Feng Yinwan didn't know what the two had said, but when they returned, the atmosphere had clearly eased considerably.
Luo Qingyi asked them to stay in the palace for one day. In the evening, Feng Jinzhen slept in the Qingyun Pavilion. When Feng Yinwan went to see him, the little fellow was holding a book and diligently studying in the room.
This unprecedented scene almost made her drop her jaw in surprise.
Seeing her come, Feng Jinzhen didn't try to hide it. He obediently called out "Mother" and then turned his gaze back to the book.
Feng Yinwan glanced at it and tutted. *Chuanyang Divine Skill*, cultivating inner strength.
Her son seemed to be acting rather strangely.
"Chenchen, what are you doing?"
She asked knowingly, but the little fellow answered with a serious face, "I'm practicing."
Feng Yinwan was amused and exasperated. After a pause, she heard him continue.
"Grandpa said that only by becoming strong can I protect those I want to protect. I want to become strong too, and then protect Mother!"
To think he was working so hard for her sake, Feng Yinwan was taken aback and could only follow his lead.
"No one bullies Mother. You're still young. It's already a great accomplishment if you can take care of yourself. You don't need to think so much, and definitely not for adults."
While being smart and sensible was good, she wished for Feng Jinzhen to be a carefree child.
To understand what he should, but not to be overly precocious, and to retain that bit of innocence.
Unexpectedly, the little fellow frowned upon hearing this and sternly corrected her, "Mother, I'm not a child anymore!"
He was going to be a man as upright and mighty as his maternal grandfather!
Feng Yinwan didn't understand why he had become so stubborn. Seeing that she couldn't persuade him, she had no choice but to take his book and place it aside, then patiently advised.
"You want to become strong, but this is not a task for a single day. You can't be impatient."
"Your body is the foundation of everything. It's getting late, so go to sleep first. Mother will stay with you."
Feng Jinzhen had wanted to refuse, as his desire to become strong could not be paused for even a moment. However, after a day of travel and being preoccupied with his thoughts, he was indeed very sleepy.
He could only comply with Feng Yinwan's wishes and lie down on the bed.
The night wind blew gently, making the evening stars shine exceptionally bright. Feng Jinzhen lay on the bed, turning his head to look at the sparse stars in the sky.
Feng Yinwan watched them with him.
After a long while, his muffled voice drifted through the quiet night breeze.
"Mother, will I never see Uncle Song again?"
He lowered his small face, but his eyes were fixed on Feng Yinwan's direction, as if waiting for an answer.
Feng Yinwan paused upon hearing this. She reached out to cup his small hand and said softly, "No, you will. Your Uncle Song is in Jing Country. You can go see him anytime you wish, but you'll need to have Xiwen and Jianye accompany you. Otherwise, with your current abilities, Mother cannot be at ease."
Hearing this, the small hand in her palm twitched gently. Feng Jinzhen mumbled dejectedly.
"But that's different."
Perhaps it was because of Song Qing'an's care for them all along, that in his heart, Song Qing'an had long been considered family.
And now, that position had suddenly been replaced by Ye Tinglan.
Feng Yinwan didn't know how to explain it to him. After a moment of silence, she spoke again.
"Chenchen, just as you choose to become strong, Mother chooses to stay. Everyone has their own choices. We cannot deprive others of their right to choose just because of ourselves. Your Uncle Song, he also has his own choice."
It was precisely because she understood this point that she had chosen to tell Song Qing'an everything.
After this statement, there was no sound from his side for a long time. Feng Yinwan looked down and saw that Feng Jinzhen's face was peaceful, and he had gracefully fallen into a sweet dream.
The little fellow really fell asleep as soon as he lay down.
She smiled helplessly, got up to close the window for him, and quietly left the Qingyun Pavilion.
When she returned to Jinxiang Pavilion, Ye Tinglan had just returned from Luo Qingyi's place.
After dinner, they had gone to the discussion hall together, but she didn't know what they had discussed.
Just as they met her, Ye Tinglan stepped forward, gently took her hand, and led her towards the pavilion.
"Did Chenchen go to sleep?"
Feng Yinwan replied affirmatively, then turned her head to look at him. "What did you talk about today?"
Her intuition told her that Feng Jinzhen's unusual behavior was related to their conversation.
Ye Tinglan had intended to tell her anyway. Hearing her question, he turned his gaze to her, his grip on her hand tightening slightly.
"He asked me to treat you well. If I make you unhappy, he will personally deal with me."
Such a feigned threatening remark was somewhat amusing, but after being questioned so much just now, Feng Yinwan's nose couldn't help but sting a little.
Sensing her unease, Ye Tinglan reached up and gently stroked her hair, his voice warm and powerful. "I said, I will treat you well, and I will treat him well too. No matter what he thinks in his heart, we are still a family. From now on, I will do my best to change his perception of me."
As Feng Jinzhen had said, their conversation was a conversation between men, regardless of age.
And the subject of this conversation was the only woman in this small family.
Ye Tinglan was actually relieved.
Although he had missed a part of Feng Jinzhen's life and was an utterly unqualified father, his son possessed sound values and good character, which was undoubtedly gratifying. This was mostly thanks to Feng Yinwan.
The moonlight tonight seemed exceptionally affectionate. He gently put his arm around Feng Yinwan and said softly, "You've worked hard, Madam."
At least now, here, Ye Tinglan was just Ye Tinglan, the husband of his wife, the father of his son.
Feng Yinwan hugged him back gently and mumbled in his arms.
"Uncle asked to see you. Was it about Jing Country?"
Ye Tingyun's foundation was still unstable. With the Emperor's death, the political situation in Jing Country would likely be in flux again.
She knew very well that Ye Tinglan would eventually have to return.
The arm around her waist tightened. From above, Ye Tinglan's voice fell heavily.
"Madam is insightful."
He agreed so quickly that Feng Yinwan was somewhat at a loss for words.
Silence fell for a moment, and then she and Ye Tinglan spoke almost simultaneously.
Their eyes met, and Ye Tinglan sighed, admitting defeat first.
"If we were to return to the capital, would you be willing to go?"
He knew she had many unpleasant memories there, so he had hesitated to ask.
Unexpectedly, Feng Yinwan looked at him and gave the same answer.
"It's not that I haven't thought about it."
Her father and brother were still there, as were Ye Tingyun, the Empress Dowager, Consort Li, and others. And there was the Wuxi Pavilion she had promised to visit...
Returning was also an option.
Ye Tinglan breathed a sigh of relief as if a great burden had been lifted. Then he heard her say, "But the Xuanmen..."
"Prince Yi said that if you wish to return, he will find someone to take over the Xuanmen."
Initially, the successor of the Xuanmen was determined by the bracelet. But now that the bracelet was gone, there was no longer an indispensable candidate.
Luo Qingyi claimed they had no possibility of being together, yet he was secretly making arrangements for them.
Feng Yinwan's heart felt a surge of warmth. She softly hummed and buried her face in Ye Tinglan's embrace.