Qi Xuan paused, a word of interruption forming on his lips, but he heard Ye Ting Lan readily agree from the other side.
"Willing."
He was cut off and, after a moment's hesitation, still spoke, "But Your Highness..."
Ye Ting Lan raised a hand to interrupt him and said, "You return to the capital alone and tell Ting Yun not to wait for this king."
He must have been extremely weak, as his face turned exceedingly pale after just a few words, and he even coughed intermittently while speaking.
Seeing this, Feng Yin Wan frowned, her gaze shifting to Qi Xuan beside her. She asked, "Is there something urgent that requires your return to the capital?"
Qi Xuan had intended to speak, but given that his own prince had already stated his wishes, he found it inappropriate to say more.
He merely bowed to her and shook his head, "Nothing of consequence, it was merely my overthinking."
Feng Yin Wan knitted her brows, feeling that he was not telling the truth. However, upon reflection, she recalled that she herself had said, "I will only ask once," and hesitated again.
She pursed her lips, about to concede, but Qi Xuan had already taken his leave. He mounted his horse and rode away, kicking up dust.
Feng Yin Wan let out a soft "Eh" upon seeing this and turned her attention back to Ye Ting Lan inside the carriage.
He leaned against the carriage wall with one hand, and despite his best efforts to sit upright, his posture still seemed unsteady.
Feng Yin Wan had not expected him to be so weak. Seeing this, she stepped forward, pulled down the curtain, and told him to rest assured inside.
After giving her instructions, she turned to drive the carriage. However, as soon as she picked up the reins, a person blocked her path.
She looked up, and her delicate eyebrows immediately furrowed, her body shifting into a defensive stance.
Yu Che glanced at her, his expression unchanged. "I am looking for Ye Ting Lan."
Feng Yin Wan stood guard by the carriage door, watching him warily. "I will not let you harm him."
She still didn't know how to save Ye Ting Lan's life, let alone allow him to be harmed further.
Yu Che's expression turned cold upon hearing this. He was about to retort sarcastically when the carriage curtain was once again lifted.
Ye Ting Lan lowered his gaze and gently pushed away the slender hand blocking his path.
"It's nothing."
Feng Yin Wan was startled and turned to meet his gaze, seeing a hint of calmness in his eyes. She obediently withdrew her hand.
Ye Ting Lan stepped past her and looked up at Yu Che in front of him.
"You have not yet departed."
He had feigned strength, bowing to pressure from the Moon Kingdom's emperor to act against Feng Yin Wan. However, what he had actually planted within her was not a soul蛊 (gu worm), but a harmless蛊 worm that would cause her to fall unconscious temporarily.
The reason Feng Yin Wan had lost consciousness and fainted that day was likely due to this蛊 worm, along with the influence of the bracelet.
And now...
His gaze unconsciously drifted downwards, and upon noticing the red mark that had appeared on Feng Yin Wan's wrist, he paused slightly.
He had only mentioned that method casually, never expecting Ye Ting Lan to actually try it, and moreover, to succeed.
He snorted and averted his gaze, then added, "My master only gave you the Rebirth 蛊, but did not tell you the correct method to use it. With it inside you, you are not necessarily doomed."
Feng Yin Wan was unaware of what had transpired between the two of them while she was unconscious, but upon hearing this, she could sense that the intense hatred Yu Che had harbored for Ye Ting Lan seemed to have dissipated.
Perhaps their misunderstanding had been resolved?
But this was not as important as what he had said.
Not necessarily doomed... did this mean that Ye Ting Lan's life could still be saved?
She looked up in surprise and saw Yu Che crossing his arms, speaking coldly, "It is not that I wish to save your life. It is merely that I had many misunderstandings with you before, and I must now repay that debt of guilt."