Aunt Li nodded immediately upon hearing this.
"Yes, things were fine here originally. We don't know how such a terrible illness broke out. But it's strange, this illness only appeared in the military camps; the city itself was completely unaffected."
Feng Yinwan's heart tightened at these words.
The military camp, again.
The night before returning to the palace, Ye Tinglan had told her about the news from the Ministry of Justice. The investigation results had also pointed to the military camp.
She pursed her lips secretly, her beautiful eyes narrowing slightly.
"Aunt Li, are the epidemics in all parts of Jiangzhou like this?"
Aunt Li nodded. "Yes, we haven't heard of any commoners being infected in the surrounding counties. However, six or seven military camps have been sealed off, and doctors have been sent to each one."
She sighed and added, "A while ago, my husband's uncle said that the army was undergoing reorganization and might be transferred to the border to fight. Now that this has happened, there's no point in fighting. I just don't know..."
"Fighting?"
Feng Yinwan's brows furrowed even tighter.
Thinking she was unaware of the border situation, Aunt Li replied with an "Oh" and immediately explained.
"Madam, you may not know, but about a month ago, the barbarians from the Western Regions were aggressively advancing, and fighting had already broken out at the border."
"I heard that the court sent a great general to suppress them. I wonder how the battle is going now..."
As her lips continued to move, Feng Yinwan's mind buzzed, and she could no longer hear anything else.
She could be certain that the border Aunt Li mentioned was the same border where Old General Feng and Feng Jingyuan had gone.
With the border engaged in war, the military camps in various places were reorganized and trained to be ready for any eventuality. Unexpectedly, before they could be deployed, malaria broke out in the camps. Troops that lost their combat effectiveness were useless, and thus could not reinforce the front lines.
Since the military camps in the capital had already been treated by her, and there were no troops available in the surrounding areas, Ye Tinglan had no choice but to lead the army himself.
Recalling Wuxi's ambiguous words, a dangerous thought suddenly surfaced in Feng Yinwan's mind.
Someone had targeted the military camps using malaria. The target from the beginning was Old General Feng and Feng Jingyuan on the front lines, and perhaps even Ye Tinglan!
Her breathing suddenly tightened, her fingers clenched, and a chill spread through her body.
Noticing her distress, Qi Xuan frowned and asked in a low voice, "Madam?"
Feng Yinwan's lips had already bitten together, and she shook her head. Before she could speak, Qi Xuan nodded to Aunt Li.
"Aunt Li, Madam is tired from her journey and might feel unwell. I will help her inside to rest with Yuping. We will visit again later."
Feng Yinwan's complexion was indeed not good. Aunt Li nodded and immediately responded.
"Oh dear, it's my fault! I was so caught up in talking that I neglected Madam's health. Quickly, you two help her inside to rest. I'll go back and prepare a meal, and we can all eat together later!"
With that, she picked up the broom and returned. Feng Yinwan allowed Yuping to help her into the room. As a cup of hot tea was placed in her hands, the whiteness on her knuckles began to fade.
Qi Xuan followed her in. "Princess Consort, did you just think of something?"
On such matters, she was always calm and composed. It was rare to see her lose her composure like that.
Feng Yinwan pursed her lips, her voice trembling slightly as she spoke.
"Qi Xuan, has there been any news from the border?"
Surprised by her reaction, Qi Xuan paused for a moment and then shook his head. "There has been no news since the Prince led the army there. Is Madam... worried about the Prince?"
Feng Yinwan's expression turned even colder upon hearing this.
"Write a secret letter to the border immediately and ensure you find out the situation."
She paused, her red lips parting again. "When will the King's Mansion's hidden guards arrive? The situation is urgent, and we must return to the capital as soon as possible!"
Someone was targeting the Feng family and Ye Tinglan. At this critical juncture, the capital could not be left without someone in charge.
Her voice was cold, and her expression was extremely serious. Qi Xuan's heart also tightened as he replied, "Yes."
The King's Mansion's hidden guards arrived swiftly after receiving the secret letter. Before dawn the next day, Qi Xuan's voice could be heard giving instructions in the courtyard.
"They've arrived?"
Seeing her suddenly emerge from the room, Qi Xuan was startled and immediately nodded.
"Princess Consort."
Feng Yinwan waved her hand. "Has the secret letter been sent?"
The issue of malaria weighed on her heart like a boulder, and she tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep.
Qi Xuan nodded immediately. "I have ordered someone to depart on a swift horse. If the journey is smooth, the secret letter will be delivered to the Prince tomorrow."
From Jiangzhou westward, it would take two days and nights of non-stop travel to reach the border.
And that was under favorable conditions.
Feng Yinwan pursed her lips and nodded. "Prepare to set off. We are returning to the capital immediately."
They departed quietly and discreetly, without disturbing Aunt Li next door. They specifically avoided the official roads and took a back path, thus avoiding any further entanglement with Feng Wuxi.
They rode back at full speed, and it was already noon when they returned to the capital. As Feng Yinwan's carriage arrived at the entrance of the Prince Mo's Mansion, Ye Tingyun rushed out from the mansion.
"You're finally back! You asked me to keep an eye on Ye Tingyu, but he's been acting strangely for the past two days, always running to the palace. Consort Ning has also secretly sent word to her family. I wonder what this mother and son are plotting!"
Consort Ning was Ye Tingyu's birth mother. She was of average beauty and not particularly favored in the palace.
Consort Ning's maternal family included the commander of the Yuzhou Military Affairs Department. Yuzhou was the region closest to the border conflict.
Feng Yinwan's brows immediately furrowed. "Do you know what they said?"
At this critical juncture, such actions were too suspicious.
Ye Tingyun, however, was displeased.
"Do you think I'm a monster? Can I extend my ears into Consort Ning's palace!"
Well, there was no point in asking.
Feng Yinwan pursed her lips, unwilling to engage in further conversation with him. She strode towards the mansion. Ye Tingyun, seeing this, became insistent.
"Hey, hey, hey! I worked hard keeping watch for you for two days. What did you do in Jiangzhou? Did you discover anything?"
Feng Yinwan walked straight ahead, casually handing him a jade token.
"Nothing."
"Nothing?!"
Ye Tingyun caught the brocade bag and was about to jump up in protest when a fragrant breeze swept past him, and the elegant figure had already walked away.
Seeing that he couldn't catch up, he stamped his feet in anger on the spot.
"Feng Yinwan, don't ever ask me to do anything for you again!"
That damned woman, what was her attitude!
Thinking of the stir at the General's Mansion, Feng Yinwan summoned the hidden guards who were responsible for surveillance after returning to her courtyard.
The hidden guards' reports were generally consistent. In summary, Feng Yiyi had remained in the mansion, not going out, and there were no anomalies.
Feng Yinwan fell into deep thought upon hearing this and, with a serious look in her eyes, ordered them to continue their surveillance.
Two days passed in the blink of an eye. According to the timing, the secret letter should have reached Ye Tinglan by now.
However, the thought of it made Feng Yinwan inexplicably uneasy. Just as she was about to go and ask Qi Xuan, he hurried into the room.
Seeing her, he spoke urgently, "Princess Consort, Your Highness Prince Yun requests your presence at the palace immediately!"