"Anything else?"
Feng Yinwan raised her eyebrows slightly, pausing her steps.
Feng Yiyi was a simpleton, at most she could only be verbally defiant. She wouldn't say something like this.
Thinking she was frightened, a smug glint flashed in Feng Yiyi’s eyes, and she immediately struggled to get up.
"What? Feng Yinwan, you're scared too!"
"Scared?"
A faint smile played on Feng Yinwan's lips as she shook her head.
"Things like taking a life aren't just achieved by mere words. Feng Yiyi, this Princess Consort is truly… curious about your methods."
"Methods?"
Feng Yiyi scoffed, her fingers gripping the support tightly.
"Feng Yinwan, do you really think that just because you're favored by the Emperor, no one dares to touch you?"
A sharp, vicious glint flashed in her eyes, successfully chilling Feng Yinwan's expression.
"What do you mean?"
Feng Yiyi stared intently at her, her smile growing more unrestrained and wild. "Eldest Sister, are you afraid?"
This vixen could be scared too!
She glared with all her might, her mind bordering on delirium.
Feng Yinwan pursed her lips, giving Feng Yiyi a deep look and asking the initial question again.
"Feng Yiyi, how did the malaria really start in the Jingzhao Prefecture prison?"
At this question, Feng Yiyi faltered for a moment, her expression changing drastically.
"How would I know! If I knew, would I have gotten infected myself!"
"Feng Yinwan, you claim to be a skilled physician, yet you, a doctor, are asking me. How ridiculous!"
Feng Yinwan only half-believed her.
She had visited Feng Yiyi when she first woke up the day before yesterday, and Feng Yiyi had indeed been unaware of the malaria. However, that didn't mean nothing else was going on.
Her reaction just now clearly indicated she knew something.
Her eyelashes lowered as she spoke, her voice growing colder.
"This Princess Consort reminds you that the matter of your attempt to harm the imperial bloodline has not yet been settled. You wouldn't want to return to prison after your illness is cured, would you?"
Escaping through the malaria was her only chance.
Feng Yiyi's face indeed turned pale at this, and she bit her lower lip hard. "I told you I don't know, and I don't know! If you have the ability, kill me!"
"I have no interest in killing you just like that. Regardless, your recovery will take some time. It's not too late to speak when you've made up your mind."
Sensing the subtle shift in her words, Feng Yiyi shrieked.
"What do you mean!"
"It means nothing."
However, if Feng Yinwan didn't agree, Feng Yiyi wouldn't get better.
When Feng Yinwan emerged from the tent, Qin Rulian was also by the side. She glanced at Feng Yinwan lightly before her gaze met Ye Tinglan's concerned eyes.
"Are you feeling alright?"
She had only recently woken up, and her complexion was far from good.
Ye Tinglan's brow furrowed, and just as he was about to speak again, Qi Xuan ran over quickly.
"Your Highness, Lord Zhao from Jingzhao Prefecture has brought several patients. They are waiting at the entrance now."
Feng Yinwan started, finally remembering the patients in Jingzhao Prefecture.
She had left in a hurry that day, only leaving a prescription and not having time to examine them. Now that Zhao Yong himself had brought the patients, the situation was likely quite severe.
Ye Tinglan's thin lips parted, and before he could utter the words, "Send Imperial Physician Jiang," the slender figure beside him had already moved.
"I'll go take a look."
His brow furrowed, and he immediately followed suit.
Seeing Feng Yinwan again, Zhao Yong was so moved he almost burst into tears.
"Princess Consort, your subordinate… your subordinate finally sees you again!"
Having guarded the Jingzhao Prefecture nervously for several days, Zhao Yong's beard was disheveled, and his complexion was not much better than Feng Yinwan's.
Despite this, he still asked with concern, "Your complexion isn't as good as before, Princess Consort. Is it because there are… too many patients in the quarantine facility?"
Before his words had even finished, a chill swept towards him. The next moment, Ye Tinglan's slightly cold handsome face came into view.
Zhao Yong was convinced that Prince Mo's glare was directed at him!
"Your… your subordinate pays his respects to Your Highness."
Ye Tinglan grunted and his gaze paused on the two prisoner carts behind them, the chill intensifying.
Zhao Yong instinctively flinched and quickly explained, "More people in the prison fell ill previously. Your subordinate had intended to isolate them in Jingzhao Prefecture, but the physicians had no countermeasures these past few days, and the prescription you left has been slow to take effect…"
"As the number of infected people grew, your subordinate had no choice but to take it upon himself to send the patients to the quarantine facility…"
It wasn't that he hadn't submitted memorials. However, his repeated reports were like stones sinking into the sea, with no response whatsoever. Transferring the prisoners out was a desperate measure.
Feng Yinwan looked over and found several yamen runners among the patients.
The epidemic in Jingzhao Prefecture had reached such a dire state!
"Lord Zhao, please rest assured. The quarantine facility is meant to house the sick. This Princess Consort, by imperial decree, is to treat this illness and should attend to all patients."
Seeing her step forward to accept them, Zhao Yong was filled with gratitude. "That's wonderful! Your subordinate thanks the Princess Consort!"
With Feng Yinwan's approval, Qi Xuan immediately directed the guards to move the barriers. As the two carts of patients were brought in, Zhao Yong let out a long sigh of relief.
He then forced a smile. "Princess Consort, your subordinate will not disturb you further and will take his leave."
If he stayed any longer, he feared Prince Mo would make an example of him!
To his surprise, Feng Yinwan waved her hand. "Lord Zhao, there's no need to hurry. This Princess Consort has a few more questions for you."
"Ah… ah?"
The sweat that had stopped on Zhao Yong's forehead immediately began to flow again.
"May I ask what instructions the Princess Consort has?"
Feng Yinwan pursed her lips, recalling Feng Yiyi's unusual reaction just now, her beautiful eyes darkening.
"The malaria has been spreading in Jingzhao Prefecture for several days. Has Lord Zhao ordered an investigation into its cause?"
"Cause?"
Zhao Yong was bewildered.
Why would this need investigation? Epidemics happen without warning, and no one can stop them.
His gaze fell upon Ye Tinglan's deep, stern expression, and he stopped.
"What does the Princess Consort mean?"
"Before the malaria broke out, who had entered the Jingzhao Prefecture prison?"
Zhao Yong's heart pounded.
Hearing the question phrased this way, could it be…
He paused, then immediately said, "The yamen runner on duty that day happened to accompany them. I will call him for you right away."
He strode forward and called over a yamen runner who was still parking the cart.
After a brief explanation, the yamen runner recalled for a moment and then nodded.
"Reporting to the Princess Consort, the Fourth Prince visited the prison that day, to see… the Second Miss Feng."
Ye Tingyu?
Hearing this name from a yamen runner after so many days, Feng Yinwan's eyebrows involuntarily furrowed.
When Feng Yiyi was sent to prison previously, this fellow hadn't shown his face. Why did he suddenly appear in the prison that day?
Thinking she might blame him, the yamen runner quickly added.
"Princess Consort, please forgive me. This subordinate had already explained the situation to the Fourth Prince, but the Fourth Prince said he knew Miss Feng Er had been imprisoned and was very worried, insisting on visiting… This subordinate dared not stop him."
Ye Tingyu was a prince, after all. No matter how dissolute, he wasn't someone they could offend.
He paused and added, "However, this subordinate stayed by his side the entire time. The Fourth Prince indeed only expressed his concern with a few words and then left, without lingering."
Her thoughts settled on the word "concern," but Feng Yinwan's brow furrowed even deeper.