Chapter 9 Velvet Antler Tonic

Ao Qi entered the tent and eyed the two people with bizarre expressions, his face full of suspicion.

But Pei Jue clearly had no intention of elaborating, grabbing the helmet on the desk and passing by Feng Yun expressionlessly, devoid of any emotion.

"Take him to collect the person."

Ao Qi was familiar with his uncle's temper and complied with a bow, "Yes."

Feng Yun said nothing, her gaze following the figure until it disappeared into the tent. Only then did her stiff body seem to loosen, as if she had just walked out of hell, she sighed deeply, and bowed to Ao Qi.

"Thank you, Guard Ao."

Ao Qi snorted, "The General is truly biased towards ladies. Had it been someone else, violating military rules twice would undoubtedly result in thirty military baton hits."

Feng Yun: "When did I violate the military rules twice?"

Ao Qi glanced at her swiftly, "Once for delivering food, and once for sending a concubine."

Feng Yun was startled for a moment, then smiled without saying a word.

Ao Qi: "The General always shares meals with his soldiers and never cooks separately. He especially despises having people sent to his room. Madam really knows how to commit taboos..."

He glanced at Feng Yun again, dissatisfiedly saying, "I don't know what's so good about madam that the General repeatedly shows leniency."

Caught off guard, Feng Yun stopped and looked up at him, "Does Guard Ao not know? Then take a closer look, will you?"

Ao Qi suddenly met her bright black eyes, and as they looked at each other, his ears turned red. His mind whirled with endless entanglements, throwing his heart into chaos. He quickly walked away, supporting himself with his knife as if a ghost chased him from behind.

The embarrassment of the young man did not escape Feng Yun's eyes, and she couldn't help but laugh.

The young man wanted to compete with her!

After all, she had lived two lifetimes.

·

Daman was detained in the Imperial Guard Camp, crouching on the ground like a rabbit, eyes red, not daring to look at Feng Yun more than necessary.

Feng Yun, not one for many words, led her back to the camp.

Xiaoman and the other two maids had already returned.

Having narrowly escaped disaster, the women cried and laughed.

Feng Yun, however, remained silent until Ao Qi's footsteps faded away. Then, she unemotionally pushed the white glazed lotus seed jar she had brought back from the Central Military Tent towards Daman.

"Try it and see if this chicken still tastes the same."

Daman knelt down with a thump, "Punish me, madam."

Feng Yun smiled, "Where did you go wrong?"

Daman shamefully bowed her head, her expression distraught, "Before leaving the city, the Governor repeatedly instructed Xiaoman and me to protect madam thoroughly... Being of humble beginnings and knowing it's hard to win the General's favor, I took it upon myself to mix deer antler powder in the chicken soup..."

Feng Yun scoffed, "You underestimate Pei Jue."

If a mere jar of chicken soup mixed with deer antler powder could sway Pei Jue, would he still be the fearsome King of Hell General?

"Foolish!"

Xiaoman, not understanding these enigmatic words, looked helplessly at Feng Yun.

"Madam, sister... what's happening?"

Wen Hui and Ying Rong were nearby, pulling at Xiaoman and shaking their heads to signal her to remain silent.

Feng Yun, however, did not avoid the topic and methodically explained, "Deer antler nourishes the kidney and strengthens yang, promoting vitality and blood. What did your sister do?"

Then turning her head to stare at Daman, "I told you to deliver soup, not to dishonor yourself!"

Daman's body shook, suddenly feeling as if she didn't recognize her.

Was this the dull and tepid Feng Shi Er Niang from the Governor's House?

Fear crept into her heart, and she prostrated herself, "I was wrong, I shouldn't have presumed... but I did it for madam. With us, master and servant, in the enemy camp and our fates uncertain, if by chance I could please the Great General, then madam wouldn't have to suffer in this foul-smelling camp anymore..."

Feng Yun was silent for a moment, "Before you left, what did I instruct you?"

Daman felt like her throat was caught, she dared not look into Feng Yun's eyes.

"The lady instructed the maid... to act cautiously. If the General favored me, I would stay and serve well in the tent... If the General was uninterested, I should not seek hardship, flatter excessively, or act seductively..."

"What did you do then, what did you say?" Feng Yun held that small curved knife she had brought from Andu County in her hand, gently caressing the blade edge, looking extremely cherished.

Daman knocked her head on the ground, trembling with fear.

Feng Yun narrowed her eyes, "Speak."

Daman's lips stuttered, her cheeks flushed, and she was unable to speak.

Xiaoman cried and kneeled down, "Lady, please spare elder sister..."

"Get up!" Feng Yun sternly threw the curved knife, it landed by Daman's forehead, scaring her into a scream, she crawled on her knees to hug Feng Yun's legs.

"Lady, spare my life, spare my life! The maid will not dare anymore, absolutely will not dare anymore."

Feng Yun's expression remained unchanged, "Serving in my presence, betrayal is absolutely intolerable."

Daman collapsed on the ground in a daze, tears streaming down her twitching mouth corners, "Lady, do you truly have the heart to take the maid's life? Back in the residence... because my eyes resembled the Lady's by a fraction, Lady Chen always suppressed me harshly, the maid has also had a hard life."

Upon hearing this, Xiaoman cried even more and pleaded, "Elder sister was wrong, but elder sister had good intentions, Lady..."

Feng Yun gently brushed her knee and said calmly, "Do not be afraid. I saved her and will not kill again, but let this be understood, there is only one chance, this will not set a precedent."

Daman sobbed heavily, knocking her head forcefully.

Feng Yun turned her face away wearily, "Enough."

—

This night was destined to be sleepless.

The patrol soldiers in the camp occasionally passed by with crisp footsteps, accompanying the lament of the night wind, easily plunging Feng Yun into long and distant thoughts.

Having experienced her past life, Feng Yun did not consider herself some paragon of chastity anymore, nor did she delude herself with remaining chaste in these chaotic times. Pei Jue was exceptionally handsome, commanded mighty troops, and could currently protect her safety, there originally was nothing wrong with that.

But...

Being the beloved of Empress Dowager Li Sangruo of Jin Country, sleeping with him was like jumping into a blazing pit; she found it troublesome.

Moreover, this was not what she wanted in this life.

Nor did she want to exhaust her mind competing with other women for a man's fleeting affection.

Realizing this, she gained a newfound understanding of Li Sangruo.

A young palace maid, amidst wolves, supporting her young son's ascension to the throne, ruling in the name of Empress Dowager, how could she manage without an ability to manipulate people's hearts?

Having such ability, what shouldn't Li Sangruo have?

Pei Jue fought desperately in battles, his horse hooves trampling over countless bones, all to protect her and her son's realm, didn't he?

He loved truly!

Feng Yun laughed silently in the dark night.

Let that Fortune Teller's fourteen-character adage go to hell!

Why should she be doomed by beauty? Why couldn't she forge a broader path beyond serving in bed after being abandoned by all?

Why couldn't she pass through the sea of flowers untouched by a single leaf?

Perhaps deep in thought, it was only when she heard someone loudly calling in the silent night, "Summon Puyang Medical Official quickly," that she came back to her senses.

Was they referring to Puyang Jiu?

Calling him to the camp in the middle of the night, it wouldn't be because of Daman's jar of deer antler causing trouble, would it?

The contents of the jar, she had only drunk a small half bowl, the rest went into Pei Jue's stomach.

Feng Yun got up, intending to tiptoe past the sleeping maid at the doorway...

"Lady?" Xiaoman half-opened her eyes groggily.

"Shh..." Feng Yun shook her head signaling her to keep quiet, "I am going out to check."