Feng Yinwan truly didn't care.
Meeting his gaze, she nodded, asking with feigned surprise, "What, Your Highness is unwilling?"
She had thought he would be eager.
Ye Tinglan clearly understood her look, and his anger flared.
Unwilling! He was exceedingly unwilling!
His thin lips pressed together, and he spoke with a cold expression, "No, this matter, this prince cannot agree to."
Feng Yinwan frowned, "Why? You just said yourself, dispose of me as you wish."
"I...!"
He had told her to dispose of him as she pleased, but he hadn't told her to dispose of someone by taking them for herself!
Suppressing his emotions, his expression slowly calmed. Ye Tinglan looked at her and, enduring his anger, asked, "Why do you want to take her as a concubine?"
Feng Yinwan answered without batting an eye.
"Naturally, it's for lovers to end up together, for a devoted heart not to be disappointed."
Ye Tinglan chided her, "Speak sense."
Feng Yinwan: "Oh, I want to keep her in the manor and personally teach her proper conduct."
Her original intention was to say that the matter of Chang Le Palace had not yet been investigated, and keeping her was still useful. But under his cold interrogation, she inadvertently blurted out her true thoughts.
The moment she said it, Feng Yinwan was already regretting it.
But Ye Tinglan seemed to be blinded by anger at the moment and didn't delve deeper. Instead, he followed her words.
"Teaching her manners is acceptable, but taking her as a concubine is not. If you wish to keep her by your side to serve you, this prince will have her serve as your maid."
If a maid could solve it, why take a concubine!
He disagreed!
"A maid?"
Feng Yinwan clearly hadn't expected such a maneuver from him. She raised an eyebrow at the suggestion, but her heart found it unreliable.
"Qin Rulian is the Empress's niece. Although they are cousins, she is still half a noble lady. For Your Highness to demote her to servitude with a single word, that seems..."
She still doubted.
Meeting her eyes, filled with deep suspicion, Ye Tinglan looked up. His expression was resolute and unwavering.
"If this prince says it's possible, then it's possible. Today, she will come to your courtyard to serve. Do not mention taking her as a concubine again."
He seemed still quite angered. He lightly slapped the table and stood up indignantly.
"This prince has matters to attend to, I will return now. Eat slowly, someone will come to clear up later."
With that, he strode out. Yuping stood guard outside, and upon seeing his cold, stern face emerge, she was taken aback.
What... was wrong now? Weren't things fine just a moment ago?
Ye Tinglan was truly decisive. In less than half an hour, Qi Xuan appeared in the courtyard with Qin Rulian.
Feng Yinwan had just finished a cup of honey dew. Seeing them, she raised an eyebrow and put down her bowl.
"Greetings, Consort."
Qi Xuan stepped forward. Outside, two guards had brought Qin Rulian, forcing her to kneel on the ground.
Feng Yinwan nodded, and then she heard him say, "On behalf of His Highness, we have brought Miss Qin. Please, Consort, verify."
Qin Rulian never imagined that Ye Tinglan would send her to be this woman's servant!
She knelt on the ground, her head tilted back forcefully, her eyes glaring fiercely at Feng Yinwan. Yet, she could not utter a single word.
Just last night, she had been knocked unconscious in the wood shed. When she woke up, her throat had returned to its previous hoarse silence.
She couldn't speak again!
Last night in the wood shed, only one person had gone. Because that person carried the scent of Golden Thread Orchid, she had mistaken them for someone from the Empress's side, been deceived into revealing her secrets, and handed over the Fragrant Soul Charm. After that, she had been knocked unconscious!
Earlier, in the bridal chamber, this woman had given her a muting pill. Now, with her voice lost again, it was definitely her doing.
Her suspicions were indeed correct. This woman was definitely targeting her aunt!
And most infuriatingly, she clearly knew all of this but couldn't speak at all. The informants she had placed in the manor had all been removed. Now, not only could she not escape, but she was also being sent to be a maid for this woman!
Damn it! This woman deserved to die!
She glared fiercely at Feng Yinwan as she approached, her eyes almost bursting.
But before she could unleash more fury, her chin was forcefully grasped.
Feng Yinwan looked down at her, her eyes filled with cold mockery.
"We haven't seen each other for two days, Miss Qin, and your charm is as radiant as ever."
She applied some force to her grip, and Qin Rulian immediately winced in pain. She couldn't speak, so she could only curse her with her eyes.
What two days!
They had clearly met just last night in the wood shed!
This wicked woman, after seeing her in such a pathetic state, still used "charm as radiant as ever" to mock her, clearly intending to laugh at her misfortune!
Feng Yinwan indeed made no effort to hide it.
After admiring her utterly disheveled face for a moment, her beautiful eyes curved, and her red lips parted lightly.
"On the wedding day, this consort felt quite a connection with Miss Qin, which is why I asked someone to keep you in the manor for a few extra days."
"I've heard of Miss Qin's devoted affection for His Highness. Originally, this consort was also inclined to fulfill your wishes and have His Highness take you as a concubine to keep you in the manor. Unfortunately, His Highness truly refused, and in his anger, he threw a great tantrum just now."
"Since that's the case, you can only be a maid, Miss Qin. You've always been sensible, so you'll surely understand, won't you?"
Her eyelashes drooped, her brows soft, as if she were genuinely asking.
Qin Rulian struggled forcefully with her chin, only to hear Feng Yinwan suddenly laugh.
"Oh my, Miss Qin, you are truly understanding."
Qin Rulian felt like spitting blood.
But before she could, Feng Yinwan waved her hand, signaling the guards to drag her away.
Turning around, Qi Xuan was still trailing behind, looking diligently as if awaiting her reply.
Feng Yinwan glanced at him, wiped her hands with a handkerchief, and nodded, "Alright, tell His Highness I am very satisfied."
"Yes."
Qi Xuan responded and stepped back. Looking in that direction, he seemed to be heading towards the room.
Feng Yinwan frowned slightly, preparing to remind him that he was going to the wrong place, when she saw him lurch forward abruptly.
"I'll do it. You don't need to."
Inside the room, Yuping had just put away a set of bowls and chopsticks. She was startled by the sudden commotion and nearly dropped them.
Qi Xuan, quick to react, caught them. He looked up and met her suspicious gaze, a slight blush appearing on his face as he said softly.
"His Highness ordered me to come and clean up. You don't need to worry about it."
"His Highness?"
Yuping looked unconvinced.
The Prince's expression hadn't been very good when he came out of the room earlier. Even so, could he have specially sent someone to clean up?
Moreover, him, a guard, doing such a task... wouldn't that be a bit incongruous?
She frowned and looked at him, but Qi Xuan nodded without hesitation.
"It was His Highness."
He uttered those three words and continued cleaning. Yuping stared at his busy back, her confusion deepening.
Before she could ask further questions, she heard a "bang."
Qi Xuan, not being gentle, had crushed a bowl.
Yuping: "..."
Great. Now she was even more suspicious.