The Slender Waist-Chapter 96 - 76: The Endless Night

Pei Jue didn’t bring a guard, and in full view of the public, he swept Feng Yun onto the horse, and the two of them galloped down the long street in the night...

This was the first time Feng Yun had ridden a horse so fast that she almost bounced off, her body tense with nerves.

What kind of stroll is this?

Who goes out for a walk like this?

"Hold on to me." Pei Jue lowered his head, his voice falling into her ear, making Feng Yun’s ears burn.

Riding through the streets at night, the wind was fierce; Pei Jue’s cloak flapped wildly behind him, his broad shoulders as though sheltering Feng Yun’s petite body within his embrace, like a giant shadow.

He was expressionless, and Feng Yun couldn’t guess what he was thinking, only his breath disturbed her wildly beating nerves in the quiet night.

The day Pei Jue left Huaxi Village, the two of them could be described as having parted on bad terms.

Could it be he still hadn’t cooled off, coming back to find her in the middle of the night?

"General?" Feng Yun, jostled so much her stomach couldn’t take it, called out softly.

Her call was swallowed by the night wind, without waiting for Pei Jue’s response.

The sound of hoofbeats, like a flying arrow in a wild rush.

Feng Yun gradually felt like she was falling apart.

Sitting sideways on the horse, she struggled to control her posture, her entire body leaning into Pei Jue’s embrace, her waist encircled by his firm arm, at such a high speed she didn’t know what madness had struck Pei Jue, so she reached out and pinched his leg...

Pei Jue abruptly pulled tight on the reins.

The big black horse raised its front hooves, neighing in discontent, and slowed its pace.

"Feeling unwell?" A low inquiry landed at her ear.

Why is General Pei speaking so softly and gently today?

Feng Yun swallowed back her anger and glanced at him sideways.

"General is not in such a hurry to reincarnate, is he?"

Pei Jue:...

The man’s face was stern; Feng Yun sensed the chill in those eyes, then replaced it with a smile.

"Otherwise, why hurry back and ride the horse, what for?"

Pei Jue: "This is not called riding a horse."

Feng Yun only then remembered the colloquial term for running horses, her smile suddenly turned one of astonishment.

"Then why is the General running so fast, what for?"

Pei Jue saw she had completely forgotten what she’d said earlier about going for "a stroll," embraced her, gave a hard jolt, and turned her whole body back around.

The momentary weightlessness made Feng Yun instinctively wrap her arms around his neck, straddling him to face him again, irritation now forming on her face.

"Did the General suddenly come back from the camp just to pick a fight with me?" 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Pei Jue truly stood tall, looking down at her from atop the horse as if towering over her even more.

"A scout reported that spies from Nanqi have infiltrated Andu."

Feng Yun’s heart skipped a beat, thinking of Ren Rude.

She wasn’t yet ready to lay everything out to Pei Jue.

At least, not for the moment.

In Feng Yun’s view, even a double-cross was a tactic, and villains were chess pieces, all of which could be used to one’s benefit.

By not exposing Ren Rude to Pei Jue, Ren Rude would mistake her actions as mere petulence against Feng Jingteng and Xiao Cheng, hoping she would reconsider her loyalty.

Feng Yun awaited the day they would come to tempt her into betraying Pei Jue.

By then, she planned to prepare a grand gift for Xiao Cheng...

She lifted her face, "I have not heard such news."

Pei Jue asked, "Did Xiao Cheng not send someone to look for you?"

As the topic suddenly shifted here, Feng Yun looked into Pei Jue’s dark eyes and laughed softly.

"The Prince of Jingling is busy with his new marriage; how could he remember a forsaken wife from Andu County?"

Pei Jue tightened his grip on her waist, "Why does the lady conceal?"

It was no surprise that Pei Jue knew Ren Rude had visited since Huaxi Village was riddled with Pei Jue’s informants. Yet, with General Pei’s camp far from Andu City, was it true he had rushed back without taking a breath?

So distrustful of her?

Feng Yun said, "Andu is implementing the Equal-field System, which will attract refugees from all nations. Among them is a mix of good and bad, people from all walks of life; the General should be prepared..."

She continued, "Mr. Ren, who visited Huaxi Village today, is an old acquaintance of my father. He travels between the north and south year-round, engaged in the tea business, and has a tea house in Andu. Knowing how much General Pei cares for me, he boldly made the visit."

Pei Jue was silent, his gaze darkening, his breath suddenly thickening.

The horse still walked slowly, perhaps even it sensed the discomfort brought by the friction of them riding together?

Feng Yun moved back slightly, her hands bracing against Pei Jue’s shoulders.

Unexpectedly, Pei Jue suddenly spoke, "Is everything the lady said today the truth?"

Without a second thought, Feng Yun nodded, "Naturally."

Pei Jue said, "A God-given good husband, never to leave nor forsake?"

Feng Yun’s head buzzed.

Pei Jue didn’t finish her words, much less that revolting "Mr. Pei has been kinder to me than my own family." But Feng Yun, thinking of her words being known to him verbatim, wished she could find a hole to crawl into or just drop dead on the spot.

She lowered her head to hide her embarrassment, "They were just a few words said in anger, the General should not take them to heart..."