The Slender Waist-Chapter 807 - 573: Golden Wind and Jade Dew

To celebrate the relocation of Hedu City, the Imperial City hosted a grand banquet. Civil and military officials gathered, lanterns illuminated the night, and the sounds of silk and bamboo resonated. Between the passing of cups and dishes, the atmosphere was nothing short of lively.

Before the banquet began, Pei Jue, holding back his impatience, sent someone to Changmen to invite Feng Yun.

The Emperor himself had already bent in deference.

Who could have guessed? The Palace Attendant returned with a report:

"The Lady has caught a cold. She fears passing her illness to His Majesty, and finds it inconvenient to enter the palace..."

Inconvenient to enter the palace, but she still sent a gift.

A cold and imposing bronze beast incense burner, grinning with bared teeth, sat ostentatiously atop the imperial desk.

It was as if mocking the Emperor for his presumption.

This Feng Shi Er Niang was indeed too bold.

The Court Officials restrained their expressions, holding their breath, fearing the Emperor’s wrath might fall upon them.

However, the Emperor only ordered that the bronze beast incense burner be carefully stowed away, without uttering a single word of reproach.

"Let her rest well."

The officials exchanged perplexed glances, their eyes heavy with the despair of a fallen kingdom.

"The empire and beauty—His Majesty’s eyes are filled only with beauty, not the empire itself!"

-

A grand evening banquet, where the monarch and his ministers reveled together.

By the time the feast ended, it was already late at night.

Pei Jue left the palace quietly with a modest escort and made his way towards Huaxi...

The streets of Huaxi were brightly lit, bustling with voices. Looking out, one could see steaming food everywhere, and people venturing out for late-night snacks.

This vibrant human tableau was worlds apart from the countryside path Pei Jue had once ridden through years ago.

Huaxi remained awake.

The lights of Changmen, however, had gone out early.

From the outside, apart from a lantern swaying under the porch, the entire residence was shrouded in darkness, like a massive beast lying in wait.

Qian Sanniu sighed softly.

He even began to feel sorry for the Emperor.

The Lady didn’t come to receive His Majesty nor attend the banquet—it was bad enough. But to not even leave a light on for His Majesty?

In an ordinary household, such behavior from a wife would surely warrant scolding, let alone from the wife of an emperor.

The carriage came to a stop.

Qian Sanniu gingerly lifted the curtain, his hands trembling as he offered an excuse on Feng Yun’s behalf.

"Perhaps the Lady didn’t know His Majesty would come..."

"She knows," Pei Jue said calmly as he straightened his cloak. His dark eyes gazed toward the dim residence. "She’s waiting for me."

Questions sprouted in Qian Sanniu’s head.

Looking at the shadowy estate, he couldn’t detect the slightest warmth.

Where did His Majesty’s certainty come from? How could he believe so firmly that the Lady was waiting for him?

"Shall I call for the door to be opened...?" Qian Sanniu ventured.

"No need," Pei Jue interrupted, handing his cloak to Qian Sanniu before walking straight past the front gate, circling toward the rear courtyard.

Qian Sanniu stood there in puzzlement, just about to follow, when Jiu You reached out to stop him.

"Don’t."

Qian Sanniu let out an "Oh" but felt even more bewildered.

"What is His Majesty doing? Ignoring the front gate—does he intend... to climb over the wall?"

Jiu You raised an eyebrow, giving him a look of pity.

"You’d best find yourself a wife. Once you have one, you’ll understand."

Qian Sanniu, an honest man, grew even more confused at these words.

"But you, Guard Ji, you’re not married either, are you? No... and what does this have to do with being married?"

Jiu You tilted his head, glanced at him, then gestured for him to come closer.

Once Qian Sanniu leaned in, Jiu You cryptically asked:

"Guess why the Lady turned off the lights?"

"Why?" Qian Sanniu asked, clueless.

"Idiot." Jiu You rapped him on the head, glanced around, then slung an arm over his shoulder and said, "What’s His Majesty’s current status? If he walked through the front gate openly, can you imagine how many eyes he’d attract? How much trouble that would invite?"

Qian Sanniu’s eyes lit up with sudden understanding.

Seeing his realization, Jiu You chuckled softly.

"His Majesty has been apart from the Lady for so long. Naturally, they don’t wish to be disturbed. Tell me, would it be more interesting to have a group bowing and offering greetings, or to sneak into a little wife’s room and share confidential words in private?"

-

Feng Yun’s room was unlit as well.

But tonight was the fifteenth of August. The weather was still pleasant, and as night fell, the bright full moon hung in the sky like a silver-white lantern. Its soft glow bathed Pei Jue’s figure, accentuating his sharply defined features with extraordinary elegance.

The door was tightly closed but unbolted.

With a gentle push, he entered.

There were no maids keeping vigil, not even Aozai was present.

The curtains in the room swayed slightly in the breeze. He lifted a drape, allowing the silvery moonlight to pour in, its gentle radiance spilling over the wooden bed...

"Lady Yun, I’m back."

There was no reply from Feng Yun. It seemed as though she had fallen asleep, curled up alone on the bed. Her face was just as he remembered, appearing delicate yet faintly forlorn. The blanket was pulled up to her shoulders, making her look somewhat...

Pei Jue instinctively felt that something was amiss.

The figure that was once thin and frail seemed noticeably fuller, and her once slender face had grown rounder.

Feng Yun awakened as Pei Jue lit a candle.

She yawned lightly, smiled, and slowly sat up with the blanket wrapped around her.

"I waited and waited until I fell asleep. What time is it?"

Her face carried a faint, tranquil smile, and her eyes gleamed with the flicker of the flame, as if the two of them had never parted. She offered no explanation for not receiving him or attending the palace banquet, instead gazing at him calmly, her warmth subtly apparent.

Pei Jue said nothing, standing still and scrutinizing her.

His gaze was one Feng Yun had never seen before, one she couldn’t quite describe...

It was as though he had walked through the stretch of eternity just to stand here by her side. Within his gaze were worry, tenderness, and a brilliance akin to the stars.

Feng Yun sighed softly and beckoned him closer.

"Why are you standing so far away? Come here and take a closer look."

Pei Jue slowly approached, dressed in a casual robe, his figure tall and austere like a pine atop a snowy mountain.

"Are you feeling unwell? Has Yao Ru checked on you? Why didn’t you mention this in any of your letters?"

Feng Yun smiled faintly and met his eyes as she spoke.

"I’ve been examined." Feng Yun nodded earnestly.

"And the result?"

Feng Yun raised her eyes and sighed softly.

"I’m afraid there might be some trouble. If we hope to live freely and carefree as before, that may no longer be possible..."

Pei Jue’s dark eyes turned heavy, as though a chilling tide was surging within them.

He sat down at the edge of the bed. "Where are you unwell?"

"Everywhere," Feng Yun replied, lowering her gaze while nervously biting her lip, as though struggling with whether to speak further.

Pei Jue’s brows furrowed as he reached out to take her hand, wrapping it tightly in his.

"Don’t be afraid. You have me," he reassured her.

"But..." Feng Yun hesitated, glancing at him briefly before quickly lowering her head again. In a soft voice, she said, "Does Your Majesty truly not mind if someone else comes between us, vying against you for my affection?"

Pei Jue’s gaze sharpened.

Just as he was about to speak, his hand was guided by Feng Yun to lift the blanket, placing it lightly on her rounded belly.

"I know you hold me in your heart, but someone else is now growing in mine. What shall we do?"

"What did you say?" Pei Jue froze, staring at her for a long moment.

He hadn’t misheard her.

But he wanted her to say it again.

Feng Yun chuckled softly, leaning slightly forward to whisper into his ear, "I said, Pei Gou, I’m with child. Yours."

"Nonsense! Of course it’s mine."

Pei Jue suddenly reached out and pulled her into a tight embrace. His eyes lit up with uncontainable joy, but as soon as he hugged her, he let go just as quickly, as though afraid of hurting her. He gently placed a hand on her shoulder with the utmost care.

"Lady Yun... Tell me this isn’t a dream?" 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

His gaze fell upon Feng Yun’s rounded belly, deep and intense. Even though he tried to conceal it, he could not hide his excitement.

"Have you completely thrown our promises aside? The vows we made..."

"No talk of love, no talk of marriage, no entry into the imperial harem, and no bearing children."

"We would share joy when together, and part ways without entanglement. Happiness in arrival, no sorrow in departure."

The commitments he himself had endorsed echoed in his ears repeatedly. How many times had they restrained his yearning for romance, making him hesitant to voice his desire for children?

Feng Yun’s past life... He understood it better than anyone else.

Time had turned, and to have her again was already a rare fortune.

The barriers she didn’t want him to breach, the pain she refused to face again—he was willing to abide by her wishes.

Even if it meant enduring the scorn of countless others...

He had even prepared himself that, if fate dictated they would never have a child of their own, he would bring Azuo into their family instead.

Azuo was close to Lady Yun, a clever child, someone who wouldn’t bring her discomfort...

But now Feng Yun was pregnant...

They were going to have their own child.

The happiness descended so suddenly that his arms, tense with emotion, began to tremble.

"Lady Yun, pinch me."

Feng Yun blinked, then broke into a low, soft laugh. She raised two slender fingers and pinched his solid arm firmly, asking with a smile, "Does it hurt?"

"No," he replied hoarsely.

"..." Feng Yun sighed, turned her palm downward, and pinched harder.

"Ow!" Pei Jue sucked in a breath through clenched teeth. "You’re a ruthless woman."

Feng Yun raised an arched brow, smiling triumphantly. "And what if I am? From now on, I’ll have someone to back me up. You won’t be able to bully me anymore."

When had he ever bullied her?

All along, it was she who had been bullying him!

Emotions churned in Pei Jue’s chest, a chaotic storm of feelings. Yet his naturally stoic demeanor restrained any outward display. Even with a heart teeming with turbulent waves, he had no way of releasing the flood within.

His hand gently caressed Feng Yun’s rounded belly.

"How far along?"

"Over five months."

Pei Jue stared at the curve, his brows tightening slightly.

He had no concept of a woman’s pregnancy and dared not ask further. Observing her transformation, he could only sigh lightly.

"When I wasn’t here, did they take good care of you...? To hide it so thoroughly that even my spies didn’t know. Lady Yun, you must have endured a lot on your own."

He didn’t reproach her for keeping it a secret.

He only worried about the hardship she might have borne.

Feng Yun laughed softly, quirking her brow as she glared at him.

"So, you planted spies in my Changmen?"

"You’ve known about it since the beginning," Pei Jue replied.

Indeed, because she knew, Feng Yun had hidden it so well.

After all, mouths must eat and speak—they’re the hardest secrets to keep...

One person learns, and soon an entire crowd knows.

Eventually, the whole world finds out.

Pei Jue lowered his head and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"Forgive me, Lady Yun. I came too late."