There was no point in going back now. It was better to search around here and perhaps find some useful clues.
"But... if we go back late, the young general will..."
"Shut up. Don't forget that you are following me now, not the young general. So you only need to obey my orders, understand?"
Feng Jin's tone was firm, leaving no room for doubt. After her words, she strode forward, not sparing a glance at the person following behind.
After only a few steps, she was bumped into by a rushing maid. If she hadn't grabbed the pillar beside her with quick hands, she would have fallen to the ground tragically.
"Who dares to bump into the young madam so recklessly? Are you tired of living!"
The guard following Feng Jin rushed forward as soon as he saw the situation and began scolding the rushing maid, intending to drive her away. However, Feng Jin stopped him directly.
"Why do you look so familiar? Whose maid are you in this mansion!"
"Madam, spare me, spare me! This servant did not intend to bump into you. I beg the madam to forgive me!"
Feng Jin, too lazy to listen to her useless rambling, sternly commanded, "Lift your head!"
The maid was startled and quickly raised her head. Her eyes were filled with timidity, and her shoulders trembled slightly.
"Are you Feng Ruoyan's maid?"
Only then did she realize why she felt familiar. This maid had always been with Feng Ruoyan, and she had often seen her before, which was why she felt so familiar.
"This servant is the side concubine's maid!"
After saying that, she quickly lowered her head. Anyone who served the side concubine knew that the side concubine and this sister had always been at odds, wishing each other dead. It was her bad luck to fall into Feng Jin's hands this time; she might not be able to save her life.
"Everyone in the mansion has fled. What are you still doing here? Why didn't you run away with your Imperial Concubine?"
"The Imperial Concubine has always hated the side concubine. This servant is the side concubine's maid, and the Imperial Concubine would certainly not take me with her. She even locked the side concubine's maids with the young master. Now that the Imperial Concubine has fled, everyone is trying to escape. Please, madam, show mercy and let me go!"
Feng Jin found the maid's words ridiculous and snorted coldly. Why would she think Feng Jin would mercifully let them go? Didn't she know that she and Feng Ruoyan had always been at odds?
"You're saying Liu Menghan locked you with the young master? Then where is your young master now?"
"This servant doesn't know. This servant was only concerned with escaping and didn't notice the young master's whereabouts at all. Perhaps... perhaps he is still in the room."
At the brink of life and death, everyone was concerned with their own escape. Who would care about an infant child? Perhaps someone had taken him away, or perhaps he was left in the room.
Having not eaten anything for a day and a night, that young master had likely lost his life by now.
Of course, she would never dare to say these things. The most important thing now was to extricate herself and save her own life.
"Take me to find the young master."
"Ah!" The maid was slightly stunned, and she let out an involuntary cry of surprise. She quickly reacted and nodded hastily, "This servant will take the madam there now."
Who knew what kind of madness this was? Was she planning to kill the young master after finding him to vent her anger at the side concubine?
These thoughts were things she only dared to think in her heart. She would never dare to voice them, or even her own life would be in danger.
"Madam, the room is just ahead."
Feng Jin looked at the dilapidated courtyard before her, with broken tables and chairs scattered everywhere. It seemed this place had been ransacked not long ago, which was why it looked like this.
"Has this courtyard always looked like this?"
"Yes, madam. This courtyard has been abandoned for some time. The Imperial Concubine locked us here so that no one would discover our whereabouts."
A trace of disgust flashed in Feng Jin's eyes. Liu Menghan's heart was truly cruel, not even sparing an infant child. How could such a small child survive being abandoned in such a place?
Moreover, the child was already frail. With this ordeal, it was likely that his fate was dire. A war had truly brought suffering to the children.
"Search carefully. Bring the child to me immediately once you find him."
Feng Jin commanded in a low voice, while she herself searched the room bit by bit. As soon as she entered the room, she covered her nose and mouth. The smell here was quite strong.
She looked around and saw nothing. Just as she was about to leave, she faintly heard the child's intermittent crying.
She then stepped inside and searched carefully. In a gap in the cabinet, she found the child, still in swaddling clothes. She quickly bent down and picked up the child, who was still breathing.
The child in the swaddling clothes was ice-cold, his face an abnormal shade of purple, and even his lips were dark and purplish.
Feng Jin reached out and felt for the child's breath. He was still breathing, but very weakly. His hands and feet were icy cold, likely from the cold here. If she had come any later, this child would probably have lost his life.
Holding the child in her arms, she used her body heat to warm him. But this alone was not enough. Moreover, it was winter, and the weather was freezing. It was fortunate that this child had managed to last so long.
"You two go and find some charcoal fire, some animal furs, and thick quilts. Also, prepare some warm water..."
"Yes, young madam."
The few people received the orders and hurried to prepare. Fortunately, when Liu Menghan and her group fled, they only took some gold and jewelry to travel light. Things like these could still be found in the mansion.
"Young madam, the things you asked for are all prepared."
"Light the charcoal fire and bring the warm water."
Feng Jin carefully placed the child's feet in the warm water to soak, while her small hands repeatedly wiped them with a warm towel.
After her palms and soles regained some warmth, she wrapped the child in thick furs, ensuring not a trace of wind could get in.
"You, hurry back to the mansion on horseback and prepare a wet nurse."
"Yes, young madam."
Feng Jin looked at the child in her arms, whom she had temporarily saved. She had to take the child back to the mansion for now.
After all, this was a living young life. The sins of the adults should not be blamed on the child. She truly could not bear to abandon the child.