The one who dealt with Biyun was, naturally, Madam Yu.
By the time Feng Yiyi was sent to the yamen, the Prefect of Jingzhao had already finished his workday.
The duty runners, upon hearing it was at the behest of the Ink Prince's consort, dared not delay. They immediately took Feng Yiyi into custody, and no amount of pleading from Madam Yu outside could change their minds.
Seeing she couldn't get them to budge, Madam Yu had no choice but to return and figure out another plan.
Just then, Biyun was preparing to flee with her luggage. As she stepped out of the mansion, she collided head-on with Madam Yu.
Madam Yu, whose eyes were already burning with anger, became even more furious upon seeing this.
"Seize this thieving, ill-mannered wench!"
"Yes, madam."
Biyun tried to run, but the guards stepped forward and pinned her down, rendering her immobile.
Madam Yu spat, then yanked Biyun's bundle down. A cascade of jewelry and silver shards immediately spilled out, making her eyes red with fury.
Her Yiyi was suffering in prison, yet this lowly servant was trying to steal and escape! She deserved to die!
"Drag her in and immediately find a human trafficker to sell her off!"
Feng Yinwan paid no attention to the commotion outside.
Seeing her stare intently at the hairpin in her hand for a long time, Yuping quietly reminded her, "Miss, you haven't eaten anything since you returned. Are you hungry?"
Hearing Yuping's words, Feng Yinwan did indeed feel a pang of hunger. She nodded immediately.
"Indeed. At this hour, the kitchen probably wouldn't have anything left, would it?"
With all the fuss, it was likely out of the question.
"Let's go out to eat. You get ready."
Yuping nodded. "Yes."
It was quite a distance from the General's mansion to the Sihai Yunyan. With over half an hour left before curfew, Feng Yinwan decided to choose a restaurant nearby.
The restaurant wasn't large, but its interior was elegantly decorated, not a place that just anyone could enter.
Led by a servant, the two of them walked inside. The eaves of the restaurant were brightly lit, casting a dazzling glow.
Amidst the enchanting scene, Feng Yinwan caught sight of a familiar figure.
The person's steps were unsteady, and their demeanor was as dissolute as Ye Tingyu's.
Before she could marvel at how small the capital was, that even while getting a late-night snack one could run into acquaintances, she saw another person emerge beside Ye Tingyu.
This person was considerably taller than Ye Tingyu, with a somber expression. Standing with his hands behind his back, he exuded an air of gloom even from a distance.
It was the Second Prince, Ye Tingyan.
Recalling his visit to the Ink Prince's mansion that day, Feng Yinwan was slightly taken aback. She instructed Yuping to enter first and then instinctively followed.
It was clear they were frequent visitors. They wound their way through the corridors into a private room in a corner.
As soon as they entered, Ye Tingyu impatiently asked, "Second Brother, why did you summon me so late?"
"Late?"
Ye Tingyan glanced at him askance. "I'm afraid I've interrupted your moment of passion."
"Ah, nothing escapes Second Brother's eyes..."
Without wasting further words, Ye Tingyan said sternly, "I went to the Ink Prince's mansion today."
Feng Yinwan's icy, beautiful face flashed through his mind, and Ye Tingyu faltered slightly.
"Second Brother, did you notice anything unusual?"
Recalling the teacup he had deliberately knocked over, Ye Tingyan's expression tightened, and he shook his head.
"There was nothing unusual."
"How can that be? Could the information be wrong?"
Ye Tingyan did not answer. "I heard you've been getting quite close to that illegitimate daughter from the Feng family recently?"
Ye Tingyu, who trusted him implicitly, had no intention of hiding anything.
"Yes, there is such a thing. It's merely a fleeting affair, but that woman is determined to marry me. I'm quite troubled by it."
Ye Tingyan's brow twitched upon hearing this, and he said meaningfully,
"The father and sons of the Zhenguo Great General are on campaign. Even if marriage is to be discussed, it should be done after returning to the capital."
"Second Brother, why do you say that too!"
It was exactly what that woman had said.
"What, someone else knows about this matter?"
"No... no, it's just that woman who said the same thing."
Ye Tingyu, for reasons of his own, did not want Ye Tingyan to know about Feng Yinwan.
"You saw it at the palace banquet that day. Father Emperor greatly values the Zhenguo Great General. She's just a woman; marrying her wouldn't be bad."
"Second Brother, what do you mean?"
Ye Tingyu frowned, but Ye Tingyan raised his hand to interrupt him.
"We'll discuss this later. The urgent matter is..."
Only after a long pause did Feng Yinwan hear the crucial part. She pressed her ear closer to the door, but the jade on her hairpin accidentally brushed against the doorframe, making a faint sound.
The conversation inside stopped abruptly. The next moment, a silver needle shot out from the crack of the door with incredible speed, heading straight for Feng Yinwan's brow.
At such speed, she couldn't possibly dodge it.
As she froze, her back suddenly felt heavy. Feng Yinwan's body was lifted with a powerful force.
*Bang—*
The door was violently broken open, but the corridor was empty.
Ye Tingyan narrowed his eyes and found his poisoned needle embedded in the opposite doorframe.
"Second Brother?"
Ye Tingyu slowly followed, glanced at the empty doorway, and tutted.
"Alas, there's nothing there. Second Brother, you're just too cautious."
Ye Tingyan remained silent, retrieved the poisoned needle, and returned to his room.
Beneath the door of the opposite room, Feng Yinwan was held in a strange embrace by Ye Tinglan.
"Mmmph!"
Seeing that the commotion outside had ceased, Ye Tinglan lowered his gaze to her and released his hand from her face.
As soon as she could breathe, Feng Yinwan gasped for air desperately, not forgetting to ask, "Why is Your Highness here?"
Her lips, which had been forcefully covered by Ye Tinglan's hand, were slightly swollen, her beautiful eyes glistening. Now, she tilted her head back slightly, exuding an alluring charm.
Ye Tinglan's eyes darkened.
"This Prince also wants to ask, why are you here?"
This woman had clearly told him she was returning to the General's mansion this afternoon.
Feng Yinwan thought he was being rather obtuse.
"This consort is naturally here to eat!"
She glanced at him and then raised her eyebrows. "This restaurant is much closer to the General's mansion than to the Ink Prince's mansion. Why would Your Highness be here?"
Her eyes twinkled mischievously, like a clever little fox.
Ye Tinglan's dark eyes silently bloomed with a smile. "This Prince is naturally here to eat as well."
As if she believed that!
Feng Yinwan silently rolled her eyes. "Then it's truly a coincidence. Your Highness is eating in the corridor, right outside the Second and Fourth Princes' rooms, and happens to save this consort!"
Her tone was dripping with sarcasm.
Her red lips moved, and her sharp tongue made her appear rather endearing.
As if possessed, Ye Tinglan reached out and pinched her slightly pink cheek.
After pinching her, he himself paused for a moment.
Feng Yinwan's eyes widened in disbelief, then her face flushed, and she immediately stood up with a "whoosh."
Ye Tinglan's hand was still on her lower back.
Trapped by his body, she bumped her forehead against Ye Tinglan's jaw.
A dull pain shot through her, and she fell back.
Holding warm, soft jade in his embrace, Ye Tinglan stiffened, his breathing becoming noticeably heavier.
Feng Yinwan was all too familiar with this situation.
Her heart tightened. She quickly scrambled to get up, but as soon as she left the ground, she was pushed back down with great force.
Ye Tinglan's long arm held her captive, refusing to let go.
"Didn't the consort just hear with her own ears? This Prince is at Juxian Tower, naturally for this matter."
His warm breath drifted down from above, gently falling behind her ear. Feng Yinwan's body stiffened, a tingling sensation coursing through her.