Feng Yinwan emerged from Hengwu Courtyard to find that the Empress Dowager's carriage had already departed. Standing beneath the sophora tree by the gate was a figure cloaked in dark, almost somber, black, as if it might melt into the barren branches.
Feng Yinwan's eyes flickered, and she stepped forward.
Ye Tinglan had indeed been waiting for her. Seeing her emerge, his form shifted slightly.
He looked up, his jaw tight. "This matter was not sanctioned by this prince."
Feng Jinchen was of utmost importance to both of them, and thus, information about his whereabouts in Prince Mo's manor had been meticulously concealed. Today's events had unfolded unexpectedly, and he truly did not know the reason behind them.
Feng Yinwan nodded upon hearing his words, not harboring any doubt.
Ye Tinglan had no motive to act in such a manner. If this had been his doing, he would not have intervened to stop the Empress Dowager at the entrance of Hengwu Courtyard just moments ago.
However, for her, it was of no consequence who had leaked the information. What mattered was ensuring that Chenchen could extricate himself as quickly as possible and remain uninvolved in this complex situation.
But the Bai Mu Lingxi…
As if sensing her thoughts, Ye Tinglan's lips curved. "The situation in the capital is still unstable and it is not advisable to involve him. He shall be sent back to the Moon Kingdom tonight. This prince will have a carriage prepared."
The capital was currently like a wall riddled with leaks; any slight disturbance would alert everyone.
Feng Jinchen's existence could not remain hidden once revealed. At present, the safest course of action was to send him back to the Moon Kingdom as soon as possible.
Suddenly, a brocade box was pressed into her hand. Feng Yinwan instinctively clutched it, the solid feel and surprise arriving almost simultaneously.
It was the Bai Mu Lingxi...!
That item had been in her possession when they had set the trap for Su Xi that night. The situation had been so chaotic then that Ye Tinglan hadn't paid it any mind. Yet, a shred of contractual spirit had prevented her from seizing it.
The item had made its way back into Ye Tinglan's hands, and she had expected it would be difficult to retrieve again. But to her surprise, he had given it to her so easily?
Feng Yinwan's hand, holding the brocade box, faltered slightly. In that instant, an inexplicable emotion surged through her heart, and she quickly regained her composure.
"Then thank you."
The news of his departure was so sudden that Feng Jinchen burst into tears upon hearing it.
"Why! Mother, I don't want to go. I want to stay here with you!"
Hadn't they agreed to go back together in a few days? Why was he being sent back alone now?
He clung to Feng Yinwan's legs with both hands and feet, his expression conveying, "You're hiding something from me."
Feng Yinwan felt strangely guilty under his gaze. She reached out and ruffled his hair, attempting to persuade him with a serious tone.
"It's not that Mother is rushing to send you back. Your maternal great-uncle sent word saying he misses you after not seeing you for so long. You know his temper; it's not something to trifle with."
"How about this: you go back with Xiwen and Jianye first, and then Mother will come find you in a couple of days. What do you say?"
The tears welling in Feng Jinchen's eyes paused. He looked up, half-believing, half-doubting.
"Did my maternal great-uncle say so?"
But why hadn't Xiwen or Jianye mentioned this to him?
Feng Yinwan nodded with a poker face. "Of course. Would Mother lie to you? Your maternal great-uncle's personal letter is right here!"
There was no letter; she was simply making things up.
Thinking that he didn't recognize many characters anyway, Feng Yinwan simply pulled out a flyer from her pocket to fool him.
"Look, doesn't this say, 'Deeply misses Chenchen, please have him return first'?"
It had even matched the punctuation marks perfectly.
Feng Yinwan secretly rejoiced. To her surprise, Feng Jinchen stared at the flyer for a long moment before looking up with a mournful expression.
"Four four cloud cloud candy cake, two two silver for one portion."
His crisp voice spoke each word distinctly. Feng Yinwan gasped and covered her mouth with her hand.
"Oh no, this little fellow can read."
His reaction made Feng Jinchen's pupils widen in shock. He felt even more hurt.
What was with Mother's expression? Although he didn't know many characters, he wasn't an idiot!
Seeing his lower lip begin to pout, on the verge of crying again, Feng Yinwan quickly threw the flyer away and covered his mouth.
"I got it wrong. Mother accidentally grabbed the wrong one. Your maternal great-uncle's personal letter..."
Feng Jinchen: "Wuu... Wu wu wu!"
The little fellow threw a tantrum for the entire afternoon but eventually, he obediently boarded the carriage.
The sky in the distance was gradually darkening, and less than half an hour remained before the city gates closed. Jianye placed the luggage onto the carriage and was about to pull down the curtain when a small hand firmly grasped it.
Feng Jinchen's head poked out from the gap, his red and swollen eyes still glinting with moisture.
"Mother."
His voice was soft, with a slight nasal tone.
Feng Yinwan stood watching, a pang of reluctance suddenly surfacing in her heart.
"What is it?"
As soon as she stepped closer, he threw himself into her arms.
The little dumpling hugged her neck, his expression melancholic and sad.
"Mother, since neither of us will be here, you must take good care of yourself."
"If that bad guy Old King dares to bully you, you just write a letter and send it back. I'll personally read it to Maternal Great-uncle, then make three copies and send one each to Uncle Song and Godfather. We'll all come to beat him up!"
As the saying goes, three cobblers are better than one Zhuge Liang. A luxurious lineup like "Maternal Great-uncle + Uncle Song + Godfather" would surely beat him into a 200-pound fat turtle!
He was confident and serious, and Feng Yinwan, holding him, laughed until she could barely breathe.
Feng Jinchen looked displeased. "Mother, what are you laughing at? I'm being serious!"
Feng Yinwan pursed her lips, trying her best to suppress her laughter.
"Okay, Mother understands. You must also be obedient when you get back, take your medicine on time, eat properly, and if you dare to cause trouble, I will definitely deal with you when I return!"
Feng Jinchen was still a little afraid of being disciplined by her. His eyes darted around, and he immediately agreed sheepishly, "I know."
As they spoke, Xiwen, having finished tidying up, walked over. He glanced at the sky and immediately jumped onto the carriage.
"Miss, time is almost up. We should depart."
The city gates were about to close, and they needed to slip out of the city amidst the twilight, blending in with the last wave of people. This way, they would be least likely to arouse suspicion.
Feng Yinwan nodded and gently placed the little boy back into the carriage.
Sensing his reluctance, she patted his small hand comfortingly. Only then did Feng Jinchen obediently get into the carriage.
Jianye let go and lowered the curtain, then bowed deeply to Feng Yinwan.
"Miss, please rest assured. We will deliver the young master back to the sect safely."
Feng Yinwan nodded and then added, "The prescription for refining the antidote pill is in the box containing the Bai Mu Lingxi. Give it to Uncle when you return; he will know what to do."
The difficulty of refining this pill was extremely high. Within the sect, perhaps only Luo Qingyi could accomplish it. He had been staying in the Moon Kingdom's imperial palace before, and she didn't know his current situation.
Sensing her concern, Jianye nodded. "Miss's letter has already been sent ahead. The Holy Lord will know of this matter before we return."
Feng Yinwan nodded, a complex emotion quietly settling within her.
She glanced into the carriage once more and pursed her lips. "Alright, go now. Be careful on the road."