"You...!"
Feng Yiyi gritted her teeth, wanting to say more but was pulled back by Madam Yu.
"Yin Wan, you misunderstand. The General's mansion is your home, you can naturally return anytime. We were merely asking a few questions..."
This sounded more like a human statement.
Feng Yin Wan's stern and pretty face lifted slightly.
"Yubing, let's go."
With that, she walked straight past the two of them. Feng Yiyi glared fiercely at her retreating back, her eyes burning with rage.
"Mother, why did you stop me just now!"
She was now just a step away from becoming the Fourth Prince's Consort, why would she fear that wretch!
Madam Yu, however, frowned. "That little wretch has a fierce temper. Have you forgotten the losses you suffered at her hands before?"
The three stinging slaps that came with the wind, and the vicious whip that landed on her body, Feng Yiyi naturally couldn't forget.
Biting her lip, she was about to speak when Madam Yu interrupted.
"Didn't you see she was holding a sword? She might be prepared!"
"Mother!"
Feng Yiyi frowned in dissatisfaction. "That wretch has been delicate and weak since she was a child. Father himself had to teach her to ride a horse, how could she possibly wield a sword or spear!"
Madam Yu tightened her grip on her hand again. "Alright, it's always better to be careful."
As the summer heat intensified, many gardenias and roses bloomed below the embroidered pavilion, creating a rare and beautiful scene.
Feng Yin Wan's mood also brightened.
"These flowers are blooming beautifully. Cut a few and take them to your room."
Yubing understood, immediately responded, picked up the scissors and bamboo basket, and walked towards the flowerbed.
The embroidered pavilion's walls were transparent, made of fine timber, warm in winter and cool in summer. As Feng Yin Wan entered, a hint of coolness seeped into her skin, immediately relieving the heat.
Casually putting down her luggage, she walked directly towards the dressing table.
She hadn't taken the hairpin she'd retrieved from Feng Yiyi last time. Today, she had returned for it.
Recalling the Mandarava flower she had seen at Jiang Rumò's residence, Feng Yin Wan's beautiful eyes narrowed. She raised her hand, then suddenly paused.
Having been away for several days, a thin layer of dust had settled on the dressing table. And on that dust, there were clearly a few fingerprints.
Someone had touched her dressing case.
Her eyes darkened for a moment. Feng Yin Wan directly pulled out the case. When her gaze fell upon the vivid red, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
It was still there.
After carefully examining it, she found no jewelry missing from the case. However, a box of Snow-Ice Jade Skin Cream was gone.
This medicinal cream was purchased by Feng Jing Yuan at great expense through someone, to treat her face.
Why would anyone steal this?
Yubing entered with flowers, saw her sitting in front of the dressing case, and exclaimed excitedly.
"The roses are very fresh. I cut quite a few. We can fill all the vases in the room!"
Not hearing a response for a long time, she approached suspiciously. "Miss?"
"Hmm?"
Feng Yin Wan came back to her senses, slightly startled.
Yubing placed the fresh flowers on the table. "What are you thinking about? So engrossed."
Before she finished speaking, she spotted the hairpin in her hand and was immediately surprised.
"Hey, isn't this Madam's hairpin? Miss, why did you take it out again?"
Seeing the unusual expression on her miss's face, she wondered if she was reminiscing.
Feng Yin Wan looked up at her steadily.
"Yubing, don't you find this very strange?"
"Strange?"
Yubing frowned. Recalling Ye Tinglan's attitude when they left the mansion, she immediately nodded in agreement.
"It is indeed very strange."
"So..."
"So?"
Before she could finish speaking, her shoulder was suddenly pressed down. She looked up to see her miss looking at her with an expression that said, "Let's do something big."
"First, we do this, then this, and then that..."
With that, Feng Yin Wan tucked the hairpin into her embrace, stood up confidently, and declared, "Let's go!"
Yubing stood in place, flustered, and quickly hurried after her.
Yilan Courtyard.
As dinnertime approached, Feng Yiyi had already gone to the dining hall. The courtyard was now silent, with only two rough maids standing guard.
Feng Yin Wan's head slowly emerged from behind the corner of the wall, with Yubing closely following.
"Miss, do we really have to do this?"
Feng Yin Wan's beautiful eyes looked straight ahead. "Feng Yiyi's thick skin is no less than Madam Yu's. If we don't do this, how can we uncover the truth?"
That hairpin was found on her person. If her mother was truly connected to the Western Regions, the items left behind would be more than just that.
Feng Yiyi and Madam Yu must be hiding something.
Glancing around for any signs of trouble, she spoke again, instructing, "Watch carefully, I'll be back soon!"
Yubing opened her mouth, about to ask how she planned to get in. When she turned her head, she saw her miss already climbing the slope, sword in hand.
It seemed she intended to scale the wall.
The courtyard wall wasn't particularly high, but it was difficult for Feng Yin Wan to operate with one hand.
Yubing was so scared by her shaky movements that her heart was in her mouth.
"Miss, be careful..."
"Ah—"
Before she could finish speaking, Feng Yin Wan slipped, barely managing to steady herself with both hands.
Yubing's face turned pale with fright.
"Miss, how about we give up?"
She said weakly, her voice trembling. Feng Yin Wan, however, gripped her sword and gritted her teeth, getting up.
"No!"
A miscalculation. Before learning swordplay, she should have learned qinggong!
Regretting it inwardly, she swung her sword at Yubing.
"Wait for me, I'll be out soon."
With that, she leaped up and jumped over the wall. Yubing gasped and quickly pressed her ear to the base of the wall.
"Miss, are you alright?"
A muffled sound came from the other side of the wall. Feng Yin Wan patted her backside and tapped the wall with her sword hilt.
[I'm fine.]
The rough maids could only guard the outside and couldn't enter the room. Feng Yin Wan crept along the base of the wall, her figure flashing, and quickly slipped into the room.
The last time she searched for the hairpin, Feng Yiyi desperately had her maids guard the dressing table. She figured valuable items would be kept there.
The room was so quiet that only her footsteps could be heard.
Upon approaching the dressing case, Feng Yin Wan discovered that it had a lock. It was brand new, clearly added recently.
A cold glint flashed in her eyes. She directly raised her hand and drew her sword.
Since that was the case, she would test this little broken lock with her sword!
The sword rose, the lock fell.
She hadn't even used her full strength, and the previously intact lock had already been cut in two.
Feng Yin Wan looked at the sword in her hand, amazed.
It could cut through iron like mud; Ye Tinglan's sword was truly a treasure!
Clicking her tongue, she pulled out the dressing case. What met her eyes was a small piece of crystal-clear white.
Feng Yin Wan paused slightly, reached out, and picked it up. It was indeed her box of Snow-Ice Jade Skin Cream.
Why would Feng Yiyi steal this cream from her?
Hesitating for a moment, she suddenly remembered Ye Tingyu, and her beautiful eyes lit up.
This Snow-Ice Jade Skin Cream not only repaired damaged skin but also had beautifying effects.
For ordinary women without scars, using this cream could make their skin crystal clear, giving them the feeling of icy skin and jade bones.
It seemed "a woman adorns herself for the one who pleases her." Feng Yiyi was truly obsessed!
Feng Yin Wan's lips curled into a cold smile. She put the cream into her sleeve and continued searching.
She opened all the locked cabinets and cases in Feng Yiyi's room, but still found nothing, not a trace of anything suspicious.
Feng Yin Wan immediately frowned uncontrollably.
How could there be nothing?
Was it not here?
As she hesitated, the back wall was suddenly knocked upon urgently, followed by a sound from the courtyard gate.
Had Feng Yiyi returned?