The consequences of leaving were almost predictable. Angering Ye Tinglan was no small matter, and the child in her womb was even less so.
Yuping nodded, without the slightest hesitation.
"Miss, your maid is of course willing, it's just..."
Taking the young lady out of the manor alone was already difficult. If she had to take her too, it might be a bit challenging.
Feng Yinwan nodded, tightening her grip on Yuping's hand.
"Let me think of a way."
...
Xiuchun Courtyard.
Since hearing those words that morning, Qin Rulian had been restless. Now, after waiting in her room for a long time, she finally saw Shuangxi return.
"How is it? Has Qi Xuan returned?"
He had been ordered by Ye Tinglan to investigate and had left the manor in the morning. She hadn't seen hide nor hair of him all day, and Qin Rulian's heart hadn't been at ease for a single moment.
Shuangxi shook her head. "Miss, your maid did not find any trace of Guard Qi in the manor. I presume he has not yet returned..."
"Not back yet?!"
Qin Rulian shot to her feet abruptly, then realized something, her face turning pale. She immediately sank back down.
It's over, it's all over! Qi Xuan must have gone to the estate!
Feise had been sent there long ago. The last few times she had sent someone to ask for her to be brought back to the manor, she had managed to brush them off. Now, Qi Xuan had been ordered by Ye Tinglan to question her, and she was afraid she would confess everything she had been instructed to say!
Worse still... she might even reveal the matter of the Spring Festival sacrifice!
Her eyelids twitched violently. Qin Rulian's face turned deathly pale, and she almost stumbled as she rose.
She had to go to the palace! Her aunt would surely have a solution!
...
Changle Palace.
The Empress was having a headache over the marriage proposal for Prince Dingnan. Seeing Qin Rulian barge in without regard for etiquette, she was immediately displeased.
"Didn't you go back today? At this hour, why are you in the palace again?"
She had used her name to act recklessly in the palace several times, which had already drawn much gossip.
However, Qin Rulian couldn't bother with all that. Biting her lip, she immediately threw herself forward, weeping.
"Aunt! For some reason, the Prince wants to re-investigate the previous matter. Now Qi Xuan has gone to the estate, and as soon as Feise speaks, everything... it will all be over!"
Although her scheme to frame that lowly woman had failed, Ye Tinglan's favor towards her had long since waned. If he found out about this, he might even drive her out of the manor!
The Empress's brows furrowed upon hearing this. "What a commotion, what kind of decorum is this!"
"She's just a maid. She left the manor a long time ago, and how much credibility do her words have! It's you who is panicking, truly useless!"
Ye Tinglan had been recuperating in the palace for several days. She had intended to keep Qin Rulian in the palace so she could seize the opportunity to win Ye Tinglan's heart. Unfortunately, she was truly incompetent. Not only had there been no improvement, but now her mess had been exposed, which was truly disappointing!
Startled somewhat by the sternness in her voice, Qin Rulian bit her lip and still spoke, "Aunt, Feise is no ordinary maid. She has been by my side for a long time. The Prince specifically sent Qi Xuan to the estate, so he will naturally believe her words. No matter what, you must help me with this matter!"
Her panic didn't seem feigned. The Empress glanced at her, her expression deepening. She then asked,
"This matter wasn't already dealt with? Without any reason, why would Ye Tinglan re-investigate?"
Every abnormal behavior needed a logical motive, especially when it occurred after last night.
Qin Rulian naturally hadn't thought that far. Hearing the question, she paused and then said hesitantly, "Perhaps that lowly woman said something to the Prince last night?"
Besides this, she couldn't think of a second possibility.
However, Feng Yinwan bringing up the old matter also needed a reason.
The Empress's eyes flickered imperceptibly. "At yesterday's banquet, Prince Dingnan suddenly mentioned marriage. Feng Yinwan threw a tantrum and left the palace. Why would she suddenly mention this to Ye Tinglan?"
The only thing that would make her reveal the reason for being designed was her chastity!
Recalling that Song Qing'an had also left the palace early yesterday, the Empress's eyes deepened. After a while, she suddenly thought of something, and her expression changed.
"That time you plotted against her, did it succeed?"
Unsure which night she was referring to, the Spring Festival sacrifice or the other, Qin Rulian blinked slightly. "Aunt, which one are you referring to..."
The Empress gave her an impatient glare.
"Stupid girl, the matter of the Spring Festival sacrifice was suppressed by me on your behalf, do I still need to ask?"
Qin Rulian bit her lip. After hesitating, she still said aggrievedly, "Aunt, my two schemes both failed. If they had succeeded, would that lowly woman be living as she is today?"
The Empress frowned. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, the night the Prince returned to the manor, Zhao Si hadn't even been to the manor. I even arranged for Granny Sun to take the Prince to catch them in the act. Even if that lowly woman truly had a lover, it wouldn't be Zhao Si."
As she spoke, she suddenly realized something. Her eyes widened, and she looked at the Empress in disbelief. "Aunt, you mean..."
"No wonder Ye Tinglan was so cold to her after returning to the capital. Feng Yinwan's belly is likely problematic."
She still remembered Ye Tinglan's expression when her pregnancy was confirmed that day. She had felt something was wrong then, and now, thinking back, wasn't that anger and disbelief!
She never expected this juicy gossip to surface. Qin Rulian was so stunned that she almost forgot why she had come to the palace.
"Aunt, then what should we do?"
The Empress glanced at her sideways, her expression softening slightly.
"Don't worry, I will have people handle this matter. You can just wait with peace of mind."
Since she said that, it must be certain.
Qin Rulian's face immediately lit up with joy. "Thank you, Aunt!"
Before, she had dreamed of getting rid of Feng Yinwan's child. She hadn't expected that after so much effort, the woman was carrying a bastard.
Since it was a bastard, what was there to be afraid of! She wouldn't be able to suppress her anymore!
Her eyes shifted, and she immediately looked at the Empress again.
"Aunt, since that's the case, do we still need to give her tonics?"
Earlier, that lowly woman had used the Empress Dowager's name to send her away, and she had been worried about how to proceed. Now, wasn't this perfect?
"Speaking of which, what was that tonic for? Rulian has been thinking about it for a long time and still doesn't understand..."
Before her words were finished, a chilling glance. Realizing she had spoken out of turn, Qin Rulian's expression changed, and she immediately lowered her head.
The Empress glared at her coldly for a moment, and when she spoke again, her voice was no longer as gentle.
"Don't get happy too soon. Even knowing there's a problem with the child, Ye Tinglan has no intention of divorcing her. In this regard, you are truly not half as good as her!"
Her gaze swept over the unwillingness in Qin Rulian's eyes, and she scoffed again, "Moreover, how did you get into Prince Mo's manor? Do I need to remind you of this?"
This sentence successfully changed Qin Rulian's expression.
Her face turned pale, and she gritted her teeth, clenching her fists tightly. "Rulian understands."