Feng Yinwan's heart tightened. Before she could think, the door to the rear hall was pushed open.
Ye Tinglan strode out, his face grim, a deep shadow of gloom still lingering in his ink-black eyes.
"Brother Tinglan, how is Tingyun?"
Qin Rulian was the first to rush forward, her eyes darting past Ye Tinglan to peer silently inside.
Ye Tinglan pressed his thin lips together and stepped aside without a word.
Moments later, the Empress Dowager and Imperial Physician Jiang emerged one after the other. Feng Yinwan finally got a clear look at Physician Jiang's appearance.
His face was reasonably handsome, but his brow was naturally furrowed. He didn't possess the composure of a physician, appearing instead somewhat irritable.
What had he been shouting in the rear hall just now? That the medicine she prescribed had a problem???
Guards had already brought several chairs. The Empress Dowager leaned back and sat down, her expression grave.
"Lan'er, what exactly has happened to Yun'er since returning to the capital?"
Night Tingyun's heart condition had always been treated solely by Imperial Physician Jiang. It could be said that the Emperor had specifically summoned Imperial Physician Jiang to the palace to treat Night Tingyun's heart ailment.
Ye Tinglan did not answer directly.
"Empress Dowager, please do not rush. Allow your grandson to ascertain the cause."
His ink-black eyes flickered towards Imperial Physician Jiang, an unspoken sharpness adding to his gaze.
"Imperial Physician Jiang, what is Tingyun's condition?"
Imperial Physician Jiang hesitated for a moment, then lowered his chin and nodded.
"May I ask, Your Highness, what did Prince Yun eat before?"
Ye Tinglan's gaze was deep and cold as he parted his lips. "He ate roasted chicken and venison on the way today."
"Chicken and venison are both nourishing foods. Even if not fully cooked, they would not cause such a reaction. It is not the food."
Seeing him shake his head, Ye Tinglan's tightly clenched fist inexplicably relaxed slightly. *It's not that woman, that's good.*
"Nothing else. I traveled with the army to Qingpu Temple and have not yet dined."
Upon hearing this, Qin Rulian immediately chimed in. "Tingyun truly ate nothing else. Besides lunch, he only drank a bowl of medicinal soup on the way."
"What medicinal soup?"
The Empress Dowager's face instantly darkened at the mention of this.
Qin Rulian, as if oblivious to any anomaly, continued. "Reporting to the Empress Dowager, Prince Yun's heart condition flared up after returning to the capital, and the Princess Consort saved him."
"The Princess Consort's medical skills are exquisite, and she can treat Prince Yun's heart condition. Therefore, His Highness has had the Princess Consort care for him these past few days."
As if recalling something, she nodded again. "The medicinal soup I mentioned just now was improved by the Princess Consort from the imperial physician's prescription."
"Preposterous!"
"The prescription Yun'er was taking was personally prescribed by Imperial Physician Jiang. How could it be so easily altered!"
Regarding Night Tingyun's health, even the usually composed Empress Dowager could not hide her anger. Her gaze towards Feng Yinwan became stern.
Feng Yinwan inwardly felt a sense of foreboding. Night Tingyun was the Empress Dowager's darling. Something happening to him as soon as he arrived at Qingpu Temple meant the person behind it wanted her dead.
Ye Tinglan's face was as dark as ink, his emotions unreadable.
Seeing that he remained silent, Imperial Physician Jiang nodded again.
"I dared not be certain earlier, but since he did not consume anything forbidden, and according to this young lady, the problem must indeed lie with the medicinal soup."
During his earlier examination, he had identified several herbs. It was precisely because he discovered something that did not belong in the prescription that he was certain the formula had been tampered with. To ascertain the exact cause, the dregs of the medicine were needed.
"Are the dregs from brewing the medicine still here?"
They had been in a hurry to travel, so the dregs were naturally gone, likely discarded in some ditch.
Ye Tinglan's thin lips tightened again. "No."
Without the dregs, the suspicion could not be cleared. Feng Yinwan pursed her lips. Night Tingyun had only drunk the medicine this afternoon. Because she had deliberately added several extremely bitter herbs, the absorption of the medicine was slower than usual. If only she could see Night Tingyun…
"Your Highness, may I examine Prince Yun's pulse?"
"Lan'er!"
The Empress Dowager's rebuke was sharp. "Imperial Physician Jiang has already explained it so clearly, are you still unable to understand!" *Yun'er becoming like this is all this Feng Yinwan's fault!*
Before Feng Yinwan could speak, Qin Rulian on the side knelt down first.
"Empress Dowager, please be enlightened. The Princess Consort has been diligently treating him and has done nothing to Prince Yun..."
Ye Ziyun frowned, looking at her. "Sister Rulian, how can you be so foolish!" "Imperial Physician Jiang just said that Fifth Brother's heart condition flared up because of that medicinal soup. Besides this woman, who else would know what was in that soup!" "In my opinion, she deliberately intended to harm him!"
Seeing the Empress Dowager's expression darken further, Feng Yinwan's palms began to sweat. She could only place her hope in Ye Tinglan.
"Your Highness, your concubine did not intend to harm Prince Yun. You may hand the prescription to Imperial Physician Jiang for examination. The medicinal soup has absolutely no problems."
"That's a good joke. If you intended to harm him, would you write the poison on the prescription!"
Night Tingyun's collapse had been too sudden, and Feng Yinwan was indeed speechless.
"Lan'er."
The Empress Dowager spoke, her tone thoroughly displeased.
Ye Tinglan's ink-like eyes deepened. He raised his hand. "Qi Xuan, escort the Princess Consort away and keep her under watch."
"Yes."
Unable to approach Night Tingyun, there was nothing she could do for now. Feng Yinwan clenched her fists in secret and followed Qi Xuan out.
Feng Yinwan was taken to a secluded Zen courtyard. After Qi Xuan nodded, he withdrew. The commotion outside quickly subsided. Feng Yinwan glanced at the moonlight, a silent determination solidifying in her eyes. She had to see Night Tingyun. It might be too late if she delayed any longer.
She stealthily observed her surroundings from behind the window, then felt a surge of dejection. The Zen courtyard had only one exit, and the guards at the door were extremely vigilant. Having been drugged before, the guards were taking turns, highly alert, giving her no opportunity. If she couldn't succeed with cleverness, she would have to force her way out. She had to take a gamble.
Feng Yinwan's beautiful eyes flashed, and she directly knocked over the candle on the table.
The flames grew, and the guards rushed forward.
"Bad! It's a fire! Quickly, fetch water!"
The guards outside the courtyard immediately ran off. The remaining few tried to charge into the room to rescue Feng Yinwan, but as they approached, the door suddenly burst open. Feng Yinwan darted out of the room with extreme speed. Silver needles in her hand accurately struck the acupoints of several people with fierce precision.
"Thank you for your trouble. You should get some rest here for a while."
With that, the men collapsed. Feng Yinwan smoothed her skirt and hurried away.
Qingpu Temple was surprisingly vast. She fumbled around for a long time before finding the previous Canshan Hall. After Imperial Physician Jiang had examined Night Tingyun, everyone had dispersed. The Empress Dowager had wanted to stay and wait for Night Tingyun to wake up, but Ye Tinglan, citing the need to protect her health, had forcibly sent her back. Therefore, there should be no one in Canshan Hall now.
Feng Yinwan quietly circumvented the guards and slipped inside. Relying on memory, she headed straight for the rear hall. However, as soon as she pushed open the door, a powerful palm strike came directly at her, forcing her back instantly.
"It's you."
The cold, stern tone made Feng Yinwan tremble. She then forced herself to raise her eyes sheepishly.
"Your Highness, what a... what a coincidence."
Ye Tinglan's gaze was cold as he looked at her, then retracted his hand.
"Feng Yinwan, I have already ordered you to be confined. Who let you out?"