Calling her by her given name so abruptly, though seemingly impolite at first, was done with such care and reverence, as if cherishing a precious treasure.
Feng Yinwan didn't feel offended upon hearing it.
Before she could speak, Song Qingan realized his oversight. His face stiffened, and he immediately clasped his hands in a salute.
"I meant no offense; I was merely carried away by the moment..."
As he rushed to explain, Feng Yinwan's brow furrowed slightly. She looked at him earnestly and said,
"Song Qingan, we've met before, haven't we?"
Unlike her previous questioning tone, her voice was slow yet firm, which also startled Song Qingan.
Feng Yinwan found it difficult to directly admit she couldn't remember him, so she pursed her lips and said indirectly,
"You know, I was injured in the face when I was young and fell gravely ill. I might not recall everything from before."
The brilliance in her star-like eyes dimmed for a moment.
Feng Yinwan's heart inexplicably tightened upon seeing this. When she came to her senses, words of solace tumbled out,
"However, I feel very comfortable around you, as if we've been friends for many years."
"If I have forgotten anything unintentionally, I hope you won't hold it against me and will remind me often."
With this, she mirrored Song Qingan's earlier gesture, clasping her hands in a return salute.
Her entire demeanor seemed much more lively than before.
After a moment's thought, she added, "We both need to conceal our identities on this journey. When we're out, you can call me Sanqing."
The name Jiang Wan could no longer be used. Conveniently, the old man at the Immortal Medicine Sect had given her another medicine-related name.
Now, it proved to be perfectly useful.
Then she turned to Song Qingan, "And you? What should I call you?"
Song Qingan looked at her, his eyes brightening slightly, as if tinged with the shade of ink not yet fully dried.
"Yuzhi."
Song Yuzhi.
These three words fell into her mind like shooting stars, sparking a faint flicker before quickly receding.
The fragmented thoughts vanished in an instant. Feng Yinwan tried to grasp something, but her pursuit was futile.
Finally, it was Song Qingan who broke the silence.
"Let's go."
After two days of arduous travel, they finally neared the vicinity of the desolate region.
As dusk approached, most households had long since extinguished their lights. Yet, the prisoners taken for labor were only just returning to their camp.
From a distance, they appeared gaunt and emaciated, like walking corpses.
Feng Yinwan's beautiful eyes scanned the crowd for any sign of her father and brother, her heart clenching with worry.
When the elder General Feng and Feng Jingyuan were exiled, she had spent a considerable amount of silver to make arrangements through intermediaries. However, imperial decrees were difficult to defy, especially in such a harsh environment. No matter how much she arranged, it felt like a drop in the ocean.
Father and brother…
As she was still looking, a force suddenly pressed down on her back.
The instant Song Qingan pushed her down, flames flashed before her eyes.
They had nearly been exposed.
After the group had passed, Song Qingan spoke again, "Uncle and Brother Jingyuan are not in this group."
Feng Yinwan's brow instantly tightened at his words.
This was already the third group.
The environment in the desolate region was harsh, and the camps for officials and prisoners were extremely limited.
According to earlier intelligence, a considerable number of prisoners died of illness here each year.
The prolonged absence of her father and brother... had something happened to them?
Sensing her anxiety, Song Qingan spoke words of gentle comfort.
"Don't worry. After they return, there will be an immediate curfew. Once the patrolling guards change shifts, I will go in to investigate the situation."
For now, this was the only course of action.
Feng Yinwan nodded and, as he instructed, retreated a bit further back.
A short while later, the camp gate was indeed closed, and the activity within gradually quieted down.
"Wait here. In the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, I will be out."
After entrusting her with this instruction, Song Qingan leaped into the camp.
Feng Yinwan remained in place as instructed, her tightly strung nerves finally able to relax a little after days of tension.
The time it took for an incense stick to burn was not long. Seeing that the time had passed and Song Qingan had not yet emerged, Feng Yinwan looked up at the sky, her anxiety flaring again.
Just as she was about to move closer to investigate, a group of people rapidly approached.
Feng Yinwan's heart tensed, and she immediately held her breath and retreated again.
There were over twenty people in this group, all clad in dark robes that concealed their faces.
As they galloped, their hoofbeats were almost uniformly rhythmic. Within ten meters, not a single sound of their breathing could be heard.
This indicated that they were all masters with profound internal energy.
Song Qingan had mentioned earlier that the Emperor intended to secretly transfer her father and brother out.
Could these be the Emperor's men?
Her hand, gripping the silver needle, tightened almost imperceptibly. Feng Yinwan lowered her gaze, her expression becoming even more solemn.
With so many masters, even if she and Song Qingan joined forces, it would be difficult to resist them. Moreover, Song Qingan was still inside the camp and had not yet returned.
She could not, nor would she dare, to act rashly.
While she was contemplating, the group of riders halted in front of the camp.
The leader took out a scroll of imperial yellow from his怀.
It was an imperial decree!
They had indeed come to escort people away!
Feng Yinwan's breath hitched for a moment.
When she came to her senses, the entire group had entered the camp.
In less than a moment, they emerged again.
Two figures were escorted out, struggling, and they were none other than her father and brother, whom she had not seen for so long!