In the early summer, a wisteria vine bloomed profusely before the embroidered pavilion. Feng Yin Wan stood by the window, her gaze drifting with the faint, ethereal fragrance.
She understood the unspoken implications of Feng Wu Xi's words, but how could she respond?
After their parting on the city wall that day, neither had uttered a word, yet she knew that the entanglements of love and hate between her and Ye Ting Lan had been severed in a silent, peaceful manner.
Regardless of the Emperor's interference, he would remain in the palace from now on, diligently assisting Ye Ting Yun.
And she, too, had a mission. The Xuan Men had chosen her. Now that her father and brother were safe, she should return as soon as possible.
Though the Xuan Men and Jing Kingdom were not enemies, they would likely have no further interaction in the future.
As for Song Qing An…
It wasn't intentional to hide from him that she wasn't the original person. However, revealing such a truth would be earth-shattering, and the situation had been so volatile; it was simply not convenient to speak of it.
She had intended to tell him on the day of the victory banquet, but the Emperor, with his ulterior motives, detained her, and those words were left unsaid.
Song Qing An's affections were too profound for her to repay. If he wished, she could spend the rest of her life with him. However, if he knew she was not the one who had made the promise with him when he was young, would he still choose this path?
The last wisp of sunset glow was swallowed by the encroaching night. Feng Yin Wan lowered her eyes, letting the evening breeze caress the hair at her neck.
Old General Feng came looking for her. Seeing her lost in thought, he hesitated to disturb her and turned to leave. Feng Yin Wan, as if sensing his presence, looked up.
"Father."
Old General Feng paused, then saw her withdraw her thoughts from her eyes and walk towards him.
He turned and nodded slightly. "I saw you seemed to be lost in thought just now, so I thought I would come back later."
Feng Yin Wan blinked, then smiled and shook her head. "Just a fleeting thought, nothing important. Father, please, you have something to say."
Old General Feng paused at her words, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment before he spoke again.
"Your mother left something behind before she passed. I've brought it for you."
Feng Yin Wan looked up, noticing for the first time that he was holding something in his hand.
The light around them was not very bright. Only when Old General Feng extended his hand to give it to her did she see that it was a thin booklet.
Unlike an ordinary book, the side of the booklet was secured by something. Upon closer inspection, its form bore a resemblance to a modern combination lock.
This realization caused Feng Yin Wan's movements to falter, her body stiffening in place.
She abruptly looked up at Old General Feng, only to find him looking back at her with a hesitant expression.
"Your mother did not die of illness. She… disappeared."
Even now, as he spoke these words again, a lingering doubt remained in his eyes.
He couldn't fathom how such a living person could simply vanish without a trace, disappearing so completely.
Amidst the soft sigh of the evening breeze, Feng Yin Wan heard herself struggling to find her voice.
"Disappeared…?"
Old General Feng's eyes met hers, and he nodded with a complex expression. "Disappeared."
He didn't want to believe this outcome, but it was the truth.
He could state with absolute certainty that Luo Qing Yu had vanished into thin air, suddenly and without warning.
Feng Yin Wan's heart trembled again. Seeing him lower his gaze to the booklet in his hand, she hesitated, "This booklet is something your mother left behind. If you can open it, perhaps you will know what she wrote inside."