Ye Tinglan merely pursed his lips. When he looked up and saw her gazing at him expectantly, her eyes a little too eager, he furrowed his brow.
"What are you looking at me for? Eat your food!"
Feng Yinwan raised her eyebrows. "Your Highness, don't misunderstand. This concubine is looking at Miss Qin. Just now, her tone of voice suddenly changed. This concubine thought she had phlegm stuck in her throat."
Upon hearing this, Qin Rulian's already uplifted lips immediately drooped.
What was this bitch saying?
Her voice was so soft and sweet, and she dared to say she sounded like she had phlegm in her throat?!
This was such obvious mockery. Ye Tinglan should have reprimanded her, but for some inexplicable reason, he actually felt Feng Yinwan was right. A slight smile involuntarily tugged at the corner of his lips.
Realizing his own unusual reaction, he quickly pulled his lips back down and feigned anger, scolding her, "Can't your mouth be shut even while eating!"
Feng Yinwan rolled her eyes subtly.
Oh please, I saw you smiling quite happily just now!
Shrugging her shoulders, she withdrew her gaze and focused on her own meal.
Qin Rulian had been waiting for Ye Tinglan to berate Feng Yinwan further. After waiting for a moment and finding no continuation, she was so angry her face turned green.
Sensing she was about to start crying, Ye Tinglan glanced at her and spoke preemptively, admonishing her.
"Qi Xuan has already gone to handle the report. Your body has not yet recovered, so you should return and rest well."
These words carried a somewhat business-like tone.
Qin Rulian was stunned. No matter how unwilling she was in her heart, she opened her lips but could not utter a sound. She could only bite her lip and nod.
Seeing the "little white lotus" stomping away resentfully, her displeasure evident even from the sound, Feng Yinwan's beautiful eyes, hidden behind her soup bowl, emerged, bringing a sense of contentment to her body and mind.
To see the "little white lotus" suffer a setback first thing in the morning made her want to laugh.
However, before she could let out a chuckle, Ye Tinglan shot her a warning glare.
"Rulian has lost her purity; she is already very pitiful. As a woman, you should empathize with her. Change your sharp-tongued habit and don't make things difficult for her with your words!"
So he had specifically stayed to lecture her.
Feng Yinwan sneered inwardly but replied innocently, "Your Highness misunderstands. This concubine has not."
Seeing that she didn't seem inclined to cooperate, Ye Tinglan gave her a cold glare and then, without another word, walked out of the dining hall.
The corner of Feng Yinwan's lips curved upwards. She immediately beckoned Yu Ping to sit down. "Try some. These sea urchins are truly good."
...
At noon, Feng Yinwan was basking in the sun in the courtyard when Yu Ping rushed back with a plate of pastries.
"Miss, Xiu Chun Courtyard… they're arguing!"
Feng Yinwan's eyes lit up at the news. She sprang up from the rattan chair with a "whoosh."
"What, what? Who is arguing with whom?"
Yu Ping had rushed back, already out of breath. After panting for several moments, she managed to speak intermittently again.
"This servant was just passing by Xiu Chun Courtyard. For some reason, they were smashing things inside, and then the voices of Miss Qin and Your Highness arguing could be heard. It seems Your Highness and Miss Qin are fighting."
Feng Yinwan's eyes widened.
There was such a thing?
This "Night King Rat" was actually fighting with the "little white lotus"! This was a classic dog-eat-dog, infighting, turning against each other drama!
After a moment's pause, she immediately took the pastries from Yu Ping, set them aside, and pulled her towards the exit.
"Let's go! Let's go watch the show!"
Although Yu Ping didn't understand what "watching the show" meant, she understood Feng Yinwan's intention and was greatly alarmed.
"Miss, this servant heard that Your Highness seemed to be in a rage. If we go now..."
Wouldn't that be walking right into the line of fire!
But Feng Yinwan didn't listen. She held onto Yu Ping tightly, her steps quickening.
Yu Ping, who had just caught her breath, was now being dragged along again. She could barely breathe, let alone object further. She could only obediently follow quickly.
The two of them sprinted to Xiu Chun Courtyard. Feng Yinwan circled the courtyard, chose a spot, and immediately pulled Yu Ping up onto the wall.
With trees to conceal them in front and a rockery to lean against behind, the location was both safe and secluded.
Feng Yinwan nodded in satisfaction and began to eavesdrop.
"Rulian, my doing this is for your own good. Even if the Imperial Study can keep this matter quiet, there were too many ministers and ladies present yesterday, so we must make arrangements in advance."
Ye Tinglan's voice carried a hint of helplessness; he was clearly trying to communicate patiently.
"Your 'making arrangements in advance' means marrying me off to a vulgar brute?"
"Ye Tinglan! My brother died shielding you with his life. It was I who rescued you from Qingping Hall back in the palace. How can you do this, after all they did for you, for me!"
Qin Rulian screamed, her sanity clearly lost.
Feng Yinwan clung to the corner of the wall, gasping in astonishment.
Good heavens, the "little white lotus" had gone mad! She was even calling Ye Tinglan by his full name!
And what was that about owing them?
So this was the "debt of gratitude" he had always mentioned. Having incurred such a huge favor from the brother and sister, it was no wonder he had been "blind" for so long.
Feng Yinwan's mind raced, unwilling to miss even the smallest detail.
Beside her, Yu Ping looked at her lady's calm and collected expression and her frequent nods, a sense of admiration secretly growing in her heart.
Miss was indeed Miss. She wasn't afraid at all. Her expression clearly said, "Fight, fight!"
Ye Tinglan, of course, did not fight with Qin Rulian as she wished.
He pursed his lips and suppressed his displeasure. "General Zhao is my subordinate. He has always been diligent and loyal, and though rough around the edges, he is meticulous. He is not some vulgar person."
Qin Rulian, her eyes red, heard none of it.
"A mere fourth-rank general is worthy of marrying me? Truly a toad lusting after swan meat! I really don't know what you're thinking, making me marry him!"
"Ye Tinglan, I lost my purity because that bitch Feng Yinwan harmed me. She hated me because of you. This matter is inseparable from you. You must marry me as your secondary consort!"
Ye Tinglan had already been displeased at her insulting his subordinate. Now, seeing her say such things, his expression turned cold.
"I have already said that my feelings for you are purely platonic, like siblings. With what has happened, I do feel a sense of guilt, and I will order a thorough investigation. However, I will not resolve this matter by marrying you as a secondary consort!"
To Qin Rulian, these words sounded like Ye Tinglan looked down on her. She shrieked and knocked a vase off the shelf, shattering it on the floor.
"It is true that I was defiled by that lowly man! But Ye Tinglan, any man in the capital can look down on me, but you are not qualified to! This is what you owe me and my brother!"
She roared hoarsely, while Ye Tinglan's eyes darkened, his thin lips pressed tightly together.
"If you are unwilling, I will not force you. Whether you stay or go is entirely up to you."