Feng Yinwan’s body trembled uncontrollably. Just as she was about to turn around, a strong force landed on the back of her neck. Her body immediately went limp, and she fell into an embrace that carried a faint, cold fragrance.
Faintly, she seemed to catch a trace of a hidden scent of blood.
Clearwater Residence.
After guarding by Ye Tinglan’s side for a day, Ye Tingyun was tired. Just as he had finally fallen asleep, a noise came from the courtyard.
Hearing the commotion, the young eunuch on night duty blinked sleepily and went out to investigate.
A startled cry rang out. Ye Tingyun covered his ears impatiently, only for the room door to be pushed open the next moment.
“Your Highness, something terrible has happened, Your Highness! There’s a dead body outside…”
“What’s all the fuss? Just throw it out. Do I have to be disturbed from my sleep for such a trivial matter?”
He turned over, preparing to go back to sleep. The young eunuch’s face, etched with panic, flickered with confusion, then became even more terrified.
His Highness said… throw it out?
Looking at Ye Tingyun with difficulty, he was about to turn and retreat when the person on the bed suddenly sat up as if startled awake.
“What did you just say? A dead body…?!”
Damn it, which heartless person threw this thing into his courtyard! They knew he was timid and were deliberately trying to scare him!
Seeing that he had finally grasped the situation, the young eunuch nodded tremulously, “It’s… it’s just outside.”
Master and servant exchanged glances for a long time, neither daring to take the first step. After a while, Ye Tingyun glared at him and cursed as he picked up the broom leaning against the wall.
Tomorrow! Tomorrow, he absolutely had to tell the Imperial Household Department to get him a braver eunuch!
From afar, he could only make out the clothes of a guard. Ye Tingyun tiptoed closer and cautiously poked the person’s waist with the broom.
Seeing no reaction, he straightened up, emboldened.
“You, go and flip him over.”
He wanted to see who was so blind as to dare die in his courtyard!
Sweat beaded on the young eunuch’s forehead. “Your Highness, perhaps we should…”
“Stop the nonsense, hurry up!”
Before he could finish speaking, a sweep of the broom landed on his backside. The young eunuch yelped and stumbled forward, then reluctantly crouched down to help the person.
“Mm…”
Before his hand could even land, a muffled groan emerged. The young eunuch’s face turned white with fear, and he immediately sprang back.
“Your… Your Highness, did you hear that?”
“Hear what, you ghost!”
Frowning and glaring at him, Ye Tingyun had no choice but to step forward himself. He carefully reached out, only to find a woman’s face when he flipped the body over.
What’s more, this woman looked a little familiar.
“Feng Yinwan?!”
He frowned and stared for a while, then suddenly blurted out the name. The young eunuch immediately perked up his ears.
“Your Highness, what did you say?”
The next moment, Ye Tingyun jumped up in a hurry, helped the “guard” up, and quickly headed for the room.
When Feng Yinwan woke up, two pairs of eyes were staring at her intently from the bedside. Before she could figure out what was happening, the courtyard gate was suddenly pounded on.
Immediately, the voice of a guard called out.
“Is His Highness Prince Yun here? The Imperial Guards are here to investigate suspicious individuals.”
Imperial Guards.
Feng Yinwan’s heart tightened. She hadn’t expected the guards to have tracked her here.
Ye Tingyun clearly hadn’t anticipated this either. He glanced at her and immediately gave the young eunuch a look.
Seeing no one emerge for a while, the guards were about to act when, the next moment, the courtyard gate was swung open.
The young eunuch poked his head out. “So late at night, what is it?”
“There was an assassin in the palace tonight, intending to abduct a prisoner. We are here to investigate. Has anything unusual happened in Prince Yun’s residence?”
“There is nothing unusual at Clearwater Residence. His Highness has already retired and cannot be disturbed. Please patrol elsewhere.”
The candlelight in the hall had long since been extinguished by Ye Tingyun. Now, with the young eunuch blocking the entrance, and looking past him, only darkness was visible in the courtyard.
Not daring to anger Ye Tingyun, the guards hesitated for a moment before nodding and leaving.
As the commotion outside subsided, Feng Yinwan secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She raised her eyes and met Ye Tingyun’s questioning gaze.
“What exactly is going on?”
“This is a long story. How did I get to your place just now?”
Ye Tingyun raised an eyebrow. “I was about to ask you! Appearing in my courtyard in the middle of the night, who are you trying to scare to death?”
It seemed he didn’t know either.
Recalling the embrace that carried a faint scent of blood, Feng Yinwan’s delicate brows furrowed. A very hidden thought surfaced in her heart.
Someone who helped her in the palace and was injured… could it be Ye Tinglan?
But he was severely wounded. She herself hadn’t even woken up yet, so how could he have come to save her?
Questions swirled in her mind. Noticing she was still lost in thought, Ye Tingyun became displeased.
“I’m asking you a question!”
After all, he had helped her.
Feng Yinwan pursed her lips and truthfully recounted the events.
Ye Tingyun listened, dumbfounded, pointing at her with a hand trembling like someone with Parkinson’s. After a long moment, he managed to stammer,
“Trespassing into the imperial prison, you’re simply courting death!”
“My father and brother are to be exiled from the capital tomorrow. I must make this trip.”
Her words were impossible to refute. Ye Tingyun held back for a long time, then sighed and withdrew his hand.
“You can rest here tonight. Tomorrow morning, I will arrange for someone to escort you out of the palace.”
Feng Yinwan nodded, hesitated for a moment, then smiled. “How is His Highness?”
She met Ye Tingyun’s gaze, which held an expression of “at least you have some conscience,” but his brow remained furrowed.
“Third Brother is severely injured this time. His intervention in the hall today on behalf of your father and brother was already a great effort. He will likely need to recuperate in the palace for several days.”
This was the answer she had expected, yet Feng Yinwan’s heart still tightened upon hearing it.
“Before leaving the palace tomorrow, I want to see him.”
…
The moon was hidden, and the wind was fierce. Under the strict guard of the Imperial Army, the back door of the General’s mansion was silently opened a crack.
Yu Shi was pulled out of the mansion by Feng Yiyi, still in a daze.
“Yiyi, how could this…”
Before she could finish, she saw the black-clothed figures waiting ahead and stopped.
“Who are they?”
Feng Yiyi ignored her, walking directly towards the group of black-clothed men.
“Are you the ones sent by Fourth Prince to meet us?”
The matter had been handled. Ye Tingyu had promised to save her and Yu Shi, and then they would change their identities, allowing her to marry into the Fourth Prince’s mansion with a new identity and great fanfare.
Now, it was time for the promise to be fulfilled.
The black-clothed men nodded, their voices carrying a hint of amusement.
“That’s right, we are indeed sent by Fourth Prince.”
“You are Fourth Prince’s people?”
Yu Shi’s eyes lit up, and she immediately stepped forward. “Oh, I knew Fourth Prince truly cared for my Yiyi. He would never stand idly by at a time like this!”
“Since you’re here to pick us up, let’s hurry! Where are we going? Is it the Fourth Prince’s mansion?!”
As she spoke, she was already imagining herself being treated as an honored guest by Ye Tingyu.
Feng Yiyi looked around, frowning. “Where is the carriage? Why didn’t you bring a carriage to pick us up?”
The black-clothed men chuckled, their voices turning cold.
“Do dead people need carriages?”