The Slender Waist-Chapter 790 - 562: Do Not Forget the Trust

The sun blazed all day, and yet at night, a gentle drizzle began to fall.

Footsteps echoed through the rain, sounding oppressively heavy. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Pei Jue sat alone under a solitary lamp; wisps of smoke curled from the tea before him.

After a moment, Zuo Zhong bowed at the door and reported, "My lord, Mr. Tang has arrived."

Pei Jue gave a faint "Mm," and said nothing.

Through the rainy night, Tang Shaogong walked in, dressed in a loose-sleeved hemp robe of pale autumn white—almost like mourning attire—with raindrops clinging to him, his hair half-damp.

"My lord."

He lightly brushed off the rainwater and bowed to Pei Jue.

Pei Jue lifted his gaze but said nothing, gesturing for Zuo Zhong and the attendants to withdraw.

"Yes, my lord," Zuo Zhong and his men filed out in single order.

Pei Jue spoke, "Close the door."

Tang Shaogong turned to shut the door, then approached Pei Jue again, standing tall before him.

He had an imposing figure, marked by a martial sharpness that, upon closer examination, faintly revealed the demeanor of a soldier from the battlefield.

The study remained silent for a long time.

Pei Jue lowered his gaze as he drank his tea, saying not a word.

After standing for quite a while, Tang Shaogong finally broke the silence in a low voice, "May I ask why my lord summoned me here?"

Pei Jue set down his tea cup, paused briefly, and looked up at him, "I assumed you’d have something to confess."

Tang Shaogong instinctively shook his head but caught the chilling gleam in Pei Jue’s eyes, reconsidered, then let out a sigh.

"Nothing escapes my lord’s discerning eyes. Yes, I did it."

Pei Jue snorted coldly and slammed his palm heavily onto the desk, "Who gave you the audacity to act on your own?!"

When Tang Shaogong entered, he carried a trace of apprehension and hesitation, but Pei Jue’s fiery reprimand seemed to have steadied him instead.

After a moment’s silence, in a notably calm voice, he replied, "My lord, our leader has been waiting for us to avenge him—waiting for over ten years. We cannot wait any longer. With a ripe opportunity in hand, why not achieve multiple goals? Taking the enemy’s head would bring solace to our leader’s restless spirit in the afterlife."

Pei Jue’s eyes locked onto him with an icy stare.

Tang Shaogong suddenly let out a sharp laugh, "Today, at the execution ground, witnessing Feng Jingyao’s head roll to the ground—did it not feel cathartic to my lord? I, for one, felt immense relief. I’ve waited far too long for this day!"

Pei Jue’s eyes narrowed slightly, "Without even needing the Defense Map, his death was certain. Tell me, who were you targeting—him, me, or were you aiming at both sides with one shot?"

"It was not to harm my lord." Tang Shaogong’s voice rasped with a cold, venomous edge, his gaze sharp as the flick of a serpent’s tongue—singularly chilling.

"Killing Feng Jingyao alone is far from enough to console the spirits of the wrongfully slain Xie Family and the soldiers of the Xie Family Army. Everyone in the Feng Family and Qi Country who was complicit in this—must pay the price."

Pei Jue asked, "And so?"

Tang Shaogong answered, "If my lord remains passive, I will give you a push. With my lord’s current status, although capable of influencing the court, you are constrained by your position as a subject; it’s hard to act as an emperor would, and you’ll surely face resistance from the court’s nobles. Only when my lord ascends the Danbi steps and sits upon the Dragon Throne can you fulfill your ambitions—march to Tai City and avenge the Xie Family Army."

Pei Jue slowly rose, walking toward him coldly.

"Should I then thank you?"

Tang Shaogong’s eyes flickered before lowering his head, "I dare not."

After a brief silence, under the piercing gaze above him, sweat formed on Tang Shaogong’s brow. He then bowed and said, "Acting without my lord’s permission was indeed overstepping my boundaries. I am willing to accept punishment."

Hmph!

Pei Jue took two more steps forward.

"What if I were to take your life?"

Tang Shaogong replied respectfully, "My life belongs to my lord; do with it as you wish."

Pei Jue said nothing. Suddenly, his hand clapped onto Tang Shaogong’s arm and slapped it forcefully. Tang Shaogong instinctively stepped back half a step, unable to react before Pei Jue grabbed his arm and twisted it backward.

"Crack!"

The crisp sound rang out clearly.

Tang Shaogong’s arm slowly hung limp. The pain elicited a sharp groan from him, but he quickly silenced himself. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, his features contorted in agony, yet he remained unmoving, staring at Pei Jue.

Pei Jue asked, "You’re not afraid to die?"

Tang Shaogong said, "To die at my lord’s hands is an honor. If my meager life can pave the way for my lord to rule the world, then I would gladly sacrifice myself—without shame before our leader in the afterlife or before the countless souls of the Xie Family Army."

Shing!

Pei Jue suddenly unsheathed his sword.

The Biyong Sword left its scabbard so swiftly that Tang Shaogong didn’t see it clearly. Its icy edge pressed against his throat, instinctively making him shrink back, though he quickly composed himself, slowly shutting his eyes.

"My lord, remember your vow."

Pei Jue pressed the blade closer, and Tang Shaogong raised his chin, exposing his neck entirely to Pei Jue—a posture of absolute submission.

"Go ahead, strike now! Let me join our leader!"

Pei Jue stood silently.

After a moment, his palm abruptly shifted, and the blade returned to its sheath.

He once again took hold of Tang Shaogong’s limp arm.

Another sharp crack accompanied by Tang Shaogong’s groan of pain. This time, the dislocated arm had been set back.

"Leave."

A single, low word, brimming with icy authority.

Tang Shaogong let out a long breath, glancing at the brightly flickering lamp, feeling as though he had walked through the Underworld itself.

He slowly bowed, "Thank you, my lord, for sparing me."

Pei Jue returned to his seat, his stern figure bathed in the firelight, devoid of the slightest emotion.

Tang Shaogong did not depart immediately but continued standing before Pei Jue, his voice difficult to read.

"With respect, even without involvement in the Defense Map affair, troubles would still come. Ruan Pu seems to have uncovered details about your lineage and may soon exploit His Majesty’s condition to make a move."

Pei Jue stared coldly at him.

Tang Shaogong continued, "Rather than remaining on the defensive, why not seize the opportunity?"

Pei Jue warned, "You have one chance. Do not act on your own again."

Tang Shaogong bowed deeply, staying bent for quite some time before straightening again.

"I won’t act—but they certainly won’t hold back. My lord, do not miss the moment. Emperor Wenzhi is ill now; if the Princess Chang and the Ruan Pu faction consolidate power, acting later may leave us vulnerable..."

Pei Jue cast him a glance, saying only, "Leave."

Tang Shaogong slightly bowed, "Understood."

-

Once he left, Feng Yun emerged from behind the screen, gently kneeling beside Pei Jue.

"He indeed came to provoke you."

Pei Jue turned his head and encircled her waist, "Lady Yun predicts as always."

Pei Jue glanced at her, his brow furrowing slightly.

"To be honest, I cannot see through Tang Shaogong. Even now, although everything he does appears to be for me, to avenge the Xie Family Army, I still cannot tell whether he’s an ally or a foe."

Pei Jue murmured, "I share the same thoughts with you, Lady Yun."

Feng Yun tilted her head to look at him briefly, then couldn’t help but laugh softly.

"My lord certainly knows how to shift responsibility. Words from my lips place the blame squarely on me; no matter right or wrong, you remain unscathed."

Pei Jue’s lips twitched faintly.

"I wouldn’t call it shifting responsibility."

Feng Yun raised her brow, "Then what would you call it?"

Pei Jue replied, "Husband following wife’s lead."

Hmph! Feng Yun’s laughter widened, her eyes warm with reflected light from the lamp.

"Then let’s just say I’m taking advantage of you."

"Or perhaps I’m taking advantage," Pei Jue’s palm tightened, pulling her entirely into his embrace. Lowering his gaze, his focus locked onto her face, affectionate, intertwined with soft breaths, as he kissed her lips lightly.

"For these next few days, don’t leave the residence. Stay put and keep Aozai by your side."

Feng Yun’s heart skipped a beat.

When Pei Gou gazed at her intently—serious and stern though his expression—his eyes carried the warmth of a branding iron; they seemed to penetrate her heart, revealing that in his world, she was everything.

This was no ordinary man’s allure.

Feng Yun inhaled deeply and smiled faintly.

"I will take good care of myself. My lord, focus on your task."

"Good." He nodded and kissed her again.

-

Ruan Pu launched his attack sooner than anticipated.

The next day, during discussions at Zhenghe Hall regarding Emperor Wenzhi’s health, Ruan Pu made his move first.

"His Majesty fell ill upon returning from the Prince of Yonghuai Residence. Thus, the rumors circulating in the streets may somewhat tarnish the reputation of the lord."

Before finishing, he turned his eyes sharply toward Pei Jue.

"Rumor has it that the Defense Map was originally within the Yonghuai Residence, allowing Feng Ya to steal it and hand it to Duan Wu. Unfortunately, there’s no way to verify or refute this now..."

The ministers exchanged glances.

Some felt awkward.

Some sneered.

Others nodded in agreement.

Pei Jue remained cold and silent.

The tension in the chamber grew palpable.

But Ruan Pu seemed indifferent to Pei Jue’s lack of response. Before the matter could be dissected further, he spoke again with raised voice.

"What’s even more absurd is that there are rumors claiming the Prince of Yonghuai is actually the orphan of the late Qi Dynasty general Xie Xian—known as Mr. Seventh Xie. It is said that only one thing can confirm this..."

No one cared about the origins of "rumor."

The story of the Prince of Yonghuai being one of the survivors of the Xie Family Army was something Li Zongxun mentioned in his lifetime—repeatedly, in fact.

It was only ever lacking evidence.

The ministers were far more interested in how Ruan Pu planned to prove this claim.

Pei Jue’s lips tightened slightly, "Speak."

Ruan Pu bowed and responded, "Back then, Mr. Seventh Xie was highly allergic to peaches. Every time he ate them, he broke out in a severe rash, and once narrowly escaped death due to consuming peaches. This matter was well-known in Tai City."

He then raised his head to look at Pei Jue, stroking his beard with a smile.

"To silence the rumors, it wouldn’t be difficult—a simple test with freshly harvested peaches, and all will be revealed."