A murmur swept through the hall upon these words.
Like a stone cast into a calm lake, the ripples that followed stunned Feng Yinwan first.
A… concubine?
What gibberish was this? She didn't understand a word.
She furrowed her brow, her peripheral vision catching a meaningful glance. Feng Yinwan raised her beautiful eyes and remained seated.
An outer chamber was one thing, but a concubine?
I’m sorry, that’s a different price altogether.
Seeing her dismiss it with a clean cut, pretending not to see, Ye Tinglan’s brows tightened. Before he could issue another warning, the Prince of Dingnan slammed his hand on the table.
“Preposterous!”
The Emperor had decreed that Yunshu was merely a side concubine, yet Ye Tinglan intended to elevate this woman to the same status as Shu'er? He was clearly mad!
He shot a fierce glare, his face ashen.
“Prince Mo! Although you and Shu'er are not yet wed, you have been constantly together. Now, she is afflicted with a severe illness and confined to her sickbed, how can you act in such a manner!”
“Do you truly intend to break the hearts of this King and Shu'er for a lowly person!”
Feng Yinwan had initially intended to be a quiet troublemaker, but these words were quite unpleasant to her ears.
She frowned and finally spoke in a cold voice.
“Your Highness speaks the truth. Princess Chaonan is indeed ill, and Prince Mo’s actions are somewhat inappropriate.”
“However, I recall that when Princess Chaonan and Prince Mo first betrothed, it was precisely when the former consort’s maternal family suffered a great upheaval.”
“If we are speaking of broken hearts, then the events of today, compared to that time, compared to the former consort, perhaps do not even amount to a fraction. Do you not agree?”
The atmosphere in the hall fell into a dead silence. Ye Tingyun, hearing this, turned even paler.
It wasn't because she had spoken disrespectfully to the Prince of Dingnan, but because of the "former consort" Feng Yinwan had mentioned!
Three years ago, when that woman’s body was brought back, he had seen the madness in his third brother’s eyes.
Third Brother had always been reserved, never easily revealing his emotions. From his return to the capital to the burial, that was the only time he had witnessed Third Brother lose control.
Since then, anything concerning that woman had become an unspoken taboo.
This outer chamber… was she truly unafraid of death?
Feng Yinwan failed to notice their unease.
Her beautiful eyes gazed at the Prince of Dingnan, a chilling coldness pooling in their depths.
He actually had the gall to speak!
When her father and brother met misfortune, she had sat at the celebration banquet feeling like she was burning from within, and who had been the one to aggressively insist on the betrothal between Ye Tinglan and Yunshu?
Now that the tables had turned, and the positions reversed, he couldn't bear it?
She scoffed and turned her gaze away, only to unexpectedly meet a pair of cold eyes.
As dark and heavy as spilled ink, yet also deep and chilling, they made her heart palpitate.
Feng Yinwan’s body stiffened, and as she lowered her gaze to avoid them, she felt inexplicably guilty.
Had she been too harsh?
No, not really.
Those who had witnessed it then were still present today.
Bringing up the past, the Prince of Dingnan’s words were equivalent to slapping himself in the face.
As expected, his expression instantly became exceedingly unpleasant.
“Insolent! When has it been your turn to speak in the grand hall!”
“My daughter’s betrothal to Prince Mo was bestowed by His Majesty. How dare you utter such disrespectful words, you are truly deserving of death!”
He was furious, his voice bordering on a roar.
Feng Yinwan glanced at him and clicked her tongue.
Already losing his composure?
She hadn't even started pushing her luck.
“Since Your Highness knows that the imperial will cannot be trifled with, why did you then try to obstruct it? His Majesty does not appear to have spoken yet.”
“May I ask Your Highness, is disrespecting His Majesty in such a manner also deserving of death?”
“You…!”
If swords were allowed in the hall, the Prince of Dingnan would likely have already unleashed a hundred strikes.
But now, he could only shoot daggers with his eyes, which Feng Yinwan bore with indifference, her face showing no fear.
The Prince of Dingnan glared at her fiercely, then quickly turned to the Emperor.
“Your Majesty! This woman is vulgar and speaks utter nonsense. Such character is absolutely unworthy of the position of concubine! I beg Your Majesty to see clearly!”
Feng Yinwan finally stood up and performed a slow, unhurried bow.
“Your Majesty, my admiration is for Prince Mo himself, not for anything else. As long as our hearts are in tune, status is of no consequence. I would not dare to aspire to the position of concubine.”
After all, this was an act. She could vent her anger, but there was no need to get herself truly entangled.
Yet, Ye Tinglan had no intention of letting her off the hook.
“Father Emperor, Princess Chaonan has been gravely ill for a long time, and further delay is futile. I genuinely like this woman. I beg you to permit me to take her as a concubine and have her enter the manor on the same day as the Princess. In this way, it will also bring good fortune to the Princess.”
Feng Yinwan: ???
I'm treating this as an act, and you want to use me for good luck?
Without a second thought, she flatly refused.
“Absolutely not! I am already profoundly grateful for the Prince’s heartfelt affection. However, I am of humble birth and fear I cannot bear such an honor. The Prince need not go to such lengths!”
Go to hell, whoever wants to bring good luck can do so, but she wouldn’t.
The Prince of Dingnan, who had been consumed by rage, was momentarily stunned to hear Ye Tinglan actually open to the idea of the wedding.
Just as he was about to speak again, Ye Tinglan’s voice rang out with conviction.
“Although you come from humble origins, your character is genuine and lovable, which is rare and precious. In my eyes, you have never been a lowly person.”
Feng Yinwan: “……”
Weren't you the one who just called me scheming and ill-intentioned?
“Your Highness, I am arrogant, jealous, and lack etiquette. You saw it just now. I and the Prince of Dingnan…”
“This is your first time entering the palace, so a lack of etiquette is understandable. In the future, I will teach you myself.”
His ink-black eyes looked at her, filled with an indescribable tenderness at that moment.
Feng Yinwan sneered, her molars grinding audibly.
Before she could say another word, her hand was suddenly clasped by Ye Tinglan.
The dry heat of his palm reached her along with his voice.
“Do not worry, with me here, no one will dare to look down on you.”
Such sweet words, but this scoundrel was gripping her so tightly her hand felt like it was about to shatter!
Feng Yinwan was in too much pain to speak, so he seized the opportunity to embrace her and bow.
“I implore Father Emperor for his grace.”
On the surface, their hands were clasped, appearing loving.
Beneath the table, Feng Yinwan’s hidden silver needle was repelled before she could even use it. A surge of energy flowed between their tightly joined palms, locked in an internal power struggle.
After a long moment, a faint “crack” sound was heard. Feng Yinwan’s delicate face paled, and she withdrew her hand.
“………………”
You dead bastard, you got me this time!
The Emperor ultimately agreed.
Although Feng Yinwan had no idea why he agreed, it was probably, possibly, maybe for the sake of bringing good luck.
Once this reason was accepted, the Prince of Dingnan’s rage subsided by more than half.
His gaze towards her was mostly like he was looking at a dead object.
How could Feng Yinwan let him have it easy?
Since resistance was futile, she decided to simply give up.
Leaning intimately against Ye Tinglan, she rubbed her hand while maintaining a smile, silently cursing the bastard.
Several seats away, the Prince of Dingnan couldn’t hear her voice or see her lips move, but he could sense their blatant intimacy.
He slammed down his wine goblet, snorted, and turned his face away.
He wasn't the most reactive or the most furious. That honor belonged to Ye Tingyun.
Third Brother wasn't angry…
Third Brother called her genuine and lovable…
Third Brother would personally teach her etiquette…
Third Brother, he… was probably out of his mind!