As soon as Ye Yubao stepped out, the heavy atmosphere inside lightened.
Mei'yin turned to her father with a childlike grin, her earlier expression returning.
Her siblings and their parents rushed toward her.
"What happened to you, Mei? You're hurt!" her mother said, her voice full of worry.
While others were busy fixing the damage and chaos around the hall, Yijun gave orders to his men.
"Tend to the wounded and take them to the infirmary," he commanded.
Mei simply smiled at her mother.
"What happened, Mei? Who did this to you?!" Yang asked, his tone sharp with anger.
"It's nothing!" Mei replied with a smile, but her vision slowly blurred, and dizziness washed over her.
Her knees gave out, but Yang caught her just in time.
"Mei!" her siblings cried in alarm.
"Take her to the infirmary, now!" Master Lei ordered his guards. Mei's siblings quickly followed as she was carried away.
Madam Yan turned to Yuxi, her voice laced with worry.
"Why were you with Mei? Do you know how she got hurt?"
Yuxi shook his head.
"She was already injured when I ran into her. She didn't say anything about what happened," he answered calmly.
Madam Yan nodded silently before following where they were taking Mei.
---
Inside the infirmary, there were too many people being treated, so Yuming decided to tend to Yijun's wounds outside instead.
She grabbed Yijun's arm. "Sit still," she ordered.
"Ow! Be gentle, Yuming!" Yijun complained.
"You should be grateful I'm even here treating you! You were too reckless — dodging instead of letting me handle it, and now you got hit," Yuming scolded him sharply.
Yijun looked at Yuming's face as she carefully treated the injury on his arm.
"I just… didn't want you to get hurt," Yijun said quietly, his voice carrying a depth of emotion that made Yuming glance up at him, one eyebrow arched as if questioning his look.
"Ahem!"
A fake cough interrupted them as Yuxi suddenly appeared, making both of them break eye contact.
Yuming shot him an annoyed look. "Oh! Look who's here. Are you hurt? Or…" her lips curled into a teasing grin, "…are you here because you're worried about Feng Mei'yin?" she teased.
Yuxi only rolled his eyes and sat down next to his older brother, ignoring her remark.
Yijun smiled faintly. "Where did you and Lady Feng Mei'yin come from? Why were you together?" he asked, his tone casual but with a hint of curiosity that made Yuming smirk again.
Yuxi shot them both a sharp, warning look.
"I just happened to run into her on the way back," he said flatly.
The two nodded in unison, deciding to stop teasing since Yuxi clearly wasn't in the mood.
The path leading back to the Ye Clan's mountain stronghold was silent, broken only by the sound of hurried footsteps crunching against the gravel. Ye Yubao stormed ahead, his aura still heavy and violent, while his men trailed behind, too afraid to speak.
Su Yeng followed a few steps back, his expression tense but unreadable. He knew what was coming. When they reached the main courtyard, the heavy wooden gates closed behind them with a dull thud. Word of what had happened at the Baoli Zhong Hall had spread fast.
Inside the grand hall, the air was heavy with incense. Ye Xiang, the patriarch of the Ye Clan, stood in the center of the room, his sharp gaze fixed on the dark horizon beyond the open balcony. He didn't turn when the footsteps echoed closer.
"You've returned," Ye Xiang said, his voice calm but cold. "And yet… you return empty-handed."
Ye Yubao stopped several paces behind his father, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. "Father, I went there to send a message, but they—"
"You let them humiliate you," Ye Xiang interrupted, his tone sharp enough to cut. Slowly, he turned, his eyes glinting with quiet disappointment. "Tell me, Yubao… what excuse will you give me this time?"
Before Yubao could speak, Su Yeng dropped to one knee, bowing his head deeply. "Master Ye Xiang, it is my falt. I was supposed to be at Young Master Yubao's side in the hall, but…" He hesitated briefly, his jaw tightening. "…we encountered someone in the forest after I left Feng Mei'yin tied there. It delayed me, and by the time I returned, it was too late to join him inside."
Ye Yubao's head snapped toward Su Yeng, his voice rising with frustration. "Too late? Do you have any idea what happened in there while you were gone? I faced those so-called leaders alone — and that drunk girl dared humiliate me in front of them all!" His eyes burned with anger, recalling Mei'yin's mocking smirk, her cold, cutting words that froze even the elders.
Ye Xiang's gaze shifted to Su Yeng, sharp and unyielding. "Who did you encounter?"
Su Yeng kept his head bowed. "Unidentified warrior. Skilled enough to mask his presence until it was too late. His not from any of the four clans we know. I had to retreat to avoid being discovered."
Ye Xiang went still, his expression unreadable for a long moment. Then his eyes narrowed, calculating. "So. While you were occupied, my son allowed himself to be toyed with in front of the clans."
"It won't happen again," Ye Yubao spat through gritted teeth. "I'll make that girl regret ever—"
"Silence."
The single word from Ye Xiang froze the hall. His voice was soft, but it carried a weight that silenced even the crackle of the torches.
"You let your temper blind you, Yubao. Do you know what I see?" He stepped closer, his presence suffocating as his dark robes whispered against the stone floor. "A son who wields his power recklessly, without thought. You should have controlled the room. Instead, you let a girl — drunk and bruised — bring you to your knees."
Ye Yubao lowered his gaze, his fists trembling, the humiliation from earlier burning hotter than ever.
Su Yeng, still kneeling, spoke again cautiously. "Master… with respect, that girl is not ordinary. Even in her state, she carried herself with precision — no fear, no hesitation. She killed two of our guards cleanly before I left her in the forest. And when I returned, they were already gone."
Ye Xiang's eyes narrowed, a dark glint flickering there. "…Feng Mei'yin."
"Yes," Su Yeng confirmed, voice steady.
For a long moment, silence blanketed the hall, heavy and sharp. Then, slowly, Ye Xiang smiled — cold, dangerous.
"Interesting," he murmured, almost to himself. "The youngest daughter of the Feng Clan."
He turned his gaze back to Yubao, the faint smile gone as quickly as it came. "Leave them be — for now. Let them believe they've won, that they've humiliated you. But mark my words, Yubao… when we strike back, it will not be with warnings."
Ye Yubao's eyes gleamed, the sting of humiliation morphing into something sharper, darker. "Yes, Father," he said, voice low and dangerous, "I'll make them pay."
~~~~{Fengming}
The soft hum of cicadas lingered in the still air when Mei'yin stirred, her lashes fluttering open to a room bathed in pale morning light. The familiar scent of sandalwood and peonies greeted her senses, the silk curtains swaying gently with the breeze.
This was not the infirmary.
Blinking away the last remnants of sleep, her gaze swept across the room — the carved screens, the lacquered table where a porcelain teapot still steamed faintly, the faint rustle of paper in the corner. She was in Fengming. Home.
"How considerate," she murmured under her breath, her voice still soft with sleep.
"You should be grateful, not sarcastic," a familiar voice drawled.
Mei'yin turned her head sharply. Her brother lounged on the chair beside her bed, arms crossed loosely over his chest, his robe slightly undone as if he hadn't slept in days. His eyes, however, sharp and amused, glinted in the light.
"You've been asleep for five days, Mei." His tone carried that usual teasing lilt, but there was a weight beneath it, one that betrayed his concern.
"Five… days?" Mei'yin repeated, sitting up slowly, her expression schooled into composure even as her heart skipped at the realization.
"Yes," he said, leaning forward, resting his elbows casually on his knees. "Imagine my delight waking up every day, wondering if my little sister would ever bother to open her eyes again. Quite the restful experience, I assure you."
Mei'yin shot him a sharp look, but he only smirked in return.
"Don't look at me like that," he continued lazily, though his eyes softened almost imperceptibly. "You should be thankful. The physicians said you'd be fine, but I'd rather not explain to Father why his precious daughter ended up half-dead and smelling like an abandoned tavern."
Mei'yin blinked, momentarily stunned. "…Tavern?"
"Oh, don't pretend you don't remember," he said with a mocking arch of his brow. "Bruised, dizzy, and drunk — what a combination, Mei. You're lucky Father didn't see you like that. Yet."
Heat flared in her cheeks, though her expression remained cool, her voice even. "I wasn't drunk."
"Mm," he hummed, clearly unconvinced. "Try telling that to Mother and Father. They've been waiting for you to wake up. I'd suggest you fix yourself first — you'll need every ounce of that famed composure to explain what in the world you were doing that night."
Pushing the sheets aside, Mei'yin swung her legs over the side of the bed. Her movements were graceful, deliberate, as though reclaiming control with every motion. She smoothed her hair back, her expression calm and unreadable.
"Very well," she said, her tone cool but steady. "If they wish for answers, I will give them answers."
Her brother rose as well, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Good. Because from the look in Father's eyes the past few days…" His gaze slid toward her knowingly. "…you're going to need a very good explanation, little sister."
Mei frowned.
The Fengming Hall was serene, its towering pillars carved with swirling phoenixes, their jade eyes glinting in the early light.
At the high dais, Master Lei sat with an unshakable calm, his light green robe embroidered with subtle golden threads, a quiet reminder of the Fengming Clan's prestige. Beside him, Madam Yan sat like a poised blade — elegant, graceful, but sharp enough to draw blood with a single word. Her matching robe fluttered gently as she folded her hands, her gaze unwavering.
Mei'yin, in contrast, looked very much like a mischievous cat cornered by two lions. She bowed low, head nearly brushing the floor, though the nervous little smile twitching on her lips betrayed her attempt to look contrite.
Master Lei started to speak, "Five days." His voice carried through the vast hall like the deep rumble of thunder.
"Five days you lay unconscious after returning in the dead of night. Bruised. Disheveled. Reeking of wine."
Mei'yin flinched slightly but raised her head, her fingers tightening on her robes.
"...I-I didn't mean to— disappear, Father. Things… happened in the forest, and then—"
Mei'yin hesitated, forcing a sheepish smile.
"And the wine… was stronger than it looked."
From just behind her, Yangguang leaned casually against one of the jade columns, arms crossed, lips curled into a smirk that he didn't even bother to hide.
Yangguang intervened, "Oh yes, the wine. Always the wine. Should we blame the stars next, Mei?"
Mei'yin darted him a glare sharp enough to cut glass, but her face softened quickly when Madam Yan's cool voice cut through the tension. "Mei'yin. Explain. Now. Why were you alone? Why were you injured? And why did you return to Fengming drunk, of all things?"
Mei'yin swallowed hard, shifting her gaze to the floor. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears, but even in her nervousness, that familiar spark of naughtiness flickered in her eyes. "I wasn't alone the whole time… I— I thought I could handle it. Really, I did. But… someone unexpected showed up, and…"
Her voice trailed off before she tilted her chin slightly, forcing a grin.
"I didn't lose. If that counts for something."
Yangguang chuckled softly from behind her, just loud enough to earn himself a sharp glance from Madam Yan.
Mei'yin's cheeks warmed, half from embarrassment, half from the urge to throw something at her brother — but her father's stern gaze froze her in place.
Master Lei said, "No riddles, Mei'yin. You will tell us everything."
Mei'yin's nervous smile trembled, her fingers tightening on the sleeve of her robe. She prayed her brother wouldn't—
Yangguang said, "She doesn't need to say it."
His voice, calm yet edged, sliced through the heavy air. He stepped closer, positioning himself just slightly in front of Mei'yin as though shielding her.
"If you want the truth, Father, Mother… then here it is. She's hurt. Bruised. Exhausted. But she's here. Safe."
Master Lei's sharp eyes narrowed, the green silk of his robe catching the light as he shifted in his chair.
Master Lei said, "Safe, perhaps. But not honest."
Yangguang glanced back at his sister — and that familiar teasing smile curved his lips.
Yangguang said, "Not every truth is ready to be spoken aloud, Father."
Mei'yin's cheeks heated, her gaze darting away. She wanted to shrink, to disappear, because Yangguang knew.
Yangguang said, softer this time, "She'll tell you when she's ready. Until then… let her breathe."
Madam Yan folded her hands gracefully, her voice like tempered steel.
Madam Yan said, "Yang, you defend her as if you know every detail. What is it that you are hiding for her?"
Yangguang's smile sharpened, but his tone remained calm.
Yangguang said, "Only this — that my sister has her pride. And that she'd rather be flayed alive than have her heart paraded in this hall."
Mei'yin bit her lip hard, torn between gratitude and embarrassment.
Master Lei's gaze lingered on his daughter — assessing, sharp, but quiet — before he finally inclined his head.
Master Lei said, "Very well. But Mei'yin…" His voice deepened, weighty with warning. "Your pride will not protect you forever. Remember that."
Mei'yin bowed her head slightly, a mix of nerves and stubbornness flashing in her eyes.
Mei'yin said, "Yes, Father."
Yangguang tilted his head toward her with a mock grin, whispering just loud enough for her to hear.
Yangguang whispered, "Next time, try water instead of liquor, Mei."
Her elbow jabbed into his ribs, earning only a quiet chuckle from him — but the tension in the hall lingered, heavy and unspoken.