The Moon-Reflecting Pool…
He intended to go see Feng Yueli.
Feng Yinwan hesitated for a moment, then nodded and followed.
The moon on the fifteenth was exceptionally round, and the Moon-Reflecting Pool lived up to its name. The full moon reflected on the surface of the clear water was sharp and bright, indistinguishable from the night sky.
“Wait here.”
Feng Wuxi handed the food box to her and stepped into the cave alone.
After a brief pause, Feng Yinwan sat by the pool, holding the food box. She gazed at the moon for a while before taking out the scroll for the Qingying Needle from her懷.
Mid-Autumn Festival, a time for reunion, was not for sadness, but for practice.
When Feng Wuxi returned, she was engrossed in practicing with a silver needle, her innate talent evident. Her technique already showed promise.
“Your strength is insufficient.”
“Lift your wrist, tense your forearm.”
Feng Yinwan followed his instructions. When she tried again, the effect was indeed more powerful than before.
“It does work.”
Feng Wuxi glanced at her and then directly sat down, lifting his robes.
The food box was opened, revealing a plate of cherry-blossom pink mooncakes. He held out the plate with his plain white hands, his intention clear.
Feng Yinwan was slightly taken aback and reached for a mooncake.
“I didn’t expect you to be so sentimental…”
The small mooncakes were exquisitely shaped, imprinted with patterns of autumn begonias and jade hairpins – clearly items a woman would favor.
To her surprise, Feng Wuxi did not glare at her this time. His eyes gazed at the water in the pool, his expression somber.
“These are for Li’er’s favorite.”
The fifteenth of August was Feng Yueli’s birthday.
Taken aback by this revelation, Feng Yinwan immediately fell silent. The mooncake in her hand felt scorching hot.
Just as she was about to put it back, Feng Wuxi stopped her.
“There’s no need. She can’t eat them.”
Every year, he would bring a plate of mooncakes and place them there, then sit by the Moon-Reflecting Pool with a pot of wine until dawn.
Year after year, the same ritual, unchanged.
He had never stopped searching for a way to awaken Feng Yueli, but as Feng Yinwan had said, even with the Qiling Dan in hand, there was no guarantee of success.
His insistence on keeping Feng Yinwan here was merely a sliver of hope and a meager comfort.
A fierce, violent emotion surged within him again, threatening to consume his reason. Then, a clear, sweet voice interrupted his thoughts.
“I can tell Pavilion Master Feng doesn’t have much faith in me, your divine physician. However, from a medical perspective, Miss Li’er still has a possibility of waking up.”
“There’s no need to comfort me.”
Feng Wuxi scoffed, but the hostility around him dissipated at her words.
He tilted his head back and took a swig of wine, his gaze flicking to her lower abdomen with an ambiguous glint.
“Ye Tinglan’s?”
His meaning was clear, and Feng Yinwan’s body froze at the question.
Seeing her silence, Feng Wuxi tapped his chin with a finger, not pressing further.
“Feng Yinwan, what I told you will always hold true.”
He was referring to his promise to let her stay in the Wuxi Pavilion.
Feng Yinwan pursed her lips, but then shook her head.
“Pavilion Master Feng’s kindness is appreciated, but I have more important matters to attend to.”
Feng Wuxi’s eyebrows slightly rose, but just as he was about to speak, his gaze fell upon a distant spot, and his expression instantly changed.
“What is it?”
Feng Yinwan also stood up, but before she could finish speaking, the person before her had already flown away.
Something had happened at the villa.
Tonight, on the Mid-Autumn Festival, security was not as stringent as usual, and the guards were mostly drunk. They hadn’t even noticed when an outsider had infiltrated.
When Feng Yinwan rushed to the Cunfeng Hall, she saw Feng Yun being restrained and pinned to the ground by two dark guards. Seated in the main position of the hall was Ye Tingyan, who had been missing for a long time.
It was him who had invaded the Wuxi Pavilion tonight!
Feng Wuxi stood in the hall, his expression extremely grim.
Ye Tingyan gave him a playful smile and said, “It seems quite lively here at Pavilion Master Feng’s tonight.”
“With the presence of the Second Prince, it is indeed lively. But an uninvited guest is no guest at all!”
Ye Tingyan’s men were no fewer than those of the Wuxi Pavilion. Unsure of his intentions, Feng Wuxi, though furious, could not act rashly for the moment.
“Pavilion Master Feng need not be so tense. This prince has merely come to ask for a small favor.”
Another “favor.”
Suddenly recalling Ye Tingyan’s demand for Feng Wuxi to seize the Zishen Xuandan in Jiangzhou, Feng Yinwan’s heart tightened. She immediately thought of the words “Moon-Reflecting Pool.”
No wonder it had looked familiar when she first arrived. The leverage Ye Tingyan had used to threaten Feng Wuxi that day was the Moon-Reflecting Pool!
He knew about Feng Yueli’s condition?!
Her temple throbbed slightly. The next moment, Ye Tingyan’s teasing voice rang out again.
“Pavilion Master Feng, don’t rush to refuse. This prince has heard that you recently found a divine physician to treat your sister. I wonder, after such a long time, has your sister’s condition improved at all?”
Not only had it not improved, but it had actually worsened.
As Feng Yinwan pondered the meaning of his words, Feng Wuxi roared in fury.
“Ye Tingyan! Don’t push it too far!”
The Xuanjing had a suppressive effect on Feng Yueli’s condition. Her situation had improved over the years due to her reliance on the Xuanjing. When her condition had suddenly worsened again, he had mistakenly believed that the Xuanjing’s efficacy had waned. Now, it seemed Ye Tingyan had secretly tampered with things!
Ye Tingyan’s lips curved into a triumphant smile.
“Pavilion Master Feng, if you are willing to help this prince, your sister’s condition will naturally not worsen. Otherwise…”
He did not finish the sentence, but his sinister gaze said it all.
With a lift of his chin, the dark guard restraining Feng Yun tightened his grip. Instantly, Feng Yinwan seemed to hear the sound of bone cracking.
“Ugh…”
Her forearm was tightly gripped, and Feng Yun’s face had turned pale. Yet, she gritted her teeth and remained silent.
Seeing that Feng Wuxi still refused to speak, Ye Tingyan narrowed his eyes and was about to issue another order when a figure clad in brocade rushed into the hall from outside.
“May I ask what Second Prince wishes the Wuxi Pavilion to do for you?”
The voice was clear and resonant like jade, one Feng Yinwan had never heard before.
Ye Tingyan looked up at the sound of her voice. As his gaze fell upon the silver mask covering her face, he asked with interest,
“You are that Jiang Wan?”
He was indeed curious about the person Feng Wuxi had taken such pains to bring back.
Feng Yinwan nodded, her slender back as straight as bamboo, possessing an inherent dignity.
“That is I.”
Ye Tingyan glanced at her and scoffed.
“Interesting. However, it is not your place to speak to this prince here.”
In Wuxi Pavilion, a mere honored guest did not have the authority to make decisions.
Feng Yinwan did not move an inch at his words.
“I am aware of my lowly status and do not deserve Second Prince’s esteemed attention. However, today is the fifteenth, and Pavilion Master Feng is anxious for his sister. He may not be able to hear certain words clearly.”
“If Second Prince has something to say, perhaps you could tell me. If it is within my capabilities, I will naturally persuade Pavilion Master Feng to render his full assistance.”
“Good!”
A crisp clapping sound followed his words.
With a sidelong glance, the dark guard released Feng Yun.
Ye Tingyan stood up and walked slowly from the main seat. His sinister eyes, however, were fixed intently on hers.
“This prince wants Ye Tinglan dead.”