There was no point in going back now; it was better to search around here and perhaps find some useful clues.
"But... if we're late, the young general will..."
"Shut up, don't forget you're following me now, not the young general. So you only need to obey my orders, understand?"
Feng Jin's tone was firm, allowing no room for doubt. After speaking, she strode forward, not even glancing back at the person following her.
After only a few steps, she was bumped into by a rushing maid. If she hadn't quickly grabbed a nearby pillar, she would have fallen to the ground tragically.
"Who is it? How dare you bump into the young madam so carelessly? Are you tired of living!"
The guard following Feng Jin rushed forward as soon as he saw the situation, scolding the maid who had rushed over. He was about to drive her away when Feng Jin stopped him.
"You look so familiar. Whose maid are you in this manor?"
"Madam, spare me, spare me! This servant did not intentionally bump into you. Please forgive me!"
Feng Jin couldn't be bothered with her useless prattling and sternly ordered, "Lift your head!"
The maid was startled and quickly lifted her head. Her eyes were full of timidity, and her shoulders were trembling slightly.
"Are you Feng Ruoyan's maid?"
Only then did she remember why she felt so familiar. It turned out this maid had always been with Feng Ruoyan and had appeared before her many times, which was why she seemed so familiar.
"This servant is the side consort's maid!"
After speaking, she quickly lowered her head. Anyone who served the side consort knew that the side consort and this sister had always been at odds, wishing to send each other to their deaths. This time, she was unlucky enough to fall into Feng Jin's hands, and now her life was truly in danger.
"Everyone in the manor has fled. What are you still doing here? Why didn't you run away with the Crown Princess?"
"The Crown Princess has always hated the side consort. This servant is the side consort's maid, so the Crown Princess would definitely not take me with her. She even locked up all the maids of the side consort with the young master. Now that the Crown Princess has fled, everyone is trying to escape. Please, madam, show mercy and let this servant go!"
Feng Jin found the maid's words incredibly laughable and couldn't help but snort. Why would she think Feng Jin would let them go out of kindness? Didn't she know that she and Feng Ruoyan had always been at odds?
"You're saying Liu Menghan locked you up with the young master? Where is your young master now?"
"This servant doesn't know. This servant was only focused on escaping and didn't notice the young master's whereabouts at all. Perhaps... perhaps he's still in the room."
At the brink of death, everyone was focused on their own escape, let alone caring about a child in swaddling clothes. Perhaps he had been taken away, or perhaps he had been left in the room.
Having not eaten anything for a day and a night, it was likely that the young master had already lost his life.
Of course, she absolutely dared not say these words. Her priority now was to extricate herself as quickly as possible and try to save her own life.
"Take me to the young master."
"Ah!" The maid was slightly stunned and let out a subconscious gasp. She quickly reacted and hurriedly nodded in agreement, "This servant will take the madam there immediately."
Who knew what strange impulse had come over her? Was she planning to kill the young master after finding him to vent her anger at the side consort?
These were thoughts she only dared to entertain in her heart, never to speak them aloud, lest she lose her own life.
"Madam, the room is just ahead."
Feng Jin looked at the dilapidated courtyard before her, with broken tables and chairs scattered all over the ground. It seemed this place had been ransacked not long ago, resulting in its current state.
"Has this courtyard always been like this?"
"Yes, madam. This courtyard has been abandoned for some time. The Crown Princess locked us up here because she didn't want anyone to discover our whereabouts."
A hint of disgust flashed in Feng Jin's eyes. Liu Menghan was truly wicked to the core, not sparing even an infant. How could such a young child survive being abandoned in this place?
Moreover, the child was already frail. With this ordeal, it was likely that he was already on the verge of death. The chaos of war had indeed brought suffering to the child.
"Search the area carefully. Bring the child to me immediately once you find him."
Feng Jin commanded in a low voice, while she herself searched the room bit by bit. As soon as she entered, she covered her nose and mouth. The smell in this place was truly unbearable.
She scanned the room but saw nothing. Just as she was about to leave, she faintly heard the child's intermittent cries.
She then stepped back inside and searched everywhere carefully. In a gap in a cabinet, she found the infant still in swaddling clothes and quickly bent down to pick up the child, who was still breathing.
The child in the swaddling clothes was ice-cold, his complexion an abnormal purple, and even his lips were purplish-black.
Feng Jin reached out and felt the child's breath. He was still breathing, but very weakly. His palms and soles were ice-cold, likely from freezing here. If she had come any later, this child would probably have lost his life.
Holding the child in her arms, she used her own body warmth to warm him. However, this alone was not enough, especially since it was still winter and the weather was freezing. It was truly fortunate that this child had managed to hold on for so long.
"You two, go find some charcoal and animal furs, as well as quilts. Also, prepare some warm water..."
"Yes, young madam."
The few individuals, having received their orders, hurried off to prepare. Fortunately, when Liu Menghan and her party fled, they only took some gold and jewelry to travel light, so the manor still had such supplies.
"Young madam, the things you asked for are ready."
"Light the charcoal and bring the warm water."
Feng Jin carefully placed the child's feet in the warm water and gently wiped his tiny hands with a warm towel repeatedly.
Once his palms and soles regained some warmth, she wrapped him snugly in thick furs, ensuring not a hint of wind could reach him.
"You, ride back to the manor quickly and prepare the wet nurse."
"Yes, young madam."
Feng Jin looked at the child in her arms, who was temporarily safe. For now, she had to take the child back to the manor.
After all, this was a living young life. The sins committed by the adults should not be blamed on the child. She truly could not bear to abandon this child.