The Slender Waist-Chapter 735 - 528: Spousal Argument

The residence was set up by Feng Yun, a place for their dwelling.

The small courtyard was elegant and quiet, with all necessary items provided. There would naturally be no issues with staying for a few days.

But not long after the couple returned to the courtyard, a dispute arose...

What the matter was about, others did not know, but one could faintly hear the sound of Feng Yun’s crying coming from the courtyard.

When the news reached Pei Yao, she was somewhat surprised, but she didn’t come forward to mediate.

"Between husband and wife, arguments at the head of the bed lead to peace at its foot. Outsiders should not meddle; better to rest early," she said.

She instructed her maid to prepare the bed and bath, and managed to coax two little trouble-seekers who wanted to join the excitement into sleeping, and just as she was about to go to bed, Feng Yun arrived with red eyes.

Pei Yao hurriedly donned her clothes and asked Jin Shuang to light the candles and bring tea.

Her sister-in-law had come to her with grievances. Regardless of her reluctance to get involved in her brother’s family affairs, she had to welcome her with a smile.

The curtain was lifted, and the cold night breeze poured in.

Feng Yun’s face was solemn, obviously having cried.

But she had always been a proud person, and upon seeing Pei Yao, she composed herself and gave a proper greeting, smiling gracefully.

"I have come to bother elder sister again. Is it convenient?"

Upon seeing her, Pei Yao smiled, "Convenient, convenient. What’s the matter, did Ajue upset you?"

Feng Yun scoffed with a laugh, "Isn’t that so? Forget it, I can’t be bothered with him. Let him be. Tonight, I simply won’t go back; I’ll squeeze in with elder sister instead."

Seeing that she didn’t take the initiative to speak about what the quarrel with her husband was about, Pei Yao didn’t probe further, merely teasing with a smile.

"What about Ajue? Shall I send someone to call him over to make peace for you?"

Feng Yun frowned unhappily, "Why should you bother with her? On such a cold day, he refuses to stay in the house, insisting on going to the Waterside Pavilion to heat wine by the stove. It seems that after being married for so long, he’s tired of me, his homely wife."

Pei Yao was taken aback, then quickly joined her in laughter.

"Perhaps he’s vexed due to his busy official duties lately and Xijing’s unrest," she suggested.

The unrest in Xijing referred to the illness of Yuan Shangyi and Empress Duan, as well as the struggle for power between the new and old parties.

Despite Yecheng’s restoration, if not for Pei Jue’s Northern Yong Army’s presence, the vendettas between the new and old factions could once again tear Dajin apart.

Discontented, Feng Yun lowered her eyes with a faint sigh.

"Family and national affairs are beyond our reach as women. But he shouldn’t take his anger out on me!"

Pei Yao gave her an extra look.

This was not something that would be typically said by her sister-in-law.

And Pei Jue, how could he dare vent his anger on his wife?

Inconceivable.

When the young couple had conflicts, as the elder sister, she should mediate.

Pei Yao suggested with a smile: "In this weather, heating wine by the stove has its own charm. Why not accompany him and have a chat? After all, if husband and wife can speak frankly, things will get better."

Feng Yun’s face stiffened, and with a sweep of her sleeve, she sat firmly still, "Who wants to accompany him? Let him enjoy his slow drinking with his guard."

She then clung to Pei Yao’s arm, smiling, "I’d rather stay here to keep elder sister company, to talk about women’s matters; it’ll be more fun."

Pei Yao was helpless against her, so she just went along with it.

"Alright, alright, we’ll talk, but we can’t let Ajue drink in gloom. I’ll send him some snacks and a pot of Sobering Soup, does that sound good?"

Feng Yun replied lazily, "It’s always been elder sister who dotes on him the most."

-

The night was as deep as ink.

The bamboo curtains of the Pei Residence’s Waterside Pavilion were half-drawn, and the gossamer veils were enchanting.

With no lanterns lit, the red glow of the furnace fire bloomed like flowers in the dark night, particularly eye-catching.

Pei Jue’s back was to the pavilion and the bridge, holding his cup, facing the rockery by the lake, occasionally tilting his head to drink.

Zuo Zhong stood by his side, supporting his sword, motionless.

There was no sound of conversation, only the blub-blub of the plum wine boiling over the charcoal fire, the fragrance filling the air.

Footsteps approached along the pavilion bridge.

There was a flickering Wind-Gown on the bridge, illuminating the faces of Jin Shuang and Pin Shuang.

Zuo Zhong glanced sideways.

Seeing them come over, his brow furrowed slightly.

"Please stop, misses," he said.

Jin Shuang greeted him with a slight bow.

"Big Brother Zuo, we are here by Madame’s orders to bring the General some snacks," she said.

Zuo Zhong asked, "Is Madame aware?"

Pin Shuang smiled, "Princess is chatting with Madame in her courtyard right now."

Zuo Zhong hummed a response, stepped forward a few paces, and extended his hand.

"Give it to me."

Jin Shuang was about to hand over the food box, but as she glanced at the solitary figure in the Waterside Pavilion, she lowered her eyes and said to Zuo Zhong:

"The food is greasy; I’m afraid it would soil Big Brother Zuo’s hands..."

Her beautiful face surpassed many, and her clear eyes seemed to harbor deep lakes, easily mesmerizing...

Zuo Zhong’s gaze shifted slightly.

He stepped aside.

Jin Shuang and Pin Shuang stepped onto the wooden stairs, entering the Waterside Pavilion.

The two walked side by side towards Pei Jue’s back.

"Your Grace, by Madame’s command, we have come to dilute your drink..."

Pei Jue remained silent.

One hand held the cup while the other arm rested on the wooden table, his head slowly drooping down, almost buried in the crook of his arm.

Clearly, he was drunk—

Jin Shuang and Pin Shuang exchanged glances and slowly approached.

Pin Shuang placed the food box on the table and bent down to serve the side dishes.

Jin Shuang gave a small curtsy and said, "Your Highness, by Madame’s order... I’ve brought sobering soup to serve Your Highness. Would you like to have a bowl first?"

The fragrant breeze lightly brushed by. Her voice was tender, seductive, and melodious, much like a peony blooming in the dark night, with a faint fragrance as she leaned closer, bent down to ladle the soup, her skirt swaying lightly, her full, soft breasts pressing entirely against his arm...

Soft and teasing, endlessly suggestive.

The man stiffened for a moment, then suddenly looked up.

"You... How dare you!"

The porcelain bowl in Jin Shuang’s hands slipped and fell, her face turning pale with fright.

The man sitting at the table was not Pei Jue.

It was Jiu You, wearing Pei Jue’s clothes...

He stared at Jin Shuang, his eyes full of disappointment, conveying an indiscernible and inarticulable sadness.

"So this is the kind of woman you truly are."

Jin Shuang took a step back, her complexion pale.

Pin Shuang’s eyes were also wide with disbelief, looking at Jiu You.

"Big Brother Jiu..."

Jin Shuang’s lips trembled slightly, her words clearly tinged with panic.

"How... how could you be here, Big Brother Jiu?"

Jiu You gave a cold laugh.

He slowly stood up and removed the Wind-Gown he was wearing, staring coldly at Jin Shuang.

"If not me, who else? Who are you longing for?"

Jiu You’s voice trembled as he suppressed the heartrending pain.

He liked Jin Shuang too much.

Liked her so much that she filled his heart and his vision.

Liked her to the extent that he couldn’t stand to hear a single bad word about her.

Back in Xijing, he liked it best when the King returned to the Pei Residence.

That way, he could see the one he yearned for. Jin Shuang was always quite affectionate to him, their glances full of mutual understanding. Although they never said anything, Jiu You felt that she had feelings for him too.

Their hearts were in harmony, but Jin Shuang was too pure and beautiful, making Jiu You feel he was not yet worthy. These days, he had been working hard to save up money, and on this expedition to Yecheng, he followed closely by Pei Jue’s side, fighting the enemy bravely.

He wanted to earn his merits to ask for Jin Shuang’s hand in marriage.

That very evening, he knelt before Pei Jue and Feng Yun, asking the King and Princess to matchmake for him...

Zuo Zhong was already married, with Xiaoman.

He was two years younger than Zuo Zhong, and it was time for him to marry. He considered himself handsome and upright, certainly not unworthy of Jin Shuang...

He was very anxious, afraid that the King and Princess would not consent.

To his surprise, as soon as he spoke up, the Princess started to laugh.

The Princess said: "I’ll give you an opportunity."

So he sat there, silently waiting for his chance.

If Jin Shuang hadn’t come to the Waterside Pavilion and handed the food box to Zuo Zhong, or if she and Pin Shuang had come but had not pretended to ladle the soup to seduce him, then tonight would have been his glorious moment...

The Princess would have allowed their marriage, even personally organized a grand and lively celebration for them, just like Zuo Zhong and Xiaoman.

While sitting alone drinking in wait, Jiu You’s head was filled with thoughts: was Jin Shuang going to be happy, how much dowry would be fitting for her delicate beauty, he even started getting excited for the wedding night...

However,

She pressed up against him.

If it hadn’t been for him sitting here, feeling that soft and fragrant caress on his arm, as if there were no bones in it, he would never have believed anyone who told him Jin Shuang had a seductive heart.

Jiu You looked at her with eyes full of disappointment.

"Why do you do this?"

Jin Shuang had recovered from the shock of discovering that Pei Jue was actually Jiu You in disguise. Her soft body trembled, and she looked at Jiu You with innocent eyes.

"Big Brother Jiu, I don’t understand what you’re saying."

Jiu You’s face turned iron blue, "Still pretending?"

Jin Shuang shook her head, "Jin Shuang truly doesn’t know what mistake she has made, why did I anger Big Brother Jiu so?"

As she spoke, her eyes reddened, and she was about to cry.

"Big Brother Jiu, you’ve never treated me this way before. If I’ve done something wrong, you can reprimand me... Please don’t be so harsh."

Pin Shuang also stood indignantly in front of Jin Shuang, looking at Jiu You.

"Yes, Big Brother Jiu, what exactly has my sister done wrong? What do you mean by all this?"

Jiu You’s cheeks flushed red and then turned white.

In front of them, Jiu You could not speak of the suggestive details, and with a flushed face and gritted teeth, he said:

"She tried to seduce, her intentions punishable..."

He sat there.

Both sisters thought he was Pei Jue.

The purpose of the seduction was self-evident.

Jin Shuang’s complexion changed, and she knelt down two steps forward, looking up at Jiu You with boundless sorrow.

"My sister and I were saved by the Princess and given the chance to survive. We were also fortunate to serve Madame Pei, as well as Big Brother Zuo, and Big Brother Jiu has been treating us like his own siblings. Such good days are hard to come by, how could I dare to act recklessly and seduce His Majesty? Big Brother Jiu, you’ve misunderstood me..."

She gently smoothed her hanging hair, her tears glistening.

The glow from the stove illuminated her fair and bright face, showing a pitiful look with traces of allure.

Jiu You’s lips trembled slightly, wanting to curse her with the harshest words in the world, shameless, yet looking at that face, he could not bring himself to speak them.

Zuo Zhong slowly approached, casting a glance at Jiu You.

"No need for further words, take her to see the Princess."

Jiu You felt his ears burning from that look from Zuo Zhong, his whole body as if about to ignite.

It was both shame and anger.

How had he unknowingly fallen into this tender trap...