The arrow's speed was too great.
Qi Xuan waved his hand to block it, but as his fingertip touched the arrow, a poisoned needle suddenly shot from its tip, striking Feng Yin Wan’s heart with deadly force.
"Mmm..."
A sharp pain bloomed in her chest, blood trickled from the corner of Feng Yin Wan’s lips, and she fell straight backward.
"Princess Consort!"
Unforeseen, the person on the opposite side was also stunned.
The next moment, the carriage curtain was abruptly torn open, and Ye Ting Lan flashed out, catching her in his arms.
"Feng Yin Wan!"
His only response was the panicked whinny of horses.
The woman in his embrace was deathly pale, with only a starkly visible crimson stain on her lips.
Ye Ting Lan’s large hand suddenly tightened, a dark fury erupting around him.
The horses, startled, were already in a frenzy. Qi Xuan held the reins tightly, awaiting Ye Ting Lan’s command.
"Your Highness."
Ye Ting Lan rose, his dark eyes giving a chilling glance into the shadows, then cradled Feng Yin Wan and leaped directly onto a horse’s back.
"Leave none alive."
Qi Xuan understood. He drew his sword, the reins snapped, and in an instant, the carriage crashed into a boulder, shattering into pieces.
Ye Ting Lan spurred his horse, speeding away with Feng Yin Wan.
As the horse drew nearer to Prince Mo’s manor, the breathing of the person in front of him grew weaker.
Ye Ting Lan's stern brow furrowed tightly.
"Feng Yin Wan, wake up!"
Feng Yin Wan's consciousness was almost lost.
A faint, ethereal energy supported her within her body, allowing her consciousness to clear slightly. The searing pain in her chest immediately returned, her body feeling as though it had been pierced by an arrow, excruciatingly painful.
"Ugh..."
A soft murmur. Ye Ting Lan’s expression trembled, and a flicker of light appeared in his dark, deep eyes.
"If you're not dead, then endure it for this prince."
"Dare to faint, and this prince will smash your little treasury, leaving you a penniless ghost!"
This remark, surprisingly, managed to pull Feng Yin Wan’s consciousness back a little further.
*Damn, that scoundrel is so malicious, trying to cut off my financial lifeline!*
*But there’s no way I’m dying. Even if I die, there’s Yu Ping to burn paper money for me. I’ll definitely be a rich ghost!*
She wanted to retort, but her lips felt glued together, unable to open.
Before she could even open her eyes, another sharp pain struck her chest. As she fainted again, all she heard was Ye Ting Lan’s enraged roar.
The horse neighed and suddenly stopped before the manor gates. Before the guards could even voice their greetings, Ye Ting Lan dropped a command and strode into the manor.
"Go fetch the manor physician."
Recognizing Feng Yin Wan in his arms, the guards dared not delay and hurried off.
No sooner had Ye Ting Lan placed her on the bed than the manor physician, carrying his medical kit, rushed in.
"Greetings, Your Highness."
A few bloodstains still clung to the silk robe before him. Seeing the physician’s eyes scrutinizing him, he frowned.
"The Princess Consort is injured. Go treat her quickly."
The physician suddenly understood and then looked at the bloodless Feng Yin Wan on the bed.
Poisoned needle had pierced Feng Yin Wan’s left chest, her front garments almost soaked in blood. The physician looked at the wound, his expression deeply hesitant.
"Your Highness, the Princess Consort’s wound..."
Seeing his evasive eyes and his reluctance to act, Ye Ting Lan’s face showed a hint of anger. "Saving her is paramount, what are you waiting for!"
"Yes, yes..."
The physician trembled as he unbuttoned Feng Yin Wan’s robe. Black blood clung to the fabric, drawing out a thin, long trail.
Ye Ting Lan’s dark eyes instantly tightened.
The needle was poisoned.
The physician also trembled at the sight. He dipped a finger into the poisoned blood and brought it to his nose. His face immediately turned ashen.
"Your Highness, this... this is a potent poison that seals the throat upon contact with blood. This humble one cannot cure it..."
Before he could finish, his throat was already clamped in Ye Ting Lan’s large palm, a chilling rage engulfing him.
"Useless!"
"If you cannot save the Princess Consort, this prince will chop off your hands!"
The physician’s face turned ashen, his body shaking like a sieve in mid-air.
"Treat her."
The physician was thrown to the ground and immediately scrambled forward. "Your Highness, this humble one’s medical skills are shallow, but I dare not speak falsely. This poison truly... is incurable."
Ye Ting Lan’s expression was grim, a bloodthirsty killing intent rising in his eyes.
"Drag him out."
This was no idle threat.
The guards responded, stepping forward to drag the physician out.
The physician was terrified, gripping the doorframe with both hands.
"Your Highness! Imperial Physician Jiang... Imperial Physician Jiang might be able to cure this poison!"
Jiang Ru Mo, a renowned divine physician from the martial world before entering the palace, should be able to resolve such a vicious, potent poison.
Judging by the time, Jiang Ru Mo should be at the Empress Dowager’s palace, checking her pulse.
Ye Ting Lan's cold eyes silently deepened a notch. "Enter the palace immediately to fetch Imperial Physician Jiang."
When the guard reached Shou Kang Palace, Ye Ting Yun was also accompanying him. Upon hearing the news that Feng Yin Wan had been struck by a poisoned needle, he immediately returned to the manor with them.
Upon entering the main courtyard, they saw Ye Ting Lan sitting by the bedside, his expression cold and somber, like solidified ice.
"Third Brother."
Ye Ting Lan looked up and saw Jiang Ru Mo approaching from behind.
"Greetings, Your Highness."
"You are excused."
To have summoned him from the palace, this poison was naturally no small matter.
Although Jiang Ru Mo was mentally prepared, he could not help but look solemn upon seeing Feng Yin Wan’s wound.
"How is it?"
"It is a potent poison. This humble one can only try his best."
With that, he opened his medicine chest and took out silver needles. Ye Ting Lan retreated to the outer hall. Ye Ting Yun glanced again and then followed him out.
"Third Brother, what is going on?"
Who dared to be so audacious as to attack Ye Ting Lan’s carriage in the capital?
Ye Ting Lan’s dark eyes were profound. Before he could speak, Qi Xuan entered swiftly from outside.
"Your Highness, Prince Yun."
His clothes were torn in several places, some sections soaked with blood, clearly indicating he had just come from a fierce battle.
Seeing this, Ye Ting Yun became even more astonished.
"Qi Xuan, are you... alright?"
Qi Xuan nodded. "Thank you for your concern, Prince Yun. Your subordinate is unharmed."
He then looked at Ye Ting Lan. "Your Highness, we captured a few assassins. Your subordinate has dealt with them, but..."
Ye Ting Lan’s thin lips curved, exuding an immeasurable pressure.
"Speak."
"Your subordinate discovered the seal of the Wuxi Pavilion on them."
In an instant, Ye Ting Lan's brow furrowed, his eyes as cold as ink.
Wuxi Pavilion again.
Ever since returning to the capital, these people had been like persistent flies, clinging to him.
Last time it was the Empress Dowager, and this time it was Feng Yin Wan.
The woman's pale little face flashed before his eyes, and Ye Ting Lan's anger intensified.
"Investigate for me. Order people to keep a close watch on the Second Prince's manor."
"Yes."
Qi Xuan took the order and turned to leave. Ye Ting Yun, however, was filled with dread.
"Third Brother, you mean..."
Ye Ting Lan glanced at him and then walked directly into the bedroom.
Jiang Ru Mo was still treating Feng Yin Wan. The poisoned needle had already been removed; it was slender and long, making it hard to imagine the pain when it pierced Feng Yin Wan’s body.
"The poisoned needle was only an inch away from the Princess Consort's heart meridian. This humble one has now used silver needles to seal the poisoned blood. To detoxify it, one more thing is needed."
Ye Ting Lan frowned. "What thing?"
"A thousand-year-old purple ginseng."
Ye Ting Lan’s eyes flickered.
Ye Ting Yun had a congenital heart condition. For rare medicinal herbs in the national treasury, the Emperor always prioritized him. Yet, even so, he had only ever possessed a hundred-year-old purple ginseng.
This item was indeed extremely difficult to find.