"Speak."
A single word, sharp and severe.
Qi Xuan nodded and reported truthfully.
"Most of the people who served in the Jade Bright Hall back then are already dead, but your subordinate recently discovered that one palace maid mysteriously disappeared from the palace on the night of the fire. Afterward, her trace was seen in Jinzhou."
And Jinzhou was precisely on the route of the current southern tour.
Ye Tinglan’s eyebrows twitched slightly upon hearing this.
"Order someone to investigate. This matter must not alert anyone."
"Yes."
Qi Xuan nodded, recalling the inquiries he had just made, and then hesitated before speaking again, "There is one more thing."
"Your subordinate has investigated. The burns on the Consort's face appeared precisely after that year's palace banquet. Judging by the timing, it is highly likely related to the fire in the Jade Bright Hall..."
Burns appearing at that juncture were difficult to ignore.
This outcome was unexpected. Ye Tinglan's clasped fingers tightened, and the aura around him instantly turned cold.
"Jinzhou, you go personally."
Qi Xuan was slightly taken aback, "Your Highness, the southern tour is imminent. You have very few available people around you right now, and your subordinate..."
The secret guards had already been dispatched to search for Feng Yinwan's whereabouts. During this southern tour, Ye Tinglan was undoubtedly a target for various factions, and he couldn't be without someone to accompany him.
Unexpectedly, those thin lips were exceptionally stern.
"No need to say more. Chen Yan has not sent back any news for several days. On this trip, you will go and see along the way."
Qi Xuan pursed his lips upon hearing this and had no choice but to agree, "Yes."
...
Feng Yinwan realized something was amiss on the third day.
This sense of unease specifically manifested when Feng Wuxi, after secretly arranging all matters at the mountain villa, arrived at her residence with his luggage.
Feng Yinwan looked at him, then at the bundle he was carrying, and was momentarily confused.
"Your Excellency, please go ahead. I will keep my promise and take good care of Miss Li'er."
There were still spies from Ye Tingyan in the Wuxi Pavilion. If Feng Wuxi were to leave, he had to leave a reliable person in charge.
Feng Yinwan considered herself that reliable person, yet Feng Wuxi glanced at her and waved his hand, tossing the bundle towards her.
"If you stay, they will likely have to take care of you as well. Come with me to Jiangzhou."
Feng Yinwan: ?
You can kill, but you also want to drag me into this?
She resolutely refused, "Perhaps not. I will stay in the Wuxi Pavilion and await good news upon your return."
"You don't trust my capabilities?"
"Uh... that's not exactly it..."
Her eyes darted away, clearly conveying distrust. Feng Wuxi narrowed his eyes and said coldly,
"You have half an hour to pack. We depart before sunset."
Uncertain of this person's intentions, Feng Yinwan was still dragged onto the carriage.
The southern tour had already begun, and Ye Tinglan's convoy had reached Dingzhou. Now that they were heading to Jiangzhou, it was to make preparations in advance.
It was the same inn they had stayed at during the previous secret meeting. Feng Yinwan only realized there were spies from Ye Tingyan there when she saw the secret letter left at the counter.
It was already dark. Feng Wuxi put down his things in the room and after giving her a couple of instructions, he left.
Although she had come under semi-coercion, Feng Yinwan had no intention of participating. She had a young servant deliver some food and resolutely continued to study her Qingying Needles.
Only when her door was knocked on again did she get up.
"Young Master, this servant is here to clear the dishes."
The servant came in, tidied up the bowls and chopsticks, and then withdrew. Peeking through the crack of the door, Feng Yinwan looked outside and saw that the room opposite was still pitch black.
Has that fellow Feng Wuxi not returned yet?
Raising an eyebrow, she was about to close the door when her wrist was suddenly gripped. The bracelet, which had been behaving honestly, suddenly glowed red.
"What is it?"
She lowered her gaze to look. The bracelet seemed to sense something, and the red light shone exceptionally brightly.
This was the first time such a situation had occurred.
Feng Yinwan's delicate brows furrowed. Her eyes darkened for a moment, and then she extinguished the candle and went outside.
Following the guidance, she moved forward and only realized when she came back to herself that she had long strayed far from the bustling streets. At the end of the road was a dilapidated temple, where a flickering fire could be seen, and faint conversations could be heard.
The pressure on her wrist suddenly loosened. Feng Yinwan looked down and saw that the bracelet, which had been glowing red all over just moments ago, was now quiescent and still.
Her beautiful eyes darkened, and her fingertips already touched the silver needle. She tiptoed and quietly circled towards the side of the dilapidated temple.
"Holy Lord, the Purple Ginseng Profound Pill has been retrieved. Since you are personally visiting Jiangzhou this time, shall we follow the vine and catch them all?"
The moment these words entered her ears, Feng Yinwan felt a sense of inexplicable familiarity. Coupled with the mention of the Purple Ginseng Profound Pill, her heart immediately became more vigilant.
A moment later, another voice chimed in from within.
"No rush. Never act rashly until it is foolproof."
"Yes."
The two voices overlapped for a moment. Feng Yinwan subtly pressed herself against the wall. Through the remaining cracks, two figures in dark robes came into view.
These clothes... were they the Xuanyi people who had appeared in Jiangzhou last time!
The man speaking faced away from her, so his appearance couldn't be seen. The two responding figures were also hidden within their wide robes, but the voice was precisely from the two who had coveted her bracelet at the inn that day!
What were they doing here?
Her heart tightened. She then heard the man speak again.
"Qi Wen, you previously said you sensed the aura of the Hailing Divine Wood in Jiangzhou?"
The Xuanyi person opposite hesitated and nodded, "It was very faint, and it disappeared in an instant. I'm not sure if it was an illusion..."
The words "Hailing Divine Wood" successfully made Feng Yinwan's heart clench again.
Her mother's belongings included a specially made Hailing Incense from the Western Regions. The Hailing Divine Wood... could these people be from the Yue Kingdom?
Her hand, holding the needle tip, tightened. Just as she was about to lean closer to eavesdrop, there was a faint sound from the roof, and a figure descended with extreme lightness.
The movement was so subtle that if she hadn't been tense and hidden in the shadows early on, she would have had difficulty detecting it. It was certain that the person was a top master.
The origins of the people in the temple were unknown, and there was hidden danger on the roof. The situation was unclear, and Feng Yinwan's palms began to sweat faintly. She didn't even dare to breathe carelessly.
"Holy Lord."
The moment the man in the temple's internal energy surged, the bracelet suddenly burst forth with another red light, which was particularly conspicuous in the pitch-black darkness.
This unexpected turn of events made Feng Yinwan frantically try to conceal it, her heart nearly leaping out of her throat.
However, no matter how she tried to conceal it, it was futile.
A moment of deathly silence, and two cold, sharp auras suddenly struck. Her heart tightened, and she shot the silver needle in her hand towards the roof.
This needle was a technique Feng Wuxi had taught her that day, and it was powerful. Even with the man on the roof's profound cultivation, he had to dodge and retreat half a step to block it.
"Who is it!"
The Xuanyi people in the temple were alerted by the commotion and simultaneously looked up at the roof. Taking advantage of this momentary chaos, Feng Yinwan covered her bracelet and quickly flashed away.
Of the Thirty-Six Stratagems, fleeing was the best.
Having made up her mind, she turned and bolted without looking back. Behind her, the man's murderous gaze pierced through the night, following coldly.