The day after Ye Tinglan entered the palace, the Emperor issued a decree, establishing him as Regent.
On the same day, the Emperor fell gravely ill, relinquishing all affairs of state. Ye Tingyun, in his capacity as Crown Prince, formally ascended to the imperial court.
When this news spread from the palace, a swift horse was already prepared at the gates of the Feng manor.
As everyone emerged from the manor, Feng Yinwan swept her gaze over General Feng and Yu Ping behind her, nodding, "Father, you should return."
With that, she turned to mount her horse. General Feng's gaze followed her closely, wanting to speak but holding back.
Their eyes met, and Feng Yinwan smiled slightly, as if understanding, "Father, you need not worry about me. All things in the world are subject to the cycle of cause and effect; everything is predestined."
Upon hearing this, General Feng's eyes reddened further.
After silently watching her for a long time, he solemnly said, "Travel safely."
Feng Yinwan nodded in response, her peripheral vision catching Yu Ping by her side.
Yu Ping followed behind with her head lowered, silent, her lips bitten to a pale white.
Feng Yinwan's gaze shifted, and she called out to her again.
Yu Ping still did not speak, only nodding vigorously, when a glimmer seemed to fall to the ground, shattering silently.
Feng Yinwan's eyes warmed slightly, and she said softly, "You need not wait for me. Just stay safely at the manor. When the time is right, have Father and Brother arrange a marriage for you."
"If you have someone in your heart, you can speak of it. It is not necessary to seek out powerful officials. As long as they are honest and upright, and share your heart, that will be good. Of course, if you do not wish to marry, the Feng family is willing to keep you..."
Yu Ping's eyes were already red. Hearing this, she could no longer observe propriety and rushed forward, tightly hugging her leg.
"Miss..."
Through her skirt, her warm tears seeped through. Feng Yinwan lowered her gaze and gently stroked the top of her head.
"Why are you crying? We have been mistress and servant. I am already content to have had you by my side during this time."
Yu Ping's tears intensified upon hearing this, and she clung to her leg, sobbing, "Miss, please let your maid follow you."
Feng Yinwan had not hidden last night's events from her.
According to what Luo Qingyu had written in the book, she had traveled through time because of that bracelet and would also travel back because of it.
She did not know when this day would come, but previously, in the palace, her connection with the bracelet had already become negligible.
The bracelet would take her away, just as it had taken Luo Qingyu away originally. She would return to her original world, and when everything was reset, the memories of her time here would be completely erased.
She would forget her father and brother, forget Yu Ping, forget Song Qing'an, forget Ye Tingyun and the Empress Dowager, forget Feng Wuxi and the Wuxi Pavilion, forget her uncle and the Xuanmen.
Even... forget Feng Jinchem and Ye Tinglan.
She could have left without any attachments, returning to being an ordinary person. But what of those who stayed here, who remembered her deeply? How would they let go?
Perhaps they could only assume she had died.
A gust of wind blew against her face, and Feng Yinwan realized her cheeks were already cool.
She slowly drew her legs out of Yu Ping's embrace and said softly, "Go back."
Feng Jingyuan, who was holding the horse in front, turned to look at her upon hearing this and said, "Let me see you off again."
Their siblings did not need to say these things, but upon noticing a look of near pleading in his eyes, Feng Yinwan's eyes stung, and she nodded.
"Alright."
The midday sun rose high in the sky, casting their shadows low.
Feng Yinwan dismounted, seeing Feng Jingyuan holding the reins for her, his usually resolute back now carrying a hint of desolation.
...
At dusk, a figure in dark brocade appeared on the corner tower of the palace gate.
The afterglow of the setting sun illuminated the four-clawed golden dragon embroidered with gold thread on his chest.
Ye Tinglan gazed in the direction of the Zhenguo General's manor, his indifferent eyebrows slowly blooming with tenderness.
Qi Xuan followed beside him and heard him say, "Has she left?"
"She left the city at noon."
Qi Xuan nodded, paused for a moment, and then said, "Young Master Feng saw her off."
The dark-robed figure beside him paused slightly at this. After a moment, he frowned and asked, "Has the Ministry of Personnel received Song Qing'an's resignation?"
She was returning to the Xuanmen. If Song Qing'an wished to accompany her, given his nature, he should have submitted his resignation long ago.
But Qi Xuan shook his head, "No."
This answer caused Ye Tinglan's expression to stiffen. He frowned, about to say something, when a mouthful of blood instead overflowed.
Instantly, the surrounding clamor receded. He stared blankly at the crimson stain in his palm. When he looked up again, the scene before him had transformed from a bustling marketplace to heavy palace walls.
The wind roared in his ears, and his gaze finally settled on the sky, painted in a hazy yellow.
Qi Xuan in front of him seemed to be calling him urgently. He wanted to close his eyes, but in that hazy yellow, a woman's indifferent yet charming face seemed to bloom.
He wanted to reach out and touch it gently, but his body felt bound, preventing him from moving.
Then he thought, if he could not touch, it would be good just to look. But boundless darkness encroached, like a battlefield filled with blood-red mist in a deep abyss, determined to swallow him.
He thought, he might not even be able to look.
The hazy yellow light before his eyes was gradually dissipating. Before falling completely into darkness, he still had not figured it out.
Why did Song Qing'an not go?
Then, after he died, who would take care of her?