A few maidservants giggled as they expressed their gratitude for the favor, then they withdrew.
From beginning to end, Feng Yun didn’t hear Cui Zhi’s voice.
She glanced at Amir who was completely oblivious and gave a shallow smile.
"Let’s go this way."
Amir, unaware of Ao Qi’s affairs, looked down and fiddled with his sleeve, frowning discontentedly, "It’s all Ao Qi’s fault for not telling that sea squirts don’t bite, making embarrass myself."
Feng Yun found her innocence and frankness amusing, smiled, and said no more, personally taking Amir to change her clothes, and then brought her back to the hall, discovering Pei Jue had already returned.
Early today, Pei Jue had gone to the various military camps in West Capital City.
This was his longstanding tradition, on New Year’s Day, he would definitely have lunch with the soldiers, or at the very least, drop by to greet them.
"Your Highness." Feng Yun bowed respectfully, then sat down next to him.
Looking at each other, she smiled subtly.
"How was it? Nobody gave you trouble, right?"
Pei Jue: "It’s the New Year, who would be so troubled to do that?"
Feng Yun paused for a mont, then let out a light laugh, "You’ve relegated Lou Ding to the Northern Rong, do you think the old party can swallow that? At yesterday’s feast, I saw that Minister Ruan’s complexion was not looking very good."
Suddenly, Pei Jue grasped her hand and stared at her intently.
"Is Lady Yun worried about ?"
Feng Yun glanced sideways at him, "What do you think? Does my face look like I’m capable of worrying?"
Pei Jue raised his eyebrows, changing the subject.
"I heard sothing related to you when I went out today."
Feng Yun was slightly startled, "? What about ?"
Pei Jue, looking at her, said: "There’s a rumor going around that His Majesty wishes to acknowledge you as his godmother, and as his godfather."
Feng Yun was taken aback.
In ordinary households, acknowledging godparents is a trivial matter, but how can the Emperor carelessly do the sa?
The rumor being circulated clearly signaled that Pei Jue harbored ambitions to usurp the throne...
"Who is so bold as to fabricate such affairs of the imperial family?"
Pei Jue paused, his voice as cold as ice.
"It seems that the evil spirits hiding in West Capital City can’t wait to co out and court death."
"It’s really strange..."
Last night, when she was talking to Ayuan, she hadn’t noticed anyone around.
Unless soone deliberately targeted them.
It wasn’t her they were after, it was the Young Emperor.
A chill wind blew through the corridor, passing the curtains, and Feng Yun suddenly felt cold.
-
This year’s New Year’s Eve dinner at the Pei Residence was imbued with a strong festive spirit.
Feng Yun suggested that since having dinner as a family was for unity, they should sit around a round table and have a reunion dinner, so they arranged a long table for everyone to sit together.
Pei Chong sat at the head, with Pei Jue and his wife Feng Yun on the left, Pei Yao on the right, and at the end were Ao Qi and Amir, along with the young ones, Azuo and Ayou.
The family sat together neatly, the atmosphere harmonious and beautiful.
However, Pei Chong excused himself early from the table, letting soone wheel him away from the feast.
Amir, seeing the solemn expression on everyone’s faces, felt afraid.
Because she didn’t understand the rules, she had already caused quite a few problems these days.
She whispered, "Is it because I... don’t know how to speak, have I offended Grandfather?"
Ao Qi frowned upon seeing her, "It’s none of your business, eat your food."
Amir uttered an ’oh’, quietly bowed her head, and when no one was paying attention, she rolled her eyes at Ao Qi again.
"You..." Ao Qi was lost for words.
Pei Yao’s gaze swept over with a faint air, followed by a sigh.
"I’m missing my mother. Every year we’re supposed to reunite, yet every year we remain apart."
Pei Chong’s deep affection for his late wife was sothing Feng Yun had sowhat heard of, and deep down she couldn’t help but feel that a man like her father-in-law, who was so deeply loving, was a real man. What woman wouldn’t die for such devotion?
She turned to serve Pei Jue a dish with her chopsticks, smiling softly.
"If you could be half the man your father is, our country would surely be in peace and the people at ease."
Pei Jue looked up, utterly confused.
Feng Yun’s smile was radiant. "Eat up, it’s specially made in the kitchen for you. Man-eating beast ... oh no, spicy diced chicken."
Pei Jue:...
-
That very night, Ao Qi and Amir stayed at the Pei Residence.
Considering they were a couple, Feng Yun had a room arranged just for the two of them.
But when she woke up the next day, awakened by Xiaoman, she learned that Ao Qi, having a tiff with his new wife, had added blankets and mats, and eventually slept in the side room with the young Amir.
She was amused and sympathetic.
"The side room doesn’t have a warm stove, he must have been freezing. Command the kitchen to make so ginger soup for General Ao."
Xiaoman nodded in agreent.
Feng Yun had Huanhuan and Peipei co to help her get dressed.
Although the Pei Family lacked close relatives in West Capital City, it was certain that people would co to visit on the first day of the New Year. Even if she was not in the mood for socializing, Feng Yun had to get up and do what was expected of the Princess of Yonghuai.
She was prepared, yet the first to arrive at the mansion to offer New Year’s greetings were Wei Zheng and Luo Yue.
Feng Yun and Luo Yue, having not seen each other for a long ti, had a lot to say. They left the n in the front hall and went to the back yard to chat.
As they spoke of their experiences since they had parted, the two held hands, sighing and lanting.
"I really miss Andu, those sisters who shared hardship. If I could just go back for a look, that would be great."
Hearing that Wen Hui had married, Daman had returned to Nanqi, Ying Rong beca the manager of the Cheng Yi Workshop, Chai Ying and Nan Kui were able to stand on their own, Guan Wei found love, Awan set up a noodle stall, and even Xiaoman was engaged.
"Everyone is doing so well, all thanks to you, dear sister. It’s all thanks to you."
Luo Yue alternated between tears and laughter before continuing with her own story.
"Without you by my side, coming out on my own made life much harder. At first, there was no shortage of gossip. They said I was a little entertainer picked up from a brothel by my master, not worthy of carrying on the Wei lineage. Laughter followed inside and outside of the estate. Eventually, my husband discreetly dealt with a few troublemakers, quieting down those with loose tongues. As ti went on, people began to respect ..."
After giving birth, Luo Yue grew plumper and her complexion rosier, giving her the appearance of a woman blessed with good fortune.
Feng Yun said with a smile, "As long as sister is happy, that’s all that matters."
Luo Yue pursed her lips and gave a bitter smile.
"As long as they don’t gossip about to my face, I can’t be bothered with what they say behind my back. Anyway, my life is better than theirs now... I have a son and have experienced joy. From now on, let things happen as they may."
Feng Yun had a smile on her face, but hearing the latter half, she felt an inexplicable sadness settle in.
She asked, "Why the resignation?"
Luo Yue suddenly lowered her gaze, lifting the corners of her mouth in a sad semblance of a smile.
"Wei Zheng is taking another wife."
Feng Yun looked at her, at a loss for words.
Luo Yue’s low birth and the ignominious beginning of her relationship with Wei Zheng had brought much criticism. These were things she could scarcely and in her lifeti.
Feng Yun asked, "What are you planning to do?"
Luo Yue shook her head. "From day one with Wei Zheng, I knew this day would co. It’s just that I never expected..."
She lifted Feng Yun’s hand to her chest.
"I never imagined it would feel so... like my heart was being torn to pieces."
Feng Yun’s expression subtly changed.
How casually Luo Yue had spoken of leaving Andu before, as if she had seen through all romantic affections and sought only what she craved, never coveting that man’s heart—
Yet, had she not fallen in love throughout their daily interactions?
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