Chapter 584 - 420: Straight to the Soul

This season, night falls early; no sooner had it gotten dark than the temperature was cold as ice drilling into one’s bones.

Feng Yun was extremely cold-sensitive. Xiaoman took out the fur-lined overcoat made from fox pelts last year and draped it over her, feeling it was very timely and appropriate.

The collar of this overcoat was lined with fox fur personally hunted by Pei Jue himself. He was very familiar with it and, seeing Feng Yun wear it, his eyes narrowed slightly as he said:

"In a couple of days, I’ll find some time to head to the mountain."

Feng Yun took out the silk from her sachet and handed it to Xiaoman, distractedly asking:

"What for?"

Pei Jue glanced at her, "See if I can hunt a couple of good pelts."

Feng Yun let out a light oh, her smile rippling through eyes and brows, warm and alluring, "Is this a congratulatory gift for my promotion to Chief Historian of the Royal Mansion? I thank you, Great King."

Her voice was charming and tender, her gaze shifting and casting ripples.

Like scissors cutting through fog, it seeped straight into the heart.

Without doing a thing, she nonetheless gave him a strong impact...

Pei Jue’s mouth twitched upward, replying faintly, "The congratulatory gift will be something else."

Feng Yun feigned surprise, looking at him, "Really? The Great King is indeed gracious. I am thankful here..."

She bowed to Pei Jue, and as his gaze swept toward the window into the courtyard, he lowered his voice, "There’s no need to rush your thanks, Lady Yun must be able to bear it though..."

Feng Yun’s neck stiffened, and it was a while before she lifted her head, looking at the man sitting upright and proper, a faint smile curling at the corner of her mouth, she laughed softly, "That would be wonderful, if the Great King dares to give, I will dare to take."

Pei Jue originally intended to tease her, but did not expect such a response. Her soft, featherlike words brushed against his face, tickling and numbing him, a hot and heavy sensation sinking into the pit of his stomach.

Pei Jue reached out to pull her over, and with Feng Yun caught off guard, she ended up sitting on his lap.

He didn’t use much force, controlling her with just the right amount of pressure. With only a slight touch, she melted, leaning against him, her voice moist and soft.

"Mmm..."

This tone darkened Pei Jue’s eyes.

He lowered his head and tenderly pecked on Feng Yun’s forehead.

"Lady Yun, get some rest early tonight."

Feng Yun murmured an agreement, utterly defenseless under the warmth of his hands.

She found that after taking that drug, her body seemed to have undergone a huge change...

She became exceedingly sensitive.

Sometimes even if her mind wasn’t quite in it, she couldn’t escape the lurking devil...

She took two quick breaths, stopping Pei Jue’s hand, tensing up as she glared at him, nearly crying out aloud.

"There’s someone outside."

The curtains hung down, leaving only the two of them in the room.

Pei Jue: "Shh."

In battle, he was an invincible general who conquered cities and territories; in the wilderness, he was also a skilled hunter, patient and unhurried, consuming his prey bite by bite...

"Mmm." Feng Yun’s cheeks were scorching, her ear tips burned red, nearly about to lose control when, from outside, Xing Dala came panting and cheerfully reported with a bow:

"Madame, a gift has arrived from Xijing."

Another gift?

In the recent months, Feng Yun truly experienced the joy of "icing on the cake."

When things were going her way, countless people were willing to curry favor. Yet, once hard times hit, falling from grace, there would only be insult upon injury, with scarce few lending a helping hand in the snow.

This was also why she found people like Puyang Yi so precious.

She glanced at Pei Jue and smiled, "I’ll go have a look."

Pei Jue withdrew his hand and released her, his voice husky as his hand rested on a teacup, "Go ahead."

Feng Yun pursed her lips in a smile, twirling around to lift the curtain, and as Pei Jue looked up, he caught a whiff of fragrance through the curtain and a fleeting shadow went by.

He sighed softly.

Feng Yun hadn’t expected the delivery to be from the Ao Residence in Xijing.

It wasn’t to celebrate her promotion, but a thank-you gift for preparing Ao Qi’s wedding.

Apart from the gifts, the Ao Family had also sent some wedding items and gold and silver jewelry, filling three horse-drawn carts, guarded by the Ao Family’s guards all the way to Huaxi, an ostentatious sight parked outside the door.

Feng Yun had people open the gates and asked Xing Dala to bring the account books to record the gifts and the items the Ao Family sent for inventory, so they could later confirm with the Ao Residence...

"We can’t be careless with matters of money, you need to be meticulous."

What others give is their gift; what is theirs is theirs—Feng Yun was very particular, often reminding them to act prudently.

Xing Dala had grown another year older by the year’s end, a faint trace of a beard budding at the corners of his mouth, making him look more mature and steady.

"Madam needn’t worry, there will be no mistakes."

After Feng Yun tallied the items, she sent the servants to take the people from the Ao Residence for a meal in the dining hall, and upon returning, she reported the matter to Pei Jue.

"I haven’t even started managing this, and the Ao Family’s gifts have arrived. I can’t neglect it now..."

As she spoke, she handed a letter over to Pei Jue.

"Please review it, Great King."

On the envelope was written "From your brother and sister-in-law," in elegant handwriting, appearing to be Pei Yao’s.

Feng Yun did not open the letter and directly handed it to Pei Jue.

Without saying much, Pei Jue opened and read the letter, his brows furrowing.

Feng Yun observed his expression and asked with a smile, "What is it?"

Pei Jue pushed the letter in front of her.

Feng Yun lifted her eyebrows. "Moving one’s mouth to speak could cause one’s lips to blister, could it not?"

Pei Jue: ...

Feng Yun glanced at him with a hint of reproach and took the letter.

In the letter, Pei Yao, apart from sending her regards, mainly talked about two matters.

The first was about her elderly father whose old ailment had flared up again. His legs and feet were in pain and he was inconvenienced from travel. She would need to stay at home to take care of him until the middle of November before she could depart for Andu with her entire family. Ao Qi’s wedding, hence, would require her aunt, Feng Yun, to take on more responsibility.

Secondly, she mentioned the Cui Family’s situation: the mother of the Cui Family had hung herself, leaving the two Misses Cui, sisters, without support. Pei Yao, remembering their old ties, was preparing to send someone to Central Capital to bring them to her residence.

What she planned to do with them once they were brought to her residence, Pei Yao did not say.

Cui Zhi was currently a state slave, and could not become Ao Qi’s wife. But Pei Yao had always cherished Cui Zhi very much and was likely unable to bear seeing her in difficulty. Moreover, Ao Qi had repeatedly delayed the marriage, so Pei Yao probably felt somewhat guilty in her heart.

As for whether there were any other considerations, that was unknown.

Feng Yun set down the letter and smiled.

"This Miss Cui has become hot property. The Lord of Pingyuan County has gone to Xijing to fetch her, and now the Ao Residence is involved too. I’m afraid they might start fighting over her."

Her tone was joking, yet Pei Jue’s brows knitted slightly.

"My older sister is merciful."

Feng Yun nodded, not responding.

"Let her be," Pei Jue said calmly, then turned to Feng Yun. "As for Ao Qi’s affair, I’ll have to trouble Lady Yun. If you find yourself stretched too thin, you may delegate it to Alou. That would be acceptable."

Alou, though not very old, was methodical in his actions, which Pei Jue knew because he was the competent butler personally trained by Feng Yun.

Feng Yun shook her head. "Other matters can be postponed, but not this one. I must attend to it personally."

Pei Jue didn’t say much more and once again reached out, intending to pull her to him.

But before he could touch her, Feng Yun spoke up.

"If Your Majesty is tired, rest first. I still have to accompany my elder brother to the new residence. He leaves early tomorrow, and I must take this opportunity to discuss the house matters with him."

Wen Xingsu claimed to be completely accommodating, but in the end, it was his residence, and many decisions still required his approval.

"Go to sleep early."

With that, she turned and left again.

Pei Jue’s hand fell onto the teacup and he sighed deeply.

-

As Feng Yun exited the courtyard, she saw Wen Xingsu standing under a flower wall.

The leaves had almost entirely fallen. A once blossoming tree now appeared dry and withered, its bareness suggesting desolation.

Feng Yun approached him. "Elder brother, you don’t look very well. Are you tired? Shall we postpone visiting the new residence until tomorrow?"

Wen Xingsu, who had been lost in thought, turned to her with a warm smile upon hearing her voice.

"It’s nothing serious. A walk after dinner can be good."

When it came to the matters of construction and house building, Wen Xingsu had not been very interested from the start.

Having spent years in the military, he had only bought a residence in Xinzhou once before—the Chunpei Academy—simply to make it convenient for Feng Yun to stay over...

But with Feng Yun busy managing things for him, it would be excessive if he showed no reaction at all.

Hence, Wen Xingsu discussed the matter affectionately with Feng Yun along the way.

The new residence was not far from Changmen, just to the west of Chunyu Yan’s estate. About two hundred more steps from there, it used to be a barren hill with woods that couldn’t grow any crops. After Feng Yun sold the land next to it to Puyang Yi at a high price, subsequent renovations expanded the road wide enough to accommodate two carriages side by side.

As a result, Wen Xingsu’s house construction saved the step of building a new road, making the process more convenient.

Work had ceased for the night, but materials were piled up everywhere, and people had built huts to keep watch overnight.

When Feng Yun and Wen Xingsu arrived with a few servants, they passed by Yi Garden and faintly heard the sound of muffled crying from within...

"No matter what, I’ve already sent people to Central Capital, they can’t be caught now... If mother wishes to punish someone, let it be me..."

The two exchanged a glance.

Feng Yun said, "That sounds like the Lord of Pingyuan County?"

Wen Xingsu was silent, gazing at her quietly.

Feng Yun paused slightly, then broke into a wry smile.

"You can’t hide fire within paper; it seems the Grand Princess has found out... Let’s go; we’re here to see the house."

The Grand Princess had a soft spot for her children and though she would scold them, once scolded, it would be over.

Otherwise, she would not have suggested such a plan to Puyang Yi...

"Had I known in advance that the Ao Family was going to act, I would not have spoken as I did."

Wen Xingsu said, "How could that be blamed on you? You were genuinely trying to help."

Feng Yun nodded, turned to Xiaoman, and instructed, "Go at once and see the County Lord. Tell her that the Ao Family has sent people to Central Capital. You need not say anything more."

What she chose to do with that information was her own business.

Xiaoman obeyed and turned back to knock on the door of Yi Garden.

Feng Yun and Wen Xingsu moved on, guided by the wind lanterns hung up by the night watchman.

Pinshu walked ahead with the lantern, providing faint light. With the brightness of Yi Garden’s lamps behind them, Feng Yun kept looking back towards Xiaoman’s direction. Distracted, she stepped carelessly and her foot slipped into a drainage ditch...

"Be careful." Wen Xingsu instinctively reached out to catch Feng Yun as she stumbled, pulling her into his arms.

Feng Yun steadied herself with a hiss of pain.

"Oh no, my foot... I’ve twisted it."