You could feel her surging hatred from two meters away. Feng Yinwan curved her lips and gave a graceful bow.
“Reporting to His Majesty, the Empress, this consort feels that this matter is indeed strange. This man neither resembles someone from the palace nor a son of an official. How did he enter the palace, and why would he appear here?”
“Miss Qin just said she was knocked unconscious on her way back to Ruiqing Hall. Even if the crime was committed in broad daylight, this consort believes there must be an accomplice.”
“Speaking of which, the maid was not by Miss Qin's side when she was knocked unconscious, and it was Feise who discovered this matter first. Where was she earlier, and did she see anything as she passed by?”
Her voice was neither hurried nor slow, yet it struck at the crucial point, making both Qin Rulian and Feise’s faces turn pale.
Feise, who had just gotten up from the ground, immediately knelt back down with a thud upon hearing this, “This servant… this servant knows nothing!”
“Knows nothing?”
Feng Yinwan raised an eyebrow. “Then where did you go and what did you do? You should know that, shouldn’t you?”
“I…”
Seeing her stammering and unable to answer, Qin Rulian gritted her teeth. If Feng Yinwan continued to press her, she would surely be exposed. She quickly spoke up.
“Princess Consort, you may not know, but my sachet was accidentally dropped during the ceremony earlier. I asked Feise to go back and look for it.”
Feng Yinwan nodded as if not fully believing, then looked up at Feise. “Since you went back to look for the sachet, where is it now? Did you find it?”
Feise naturally could not produce it.
“This servant searched carefully but did not find it. I suppose… I suppose Miss dropped it somewhere else.”
“Oh? That’s truly unfortunate.”
Feng Yinwan pressed on, and Qin Rulian hated her so much that she almost bit her silver teeth off. Wiping her tears as if in great sorrow, she got up and knelt properly again.
“Your Majesty, Empress, this thief must have snuck into the palace during the ceremony. On such an important festive occasion, he dared to commit impropriety against this daughter. This is disrespect to the ceremony, and disrespect to Your Majesty and the Empress!”
“Rulian’s own chastity is a minor matter, but the royal dignity is a major one. I implore you to severely punish this thief and show no leniency!”
As the champion of palace intrigues, the Empress could understand the situation with her toes, but to protect Qin Rulian’s reputation, she spoke up.
“Your Majesty, this thief trespassed into the palace, desecrated the ceremony, and defiled a noble lady. He is truly detestable. This consort requests that Your Majesty mete out a severe punishment.”
The Emperor, already thoroughly annoyed, had barely caught his breath and did not want to bother with the matter.
“You handle it.”
He uttered this, then left with a flick of his sleeve. The Empress rose and immediately issued a stern order.
“This thief’s crime is heinous, and this consort and His Majesty cannot tolerate it. Drag him out of the palace immediately and beat him to death in public!”
At these words, everyone gasped.
The cause of the incident was still unclear, yet the Empress issued such a strict order, giving the impression of silencing witnesses and hastily concluding the matter.
“The occurrence of such a disaster in the palace is due to the negligence of the guards in Ruiqing Hall. As a warning, each person will be severely punished with twenty blows as an example.”
Casting a look of disappointment at Qin Rulian on the ground, the Empress added, “Today, Rulian was unfortunately the victim. This matter has been dealt with by this consort on behalf of His Majesty. All those present are strictly forbidden to mention it again in the future.”
With that, she turned to return to Ruiqing Hall. As she was about to step forward, her gaze fell upon Feng Yinwan and paused slightly.
“Princess Consort Mo has indeed impressed this consort today.”
The words held an unspoken meaning, but Feng Yinwan seemed not to catch it, only curving her lips and nodding.
“This consort thanks the Empress for her praise.”
The Empress narrowed her eyes and left directly.
Seeing this, everyone else also began to leave. Feng Yinwan straightened up, and Yuping immediately stepped forward to support her.
“Miss, why didn’t you expose the matter publicly just now?”
She had been ordered by Feng Yinwan to wait outside Ruiqing Hall. Upon seeing her young lady emerge from the garden, her skirt wet and heading straight for the side hall, she immediately knew something was amiss.
When she saw the scandalous scene earlier, everyone was astonished, but she was genuinely terrified.
Feng Yinwan pursed her lips. “With the Empress present, this matter alone cannot convict the little white lotus.”
If anything, she might even be accused of intentional slander, which would be detrimental.
“Her intentions are wicked, wanting to frame Miss’s chastity in the palace. To let her off so easily is too kind!”
Yuping was indignant. “Miss, since Master and Young Master are here, why not tell them the truth? Master and Young Master will surely not let you suffer any grievance.”
Feng Yinwan knew the combat power of her own father and elder brother.
After all, even Ye Tinglan, the great wronged party, was forced to marry her obediently. However…
“Now that the adulterer has been ordered to be beaten to death by the Empress, there is no proof. If Father and Brother go to seek justice, it will appear as if they are deliberately causing trouble.”
“Then…”
Yuping was still unwilling. Feng Yinwan comforted her.
“It’s alright. There will be time in the future. She has already learned a big lesson today.”
Engaging in a clandestine affair with a vulgar scoundrel in the palace garden, only to be discovered by everyone on the spot.
Tsk.
Just thinking about it made it explosive enough.
This little white lotus not only had her reputation shattered but also any hope of becoming Ye Tinglan’s secondary consort was gone!
She had taken a distant glance at Consort Rong today. Ye Wangba’s mother, Consort Rong, did not seem like a kind person. She would certainly not allow her own son to marry a lone woman whose chastity had been compromised.
Her beautiful eyes subtly rolled, and a brilliant plan suddenly popped into her mind.
“Yuping, let’s go.”
As the figures in the garden dispersed, Qin Rulian remained kneeling there tragically. A force suddenly fell on her forearm, and turning her head, she saw Ye Tinglan stepping forward to help her.
“Brother Tinglan, Rulian…”
Before she could finish, Qin Rulian was already weeping uncontrollably.
Ye Tinglan tightened the cloak around her shoulders. His expression remained unreadable.
“Rest assured, this matter concerns your reputation. I will personally have it investigated and bring you justice.”
His thin lips tightened slightly, and he added,
“Rulian, to not have protected you today is my failing to your brother’s trust, and also an apology for the kindness you showed me by saving me from the fire years ago.”
Upon hearing this, Qin Rulian’s heart tightened, and she became even more uneasy.
Investigate…
She would rather this matter not be investigated. That way, Ye Tinglan might at least feel guilty and indulge her more.
Her gaze suddenly fell on the striking figure in red in the distance. Qin Rulian subtly had a thought, and a venomous plan sprang into her mind.
Seeing her biting her lip and remaining silent, Ye Tinglan assumed she was too shocked to speak. He immediately ordered Qi Xuan.
“See Miss Qin back to her carriage carefully. I will be there shortly.”
Qi Xuan stepped forward upon hearing this. “Yes.”
Qin Rulian nodded complacently and walked out of the palace with Qi Xuan. Her eyes, however, subtly flickered towards the graceful figure in the distance, her heart filled with hatred that seemed to be relieved, her eyes constantly flashing.
Feng Yinwan, you dare to harm me, but you won’t get away with it!