.

Ao Zai felt sorry for her, rubbing against her and staying close, but she couldn’t forgive herself and added another slap.

Why should she be hurt by Xiao San’s grand wedding?

If she felt compassion for the once wretched and humble Feng Yun, then she needed to be harsher, to kill him and Feng Ying, so as not to give them another chance to hurt her—

And there was Pei Jue...

Pei Jue was indeed tempting; the past was joyful, and it was Pei Jue who turned her from a naïve young girl into the unashamedly sensual woman she was now, unflustered even when seeing Crown Prince Chunyu naked.

But that was no reason to rely on him or act foolishly.

"Xiaoman, instruct the kitchen, for the next three days, I’ll be vegetarian, not touching even a bit of meat or fish."

The maids looked at their mistress, puzzled.

Why would someone who clamored for meat every day suddenly want to eat vegetarian?

"I’ve had enough," Feng Yun said calmly, numbing her face. After washing and having her breakfast, she changed her clothes and stepped out of the main house, pausing when she saw the wind chime with tree leaves hanging from the eaves.

"Who took out the wind chime to hang it here?"

Xiaoman came over, "The pine cones weren’t dry yet, I was afraid they would get damp and moldy inside the house, so I took them out to air them a bit..."

Feng Yun lifted her hand to touch it but said nothing more.

The tree leaves on the wind chime were chosen by herself, while the pine cones were picked up by children of the village playing with them. Feng Yun took a liking to them, and had Alou trade them with a few bowls of rice.

She made the wind chime in silence, with others merely thinking she was idling away with a childish whim.

But they didn’t know...

In her past life, she had also made many such wind chimes.

They were for Queque.

Many hung in his sleeping quarters.

Queque was afraid of the dark, afraid of loneliness, he was an introverted and sensitive child, and he liked to fall asleep to the gentle clanging sounds. In the vastness of the palace, he had no friends, no fatherly love; aside from his mother, no one truly cared for him, so the wind chime became his friend.

Queque once asked why his father did not like him, only his younger brother.

Feng Yun told him, as the elder brother, one must endure some grievances, because the younger brother was small.

The child’s deep, black eyes were clear and pure; he believed his mother’s words, strived hard from a young age, hoping to earn his father’s approval...

Queque was born so beautiful, was so diligent, and grew up well.

But he never received the same pure love...

How could they be so heartless to confine him alone in the Zhaode Palace and starve him to death?

Feng Yun felt guilty toward the child; Queque was even more wronged.

A pity in this life...

They, mother and son, would not meet again.

Better not to come than to suffer.

Queque, this world does not deserve you; do not blame your mother.

She closed her eyes, "Take the wind chime back inside."

So it would no longer be exposed to the wind and sun.