Ye Tingyun dared not accept it.
"Mother Consort... you have been out of the palace for a long time. His Majesty will worry at this hour. Your son should accompany you back quickly!"
Having lost all face, Ye Tingyun just wanted to escape as fast as possible.
But his mother consort had a fiery temper and was not to be trifled with.
"Apologize to Princess Mo."
Ye Tingyun felt that this was even worse than killing him.
Gritting his teeth, he looked at Ye Tinglan for help. To his surprise, his good third brother, Ye Tinglan, averted his gaze, choosing a tactical evasion.
He forgot his brothers once he had a wife!
Ye Tingyun was on the verge of tears.
While he hesitated, he heard a sigh from the other side. Feng Yinwan, never one to miss out on drama, spoke up.
"Your Ladyship Consort, let's forget it. My reputation is indeed not good. It is only right that Prince Yun harbors some opinions."
Ye Tingyun's ears felt even more painful!
"Ouch, my mistake, my mistake! I was wrong!"
"This consort has failed to discipline her son, making Princess Mo laugh. I have matters to attend to today, and I will invite Princess Mo to the palace another day for a chat."
Afterward, Ye Tingyun was dragged away by his ear.
Tears welled up in his eyes from the pain. Behind him, Feng Yinwan, leaning in Ye Tinglan's arms, waved at him with a smile.
Ye Tingyun shuddered and immediately came to a conclusion—
Provoke anyone but a woman, especially not someone like his mother consort or Feng Yinwan!
Even after they had walked a considerable distance, Feng Yinwan still stood there, lost in thought.
Ye Tinglan's lips curved upwards, and he lowered his gaze to look at her. "Noble Consort Li is a woman of her word. Tingyun has always been afraid of her."
Feng Yinwan could tell that Ye Tingyun's fear was no ordinary kind.
She almost burst out laughing remembering his heartbroken expression when he was dragged away.
"I originally thought that Noble Consort Li, being in a high position, would be quite strict. I didn't expect her to have such a straightforward personality."
As she spoke, she unconsciously thought of the Empress and Consort Rong, and immediately tsked to herself. Indeed, Noble Consort Li was a breath of fresh air!
Ye Tinglan seemed to sense something, his sword-like eyebrows rising almost imperceptibly. Before he could speak, another figure approached.
"Third Brother?"
Ye Tingyu arrived late and was visibly surprised to encounter Ye Tinglan.
The moment he saw him, Feng Yinwan also suppressed her smile.
"It's been many days since we last met, Fourth Prince. You look radiant and in excellent spirits."
He had repeatedly claimed to Feng Yiyi that their love was genuine. Now, Feng Yiyi had been in prison for several days, and he hadn't come out to show any concern.
His gaze fell on Feng Yinwan, and a look of astonishment flashed in Ye Tingyu's eyes again, quickly reverting to his usual dissolute demeanor.
"Third Sister-in-law, you're teasing me. If anyone has excellent spirits, with Third Brother here, how could I dare to claim it?"
Ye Tinglan's spirits were indeed very good, not at all like someone who had been afflicted by the Cold Light Art!
Before he could notice anything, Ye Tinglan had already raised his hand and put an arm around Feng Yinwan's waist.
"It's getting late, we should leave the palace."
With that, he led her away. Behind them, Ye Tingyu's gaze swept over them, a hint of fierceness flashing in his eyes.
Ever since she had exposed him that day, Ye Tinglan had ordered the封禁 (seal/embargo) of Lan Qing Courtyard to be lifted overnight. However, even so, Feng Yinwan insisted on returning to the General's Mansion.
When the carriage stopped in front of the General's Mansion, a dark cloud settled over Ye Tinglan's handsome face.
"You really won't come back with me?"
His tone, though displeased, also carried a hint of grievance.
Feng Yinwan's delicate eyebrows rose almost imperceptibly, but her steps to alight the carriage did not falter.
"This consort is quite comfortable living in the General's Mansion. If the Prince misses me, you can visit often."
She would not stay in a courtyard that had been sealed.
Ye Tinglan's thin lips pressed together. Before he could react, the carriage curtain fell, and her graceful figure had vanished from sight.
Outside the carriage, Qi Xuan was still waiting. After a long while, a helpless command was heard from within.
"Go back."
Feng Yinwan returned to the mansion in high spirits, planning to ask Yu Ping to brew some sour plum and lychee drink. Not two steps in, she bumped into Madam Yu.
She hadn't paid attention to Madam Yu after retrieving things from the study that day. Now, it seemed Madam Yu had found an opportunity to leave her courtyard.
Madam Yu had also not expected such a coincidence. Her eyes flickered, and she quickly stepped forward.
"Yin Wan, you've just returned from the palace, haven't you? You seem to be in a good mood today. Your sister is still in prison, perhaps..."
She winked, waiting for Feng Yinwan's reaction. However, Feng Yinwan merely glanced at her indifferently and said in a soft voice.
"Madam Yu is right, this consort was indeed in a good mood just now, but... now I'm suddenly not feeling very well."
Upon hearing this, the smile on Madam Yu's face froze.
"What do you mean!"
This vixen had clearly promised to release Yiyi. How could she be so untrustworthy!
Seeing the expression on her face, Feng Yinwan knew she was being cursed. She curled her lips, dropped the words "exactly what it means," and walked away.
Madam Yu gritted her teeth in anger, clenching her handkerchief tightly, her eyes filled with venom.
...
Second Prince's Mansion.
Ye Tingyan was playing chess in his study when the curtain was flung open with great force, and Ye Tingyu rushed in.
"Second Brother, you said he had been afflicted by the Cold Light Art and would lose all his martial arts and become useless within three days!"
The "he" he was referring to was naturally Ye Tinglan.
The accusations rained down. Ye Tingyan's expression tightened, and the anger that was rising within him immediately stalled.
"What do you mean?"
Ye Tingyu's face remained anxious.
"The Empress Dowager invited a monk to the palace today to preach Buddhism. I met him in the Imperial Garden. He looked radiant, not at all like someone afflicted by the Cold Light Art. I fear he hasn't even suffered any vital energy loss!"
He paused, then frowned. "Second Brother, is what Feng Wuxi said true? Could it be that Zishen was obtained, and he is merely toying with us!"
This unexpected turn of events also caused Ye Tingyan's expression to darken rapidly.
After a moment of silence, his lips pressed together.
"He doesn't have that much audacity."
"Then how... could they still have Zishen?!"
Zishen was already extremely rare. The Emperor had only bestowed one plant to Ye Tingyun in the entire Jing Dynasty, and there was no trace of any others.
The probability of Ye Tinglan having a private stash was minuscule.
"This matter is not that simple. It seems we need to advance our plan."
Ye Tingyu paused, still hesitant. "Second Brother, the military power is still in his hands. We don't know the situation, so it's not advisable to act rashly."
Although the Emperor feared Ye Tinglan's strength, he preferred Ye Tinglan over dispersing military power among them.
If they were to confront him now, they would have no chance of winning.
Ye Tingyan naturally understood this.
"I'm not talking about that."
"Then?"
Ye Tingyu looked up in confusion, only to meet the calculating gaze in his eyes.
"Tingyu, you personally go to the Jingzhao Prefecture prison. Miss Feng the Second is still in there."
Why care about that woman!
Ye Tingyu instinctively frowned, but upon meeting Ye Tingyan's gaze, he suddenly stopped.
"Yes, Second Brother, I understand."