Yu Mingyue feigned composure, "They are merely washed clothes and books, inconvenient to open lest they soil your eyes, Imperial Consort."
Feng Yingying circled the chests, then raised her foot to kick one. Yu Mingyue, disregarding everything, lunged forward to shield the chest, and Feng Yingying's kick landed squarely on her.
Yu Mingyue was, after all, an official of the court. Even if she had erred, it was for the Sage to reprimand, not for a consort to admonish, especially since Feng Yingying was merely the Crown Prince's Liangdi.
Feng Yingying was clearly taken aback. She hadn't expected Yu Mingyue to protect the chests so fiercely.
In her haste to shield the chests, Yu Mingyue's knees struck the ground heavily, and her palms scraped the surface, likely abrading the skin, causing a burning pain.
Yet, even so, Yu Mingyue had no intention of moving, her body still guarding the part of the chest facing Feng Yingying.
Having the chests contain Yu Xi's body was already enough to make her feel wronged; she could not let her suffer further humiliation.
Yu Mingyue slowly raised her head to look at Feng Yingying, uncertain if she knew something. Logically, Feng Yingying's visit was merely a formality. She hadn't shown herself much since arriving at the temple, only complaining daily about the temple's food being unpalatable. But her appearance here now was indeed suspicious.
"Your Imperial Consort's person is precious, be careful not to injure your foot."
Feng Yingying retracted her expression, looking down at Yu Mingyue from her superior position. She wiped her retracted foot on Yu Mingyue's robes and said with disgust, "How inauspicious, stepping on some dirty thing and soiling my shoes."
A night breeze swept by, carrying a chill. Yu Mingyue took a breath and smiled, "This subject has helped your Imperial Consort wipe them clean."
Yu Mingyue knelt before Feng Yingying, her tone respectful, adopting a submissive posture. She then took out a handkerchief and gently wiped Feng Yingying's clean shoes, her expression earnest, as if she were cleaning some peerless treasure.
Li Fu clenched his fists, wishing he could rush forward and kill Feng Yingying on the spot. But he knew that impatience could ruin great plans. If the matter escalated and guards were summoned, it would be a capital offense.
Yu Mingyue, her face impassive, finished wiping the shoes and asked with a smile, "This subject has wiped away the dirt."
Feng Yingying treated her as her own servant, withdrew her foot, and snorted, "Don't think this will make me let you off."
"The night is deep and the dew is heavy. Perhaps this subject should escort your Imperial Consort back first. This subject will accept any punishment from your Imperial Consort."
They had brought the chests, so they couldn't use the main gate. They had to climb over this wall. A servant was already waiting on the other side.
If Feng Yingying didn't leave, their plan would fail. This was the weakest point of the guard.
"If I made you kneel here all night, perhaps my anger would subside..."
As Feng Yingying finished speaking, Yu Mingyue knelt down with her other leg, "In the past, this subject was foolish. This subject is willing to accept punishment."
Feng Yingying's eyes widened in shock. She was not acting like herself today.
Feng Yingying adjusted the silk scarf around her shoulders and looked arrogantly at Yu Mingyue, "Yu Liu Niang, weren't you always so unyielding? Why are you now begging like a lapdog, making me lose interest instead."
"Your Imperial Consort is magnanimous, unlike this subject." Yu Mingyue just wanted Feng Yingying to leave quickly. Even if she had to call her ancestor or great-grandmother today, she would.
"Hahaha... this is truly the funniest joke I've ever heard." Feng Yingying suddenly burst into laughter, a somewhat manic laughter that was particularly jarring in the silent night. Yu Mingyue feared she would summon the guards.
"Your Imperial Consort, please calm your anger," Yu Mingyue crawled forward on her knees, attempting to stop Feng Yingying's frenzy.
Feng Yingying remained unmoved. Instead, she loudly called out, "Guards!"
"Your Imperial Consort," Yu Mingyue anxiously reached to grab Feng Yingying's foot, but it was too late. The guards arrived quickly.
"These few disobedient servants disrespected me. Drive them out, and take away this broken chest too," Feng Yingying said fiercely.
"Yes!"
Yu Mingyue froze for a moment, then quickly reacted, and shouted at the stunned Li Fu, "Your Imperial Consort told you to get out, why aren't you leaving quickly."
Li Fu was worried about Yu Mingyue, but this was the best opportunity. If they missed it, they wouldn't be able to leave tonight.
The guards urged Li Fu and the others to leave. Li Fu dared not delay and ordered his subordinates to carry the chests away. They were being hurried by the guards, so naturally, no one dared to stop them.
After everyone had left, Feng Yingying's gaze slowly turned to Yu Mingyue, "Just a pitiful person like me."
Sent into the palace by her family, she could only live like a puppet her entire life. It was good to die; death was liberation.
Yu Mingyue trembled, looking at Feng Yingying with disbelief. It was like a still pool stirred by ripples, only to quickly return to calm.
"Your Imperial Consort is magnanimous," Yu Mingyue replied ambiguously.
Feng Yingying's lips curved into a sarcastic smile. She looked up at the dark night sky. The moon was like a willow leaf, the stars lonely. "You don't know how much I hate you, but sometimes I envy you. Sometimes I even wonder if you would help me like this if I were your friend."
When Yu Mingyue was kneeling and wiping her shoes, she felt incredibly gratified. But after the gratification, she felt pathetic.
Pathetic that Feng Yingying, after almost twenty years of life, had no one who would wholeheartedly help her.
"Yu Liu Niang, tell me, if we had grown up together, would we have been friends?"
"I never thought of being your enemy. Six Niang will remember your great kindness today. In the future, if your Imperial Consort has any commands, Six Niang will go through fire and water without hesitation."
"Truly?"
"Truly!"
"What if I asked you to help me leave the palace?"
Yu Mingyue was stunned. How could she have such a thought? But before she could answer, Feng Yingying spoke first, "I was just joking with you." She turned and took a few steps before stopping again. "Stay away from Luo Lingyi in the future. She is not as simple as she seems."
With that, she strode away. The night wind lifted the hem of her skirt, the skirt fluttering like a song. This was the first time Yu Mingyue felt she couldn't quite understand Feng Yingying.