What?! Feng Tingyun is missing?!
Song Yihuan was stunned for a moment. Then she immediately put down the things in her hand, looking around while calling out, "Brother Wang, Brother Wang? Brother Feng, are you still here?"
But no matter how she called, the only response she got was the rustling cold wind.
Ji Lingchuan stepped forward and placed his hand on her shoulder. "He once said that he couldn't stay in the State of Yu for long. Maybe he left quietly last night so as not to make you sad," he said.
Although Song Yihuan had expected that Feng Tingyun would leave, they had taken care of each other for the past four years, and they were like real family to each other. Moreover, he had helped her a lot in Yanyun. So when she suddenly learned that he had left, she couldn't help feeling sad.
She held back the tears in her eyes and looked at Song Yixuan. He was holding a wooden box in his arms, saying that he got it from Feng Tingyun's room.
Could this be something he left behind?
Song Yihuan asked Song Yixuan to come forward. She took the wooden box from his arms and opened the lock on it.
The wooden box was full of porcelain bottles, as well as a Vermilion Bird Gold Token and a letter.
She asked Ji Lingchuan to hold the things for her and then unfolded the letter and read it quickly.
Although Feng Tingyun was blind, he could write beautifully.
"My dear sister Rouhuan, by the time you read this letter, I'm afraid I've already arrived in Yanyun. Uncle Qi has recovered from his serious illness. Xiangxiang has a father. Xuan'er has someone to protect him. And you've also found a good man to spend your life with. I have no regrets in the State of Yu, so I have to leave.
"This farewell may mean we won't see each other for several years. There are many pills left in the box, which can protect you from diseases for twenty years. If you, Xuan'er or Xiangxiang are wronged in Yanyun, you can go to Yanyun to find me with the Gold Token of the King of Yanyun. I will spare no effort in Yanyun to support you. You can choose any man from Yanyun. Your brother Yun Tingfeng."
It was a very sad farewell, but looking at the letter and the porcelain bottles Feng Tingyun left behind, Song Yihuan didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Half of the pills in the box were for preventing miscarriage!!
He was really something!
"Sister, has Master really left?" Song Yixuan noticed Song Yihuan's expression and asked.
Song Yihuan nodded and stroked his hair. "He is the King of Yanyun. He will eventually leave. Don't be too sad. Although we are separated, you are the apprentice of the King of Yanyun. He said that if you miss him, you can go to Yanyun to find him."
As the saying goes, once a teacher, always a father. Learning that Feng Tingyun had left, Song Yixuan was very sad. He replied softly, "Okay, Xuan'er knows."
Xiangxiang was still young. When he learned that he would hardly see Feng Tingyun in the future, he pursed his lips and burst into tears. He cried so sadly. But when the steamed buns in the kitchen were ready, he stopped crying and shouted that he wanted to eat the buns. There was no trace of sadness on his face.
Song Yihuan gave the steamed buns to Qi Lei, Song Yixuan and Xiangxiang. She sighed silently in her heart.
It's a pity that Feng Tingyun didn't get to taste the buns she made with her own hands.
Feng Tingyun had left, but life had to go on. In the following days, Ji Lingchuan moved into the empty room that Feng Tingyun had left. He lived with Song Yihuan, Xiangxiang and the others, leading a rare and free life.
In this small courtyard, he was neither a prince's heir nor a great general who led troops to fight. He was just an ordinary man with a wife and children.
Whenever there was something that needed his help, he would roll up his sleeves and step forward without hesitation. He also learned how to make dowries from Qi Lei.
Seeing Ji Lingchuan spending all day with Qi Lei studying carpentry, Song Yihuan smiled helplessly, but her heart was filled with overflowing affection.
In the capital of the State of Yu.
Three fast horses rode into the city through the west gate. They were three scouts from the Black Armored Army. They held flags in their hands. After entering the city, they galloped in different directions, shouting loudly:
"Good news! The great general who protects the country is brave and resourceful. He pretended to be captured by the enemy after being shot by an arrow and penetrated deep into the enemy's camp. He coordinated with His Majesty inside and outside and recaptured Liaocheng without losing a single soldier. The King of Yanyun broke the alliance with the Northern Di and the Western Rong and instead allied with our State of Yu. He assisted our army in beheading the commanders of the Northern Di and the Western Rong in the southern fields of Liaocheng. This battle was a great victory!"
"Good news! --"
The news of the victory on the border spread all over the capital through the mouths of these scouts in no time.
Learning that the war had finally ended in victory, the common people immediately put down the things in their hands and rushed out of their houses, teahouses, restaurants and shops on the street. They cheered and celebrated excitedly.
In the Prince Ning's Mansion.
"Princess! Princess --"
Nanny Chen rushed towards the Pine and Crane Courtyard in a hurry. She was so eager that she didn't even bother to tidy up her loose hair.
The Princess of Prince Ning's heart would always beat violently whenever she heard Nanny Chen shouting like this. She pressed her pounding chest, took a deep breath, closed her eyes and said tiredly, "What big thing has happened outside?"
"We've won! We've won!" However, this time there was no trace of panic on Nanny Chen's face. Instead, she was beaming with joy. "We've won the battle!"
"It turns out that our heir apparent was captured by the Northern Di on purpose. He even trained a navy that is good at water battles and quietly recaptured Liaocheng. He also joined hands with His Majesty to behead the two main generals of the enemy!"
Hearing this news, the Princess of Prince Ning finally dared to open her eyes. There was obvious surprise in her eyes. "Really? Is Chuan'er okay? And he won the battle?!"
"Yes! It's absolutely true!" Nanny Chen grinned from ear to ear. "I have another good news for the princess!"
"The King of Yanyun has been replaced. The new king doesn't like war. He tore up the alliance with the Northern Di and the Western Rong and instead joined our State of Yu. His Majesty signed an alliance with the new king of Yanyun and even bestowed a marriage on the heir apparent!"
During the days when she learned that Ji Lingchuan had been captured by the Northern Di, the Princess of Prince Ning couldn't sleep at night. She tossed and turned in bed, thinking about what had happened four years ago. She felt extremely regretful. She regretted that she had pushed Ji Lingchuan too hard and cared too much about the offspring of the Prince Ning's Mansion.
When she learned that the emperor had bestowed a marriage on Ji Lingchuan, her first reaction was not joy but worry. She frowned and asked, "Bestowed a marriage? Does Chuan'er agree?"
Although he didn't say it, she knew that there might still be that concubine daughter of the Marquis of Ding'an's Mansion in his heart.
Nanny Chen said, "Princess, you're joking. His Majesty and the heir apparent are so close. Their relationship is even closer than that of real brothers. Since His Majesty bestowed a marriage on the heir apparent, it must be a good match. The heir apparent must have agreed."
Nanny Chen's words made sense. The Princess of Prince Ning nodded slightly after hearing them.
If Ji Lingchuan didn't object, it meant that he also approved of that woman. Somehow, the face of a beautiful woman like a hibiscus flower appeared in the Princess of Prince Ning's mind.
She subconsciously clenched her hands and asked, "Which family's girl did His Majesty bestow the marriage on?"
Nanny Chen said, "It's said to be Princess Changhuan of Yanyun."