The Slender Waist-Chapter 820 - 580: Crown Prince Jun

In the midsummer of the fifth year of Jingning, Chunyu Yan sent envoys to the new capital of Da Yong, claiming that "internal unrest has been quelled, and the hearts of all the people united". He requested the Da Yong Emperor to issue an edict to formally appoint a new king for Yunchuan.

During Chun Yuxie’s reign, Yunchuan had always maneuvered between Jin and Qi, aligning itself with Former Jin and paying tribute. Simultaneously, its relationship with Nanqi remained ambiguous, yet it consistently upheld its position as a vassal state.

When Da Yong was established, Chun Yuxie also extended congratulations and declared allegiance.

After three years of civil war, Chunyu Yan emerged as the ultimate victor. Clearly, he had no intention of disrupting the current situation and expressed willingness to adhere to established customs, continuing to maintain Yunchuan’s status as a subordinate state.

Pei Jue naturally had no objections.

The edict appointing the new king was sent to Yun City. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

According to the old customs, the newly appointed Prince of Yunchuan had to personally visit the capital to offer his congratulations.

However, Chunyu Yan did not enter the capital himself.

Instead, Quding was dispatched, accompanied by several envoys who delivered some gifts of gratitude and a formal letter praising the Da Yong Emperor.

It was all highly ceremonious.

The day the Yunchuan envoys arrived in Andu, Pei Jue held a banquet at the palace. Feng Yun, due to personal affairs, had returned to Huaxi. Without being summoned by Pei Jue, she chose not to attend the gathering.

That night, Pei Jue returned, his expression appearing less than pleasant, faintly tinged with inexplicable traces of restrained anger.

Feng Yun tilted the corner of her lips, her half-smile teasing as she sat beside him, tilting her head to ask:

"Weren’t you dining with the Yunchuan envoys? Who would dare offend His Majesty?"

Pei Jue frowned at her, suddenly stating, "Chunyu Yan harbors far-reaching ambitions and must never be underestimated."

Feng Yun froze momentarily, then fell silent.

Chunyu Yan, of course, would not settle for merely being the "wealthiest man in the land."

Years of unrelenting pursuits—how could he lack ambition?

A person’s desires are boundless.

When wealth is no longer enough, what would he seek?

Power?

Women?

Counting the years since Huaxi, Feng Yun had not seen him for four years.

The current Crown Prince Chunyu—

No, Prince of Yunchuan—was he still the same as before? She could not say.

And as for Chunyu Yan’s mysterious illness, whether it had been cured or not, Feng Yun knew nothing.

On matters of the imperial court, Pei Jue would occasionally confide in her, but in recent years, with Rui Bao still young, she had spent much of her energy on managing Changmen and educating the child, leaving little time for other concerns.

Thus, she seldom interjected in political affairs.

This time was no exception.

She gazed at Pei Jue’s piercing eyes and smiled lightly.

"Not being of the game, I cannot understand the intent within. Yunchuan is but a remote place, and the Prince of Yunchuan already holds authority. I cannot conceive of what further grand ambitions he could have."

"Anything that breathes should not be underestimated."

Pei Jue chuckled softly, "He has never given up on you."

Feng Yun laughed in disbelief, "I don’t appreciate hearing such words."

"Look here," Pei Jue said, drawing a sealed letter from his sleeve and placing it before her.

The letter came from Yunchuan, delivered by Pei Jue’s spies.

Feng Yun cast him a glance and chuckled softly.

"Chunyu Yan refuses to give up, but equally, Your Majesty has never truly trusted Yunchuan."

She opened the letter, her shoulders tensing abruptly.

The letter read, "Within the Prince of Yunchuan’s royal residence, many portraits of the consort are hidden..."

It further recounted, "In recent years, the prince displayed peculiar behaviors, dismissing his female attendants and retaining only male servants. His actions are strange, inspiring fear amongst many."

Feng Yun said little, lowering her head, her expression unreadable.

"There are many who covet me. If His Majesty were bothered, he’d never find peace..."

She was jesting, laughing it off lightly.

Pei Jue’s dark eyes deepened as he cast her a glance.

The cold, flickering lamplight spilled across their faces.

The two remained silent for a moment. Pei Jue then lowered his head to sip tea and picked up a calligraphy sample by Rui Bao, inadvertently allowing a faint smile to cross his lips.

"The handwriting has improved significantly."

Feng Yun raised her chin, "Naturally, considering the teacher."

Pei Jue smiled and lightly stroked her jet-black hair.

"Today, the Grand Tutor came to me with complaints."

Feng Yun leaned her chin against his chest, "What did he say?"

Pei Jue replied, "He lodged a complaint against the Crown Prince."

Feng Yun burst into laughter, casting him a sideways glance.

"Rui Bao is such a well-behaved and talented child. The Grand Tutor should secretly delight in having him—why would he have complaints?"

Pei Jue smirked, "That little rascal, with his clever mind, bests the Grand Tutor at arguments whenever he’s unwilling to study or write. The poor man has no choice but to approach me."

Feng Yun chuckled quietly, "I happen to think that’s a good thing."

Pei Jue countered, "He is the Crown Prince; he should embody what a Crown Prince represents."

Feng Yun shot him a glance, "As if it’s his choice to be Crown Prince."

Pei Jue: "..."

In the third year of Jingning, when Rui Bao had just turned one, his impatient father, the Emperor, appointed him Crown Prince, bestowing upon him the single character name, Jun.

True to his name, the child was exceptionally gifted and naturally bright.

By age three, he could memorize at a glance, calculate mentally, and read scholarly works. By age four, he could compete evenly with senior officials over a chessboard, holding his ground without any sign of inferiority.