In the midst of the urgent fire in the front courtyard and the ensuing chaos within the mansion, a figure swiftly emerged from the shadows. Outside the back gate, two guards, barely registering what they saw, were knocked unconscious by Song Qing'an's hand chop.
"Princess Consort."
Feng Yinwan nodded, then half-carried Yüping and hurried to follow.
By the time Ye Tinglan and Qi Xuan arrived, guards were already at Runyu Pavilion, drawing water to extinguish the flames. The fire had started in the main hall, which was now shrouded in smoke, with faint embers still raging within.
Qi Xuan's heart tightened at the sight. Just as he was about to step forward to investigate, the person beside him was faster. Ye Tinglan burst through the room's door and went straight into the main hall.
"Your Highness!"
No one expected him to enter himself, and everyone present was startled.
Qi Xuan quickly followed, but before he could even enter, a figure of icy coldness retreated. In the thick smoke, Ye Tinglan's handsome, chilling face appeared.
"There is no one inside."
Neither Feng Yinwan nor her maid was found.
"No… no one?"
Qi Xuan was momentarily stunned by this news.
As if realizing something, the biting coldness around him suddenly turned even more frigid.
Ye Tinglan clenched his fist, his handsome face clouding with anger. "Go find them! See where they have gone!"
"Yes."
Qi Xuan led his men throughout the mansion, but Feng Yinwan and Yüping remained nowhere to be found. Just as they emerged from the front hall, two guards from the rear courtyard came running.
"Guard Qi…"
Recognizing them as the ones guarding the back gate tonight, Qi Xuan frowned slightly and immediately asked,
"Did you see the Princess Consort?"
Since they couldn't find her in the mansion, and the fire seemed suspicious, Feng Yinwan had most likely left the estate.
The two guards had come precisely to report this. Hearing Qi Xuan's question, they lowered their heads.
"When we were on duty just now, we were struck from behind and knocked unconscious. When we awoke, the back gate was already open. The Princess Consort might have…"
Just as he suspected!
Qi Xuan's eyelids flickered. He quickly pressed further, "When did this happen?"
"About half an hour ago. The commotion started in the front courtyard, and the fire seemed to have only just begun."
"Then it's likely not just half an hour."
For some reason, upon hearing this news, Qi Xuan felt a subtle sense of relief.
Immediately, his expression turned stern as he looked at the two guards. "I will report this to His Highness immediately."
Upon hearing the news of Feng Yinwan's departure, Ye Tinglan was almost enraged.
"That maid is still unconscious. How could she have taken her out of the estate by herself!"
Someone else must have planned this!
The guards stammered, "Your Highness is wise. The person who knocked us out was extremely fast and possessed profound skill. It certainly didn't seem like the Princess Consort…"
If it had been Feng Yinwan, they would not have been caught completely off guard.
With such skills, and willing to help Feng Yinwan leave the prince's estate at this time, there could only be one person!
"Song Qing'an."
In that instant, Ye Tinglan's handsome face turned icy cold. The three words dripped from his lips as if squeezed through his teeth.
"Go after them immediately! If you cannot find the Princess Consort, you will all lose your heads!"
"Yes!"
...
The carriage traveled swiftly, easily passing through the city gates before they were closed.
Two official roads diverged: one leading to Yuzhou, the other to Jinzhou. Song Qing'an paused slightly, awaiting Feng Yinwan's decision.
After a moment's hesitation, Feng Yinwan made her choice.
"To Jinzhou."
While she intended to investigate in Yuzhou, she knew Ye Tinglan would undoubtedly send people after her once he discovered her departure. Moreover, Yüping was still unconscious. Going to Yuzhou would be akin to walking into a trap.
"Yes."
Without the slightest hesitation, Song Qing'an immediately turned the carriage towards Jinzhou.
Along the way, Yüping stirred groggily several times. Each time Feng Yinwan leaned in, Yüping would fall back into a deep sleep. It wasn't until dawn broke outside that she finally woke up fully.
"Hiss—"
A sharp, precise pain spread across her neck, reminiscent of the burning sensation in the fire that night.
Hearing the sound, Feng Yinwan immediately awoke.
"Yüping."
"Miss…"
Yüping raised her eyes at the sound, her small face pale with pain.
Seeing her try to prop herself up with her elbows to turn over, Feng Yinwan quickly stopped her. "Don't!"
"Miss?"
Yüping vaguely knew she had an injury on her back, but the small bed in the carriage offered limited space. Lying on her stomach was quite awkward, and her arm had gone numb from being pressed.
Meeting her questioning gaze, Feng Yinwan averted her eyes, finding herself unable to speak.
She pursed her lips and finally said, "You are still injured and should not move around carelessly. Endure it a little longer. Once we reach Jinzhou, we will find an inn to stay."
Hearing the word "Jinzhou" from her lips, Yüping suddenly came to her senses, realizing they had already left the prince's estate.
The carriage sped along the silent official road. A gentle breeze lifted the curtain slightly, revealing Song Qing'an driving in front.
Yüping stared for a moment, then looked at Feng Yinwan's body.
"Miss, you were frightened by the fire that day. Are you… are you injured?"
She remembered how Feng Yinwan had stood frozen that day, clutching a quilt, her eyes vacant.
Suddenly recalling how Feng Yinwan had looked after being burned on the face when she returned from the palace years ago, Yüping's heart tightened. She could only pull Feng Yinwan out with all her might.
However, the fire was too fierce. The thin veil couldn't block the thick smoke in the room. Before losing consciousness, she vaguely remembered burning wooden beams falling from the ceiling, directly hitting her back. And then, a faint red light seemed to appear on Miss's body…
At the time, she was on the verge of unconsciousness, and the scene was not entirely clear. However, it was good that Miss was unharmed.
As soon as she woke up, she didn't ask about her own injuries but worried if Feng Yinwan was hurt.
Feng Yinwan's eyes welled up, her vision blurring slightly.
"Yüping, I will not let you suffer these injuries in vain!"
She hated Qin Rulian immensely, but with the Empress involved, and without evidence, no matter how much she hated her, she couldn't simply strike her down.
Leaving was the immediate priority. She would repay all these grudges later!
Yüping shook her head at this. "Miss, this servant does not feel pain."
How could she not feel pain when her injuries were so severe?
Feng Yinwan lowered her gaze and held Yüping's hand, her eyes already moist.
"Don't worry, I will heal your wounds completely. There will be no scars left."
Yüping nodded, her eyes shining as she looked at Feng Yinwan. "This servant believes Miss."
The commotion in Mo Prince's estate did not cease throughout the night.
After the fire in the front courtyard last night and Ye Tinglan's departure, Qin Rulian had been throwing tantrums in her courtyard, smashing ornaments and vases. The mansion's physicians dared not enter.
Her wounds had not yet been fully treated. Shuangxi, seeing this, stepped forward to advise her.
"My lady, at least let the mansion's physician tend to your wounds first. Burns are the most difficult to treat. If not done carefully, I fear… I fear they will leave scars."
Before she finished speaking, Qin Rulian's almost shrill voice rang out.
"What use is carefulness! If it could be cured, why would I have gone to such lengths for so many years!"
She knew firsthand the consequences of burn scars. No matter how meticulously they were cared for, they could never be completely removed.
The burns on her neck, inflicted by that wretched woman, could not heal!