Chapter 125 - 98: Feng Ji, the Enchantress

Both children knew their manners; led by two servant girls, they approached, first paying respect to Puyang Yi and Cui Zhi, before turning to Feng Yun to act spoiled.

"Auntie, there’s not a single word about me in brother’s letter."

Azuo nodded in agreement, "Why is there nothing about me?"

Ayou pouted, "Brother’s letter only mentions Auntie, with words meant for her..."

Azuo: "And there’s Ao Qi, there’s Ao Qi, but not us."

The two children took turns voicing their discontent. Feng Yun found it amusing because she hadn’t thought much of it, but Cui Zhi’s expression had become somewhat stiff.

On the way there, Madam Ao had told her that Feng Ji was "enchanting," capable of beguiling men.

Before she had set out and entered the palace, her aunt had also given her many warnings. She originally thought Madam Ao and her aunt were concerned about Feng Ji seducing General Pei, but on the day she met Feng Ji in Andu City...

She sat in the carriage, witnessing with her own eyes how Ao Qi came from behind Feng Ji, his gaze upon the lady hot and bright, so focused that he could see no one else around...

Cui Zhi had known Ao Qi for many years.

Since Madam Ao had no daughters, she often went to the residence to keep him company and could claim to know him as well as anyone could.

Ao Qi didn’t like her. Cui Zhi knew this and didn’t really care.

How many couples in the world were actually together because they delighted in each other’s hearts?

Her marriage to Ao Qi had been determined even before she reached womanhood.

She harbored no profound love for anyone; she simply conformed to her parents’ arrangements. She hadn’t even considered that Ao Qi, whom she hadn’t seen in over a year, would grow so tall and handsome, so vigorous and lively that her heart would thunder at a glance...

But he was smiling at another woman.

Cui Zhi felt as though needles were pricking her heart, too upset to bear it.

In that moment, she realized why Madam Ao insisted on her accompanying the Lord of Pingyuan County to Andu and why she repeatedly instructed her to keep an eye on Ao Qi...

It seemed his mother knew of her son’s feelings, wanting to suppress them yet unable to do so.

Yet, what could she do?

That day she and Ao Qi had a brief encounter at the General Residence. She merely relayed Madam Ao’s words, and Ao Qi left impatiently after less than a quarter of an hour.

It was only for the sake of Azuo and Ayou.

The next day, he rushed off to Xinzhou...

He didn’t say goodbye to her; he had left Azuo and Ayou in Feng Yun’s care, not her’s.

Now, receiving a letter, not to mention not mentioning her at all, but even his own siblings were forgotten, his thoughts and eyes filled only with Feng Ji...

In the Central Capital, she had little regard for her aunt worrying as though facing a great enemy.

It was only after arriving in Andu County that she realized Feng Ji might have enchanted Ao Qi to the point of losing his bearings.

Azuo and Ayou were still complaining to Feng Yun about Ao Qi.

Puyang Yi, on the other hand, seemed to enjoy the spectacle and asked for the letter.

"Come, let me have a look, let’s see what your brother wrote..."

The innocent children naturally handed over the letter.

Feng Yun was too slow to stop them and it would have been inappropriate to do so. Instead, she just smiled and asked Xiaoman to bring a handkerchief to wipe the children’s hands.

Puyang Yi read the letter, her cheeks twitching with laughter.

Especially when she saw Ao Qi’s meticulous instructions to Feng Ji on how to eat fish, her expression could no longer be controlled, and she pulled Cui Zhi over, asking:

"Azhi, come and look... I’m dying of laughter, never knew Ao Qi to be so attentive..."

Cui Zhi tugged at the corner of her mouth unnaturally.

"The letter is for Feng Yun, it is not proper for me to look."

Puyang Yi rolled her eyes, "You, apart from sharing my physique, your temperament doesn’t have the slightest trace of my carefree nature. Why fuss over such things?"

The two were usually joking with each other, so Cui Zhi wouldn’t get angry, but perhaps because Feng Yun was present that day, Cui Zhi’s cheeks flared red and her eyes darkened immediately, her lips pressed tightly, looking as though she wanted to explode yet had to bear it.

Of course, she wasn’t considered fat.

In this world, nobody would ridicule someone for being overweight.

For those who had the means to eat well enough to become fat, they were all nobility.

But Cui Zhi already felt heavily overshadowed by Feng Yun in terms of appearance, and combined with Puyang Yi’s thoughtless words, her entire face seemed to collapse.

"Pingyuan, when are you returning to the city?"

She couldn’t bear it any longer and spoke her first words since arriving at Huaxi.

Puyang Yi seemed not to notice her mood.

"There’s no rush, I at least want to have a meal before leaving."

"Let’s go back to the city. It will be dark soon, and it’s not safe."

"I still want to talk to Feng Ji before I leave. I’ve heard the food on her estate is exceptionally good. Don’t you want to try it?"

Cui Zhi’s face was stern, "Then you stay and eat; I will return to the city first."

She could not stand another half moment in this rural estate.

Just as she was about to rise, suddenly a tawny strange cat darted from underfoot, its fluffy body brushing her leg, startling her into a scream.