Ye Tinglan was clearly even more caught off guard than she was. The accompanying deputy general, personally appointed by the Emperor, was Song Qing'an.
His eyes, dark as ink, narrowed, immediately revealing a chilling glint.
"Young Master Song..."
Feng Yinwan let out an awkward laugh, feeling a pang of social anxiety.
Just a few days ago, the two of them had been "caught in the act" by Ye Tinglan, and now they were coincidentally thrown together in the same unit. What a dreadful fate!
Seeing their gazes still locked, Ye Tinglan's brow furrowed, his expression growing colder.
"By my royal command, all soldiers will advance at a run. We depart immediately for Qingpu Temple."
He ordered in a chilling tone, then flicked his horsewhip. He and his horse shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow, a blur of motion.
Everyone was taken aback by the suddenness of it all. Ye Tingyun, inside the carriage, was the first to react, calling out urgently.
"Third Brother, wait for me..."
Qingpu Temple was hundreds of miles from the capital. Ye Tinglan's hasty march had left the accompanying soldiers utterly exhausted.
As the midday sun grew fierce, Ye Tingyun cautiously lifted the carriage curtain.
"Third Brother, we've been rushing all morning. The soldiers must be tired. Why don't we stop for a rest?"
Seeing the slight weakness on his fair, jade-like face, Ye Tinglan pursed his thin lips and finally, with magnanimous mercy, nodded.
"Halt and rest."
Having not ridden a horse in a long while, the jarring journey left Feng Yinwan quite weary. Hearing the order, she immediately headed for the shade.
However, as soon as she dismounted, Ye Tinglan called out to her.
"Go and examine Yun's condition."
Feng Yinwan gnashed her teeth in frustration and changed her direction, walking towards the carriage.
The carriage was stuffy. Ye Tingyun's lips were pale, but two rosy hues bloomed on his cheeks.
As soon as she got out of the carriage, her wrist was already in Feng Yinwan's grasp.
"How is it?"
Feng Yinwan replied perfunctorily, "Your Highness need not worry. Prince Yun is merely a little weak; his body is otherwise fine."
A little weak...!
Ye Tingyun's face darkened considerably.
What nonsense was this woman spouting? He wasn't weak at all!
Before he could defend himself, a chorus of exclamations erupted from nearby.
"One arrow, two doves! Deputy General Song's archery is truly exquisite!"
"Indeed, indeed! He even shot that from horseback! Such archery is beyond our wildest dreams!"
The crowd's praise was incessant. Song Qing'an lowered his bow, his expression outwardly restrained.
"I thank all my brothers for their praise. It was merely a stroke of luck."
"Oh, Deputy General Song is always so humble!"
Feng Yinwan's eyes lit up upon hearing this.
Doves?
She still had half a bag of the leftover seasoning from last time. Was this the start of a wilderness picnic?
With that thought, she stepped forward to get a closer look.
Ye Tinglan wanted to say something to her, but by the time he spoke, she was already gone. His thin lips immediately tightened into a cold line.
As Song Qing'an dismounted, he saw Feng Yinwan looking on from the side and immediately cupped his hands.
"Your Highness Consort."
Feng Yinwan waved her hand, her attention solely focused on the doves.
"Young Master Song, I heard you just shot two doves?"
Although they were in the same contingent, Feng Yinwan, as the Princess Consort, remained close to Ye Tinglan, leaving them no opportunity to converse.
Now, at such close proximity, the woman's bright face was fully visible, and he could even catch the faint fragrance she exuded.
Song Qing'an's heart fluttered, and he inexplicably recalled the graceful figure he had glimpsed outside the dining hall of the General's mansion that day.
"Young Master Song?"
Feng Yinwan called out to him twice before he snapped back to attention.
Recovering himself, he lowered his gaze slightly. "Replying to Your Highness Consort, it was a fortunate shot."
Feng Yinwan didn't care how it was shot. She just wanted some cumin-roasted dove.
"May I take a look?"
As Song Qing'an nodded, a guard had already retrieved the shot doves.
Song Qing'an's archery was indeed remarkable. The arrow had pierced the wings of both doves. Although pinned to the arrow, they were still alive and fluttering.
Feng Yinwan hefted one in her hand and nodded with satisfaction.
Hmm! Very plump!
Looked perfect for roasting!
But as she handled them, she felt too shy to directly ask for them.
Seeing this, Song Qing'an understood and said, "If Your Highness Consort likes them..."
Before he could finish, a loud exclamation came from the carriage.
"Got it, got it! Third Brother is amazing!"
Ye Tingyun, waving his arms excitedly, stood on the carriage, his expression jubilant, showing no trace of the earlier listlessness.
Feng Yinwan followed his gaze and saw Qi Xuan returning with a head of deer.
"Your Highness!"
Ye Tingyun leaped down from the carriage and, patting the sturdy-looking deer, his eyes lit up.
"This wild deer ran so fast, yet Third Brother shot it with one arrow. Truly remarkable! Why don't I have such skill!"
Qin Rulian had just approached and heard this. She immediately chimed in.
"Tingyun, Brother Tinglan is a God of War. His archery is naturally beyond that of ordinary people."
She then cast an intentional or unintentional glance at the doves in Feng Yinwan's hands and curled her lips.
"Things flying in the sky are far simpler than those running on the ground."
Feng Yinwan, who had been about to step forward to investigate, paused at the sting of her sharp voice.
"And how would you know that?"
"If you find it so simple, why don't you try it yourself? So you don't end up speaking from a position of ignorance."
Upon hearing this, Ye Tinglan's eyes narrowed. He raised his long bow and, with incredible speed, shot another arrow.
Three wild geese flying in the air were immediately brought down, piercing them and pinning them to a tree.
Qin Rulian's eyes flickered at this sight, and she then spoke with renewed smugness, "Brother Tinglan's archery is invincible, in the sky or on the ground. It's something others can only dream of achieving in a lifetime!"
Feng Yinwan simply couldn't stand her sycophantic and condescending demeanor.
"This Princess Consort observes that Deputy General Song's archery earlier was not without merit."
"Young Master Song, in front of everyone, why don't you shoot another arrow?"
Each to their own merits, she didn't mind giving Song Qing'an a chance to prove himself.
As a soldier, Song Qing'an dared not compare himself to Ye Tinglan. However, unexpectedly receiving support from Feng Yinwan, he hesitated for a moment before nodding.
"This humble general's archery is not refined, but I shall present my meager skills."
There were no shortage of game in the wilderness. While retrieving an arrow, Song Qing'an's gaze had already locked onto a pheasant in the bushes.
"Swish"—
The arrow cut through the air with sharp force. In an instant, the pheasant, which had just taken flight, was precisely hit.
Moreover, it landed perfectly on a tree branch.
Feng Yinwan raised her eyebrows and immediately clapped her hands in approval.
She seemed to understand why Song Qing'an was the accompanying deputy general. He indeed possessed some skill.
"What did Miss Qin say earlier? Invincible, in the sky or on the ground?"
"In this Princess Consort's opinion, that is indeed the case."
She nodded approvingly, but her praise was directed at Song Qing'an.
Ye Tinglan's fingers gripping his long bow suddenly tightened, his handsome face darkening to the color of the bottom of a pot.
"Deputy General Song's archery is indeed good."
The words seemed to be squeezed through gritted teeth, chillingly cold.
Feng Yinwan felt goosebumps erupt on her skin. Before she could react, her wrist was firmly grasped by a large hand.
"The Prince and Princess Consort have important matters to discuss. We shall take our leave for a moment."
As he spoke, Feng Yinwan was pulled forward awkwardly. Suddenly, her hands were empty, and the doves, as if resurrected, flew straight away!