"What are you saying?!"
The silence in the hall was suddenly broken, and the Empress nodded, a hint of worry subtly appearing on her face.
"Mother, this concubine dares not speak rashly, but judging by the events of these past two days, the actions of the Ink King's Consort have indeed been somewhat unusual. She is also currently with child, which truly causes one some concern."
The Empress Dowager's face had already darkened when she heard that the fire was in Feng Yinwan's courtyard. After a moment of silence, she looked at the mammy beside her.
"Go and summon the Ink King here, and say that this empress dowager has important matters to inquire about."
"Yes."
When the mammy arrived at the Ink King's residence, Ye Tingyun was glaring at Yun Shu.
He blocked half of the mansion's gate, his stubborn refusal to let anyone in successfully enraging Yun Shu.
"What is King Yun doing? I've come to see Brother Lan and Sister Wan, why won't you let me in!"
Ye Tingyun glanced at her sideways and said seriously, "There have been frequent incidents in the King's residence these past two days, and Third Brother's injuries have not yet healed, and Third Sister-in-law is in a bad mood. Princess, it's best you return to the palace first, lest you cause more trouble here."
He rolled up his sleeves, clearly ready to have a three-hundred-round shouting match with Yun Shu. To his surprise, Yun Shu froze upon hearing his words and curiously inquired.
"Why is Sister Wan unhappy? Is it because I've come to see her two days later?"
"It's not that I don't want to come sooner, but my Father King doesn't allow me to leave the palace freely. I actually snuck out today."
Ye Tingyun: ...
He could tell now, this girl was truly stupid, and she believed everything she was told!
With a sly turn of his eyes, he immediately harbored a mischievous thought and nodded, "Yes, that's exactly it!"
Yun Shu's pupils trembled, and a hint of disappointment welled up in her eyes, clearly falling into deep self-reproach and guilt.
"Then... then what should we do?"
Ye Tingyun almost burst out laughing.
He pursed his lips tightly and patted her shoulder solemnly with his hand, "This matter, it's not that there's no solution. You do this, you go back first. After I go in and gauge Third Sister-in-law's mood, I'll discuss countermeasures with you when I return to the palace, alright?"
Yun Shu thought it was a good idea.
"Then I'll trouble King Yun!"
After thanking Ye Tingyun several times, she happily turned and got into her carriage.
Ye Tingyun turned his head, about to sneak in a couple of laughs, when the mammy's voice suddenly sounded behind him.
"Your Highness King Yun."
Upon recognizing the person by the Empress Dowager's side, Ye Tingyun was slightly taken aback and immediately nodded, "Mammy, why have you come to the King's residence?"
The mammy nodded, "This old servant was sent by the Empress Dowager to invite the Ink King to the palace."
"To the palace? Imperial Grandmother wants to see Third Brother?"
He had arrived at the Ink King's residence, and before he could even sit down, he was returning to the palace.
Ye Tinglan's aura was extremely low throughout the journey. Ye Tingyun observed him secretly for a long time, but ultimately did not dare to ask the question.
As soon as they entered Shou Kang Palace, they saw the Empress and Qin Rulian. Ye Tingyun was slightly startled and felt the chill beside him intensify.
"Your grandson greets Imperial Grandmother."
Unforeseen by Ye Tingyun, the Empress Dowager nodded and ordered a seat to be granted.
"Lan'er, I heard that your residence caught fire several times these past two days, and the Ink King's Consort is now nowhere to be found. Is this true?"
He had already had a premonition upon seeing Qin Rulian. Ye Tinglan nodded, his handsome face still stern.
"Yes."
Having received his personal confirmation, the Empress Dowager frowned and immediately became somewhat displeased.
"What exactly is going on?"
Feng Yinwan was not an unreasonable person. If it were merely because of Yun Shu, it wouldn't have escalated to this point.
Unexpectedly, her thin lips were tightly pressed together, and she showed no intention of speaking further.
"It is my fault."
These few words instantly made the atmosphere in the hall even more tense.
Ye Tingyun had been stunned since he heard that Feng Yinwan was missing. Seeing the current situation, he became even more bewildered.
"Third Brother, this..."
Three months pregnant, and her love rival appears before her eyes, and in a fit of rage, she leaves the King's residence with the baby?
Things... are not as he imagined, are they?
The next moment, the Empress Dowager's angry voice confirmed his thoughts.
"Presumptuous! As a King's Consort, to commit such an unseemly act, it is simply outrageous!"
Ye Tinglan repeated with a cold expression, "This grandson said, it is this grandson's fault."
"You!"
Seeing the Empress Dowager's anger, Ye Tingyun quickly stood up.
"Imperial Grandmother, please do not be angry. Third Sister-in-law has always been well-behaved and would not act so arbitrarily. There may be another reason for this matter..."
The Empress, however, agreed, "Mother, I believe the most urgent matter is to find the Ink King's Consort as soon as possible, and not let others know of this matter, lest it damage the royal family's reputation."
After the two of them had persuaded her one after another, the Empress Dowager's expression softened slightly. She then looked at Ye Tinglan again, with a hint of displeasure.
"I don't care what the reason is, the Ink King's Consort is carrying your flesh and blood, and she must be found quickly!"
She paused and added, "The Ink King's Consort's maternal family only recently experienced misfortune. You and Chao An's matters can be put aside for now. As for the Emperor, I will speak to him myself."
...
After inquiring about the situation in Yuzhou, Song Qing'an intended to depart the next day. Before his departure, Feng Yinwan met the old friend he had mentioned, who was none other than Xu Yunxiao, a captain in the Jinzhou army.
Upon learning of her identity, Xu Yunxiao agreed without a second word.
"Brother Song, rest assured, I will not fail your trust and will take good care of the Consort and this young lady."
He then turned to Feng Yinwan and solemnly clasped his hands.
"I once served under the command of Old General Feng. Old General Feng and Young Master Feng were loyal and upright officials. They would never commit such despicable acts. I believe they must have been falsely accused to end up in this situation!"
Since the incident, this was the most affirming voice she had heard.
Feng Yinwan nodded, still touched, "Thank you."
Yuping had not yet woken up. Song Qing'an helped to take her to the Xu family before leaving.
Feng Yinwan went out to see him off. Watching that receding, slender figure, the scene from yesterday resurfaced.
Song Qing'an's body visibly stiffened when he heard her question. After a moment, he shook his head.
"I don't remember either. Perhaps it was drunken ramblings. Consort, you don't need to mind it."
Then she asked again.
"Have we met before?"
Since they were from noble families, there should have been many interactions between their families. She always felt that Song Qing'an's attitude towards her was like that of an old acquaintance, but the strange thing was, there was no memory of him in her mind.
To her inquiries, he only smiled faintly, neither confirming nor denying.
The fragmented scenes that flashed through her mind during the fire replayed before her eyes. Vaguely, she seemed to see someone pushing her away forcefully, and someone else rushing towards her through everything...
Like a mist shrouded her heart, Feng Yinwan snapped back to reality, her tightly clenched knuckles already turning pale.
Thinking she was worried, Xu Yunxiao chuckled heartily and spoke words of comfort.
"Consort, please don't worry. Brother Song is very skilled, there won't be any problems."
Feng Yinwan nodded along with his words. Just as she was about to speak, a faint sound came from the room, and she quickly hurried back.