Darkness was all that remained before her. Feng Yinwan pursed her lips and reached out to push it away.
The next moment, her body was pulled back into Ye Tinglan's embrace with an irresistible force.
Through a narrow gap, Feng Yinwan caught a glimpse of dark-colored clothing.
Wait, this outfit looked a little familiar.
Frowning, she freed herself with her own hands.
Her eyes fell upon a handsome face. The man was slightly older than Ye Tingyun, but years spent on the battlefield had instilled in him a wildness unlike that of ordinary noble scions.
Judging solely by his appearance, it was hard to imagine he was the same person who had been teasing them moments ago.
Most importantly, his build was similar to Ye Tinglan's, and both were clad in dark robes!
After a moment's hesitation, Feng Yinwan concluded that the man before her was the one she had mistaken for Ye Tinglan.
A thought crossed her mind, and she blurted out, "May I ask your surname?"
The instant the words left her lips, she felt the air pressure beside her plummet by eight degrees. The next moment, the hand around her waist tightened imperceptibly.
The man's lips curved upwards, clearly amused by Ye Tinglan's reaction.
His gaze swept across her face, and he grinned, "You are too kind, honored lady. I go by the surname Li."
Li?
Feng Yinwan raised an eyebrow.
She vaguely recalled that when Qi Xuan had escorted Ye Tinglan away yesterday, he had mentioned a General Li.
"Are you perhaps the deputy general managing the imperial camp outside the city?"
The man, clearly surprised that she knew, glanced at Ye Tinglan before nodding, "Indeed, that is I."
The deputy general of the imperial camp outside the city would undoubtedly be Ye Tinglan's trusted subordinate.
He had expected her to try and curry favor, as many women would. Instead, Feng Yinwan's pretty face turned cold upon hearing this.
So, it was this fellow who had hastily summoned Ye Tinglan and revealed such a serious matter as malaria, causing her to worry for nothing!
With this thought, her words carried a hint of coldness.
"General Li, as a commander, such a grave oversight has occurred in your camp. If His Majesty were to find out and hold you accountable, could you bear the consequences?"
Her words were rather sharp.
The man's handsome brows arched at her remark, and he let out a scoff, "The beauty His Highness has found is indeed remarkable."
Feng Yinwan thought to herself, Remarkable beauty my foot! Your whole family are beauties! I am legitimately the Princess of Mo!
As if sensing her thoughts, Ye Tinglan's thin lips parted.
"Chengyan, do not be rude. This is your cousin-in-law."
"Cousin-in-law?!"
"Cousin-in-law?!"
Two voices of disbelief erupted almost simultaneously.
Li Chengyan's eyes widened, fixed on Feng Yinwan, his disbelief evident.
On the other side, Feng Yinwan's beautiful eyes also widened, a flicker of suspicion crossing them.
When did Ye Tinglan acquire a cousin?
"Chengyan is the son of Marquis Yongding. The wife of Marquis Yongding is my mother's own sister."
So, this fellow was indeed Ye Tinglan's cousin.
These words were clearly directed at Feng Yinwan. Seeing his identity revealed, Li Chengyan dropped his pretense.
"Cousin, is this the princess His Majesty bestowed upon you?"
He wasn't she supposed to be an ugly woman with a disfigured face? How could she be considered ugly at all?
He had been away at the military camp for a long time and was not well-informed about affairs in the capital.
Ye Tinglan shot him a warning glance and explained, "The Princess is the beloved daughter of the late General Feng. She and I are well-matched. His Majesty rightly decreed this marriage."
Li Chengyan: ?
No way, brother, you didn't say that when you went to war on your wedding day.
He was tough, but he couldn't withstand a beating from Ye Tinglan. Thus, he wisely kept his thoughts to himself and, under his cousin's stern gaze, drawled out, "Cousin-in-law."
Feng Yinwan didn't stand on ceremony and replied with a casual "Hmm," indicating she had taken note.
The atmosphere had only slightly eased for a second when Li Chengyan's gaze swept over them, and he smirked ambiguously.
"Cousin, you are truly blessed. You were only gone for one night, and Cousin-in-law came looking for you, unafraid of danger. Unlike me..."
He feigned a sigh and deliberately drew out his words, "A lonely man~"
Feng Yinwan glanced at him, a cold smile playing on her lips.
"Cousin, you don't need to be envious. There is a stunning beauty waiting to be wed in the Prince's mansion. If you wish for mutual affection and to be a pair, I, as Princess Consort, can arrange for her to be yours."
The matter of "beauty" seemed to be a recurring theme.
To her surprise, Li Chengyan's forehead twitched, and his expression soured.
"Are you referring to Qin Rulian?"
Feng Yinwan's eyebrows rose slightly.
Oh, has the "white lotus's" reputation reached the military camps?
She subtly shot a look at the person beside her and smiled, "Congratulations, you guessed correctly!"
Hearing this, Li Chengyan's face nearly turned as black as charcoal.
"Cousin-in-law, you jest. My fate is too thin, and I fear I would be unable to bear such a beauty. Please, let Cousin find another groom, another groom!"
He and Qin Rulian had been in the same military camp during Qin Yanzhi's time, and he was well aware of Qin Rulian's true nature.
Marrying Qin Rulian would be akin to sentencing him to death!
Feng Yinwan was somewhat surprised by this outcome but, seeing his honesty, did not intend to press further.
Suddenly remembering the main reason for her visit, she looked at Li Chengyan and became serious.
"I heard from the physician who returned that General Li has also contracted malaria. Is this true?"
She had seen Li Chengyan sitting in the tent earlier, and combining that with the physician's words, it was undoubtedly him who was infected.
Ye Tinglan's expression tightened almost imperceptibly as he nodded, "Many soldiers in the camp have been infected. Chengyan contracted it while inspecting them. Fortunately, the military physician treated him promptly, and it is currently only a mild case."
If it were a severe case, this fellow wouldn't have the energy to bicker with her.
Feng Yinwan nodded. "There were five more patients in the Jingzhao Prefecture last night. I just came from there. May I take a look at General Li?"
As soon as she finished speaking, she felt a gaze directed at her. Feng Yinwan clearly saw it – it was suspicion!
"Even the military physicians are helpless against this malaria, Cousin-in-law. It's not that I don't believe you, but..."
Did the daughter of the Great General Zhenguo possess medical skills? He had never heard of it.
Before he could finish speaking, Ye Tinglan raised his eyes and glanced at him. "This malaria appeared in the Jingzhao Prefecture prison the night before last. The Princess Consort prescribed a remedy two days ago."
The implication was that Feng Yinwan was highly reliable.
Li Chengyan frowned upon hearing this. Looking at their blatant mutual protection, he inwardly lamented, "A dog's life."
The couple: one unpredictable, the other sharp-tongued, both difficult to deal with!
Therefore, he immediately cupped his hands in a salute and said, "Then I shall trouble Cousin-in-law."
Feng Yinwan nodded, fixing her gaze on him, a meaningful smile on her face.
"General Li, please don't be polite. We are family, after all. It's only right."