“Why?”
The consequences of returning to the capital were almost predictable.
Feng Wuxi was puzzled, but Yuping looked at him with determined eyes, as if she had made up her mind.
“I want to go back to guard the mausoleum for my lady.”
If her lady met with misfortune, it would be unreasonable for her, a personal maid, not to follow, and it would also arouse suspicion.
If this was to be made real, then she had to go back.
Furthermore, judging by the Prince’s reaction tonight, he should not deliberately make things difficult for her.
After the body of the “lady” was buried, she would enter the imperial mausoleum to guard it. That place was free from worldly strife, and she presumed no one would deliberately go there to cause trouble.
Her courage was far greater than Feng Wuxi had expected.
He glanced at her and then spoke again, “Very well, I will order people to follow you secretly and protect your safety.”
“After all, it was her dying wish. I dare not disobey.”
Yuping:?
This person spoke strangely.
Before they knew it, a night had passed. As the sky began to lighten, the imperial envoy team stationed in the military camp began to assemble.
Xu Yunxiao was unaware of the situation last night. Upon arriving at the military camp this morning, he heard the news of Feng Yinwan’s death and was immediately astonished.
“Miss Yuping, did the Princess truly…”
He had cried with genuine emotion last night. Yuping’s eyes were still swollen, and coupled with her lack of rest, her small face was pale, truly appearing to be overcome with grief.
“Brother Xu, you are here.”
As she spoke, her eyes began to redden again. Seeing this, Xu Yunxiao did not dare to ask more questions.
He nodded solemnly and then turned to look at the carriage.
The body of “Feng Yinwan” had already been moved into it. Guards were keeping a close watch around the carriage, and he could not approach without Ye Tinglan’s order, only able to catch a glimpse from afar.
As he looked, his eyes couldn’t help but sting.
Yuping secretly glanced over and saw him, a grown man, stealthily wiping away tears.
Caught in the act, Xu Yunxiao no longer tried to hide it. He wiped his tears with his sleeve and choked out to her.
“What a good person the Princess was, what a pity…”
Although she knew it was fake, seeing him like this, Yuping suddenly felt like crying again.
Just as she pursed her lips, Qi Xuan came over and called Xu Yunxiao away.
Yuping took a breath, holding back her tears, and was about to return to pack her things when she saw a team stop in front of the military camp.
The person who alighted from the carriage was Yun Shu.
The imperial envoy team had been in Jinzhou for several days. Apart from the first day when she saw Yun Shu in the military camp, she had not seen any trace of Yun Shu.
Seeing her like this, it was as if she had never stayed in the military camp?
As she frowned, that figure was supported by a maid and entered, heading straight for Ye Tinglan’s tent.
The imperial envoy team was set to depart in half an hour.
Ye Tinglan’s body had not yet recovered. Qi Xuan had originally wanted him to travel in a carriage, but he insisted on riding a horse.
The carriage carrying the body was placed in the center of the procession. Ye Tinglan personally rode ahead to guard it. Yun Shu’s carriage followed behind.
With everything arranged, Ye Tinglan’s gaze, fixed on the daylight, deepened. He parted his lips.
“Depart.”
…
As the imperial envoy team proceeded, on the open plain, two swift horses continued to gallop.
Having traveled for nearly a night, they had already left the border of Jinzhou. Song Qingan looked at the hazy water color visible in the distance and reined in his horse.
“Princess, there is a water marsh ahead. Let us stop for a short rest.”
The conditions in the army were always harsh, especially during campaigns.
He could go without sleep or rest for several days, but Feng Yinwan was a woman, and she was pregnant.
If it weren’t for her insistence on continuing their journey, he would have wanted her to stop and rest long ago.
Feng Yinwan had initially wanted to refuse, but after escaping from the mountain villa last night and traveling continuously, she was indeed feeling somewhat drained of energy.
After a moment’s hesitation, she nodded.
“Alright.”
Such pure water was rarely seen on flat ground. Feng Yinwan dismounted to stretch her limbs and then walked directly towards the water.
Perhaps it was because she had finally escaped Ye Tinglan’s clutches, but she felt a considerable lightness in her heart.
She cupped her hands to scoop up some water, about to splash it on her face, but then suddenly remembered that she was still wearing a disguise. She paused, then released her hand, letting the water drip back.
“Princess.”
Song Qingan caught up from behind and held out a bamboo tube to her.
“Drink some water.”
“Thank you.”
Feng Yinwan took it, smiled and shook her head, then corrected him.
“The Princess of Mo is already dead. From now on, please call me by my name.”
That identity had long since been left at the bottom of the cliff with the turmoil of last night.
Now, she was just herself, nothing more.
Her smile was bright and unrestrained. Looking at her, Song Qingan inexplicably fell into a daze.
On the open plain, the woman tilted her head back and drank from the bamboo tube, her expression calm and free-spirited, even the strands of her hair were lifted by the wind in a casual arc.
Between heaven and earth, she was so free that all things seemed to lose their color.
Yet, it was as if she was meant to be this way, merely confined by the secular world for too long, and now, at this moment, she had regained new life.
Song Qingan did not know how long he had been staring impolitely.
Until a gentle breeze stirred ripples on the water marsh, and the fragmented golden light of the water flashed into his eyes, his thoughts were suddenly pulled back.
Two words, long sealed in his memory, lingered on his lips and tongue, and finally, he let them slip out carefully.
“Wan’er.”