The elegant figure sat with his back to her in the tent, and Feng Yinwan wanted to step forward but found her feet unable to move.
Yu Ping caught up and saw the situation, her expression surprised. "Miss..."
Had His Highness really contracted malaria?
As she hesitated, the man's broad shoulders heaved as if he were about to turn, and Feng Yinwan's heart tightened. Her thoughts, however, were abruptly interrupted by a clear, cold voice from behind.
"Immediately order more tents to be built and ensure all patients are transferred inside before lunch. Furthermore, all surrounding roads are to be strictly sealed to prevent the disease from spreading further!"
The voice was all too familiar, carrying an undeniable authority within its sternness – it was unmistakably Ye Tinglan's!
Feng Yinwan's heart jolted, and she spun around.
Having stayed up all night, both their expressions were slightly weary, with deep dark circles under their eyes.
Qi Xuan was about to nod in agreement when his peripheral vision caught Feng Yinwan approaching quickly. He froze, then stopped dead in his tracks.
"Wang... Wangfei?!"
"What did you say?"
Assuming he was muddled from exhaustion, Ye Tinglan's stern brows furrowed. Before he could look up, a fragrant breeze suddenly reached him.
Softness unexpectedly enveloped him, and Ye Tinglan stiffened. Upon seeing the person before him, the subtle fatigue in his eyes instantly darkened.
"Feng Yinwan?"
This exclamation held a hint of displeasure beyond mere surprise.
Feng Yinwan blinked in astonishment, tilting her head to meet Ye Tinglan's sharp, cold gaze.
"Who told you to come?"
The quarantine zone was not like the Jingzhao Prefecture. This woman had come here rashly, completely unaware of the danger!
His tone was excessively indifferent.
Like a bucket of cold water poured over her, Feng Yinwan's eyes inexplicably welled up.
"Your Highness! Miss heard about the outbreak of malaria in the military camp and came here out of concern for you. How can you..."
"Yu Ping, stop."
Silenced, Yu Ping frowned. "Miss, why won't you let me speak? You're worried about His Highness, and you've even neglected the patients in the Jingzhao Prefecture. Yet His Highness treats you like this, it's truly disheartening!"
"I told you to stop talking!"
With a low growl, she pursed her lips and turned to leave. However, as soon as she took a step, her waist was suddenly gripped by a powerful force.
Ye Tinglan's dark eyes fixed on her, a flickering ember of anger within them. "You came for me?"
This reason was nothing short of a pleasant surprise.
Stung by his earlier coldness, Feng Yinwan lowered her long lashes, stubbornly looking away.
"Your Highness is overthinking. This concubine merely heard of the malaria outbreak in the military camp and found it suspicious, hence I came specifically to investigate."
An epidemic like malaria appearing simultaneously in the city and outside, in the Jingzhao Prefecture and the military camp within a single day, was indeed questionable.
Her beautiful eyes darkened, and she said coldly, "Please release me, Your Highness."
Deception was always Feng Yinwan's forte.
Ye Tinglan pursed his thin lips, and instead of letting go, he tightened his grip.
His large palm sent a searing heat across her waist, as if it intended to burn off a layer of skin before relenting. Feng Yinwan's heart tightened, and a significant portion of her strength drained from her body.
Before she could fully succumb, Ye Tinglan averted his piercing dark eyes and cast a chilling glance at Qi Xuan beside them.
"Why are you still standing there?"
"Ah...?"
Unexpectedly called upon, Qi Xuan jolted. Upon seeing his lord's expression, he immediately nodded repeatedly.
"Oh, yes! I'll get it done right away!"
With a perfunctory bow, he grabbed his sword and dashed away. Yu Ping, seeing this, also blinked slightly and quickly followed.
"Qi... Guard Qi might be too busy alone. This servant will go and help!"
In an instant, only Feng Yinwan and Ye Tinglan remained.
His searing gaze returned, and Feng Yinwan's face flushed as she began to struggle again.
"There are still many patients in the isolation ward who haven't been treated. Since I am here, I cannot stand idly by. Let go..."
Hearing her intent to treat patients, Ye Tinglan's handsome face darkened, and he tightened his grip again.
"Feng Yinwan, how dare you!"
This admonishment carried a terrifying pressure, and Feng Yinwan felt a flicker of fear.
Seeing that she had obediently stopped struggling, Ye Tinglan pulled her closer with his long arm, encircling her tightly.
"Without rhyme or reason, why did you come?"
These few words reignited the anger within Feng Yinwan.
Yu Ping had already explained most of it despite her objections. It was ridiculous that this man, having heard everything clearly, was now questioning her.
He was clearly feigning ignorance!
As she had anticipated, his dark eyes above her slightly creased, a clear sign of amusement.
Feng Yinwan, furious, raised her hand and punched him heavily.
"I just wanted to come, what business is it of yours? Let go!"
The small woman in his arms had round, beautiful eyes with a reddish tinge at the corners, clearly showing she had been greatly distressed. Ye Tinglan's gaze deepened, and he raised his hand to catch her fist.
"This Wangfei's intentions are understood by this King."
His tone was sincere, yet his naturally upturned eyes lent him a sly expression, making Feng Yinwan even more flustered.
"What intentions? What nonsense are you talking about! I said, I came to see the patients!"
Upon hearing this, Ye Tinglan's brows furrowed. He nodded gravely, "Having stayed here for a night, this King does feel somewhat unwell."
He then looked up at her, his meaning clear. "Fortunately, Wangfei has arrived."
As if to confirm his words, Feng Yinwan's shoulder suddenly felt heavy. The person who had been holding her tightly now seemed to have lost all strength, leaning against her.
The sudden weight made Feng Yinwan's already slender frame teeter precariously. Unable to push him away, she gritted her teeth.
"Get up!"
The person on her shoulder had his eyes tightly shut, feigning a weakness as if he had fainted.
"Don't push, this King is very weak right now."
Feng Yinwan:?
Stop playing dead! I saw how energetic you were when you were giving orders to Qi Xuan!
Ye Tinglan: Who are you talking about? Is it me? I don't think so.
Feng Yinwan never dreamed that the dignified God of War, the ruthless Yama who had decisively killed on the battlefield, would be feigning weakness with her.
Ridiculous!
However, as her lips twitched, before she could voice her thoughts, someone else spoke them first.
"With such a situation, and yet you have a beauty in your arms. Your Highness has quite the mood."
Almost the instant she heard these words, Feng Yinwan felt the pressure on her shoulder falter. Immediately, Ye Tinglan shot her a cold glance and straightened up without changing his expression.
Her shoulder regained its freedom, and Feng Yinwan unhurriedly rubbed it, adding a jab.
"His Highness's health has already recovered?"
This woman truly gave him no face at all.
Ye Tinglan's handsome face visibly darkened. Before he could speak, a teasing voice rang out again.
"What a beauty, and so sharp-tongued. It seems Your Highness has found a truly remarkable person this time."
This statement carried a rather profound meaning.
Feng Yinwan raised her eyebrows and instinctively turned to look. However, as soon as she turned, a hand suddenly covered her eyes.
Ye Tinglan's large palm completely blocked her vision, leaving nothing to see!