His gaze paused for a moment. Ye Tinglan dismounted and walked towards her.
Li Chengyan, not understanding the situation, called out to him twice in confusion, but Ye Tinglan left him behind.
Feng Yinwan waited in the narrow path to the side. As he approached, she spoke directly, "Qi Xuan was entrusted by me to send the Jade Screen out of the city. He asked me to relay a message: Yunshu is missing."
As Ye Tinglan drew near, his brows subtly furrowed upon hearing this, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes.
In an instant, when he looked up at her, his expression had returned to normal.
"Good, this King understands."
Having delivered the message, Feng Yinwan had no intention of lingering. She nodded and prepared to withdraw.
Unexpectedly, Li Chengyan suddenly emerged from behind, appraised her for a moment with his eyes, and spoke playfully.
"The guard spoke the truth. The new sister-in-law is indeed a rare beauty."
New sister-in-law?
This address startled Feng Yinwan. Almost the moment she frowned, a chill passed by her side, silently directed at Li Chengyan.
Ye Tinglan spoke, his voice carrying a different kind of coldness than before.
"The main army is about to move. You will lead a troop and scout ahead outside the city to gather intelligence on the enemy."
Being assigned a difficult task the moment he appeared, Li Chengyan's eyes widened in disbelief. He cried out in protest.
"Cousin, didn't Qian Guan already take people? He's best at this cowardly stuff. Why do you need me..."
Joking aside, he was a general. How could he do something that would lower his status? Wouldn't people laugh at him if word got out!
Ye Tinglan glanced at him, his face remaining stern. "Are you waiting for this King to personally lead your horse?"
Fine, it seemed there was no room for negotiation.
Given his cousin's absolute authority in the army and his excessively strict demeanor, Li Chengyan pouted and resigned himself to cupping his hands.
"Understood."
He responded and retreated sheepishly. Feng Yinwan's scalp tingled from the address "new sister-in-law," and her forehead twitched subtly. She, too, quickly slipped away.
"The message has been delivered. I wish you, my Lord, a great victory in this battle and a triumphant return."
After she spoke, she swiftly retreated. The person in front of her vanished in an instant. Ye Tinglan's thin lips tightened, and he had to suppress the multitude of words he wished to impart.
When he returned, Li Chengyan was leading a horse, followed by a troop of newly assigned soldiers.
Turning his head, he unexpectedly met Ye Tinglan's gaze. Li Chengyan flinched, startled.
That look seemed as if it could sentence him on the spot.
"No, Cousin, it's not that serious, really not that serious..."
Alas, why did he have to blurt out unnecessary words? His mouth deserved a beating.
Ye Tinglan ignored him, his stern eyebrows lowering slightly, and then he averted his gaze.
"Yunshu is missing. You will immediately lead your men out of the city to search for her. Once found, bring her back immediately."
The city was under strict martial law. It would be much easier for the imperial guards to search within the city, but outside the city, the variables would be far greater.
Not expecting this underlying reason, Li Chengyan paused slightly and immediately regained his composure.
"I understand, Cousin."
He hesitated for a moment on his face, then added, "The King of Dingnan is already deploying his forces. If this matter reaches him, it will be extremely disadvantageous for us."
Given the King of Dingnan's temper, his daughter's disappearance would undoubtedly enrage him. Refusing to send reinforcements would only be the first step; they would likely have to bear the King of Dingnan's wrath at that time.
Ye Tinglan's dark eyes flickered with gloom. His thin lips moved, "Suppress this matter for now. Before the troop deployment is complete, not a single word must leak out."