In an instant, the secret letter in the guard's hand was knocked away.
Upon sensing the strange scent, his face changed, and he suddenly knelt.
"Your Highness, forgive me!"
This letter... was poisoned!
The secret letter fell to the ground, its contents revealed at a glance.
Ye Tinglan raised his hand, his gaze sweeping over the small characters, his eyes darkening immensely.
Princess Chao'an had been abducted?!
Qi Xuan's heart tightened as well.
"Your Highness, should we inform King Dingnan of this matter?"
The Empress Dowager's birthday was approaching, and King Dingnan would soon enter the capital.
The Prince had been delaying his marriage to Princess Chao'an, which had already caused dissatisfaction in King Dingnan's heart. Now, with such a mishap... it would be difficult to explain.
Hearing this, Ye Tinglan said in a deep voice, "No."
After a moment of contemplation, he coldly ordered, "Prepare the carriage. This Prince is going into the palace."
Qi Xuan was stunned.
Going into the palace again?
He had only returned from the palace less than half an hour ago.
Still in a daze, Ye Tinglan's voice reached him again.
"What are you standing there for?"
Without daring to delay, Qi Xuan immediately nodded. "Yes."
The carriage departed from Prince Mo's mansion a quarter of an hour later. In the shadows, a figure saw this and immediately retreated.
Meanwhile, Feng Yinwan had just stepped out of Song Qing'an's room when the person she had sent to deliver a message returned.
Upon seeing her, he immediately approached.
"Miss, His Highness Prince Mo has already entered the palace."
Unexpectedly, Feng Yinwan was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, a hint of sarcasm appearing in her eyes.
Last night's commotion must have ensured that the Hundred Wood Spirit Rhinoceros was already sent into the palace.
Ye Tinglan's entry into the palace now was undoubtedly to obtain this item.
The secret letter had been sent out for less than half an hour.
It seemed he was indeed in a hurry regarding Yun Shu's matter.
She nodded, her beautiful eyes then turning to the side.
"Is the person awake? I'll go take a look."
Yun Shu had actually woken up early this morning.
After being fed the Spirit Locking Pill, she was awake but unable to move her body.
Even so, there were still subordinates strictly guarding the room.
"Miss."
Seeing Feng Yinwan enter, several people immediately cupped their fists.
Feng Yinwan nodded, her gaze falling on Yun Shu, and it subtly sharpened.
"You all go out first. I need to talk to her for a moment."
The first time she saw Yun Shu yesterday, she had noticed a sickly pallor on her face, unlike ordinary people.
She hadn't expected that looking again now, she'd find that sickly appearance had penetrated to the bone, causing subtle changes to her features.
In just a few years, what had she experienced to become like this?
Could it be true, as the outside world rumored, that she was gravely ill?
As her thoughts flickered, the black-clothed figures nodded and withdrew.
The room fell silent again. Feng Yinwan lowered her gaze, pulled over a chair, and leaned forward to sit.
"Did you order someone to abduct me?"
Almost the moment she sat down, a sharp voice fell.
Their gazes met. Yun Shu stared at her, a hint of scrutiny beneath her sickly appearance.
Feng Yinwan had no intention of evading. She nodded frankly.
"That's right, it was me."
Her appearance had changed, and Yun Shu hadn't recognized her. Besides, she had no intention of settling old scores with her now.
One matter at a time.
While she held hatred in her heart for the affairs of her father and brother, it was directed more towards the Emperor, Ye Tinglan, and King Dingnan.
Abducting Yun Shu was merely to obtain the Hundred Wood Spirit Rhinoceros and rescue Jian Ye and the others. She wouldn't easily harm her.
But who knew, she thought women shouldn't make things difficult for each other, yet the other party didn't appreciate it.
She cast a sidelong glance at Yun Shu, her expression taking on a hint of disdain.
"What, do you want to be Prince Mo's consort too?"
Her tone was filled with hostility.
Feng Yinwan's beautiful eyes flickered. Before she could speak, she heard Yun Shu warn her again.
"Don't be foolishly ambitious! My position as consort was bestowed by the Emperor's own imperial decree!"
"If you know what's good for you, then immediately cure my poison and send me back to Prince Mo's mansion, otherwise..."
"When Brother Lan discovers I'm missing, he will surely lead his men to rescue me, and then you will only be beheaded by his sword!"
As she spoke these words, a flush of anger tinged her pale complexion.
Feng Yinwan's gaze paused. She felt the need to re-evaluate Yun Shu.
"Beheaded by his sword?"
She chuckled.
It wasn't empty boasting. With her current cultivation, she could still put up a fight even if she clashed head-on with Ye Tinglan.
It was uncertain which unfortunate soul would meet their end if that sword fell.
Yun Shu, however, saw no issue with this.
"Of course! Don't think you can escape just because you have guards by your side. Brother Lan will not let you go!"
Feng Yinwan nodded, confirming her suspicions.
Her previous understanding of Yun Shu had indeed been somewhat… too superficial.
She glanced at Yun Shu, and her pretty face immediately turned cold.
"As you wish, I have already sent a message to your good brother. If he is willing to exchange the Hundred Wood Spirit Rhinoceros for you, then it will naturally be a happy ending for everyone."
"However."
"I wonder if you are worth that price."
Yun Shu's identity was naturally important, otherwise, she wouldn't have chosen to abduct her.
But the Hundred Wood Spirit Rhinoceros was a birthday gift from the Northern Country to the Empress Dowager. Whether Ye Tinglan could bring the item was still uncertain.
Yun Shu's expression shifted slightly upon hearing this, but before she could speak again, a chop to the back of her neck was delivered.
As she lost consciousness, Feng Yinwan's voice drifted indifferently from above.
"Before that, you'd better stay put."
As she walked out, she bumped into Song Qing'an heading this way. Feng Yinwan was slightly startled, and her eyebrows furrowed slightly.
"You're still injured, why have you come out?"
Song Qing'an had used his internal energy to protect himself. Although the three arrows hadn't hit vital spots, they had firmly embedded themselves in his flesh.
Feng Yinwan truly feared that if he wasn't careful, the wound would reopen.
"I heard you were here, so I came to see."
He looked towards the room door behind her, his meaning clear.
Feng Yinwan opened her lips, and before she could speak, a subordinate rushed over from outside.
"Miss, bad news!"
"We received news from the sect that the young master… is missing!"
This news came too suddenly and forcefully.
Feng Yinwan's mind buzzed, and she felt all the blood in her body freeze.
"What did you say?!"
Feng Jin Chen had been missing for two days already.
Initially, Xi Wen hadn't paid much attention. It wasn't until dinner that Feng Jin Chen was still not seen, that he ordered people to search within the sect.
However, after searching everywhere, Feng Jin Chen's trace was still not found. Only then did they realize the seriousness of the situation and immediately sent news to Luo Qing Yi and Feng Yin Wan.
But the capital was far away, so it had been nearly three days by the time the news reached Feng Yin Wan.
Three days was a lot of time for variables!
Feng Yin Wan's heart ached.
"Master Xi Wen said that the young master took quite a few medicines from the alchemy room, and…"
"Speak!"
"And he seems to have learned that Lord Jian Ye returned to the sect to gather manpower. It's very likely… he's heading towards the capital."