"Of course, I’m willing to supply as much as needed," she waved Ge Guang over and gave a series of instructions in this and that manner before raising her eyebrows.
"I’m going to make him lose even his underpants."
Ge Guang’s face lit up with joy as he clasped his hands together in a respectful gesture.
"Understood, I will take care of it right away," he responded.
The others stared at her, dumbfounded.
Even Pei Jue’s face, which was usually expressionless, revealed a hint of surprise.
Feng Yun’s tone was casual, but the domineering attitude revealed in her words was extraordinary.
However, the more one thought about it, the more it seed like child’s play.
Open a shop just like that while strolling down the street?
He said, "Has Lady Yun considered this thoroughly?"
Feng Yun smiled, "No need to consider. This business... has no room for loss. Not just in Baihe but in other counties as well. Hmph, you earn my money and still want to smash my pot? If I don’t show so color, they really think I was raised a vegetarian!"
Pei Jue seldom interfered with her business dealings, pretending to be ignorant.
Yuan Shangyi suddenly said in a low voice with a pout, "That shopkeeper earlier was mocking my lady for not being able to afford charcoal balls, even telling my lady to get lost..."
Pei Jue’s brows furrowed slightly, but he said nothing.
In his heart, however, he thought, that shopkeeper’s dood.
Lady Yun was truly vindictive, a person who would always demand payback.
—
Feng Yun visited the rouge, ready-to-wear, and jewelry shops before eating in Baihe City and then returning to the posthouse.
Xiaoman and Jiu You arrived a step later that afternoon, bringing back Jin Shuang and Pin Shuang.
The two sisters had red eyes from crying, but being in such a plight, yet still able to receive help from the Princess, they were obviously grateful.
Feng Yun didn’t say much, instructing Xiaoman to take them down and ensure they were thoroughly familiar with Changn’s rules.
Jin Shuang and Pin Shuang went down with a thousand thanks.
Xiaoman was busy preparing clothes and food, treating them with great enthusiasm...
The rain and snow stopped in the afternoon, and the team was set to depart at 5-7 AM the next day.
Fearful of the cold, Feng Yun curled up alone in the Chaoyang Pavilion’s room, holding a baby ao and warming herself by the fire while reading.
At dusk, the courtyard suddenly filled with the languid sound of silk and bamboo music, light and delightful to the ear, but upon close listening, it carried a deep-seated sorrow that fell into the ears and unconsciously brought one’s spirits down.
Feng Yun put down her book and went out to watch.
There were quite a few people under the corridors of the courtyard.
Servants, guards—many gathered there.
Jin Shuang and Pin Shuang, the two sisters, one plucked a konghou while the other played a xiao to accompany the music; their half-damp dark hair loosely tied into buns, their remarkably similar and beautiful faces looked ethereal and moving. The fact that they were twins added an extra haunting charm.
Feng Yun noticed Jiu You, Ye Chuang, Lin Zhuo, and the other guards were all watching.
A few servant girls were also particularly excited, continuously voicing their approval.
In Changn, the concubines would occasionally play music and sing for entertainnt—Feng Yun didn’t prohibit it and even liked it a bit...
Life is filled with vexation, and having music for company brings so solace.
But today, as she stood there, having watched for a while, not the slightest smile appeared on her face.
Amid the silence, footsteps approached from behind.
Feng Yun turned around to see Pei Jue.
He had co from the main hall, standing beside Feng Yun with his hands clasped behind his back.
Feng Yun gave a slight smile.
"Has the music also attracted the great king?"
Pei Jue looked down at her, "What do you an by attracted?"
Feng Yun asked, "Don’t you think it sounds good?"
The music was flowing and lodious, the rhythm perfectly touching the heart, truly moving.
She believed that even Pei Jue couldn’t deny outright, against his better nature, that it sounded unpleasant.
Yet, she was mistaken again.
Pei Jue glanced once and said, "I don’t understand it."
Feng Yun:...
His expression was cold, devoid of any pleasure one might associate with sophistication and elegance.
Feng Yun found it a bit amusing.
Even those who don’t understand music can tell whether it’s good or not, right?
This man is pretending.
So she smiled again and raised an eyebrow, "Then tell , Your Majesty, do these two beautiful ladies look good?"
Pei Jue glanced at the crowd around them, "I can’t see."
Feng Yun, "Would Your Majesty like to take a closer look?"
Pei Jue turned his head, his gaze fixing on her eyes.
He didn’t speak, just scrutinized her.
The cool halo in his dark pupils seed to send shivers down Feng Yun’s spine...
He suddenly spoke, "Lady Yun, if you dislike them so much, why did you keep them?"
Pei Jue never interfered with this kind of matter of Feng Yun’s.
But he found her actions now sowhat inscrutable.
Feng Yun didn’t say much, her lips curving slightly, "If I hadn’t kept them, I wouldn’t have been able to hear such astonishingly brilliant music."
While they were talking, soone noticed their presence.
The servant girls and guards all turned their heads to salute them.
Upon seeing Pei Jue, Jin Shuang and Pin Shuang seed startled, promptly stopping their performance, clutching their instrunts, and courteously greeting him and Feng Yun.
"The commoner greets His Majesty and the Princess."
Pei Jue cast a lazy glance at them, neither confirming nor denying.
Feng Yun glanced at the dark arch of his eyebrows and softly giggled, "What piece were you playing? It sounded quite sorrowful."
Jin Shuang, holding her guqin, her delicate face tilted slightly downward, only revealing her full forehead, her voice soft and gentle, like an oriole leaving the valley, the lingering sound entrancing.
"Answering the Princess, this piece is nad ’General’s Command.’ I learned it from Mistress Liu of Huitong Alley. It’s just a crude folk song, unworthy and laughable in the presence of His Majesty and the Princess..."
Feng Yun gave a light laugh, "If this is what you call crude, then no others need bother living."
She then inquired, "Is there a poem to accompany it?"
Pin Shuang was bolder than Jin Shuang. Hearing the question again, she dared to raise her head, her bright and clever eyes shifting back and forth between Pei Jue and Feng Yun.
"Drinking by the frontier, recalling the old general, provokes a lingering sorrow..."
She sang softly, narrating the snowy border skirmishes and the heroic bearing of a general, drawing his bow and mounting his steed, her voice brimming with unshed tears.
Feng Yun clapped, "A fine tune, a fine lody, fine words."
Jin Shuang and Pin Shuang bowed together, "We thank the Princess for her praise."
Feng Yun glanced at Pei Jue and softly smiled, "Continue with your fun, but as the night is cool, rest early and don’t delay tomorrow’s schedule."
"Yes." Everyone bowed together.
Feng Yun, clutching her hand warr, turned to go back inside, and Pei Jue followed her in.
Suddenly turning around, she accidentally bumped into his chest.
Pei Jue reached out to steady her, "Be careful."
Feng Yun rubbed her nose, which had been hurt by the bump, "You’re the one who should be careful!"
"My fault." Pei Jue’s admission ca unexpectedly, and before Feng Yun could react, she felt warmth flood her ears and his arms encircle her waist, pulling her firmly against his solid chest.
Feng Yun softly exclaid, "Stop it, Your Majesty. They are all outside."
Pei Jue lightly stroked her hair, lowered his head to peck her forehead, then lifted her by her waist, "I might not understand music, but I have plenty of redies to treat the Princess’s ailnts."
Feng Yun: ...
Feeling weightless, she wrapped her arms around Pei Jue’s neck, her gaze inadvertently straying toward the window.
In the courtyard, a group was again laughing and playing rrily.
They truly liked Jin Shuang and Pin Shuang.
Indeed, they were two charming young girls...
But, although they were both around fifteen or sixteen, not yet married, the aura emanating from both was utterly unlike Xiaoman’s...
Both the beauty of a young girl and the charm of a young wife were present in them.
Especially Jin Shuang, with her frowns, smiles, and light sorrows, her youthful grace mixed with a seductive allure typically found in married won.
This was the reason she hadn’t wanted to take them in originally.
Feng Yun had seen many beautiful won. The twenty that had been chosen by Feng Jingteng were not inferior in beauty, each with her own distinctive charm...
But strangely, she had never felt threatened by any of them...
The presence of Jin Shuang and Pin Shuang, perhaps it was the wrong timing, or maybe it was their families’ tragic death in a fire that triggered an uneasy feeling hidden deep within her...
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