The Slender Waist-Chapter 89 - 70: Predicting Events Like a God

Wei Zheng knitted his brows tightly, his vigilance turning into confusion.

"What do you mean by that, Feng Ji?"

Feng Yun performed a curtsey and spoke earnestly, "As a woman of the Feng Family, I am far away in Andu and have had no grievance with you in recent days, nor any enmity with you in the past. Even if General Wei were to come here bearing a grudge, wishing to take me to Central Capital to face charges, my intention has been to reconcile with the General..."

Her words sounded sincere, with no hint of resentment.

"That day at Changmen Village, when the Great General wanted to punish you, it was I who insisted on sparing General Wei. Farming may be hard, but it is not a matter of life and death."

Another sigh followed.

"I know that you, being a nobleman, have never experienced the hardships of the fields and might bear resentment towards me. That’s why I had the intention of hosting a banquet. How could I have expected such a misunderstanding to occur? If I had known that the person in Lady Shao’s room that night was General Wei, I would never have brought people there..."

"General Wei must know, in these chaotic times, a woman’s status is as unstable as duckweed. All we seek is reliance and a stable life. How dare a woman of the Feng Family take the initiative to antagonize a significant figure like General Wei?"

With that, she let out a bitter laugh.

"I truly don’t understand why you would hate me so much as to wish me dead."

Wei Zheng narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

Before Feng Yun had appeared, he was eighty percent sure that this matter was related to her.

However, with what Feng Yun had just said, he really started to hesitate...

A Qi lady, not to mention whether she had the courage to offend him, there was the secret of the "man with a black mole and a long beard" which she could not possibly have known...

Wei Zheng did not want to be the victim of a misunderstanding, to be harmed and still in the dark about it.

"Then according to what you’ve said, who is responsible for the rumors that have been spreading in Huaxi Village?"

Feng Yun pursed her lips.

"So General Wei suspects it was me..."

She shook her head helplessly.

"The private affairs of the Empress Dowager, if they are not fabricated, must have been known only to those who have access to the Empress Dowager... General Wei, instead of suspecting me, should think about whether you’ve offended anyone close to the Empress Dowager."

Feng Yun thought to herself, with Wei Zheng’s temperament, he must have been overbearing in the palace, not making himself likable. With Li Sangruo consolidating power and commanding the court, there would be all kinds of cronies around her, each with their interests...

Where there are people, there will be conflicts. Everyone wants to be the most favored by the Empress Dowager, and between these sycophants, it is actually very difficult to coexist peacefully...

Indeed, with just a slight hint from her, Wei Zheng had an "epiphany."

"Could it be Fang Fucai? That rootless old cur!"

The only person from the Empress Dowager’s side who had been to Andu County was the eunuch Fang Fucai.

As far as Wei Zheng knew, Fang Fucai had always been doing the Empress Dowager’s bidding, planting many of his own people in Andu County to monitor Pei Jue and the Northern Yong Army.

And Wei Zheng had always been at odds with Fang Fucai.

Relying on the convenience of serving close to the Empress Dowager, Fang almost controlled the intelligence of the palace’s servants. Ever since he found out that the Empress Dowager intended to form a new "Imperial Cavalry Division", and had the intention of promoting him to the head of the Imperial Cavalry Division, Fang had been targeting him out of fear of losing power, throwing obstacles in his way at every turn.

Moreover, that old cur Fang had brought in the pretty boy Song Shou’an, clearly to cross him.

These days, Song Shou’an had been frequenting Jiafu Palace, practically sticking to the Empress Dowager’s side...

And just then, the Empress Dowager had sent him out of the capital.

Wei Zheng even remembered leaving for Jiafu Hall before departing the capital; that Fang Fucai had even smiled at him...

A smile that was utterly nauseating, saying something like "Wishing General Wei success upon your steed," when in fact the beads of his abacus were already clicking right in front of his face. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

What a Fang Fucai!

What a poisonous scheme!

It was simply indefensible.

Even if the Empress Dowager, for the sake of her own dignity, spared his life, how could he earn her trust again? How could he become the head of the Imperial Cavalry Division?

"General Wei?" Feng Yun softly called out.

Little did she know, in just a moment, Wei Zheng’s mind had conjured up a palace drama of over ten thousand words, even imagining the real mastermind behind the scenes.

"I was merely speculating wildly, and don’t know the affairs of the imperial family. If I misspoke, I hope General Wei won’t take it to heart..."

Wei Zheng furrowed his brows, examining her.

A beautiful lady naturally has a certain advantage in gaining trust in front of men, and looking at Feng Yun again, he no longer held any animosity towards her, his expression also somewhat softened.

"You haven’t said anything wrong," Wei Zheng responded quite frankly, bowing slightly to Feng Yun, "I misunderstood you and nearly made a grave mistake."

Feng Yun smiled faintly, "Then can General Wei answer the question I just asked?"

Wei Zheng paused, "What is it that Lady Feng wants to know?"

Feng Yun replied, "Why does General Wei despise me, arriving in Andu bent on seeing me dead?"

Wei Zheng: ...

He had no answer.

After all, the one who truly despised Feng Yun was not him, but the Empress Dowager.

And it was merely out of jealousy over another man.

Upon realizing this, he found that he and Feng Yun were somewhat in the same predicament, both the victims of someone’s schemes behind their backs...

But Wei Zheng did not dare say that.

He said, "Wei only came to Andu to carry out orders and bears no personal grudge against Lady Feng."

The answer was not unexpected.

Taking advantage of the situation, Feng Yun let out a long sigh of relief.

"That’s good," she said.

Then she added, "In that case, General Wei, why not come to my humble abode for a cup of tea? We can discuss in detail how you plan to resolve the current predicament."

Wei Zheng was greatly surprised. "Lady Feng has a way to help me?" he asked.

Feng Yun lowered her eyes, appearing as a meek woman without temper, and upon closer inspection, she even seemed slightly shy.

"What can a mere woman like me do? It is the Great General who left a message, saying that he would do his utmost to protect General Wei..."

Wei Zheng tensed, "The Great General?"

Feng Yun nodded slightly, "The Great General came to Huaxi Village today precisely because of General Wei’s affair. He said General Wei is a rare talent, and it would be a pity if he were punished for a mere personal integrity issue..."

Wei Zheng’s eyes widened, "Did the Great General really say that?"

Feng Yun smiled faintly, "Why would I lie to General Wei? I wouldn’t gain anything from it, and it’s not worth telling such a lie..."

A wave of warmth surged up his back.

For some reason, Wei Zheng felt somewhat elated.

That was the Great General after all!

Both friends and critics said that Wei Zheng only gained favor from the Empress Dowager because of his good looks, especially that old cur Fang Fucai’s people, who always mocked him in private...

But the Great General believed him to be a pillar of the state.

Seeing the change in his expression, Feng Yun sighed.

"But the current matter is truly embarrassing, and it’s inconvenient for the Great General to intervene. So, he could only have me relay the message to General Wei..."

At this point, what reason would Wei Zheng have to refuse?

He bowed, turning toward the direction of Jieqiu Mountain and sincerely expressed his gratitude to the Great General, before following Feng Yun towards Changmen Village.

After inviting Wei Zheng into the West Hall, Feng Yun also called Luo Yue to serve at his side and spoke with him for a good while.

When he entered, Wei Zheng’s face was clouded with sullenness.

Upon leaving the estate, his face bore a hint of a smile.

Clearly, Feng Yun’s words had pleased him.

Ao Qi had followed Feng Yun for most of the night, only approaching after Wei Zheng had left, "Is the matter resolved?"

Feng Yun, somewhat tired, yawned.

Only after hearing Ao Qi’s question did she turn around and look at him with a smile.

"Didn’t Guard Ao see it all? General Wei and I have settled our differences," she said.

Ao Qi asked, "What did you say to him, my lady?"

After thinking for a moment, Feng Yun told the truth.

"I just said that the Great General would plead on his behalf to the Empress Dowager, assuring him that he can return to Central Capital without fear for his life. As for the rumors, I have a way to solve them for him..."

Ao Qi was incredulous.

"Why would the Great General plead for that man surnamed Wei? And the rumors from Andu County have probably already spread to Central Capital; how can my lady solve it?" he questioned.

Feng Yun replied, "Whether the Great General pleads or not, how would that Wei know? As for the solution, that’s the advice I gave General Wei."

Ao Qi was utterly confused, unable to understand.

And Feng Yun, truly exhausted, yawned, tears welling in her eyes.

"It’s getting late, and I’m tired. Guard Ao should also head back to rest soon. We can talk more tomorrow if need be," she said.

After taking a few steps, she seemed to remember something and turned back to give Ao Qi a curtsy.

"I owe a debt of gratitude for Guard Ao’s protection tonight; otherwise, I wouldn’t have dared to confront Wei Zheng so boldly in the middle of the night."

Ao Qi opened his mouth, intending to say a few caring words, but when the words reached his lips, they changed to,

"It’s my duty to carry out the General’s orders. There’s no need for thanks."

Feng Yun offered a faint smile and departed.

Only when her figure was no longer visible did Ao Qi suddenly come to his senses, wishing he could punch his tongue-tied mouth.

-

The next day before dawn, Wei Zheng sent a messenger to Central Capital.

This letter not only spoke of loyalty, heartfelt sincerity, and wrongful accusation but also included a purse, vividly describing Fang Fucai’s malicious entrapment and fiercely registering a complaint against Eunuch Fang.

The messenger galloped away from outside Changmen Village.

An hour later, after rising, Feng Yun received the news from the jubilant Xing Bing.

"My lady truly has a divine foresight," he said.