A few days ago, a rift had just occurred. When Feng Yinwan saw her again, Ye Tingyun wore a long, sullen face, even more sour than a rotten egg.
Feng Yinwan coughed lightly and braced herself to explain her purpose.
"I came here following the Second Prince's trail. I presume Qi Xuan has already informed you?"
Ye Tingyun had always been subtly at odds with Ye Tinglan, a fact Ye Tingyun was well aware of.
If it were before, he would have obediently handed over the jade token. To his surprise, he now curled his lips, acting as if it were none of his concern.
"Oh, what does that have to do with this Prince?"
A vein pulsed subtly on Feng Yinwan's forehead.
Alright, it seemed this matter was indeed a bit challenging.
Frowning, she patiently continued, "Prince Yun is correct. This matter indeed has nothing to do with you, but Prince Yun should understand the principle of 'lips are cold, teeth are exposed'."
The five princes were divided into three factions.
The First Prince, supported by the Empress, was not in court but held the status of the eldest legitimate son. The Second and Fourth Princes were secretly colluding, having already tied themselves together.
Regardless of whether Ye Tingyun harbored ambitions for the throne, his deep friendship with Ye Tinglan made them appear inseparable in the eyes of outsiders.
Feng Yinwan thought this reason should convince him, but...
"Stop with your alarmist talk. My Third Brother and I are solid. It's not a case of 'lips are cold, teeth are exposed'! Besides, you can't represent my Third Brother's intentions. Why should I give you the jade token!"
"Your Highness Yun..."
Qi Xuan was stunned by his demeanor. He opened his mouth to speak, only to be interrupted.
"Qi Xuan! I haven't spoken to you yet. You are my Third Brother's guard, not this woman's. Why do you do whatever she tells you to do? You're quite obedient!"
That cunning, treacherous woman was quite adept at winning people over. She had almost tricked him too, but luckily, his will was firmer!
He let out a smug snort, only to turn and meet Qi Xuan's bewildered gaze.
"Your Highness Yun, did you perhaps... have a bad day elsewhere?"
Every word was laced with gunpowder. Had he been beaten by Concubine Li again?
"You...!"
Ye Tingyun was speechless with anger.
He glared at Qi Xuan with the expression of someone disappointed in a student, his anger flaring up.
He couldn't scold him. Qi Xuan's mind had only been muddled by this damned woman.
He couldn't scold him. Qi Xuan's mind had only been muddled by this damned woman!
Feng Yinwan, seeing his frustrated expression, almost burst out laughing.
However, for the sake of the jade token, she held back.
Just as she was about to ease the atmosphere, Ye Tingyun glared at her with the look one reserved for a femme fatale. Upon sensing the faint smile on her lips, he became enraged.
"Get out, get out, all of you, get out of this Prince's mansion!"
Asking for a jade token was like asking for his life.
Feng Yinwan subtly raised her delicate eyebrows and stood up without any hesitation. "Very well, it seems this Princess Consort has disturbed you today. I shall take my leave."
She then turned to leave. Qi Xuan, seeing this, was startled and quickly followed.
"Princess Consort... are we just leaving like this?"
Without the jade token?
Feng Yinwan's gaze remained fixed ahead. "We still want it, of course."
The commotion in the courtyard subsided. After a long while, Ye Tingyun finally got up and slyly beckoned the steward.
"Go and see if they've really left."
He looked warily towards the outside, even lowering his voice. The steward hesitated, then looked at him.
"Your Highness, there's no need to look. The Princess Consort of Ink Manor left a while ago."
"She really left?!"
Ye Tingyun hadn't expected her to be so serious. His eyes widened, and he became even angrier.
That damned woman! She left just because he made a few difficult remarks!
Was this how she approached asking for favors?!
He gritted his teeth, then reluctantly ordered, "Go to my room and find that jade token."
Outside Yun Wang Manor, a carriage stopped at the corner of the alley, as silent as a ghost.
Qi Xuan reined in the horses, feeling quite unsure. "Princess Consort, will Prince Yun really hand over the jade token to us willingly?"
Ye Tingyun looked delicate, but he was actually a spoiled little tyrant!
The only ones who could control him, besides the Prince, were Concubine Li... oh, and the former Princess Consort.
Before his words had even fallen, the manor gate opened, and the steward led out a horse. The next moment, Feng Yinwan's voice echoed from within the carriage.
"Isn't it here?"
Qi Xuan was also taken aback by this. He quickly stepped forward.
"Steward Qi? You haven't left?"
The steward clearly blinked upon seeing him and then rejoiced inwardly.
"That's great! His Highness was just ordering me to deliver it to you. Since you're still here, it saves me a trip!"
A brocade pouch was pressed into his hand, containing Jiang Rumo's jade token.
Qi Xuan nodded, thanked him, and departed.
The steward waved with satisfaction and was about to lead the horse back when he turned his head and saw a head suspended in mid-air, nearly jumping half a meter in fright.
Ye Tingyun glared at him and emerged from behind the door.
"What are you shouting about!"
Seeing that it was him, the steward lamented, "Your Highness, why are you here..."
Ye Tingyun ignored him and looked at the horse he was leading behind him. "Was the item delivered?"
"Yes."
The steward nodded, suspecting nothing. "Steward Qi was right at the entrance. I just handed it to him."
"The entrance?"
Ye Tingyun looked up suspiciously, just in time to catch a glimpse of a carriage disappearing at the end of the alley. The lantern on the carriage seemed to bear the character "Ink."
He paused slightly and then became furious.
That damned woman! She had plotted against him again!
On the carriage, Feng Yinwan flipped through the jade token in her hand, her lips curving silently.
She knew this brat was a devoted follower of his Third Brother, and it turned out to be true!
Jiang Province was located southeast of the capital. On the road, Feng Yinwan suddenly remembered that among the three nearby provinces that had reported an outbreak of malaria, one was Jiang Province.
Jiang Rumo and his group had been dispatched long ago. She wondered what the situation with the epidemic was like locally now.
As she was pondering, Qi Xuan's voice came from outside.
"Princess Consort, there are still a few hours until we reach Jiang Province City. Please rest assured."
Feng Yinwan nodded and comfortably leaned back against the soft cushion offered by Yuping.
By the time they reached Jiang Province City, dusk was approaching. Contrary to expectations, the markets within the city were orderly, with no sign of a rampant epidemic.
Feng Yinwan raised her eyebrows. Before she could think further, the carriage swayed and stopped.
"Young Master... we've arrived."
The carriage curtain was lifted. Feng Yinwan and Yuping had already changed into men's attire. It was inconvenient to reveal their identities outside, so Feng Yinwan had instructed them to change their address to "Young Master."
Qi Xuan was a little stunned to see them dressed as men for the first time. Yuping, however, gracefully jumped down from the carriage.
"Young Master, be careful of your footing."
"Mm."
With this single word, Feng Yinwan used only three parts of her strength, yet Qi Xuan's expression had already shifted from surprise to alert.
"Who! Who's speaking!"
There were only the three of them here. Where did a stranger's voice come from!
Feng Yinwan glanced at him, her expression calm. "Are you speaking to me?"
"Holy cow...!"
Qi Xuan couldn't help but utter a vulgar exclamation.
Feng Yinwan, surprised that even this proper guard knew such an expression, was about to smile. However, her gaze caught sight of another carriage driving in from behind, and her brows furrowed, her expression instantly turning grim.