These orders were harsh and decisive, and Qin Rulian's face turned ashen upon hearing them.
Without the slightest chance to react, several eunuchs stepped forward and dragged her up together.
She struggled with all her might, but the Empress did not even glance at her. Instead, she turned, half-carrying Ye Tingzhu, and her sharp, cold gaze swept over the gate eunuch, a low growl escaping her lips.
"Did you see clearly who took the Eldest Prince out of the palace?"
This matter should have been trivial. For the eunuch, remembering the exchange between the two was already his limit. Hearing the question, he glanced at the Empress's expression and spoke hesitantly.
"The person's attire was that of an ordinary eunuch, and there was nothing unusual about their speech. This servant... this servant..."
"Useless!"
To be openly taken away like this in broad daylight, yet not a single soul in the entire palace had seen the other's face.
These people were simply a bunch of good-for-nothings!
Fire was practically blazing from the Empress's eyes. She tightened her hold on Ye Tingzhu, hatred churning within her gaze.
The harem was, after all, full of eyes and ears, and the news of what happened in the Imperial Garden quickly spread.
The Empress always cherished Ye Tingzhu as her own life, so Feng Yinwan was not surprised at all by the order to have Qin Rulian beaten to death.
When she entered Linghua Hall, Ye Tingyun had also clearly sensed something was amiss. Seeing her, he immediately stepped forward.
"It's so chaotic outside, did something happen?"
The only event that could cause such a commotion in the harem right now was likely the Emperor's passing.
He nervously clenched his fingers, but when Feng Yinwan spoke, she brought other news.
"The Empress just ordered Qin Rulian to be beaten to death."
"Beaten to death?!"
Ye Tingyun exclaimed in utter disbelief, "Weren't things fine last night? How did it suddenly..."
His words trailed off, his gaze fixed on Feng Yinwan as he slowly asked.
"Was it you?"
Feng Yinwan lifted her lips, offering no confirmation or denial.
"Right now, Ye Tingzhu is poisoned by the Fragrant Soul Guiding Poison. The Empress is preoccupied with her own troubles and will inevitably slow her actions. And last night, I gave the Emperor another dose of the elixir. He will wake up soon."
According to Luo Qingyi's instructions, the elixir would only take effect after being taken for a full day. This was precisely why she had to act against Qin Rulian and Ye Tingzhu today.
Ye Tingyun had not expected that in just one night, the situation outside would have changed so drastically.
He was stunned for a moment after hearing her words, then nodded solemnly. "I understand."
What Feng Yinwan had done was not merely for revenge. More importantly, it was to alleviate the current crisis, allowing them some time to breathe.
Beyond this, there was another layer that Ye Tingyun had not considered: it was for Noble Consort Yu, who was hidden behind the scenes.
Changle Palace.
After the Empress had Ye Tingzhu carried back, she dismissed everyone.
The palace doors remained closed for the entire afternoon, and the hall was silent, with no further sounds emanating from within.
Without orders, no one dared to disturb them rashly, and thus, the atmosphere outside the hall was somewhat relaxed.
As night fell, a figure slipped past the guards' sight and quietly clung to the roof of the sleeping quarters.
The Fragrant Soul Guiding Poison was a concoction of the villain. Ordinary imperial physicians would naturally be unable to cure it. Faced with helplessness, Feng Yinwan was certain that the Empress would seek help from Noble Consort Yu.
And now was the perfect opportunity for her to find the person's hiding place.
She paused on the roof, and a faint sound drifted from the sleeping chambers below. Feng Yinwan's beautiful eyes darkened. Following the source of the sound, she stepped forward and gently moved aside a roof tile.
The candlelight within the hall was dim and hazy. In the mist, two figures gradually emerged.