The Slender Waist-Chapter 88 - 69 Bullying the General_3

No wonder Ao Qi is afraid of him, avoiding him.

Pei Jue didn’t say much and left the room with an expressionless face.

He glanced under the eaves, the two strings of wind chimes were nowhere to be seen.

Only Ao Qi stood there, his face alternating between light and dark, his eyes bloodshot.

Pei Jue’s footsteps briefly paused, calling out to Ao Qi, "Come here."

Ever since his uncle had entered the room, Ao Qi had been waiting outside.

The noise inside was not small, that bizarre and boiling aura nearly burst through the window. Vaguely reaching his ears, Ao Qi’s heart was almost shattered, and it was with great difficulty that he suppressed the impulse to rush in...

At the sound of Pei Jue summoning him, Ao Qi walked over.

He immediately noticed the red marks on Pei Jue’s Adam’s apple, which upon closer inspection seemed to also have bite marks.

Ao Qi hung his head, his fists slightly clenched.

"Uncle..." his voice trembled slightly, "I have something... to tell you..."

"The battle is going to start in the next couple of days; we’ll talk after,"

Pei Jue interrupted him. The gaze that fell upon Ao Qi’s head was as sharp as two icy blades, making Ao Qi’s back sweat profusely with a mix of dejection and unease.

He braced himself for a scolding.

But after a moment’s wait, he only heard his emotionless voice.

"Keep a close eye on Wei Zheng."

Ao Qi murmured a low acknowledgment without looking up.

Pei Jue was silent for a moment, "Once the new year passes you’ll be seventeen, use your head more."

Ao Qi nodded, feeling a chill on his neck; perhaps it was his guilty conscience, but he felt there was more to his uncle’s words. This made him very uncomfortable; however, Pei Jue only spoke about matters regarding Wei Zheng, instructing him to protect Changmen Village well before walking away.

Ao Qi watched his retreating figure, wishing to grow up quickly.

—

Feng Yun lay prostrate on the couch for quite some time before gradually calming down.

Pei Jue had already left, and she was dripping with uncomfortable sweat. She called for Xiaoman to prepare the water but felt somewhat fatigued.

Every time that guy came over, it seemed like she sweated more than usual.

Xiaoman joyfully went to prepare the water, and Daman came in to ready the change of clothes, her head hanging low, seemingly too shy to look at Feng Yun’s flushed face. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Feng Yun sat up on the bed, half closing her eyes to watch her.

Daman was only two years older than Xiaoman but was much more developed. Xiaoman was still a delicate young girl, while Daman had bloomed into a stunningly mature lady. Her face, bearing a slight resemblance to Feng Yun’s, silenced Feng Yun for a long time.

Suddenly, Feng Yun asked, "Did you hear all that?"

The two maids were just outside a moment ago.

Daman, of course, had heard.

The Great General, whom she thought was cold and indifferent in his heart, who never showed his feelings, was utterly defenseless in front of Shi’er Niang.

The urgent and heavy panting nearly cost her life. She had to tightly grasp a handkerchief just to remain calm, yet even so, she broke out in a cold sweat.

When she looked at Xiaoman, Xiaoman’s face was red too.

Daman lowered her head, with a look that seemed too embarrassed to recall the moment, slightly shy and softly hummed in acknowledgment.

"The maid worries on behalf of the young mistress."

Feng Yun asked, "Worried about what?"

Daman’s eyes lifted slightly, "Afraid that General might get annoyed."

"Hmm." Feng Yun half leaned against the couch.

Her hair was soaked, her thin garment disheveled, with forehead and neck dotted with fine beads of sweat, a picture of complete languidness as if she had just been fervently caressed by a lover, making Daman’s face flush with heartbeat.

Yet she was calm: "After the war is over, if there is a chance to send you back to Nanqi, would you like to go back?"

Daman looked nervously at Feng Yun.

"Did the maid do something wrong?"

Feng Yun shook her head, "You and Xiaoman have followed me, separated from your families. I initially thought that if the General took you in, it would be good. But now..."

She glanced at Daman.

"I have been with this man; you two should no longer approach him."

Daman was momentarily stunned.

When she had first entered the enemy camp, Feng Yun hadn’t said that.

She had even considered letting Daman serve Pei Jue.

Had it only taken a single intimate encounter for her to change her mind?

Daman understood Feng Yun’s warning and lowered her head.

"This servant wouldn’t dare."

Feng Yun hummed, "You have a fine appearance and a good figure, any lord would be fortunate to have you. Whether you return to Nanqi or not is your choice. If you wish to stay, I can pick out a good marriage for you and Xiaoman, and not let you down."

Daman felt a bitterness in her heart.

A dream that was like a mirage in her mind had shattered.

That tall and handsome man, she could not have him.

"I thank the lady for her kindness, but my father had instructed us sisters to serve diligently, our whole lives to be directed by the lady. From that moment, we had already cut off the road home."

Feng Yun glanced at her indifferently and casually stretched out her hand, allowing Daman to lead her to the cleansing room without saying another word.

-

The night in Huaxi Village was pitch black.

A group of people carefully made their way across the abandoned fields at a fast pace, making very little noise.

Near Changmen Village, the narrow paths between the fields were meticulously cleared of weeds, offering no place to hide. Wei Zheng stopped by the creek a hundred steps from the village.

He raised his hand, and his followers all crouched down with him, observing Changmen Village over a tall ridge.

Changmen, shrouded in darkness, was silent.

A follower asked, "General, what’s the plan? You give the orders."

Wei Zheng observed expressionlessly, then after a moment, shook his head, "There are hidden sentries. We haven’t even gotten close to the village, and we were already spotted by their people."

Another follower said, "I inspected the area during the day. Pei Jue left over twenty elite soldiers, seemingly handpicked from his Imperial Guard Camp, not an easy target."

Wei Zheng’s eyes were filled with resentment, and his teeth gnashed audibly.

If not for Pei Jue’s men, he would have risked his life to enter the village and give the Feng Family a piece of his mind. He might not have flayed their skin or pulled out their tendons, but he would certainly have brought them shame to satisfy his vengeance...

But now, the village’s martial force consisted not only of Feng Family’s retinue but also over twenty elite soldiers from Pei Jue’s Imperial Guard Camp.

Wei Zheng had heard that those in the Imperial Guard Camp were personally trained by Pei Jue, each one daring and deadly, with ruthless methods. And the hundred or so men under his command were not all his personal soldiers, nor were they all willing to throw their lives away for an attack on Changmen Village...

"Let’s go!"

Wei Zheng decided to give up.

His resentful gaze fixed on Changmen Village, he swung his arm, "As long as the green hills are there, one needn’t worry about firewood. This vendetta, we can avenge another day!"

After saying that, Wei Zheng led his men back the way they came.

Ahead was a stream a few yards wide with logs laid across it, forming a makeshift wooden bridge that was simple, yet sturdy.

When Wei Zheng had crossed it earlier, there had been no one on the bridge. Yet when he turned around now...

Standing on the bridge in the night was a slim figure in fluttering attire.

"General Wei, visiting Changmen Village in the deep of night, why not come inside?"

Wei Zheng’s eyes widened and he couldn’t believe it for a long time.

At that moment, a crescent moon hung in the sky, the world was silent, and the faint light fell upon Feng Yun’s face, which was exceptionally beautiful and seemed to glow, yet she exuded an indescribable nobility.

The Feng Family’s maiden?

Did she not fear death, blocking his path alone at night?

He had to admit she was brave and cunning; Wei Zheng found himself somewhat admiring the lady.

Wei Zheng sneered, "It appears Lady Feng has the heart of a bear and the courage of a leopard. In these troubled times, with bandits roaming, you dare to venture out at night..."

Feng Yun spoke, "With General Wei here, which bandits would be so fearless to cause trouble at Changmen Village?"

Wei Zheng saw her composed as if making idle conversation, and took two steps forward, hand on his sword hilt.

"No need for riddles. What exactly do you want to do?"

Feng Yun suddenly sighed, a sound profound and tinged with helplessness and sorrow.

"That is precisely what I wish to ask the General. What must I do for the General to spare me?"