"What did you do to Yiyi!"
Madam Yu's eyes instantly turned red. If she hadn't suffered losses at Feng Yinwan's hands so many times, she would have rushed forward long ago.
Feng Yinwan's expression was indifferent. "Madam Yu jokes. My sister is currently in the Jingzhao Prefecture prison. What can this Princess Consort do to her?"
Bitch!
Madam Yu clutched the cloth strip tightly, gritting her teeth. "Let her out, and I'll give you the things!"
A light laugh escaped Feng Yinwan's lips.
"Madam Yu, you don't seem to be in a position to negotiate with this Princess Consort."
"Feng Yinwan! Don't push your luck!"
"If you dare lay another finger on Yiyi, you won't get a single thing of your mother's!"
Madam Yu spat out these words with a near-scream. Feng Yinwan, however, showed no fear.
"I will naturally obtain my mother's belongings. As for what happens to Feng Yiyi, it all depends on what you do."
She glanced at Madam Yu indifferently and stepped forward, slowly taking a seat on a grand tutor's chair to the side.
"They don't know the hardships inside from the outside. I can wait, but can Second Sister wait?"
Even though she knew Feng Yinwan was forcing her, Madam Yu was still helpless. Gritting her teeth, she finally spoke after a long pause.
"I'll take you!"
This was exactly what Feng Yinwan had been waiting for.
"Lead the way."
The matter of the inheritance was not something to be made public. To prevent any further complications, Feng Yinwan only brought Yuping with her.
Madam Yu dawdled for a long time before finally stopping outside General Feng's study.
Feng Yinwan's eyebrows flickered almost imperceptibly.
She had guessed correctly.
Seeing Feng Yinwan's gaze, Madam Yu dodged a few times and, steeling herself, took a key from her embrace.
The key entered the lock, and it clicked open. Feng Yinwan, however, made no move.
"Father's study has always been a forbidden area in the manor. How do you have the key?"
This was no small matter.
Knowing she couldn't hide it, Madam Yu had to explain, "I secretly made a rubbing of the pattern when Master wasn't paying attention and had someone cast it."
Feng Yinwan gave her a chilling look and pushed the door open.
Although Madam Yu had the key to the study, she didn't know about the hidden compartment. She had hidden the items beneath the floor tiles.
Feng Yinwan watched as Madam Yu tapped on the floor for a long time, finally finding an anomaly. She reached out and pried open a floor tile, revealing an indigo-colored bundle.
Madam Yu reached in and took it out. The sound of clinking immediately followed.
"It's all here."
Reluctantly, she handed the bundle over. Feng Yinwan hooked her hand to take it and placed it directly on the table, opening it.
This time, she hadn't lied. It contained some Western-style jewelry, but after searching through it, there was nothing but jewelry.
To verify her birth mother's identity, this alone was far from enough.
"Is this all?"
Seeing Feng Yinwan's continued suspicion, Madam Yu's eyebrows furrowed deeply.
"At this point, why would I lie to you!"
"You saw me take it just now. I didn't tamper with anything from start to finish!"
Thinking that Madam Yu wouldn't lie about Feng Yiyi's safety, Feng Yinwan nodded and gestured for Yuping to put the items away.
Madam Yu looked at her eagerly. "You have the things now. Can you let Yiyi go?"
Feng Yinwan smiled, her pretty face unreadable. "Madam Yu can rest assured, this Princess Consort is never a person of her word."
Madam Yu secretly relaxed upon hearing this, but before she could fully exhale, she heard Feng Yinwan continue.
"When this Princess Consort is in a better mood, Second Sister can naturally come out."
She still wouldn't let go!
Madam Yu flew into a rage. "Feng Yinwan, are you trying to renege!"
Seeing Madam Yu about to lunge at her, Feng Yinwan's beautiful eyes chilled, and she struck a nearby flower stand, shattering it.
"When this Princess Consort previously demanded her mother's inheritance, wasn't it the same for you?"
"Just wait. Perhaps if this Princess Consort is happy, I'll let her back tomorrow."
With that, she turned and left with Yuping, conveniently taking the key Madam Yu had made with her.
After being pushed out, Madam Yu was filled with hatred.
"Feng Yinwan, you bitch! Bitch!"
Her voice was hoarse, grating, and piercing. Feng Yinwan picked at her ear, looking at Madam Yu calmly.
"Insulting a Princess Consort and disrespecting superiors will add ten days."
"Madam Yu, it's not that this Princess Consort didn't warn you. The insults are from your mouth, but the pain is for Second Sister. For taking on your mother's sins, Second Sister is truly filial."
Such "filial piety" made Madam Yu dare not make a sound.
Feng Yinwan's lips curved in satisfaction as she walked away.
Madam Yu was once again "invited" back to her courtyard, and servants soon replaced the lock on the study.
She spent the entire afternoon in her room studying the jewelry, but after a long time, she found no further clues.
The only certainty was that the original owner's mother was indeed from the Western Regions.
The Feng family had served as generals for generations. What stories lay behind General Feng and this woman from the Western Regions?
This matter gnawed at Feng Yinwan like a knot, causing her to experience rare insomnia.
After two days of poor rest, she was suddenly woken up the next day by Yuping, who said Ye Tinglan had arrived.
Feng Yinwan, still groggy, reluctantly opened her eyes. "Who?"
Yuping felt sympathetic but still reminded her earnestly.
"Miss, His Highness has come in person and is waiting in the front courtyard."
Feng Yinwan finally understood and became even more annoyed.
"Tell him this young lady needs to catch up on sleep today and should go back early, lest he add to my troubles!"
She fumed every time she thought about the matter of the sealed courtyard!
Yuping opened her mouth to speak, but a chill suddenly emanated from behind her, and she froze.
Seeing that Yuping was no longer disturbing her, Feng Yinwan turned over with satisfaction and continued to sleep.
But for some reason, a cold draft blew over, dispelling some of her sleepiness.
"Strange, why is it so cool today, like air conditioning is on."
She muttered, pulling the blanket closer, but after tugging for a while, the blanket seemed stubbornly stuck, refusing to budge.
Just as she was about to open her eyes, her waist suddenly felt heavy. Opening her eyes, she met a handsome face tinged with coldness.
Ye Tinglan's hand was a few inches from her armpit. With a gentle push, he lifted her from the bed.
Suspended in mid-air in this manner, Feng Yinwan's mind went blank, and she was successfully stunned.
"You, you, you... How are you here!"
She remained stunned for half a moment before recovering. Ye Tinglan showed no impatience, simply gazing at her.
His gaze swept over her slightly flushed cheeks, and his eyes darkened as he spoke.
"Monks have been invited to the palace today to chant Buddhist scriptures. The Empress Dowager has specially ordered us to enter the palace together. I am here to pick you up."
"Enter... enter the palace?"
Feng Yinwan's sleepiness vanished instantly.
This was too sudden! She hadn't known about such a major event!
This jolt of panic successfully replaced her anger towards Ye Tinglan.
While she was still in a daze, Ye Tinglan had already put her down.
"No need to rush. I'll wait for you outside."
As if on autopilot, Feng Yinwan nodded.
Seeing this, Ye Tinglan's lips curved subtly as he turned and left.
The door clicked shut behind him. Only then did she suddenly come to her senses.
Wait, did she just... speak to that scoundrel?
Had they broken the ice?