Ye Ziyun and Qin Rulian exchanged glances, both stunned by her move.
This wretch… she dared to complain to the Empress Dowager!
The Empress Dowager's expression darkened. She pulled Feng Yinwan to sit, then looked at Jiang Rumeng behind her.
"Imperial Physician Jiang, quickly take the pulse of Princess Mo's consort."
"Yes."
Jiang Rumeng stepped forward swiftly.
Feng Yinwan cooperatively extended her hand, feigning shock and weakness, remaining silent. The Empress Dowager frowned at this and then looked at Ye Ziyun, reprimanding her sternly.
"As a princess, how can you be so rude!"
"Yinwan carries Lan'er's flesh and blood, your future nephew. What sort of decorum is it if you frighten him!"
Having always been favored by the Empress Dowager, Ye Ziyun felt deeply indignant at being reprimanded.
Unable to retort, she could only mutter softly, "It's just a pregnancy, how could it be so easily frightened."
"What did you say?"
The Empress Dowager's face grew sterner. Seeing this, Ye Ziyun immediately pursed her lips and fell silent.
Knowing her stubborn nature, the Empress Dowager frowned and simply turned her gaze away.
"Imperial Physician Jiang, is the fetus in Princess Mo's womb doing well?"
Jiang Rumeng nodded. "Reporting to the Empress Dowager, the consort was indeed startled just now."
"Pregnant individuals are prone to palpitations, and the weather is becoming increasingly muggy. It is not advisable to worry excessively or exert yourself. It would be best for the consort to rest."
The implication was that Ye Ziyun should curb her temper.
Just as the Empress Dowager was about to reprimand her, Ye Ziyun spoke first.
"Imperial Grandmother, Ziyun heard that Sister-in-law is investigating the peach kernel powder matter. Since Imperial Physician Jiang has said she needs to rest, why not hand this matter over to someone specialized to handle it?"
Without her guards, how could she still be so arrogant!
The Empress Dowager also recalled the matter and immediately inquired, "Yinwan, has there been any progress on this matter?"
Ye Ziyun gloated.
"Imperial Grandmother, you might not know this, but Sister-in-law worked hard all morning and mistakenly apprehended a monk. If you want progress, you'll likely need to find someone else."
Feng Yinwan straightened her posture, neither humble nor overbearing.
"Reporting to the Empress Dowager, it is true that I mistakenly apprehended a monk in the kitchen earlier. His suspicious behavior led me to suspect him."
"Yun'er has already told me about this. It was the young monk acting on his own accord. It is not your fault."
Feng Yinwan nodded. "Furthermore, this granddaughter-in-law has ordered Deputy General Song to lead the guards to search the temple. No trace of peach kernel powder was found."
"Is that so?"
The Empress Dowager's gaze deepened. She was somewhat surprised by this outcome.
"It seems this matter is quite tricky. Yinwan, as Yun'er suggested, you should rest well. The investigation will be handled by someone specialized."
As she finished speaking, a monk brought the food to the table. Feng Yinwan said nothing more.
"Yes."
After lunch, everyone returned to their courtyards to rest. Since the medicine brewed in the morning had been spilled, Jiang Rumeng had to return to the kitchen to brew it again.
Brewing this medicine took several hours. After the incident that morning, the kitchen entrance was guarded by soldiers. Therefore, after making arrangements, Jiang Rumeng returned to his Zen courtyard with peace of mind.
The midday sun was already quite harsh. The quiet atmosphere of the temple made one drowsy. After guarding for a while, the two guards began to feel sleepy.
As their consciousness blurred, a delicate, rosy figure appeared before their eyes.
A strange fragrance suddenly filled their nostrils. The two men tried to open their eyes, but their eyelids felt as heavy as lead. Then, their bodies went limp, and they completely lost consciousness.
"Click—"
A very light sound, the sound of a pot lid being lifted.
Then, a pair of hands slowly reached out, and a fine white powder fell into the palm.
In the silence, a round of applause suddenly sounded from behind. Qin Rulian's heart tightened, and she immediately withdrew her hand in terror.
Before she could turn, a sweet voice reached her ears.
"Miss Qin, you have quite a plan."
In an instant, Qin Rulian's hair stood on end, as if she had fallen into an ice cave.
Feng Yinwan!
How could she be here!
Feng Yinwan clapped her hands and walked forward, settling gracefully on a long bench nearby.
"You've troubled this consort quite a bit these past two days. To draw you out, I've gone to considerable lengths."
Qin Rulian bit her lip tightly, maintaining her posture with her back to Feng Yinwan, not moving an inch.
Feng Yinwan scoffed.
"What, are you afraid to look at this consort now?"
Qin Rulian suppressed her terror after several surges, her grip on her skirt tightening. She slowly turned around.
She had expected Feng Yinwan to bring people and ambush her here early on. To her surprise, upon turning, she saw that Feng Yinwan was alone in the room. Qin Rulian's eyes flickered, and the look of surprise on her face receded somewhat.
"What is the consort talking about? Rulian doesn't understand."
"Don't understand?"
Feng Yinwan's lips curved into a smile. "Then this consort will give you a reminder."
"What did you just put into the clay pot?"
Qin Rulian's face trembled at the question.
"Consort, perhaps you saw wrong. Rulian was just checking the medicinal soup for Imperial Physician Jiang. I didn't put anything inside."
"Then what were you rubbing your hands for? Do you think this consort is blind? Did you think I wouldn't see it just because you hid it behind your back?"
Caught red-handed, Qin Rulian's face turned pale, but she quickly regained her composure.
"Even if you saw it, so what?"
Feng Yinwan raised an eyebrow.
Oh, she's not calling me consort anymore and not pretending.
"So what?"
"Attempting to harm a prince and framing a consort, this consort is truly curious, which charge can you bear."
Qin Rulian let out a mocking laugh.
"Feng Yinwan, you think too highly of yourself. So what if you saw through me? The Prince might not believe you."
With only Feng Yinwan, she was no threat.
Seeing that she was still dreaming, Feng Yinwan reminded her coldly.
"This consort has caught you red-handed. The peach kernel powder in your hand is already ironclad evidence. Never mind the Prince, even the Empress Dowager will have to nod in agreement, right?"
"What if I say that you instructed me to put this peach kernel powder?"
Qin Rulian's lips slowly curved into a smile, her eyes flashing with malice.
"You are the consort, with noble status. I am merely an orphaned girl favored by the Prince. You coerced me into harming Prince Yun to create an opportunity for you to highlight your medical skills to the Empress Dowager."
"I really don't know how the Empress Dowager will react after hearing this."
Feng Yinwan couldn't help but scoff coldly. "Even now, you're still thinking of framing this consort. You are truly dark."
She yawned lazily, her red lips curling into an arc.
"This consort doesn't know how the Empress Dowager will react, but you can ask the Prince."
Before Qin Rulian could grasp the meaning of her words, the bamboo curtain in the inner room was lifted, and a cold, Shura-like figure in black emerged.
Qin Rulian stiffened, her expression freezing instantly.
Ye Tinglan!
He… how could he be here!
Feng Yinwan's eyes closed with a smile. She thought to herself.
Surprised, aren't you? Little fool.
I knew he wouldn't believe you.
So, I directly helped you bring him here!
Ye Tinglan strode into the room in two steps, his brow furrowed with gloom, an icy aura emanating from him.
Qin Rulian trembled under his imposing presence and managed to speak with difficulty.
"Ting… Tinglan brother…"
Ye Tinglan spoke, his voice as cold as ice.
"Is this matter truly your doing?"
"No… I didn't…"
Ye Tinglan's dark eyes stared deeply at her, his large hand clenching silently.
"Yun genuinely treated you well. Why did you do this?"