Feng Yinwan had indeed gone out.
The medicine for Noble Consort Li was ready. After much thought, she decided that it would be most appropriate to send it into the palace through Jiang Rumò.
At the hour of yǒu (7-9 PM), the sky had already begun to dim slightly.
Before Jiang Rumò returned to the manor, she scaled the wall from the side of the manor and placed the packet of medicine on the desk in the study.
Just as she was about to leave, she heard a commotion from the front. She had initially thought Jiang Rumò had returned, but to her surprise, upon going out, she heard a servant announce the name of the Second Prince's manor.
Feng Yinwan paused her steps and leaped onto the rooftop, climbing her way over.
The carriage parked in front of the manor gate had its lanterns removed, making it impossible to discern the visitor's identity. However, through a gap in the lifted curtain, Feng Yinwan vaguely spotted a dark silhouette.
It was indeed Ye Tingyan.
Apart from Ye Tingyun, Jiang Rumò had always had little interaction with the princes. Why would Ye Tingyan suddenly come to the Jiang manor?
Her brow furrowed. Before she could eavesdrop further, the person retreated back inside.
A moment later, as if having received consent from the person inside the carriage, the carriage was swiftly driven away.
On the rooftop, Feng Yinwan cast a lingering glance before immediately leaping away.
Upon returning to the manor, before she could even enter the courtyard, she saw her own son, along with Qiwén and Jian Ye, blocking the entrance in a very peculiar posture.
This "peculiar" posture was specifically:
Feng Jinchen, this brat, had somehow obtained a long bench and was now stuck to it like an octopus, with his backside sticking out high in the air.
Behind him, Jian Ye held his feet, being careful and exceedingly apprehensive. Upon closer inspection, his fair and delicate face clearly bore two smudged shoe prints.
The most outrageous was Qiwén. While the standoff persisted, he stood by with his arms crossed, his face radiating a "Good, let them fight, hurry up and fight!" attitude.
Feng Yinwan frowned, strongly condemning his behavior, and then she joined them.
"What's going on here?"
"Ah, it's nothing. The young master insisted on waiting here for the young lady to return. Jian Ye was worried it would cause an issue, so he wanted to move him inside."
As if to confirm his words, Feng Jinchen's resistant voice rang out from that side.
"Let go of me! I want to wait for Mommy here! If that rotten old prince doesn't like it, then let him capture me, see if he dares!"
He wriggled like a silkworm cocoon as he spoke.
Jian Ye had to not only dodge his elusive kicks but also use one hand to cover his mouth.
"Young Master, please stop talking. If that Prince Mo hears this later, he'll come and spank your bottom again."
After all, that was how he had been spanked before. If it happened a couple more times, he wouldn't know how to explain it to Feng Yinwan.
Upon hearing this, Feng Jinchen's eyes immediately turned red. "He dares! Mmmph mmmph mmmph..."
Qiwén lazily spread his hands. "See, what did I tell you... Young Young Young— Young Lady?!"
Suddenly realizing that Feng Yinwan was standing beside him, Qiwén's face turned pale, and he immediately choked.
Hearing these words, the two on that side also stopped their actions.
Jian Ye loosened his grip, and Feng Jinchen's foot, out of inertia, kicked out, hitting with such force that one of his shoes flew off.
Feng Yinwan silently let out a sigh, feeling a sting on Jian Ye's behalf.
Realizing what he had done, Feng Jinchen quickly retracted his foot, ducked, and immediately slumped back onto the bench.
When his dark eyes looked at Feng Yinwan again, they were clearly brimming with tears.
"Mommy, you're finally back! Woohoo—"
After more than half an hour of vivid complaints, Feng Yinwan finally couldn't bear it any longer and dragged him back to the room.
As he was placed on the bed, Feng Jinchen's little mouth was still moving, not stopping.
Feng Yinwan stroked his back and took out a medicinal bottle from her waist.
"Lie down properly. After I apply the medicine, Mommy will take you to settle the score with him."
Dare to spank her son? Ye Tinglan must be crazy!
As it turned out, Ye Tinglan was indeed close to being mad.
Upon seeing the redness and swelling on her son's backside, Feng Yinwan's expression clearly grew colder.
She applied the medicine with a somber face, her eyes flashing, already devising a hundred ways to stab Ye Tinglan. Meanwhile, Feng Jinchen lay obediently on the bed, his lips almost reaching his ears.
He knew it, Mommy loved him the most!
Things took a slightly different turn than expected.
Before Feng Yinwan could finish applying medicine to Feng Jinchen, Ye Tinglan himself arrived.
As soon as he saw him, the little dumpling who had been lying obediently on the bed immediately jumped up.
"What are you doing here?!"
He had been spanked to this extent, and he still dared to come!
Ye Tinglan paused upon hearing this. As he met the little face full of anger, a flicker of awkwardness quickly crossed his face.
Of course, this was but a fleeting moment. When his gaze shifted to Feng Yinwan, there was no trace of any abnormality in his eyes.
"Hmph, this rotten old prince has two faces!"
Feng Jinchen glared at him, his eyes about to spew fire, but his little hands were secretly pulling Feng Yinwan's clothes, his lips puckered, looking very pitiful.
"Mommy..."
With that aggrieved cry, Ye Tinglan's heart tightened, and he felt a sense of unease.
As expected, in the next moment, he saw Feng Yinwan pat his back reassuringly, her eyes looking at him with extreme coldness.
"Your Highness has come, is there something you wish to say?"
He had better be here to apologize!
Ye Tinglan originally had something to say, but at this moment, he suddenly seemed to have forgotten.
He pursed his thin lips, his expression uncharacteristically tinged with a hint of nervousness.
"This King..."
"Mommy! He spanked me! It was him!"
Feng Jinchen had no intention of giving him a chance to speak.
He threw himself into Feng Yinwan's embrace and immediately began to cry again, "Mommy, my bottom hurts again! It hurts like it's split into several pieces!"
With each sob from him, Feng Yinwan's expression grew colder. Even Ye Tinglan's forehead twitched involuntarily at the sight.
Meeting Feng Yinwan's icy glare, he coughed lightly, his jaw tightening slightly.
"This King did not."
He paused and then added, "This little fellow tripped and fell by himself."
This statement was mumbled and delivered very quickly, but Feng Jinchen heard it clearly.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
"Does anyone trip and fall to this extent by themselves?!"
His outer robe was not yet properly fastened. He lifted it, revealing a red and swollen little backside.
However, it was clearly meant for Feng Yinwan to see.
Ye Tinglan also glanced over. Although he hadn't fully seen it yet, he couldn't help but show a hint of confusion in his eyes upon seeing this.
Although he had lost control at the time, he had been careful with his movements. When he dropped the little fellow, he had used his internal energy to cushion the fall.
Could such a gentle fall result in such severe injury?
Just as he frowned, Feng Jinchen's tearful and dramatic lament began again.
"Wuwuwu— Mommy, look! He spanked me and won't admit it, how immoral!"
"You absolutely cannot marry him. I'm still young, and if I have a stepfather like that, others will definitely laugh at me!"
He paused and then added, "Of course, they'll laugh at you and your maternal grandfather too."