The curfew had fallen, and the subordinates sent to search had returned one by one.
After a day of restless waiting, Feng Yinwan stood up immediately upon hearing the commotion.
“How is it? Any news?”
As minutes ticked by, her heart grew increasingly anxious. If not for Song Qing'an’s injuries, she would have personally gone out to search long ago. But now…
The subordinates, upon hearing her voice, shook their heads.
“Reporting to madam, the western suburbs revealed no trace of the young master.”
“Reporting to madam, the eastern suburbs also have nothing.”
“All those who entered and exited Kaitai Gate today have been thoroughly checked; no suspicious individuals were found.”
“Canglan Gate neither…”
…
Several voices, overlapping, reached her ears. Feng Yinwan listened, her expression growing colder, her heart sinking uncontrollably.
Nothing!
In a single day, all the major routes leading to the capital had been searched, yet Feng Jin’chen’s whereabouts remained unknown.
Then… where was that little fellow?!
Her body swayed for a moment, as if about to fall.
“Madam, are you…”
Feng Yinwan raised a hand, her voice regaining some composure.
“Where else have we not searched?”
“All areas outside the city have been basically investigated. Now, only the city itself remains to be searched.”
The city…!
Her heart suddenly tightened.
The subordinates looked up, hesitated, and then spoke again.
“Madam, we received the news late. The young master left several days ago. Perhaps, he has already entered the city?”
The little fellow was usually quick-witted. When he left the sect, he had brought a great many medicinal pills, indicating he wasn’t entirely reckless.
Entering the city was not impossible.
Feng Yinwan pursed her lips, her hand hidden within her sleeve clenching tightly.
The attempt to seize the Hundred Wood Lingxi had failed, and Ye Tinglan had already entered the palace with the secret letter. The city would undoubtedly be heavily guarded, making entry easy but exit difficult.
However, even with the slightest sliver of hope, she had to continue searching!
“Immediately divide the manpower into two teams. One team will remain outside the city to continue searching, and the other team will enter the city with me tonight.”
With two days left until the deadline, she had to find Feng Jin’chen and bring him back before the transaction.
…
At the second watch, a carriage, cutting through the night, quietly stopped before the Prince Mo’s mansion.
Not long after, a woman in a cloak, assisted by a maid, descended from the carriage and quickly entered, her steps somewhat unsteady.
The main courtyard.
On the large, dark brocade couch, a soft little ball of fluff rubbed his round belly and let out a loud burp.
Despite such unrestrained and impolite behavior, the man beside him showed no displeasure. In fact, a strange curve appeared at the corners of his usually stern lips.
Upon closer inspection, the man’s expression was benevolent and affectionate. In his well-defined, jade-like hands, he held a string of bright red candied hawthorns.
This scene should have been pleasant to behold, if only the sugar coating hadn’t melted.
With a “plop,” a semi-transparent liquid dripped onto the floor.
The little ball of fluff glanced at it and spoke with a complicated expression, “Uncle Wang, can you move it away a little?”
Honestly, this sugary syrup was dripping onto the quilt. How was he supposed to sleep later?
Disdainful.
Being looked at like that, Ye Tinglan suddenly felt his hand sticky. He frowned and immediately tossed the candied hawthorns to Qi Xuan.
“What’s going on?”
Why had it become like this after being bought?
Seeing him looking at him with an expression that suggested “I’ll have the vendor beheaded,” Qi Xuan wiped the sweat from his forehead, trembling.
“Your Highness, it happens when it’s left out for too long. This is normal…”
Ye Tinglan’s brow furrowed even tighter upon hearing the word “normal.”
“If that’s the case, why didn’t you remind me earlier?”
He had caused him to be disliked by this little fellow.
Qi Xuan clutched the candied hawthorns, his pupils dilating. He felt utterly wronged!
He had warned His Highness when he bought them, but His Highness refused to listen and simply carried the child away.
The scene was as if a doting father had appeared.
Oh, he seemed like that just now too!
He was displeased, but he dared not voice it.
What was worse was that not only could he not speak, but he was also being scolded!
The little ball of fluff on the couch had barely coughed when His Highness’s reprimand arrived.
“What are you standing around for? Go fetch some water.”
Qi Xuan: “…Yes!”
He hurriedly returned with water, but before he could hand it over, Ye Tinglan snatched it away.
Then, he watched as His Highness reached out, naturally pulled the little ball of fluff into his embrace, and coldly ordered him,
“Go change the bedding.”
As if remembering something, he paused and added, “Remember to make the pillow lower. It’s easy for children to get a stiff neck if their pillow is too high.”
His expression and tone were incredibly natural.
Qi Xuan’s shock was boundless; his mouth was almost agape.
Amidst his shock, he also felt utterly miserable.
Uncle can tolerate it, but Aunt cannot!
As a first-rank guard, why was he suddenly doing the work of a caregiver?
And fetching water was one thing, but making the bed and adjusting pillows…
Did His Highness really need to resort to such cruel methods to have him laughed to death by others?!
Wuwuwu, he was so pathetic!
However, before he could voice his protest, a figure flickered at the doorway, and a streak of soft white clothing swept in.
Upon clearly seeing the little ball of fluff in Ye Tinglan’s arms, her face froze and immediately solidified.
“Tinglan-gege… Who is he?!”
What was going on? Why was there a child in Ye Tinglan’s room?
And judging by the scene just now…
Was he deigning himself to feed water to this child??
What on earth was happening?!
Almost the instant these words were spoken, the little ball of fluff in his arms also looked up.
Qin Rulian’s eyes widened, and her body froze even more intensely.
She… she couldn’t help but feel that the child’s eyes bore a slight resemblance to Ye Tinglan’s…!
However, before she could examine it further, the coldness in those young, round pupils receded.
Feng Jin’chen turned his head, his small face pressing directly against Ye Tinglan’s shoulder.
For some reason, he had disliked this woman the moment he saw her. Moreover, she had a strange scent about her.
Unpleasant.
He grumbled inwardly, completely unaware that Ye Tinglan had already been utterly charmed by his actions.
His supporting hand tightened slightly, and when he looked up at Qin Rulian, his eyes clearly held a hint of coolness and distance.
“Rulian? It’s so late, what are you doing here?”
The Empress Dowager’s birthday was approaching, and the Empress was preparing to bring the First Prince back to the palace from Fuxiu Temple. Because of this, Qin Rulian had been frequenting the palace these past two days.
If he remembered correctly, he had seen her in the back palace when he entered the palace today.
At this hour, why had she returned?
Reminded by his words, Qin Rulian recalled the purpose of her visit.
The stiffness on her face eased slightly, and she quickly said with a serious expression, “Tinglan-gege, I heard that Princess Cha'an was abducted by scoundrels. Is this true?”