With a flick of her wrist, the sharp blade pointed directly at the opponent's throat.
Sensing the deadly intent behind her move, not merely a casual swing, the person's eyes darkened. He used his hand as a fist, directly blocking the attack.
The short sword hummed faintly as it was struck by an aura. The fingertips holding the hilt tingled, and Feng Yinwan's heart instantly tightened.
This assassin's strength was not to be underestimated.
Seeing that she had seen through his disguise, the opponent no longer attempted to escape but engaged her directly in combat. After a few exchanges, Feng Yinwan was even at a slight disadvantage.
The sounds of Ye Tingyun and others approaching could be heard in the distance. Seeing a palm strike evade her short sword and head straight for her face, Feng Yinwan's beautiful eyes turned cold. A silver needle, hidden in her sleeve, was flung out with lightning speed.
The silver needle was coated with a potent anesthetic. With just one prick, the assassin would surely collapse.
She calculated the timing perfectly. As her fingertips moved, the silver needle pierced through clothing and accurately embedded itself into the assassin's forearm.
Before the smile on her lips could widen, in the next instant, the assassin, disregarding his injury, unleashed a full-powered palm strike, pushing her back.
"Mmm..."
The palm landed precisely and squarely on her left shoulder. The old wound, which had been deep enough to expose bone, had not yet fully healed. Feng Yinwan let out a muffled groan, and the pain immediately escaped between her teeth.
As if anticipating this, the assassin, clutching his forearm, swiftly spun and retreated.
Enveloped in darkness, Feng Yinwan couldn't see his eyes, but she could deduce from that palm strike that this was undoubtedly the person who had attacked her earlier!
"Who are you?"
It would take time for Ye Tingyun and his men to arrive. Before then, she had to control the situation.
The opponent, however, had no intention of a standoff. The moment her words fell, a glint of ruthlessness flashed in his eyes, and he used his internal energy to forcefully expel the silver needle.
Another palm strike came rushing towards her, this one aimed at taking her life. With only the railing behind her offering no escape, Feng Yinwan could only confront it head-on.
As their forces were about to collide, her body was suddenly enveloped by a chilling aura. In the next instant, a barrage of fine palm strikes exploded before her eyes. The attacker was sent staggering back several steps. Seemingly realizing something, he retreated at high speed.
"He can't escape!"
Feng Yinwan's brow furrowed as she prepared to pursue, but a restraint around her waist tightened, instantly pulling her back.
A cold, pure aura flooded her senses. In the quiet night, a faint, almost imperceptible floral scent mingled with a hint of blood, subtly pervading the air.
Feng Yinwan's breath momentarily hitched.
A hidden thought surfaced in her mind. Before she could confirm anything, her body was released.
The world spun around her. When she regained her senses, the chilling aura had long since vanished. She scrambled to her feet, her gaze falling only on a fleeting afterimage.
"Wait."
The word escaped her lips before she could think. Beneath the dappled shadows of the trees, that stern profile paused slightly but did not turn back.
Feng Yinwan opened her mouth to speak, but her hesitation was interrupted as the distant flickering lights grew closer.
"How is it? Where is the assassin?"
Ye Tingyun, holding a lantern, ran ahead, followed closely by the eunuchs. However, after searching the surroundings, they found no trace of the assassin, their faces filled with confusion.
"Strange, we clearly heard sounds just now..."
The figure in the shadows had long since disappeared. Feng Yinwan withdrew her gaze, her eyelashes falling thoughtfully.
"No need to look. He's already escaped."
"Escaped?!"
Ye Tingyun exclaimed, "Why didn't you detain him? Our plan was going so well. Isn't this a complete failure now?"
If tonight failed, it would surely alert the enemy.
Feng Yinwan knew this all too well. She pursed her lips slightly and said, "Let's go back first."
Although she said "go back," her steps naturally turned towards Jiuzhou Xiangxie as they passed by. Ye Tingyun's brow furrowed upon seeing this and he immediately followed her in.
At this hour, the servants had already been dismissed to their quarters. Only Qingruo remained to serve in the main hall. She looked up in slight surprise upon seeing them.
"Your Highness Prince Yun, Wangfei."
Feng Yinwan nodded and her gaze passed over Qingruo, heading directly inside.
"Has the Prince woken up yet?"
As expected, Qingruo shook her head. "He has not."
After a pause, she nodded again. "Imperial Physician Jiang said that His Highness's injuries have shown signs of improvement today. Your Highness and Wangfei need not worry too much; I believe His Highness will wake up soon."
Feng Yinwan acknowledged this and took a distant look through the screen before turning to leave Jiuzhou Xiangxie.
Ye Tingyun, still concerned about the assassin, followed her persistently.
"You seem so preoccupied. What exactly happened just now?"
They had clearly seen the assassin on the opposite bank. Given Feng Yinwan's character, she would have likely pursued him long ago. How could she have let him escape so easily?
Feng Yinwan pursed her lips, a hint of seriousness in her eyes.
"The assassin's skills surpass mine, and the anesthetic had no effect on him."
The dosage of that needle was enough to fell an ox. Even for someone with profound internal energy, their reaction would not have been so swift.
Unless, the person's body had already been subjected to large doses of medication, making them resistant to common drugs, just like her.
Thinking of the strange fragrance that had caused her pregnancy to become unstable, Feng Yinwan's delicate brows subtly furrowed.
With such peculiar methods, could this assassin be connected to the Immortal Medicine Sect?
And then there was that figure exuding a chilling aura...
The unresolved doubts in her mind made Ye Tingyun frown. He spoke, however, with a hint of relief.
"It's fortunate you were unharmed. It seems we underestimated this matter. But that's alright. With this incident, I believe they will be more restrained in the coming days and won't openly target you anymore."
The medicinal herbs were brought to the palace by Jiang Rumou the next day. Feng Yinwan prepared the medicine according to the prescribed dosage and, under the guise of preparing medicine for Consort Li, took it to the Imperial Hospital for decoction.
Ye Tingyun ordered a death row inmate to be brought forward to test the medicine. After drinking a whole bowl, the inmate's complexion quickly began to look abnormal.
Feng Yinwan watched intently, her fingertips subtly resting on the silver needle at her waist.
"Step back."
Uncertain of what kind of prescription this was, everyone present immediately retreated a few steps. Seeing the inmate's reactions becoming increasingly erratic, Feng Yinwan's brow furrowed. Just as she was about to act, the inmate suddenly collapsed.
Jiang Rumou stepped forward to examine him. "Wangfei, it's a high fever."
Following the high fever, symptoms of vomiting and fainting soon appeared. Feng Yinwan watched, her delicate brows knitting together.
These symptoms were undeniably familiar.
Jiang Rumou also noticed the anomaly, his expression trembling slightly. He looked at her with a look of near shock.
"Wangfei, it's... malaria!"
High fever, chills, vomiting, fainting – almost every symptom matched malaria perfectly.
As he spoke, a fine sheen of cold sweat already beaded on Jiang Rumou's forehead.
Ye Tingyun had also been to the isolation wards and was aware of malaria. Upon hearing this, he was also quite astonished.
"Imperial Physician Jiang, what are you saying? This prescription... is a prescription for malaria?!"
Logically, malaria is caused by bacterial infection and would never be induced by a prescription. Yet, the symptoms before them were undeniably real, leaving Jiang Rumou momentarily unsure.
As everyone panicked, Feng Yinwan's calm voice rang out.
"No."