When the commotion from Chunxi Palace reached them, Feng Yinwan and the others in the sleeping quarters had been awake all night.
Jiang Rumao, who had been attentively observing the Emperor’s condition by the bedside, turned to Feng Yinwan and Ye Tingyun as soon as she noticed his pulse had temporarily stabilized.
“It’s done.”
After a night of turmoil, the heavy stone in their hearts finally lifted, and both exhaled in relief.
Feng Yinwan stood up, examined the Emperor’s pulse again, and handed a bottle of pills to Jiang Rumao.
“This breath has been bought, for now. Take these pills with water, they will help him hold on a little longer, for however long that may be.”
Having not rested all night, and with her wrist injured, her complexion, along with her lips, had turned a faint white.
Seeing this, Ye Tingyun’s gaze darkened. He opened his mouth to tell her to rest for a while, but before he could speak, the eunuch attending him hurried in from outside.
The Empress had openly pursued both the imperial decree and the retrieval of the treasure books.
The stir at Chunxi Palace had been significant, and Ye Tingyun’s expression shifted drastically upon hearing the eunuch’s report.
“What about Mother Consort? What is the current situation there?”
This treasure book was split into two parts; not only was Consort Rong in possession of one, but Noble Consort Li also held the other.
If the Empress intended to retrieve it, she would not only target Consort Rong’s.
The eunuch immediately lowered his head. “Your servant rushed here as soon as he heard about this in the harem. He hasn’t had time to go to Noble Consort’s side to check.”
Ye Tingyun’s brows furrowed even tighter.
“No, I must go to Chunhe Palace.”
Consort Rong, when cornered, was not easy to deal with, but he understood Noble Consort Li’s temperament. She was likely not suited to handle such disputes.
Feng Yinwan had also heard the eunuch’s words and nodded upon hearing this.
“Go. Jiang Taiyi and I will watch over things here. There shouldn’t be any major trouble for now.”
“Alright.”
Without delay, Ye Tingyun nodded and left with the eunuch.
Feng Yinwan pondered for a moment, then turned to Jiang Rumao. “I need to go out for a bit.”
Feng Jingyuan had accompanied her last night.
Because it was inconvenient for him to be seen, Feng Jingyuan had remained hidden in the shadows. Now that the Emperor’s condition was stable, she needed to speak with her brother.
She slipped out of the palace from the back of the hall, avoiding any prying eyes. The moment her feet touched the ground, Feng Jingyuan emerged from the shadows.
They understood each other without a word. Feng Yinwan nodded and spoke directly.
“Brother, given the current situation, I’m afraid I’ll have to trouble you more.”
The events of last night had shown that almost all the Imperial Guards in the sleeping quarters were the Empress’s informants. Although the Emperor’s life was saved, there was no guarantee that something similar to what happened before wouldn’t occur again.
The poisoner was elusive, and Jiang Rumao, a frail imperial physician, was utterly incapable of dealing with such matters.
Feng Jingyuan understood immediately and nodded. “Wan’er, don’t worry. I will ensure His Majesty’s safety.”
Feng Yinwan nodded, then thought of the vanished Consort Yu, her gaze sharpening slightly.
“Brother, you don’t need to trouble yourself with that person’s matters for now. I already have a plan in mind.”
Feng Jingyuan was taken aback and nodded in response. “Good.”
As expected, when Ye Tingyun hurried to Chunhe Palace, the eunuchs sent by the Empress were confronting Yunxiu and the others.
Noble Consort Li, overwhelmed by the disturbance, was becoming increasingly weak, her body that had begun to recover now showing signs of deterioration.
Seeing this, Ye Tingyun’s heart sank, and he quickly stepped forward.
“Mother Consort!”
Upon seeing him, the eunuch’s demeanor shifted slightly. Yunxiu also retreated to Noble Consort Li’s side.
Her forearm supported, Noble Consort Li looked up, a trace of worry on her face. “Why have you come?”
Ye Tingyun’s gaze swept over the eunuchs, and his tone immediately turned cold.
“If I hadn’t come, how would I know Mother Consort was suffering such humiliation!”
Noble Consort Li shook her head and was about to speak when Yunxiu spoke before her.
“Fortunately, Your Highness arrived in time, otherwise who knows what further indignities they would have inflicted upon our mistress!”
These curs, relying on the Empress’s power, had become arrogant enough to act with impunity in the harem.
Anticipating such a result, Ye Tingyun stepped forward, snatched the wooden stick from a palace servant, and swung it at the eunuch in front of him.
His attack was sudden, striking the eunuch directly on the head. The eunuch reeled, and blood immediately trickled from his forehead.
The other two eunuchs had never witnessed such ferocity. They quickly helped their comrade up, lowering their heads, afraid to utter a sound.
Ye Tingyun paid them no mind. He stepped forward again and struck the eunuch’s knee joint heavily. Only when all three were properly kneeling on the ground did he stop.
He flung the wooden stick away, snatched the treasure book from Yunxiu’s hand, and threw it back. He said coldly,
“My mother consort is not one to meddle in affairs. I won’t stop you from taking the treasure book, but if anyone dares to disrespect my mother consort, I will kill him first!”
Inside and outside the palace, it was commonly known that he was a kind-hearted and soft-tempered person. Yet, when it came to punishing others, he showed no restraint.
Seeing this, the three dared not be insolent any longer. They quickly took the treasure book and scurried out of Chunhe Palace.
Ye Tingyun watched them leave with a cold gaze for a few moments before turning to assist Noble Consort Li.
“Mother Consort, it is windy outside. Please go inside.”
Noble Consort Li nodded and ordered Yunxiu to dismiss the others, then walked back into the hall with him.
Even with Feng Yinwan’s prescriptions aiding her, her body could not withstand the wind.
Standing outside for too long just now, coupled with the vexing situation, she was now having difficulty breathing.
Ye Tingyun helped her sit down and took a cup of hot tea from Yunxiu, offering it to her. “Mother Consort, drink this. It will warm you up.”
Noble Consort Li nodded, took the cup, and sipped a few times. Her complexion began to recover, but she immediately set aside her own discomfort and asked about the Empress Dowager’s condition.
“The Empress has gained power and acts tyrannically. I heard that last night the Empress Dowager was sent back to Yongshou Palace by the Imperial Guards at her command. I don’t know what the situation is now. If you can, you should go and see.”
Ye Tingyun nodded. “Mother Consort, please rest assured. I was just about to go.”
He had thought of this on his way here, but he was worried about Noble Consort Li, so he came to Chunhe Palace first.
Taking the empty cup from her hand, he said indignantly, “Mother Consort’s body requires rest. Keeping the treasure book is merely adding to her burden. I rather think it’s good that she took it. It’s just that these dog servants who rely on power and act so arrogantly are truly infuriating!”
Noble Consort Li gently shook her head as he spoke, her tone light. “It’s nothing. With Yunxiu here, they wouldn’t dare be too presumptuous. You don’t need to worry about me.”
Yunxiu was a maidservant personally chosen for her by the Emperor. Although she did not appear to be so, she actually possessed some martial skills.
Ye Tingyun knew this and nodded. He looked at her and continued to admonish her.
“Since the treasure book has been taken, and given the current situation, Mother Consort should order the palace gates to be closed and focus on recuperating. Let them stir up trouble outside.”