The needle tip was slender yet sharp, easily piercing the skin. Feng Yinwan applied force, and instantly, blood seeped from her snow-white neck.
Ye Tinglan’s body stiffened abruptly. He struck her hand, knocking the silver needle away, and his grip on her wrist threatened to crush her.
“You dare!”
Feng Yinwan indeed dared.
Her beautiful eyes looked at him stubbornly, her gaze filled with unyielding determination.
“If you dare to do it, I can too.”
The oppressive chill in his voice was palpable, each second of silence suffocating.
Ye Tinglan stared at her intently, a flicker of pain subtly appearing in his eyes.
“You want to keep his child that badly?”
“Feng Yinwan, how much sincerity do you truly have for this prince?”
He had already convinced himself the child belonged to Song Qing’an, rendering any further explanations futile.
Feng Yinwan’s pale lips tightened. She lowered her gaze and averted her eyes. “The same question, this concubine wishes to ask the prince.”
A restless seed had quietly taken root in her heart. Left unattended, it would grow wildly. By the time it broke through the soil and she truly saw it, she would realize she was already hopelessly entangled.
However, if he constantly hid things from her, refusing to explain or trust her, then she wanted no part of such so-called sincerity.
“Ye Tinglan, let us divorce.”
Hearing this word again, Ye Tinglan’s rage ignited anew.
Veins bulged on his forehead, and his voice was almost a growl. “Say that again.”
Feng Yinwan’s eyelashes lifted slightly, her face devoid of almost any expression.
“This concubine is now the daughter of a criminal, a burden who no longer deserves the title of Mo Wangfei. Princess Chao’an is the prince’s suitable match.”
Ye Tinglan’s military authority had been transferred after his injury. Now that the Feng family had fallen, Prince Dingnan was undoubtedly his best support.
Moreover, if not for Ye Tingyun, and the experiences of the malaria outbreak and the framing of the Feng family, they should have divorced long ago.
Circumstances had led them to this point by chance; it would have been better to cut ties from the start!
The calmness on her face pained him. Ye Tinglan clenched his fists, suppressing his anger as he stood.
“Feng Yinwan, you will not get your wish!”
The door slammed shut, a signal. Feng Yinwan exhaled a controlled breath, her body instantly losing its strength.
Upon returning to the manor, she bumped into Ye Tinglan storming out of Lan Qing Yuan. Yuping and Qi Xuan were stunned.
“Your Highness…”
Before they could finish, Ye Tinglan’s angry voice, chillingly cold, rang out.
“Watch her. Without this prince’s order, she is not to step out of Lan Qing Yuan by half a step!”
This command was directed at Qi Xuan.
Unprepared for this, Qi Xuan was momentarily taken aback. Before he could respond, Ye Tinglan had already left.
Yuping also froze for half a moment. Seemingly realizing something, she hurried towards the courtyard.
“Miss!”
Upon entering, she saw Feng Yinwan sitting on the bed with her clothes disheveled, her delicate face pale, but the red mark on her jaw was noticeably abnormal. Yuping stopped in her tracks, her steps becoming unsteady.
“Miss, you are…”
Feng Yinwan leaned against her, her voice weak.
“Yuping, I am so tired.”
Yuping’s eyes welled up with tears. She reached out, her hands trembling, and embraced her shoulders.
“Miss, this servant is here…”
Upon waking from this sleep, Feng Yinwan was undoubtedly under house arrest. Unlike previous instances, the door to Lan Qing Yuan was locked from the outside and only opened when meals were delivered.
“Guard her well. Remember, no accidents are to occur!”
“Yes.”
Qi Xuan did not know what had happened last night, but he had to obey Ye Tinglan’s orders.
After instructing the guards, he turned and saw Ye Tinglan approaching with a stern face. He paused slightly and hurried to meet him.
“Your Highness.”
“How is she?”
He was asking about Feng Yinwan’s condition.
Qi Xuan nodded. “Breakfast has been sent in. The Wangfei should be eating now.”
Ye Tinglan nodded, his stern profile showing no trace of emotion.
Seeing him about to leave again, Qi Xuan hesitated, then mustered the courage to catch up.
“Your Highness, about last night…”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Ye Tinglan’s gaze, devoid of any warmth, fell upon him.
Qi Xuan’s heart tightened. After a pause, he pressed on, “Is there some misunderstanding between you and the Wangfei?”
News of Prince Dingnan’s proposal at the banquet yesterday had spread widely. The Wangfei was likely unaware, and he suspected this was the cause of their argument.
Ye Tinglan’s expression turned colder.
“Do not ask about things that do not concern you.”
Knowing he had overstepped, Qi Xuan nodded. “Yes. This subordinate will go to the Dark Hall to receive punishment later.”
Ye Tinglan gave no indication of his thoughts. Just as he was about to move on, he saw Qi Xuan bow again.
“Your Highness, there is something this subordinate wishes to report to you.”
He cast a brief glance at Ye Tinglan’s expression before hesitantly speaking, “It is… about the Wangfei.”
Ye Tinglan’s dark eyes imperceptibly deepened. “Speak.”
Last night, without warning, he had questioned her about the night she returned to the manor. Qi Xuan recounted the investigation of Granny Sun truthfully, finding no abnormalities.
Upon returning, he suddenly remembered Feng Yinwan had also inquired about that night. After much deliberation, he decided to report the matter to Ye Tinglan.
“You say she inquired about this matter?”
“Precisely. This subordinate suspects the Wangfei may have seen traces of that assassin in the manor.”
Ye Tinglan’s brows instantly furrowed.
The assassin’s methods were too bizarre. He had been inadvertently struck that night and had used his internal energy to seal his meridians, tracing the attacker. He had not expected to return to the prince’s manor.
Just as he was about to capture the assailant, he detected a strange fragrance. Then, his body became uncontrollable, and he lost awareness of what happened next. He only remembered waking up in the water pavilion with a wound on his forehead.
Seeing his altered expression, Qi Xuan paused before speaking again.
“Does Your Highness wish to ask the Wangfei about this matter?”
After all, that assassin was related to the matter the prince had been investigating. If the Wangfei could help, their relationship might ease somewhat.
To his surprise, Ye Tinglan’s eyes darkened, and he did not respond.
Given the circumstances of last night, Feng Yinwan might not be willing to see him now. Even if he forced his way in, she might not speak.
His long lashes lowered, and his voice deepened as he spoke, “This prince has another matter for you to attend to.”
…
Feng Yinwan’s public departure from the palace banquet yesterday had caused a stir. The happiest among those present was Qin Rulian.
Yun Shu was no ordinary princess; her status was no less than that of a “legitimate daughter of the General Who Guards the Nation” manor. Moreover, Prince Dingnan doted on her. Qin Rulian, on her own, would likely never be able to bring her down, even in death. Therefore, she thought of Feng Yinwan.
When the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman benefits. Although Feng Yinwan had lost her influence, she still had a belly. As long as she and Yun Shu clashed, she would be the one to profit!
With her mind made up, she returned to her manor after breakfast and headed straight for Lan Qing Yuan. Upon arrival, she sensed something was amiss.
Just as she was about to approach the guards to inquire, she heard a cold voice from behind the flower bushes, stopping her in her tracks.
“You go to the estate yourself. Find that maid and ensure Zhao Si’s matter is thoroughly investigated.”