"Miss Feng, what brings you here so late?" Jiang Yu Li looked at the woman before her. For some reason, she felt a sense of familiarity with this Miss Feng, as if she had met her somewhere before.
"Miss Jiang, I deeply regret destroying the painting that Young Master Yan gifted you that day. I considered various apologies afterward, but felt none could truly express my remorse. Therefore, I have painted a new one for you, as a token of my shame."
Jiang Yu Li blinked, and only then did she notice Miss Feng taking down a painting from behind her. It turned out Miss Feng had carried the painting with her.
Unrolling the scroll, Jiang Yu Li saw that the artistry was no less than Yan Jin Chao's. However, the woman in this painting had been completely replaced. Before, it merely resembled her, but this one truly was her.
"Miss Jiang, I apologize for my rudeness that day." Xue Zi Ning bowed respectfully.
Seeing how sincere Miss Feng was, Jiang Yu Li quickly stepped forward to help her up. "Miss Feng, there's no need for such politeness. I wasn't angry, truly. I was just a little regretful at the time."
After all, it was drawn by Young Master Yan.
"I am truly happy that you are not angry, Miss Jiang. If you don't find it too common, please accept it." Xue Zi Ning offered it with both hands.
Jiang Yu Li found it difficult to refuse, so she accepted it. She had to admit that Miss Feng's painting skills were on par with Yan Jin Chao's.
Just as Jiang Yu Li was about to have her maid put the painting away, she suddenly felt a wave of dizziness for some reason.
She couldn't help but step back, her footsteps becoming a little unsteady.
"Miss Jiang, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Xue Zi Ning asked with concern, stepping forward.
Jiang Yu Li nodded, "I am indeed not feeling well. Could you trouble Miss Feng to call my maid from outside?"
Xue Zi Ning nodded, "Alright."
She walked towards the door. Upon reaching it, she suddenly waved her hand. Jiang Yu Li, who was already feeling unwell, collapsed onto the floor.
She walked to Jiang Yu Li's side, and seeing that she had fainted, she gently helped her onto the bed and removed her clothes.
An hour later, Jiang Yu Li walked out of the room.
"Miss, where are you going?"
"Where is my brother?"
Xiao Huan blinked slightly. "Miss is looking for the Prince?"
Jiang Yu Li nodded, "Yes."
Xiao Huan said, "The Prince is likely not in the manor."
"Xiao Huan, do you know where my brother went?"
Xiao Huan shook her head, "This servant does not know. At that time, this servant saw the Prince leave the study with some people, but I don't know his specific destination."
"Alright, I understand. You may go now!" Jiang Yu Li said.
Xiao Huan watched Jiang Yu Li leave, suddenly feeling that her mistress seemed a little... different. She couldn't quite pinpoint it, but since she wasn't needed, she retreated.
Jiang Yu Li went to the most secluded courtyard in the back of the Prince's manor. Before she could get close, she was stopped. "Miss, this is not a place you should be."
"Why? I can go anywhere in the Prince's manor. Why can't I enter here?"
The guard said coldly, "The Prince has ordered that no one is to enter."
"Does that 'no one' include me?"
The guard nodded, "Yes."
"Then I won't go in."
Jiang Yu Li left. Seeing the guard look away, she suddenly leaped up and flew into the nearest tree.
Her speed was so great that it happened in the blink of an eye for the guard.
From her vantage point, she realized that besides the two guards outside the courtyard, there were more guards inside.
This suggested that this was likely where the Prince of Northern Xinjiang held important prisoners. After all, nowhere was more secure than within the manor.
She tore off a human skin mask, revealing a plain, unremarkable face – one that, once seen, would not be remembered.
Then, tucking away the mask, she covered her face with a black cloth. Just as she was about to enter, she saw a man in dark robes emerge from a house within.
She quickly concealed herself among the leaves. This person was none other than the Prince of Northern Xinjiang.
After the Prince of Northern Xinjiang left, she leaped into the courtyard. Before the guards could spot her, she climbed onto the roof, removed a few tiles, and looked down. It was an empty room with no one inside, likely meaning everyone was on guard outside.
She jumped in, landing softly. She saw nothing else in the room. Glancing around, she noticed a painting on the wall. Approaching it, she looked for a moment, then reached out to touch the single red fruit in the painting.
With a creak, a hidden door appeared on the wall. She walked forward without hesitation and entered.
She passed through a short pathway. By the dim candlelight, she dared not make any sound. Finally, emerging from the path, she discovered that the prison cells were all water cells.
She walked forward. It seemed that the water cells held more important prisoners, as each cell contained only one person.
As she moved further in, she smelled a scent of blood, followed by a voice, "Say less. Even the Prince cannot be angered. If you provoke the Prince like this, won't you suffer more?"
The voice sounded strangely familiar, but she couldn't recall who it was for the moment.
Just as she was about to move forward, she heard a sound from behind her. She quickly pressed herself against the wall at a corner, so that anyone entering from outside wouldn't see her for now.
The sound of footsteps grew louder and closer. She heard a voice say, "Shout immediately if you see anyone suspicious."
"Yes."
"You three go there, and you three follow me," the person added.
In the dim candlelight, she saw a figure walking towards her.
Suddenly, the footsteps stopped. She instinctively lowered her head, only to see a corner of her skirt exposed.
She slowly drew out the silver whip from her waist, waiting for the person to discover her.
"Come out, I see you," the person said.
She knew she couldn't hide any longer. There was only one passage, and she could only go forward or retreat. Since she couldn't hide, she would fight her way out.
She walked out slowly, her silver whip lashing out at the person.
The leading man was dressed in a green robe. The candlelight was too dim to make out his face.
The man said, "You two go for reinforcements. The rest, charge and apprehend him."
"Yes," the others replied respectfully to the man.
"Who are you? What is your intent in trespassing here?" the man asked coldly.
She remained silent, her silver whip striking with increasing ferocity.
The man's retinue was not large. With a few lashes of her whip, she had injured more than half of them.
Furthermore, while the man was not paying attention, she wrapped her whip around his waist and pulled him over. She gripped his chin with one hand and said coldly, "Don't move. If you move again, I'll kill him."
The others dared not move, perhaps genuinely fearing she would kill the man.
Why would she kill such a useful person?
"Withdraw?" she said coldly.
At this moment, the man suddenly spoke, his voice very soft, "Feng Ning?"