The manor was already under curfew upon their return. Ye Tinglan had returned to the palace after giving his instructions that morning, and Qi Xuan was currently at the estate. Within the entire residence, Qin Rulian was now in charge of all the miscellaneous affairs.
The carriage stopped in the backyard. Shuangxi helped Qin Rulian down and then hurried to fetch a lantern.
"Miss, let's go."
After speaking, she started to move forward. Unexpectedly, Qin Rulian pursed her lips in silence and instead walked in the direction of Lanqing Courtyard.
Shuangxi was puzzled by this.
"Miss, where are you going? Aren't we returning to Xiuchun Courtyard?"
Qin Rulian ignored her completely, her face grim as she walked straight ahead.
Seeing this, Shuangxi had no choice but to follow quickly.
There were still guards strictly watching outside Lanqing Courtyard. As soon as Qin Rulian got within half a step, she was stopped.
"Miss Qin, the Prince ordered no one to approach. Please return."
Being stopped seemed to be within Qin Rulian's expectations. She smiled faintly, hooked her lips, and obediently stepped back.
A moment later, she stopped again at a rockery not far from Lanqing Courtyard, her gaze fixed on the direction of Lanqing Courtyard. Illuminated by the lamplight, the expression on her face was particularly sinister.
Shuangxi did not understand. Seeing this, she dared not ask further and was about to lower her head when Qin Rulian suddenly spoke.
"Shuangxi, do you think the Prince likes her?"
Her voice was so faint it was almost ethereal. Coupled with that sinister expression, it was particularly eerie in the darkness.
Shuangxi shivered at the words, her body trembling uncontrollably. As she trembled, the firelight flickered, making it even more terrifying.
"M-Miss, the Princess Consort is vulgar and barbaric, not gentle or considerate at all. How could the P-Prince like her! The Prince likes... likes you!"
"You're lying!"
A sudden, sharp cry made Shuangxi jump, nearly causing her to fall to her knees.
Qin Rulian's eyes, filled with immense resentment, stared intently at her. The sharp tip of her finger dug heavily into Shuangxi's arm, her expression clearly bordering on madness.
"Tell me the truth, or I'll choke you to death!"
The moment she finished speaking, the force on her hand suddenly intensified. Shuangxi gasped in pain but bit her lip, refusing to make a sound.
Qin Rulian, however, seemed to have gone mad. Seeing this, she tightened her grip even more.
"Speak quickly! Will you speak or not! If you don't, I'll choke you to death!"
Her thin summer gown offered little protection, and in an instant, Shuangxi's arm was bruised and battered.
Seeing that she still refused to let go, she let out a low cry and had no choice but to beg for mercy.
"I'll speak, I'll speak! Miss, please don't pinch me!"
"Speak quickly!"
Shuangxi shivered at the shout and spoke, almost sobbing, "Miss, this servant dares not lie to you, but the Prince is indeed very concerned about the Princess Consort."
"Earlier, when I was at the General's manor, the Prince saw me and, worried that I might harm the Princess Consort, he even drove me out. He also didn't let the Princess Consort eat those tonics. This... this should be considered liking, right?"
Regarding the matter of the tonics, she herself had sent Shuangxi over. Ye Tinglan had driven Shuangxi out, which meant he didn't trust her!
So, he had liked that lowly woman from that time! No... possibly even earlier!
Boundless bitterness surged within her, and Qin Rulian's features contorted uncontrollably, almost resembling a sour cucumber.
Shuangxi was so frightened she dared not breathe.
She thought Qin Rulian would surely vent her anger on her again, but to her surprise, after distorting her features for a while, Qin Rulian released her grip on her arm.
Astonished, Shuangxi straightened the lantern in her hand slightly. She looked up and saw Qin Rulian's eyes softened, her face devoid of the previous terrifying expression.
She even gave Shuangxi a faint smile and gently stroked her forearm.
"Did I hurt you just now?"
This gentle and kind demeanor was completely different from the gloomy, distorted, and terrifying person she had been moments before, making her seem like two entirely different people.
Shuangxi was almost stunned.
"Miss... you just now..."
Was she possessed by something?
To her surprise, Qin Rulian snorted, shook off Shuangxi's hand, and walked straight ahead.
Shuangxi, still feeling the lingering fear, paused for a moment before deliberately lagging a step behind and then catching up.
Ye Tinglan had not returned to the manor for these past two days, and Qi Xuan had also gone out of town and not yet returned. This, however, suited Feng Yinwan's intentions.
Once the decision to leave was made, preparations had to begin immediately. She asked Yu Ping to focus on packing the gold and silver, and to discard everything else.
"Miss, it's all packed."
Feng Yinwan nodded, weighing the bundle of items. Her beautiful eyes secretly calculated.
This money would be enough for them to live comfortably for a long time.
Today was the second day, and the deadline given by Song Qing'an was tomorrow night. Yu Ping packed the items and, seeing that Feng Yinwan was still lost in thought with a pensive expression, approached and extinguished a few of the candles.
"Miss, it's time to rest."
It was not advisable to dwell on worries at night.
Feng Yinwan nodded and immediately turned to her bed.
The night was silent, and Feng Yinwan tossed and turned, falling asleep at an unknown hour.
In a daze, she seemed to see a flash of fire before her eyes, and choking smoke rushed into her nostrils.
"Miss, Miss! Wake up quickly, there's a fire!"
Feng Yinwan was woken by Yu Ping. The room was filled with thick smoke, and visible flames were already spreading, almost reaching the bed.
For a moment, Feng Yinwan was stunned, then suddenly jolted awake.
"What's going on?"
Why would her room suddenly catch fire?
The smoke choked her, preventing her from opening her mouth. Yu Ping shook her head and handed her a handkerchief soaked in cold water.
Feng Yinwan took it and quickly tied it around her face.
Before her, there was nothing but thick smoke and flames. Feng Yinwan could only rely on her memory to discern the direction.
The fire had spread from the west wing. The few carved windows on that side had already been completely burned, and the door was also engulfed in flames. Wooden beams from the ceiling were burning and falling, scattering embers everywhere.
The only usable item in the room was a pot of tea.
Seeing the flames climbing the curtains, Yu Ping poured all the tea water onto the bedding, then draped it over Feng Yinwan, wrapping her tightly.
"Miss, hold onto the quilt tightly. I will break down the door in a moment, and then you can rush out!"
After saying this, she picked up a chair from the corner, took a deep breath, and charged directly towards the door.
Already burning, the door was forcefully rammed several times, immediately splitting into pieces and falling to the ground.
"Miss, go quickly!"
Through the smoke, Yu Ping could no longer see clearly what was happening inside. She could only shout loudly, but the fire was too intense, with crackling sounds everywhere. Her voice was quickly swallowed.
And inside, there was never a response.
Thick smoke billowed, flames raged, and the bed was engulfed by the fire. However, the slender figure by the bed seemed frozen, standing still in place.
Occasionally, fragmented sounds could be heard through the flames, but they were quickly extinguished.
A buzzing sound filled her mind, and everything before her eyes seemed to overlap with a certain scene, leaving Feng Yinwan's eyes vacant and frozen. Her pale fingertips instinctively tightened their grip on the quilt, but her legs were stiff and unable to take a single step.