When Feng Yinwan returned, Yuping was waiting by the door.
Seeing that her clothes were slightly disheveled, Yuping immediately asked with concern, "Miss, did you have a conflict with the Prince?"
The bruise on her leg, from bumping into the corner of the table, still ached faintly. Upon hearing this, Feng Yinwan's anger intensified.
Her eyelashes lowered, she spoke rather sharply, "Where is Qin Rulian?"
Yuping nodded, "She knelt for a day with breaks in between, then fainted. She's still in the storeroom now."
Feng Yinwan let out a light scoff, not at all surprised by this outcome.
Two hours was not a short time. On a gravel path, and having to carry a full cup of tea without spilling it, it would be strange if she didn't collapse.
Her beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, and she immediately strode forward, "I'll go take a look."
There was no light in the storeroom. Yuping hurried back to fetch a candelabra. The weak candlelight made the already cramped space seem even more confined.
As it had been neglected for years, the floor was covered in dust. Today, due to Qin Rulian's presence, people had been coming and going, leaving behind a tangled mess of footprints.
Yuping placed the candelabra down and was about to tidy up before letting Feng Yinwan enter, but Feng Yinwan, unconcerned with such matters, walked straight in.
On the floor, Qin Rulian lay on her side, still in the position she was dragged into by the guards.
Feng Yinwan approached and took a look. Seeing that she had truly fainted, she took a silver needle from her waist and swiftly inserted it into several acupuncture points on her body.
After a moment of silence, Qin Rulian's body on the floor suddenly began to tremble. She curled up in pain and suddenly opened her eyes.
Yuping was startled by this scene and, fearing Qin Rulian might harm Feng Yinwan, immediately cried out.
"Consort, be careful!"
However, Feng Yinwan showed no panic. She glanced over, and seeing that Qin Rulian had woken, she slowly withdrew the silver needle.
"Two hours, did Miss Qin finish kneeling?"
Qin Rulian had been woken by a sharp pain.
As soon as she regained her senses, she heard these words. Her body trembled instantly. Her already numb knees began to throb with a sharp, stinging pain, as if piercing the deepest fear in her heart.
The torment resurfaced, and her eyes darted fearfully, trembling. She dared not meet Feng Yinwan's gaze.
Knowing she couldn't speak, Feng Yinwan didn't expect an answer. She flicked her finger, and the silver needle directly used its tail to lift Qin Rulian's jaw.
"I don't like to go back on my word. You probably won't finish kneeling for two hours, so let's find another way to make up for it."
It was just that she had caught Feng Yinwan in a bad mood tonight. She hadn't planned to torture her any further, but she couldn't help it. The anger she received from Ye Tinglan had to be vented somewhere.
Qin Rulian had committed many wicked deeds and still owed her and Yuping a great deal. Venting on her didn't seem entirely unfair.
Qin Rulian clearly hadn't expected Feng Yinwan to be so relentless even after she had knelt until she fainted. Hearing this, her body trembled violently. Her eyes were fixed on the silver needle under her jaw, her body stiff and unable to move.
Feng Yinwan, however, made no attempt to hide her intentions. A slight curve of her lips, and the tail of the needle against her jaw suddenly transformed into its sharp point.
"You thought you could escape? Let me tell you the truth, even if you fainted now, I have ways to wake you up again."
"So, just bear with it, lest you suffer more physical pain."
As she said this, the silver needle casually moved to Qin Rulian's face.
The cold needle tip was sharp and menacing, causing Qin Rulian to flinch and her skin to crawl.
Feng Yinwan observed, taking in all her fear and evasion.
After a moment, her eyelashes drooped, her gaze falling on Qin Rulian's face, which, though disheveled, was still delicate. Her tone was slightly mocking.
"You care a lot about your face, don't you?"
Qin Rulian cherished her beauty as much as her life. To ruin her face was akin to ruining her life.
The skin beneath the needle tip twitched in panic for a moment, but Feng Yinwan gave her no chance to dodge. With a slight press of her finger, the sharp needle tip instantly carved a bloody gash on her face.
The gash was long and winding, extending from the corner of her eye to her mouth.
Qin Rulian's eyes widened for a second, her features contorting in pain, yet her mouth gaped uselessly, unable to utter a sound.
Yuping had not expected Feng Yinwan to be so decisive, and her face trembled at the sight.
Sensing her unease, Feng Yinwan turned her head and subtly blocked Qin Rulian from view.
"If you cannot bear to see blood, you may wait outside first."
By now, she had grown accustomed to such things, but Yuping was different. As a pure-hearted young girl, she was bound to be frightened.
Upon hearing this, Yuping shook her head. "This servant dares not."
She dared not, nor was she afraid. She understood more clearly that Miss was avenging her.
Qin Rulian had used despicable means to injure her, and Miss was now using a silver needle to openly slash her face, intending to disfigure her face, which she valued more than her life, and to make everyone see the ugly scars on her face.
In that case, how could she cower? When Qin Rulian injured her, she hadn't found it bloody!
Seeing that Yuping had not retreated, Feng Yinwan felt a touch of relief.
After all, she could protect Yuping for a while, but not for a lifetime. In the future, Yuping's resilience would have to grow slowly.
She nodded, stood up, and handed the silver needle she held to Yuping.
"Two hours, one stab is not enough. For the next one, you do it."
Revenge was only satisfying when taken personally. Qin Rulian had hurt Yuping a thousand times, and she wanted Yuping to repay her with her own hands!
The bloodstain on Qin Rulian's face was still oozing blood. Upon hearing this, her face turned deathly pale, and she immediately clutched her head tightly.
Yuping glanced over, her eyes met Feng Yinwan's resolute gaze, and she nodded solemnly.
"Yes."
Unable to bear the humiliation, after the second stab, Qin Rulian fainted directly.
It wasn't from pain that she fainted, but from sheer anger.
Feng Yinwan glanced over, withdrew the needle, and turned to exit the storeroom.
"Lock the door and let her stay in there."
They had plenty of time in the future.