Feng Yinwan wanted to say that this had nothing to do with their Xuanmen, but the words stopped at her lips before she could speak.
The "sacred object" mentioned by the guard should be the Hundred Wood Lingxi.
And now, they were indeed in great need of the Hundred Wood Lingxi.
But they clearly had no such plan tonight. Could it be... that someone else was also targeting it?
Her heart grew solemn, and she straightened her expression, speaking with determination.
"Impossible. I am the only one who came tonight, and Jianye is still being held by you. This matter was not done by our Xuanmen."
Before she finished speaking, the guard refuted her.
"Your Highness, you should hurry over and take a look. The poison affecting Guard Qi does not seem to be ordinary."
Not an ordinary poison, this greatly narrowed down the possibilities.
And right before them, there happened to be someone who knew how to use unusual poisons...
A dark expression crossed Ye Tinglan's face, and he stared at her, speaking coldly, "Bring them along."
The treasury was not far away. When they arrived, they discovered that more than just Qi Xuan was poisoned.
Those responsible for guarding tonight, whether severely or lightly, had almost all been affected.
"Your Highness."
Seeing Ye Tinglan arrive, the guards immediately cleared a path.
Qi Xuan lay on the ground in front, his face dark and already unconscious.
Ye Tinglan glanced at him, his brows furrowed.
"Has the imperial physician been sent for?"
"Replying to Your Highness, the imperial physician was sent for earlier, but he said his medical skills were limited and he could not cure this poison..."
Ye Tinglan's expression darkened further upon hearing this. "Immediately send for Imperial Physician Jiang."
"Yes!"
The guard acknowledged and quickly withdrew.
Almost the moment the commotion subsided, someone nearby convulsed and died.
These hidden guards were old subordinates who had served in the manor for many years. To watch their own men die without being able to do anything filled them with despair.
Ye Tinglan clenched his fist, smashing it heavily onto a nearby pillar.
In an instant of silence, cracks appeared on the thick, round white jade pillar.
Feng Jinchen had never seen such a scene. He was startled and hid in Feng Yinwan's arms.
"Mother..."
"Be good, Mother is here. Chenchen, don't be afraid."
Feng Yinwan gently stroked his head and then stepped forward.
"Let me take a look."
This poison was indeed not ordinary, as could be seen from their symptoms.
Although she had already left the prince's manor, Qi Xuan had helped her in various ways before, both to legitimize Xuanmen and out of past affection. She felt obligated to help.
As she spoke, Ye Tinglan's gaze swept over her.
It was cold and sharp, clearly showing distrust.
Feng Yinwan raised an eyebrow and patiently explained.
"Did Your Highness not say this matter was done by someone from our Xuanmen?"
"Whether it is or not, one look will tell."
From high-grade heavenly pills to low-grade introductory powders, she had memorized every formula of Xuanmen.
Whether it was their doing or not could be discerned at a glance.
However, Ye Tinglan remained guarded, his gaze still lacking trust.
"According to Your Highness, if I intended to steal the Hundred Wood Lingxi, would I have acted before taking my own son?"
How foolish would she be to do such a self-defeating thing.
"Perhaps you did not anticipate my presence here, and that is also possible."
Feng Yinwan let out a scoff. "Your Highness is perhaps too self-important. What you can think of, others may not necessarily be able to."
She had already made her plans before coming, so how could she not anticipate this?
Ye Tinglan's sharp eyebrows lifted slightly. "Then did you anticipate falling into my hands?"
"..."
Feng Yinwan was speechless.
Forget it. Let them die.
If they died, they died. It wasn't her subordinates, and she wasn't being heartless.
She only hoped that this foolish Qi Xuan, when he reached the underworld, would see through the face of his scoundrel master and be reborn as her guard in the next life.
She intended to remain silent, but a small head peeked out from behind her.
"Don't you talk nonsense! My mother is very capable. She knows all sorts of medicine!"
She paused, then glared at Ye Tinglan and emphasized, "Our Xuanmen is also very good, not like you say!"
Her maternal grandfather doted on him the most, Jianye always indulged him, Qixun, although bad-tempered, had a good heart, and the other brothers and sisters in the sect were all very kind to him and his mother!
They were clearly very good, not like the bad Prince Uncle said!
The little one glared at him fiercely, looking incredibly cute.
Afraid he would be retaliated against by Ye Tinglan, Feng Yinwan quickly shielded him with her body.
It was during this movement that the wound on her shoulder was exposed to Feng Jinchen's eyes again.
Looking down at the wound on Feng Yinwan's shoulder, the little dumpling spoke with concern.
"Mother, does it still hurt..."
When he had looked earlier, Mother's face had been pale, and only now had it improved slightly.
He leaned in and blew on it gently, his eyes welling up with tears.
Seeing this, Feng Yinwan's heart melted completely. How could she still feel pain?
She reached out and ruffled his hair again, coaxing him, "Chenchen, be good, don't cry. Mother is fine."
"Mm..."
This sound was accompanied by a slight nasal tone, making it sound incredibly soft and sweet.
Ye Tinglan was somewhat stung by this scene, his heart filled with a complex mix of emotions. He immediately turned his gaze away with a darkened expression.
"Did you see clearly who was responsible just now?"
He was asking the guard beside him.
The guard nodded immediately, "Your Highness, please forgive me. When we guards were on patrol until this hour, those bandits had already left."
"However, from a distance, they appeared to be... people in black robes."
As expected!
As if finding another opportunity, Ye Tinglan's brow furrowed, and he was about to erupt again.
But before he could start, a faint sound came from in front of him.
Qi Xuan, who had been lying unconscious on the ground, suddenly began to twitch slightly.
Remembering the appearance of the guard who had died earlier, Ye Tinglan's expression turned icy.
"Has the person sent to fetch Imperial Physician Jiang returned?!"
"Your Highness, not yet..."
From the prince's manor to Imperial Physician Jiang's residence and back would take at least a few cups of tea, so how could it be so fast.
"Then find the imperial physician first!"
"But Your Highness..."
"Hurry up!"
The guard gritted his teeth and was about to run off when a slender figure stepped forward.
"Make way."
This was a cold, commanding voice, not a request, and it was directed at Ye Tinglan.
Ye Tinglan's face contorted with cold anger, but Feng Yinwan gave him no chance to speak.
"If you don't want him to die, then move!"
Such a resolute gaze, and the stern expression on her pretty face...
The slender figure before him momentarily overlapped with a cherished memory in his heart. Ye Tinglan was slightly stunned, lost in thought for a moment.
Feng Yinwan had no time to consider whether he was hesitating or acquiescing. She squeezed past him and immediately reached out to feel Qi Xuan's pulse.
Her beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, and her brow furrowed even more.
After a moment, her expression became quite complex as she spoke, "This is not a poison from our Xuanmen."