She paused, then a smile curved her lips.
"However, the esteemed guests just now said they would leave only after this Princess Consort departed. This Princess Consort also feels it's been quite a stir. Why don't you, Miss Qin, go down and see if they have left for this Princess Consort?"
Qin Rulian's clothes were still stained with rotten eggs. She dared not go down again, biting her lip fiercely, speechless.
Seeing this, Ye Tinglan sneered at her, "Can't your mouth be shut even when you're eating?"
Feng Yinwan pouted and began to eat without restraint.
Perhaps because it was free, Feng Yinwan enjoyed the meal immensely, even packing some pastries when she left.
Yubing, carrying the pastries, let out a satisfied burp. "Miss, the way the Prince looked at you was as if he could eat someone!"
Feng Yinwan waved her hand dismissively.
"We ruined his good date, so it's normal for him to be in a bad mood. Who cares about them? As long as we're happy, that's enough."
Yubing nodded in agreement. "Miss is right! I saw Miss Qin's face twist with anger just now. I wonder what fuss she'll make when she gets back."
Feng Yinwan's lips curled.
Whether the "little white lotus" would make a fuss or not, she didn't know. But she was incredibly pleased, overjoyed, as if it were New Year's!
It was Shenshi when she returned to the General's mansion. As soon as she entered, a servant ran up, saying that the Old General Feng wanted to see her.
Knowing he was concerned about the investigation, Feng Yinwan nodded and immediately took Yubing to the main courtyard.
The two left directly, while behind the flower bushes not far away, a head stealthily emerged.
"Where did this little slut go today? So secretive?"
Madam Yu had originally planned to make trouble for Feng Yinwan while Old General Feng was away. Who knew a servant would report that she had gone out early in the morning.
She glared resentfully at Feng Yinwan's retreating back, a hint of suspicion in her heart. The maidservant bowed respectfully and cautiously approached.
"Madam, I went to the backyard to look for someone just now and saw several guards driving a carriage from the back gate. It seemed they were bringing in two people..."
"People?"
Madam Yu's eyes widened. "Where did they hide them?"
"I saw them heading towards the woodshed."
"Let's go and see!"
She finished speaking and quickly strode away. The maidservant, seeing this, quickly followed.
...
It was already dinnertime when she finished speaking with Old General Feng. Since she had shamelessly eaten a good meal at Sihai Yunyan in the afternoon, Feng Yinwan wasn't hungry at all.
She left a box of the pastries she brought back and was about to get up to return to her embroidery room when Old General Feng called out to her.
"Wan'er."
Feng Yinwan paused slightly. "Does Father still have something?"
Old General Feng pursed his lips and took out a stack of square handkerchiefs from his embrace, handing them over.
Feng Yinwan opened them as he instructed. Inside was the gold-inlaid jade bracelet that Feng Yiyi had on her hand yesterday.
"I had someone retrieve it from Yiyi's hand. This is your mother's memento, and it's best kept in your care."
Old General Feng looked at the bracelet, a hint of tenderness unconsciously appearing in his eyes. Feng Yinwan's lips curved upwards. She re-wrapped the bracelet and handed it back.
"What I mind is others meddling with my mother's belongings. This bracelet was a token of love your father gave my mother back then. It's better for Father to keep it, as a memento."
Old General Feng opened his mouth upon hearing this, then nodded heavily.
After leaving the main courtyard, Feng Yinwan remembered that it was about time for Pang Liu to have woken up. She immediately changed direction and, with Yubing, headed straight for the woodshed.
As soon as she got close, she heard an argument.
"Madam Yu, you cannot enter here. Please leave quickly."
"Why can't I enter? Is there any place in this General's mansion I cannot go? Who is the master here, you or I!"
Even from several yards away, Feng Yinwan could hear the arrogance in Madam Yu's voice. Her delicate eyebrows rose as she slowly walked forward.
Madam Yu, completely unaware, saw the guards firmly blocking the door and refusing to let her in. Enraged, she glared and raised her foot as if to kick someone.
"You useless fool, if I don't report this to the master, I'll have you severely punished!"
"Madam Yu, who are you intending to punish?"
A voice suddenly sounded from behind. Madam Yu jumped and quickly turned her head.
Her expression froze upon seeing Feng Yinwan. A flicker of unnaturalness crossed her face.
"Heh heh... it's Yinwan."
Why did this little slut come here!
She glared at the maidservant in secret, then forced a laugh. "Why are you here? Haven't you eaten dinner yet?"
Feng Yinwan looked at her steadily, her gaze unwavering.
"Madam Yu hasn't eaten either. I didn't hear clearly just now, who was Madam intending to punish?"
Seeing that Feng Yinwan wasn't giving her any face, Madam Yu had no choice but to reply, "This servant doesn't know the rules and is blocking me from entering the woodshed. It's simply outrageous!"
Feng Yinwan chuckled coldly. "Madam Yu, you might be mistaken. These are not mere servants. These are guards my brother lent to this Princess Consort, genuine soldiers from the army, eighth-rank military officers."
"What?"
Madam Yu's eyes widened a bit more upon hearing this.
Feng Yinwan glanced at her indifferently and continued, "Although Madam Yu is a concubine, she is not a noble lady. Without a formal title, she has no rank. If we were to compare, she might not even be as high-ranking as these guards."
Her gaze swept past Madam Yu's foot, which was still suspended in mid-air, and she tutted.
"If you were to kick them, you might be accused of assaulting a court official!"
Upon hearing this, Madam Yu's foot froze. Her expression changed, and she quickly retracted her foot.
"Heh heh... you exaggerate. We are all family, of course I..."
Scared by Feng Yinwan, she no longer dared to insist on entering the woodshed. Unwillingly, she glanced inside and then, with a forced smile, retreated.
"It's getting late, I should go and bring some food to Yiyi. This child is simple-minded and I don't know how long she's been kneeling obediently in the ancestral hall."
With that, she and her maidservant scurried away in embarrassment. Feng Yinwan glanced towards the corner and then went straight into the woodshed.
Madam Yu still wanted to sneak a peek, but the door was closed too quickly. She was annoyed and stamped her foot before leaving.
When Feng Yinwan entered, Pang Liu was still feigning death. She directly woke him with a needle. Pang Liu was so frightened by her appearance that he trembled like a sieve.
Since they were being guarded separately, he had no idea that Granny Sun was also there. He only thought he had fallen into Feng Yinwan's hands and answered all her questions.
With all her doubts resolved, Feng Yinwan got up to leave. Before departing, she specifically gave him a packet of sleeping potion, enough to keep him asleep for two days.
With everything arranged, Feng Yinwan slept soundly until noon the next day, waking up refreshed.
While she was having lunch, a servant ran in.
"Eldest Miss, there are people from the Prince of Mo's mansion outside asking for you."
Feng Yinwan raised her eyebrows.
It was only noon, and there were still half a day before the three-day deadline. Ye Tinglan was so anxious to send someone to call her. It seemed she had truly angered him yesterday.
She put down her chopsticks, picked up a handkerchief, and dabbed the corners of her mouth. "Let them in."