"What? Is there something wrong with what I said?" Feng Yinwan feigned ignorance.
Thinking she was new and perhaps didn't understand the situation, Ling Xiang glanced timidly, her voice lowering further.
"Consort, you are unfamiliar with palace matters. The storage location was set here by the Imperial Household Department. How could anyone dare to speak ill of it..."
The Emperor was uninterested in the harem, and all affairs were managed by the Empress. Every move of the Imperial Household Department was likely mostly arranged by her.
Feng Yinwan's beautiful eyes closed, and the question she asked made Ling Xiang's face instantly turn pale.
"Are the Imperial Household Department's actions, under the Empress's orders, intended to embarrass Consort Yu?"
"Consort...!"
Ling Xiang was shocked. She hadn't expected Feng Yinwan to dare to speak of the Empress so directly. She shivered with fear, almost kneeling down on the spot.
After a moment, meeting Feng Yinwan's questioning gaze, she hesitantly spoke again.
"The... the Imperial Household Department's arrangement was simply because Yuxiu Palace is located in a remote area, with no one passing by the back door, making it suitable for storage, and not for any other reason..."
"My Consort, although she lives in seclusion, has always been extremely respectful of the Empress. Please do not overthink it."
With that, she didn't dare to give Feng Yinwan another chance to question further. She curtsied and immediately turned to leave.
"I still have duties to attend to. I will take my leave."
As soon as she finished speaking, she hurried back to the palace, not daring to look up, and quickly bolted the back door.
Feng Yinwan raised an eyebrow and took a look, then also walked back.
When she returned, Ye Tinglan was still as usual, guarding the hall. He glanced at her for a moment, then calmly withdrew his gaze.
The two of them did not leave the palace until it was time to lock up.
In the carriage, Ye Tinglan asked a few perfunctory questions, and Feng Yinwan answered truthfully.
After thinking for a moment, she then asked,
"Today at Chunhe Palace, Consort Li was caught by the cold wind and coughed uncontrollably. Does she have an old ailment?"
She was aware of this old ailment.
When she had treated her in the palace, Consort Li's health had improved significantly. Although she had left in a hurry later, as long as she followed the prescription, this illness should have long since subsided.
She had seen her from afar at the birthday banquet a few days ago and saw no abnormalities. She had thought the illness was completely cured, but unexpectedly, seeing her again today, it was even worse than before.
Ye Tinglan's expression remained unchanged upon hearing this. "Consort Li's health has always been like this."
Feng Yinwan frowned, disagreeing with this statement.
Consort Li's health could only be described as "frail" in the past, but today when she stepped forward to help, she felt her pulse to be extremely weak and even somewhat erratic.
Such symptoms could no longer be described by simple "excessive grief" or "old ailment."
This matter was rather strange.
The carriage swayed gently and then stopped steadily.
Feng Yinwan was preoccupied with this matter and wanted to hurry back to prepare a medicinal prescription. Unexpectedly, as soon as she alighted from the carriage, a young servant quickly came forward to meet them.
He was looking for Ye Tinglan, and she followed along to listen.
"Your Highness, the Prince of Dingnan has arrived. This servant has already explained that you are not at the manor today, but he insists on waiting in the front hall. He has been here for two hours."
Two hours, he actually had such patience.
The Emperor was gravely ill, and the political situation in the capital was turbulent. It was easy to guess why he had come. Feng Yinwan's beautiful eyes flickered, and she left directly.
The servant was still waiting for instructions. When he looked up, he saw Ye Tinglan descending from the carriage with a somber expression.
"Understood."
When he arrived at the front hall, the Prince of Dingnan was already impatient from waiting. The moment he saw Ye Tinglan, he stood up.
"I have already seen Shuer."
He was naturally aware of the matter of attending to the sick. The reason he chose to visit today was to take the opportunity to see Yun Shu.
Ye Tinglan's eyes dimmed imperceptibly upon hearing this, but he did not respond.
The Prince of Dingnan was displeased. "She said you have a child in your manor, born of that woman, whom you dote on and even intend to adopt as your son."
He knitted his brows and looked at Ye Tinglan, his tone becoming more serious.
"What exactly is your relationship with that woman, and what is this child? If you intend to break off the engagement and not treat Shuer well, then I will absolutely not help you in the struggle for the crown!"
No matter how capable Ye Tinglan was, it was impossible for him to contend against the others alone. If he wanted to contend for the position of crown prince, he would definitely need his help!
Of course, even so, the Prince of Dingnan knew in his heart that they had long had an imperial decree for a marriage, and Yun Shu had already lived in Prince Mo's manor for three years. In the eyes of others, they were already inseparable.
It was now entirely impossible for him to withdraw.
Ye Tinglan lowered his thick eyelashes and sat down directly.
"Uncle, did you come specifically for this matter?"
Hearing his address to him, the Prince of Dingnan's expression softened slightly, and he sat down again, holding his robes.
"Of course not."
He only heard about the child after arriving. He had come specifically today for the matter of the succession.
He straightened his expression and continued, "You went into the palace today. How did you assess the situation?"
The capital had been quite unsettled in the past few days. Ye Tingyu's people had already begun to make moves in secret. If the Emperor were truly on his deathbed, they would have to act immediately.
"The Emperor is critically ill. It is inconvenient for me to leave the capital at this time. If the situation is confirmed, I will immediately order someone to send word back."
He was a feudal lord, and his troops were all stationed at his post. He had only brought a small number of trusted subordinates to the capital for the birthday celebration.
This was where the difficulty lay.
Leaving the capital at this time would inevitably invite gossip, and even worse, could be accused of rebellion.
However, it would take time for the troops to gather and arrive. If there were any changes in the capital, Ye Tinglan would have to bear the brunt of it alone.
Unexpectedly, Ye Tinglan glanced at him and suddenly said, "I have something I do not understand. Uncle is worried and toiling. Are you loyal to imperial power, or to my Ye clan?"
His gaze was extremely deep, cold and chilling like ink.
The Prince of Dingnan, who had built his achievements upon slaughter, now felt a chill down his spine.
He averted his gaze and steadied his mind before speaking again.
"Why do you ask? The sovereign and the subject are one family. Moreover, you and Shu'er have a marital relationship. What is wrong with me helping my worthy son-in-law contend for the crown?"
Their eyes met. Ye Tinglan was silent for half a moment, and after a long while, he spoke again.
"Father Emperor's illness is indeed very serious."
This single sentence was enough.
The Prince of Dingnan's eyes flashed upon hearing this, and he immediately stood up. "I will make arrangements as soon as I return!"
He was about to leave when he suddenly remembered the matter of the child and stopped.
"That child..."
Ye Tinglan's cold, thin lips moved. "He is not my biological son."
Having received his personal confirmation, the Prince of Dingnan nodded, feeling greatly relieved.
"That's good then."
Otherwise, he would have had to eliminate such a hidden danger!
Then, thinking of Feng Yinwan, he frowned.
"I truly don't know what you see in that woman, that you can tolerate such a thing."
"Never mind. Let the imperial physicians carefully tend to Shu'er's health. Sons must be one's own to be truly close."