Song Qingya gently shook her head. "I’m not hurt, so don’t worry. I’ve been very careful; she isn’t capable of harming . She’s the one who’s probably having a rough ti. Trapped by Wang Kang, I doubt she even has the freedom to speak her mind."
As she spoke, she carefully took a letter out of her bag.
"Look. Song Chenglu had soone deliver this. The ssenger said she only asked them to hand over this one letter and nothing more."
Fei Jin took the letter.
He quickly scanned the contents.
The handwriting was indeed Song Chenglu’s.
This was odd—the writer’s mood seed unnervingly calm.
Abnormally so.
Unless...
’She didn’t write it willingly.’
Seeing the look on his face, Song Qingya knew at once that he had spotted the problem.
She nodded slightly, lowering her voice even more. "You see it too? Sothing’s wrong with this letter. It’s too neat, like it was traced, or she was forced to copy it from a draft."
"I suspect Song Chenglu didn’t write this willingly. At the very least, not while she was free."
Fei Jin slowly folded the letter. "Her hand was guided," he said in a low voice, "or the letter itself is a forgery."
"And I think it’s a setup to lure there."
Song Qingya nodded. "Wang Kang knows I care about Song Chenglu, so he deliberately created this situation, using her na to set a trap and waiting for to walk right into it."
Fei Jin picked up her train of thought. "That’s exactly what I was thinking. This is almost certainly a trap. There’s a catch."
As if she had already seen through everything, Song Qingya said, "True or not, there’s no need to guess. I’ll go myself tomorrow, and the truth will co out."
"Tomorrow?"
Fei Jin frowned, clearly not expecting her to move so quickly.
Song Qingya’s tone was firm. "That’s right. I’ve already arranged to et with Wang Kang tomorrow. The ti and place are set."
Fei Jin was stunned, the words tumbling out of his mouth. "You’re going to et Wang Kang? No! That’s too dangerous! He’s not soone to be trifled with. Approaching him so recklessly is like throwing yourself into a pit of fire!"
Seeing his anxious expression, Song Qingya gently raised her hand and rested it on his arm. "Calm down, Fei Jin. I’m not a reckless or impulsive person. I’ve already considered and prepared everything that needs to be. I wouldn’t gamble with my own safety."
"But..." Fei Jin’s brow remained furrowed. "What if he’s set an ambush, or what if your judgnt is wrong? The consequences would be unthinkable... I just don’t feel right about this."
Song Qingya cut him off with a raised hand, her voice decisive. "There are no ’buts.’ I’ve already made up my mind. I have to see him tomorrow. This can’t be delayed any longer. I need to find out what he’s up to myself and see what he’s really planning."
Fei Jin fell silent for a mont before letting out a helpless sigh. "Fine. Since you’ve made up your mind, I won’t stop you. But I’m going with you."
"You’re going too?"
Song Qingya froze for a second, looking at him in surprise.
Fei Jin’s tone was resolute, leaving no room for argunt. "Of course I’m going. There’s no way I’m letting you take a risk like this alone. If anything were to happen, I’d never forgive myself."
A sudden warmth spread through Song Qingya’s chest.
She knew he was genuinely concerned for her, that he truly cared about her safety.
"But if you go, you’re too conspicuous. It’ll be too easy to expose your identity, and you’ll end up tipping them off."
Fei Jin’s lips curved into a smile as he raised an eyebrow at her. "Don’t worry, I have my ways. You shouldn’t underestimate ."
"Tomorrow, I’ll blend in with your n. I’ll wear the sa clothes and stand a little ways off. I guarantee no one will recognize ."
Song Qingya couldn’t help but laugh, teasing him, "Oh? And how do you plan on blending in? Wang Kang’s n are no fools. They’re all sharp, with keen eyes. You can’t just pull a fast one on them."
Fei Jin gave a mysterious smile, his eyes glinting with smug satisfaction. He lowered his voice. "Don’t you worry about how I’ll do it. I have my thods. You just walk on ahead with confidence, and I’ll protect you from the shadows."
Song Qingya tilted her head in mock contemplation, her tone playful. "Oh? And what brilliant plan might that be? Are you going to sar dirt on your face, stick on a fake mustache, and wear a raggedy hat to pass as a common laborer?"
She paused, then added with a laugh, "Besides, Song Chenglu has sharp eyes. She’d see through any simple disguise in a heartbeat. Don’t think you can fool her."
Fei Jin could tell she was teasing him, but instead of getting annoyed, he just smiled and leaned in a little closer.
"Are you saying I’m too handso for a disguise to work?"
He paused, then added with a touch of sentint, "It’s all thanks to Doctor Song for taking in back then and not casting aside."
Song Qingya didn’t know whether to be angry or amused. "Oh, stop being a smart aleck. Should you be saying things like that?"
"Alright, alright, stop ssing around."
She sighed softly, the smile vanishing from her face. "We should also send word back ho that you’re safe. They must be worried sick. If we don’t get a ssage to them, I’m afraid they’ll send a search party out for you tonight."
Fei Jin nodded gravely at her words, then turned to look at Cheng Peng, who was standing nearby.
"Cheng Peng, pick one of the n—soone sharp. Have him run a ssage back ho. Just say I’ve returned safely and tell her not to worry."
"Be quick, but more importantly, be discreet. There can be no mistakes."
"Yes, village chief! I’ll see to it at once," Cheng Peng imdiately replied.
He had just turned to leave when Song Qingya’s clear voice called out from behind him, "Wait."
Cheng Peng stopped and looked at her. "Ma’am, is there sothing else?"
Song Qingya frowned slightly, taking a mont before speaking. "Find soone who won’t draw attention. Soone who looks plain, dressed in ordinary clothes, so they don’t arouse suspicion. Also, tell them that once they receive the ssage, they shouldn’t make a big deal out of it. They should act like they know nothing and not alert the enemy. The situation is uncertain, and our every move could be under watch."
Cheng Peng paused, his previously relaxed expression instantly turning serious.
"Don’t worry, Ma’am, I understand. I’ll handle this with the utmost care! I won’t let a single word leak out."
With that, he said no more and quickly left.
Once he was gone, the room fell quiet.
Fei Jin looked at Song Qingya, his eyes filled with admiration. "Qingya, you’re so ticulous. Even I didn’t think of all that."
Song Qingya gave a small smile and leaned against him, resting her head on his arm. "It’s better to be extra careful than to have sothing go wrong. I don’t want to make a single mistake, and I especially don’t want my carelessness to drag our family into danger."
Her greatest fear was a mont of carelessness on her part putting her loved ones in danger.
She had experienced that heart-stopping fear once, and she never wanted to go through it again.
Fei Jin nodded in complete agreent and took her hand. "You’re right. The safer things seem, the less we can let our guard down."
He suddenly let out a muffled groan, a bead of cold sweat forming on his temple.
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