With a heave from the soft couch, Feng Yinwan felt her lungs nearly burst. She flipped over, scrambling to retrieve her silver needles.
She had made up her mind!
If Ye Tinglan dared to approach her later, she would drag him down with her!
She was fully prepared for a desperate struggle, but to her surprise, Ye Tinglan glanced at her indifferently and made no move to come closer.
"Why are you staring at this king like that? Do you really think this king would touch you?"
His tone was laced with a hint of mockery, a faint sarcasm, and a touch of… smugness?!
Feng Yinwan: ???
What happened?
Ye Tinglan secretly observed her. Her face showed bewilderment, confusion, and anger, but not the disappointment he had hoped to see!
If she wasn't disappointed, then he was!
He pursed his thin lips tightly, let out a cold snort, and flicked his sleeve. "Rest well. This king will return to the manor."
With that, he soared through the window and left. Feng Yinwan was only puzzled for a second before letting out a long sigh of relief.
Excellent.
Men who didn't value themselves were like rotten cabbage. It seemed Ye Tinglan understood this principle too!
...
The Feng Manor Garden.
Two figures, one blue and one pink, walked side-by-side, but their hearts were miles apart, each lost in their own thoughts.
Feng Yiyi’s ambitions had always extended beyond this, so even though Song Qing’an had specifically come to see her today, she hadn't given him her full attention.
However, this didn't mean she could tolerate his own absentmindedness and lack of care towards her!
"Young Master Song, you've been looking around since you entered the back courtyard. What are you searching for?"
The sharpness in her tone was evident. Seeing this, Song Qing’an realized his lapse and immediately withdrew his gaze apologetically.
"Miss Feng Er, please forgive me. This is my first time at the Zhenguo General's manor, and I haven't seen such scenery before. I was simply curious."
He spoke with gentle elegance, offering mere humble pleasantries. However, in Feng Yiyi's ears, it sounded like an uncultured bumpkin who had never seen the world.
Feng Yiyi shot him a sidelong glance, her resentment growing.
What good was a handsome face! He truly was from a humble background, with such limited vision!
Song Qing’an didn't seem to mind. He pursed his lips and said softly, "Are there any other young ladies in your manor?"
"What do you mean!"
"Miss Feng Er, please don't misunderstand. It's just that I saw a young lady in a purple dress earlier. She had an extraordinary bearing, so I thought she might also be a young lady of the manor. That's why I wanted to inquire."
Feng Yiyi's brows furrowed. "Eldest sister is already married. I am the only young lady in the manor now. Where would there be anyone else!"
As she frowned, she suddenly became suspicious. "You said purple just now?"
Song Qing’an nodded. "It was light purple woven brocade, embroidered with hibiscus and crabapples. I saw her by the dining hall entrance earlier."
Someone who left the dining hall, wearing purple...
He must be talking about Feng Yinwan!
Upon realizing this, an unprovoked anger surged in Feng Yiyi’s heart.
That bitch Feng Yinwan, she hadn't been this charming before. Now that her face was healed, she wanted to snatch her man!
Gritting her teeth in resentment, her gaze fell upon Song Qing’an beside her, and a thought flashed through her mind.
She immediately let out a delicate laugh. "Young Master Song, I know who you're talking about~"
...
Already feeling somewhat sleepy, and then being startled and thrown, Feng Yinwan was truly feeling weak.
After Ye Tinglan left, she had fallen asleep on the couch in a half-reclining position. It was only when Yuping returned and saw her that she was woken up.
"Miss, where is the Prince?"
Seeing no sign of Ye Tinglan anywhere, Yuping cautiously inquired.
Feng Yinwan moved her slightly stiff arm, her resentment still unquenched. "Why bother with him!"
As she spoke, her eyes fell on the pink pastries on the table. Her beautiful eyes flashed, and her spirits immediately lifted.
"White Jade Hibiscus Pastries? Yuping, I love you so much!"
She had been craving these pastries since her return visit. Feng Yinwan had eaten them several times and absolutely loved them.
Hearing this, Yuping smiled shyly. "I thought Miss loved them, and I happened to see some in the kitchen just now, so I brought them back."
Feng Yinwan nodded vigorously as she ate. "You eat some too!"
Yuping glanced at the not-so-plentiful pastries on the plate and shook her head. "Miss, you eat. I ate too much at noon and still feel full."
Feng Yinwan, who disliked eating alone the most, raised her eyebrows as if about to shove one into Yuping's mouth when she heard a servant's call from outside.
"Eldest Miss, His Lordship says the embroidered building is a young lady's boudoir, and it would be more appropriate for the Prince to stay in Qingzhu Courtyard. He has sent for Yuping to tidy it up."
Seizing the excuse, Yuping immediately responded, "Understood!"
"Miss, please eat first. I'll be back soon."
She said, then hurried downstairs. Her voice faded before she left. When Yuping went down, she only saw a retreating figure.
Feng Yinwan sighed softly, and consciously left a few pieces for Yuping.
Her gaze then fell upon the cabinet full of bottles and jars. Feng Yinwan tapped the crumbs from her fingertips and got up.
Old General Feng had spent a lot of money on these items. Since she was bored anyway, she might as well pick through them and perhaps find something useful.
There were too many bottles and jars. Feng Yinwan carefully identified the ingredients and then categorized them one by one. Before she knew it, the sky had begun to darken.
As she stretched, footsteps sounded on the stairs. Thinking it was Yuping returning, she paid no attention.
"Finished tidying?"
"Ye Tinglan is so fussy. He nitpicks at the slightest dissatisfaction. You must have worked hard."
The footsteps continued to approach, but there was no response from behind her.
Feng Yinwan frowned. Just as she was about to turn around, she heard a low, urgent gasp, and her heart immediately tensed.
It wasn't Yuping!
With a subtle shift of her intention, silver needles were already at her fingertips.
Feng Yinwan's beautiful eyes turned sharp. As the person approached, she swiftly thrust out a silver needle.
The needle point pierced the skin and went straight into the intruder's acupoint. She agilely stood up, and what met her eyes was a figure in lake blue.
Feng Yinwan was slightly stunned, her brows furrowed deeply.
"It's you?!"
Song Qing'an's eyes were bloodshot, and his once fair face was flushed with a deep crimson.
After a momentary pause, he flicked the silver needle away and lunged at her.
He's... been drugged?
Feng Yinwan's gaze sharpened. She flicked another silver needle at him, but Song Qing'an blocked it with a swing of his arm.
He came from a military family, and he himself served in the army, so he was naturally not as easy to deal with as the household servant from last time.
Feng Yinwan's eyes darkened slightly. She grabbed a porcelain bottle from the side and hurled it at him, while simultaneously flicking another silver needle with extreme speed.
This one hit a vital spot.
Song Qing'an let out a muffled groan. As he struggled to break free, Feng Yinwan quickly picked up the tea on the table and splashed it on him.
A cup of tea to the face made Song Qing'an pause, and his consciousness cleared slightly.
He opened his eyes to see a beautiful woman looking at him vigilantly, her pretty face as cold as ice.
Song Qing'an was startled. "Miss, I am..."
Feng Yinwan pursed her lips. "You've been drugged, don't you know."
"Drugged?"
A sharp pain shot through his chest. Song Qing'an's face contorted, and he instinctively reached for the silver needle in his chest.
Feng Yinwan was alarmed. Before she could cry out to stop him, she saw him spit out a mouthful of black foamy blood.
Such potent medicine.
After spitting, Song Qing'an fainted. Feng Yinwan dared not delay and quickly helped him onto the couch.
She unfastened Song Qing'an's clothes and was about to use needles to seal his vital pulse when a furious voice from behind her spoke coldly.
"What are you doing!"