Qin Rulian was slightly taken aback by the words, while Ye Tinglan's brow relaxed, his expression softening.
"You claim this matter was your doing?"
Fei Se nodded, lowering her head even further.
"It was I who, using my lady's name, ordered Pang Liu, and it was I who signaled Granny Sun to secretly contact Zhao Si. Everything was done by me alone. My lady knew nothing of this from start to finish!"
A convenient scapegoat?
Feng Yinwan scoffed at her, "You, a mere servant, dare to plot against this princess consort? I truly wonder if you're incredibly bold or merely taking the blame for someone else."
Fei Se gritted her teeth and shot Feng Yinwan a hateful glare.
"I simply cannot stand your arrogant demeanor! You only managed to marry into the prince's estate by relying on your family's influence. My lady is talented and beautiful, in what way are you superior to her!"
"Let alone the fact that you were known as an ugly woman when you married. A poisonous woman like you, who steals love and forces a man to marry her, should be disgraced and meet a terrible end!"
Before she could finish, she was struck down by a guard's palm.
Feng Yinwan narrowed her beautiful eyes and cast a cold glance.
"How many lives do you have to dare curse this princess consort."
Fei Se, clutching her face, got up, her eyes filled with a venomous, almost frenzied, hatred. "Feng Yinwan, what are you? Without the General's Estate, you are nothing!"
"Slap!"
Another swift, sharp slap sent Fei Se screaming and flying backward.
Ye Tinglan's expression turned cold, and he said in a deep voice, "Enough."
The guard did not stop until Feng Yinwan nodded, then he retreated to the side.
Qin Rulian clenched her fingers tightly, her face ashen. Feng Yinwan glanced at her before looking back at Fei Se on the ground.
"How does Your Highness intend to deal with her?"
Ye Tinglan's thin lips parted. "She has already confessed that this was all her doing. Fortunately, you are unharmed. To appease your anger, I will exile her to the estate to reflect on her wrongdoings."
He glanced at Granny Sun, trembling like a sieve, and Pang Liu, looking terrified, then added, "As for these two, you may deal with them as you see fit."
Feng Yinwan let out a cold laugh.
"Does Your Highness actually believe this servant girl's words?"
To simply toss her a scapegoat was one thing, but to only exile someone who committed such a serious offense to an estate? Was Prince Ye treating her like dirt, or like dirt?
Ye Tinglan frowned. "I have already given you an explanation. What more do you want?"
"What more do I want..."
Feng Yinwan propped up her chin and lazily turned her eyes. "Then this concubine shall have to think carefully."
Seeing that she was indeed ready to negotiate, as if preparing to ask for the moon, Ye Tinglan's handsome face darkened.
"Feng Yinwan, do not be ungrateful!"
Feng Yinwan raised her eyebrows.
Then she would indeed be ungrateful.
"If Your Highness wishes this matter to be dropped and not pursued further, it is not impossible. However, I have three conditions. Whether they can be accepted depends entirely on your decision."
Ye Tinglan warned with his eyes, "Speak."
Feng Yinwan pretended not to see and began to count on her fingers.
"Firstly, on the fifteenth day, prepare generous gifts and a carriage. Accompany me back to the General's Estate."
Ye Tinglan's brow involuntarily furrowed, and he heard her continue.
"No matter how much Your Highness dislikes this concubine, we are bound by an imperial decree of marriage. On our wedding night, Your Highness abandoned me and went to the border, which was a disgrace to the General's Estate. For me to ask you to make amends now is not excessive, is it?"
Feng Yinwan secretly pouted.
Although she found this person annoying, it was still a marriage arranged by Old General Feng himself with the Emperor's blessing. The face of the Feng family rested on her, so she had to protect it.
This demand was reasonable. Moreover, this woman was not as annoying as she used to be.
Ye Tinglan pondered for a moment and nodded.
Feng Yinwan nodded and continued to count her fingers.
"Secondly, restore all the allowances and rights of this concubine as the Princess Consort, including the authority to manage the household."
"As the Princess Consort, it is proper for me to manage the prince's estate and discipline the servants. Anyone else would be overstepping their bounds."
She deliberately emphasized the words "overstepping their bounds," causing Qin Rulian to tremble. Ye Tinglan, however, nodded.
"This Prince grants it."
Feng Yinwan's lips curved into a satisfied smile, and with a slightly cunning expression, she bent her last finger.
"As for the third point... as husband and wife, wealth should be shared. At the time of our marriage, the General's Estate sent considerable dowry, yet Your Highness did not present a betrothal gift."
"This concubine is not so petty as to demand a betrothal gift. I only ask that Your Highness divide half of your assets with this concubine. How about it? Reasonable, isn't it?"
Not excessive, right?
Legitimate.
Reasonable!
Ye Tinglan was furious upon hearing this and laughed with anger, his face turning somewhat green.
"Half of my assets? Feng Yinwan, you have quite an appetite."
Feng Yinwan "humble"ly cupped her hands. "Your Highness praises me too much. We are not family if we are not together. We are both the same."
Ye Tinglan snorted in anger, his voice turning cold.
"Even if I agreed to give it to you, you might not be able to spend it all. The wealth of Prince Mo's estate would be enough for you to squander for half a lifetime. Are you still not satisfied?"
Feng Yinwan rolled her eyes.
"Does Your Highness dislike having too much money? You said half a lifetime, what about the second half? This concubine can't just stop living after the first half, can she?"
Besides, how long did people live in ancient times!
She was from modern times, after all, and with a cheat, she might live for hundreds of years!
"You!"
Ye Tinglan was choked with anger. "You are quibbling!"
Feng Yinwan shrugged. "Whether I'm quibbling or not, my conditions are clearly laid out."
"If Your Highness thinks it's acceptable, this concubine guarantees to forget everything that happened today after a good night's sleep. Otherwise..."
"Coincidentally, people from the General's Estate are here today. This concubine feels that my father seems to be more concerned about this matter. What does Your Highness think?"
Ye Tinglan's expression darkened.
"Feng Yinwan, how dare you threaten this Prince?!"
Feng Yinwan raised her eyebrows. "This concubine dares not. This concubine is merely analyzing the pros and cons for you."
Although she said she dared not, the corners of her lips were turned up higher than anyone else's. Ye Tinglan cast her a deeply gloomy look.
"This Prince will give it to you."
After saying this, he flicked his sleeve and left the main hall. Feng Yinwan, always eager for drama, craned her neck and shouted after him, "This concubine thanks Your Highness for fulfilling my wish~"
Ye Tinglan could still hear her infuriating voice even after walking a considerable distance. His handsome face darkened heavily, and he quickened his pace.
Seeing the situation turn dire, Granny Sun was about to sneak away when she was kicked back, falling flat on the ground.
Feng Yinwan, tidying her skirt, sat up with a pleasant mood. "Granny Sun, where are you going?"
Granny Sun scrambled to her feet but dared not step forward again. "Hehe, I... I'm not going anywhere."
Feng Yinwan raised her eyebrows and looked at her, her beautiful eyes suddenly turning cold.
"That's good. His Highness just said he would hand you over to this princess consort to deal with."