Feng Jingyuan pondered for a moment, then sighed, "What happened back then is complicated. It's also our fault. We never intended for you to be involved, and in our haste, we didn't explain things clearly."
They had intended to keep it from her, forgetting that she was not one to back down. How could she rest without uncovering the truth? Naturally, she would not stand aside.
His gaze shifted to Feng Yinwan as he began to recount the story.
"My father and I were ordered to the front lines, and everything was going smoothly. Unexpectedly, at the final moment, something went wrong."
"The Moon Kingdom forces, I don't know from where, had gathered a large army. They had an ambush prepared, intentionally allowing us to defeat them to lure us into a trap, resulting in the loss of more than half our soldiers."
"We realized something was amiss then and quickly retreated to Linguan City, preparing to make plans after assessing the enemy's situation. However, that very night, the city defense plans were leaked. The enemy launched a surprise attack at night. My father and I went to engage them, but we were led into a trap by a spy and taken to the enemy camp."
This was why they had returned from the enemy's side.
"For whatever reason, the enemy did not interrogate us harshly after capturing us. Instead, they released us a few days later."
"By then, Prince Mo had already arrived with his troops. We launched a surprise attack on the enemy's camp based on our memories. Our plan was to split into two routes, but for some unknown reason, the enemy received the news first and set an ambush, causing Prince Mo to fall into their trap and be wounded."
It was certain that there was a mole within the army.
And at the banquet, when that副将 (fùjiàng - deputy general) made his accusation, he had produced Old General Feng's marriage certificate and their mother's jade ring. Such private items could only be in the Feng Manor.
Within the general's manor, only Yu Shi and Feng Yiyi had access to these two items.
Feng Yinwan's mind rapidly processed the information, finally reaching a conclusion—
The underlying causes of this scheme were complex, likely a collaboration involving the imperial court, the military, and even the Moon Kingdom.
And that was not all.
Feng Jingyuan paused for a moment, then continued, "The matter of the imperial court supplying grain and fodder to the army was a top secret. Apart from the generals responsible for the escort, even my father and I were unaware of the specific details."
"For such information to be known by the Moon Kingdom beforehand, it was evident they had an inside contact in the palace."
After reaching this conjecture, they had immediately written a memorial to the emperor. However, before it could be presented, Ning Fengyi and others had already arrived at the army.
And then, what followed occurred.
Feng Yinwan had not expected the truth to be so complicated. Her thoughts paused for a moment, and she asked further.
"Then how did you end up in the palace? Back in the desolate lands, I distinctly saw..."
Feng Jingyuan was somewhat surprised.
"You were there then?"
No wonder she hated Ye Tinglan so much; she had witnessed that scene with her own eyes.
Feng Jingyuan looked at her, his eyes filled with more sorrow and heartache.
"Wan'er, you might have misunderstood. Prince Mo did not truly execute us. Instead, he had his guards administer a drug that simulated death beforehand. That scene back then was merely to alleviate Duke Dingnan's suspicions."
The battle on the border had depleted many troops, Ye Tinglan was seriously injured, and Ning Fengyi harbored ulterior motives.
At that time, the emperor, under pressure, could only reluctantly agree to Duke Dingnan's demands and issue a decree for their execution.
Ye Tinglan's decision to accompany them was to mediate and protect their lives.
Although she had already harbored suspicions, hearing it from Feng Jingyuan's own lips at this moment still struck Feng Yinwan deeply. The resentment that had been suppressed for years now felt unmoored.
No wonder when Song Qing'an had turned back, their bodies were nowhere to be found. It turned out her father and brother... were not dead at all!
Her heart trembled uncontrollably. Feng Yinwan pursed her lips, her fingers unconsciously clenching tighter.
Seeing her reaction, Feng Jingyuan gently patted her shoulder and continued, "After we faked our deaths, Prince Mo ordered our bodies to be moved and then secretly sent us back to the capital."
"Initially, His Majesty was unaware of this matter. Later, he did notice, but he did not blame us. Instead, he ordered my father and me to continue investigating the factions of Ye Tingyan and others in secret."
"Before the struggle for the crown prince began, we had already uncovered considerable evidence of their crimes. We even faintly detected clues of spies within the palace. If it weren't for Prince Mo's incident in Yuzhou, my father would have remained in the palace. But now, he has already departed with a secret imperial edict to lead the troops to the front lines to repel the enemy."
On the very day Ning Shunyi and others defected, the emperor had secretly issued an imperial edict ordering Old General Feng to proceed to the border and command the army.
Feng Jingyuan, as the covert agent monitoring the palace, had been secretly observing everyone's actions, intervening when necessary to protect the Empress Dowager and others.
With Ye Tingyun aiming for the throne, he and Song Qing'an were the emperor's two sharp instruments—one visible, one hidden!
A slight tremor ran through Feng Yinwan. She had a feeling there was information she had overlooked, but upon closer thought, she couldn't grasp it.
Frowning, she had to let it go.
Her gaze turned to Feng Jingyuan, her eyes already showing a hint of moisture.
"Brother, it's good that you are alright."
As if a heavy stone weighing on her chest for years had been lifted, her mood, though still somewhat numb, was no longer so oppressive.
Thinking of her changes over the years, and the resentment and grief born from misunderstanding, Feng Jingyuan felt deeply guilty.
"Wan'er, things happened so quickly and were so complicated. We didn't explain clearly, which caused you worry."
What happened back then was beyond their control. The situation in the court was perilous. Telling her the whole truth would have been like throwing her into a fiery pit.
Later, as the situation stabilized, they mistakenly believed she had passed away, and their hearts were filled with grief.
Now, the situation had become chaotic again, yet she had already entered the game under a new identity without them realizing it, and they were reunited once more.
In the end, everything was a matter of mischance and unspoken words.
Feng Yinwan shook her head, her gaze firm. "Brother, I never blamed you."
Whether in the heavenly prison, the desolate lands, or now.
She had always believed that even with a thousand hardships and ten thousand trials, it was good to meet again in the end.
Perhaps, this was the meaning of family love.
Feng Jingyuan, moved by the determination in her eyes, nodded in agreement and solemnly uttered, "Mm."
Doubts still lingered in his heart, but as the night wind swept by, they sat side-by-side on the rooftop, and in their mutual understanding, neither spoke further.
The moonlight was serene, flowing like water. This was a peace that belonged only to them, after a long reunion.
However, this peace lasted only half a moment before being shattered again.
A flurry of figures could be seen in the distance. Feng Yinwan looked towards the commotion and saw that it was coming from the direction of the emperor's sleeping quarters.
Her eyes darkened. The moment a bad premonition struck, Feng Jingyuan's voice sounded in her ear.
"This is bad. Something has happened with His Majesty."