A single sentence from Wen Yan felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, an endless warmth seeping through his palm. Feng Yin Wan’s heart stirred, and she shook her head with effort.
Before she could speak further, the Emperor’s concerned voice rang out.
“You are not yet fully recovered, do not stand. Sit down.”
Ye Ting Yun, who had just been force-fed a mouthful of affection, paused and felt tears of gratitude welling up.
“Your son thanks Father…”
“Yun Xiu, quickly fetch a chair for your Imperial Concubine.”
His words of gratitude, left unfinished, were mercilessly interrupted by the Emperor. Ye Ting Yun froze, turning to stone in an instant.
Those words were not directed at him, but at his mother!
Wuwuwu, why must a dog be killed twice in a row!
His pride was wounded, he was leaving!
After settling Consort Li, the Emperor bypassed Ye Ting Yun and walked forward. “Mother, how is it? Is the fetus in the Ink Prince Consort’s womb in any grave danger?”
This question struck at the heart of the matter. The Empress immediately responded.
“Your Majesty arrives at the most opportune moment. The Ink Prince Consort only recently awoke. Imperial Physician Jiang is not here. The Empress Dowager and I were just discussing sending Imperial Physician Zhao to take the Ink Prince Consort’s pulse.”
As these words left her lips, not only Ye Ting Yun, but even the chill on Ye Ting Lan’s face intensified.
Before the Emperor, it was likely impossible to utter a single word of refusal.
As expected, the Emperor nodded immediately upon hearing this. “Indeed, we must take her pulse to be at ease. Lan’er, do not only dote on your Consort. Have Imperial Physician Zhao step forward and examine the Ink Prince Consort.”
Ye Ting Lan stood by the bedside, but did not move an inch.
The imperial physician, blocked from advancing, remained at the rear. The Emperor frowned at this and called out again, “Lan’er?”
This call carried a hint of displeasure, yet Ye Ting Lan acted as if he hadn’t heard, refusing to step aside.
Ye Ting Yun watched nervously from the side, about to step forward and pull him, but Ye Ting Lan let go of Feng Yin Wan’s hand first.
“Father, you called me?”
These words were somewhat perfunctory.
The Emperor cast him a displeased glance and said sternly, “Withdraw.”
Daring not to disobey the imperial decree, the imperial physician, now unimpeded, stepped forward. Just as he was about to place the diagnostic cloth on Feng Yin Wan’s wrist and kneel, a frightened cry from a palace maid suddenly rang out.
“Blood! The Ink… the Ink Prince Consort is bleeding!”
The speaker was a young maid from Consort Li’s palace. She stood on the side where Feng Yin Wan’s feet were. Earlier, everyone’s attention had been on Feng Yin Wan, so they hadn’t noticed her.
Seeing her suddenly speak, the Empress Dowager’s face darkened, and she immediately reprimanded her.
“You scoundrel, what unlucky words are you spouting!”
For a pregnant woman, the worst thing was bleeding. Feng Yin Wan, having been frightened and injured, was already in a worrying state. The Empress Dowager naturally could not tolerate such words.
Her face flashed with anger, and she was about to order the maid to be dragged away. However, before her command could be uttered, Su Xi, by the Empress’s side, exclaimed in astonishment.
“The Ink Prince Consort… is bleeding!”
The moment these words left her lips, she covered her mouth with her hand. The Empress Dowager’s face trembled violently, and she immediately turned to look.
To facilitate matters today, Feng Yin Wan had deliberately worn a light-colored dress. Furthermore, the dress was made of soft silk, and even the slightest bloodstain would be extremely noticeable.
The Empress Dowager hurried closer and indeed caught sight of a smear of fresh red beneath her skirt. Instantly, her expression changed drastically.
“Imperial Physician Zhao! What is happening with the Ink Prince Consort’s pregnancy!”
Seeing this, Feng Yin Wan knew her plan had succeeded. Her eyebrows furrowed, and she was about to feign extreme pain. Unexpectedly, a sudden sharp pain in her lower abdomen caused her to faint directly.
The hall descended into chaos. Before her consciousness faded, Ye Ting Lan’s urgent cry was particularly clear amidst the din.
Feng Yin Wan woke up to find herself in a different place.
The carved and painted beams of the ceiling were exceptionally opulent, and even the sky-blue tent was incredibly luxurious. Therefore, she deduced that she was still in the palace.
The sharp pain in her lower abdomen had long since vanished. As she tried to sit up, an intense dizziness washed over her, leaving her feeling lightheaded.
Ye Ting Lan was not in the room, nor was Ye Ting Yun. The Empress Dowager and the others were nowhere to be seen. Feng Yin Wan sighed and gave up.
Outside, candlelight flickered, and the occasional clamor could be heard. She listened intently for a while but could only discern two words.
Defection.
These two words sounded serious but seemed to have no connection to today’s events. She frowned and pondered for a long time, then decided to let it go.
The palace seemed to be quite lively tonight. Figures rushed back and forth outside, yet no one came to attend to her. A wave of dizziness returned, and Feng Yin Wan simply drifted back to sleep.
When she opened her eyes again, she was awakened by a commotion outside.
“Princess, the Ink Prince has ordered no one to enter. You should still…”
“Move aside! It was just a bit of bleeding. By this hour, she should have woken up. Is she really that delicate!”
The voice was spoiled and imperious. Before she could discern further, the door was forcefully pushed open. Feng Yin Wan turned her head and saw a figure in a crimson dress stride in arrogantly.
It was Ye Zi Yun.
Their eyes met. Ye Zi Yun’s lips curled into a sneer. “I said, isn’t she already awake?”
“Princess…”
The palace maid weakly followed her in. Seeing Feng Yin Wan awake, she was also startled but dared not obstruct her further.
“This Princess has something to say to the Ink Prince Consort. Hurry and withdraw!”
“Yes.”
Avoiding Feng Yin Wan’s gaze, the palace maid nodded and immediately withdrew.
The palace was, after all, different from the Prince’s Estate. Feng Yin Wan hadn’t expected her to be able to stop Ye Zi Yun. She pursed her lips and averted her gaze, slowly closing her beautiful eyes.
“This Consort is unwell and cannot speak with Princess Qing Yun at the moment. Princess, please return.”
This woman dared to order her away!
Ye Zi Yun let out a cold snort and immediately stepped forward.
“Unwell?”
“Your father and brother have suffered defeat on the front lines. Father and Brother are currently overwhelmed with this matter, yet you have the leisure to sleep at such a time!”
She stood right in front of her, and her words reached Feng Yin Wan’s ears without missing a beat.
Feng Yin Wan’s expression froze, and she suddenly opened her eyes.
“What did you say?”
Her movement to sit up was too swift, and the wound on her shoulder was pulled, causing fresh blood to seep out.
Seeing this, Ye Zi Yun’s lips curled, and her voice became even more contemptuous.
“This Princess says that your father and brother have disgraced their imperial command, leading fifty thousand troops and still being defeated. They are utterly unworthy of Father Emperor’s high hopes!”
“What is this ‘Great General Who Guards the Nation,’ what is this ‘Young Talent’? They cannot even defeat a mere barbarian. They truly shame our Jing Dynasty!”
These words, sharp as needles, caused the color to drain further from Feng Yin Wan’s face.
“Impossible!”
Ye Ting Lan had previously told her that General Feng and Feng Jing Yuan were advancing like breaking bamboos, and victory was imminent.
How could the situation have changed so drastically in just a few days!
“What is impossible about it? Father Emperor is still discussing this matter with Brother and the other ministers in the Hall of Diligent Governance. If you don’t believe me, you can go and see for yourself! However, whether Father Emperor will permit you to enter is another matter!”
A sharp pain radiated from her shoulder, making Feng Yin Wan’s pretty face turn pale, yet she felt a chill run through her entire body.
What… what exactly was going on?!