Chapter 621 - 448

Pei Jue gave an "mm" and strode ahead.

Jiu You proudly lifted his chin towards Zuo Zhong and quickly followed, "My liege, please slow down and allow your servant to attend to you."

Zuo Zhong’s cheeks twitched as he watched.

He thought to himself that even Jiu You managed to live well right under the king’s nose; it was really undeserved for the king to bear the name "cruel."

Pei Jue had just left the courtyard and had not yet taken his leave of Pei Chong when Pei Yao came over, leading Azuo and Ayou, the two children.

Upon hearing that he was going back to Huaxi, Pei Yao didn’t say anything, but the two children started to scream.

"I want to go with Uncle to play."

"Me too!"

"I want to go to Aunt’s house."

"Me too."

"I want to eat the pastries from Aunt’s house."

"Me too!"

Azuo said, Ayou agreed; the pair were harmonizing. Pei Yao listened with a headache forming. Her eyebrows were just starting to furrow, and before she could refuse, she saw Pei Jue nod his head.

"Go ahead."

Azuo and Ayou immediately cheered.

Pei Yao was stunned, looking at him strangely.

He had the patience to take children with him today?

-

After returning to the manor, Feng Yun didn’t send Yuan Shangyi back. Instead, she let Dong Bai return to give the Female Historian Lin a message saying that the Emperor would dine there today and not to wait for long.

The Female Historian Lin was extremely unwilling.

But as one living under another’s roof, she had no choice but to oblige Feng Yun.

She only thought that once back in the capital, she would never come again. With only a few days left, she would just endure it, complying with her wishes.

Yuan Shangyi was very happy.

Feng Yun pushed aside the miscellaneous affairs of the house and focused on playing with the children. She didn’t expect that Chunyu Yan would visit unexpectedly.

The man seemed to be in a strange high spirit, cheerfully leading seven or eight attendants, walking towards her surrounded by his entourage. Even behind a mask, his barely suppressed joy was palpable. Upon seeing Feng Yun, he asked:

"Have you prepared all the New Year goods? I’m sending people to Yunchuan tomorrow. If there’s anything you want to send or bring, just let me know."

Upon seeing him, Yuan Shangyi repressed his expression.

Chunyu Yan seemed to only then recognize the Young Emperor, stepped forward and saluted, "Your Majesty."

"Princely Heir, please dispense with the formalities." Yuan Shangyi automatically switched to a little adult’s demeanor, glanced at Feng Yun, and said, "I’ll wait for the lady inside."

Feng Yun patted his head, agreed with a ’sure’, and turned to Chunyu Yan, "There is no need to trouble the Princely Heir. Our Dajin is rich and the people are prosperous, why look far and wide for what is close at hand?"

Chunyu Yan curved his lips up, "Yunchuan has its specialties which you can’t buy elsewhere, but never mind, you’re too shy to say it, so I’ll decide for you. I’ll bring a bit of everything... butter cookies, mushroom tea..."

Feng Yun inhaled, "Which eye of yours sees me too shy to speak?"

Chunyu Yan grinned: "I understand you."

Feng Yun: "...Thank you, but there’s no need."

Chunyu Yan said, "Why so formal between neighbors?"

Feng Yun didn’t want to continue arguing and turned to leave, but to her surprise, Chunyu Yan quickly took two steps forward, spreading his arms to block her way.

"Feng Twelve."

Feng Yun stopped to look at him.

Chunyu Yan lowered his arms and gestured towards her.

"Don’t be so cold. There are many subordinates watching; save me some face. After all, we did collaborate. I didn’t wrong you, right?"

Feng Yun hesitated for a moment, then smiled and returned the gesture deeply.

"Then I thank the Princely Heir. We’ll take one cart of each specialty you mentioned."

She originally intended to block Chunyu Yan’s mouth with her words, but to her surprise, the Princely Heir laughed upon hearing them.

"Alright! You’re my honored ancestor; whatever you ask for, how could I refuse? Let alone one cart, even if it’s ten carts, I’ll have them delivered to you."

Wealthy and generous.

Feng Yun pursed her lips and decided to ignore him.

Yet Chunyu Yan began arranging things on his own accord.

"When they go back to the capital to celebrate the New Year, only the two of us will be left in Huaxi. It’ll be nice to spend it together..."

Before Feng Yun could respond, she saw Pei Jue arrive with Azuo and Ayou.

The cold wind was biting, grass and trees were rustling.

He stood right there at the mouth of the wind, letting the fierce wind billow his sleeves, undulating like waves...

When the children spotted Feng Yun, they screamed.

"Auntie!" she exclaimed, and then hurried forward, eager to be first.

Pei Jue walked calmly behind, exchanging a glance with Chunyu Yan, eyes deep as still waters.

Chunyu Yan raised an eyebrow, giving Feng Yun a "stay calm and don’t be impatient" look, then bowed to Pei Jue.

"Brother Wangzhi returns at just the right time, I was just discussing the New Year with Feng Twelve..." he said, then added an explanation.

"It was nothing else, Brother Wangzhi, please don’t misunderstand."

Was he begging to be misunderstood?

Jiu You, who followed behind Pei Jue, clenched his fists in anger.

While Chunyu Yan’s attendants, Sang Jiao and Yin You, hung their heads in shame.

Feng Yun remained silent.

Seeing Pei Jue approach, she became momentarily distracted.

He seemed to have lost weight in the mere two days since she’d last seen him.

"My lord," she greeted with a bow.

Pei Jue grunted, glanced at Chunyu Yan, "My wife and I have something to discuss, Princely Heir, please."

Chunyu Yan despised his "rightful husband" demeanor, that air of arrogance...

As if being married was such an accomplishment...

The anger surged within him, but it dissipated when he met Feng Yun’s gaze.

A rightful husband indeed was an accomplishment.

Others could openly sleep and dine with Feng Twelve...

Do as they will.

Not like him at all, right?

Having to watch others’ faces just to give a gift.

Chunyu Yan gave a dismissive chuckle, not wanting to let Pei Jue get comfortable, and threw a meaningful glance at Feng Yun.

"That settles it then. Have a good talk with Brother Wangzhi, I’ll take my leave."

Feng Yun watched his retreating figure, feeling a bit amused.

She didn’t respond or offer an explanation but patted Azuo and Ayou on the head and asked Pei Jue, "What did you want to talk about, my lord?"

Pei Jue stared into her eyes, silent for a long while, then asked:

"Today at the tea house, were you frightened?"

As soon as he spoke, Jiu You closed his eyes.

He had thought the prince would ask the princess, "Would you like to come back to the capital with me for the New Year..."

Who could have expected such an indifferent question?

Did the Princess look frightened?

Jiu You was anxious for him, but Pei Jue showed no reaction.

Of course, neither did Feng Yun.

She shook her head and responded with a light laugh, "It’s Ayuan who was a little startled, but I’ve calmed him down. I’ve suspended his lessons for a while, so he can play to his heart’s content. Once we’re back in the capital, he won’t be able to relax like this."

She spoke casually, laughter in her voice.

Not mentioning the return to the capital, yet already aware of it.

Pei Jue pondered, "Good."

Feng Yun asked, "Has the day of departure been set?"

Pei Jue replied, "The fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month."

Feng Yun calculated, "That’s not many days away, I’ll need to prepare some New Year goods for you, my lord, to take back with you."

Pei Jue’s throat moved slightly, "Thank you."

Feng Yun’s smile grew, "What’s there to thank me for, what are we to each other?"

She winked at Pei Jue and led the two children to see Yuan Shangyi.

Ayuan was used to loneliness, these two clever kids would probably delight him no end.

As for Pei Jue’s New Year return to the capital without inviting her, Feng Yun’s heart might have felt a fleeting pang of sorrow, but it quickly vanished.

Since it was her choice, there was nothing to complain about.

Without the burden, it was even better.

She genuinely didn’t take the matter to heart, and soon her laughter and that of the children echoed from the house.

Pei Jue stood in the corridor, his gaze fixed on that clear and lovely face, the charming blink and smile, unmoving for a long time.