He moved to step forward, but Song Qingan held him back firmly.
"Wan'er, go."
Sensing the chill spreading towards them, Song Qingan's heart tightened, and he had no choice but to forcefully pull her away.
Almost the instant they retreated, a sharp gaze from within the carriage shot through the air.
Only a few faint movements of the wind met his eyes. Ye Tinglan's brow furrowed. Outside, the voice of the Prince of Dingnan sounded once more.
"Chop off the heads of these two traitors. I will personally escort them back and hand them over to His Majesty!"
He issued his command with imposing authority, but to his surprise, the guards remained frozen, none willing to act.
The meaning was clear: they would only obey Ye Tinglan's orders.
The Prince of Dingnan was greatly displeased.
"You scoundrels! A bunch of people who sell their lives for others, am I not capable of ordering you around?!"
The Feng family father and son were dead, and the woman of the Feng family was also dead. Soon, he would be Ye Tinglan's new father-in-law.
And these subordinates of his dared to be so negligent!
Qi Xuan truly could not stand it. He clasped his sword-holding hand into a loose salute and then spoke up to remind him.
"Your Highness, His Majesty's order for this mission was for you to merely accompany."
He didn't understand why the Emperor wanted the Prince of Dingnan to be present, but it was obvious that his accompanying role was overstepping boundaries, and he was attempting to use the imperial decree to vent his personal grudges.
They were not unreasonable people. The Consort's father and brother were loyal and righteous individuals; they could never be traitors!
"You!"
"Qi Xuan, stand down."
Just as the Prince of Dingnan was about to erupt, Ye Tinglan's voice came from within the carriage.
Qi Xuan nodded upon hearing this and immediately stepped aside.
After all, he was a guard beside Ye Tinglan. Since he had already been reprimanded, the Prince of Dingnan found it difficult to pursue the matter further with condemnation.
He snorted coldly and then looked towards Ye Tinglan in the carriage.
"Prince Mo, what do you think of my suggestion just now?"
There was a degree of probing in his words.
The imperial decree only stated that the Feng family father and son were to be secretly executed; it did not mention beheading.
He had deliberately spoken this way only to test whether Ye Tinglan and he were truly of one mind.
After all, in the end, there could only be one master in this world, and the Yun family's bloodline was destined to be written in bold strokes in the annals of history.
Ye Tinglan was the most likely candidate to become the Crown Prince. His estate could only have Shuer as his Consort.
In the future, his children could only be born to Shuer!
"Prince of Dingnan, please proceed as you wish. I have no interest in this matter."
With that, he withdrew his hand and lowered the curtain.
The moment his handsome face was obscured, Ye Tinglan's indifferent tone sounded again.
"However, I must remind you, my father, the Emperor, has always disliked those who defy his will."
"I'm referring to everyone."
The Prince of Dingnan's expression immediately darkened upon hearing this.
He naturally understood the Emperor's temperament.
The Feng family father and son were, after all, pillars of the court, possessing considerable prestige.
The events that led to this were also suspicious. To rashly order their execution, and if the verdict were overturned in the future, he would undoubtedly be criticized by the world for wrongly killing loyal ministers.
How could a wise and benevolent ruler allow such a thing to happen?
This was precisely why he had first generously ordered their exile, and then instructed them to come and secretly execute them.
Beheading them was too ostentatious!
Since his objective had been achieved, he glanced at the two lifeless figures on the ground and then issued another order.
"Take them to the mass grave. Say they died of illness."
...
Feng Yin Wan was forcefully led away by Song Qingan the entire way.
It wasn't until they reached a safe enough distance that Song Qingan finally let her go.
Looking down into her eyes, which were filled with redness, Song Qingan felt a pang in his heart and, with a hint of self-reproach, gently turned his head away.
"Wan'er, I promised your uncle that I wouldn't let you be in danger."
In the situation just now, they absolutely could not expose their whereabouts.
Not only because of those difficult-to-deal-with experts, but Ye Tinglan was also present.
She had painstakingly struggled to shed the title of "Consort Mo" and return to being herself. How could he allow her to be exposed to his gaze again?
Feng Yin Wan pursed her lips, trying her best to suppress the bitterness in her eyes.
"I know. Unblock my acupoints."
Song Qingan hesitated for a moment, looking at her, but did not move.
"Wan'er, I'm sorry, I cannot."
Given her temperament, the first thing she would do after her acupoints were unblocked would be to rush back.
He was not certain he could protect her, so he could not do this.
"Song Qingan!"
Feng Yin Wan's brows furrowed and then relaxed.
"Those were my father and brother..."
To watch them like that... how could she?
The next moment, those plain white hands gently landed on her shoulders.
Song Qingan looked at her, his eyes still filled with tender warmth.
"Your acupoints will automatically unblock in an hour. If I haven't returned by then, you should leave this place and go wherever you wish, following your own heart."
His tone was calm, but his words caused Feng Yin Wan's forehead to twitch, and a wave of panic surged through her heart.
"You're going back?"
With so many experts present, plus Ye Tinglan and the Prince of Dingnan, he was not their match either.
And...
To secretly execute her father and brother, this was an imperial decree!
Secretary Song had already been implicated because of the Feng family's affairs. How could she allow Song Qingan to jump into the fire pit again!
"No!"
Song Qingan, however, did not move at her words.
His eyelids drooped slightly, and he spoke to her softly again.
"The things I found in Yuzhou, I have placed them in your luggage, but... I also hope that you will never have to use them."
If he could return, he would gladly help her gather evidence and fulfill all her wishes.
If not, then he only wished for her a lifetime of happiness, joy, and peace every year.