Chapter 005: Intimacy and Separation

The carriage jolted all the way, and the driver saw Feng Qiao's face turn pale several times, almost fainting, unable to help but wanting to stop and rest for a while.

"Feng Miss, I can see that you don't look well. Should we take a break?"

Feng Qiao didn't say anything.

The man licked his lips and looked at the rain curtain, "The rain is getting heavier, and the road is muddy and difficult to walk. I remember there are a few households not far ahead. Why don't we go there to rest for the night and continue tomorrow morning?"

The Third Prince personally instructed him to safely deliver Feng Qiao back to the Feng family and personally escort her to Mr. Feng's side. But Feng Qiao's current condition was like a candle in the wind, with cracked and bruised lips and a frighteningly pale face.

Feng Qiao's mind was a bit muddled. She forced herself to adjust her cloak and hoarsely said, "No need, go straight back to the capital."

"But your health..."

"My health is fine."

Seeing the man hesitate, Feng Qiao's voice became more forceful, "His Highness must have instructed you on what to do and what not to do. I'll say it again, I'm fine. Go back to the capital immediately!"

The man dared not say anything more after hearing this and could only whip the reins, making the carriage speed up a bit more.

Feng Qiao held onto the handrail of the carriage window, steadying herself to avoid bumping around. Her head felt like it was being pulled back and forth, with sharp pains and a feverish body but cold skin.

Trembling, she huddled under her cloak, hiding her face in the collar, her teeth chattering. She clenched her palms hard, preventing herself from fainting.

Feng Qiao dared not stop. She had to return to the capital immediately.

As the carriage approached the capital, the sky was already bright, and the rain had stopped after a whole night.

Feng Qiao urged the driver to go to the Feng family, but in the Feng family's Changqing Courtyard, Mrs. Feng's face was ashen, pounding the table with anger, shaking all over.

"You can't find her? How could you lose her? Qingqing is such a big girl. How could you let her get lost, especially in such chaos outside? How can she protect herself?"

Feng Keshou hung his head, and his wife, Liu, knelt on the ground, covering her face and crying softly.

Mrs. Feng's head was pounding. She angrily threw the prayer beads in her hand and said, "Crying, crying, all you know is crying. What else can you do besides crying? I'm telling you, if something really happens to Qingqing, you don't need to stay in this house anymore!"

"Mother!"

Liu looked up in disbelief at Mrs. Feng, never expecting her to say such harsh words.

Feng Keshou couldn't help but speak up, "Mother, Xiuzhi didn't mean it... "

"What did Xiuzhi mean?"

Feng Keshou's eyes met Feng Keshou's, his tone cold, "Knowing the situation was chaotic at the time, why didn't she protect the child and wait for someone from the mansion to come and get her at Ji Yun Temple? Why did she have to leave the temple at that time?"

"There were many martial monks at Ji Yun Temple. Even if there were twice as many bandits, they couldn't harm them. Why did she have to leave the temple with Qingqing at that time?"

"Longhuai, Feng Yan, and Changzhi all are your children, and Changzhi is already old enough to protect himself. When they encountered bandits at Ji Yun Temple, why is it only my Qingqing whose whereabouts are unknown?"

Liu turned pale, almost fainting from Feng Keshou's insinuations.

Feng Keshou was forced to step back by Feng Keshou's momentum, and when he realized the meaning behind Feng Keshou's words, he glared and angrily said, "What do you mean by that? Are you saying that your sister-in-law deliberately lost Qingqing?"

"Whether it was deliberate or not, you all know in your hearts. Longhuai, Feng Yan, and Changzhi are your children, and Changzhi is already old enough to protect himself. When they encountered bandits at Ji Yun Temple, why is it only my Qingqing whose whereabouts are unknown?"

Feng Keshou's face turned white with anger, but Feng Keshou didn't hold back, "After Qingqing was abducted, you didn't report it to the authorities, nor did you tell me immediately. Instead, you lied to me, saying that Qingqing was invited to the Guo family's mansion to play."

"If I hadn't casually learned the truth from Guo Lao yesterday, when were you planning to tell me? When were you planning to tell me that you lost my daughter?"

Feng Qizhou's words are more and more cutting.

Feng Keshou's lips trembled with anger, but he couldn't say a word as he looked at Feng Qizhou's red eyes.

He did deceive Feng Qizhou, but it was because of Feng Qiao's disappearance.

Everyone in the Feng family knows how much Feng Qizhou cares about Feng Qiao. He was afraid that if Feng Qizhou found out about Feng Qiao's abduction, he would blame them, so he decided to keep it from him, hoping to find Feng Qiao first.

Who would have thought that three whole days had passed and there was still no news of Feng Qiao, and the people sent out to inquire had no information at all.

When Feng Qizhou was chatting with Elder Guo at the morning court, their lie to Liu Shi was exposed.

Feng Keshou opened his mouth and said, "Second brother, let me explain..."

"There's nothing to explain."

Feng Qizhou coldly interrupted Feng Keshou, "Elder brother and sister-in-law had better pray for a safe return. If she is unharmed, then this matter will be forgiven. But if anything happens to her..."

He snorted, his anger barely concealed.

Feng's old lady's face changed instantly.

"Qizhou, Keshou is your elder brother, what nonsense are you talking about!"

Feng Qizhou turned to look at the old lady, "It's precisely because he is my elder brother that I haven't done anything to him. If it were someone else, Mother, you would know what I am capable of."