The chill in her beautiful eyes was too piercing. Qing Ru was momentarily stunned, and by the time she recovered, Feng Yin Wan's figure had already disappeared outside the door.
Her expression changed, and she immediately hurried to chase after her.
She had thought she was under house arrest, but upon leaving, she found nothing unusual. Feng Yin Wan's brow furrowed, and she headed straight for Ye Ting Yun's Bi Shui Qing Ju.
It was still a residence from their time as princes and was not far away.
Feng Yin Wan walked quickly, only to be met with a closed door.
The courtyard gate was locked, and no one was inside.
As she was frowning, Qing Ru had already caught up. Seeing her, she quickly stepped forward.
"Wang Fei Niang Niang, the heat at noon is intense. You only just woke up. Be careful not to move the fetus again. Please return with this servant."
Her shifting eyes clearly indicated she knew something.
Feng Yin Wan looked up, seeing through the deception. "Where is Prince Yun?"
"Wang Fei Niang Niang, have you forgotten? Prince Yun has been studying official documents with Grand Tutor Liu these past few days. He would naturally be in the Inner Cabinet now..."
"Liar!"
Before she could finish, she was interrupted.
Feng Yin Wan's beautiful eyes narrowed, now carrying a hint of cold sternness.
"It's already noon. The Inner Cabinet has long since finished work. Why would Prince Yun still be there? Tell me, where did he actually go?"
Qing Ru had been on duty in the palace for a long time, but she couldn't withstand Feng Yin Wan's demeanor. She was slightly taken aback and was about to shake her head.
Feng Yin Wan frowned and saw figures approaching from behind. She immediately quickened her pace.
"Where has your Prince gone?"
She recognized this young eunuch. He was transferred from Consort Li's side to serve Ye Ting Yun.
"Greetings, Mo Wang Fei. The army has achieved a great victory. The commander is returning to court ahead of schedule today. His Highness went to the Hall of Diligent Governance early this morning, and is still..."
Before he could finish, the figure in front of him had already rushed away. The young eunuch followed her gaze, only to see Qing Ru chasing after her.
Feng Yin Wan had never expected the news of the war's victory to arrive so quickly!
The army had not yet fully mobilized, and the commander was returning to court ahead of schedule. Such a violation of protocol must have been by imperial decree.
Remembering the Emperor's gloomy gaze in Chun He Palace that day, Feng Yin Wan felt her heart clench.
She came back to herself to find herself already at the entrance of the Hall of Diligent Governance. The eunuch guarding the door, seeing her hurried approach, stepped forward. Before he could ask a question, Feng Yin Wan brushed him aside.
Her legs were already a bit numb, and being pushed unexpectedly, especially with such force, caused the eunuch to twist and fall squarely onto his backside.
"Oh..."
He had just adjusted his hat when he saw Feng Yin Wan already at the hall entrance. The eunuch turned pale with fear and scrambled forward.
"Mo Wang Fei, you cannot enter! The Emperor is furious and is dealing with matters concerning the Zhen Guo Great General and your elder brother!"
Just as she suspected!
Her skirt hem was held tightly. Feng Yin Wan paused for a moment, then stepped back.
Just as the eunuch thought she had understood and was about to breathe a sigh of relief, he saw her lift her skirt and kneel directly before the hall entrance.
"This subject, Feng Yin Wan, requests an audience with Your Majesty!"
The eunuch was nearly scared to death.
Yet, Feng Yin Wan bowed her head and kowtowed, then repeated.
"This subject, Feng Yin Wan, requests an audience with Your Majesty!"
Her voice was even firmer than before. The eunuch's face turned pale, and he felt a chill run from his head to his toes.
"Mo Wang Fei, the Emperor and the generals are inside deliberating. Please do not interfere! Causing a disturbance outside the main hall is punishable by caning!"
"Furthermore, you are pregnant. Even if not for yourself, you must consider the Prince Consort in your womb!"
If propriety did not forbid it, he truly wanted to cover Feng Yin Wan's mouth!
But Feng Yin Wan could not afford to care about such things. She could not stand by and watch her father and brother be framed.
"I do not wish to implicate you, honored eunuch. If this is still against protocol, then please trouble yourself to go inside and announce on behalf of this Wang Fei. All blame, this Wang Fei will bear."
The commotion during this time had already reached inside.
She was determined to go in. The eunuch was cornered, sweat beading on his forehead. Before he could say another word, the hall door opened from within.
Ye Ting Yun rushed out and looked at Feng Yin Wan on the ground. His brow immediately furrowed.
"Why have you come? Didn't I tell Qing Ru to watch you carefully!"
Heaven knew how his heart had leaped into his throat while he was inside, hearing everything.
The kowtows Feng Yin Wan had made earlier were not light. Her formerly jade-like forehead was now already slightly red.
Ye Ting Yun was both anxious and angry. He directly pulled her up from the ground.
"These are military and political matters. What are you doing here, getting involved? If you anger my father, won't your father and brother's affairs become even more difficult to handle!"
His strength was much greater than usual.
Hearing this, Feng Yin Wan's eyelashes lowered slightly, and she calmly said, "If I didn't come, it would truly be more difficult."
Half of those inside were likely there specifically to smear mud.
The framing was already decided. All she could do was beg the Emperor for mercy, to first protect the lives of the General's mansion family.
The Feng family was a distinguished family of merit, and she was pregnant. With these factors in play, the Emperor would have to consider them to some extent.
She tidied her skirt and then raised her lips, "What is the situation inside now?"
She had created this commotion precisely to draw Ye Ting Yun out and clarify the situation so she could handle it better when she went in.
Ye Ting Yun frowned but still spoke.
"The missing provisions have been found in the enemy's transport relay. It is indeed true that your father and brother returned from the enemy camp."
"The副将 (fùjiàng - deputy general) was originally your father's subordinate, and now he is slandering him and has presented evidence. It is difficult for His Majesty to suppress this matter..."
Moreover, the Emperor was already suspicious.
"What is Ning Feng Yi's attitude?"
Ning Feng Yi was Consort Ning's father, the so-called "commander" this time.
Ye Ting Yun shook his head. "He is merely obeying the imperial decree to escort your father and brother back to the capital. He has not commented on the matter."
He certainly distanced himself well.
Feng Yin Wan nodded and was about to kneel again. Ye Ting Yun quickly grabbed her.
"You... why aren't you asking about Third Brother!"
Ye Ting Lan was already heavily injured. His return to the capital this time would likely be related.
Feng Yin Wan was stunned for a moment, her lips tightening and then parting.
"He... he is also inside?"
Ye Ting Yun nodded vigorously.
"Third Brother is severely injured. The journey was arduous, and his wounds show signs of reopening. He is inside, but... he has not woken up yet."
The implication was that he had been carried in.
Feng Yin Wan's heart stirred, and her desire to go inside intensified.
"This subject, Feng Yin Wan, requests an audience with Your Majesty!"
Before Ye Ting Yun could react, she had knelt down again. Ye Ting Yun jumped in anxiety and quickly covered her mouth with his hand.
However, before he could pull her away, the Emperor's voice came from inside the hall.
"Let her in."
His tone was majestic, his emotions difficult to discern, but it caused both Ye Ting Yun and the eunuch to freeze in surprise.
In their moment of stunned silence, Feng Yin Wan had already broken free and stepped forward.
The moment the door was pushed open, the heavy atmosphere in the hall was suddenly broken. A dozen pairs of eyes turned towards her, but Feng Yin Wan could only see the figure in black lying on the stretcher.