Five thousand taels of the thirty thousand taels of silver spent by the Mo Royal Manor found their way into Feng Yinwan's pocket.
A person in luck is often spirited. Perhaps it was due to touching silver coins last night, but Feng Yinwan was beaming the next day and had woken up unusually early.
Yu Ping had just returned with water when she saw Feng Yinwan stretching in the courtyard.
"Miss, why are you up so early today? Shall I fetch breakfast for you?"
Feng Yinwan waved her hand, "No need. I need to return to the General's manor today. We'll just grab something to eat at the dining hall later."
Yu Ping was surprised and delighted. "Why is Miss suddenly returning?"
Feng Yinwan scratched her head with a hint of embarrassment.
Since marrying in, the original owner had never returned home for a visit. Previously, she had been confined by Ye Tinglan, so she couldn't even consider it.
After returning from the palace, the confinement order was no longer mentioned, so she naturally should go back to see her family and fulfill her filial duties on behalf of the original owner.
After all... she had received such a large sum of money yesterday, she had to thank Feng Jingyuan properly!
"I miss Father and Brother."
Yu Ping didn't suspect a thing. "Okay, Miss. I'll go and prepare right away!"
With that, she put down the water basin and hurried away. Feng Yinwan smiled helplessly and secretly pondered what gifts to bring for the Old General Feng and Feng Jingyuan.
After they were both ready, they headed towards the dining hall together. However, as soon as they stepped out of the courtyard, they were blocked by a group of people.
Feng Yinwan furrowed her brows and looked at the arrivals.
"Qi Xuan, your audacity has grown. You dare to stop this Princess Consort?"
Qi Xuan, holding his sword, nodded with a stern expression. "Princess Consort, the Prince asks to see you."
She was accustomed to his usual憨厚 (hān hòu - honest and simple) demeanor, so seeing him so serious this time made Feng Yinwan's breath catch, and her heart immediately began to race.
Was he this serious because... the matter of thirty thousand taels had been exposed?!
Seeing her hesitate, Qi Xuan reminded her in a low voice.
"Princess Consort, do not be afraid. The Prince wishes to question you. He will not deal with you arbitrarily before the evidence is conclusive. This matter is of great importance, you should go quickly."
Feng Yinwan's heart sank to the bottom.
Well, the thing she least wanted to see had happened after all...
However, fortunately, she had already hidden the silver in her treasured bracelet last night! Ye Tinglan would never find it even if he dug three feet deep!
Just as she was congratulating herself on her foresight, Qi Xuan waved his hand, and the two of them, along with their belongings, were taken away.
As they neared the main hall, they heard the sound of porcelain shattering.
Yu Ping swallowed nervously, but worried about her mistress going in alone, she bravely said, "Miss... I'll go in with you..."
"You cannot enter. The Prince said only the Princess Consort is to go in."
Qi Xuan reached for the door handle with one hand, while blocking Yu Ping with the other.
Just before the door closed, Feng Yinwan heard two crisp "pa pa" sounds and vaguely saw Yu Ping jump up and slap him twice.
She was still marveling at Yu Ping's heroic deed when a strong gust of wind struck her directly.
Feng Yinwan's heart tightened, and she quickly dodged.
The next moment, the gilded tea lid adorned with jade fell to the ground with a "smash," shattering into pieces.
Feng Yinwan looked at the fragmented porcelain on the ground, her pretty face turned cold, and a surge of anger erupted within her.
"What does the Prince mean by this!"
With such force, did this dog-man intend to smash her to death!
Ye Tinglan sneered, his voice as cold as ice. "Feng Yinwan, how dare you question this Prince!"
The dog-man sat on the main seat, his gaze sharp, his expression somber, and an aura of chilling coldness emanated from him like a tangible entity.
Feeling that she was in the wrong, Feng Yinwan cursed him inwardly a few times, but wisely remained silent.
It was just thirty thousand taels of silver!
Feng Yinwan grumbled to herself, preparing to sit down and discuss the matter with him. However, before she could even lower herself, the chair behind her was kicked away by the dog-man.
Feng Yinwan, unable to dodge, landed squarely on her backside.
"What are you doing!"
She cried out in pain, clutching her backside, only to have an embroidered sachet thrown at her head.
"Look at what this is!"
The sachet had a scarlet brocade base, scented with jasmine and crabapple, embroidered with golden thread in a circular pattern, and a silver thread embroidered with the character "Wan" at the corner.
Wasn't this the sachet she wore during the Spring Festival ceremony?
She had expected him to throw a bank note or something, but instead, it was a sachet, which left Feng Yinwan a little confused.
"This is my sachet, Your Highness. How did it end up in your hands?"
Seeing her admit it herself, Ye Tinglan's face darkened heavily. "This sachet should naturally not be in my hands, but in the hands of that thief!"
"Thief?"
Feng Yinwan was still bewildered when her slender neck was suddenly gripped, the tightening force making it difficult for her to breathe.
Ye Tinglan's knuckles tightened, his eyes raging with anger, wishing he could crush her to death.
"It was the thief who defiled Rulian's innocence in the garden that day! Feng Yinwan, you still dare to say this has nothing to do with you!"
Feng Yinwan's heart jolted at his words. She tried to break free from Ye Tinglan, but he only tightened his grip.
"I said, if it is discovered that you are behind this, even the General's manor cannot protect you!"
The disgust in his eyes was so intense that, as she felt faint, Feng Yinwan's heart ached uncontrollably.
After a while, seeing her face flushed red and her eyes uncontrollably rolling back, Ye Tinglan finally waved her away.
"As fellow women, you harbor malicious intentions and caused Rulian to lose her reputation on the day of the ceremony. I never expected you to be so wicked!"
"Get back to your Lanqing Courtyard and behave yourself. In three days, I will divorce you, this poisonous woman, before the Emperor!"
Casting a look of disgust at her, Ye Tinglan rose with a cold face. "The humiliation Rulian suffered, I will personally make you experience! For the Zhenguo General's manor to have a daughter like you is a disgrace to your ancestors!"
With that, he flung his sleeves and walked out. Feng Yinwan, who had just caught her breath, rushed forward.
"Your Highness, wait!"