Changle Palace.
The Empress sat reclined on a pear wood couch. Qin Rulian hurried forward, skillfully taking the fan from the palace maid.
"Aunt, why did you summon me to the palace in such haste? Is there something urgent?"
The Empress slowly opened her eyes, which had been closed in repose. When she looked at Qin Rulian, there was an unspoken authority in her gaze.
"Where did Consort Rong go today, and why?"
The Empress still had the eldest prince, her legitimate son, and as a prince vying for the throne, she naturally viewed Ye Tinglan as a thorn in her side.
Qin Rulian secretly bit her lip.
"A few days ago, on my way back to the residence, assassins appeared. The arrow that the Ink King's consort was hit with contained a potent poison. Consort Rong must have gone to visit on behalf of the Empress Dowager."
The royal bloodline in Feng Yinwan's womb was a matter of utmost importance.
To her surprise, the Empress's eyes narrowed at this, her sharp fingernails digging into the hand holding the fan.
"Rulian, your brother met his end on the battlefield years ago. How has this aunt treated you?"
The force was not painful, yet Qin Rulian's body trembled.
"Aunt... why do you ask this?"
The Empress cast a fierce glance at her, her eyes filled with scrutiny. "Yesterday, people from Huaqing Palace came to report that Ink King's cold poison acted up, and he fainted on the spot."
"You tell me, Consort Rong personally went out of the palace, and it was to visit that Feng family woman?"
Her voice was calm, yet it carried the unspoken pressure of someone in a superior position.
Qin Rulian's face turned pale, her grip tightening on the fan handle, afraid to utter a sound.
The Empress glanced at her and directly snatched the fan away.
"Don't forget the original intention behind my sending you to the Ink King's residence. You have disappointed me greatly!"
"Aunt!"
Qin Rulian knelt down, her body trembling.
"It was Rulian's momentary foolishness. When the Prince's cold poison acted up, Consort Rong and Princess Qingyun were specifically there to visit..."
Since the Empress already knew, there was no need for her to conceal it any longer.
The fierceness on the Empress's face subsided slightly at this.
"How is Ye Tinglan?"
"I heard it was the King's consort who treated him, and it has... it has been suppressed."
"Suppressed?!"
Cold poison was notoriously difficult to treat. Ye Tinglan had only suffered an attack for a day, and it was already suppressed.
Just how astonishing had Feng Yinwan's medical skills become!
Qin Rulian dared not hide anything further.
"The Ink King's residence physician has always been mediocre. Although my niece did not witness it herself yesterday, I heard it from Prince Yun's mouth, and it is indeed true."
She didn't want to go; she simply couldn't get in.
The guards at the main courtyard were extremely vigilant yesterday, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't find an opportunity!
The Empress's expression shifted for a moment upon hearing this, and she quietly withdrew her imposing presence.
"Get up."
"Thank you, Aunt."
Qin Rulian meekly rose, her back already soaked with cold sweat.
Before she could retreat, her hand was grasped by the Empress again.
"I know you are fond of the Ink King. It was with the intention of fulfilling your wishes that I sent you to the Ink King's residence, rather than keeping you by my side."
"But you must remember, you are, after all, a member of the Qin family."
"Zhu'er is my only son, and the Emperor's eldest son. He is the future Crown Prince, and he must be the only one."
"If Zhu'er is well, then I am well, the Qin family is well, and only then will you be well."
Qin Rulian was merely a chess piece that the Empress had placed beside Ye Tinglan.
Qin Rulian silently bit her lip. The Empress's gaze shifted slightly, and she continued, "You love Ye Tinglan, but if he becomes emperor, with his harem of countless beauties, can you endure it?"
"Of course not!"
She already hated Feng Yinwan so much that she was in agony. She absolutely could not allow Ye Tinglan to have any other women!
The Empress nodded slightly, her grip on Qin Rulian's hand tightening.
"Rulian, do not disappoint me."
Qin Rulian was already utterly convinced. "Aunt, don't worry, Rulian understands!"
The Empress finally stopped speaking, seemingly satisfied. She flicked her sleeve and then spoke casually, "The imperial physicians say that the first three months of pregnancy are the most unstable. The Ink King's consort's pregnancy seems to be only a little over a month along."
Qin Rulian nodded, believing she was hinting at something.
"Aunt's estimation is correct. It has been a little over a month, not yet two."
"However... Consort Rong went to the residence today. Ostensibly, she has temporarily handed over the management of the household to me, but in reality, she wants me to help her with the pregnancy. Should I..."
"No."
The Empress interrupted her directly with a wave of her hand.
"Since it is Consort Rong's order, you must carry it out diligently. This pregnancy needs to be carefully nurtured."
"But..."
How could she let that slut give birth to Ye Tinglan's child!
She frowned in confusion, and when she looked up, she met the Empress's unyielding gaze. She immediately understood.
"Yes, Rulian obeys Aunt's command."
...
Ye Tinglan's sword technique looked incredibly cool, but learning it was exhausting enough to kill a donkey.
Feng Yinwan practiced it reluctantly, her arms aching more than a lemon. Yet, when this man became serious, he was extremely strict.
"Elbow up, wrist strong."
She had been practicing one stance for nearly half an hour, and Feng Yinwan's hand was shaking like she had Parkinson's.
Seeing her listless face and no signs of improvement, Ye Tinglan's brow furrowed sharply. He reached out and adjusted her movements directly.
Feng Yinwan allowed him to manipulate her, like a lifeless bean sprout.
Ye Tinglan's clear and handsome eyebrows were deeply furrowed, clearly displeased with her laid-back attitude.
He glanced at the sky and said in a heartless, cold tone, "If you haven't mastered it by lunchtime, you won't be going to the dining hall. Stay here."
Feng Yinwan immediately panicked.
She had planned to slack off until mealtime. Not letting her eat? How could that be acceptable!
"My lord has practiced martial arts for many years, so this sword technique is naturally effortless for you. As a beginner, it is already remarkable that I can achieve this much!"
Did this man expect her to learn it all in one day!
Ye Tinglan scoffed mercilessly, "What level is it? Your arm is so bent. I thought even a three-year-old understood the principle of 'enough is enough'."
In other words, she was dumber than a toddler.
Feng Yinwan felt a great sense of injustice.
"My lord speaks lightly. Would a three-year-old come to you to learn swordplay! If one isn't a genius, who could learn it instantly?"
Then, she saw a hint of... mockery in Ye Tinglan's eyes.
"This is the simplest introductory sword technique. I learned it when I was six years old. I only practiced it once from beginning to end."
Feng Yinwan: ...!
So... you truly are a genius.
She was different; her talent had all gone into medicine.
Her stomach growled twice, and Feng Yinwan immediately deflated. Just as she was about to casually try to sneakily discard the sword, Ye Tinglan's wrist was seized first.
"Grip tight, practice again."
This single sentence was more terrifying than military training.
Feng Yinwan was on the verge of tears and could only tremble as she raised her arm under his deadly gaze.
"My lord, can't we negotiate a little?"
Ye Tinglan gazed at her deeply.
"Feng Yinwan, are you haggling with me at the market?"
"Practicing martial arts is not something that can be achieved overnight. You want to give up just as you've started. How can you ever learn?"
Well, she should just shut up.
She gritted her teeth and persevered. Just as she was about to collapse, the courtyard gate was pushed open again.
Feng Yinwan instantly relaxed as if a seal had been broken.
"King..."
Qin Rulian stopped short upon seeing Ye Tinglan there as she entered.
"Brother Tinglan."
She shifted her body, revealing the tray behind her.
"Consort Rong instructed me to take good care of the King's consort's pregnancy. I've come to deliver supplements."