The Empress Dowager nodded with satisfaction. "Concubine Yun, you will take the dowry to the Ling Estate tomorrow. After verifying the dowry sent by the Prime Minister, return to the palace."
The Empress Dowager's actions completely cut off any opportunity for Feng Yuanping and his faction to resort to underhanded tactics.
Throughout the entire banquet, Feng Jin sat by the Empress Dowager's side, filled with anxiety. She finally understood what it meant to feel like she was sitting on pins and needles.
All eyes were focused on her.
"Your Majesty, the Emperor... to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, this humble daughter has specially rehearsed a song and dance to present to Your Majesty."
Feng Ruoyan seized the opportune moment to step forward and speak. She had prepared extensively in secret, aiming to regain her lost face and reestablish her title as the foremost talented woman of Southern Chu on this very day.
"Granted," the Empress Dowager stated in a deep voice.
Feng Ruoyan's movements were incredibly graceful. Her dance was as fluid as a swimming dragon, her eyes brimming with affection as she continually gazed towards the Third Prince.
Chu Yanxi already harbored feelings for Feng Ruoyan. With the beauty constantly showing him favor, his heart fluttered, and he longed to hold Feng Ruoyan in his arms and taste her beauty.
"Insolence!" the Empress Dowager shouted furiously, picking up a wine cup from the table and smashing it onto the floor.
Everyone present was startled and hurriedly stood up, kneeling on the ground.
Feng Ruoyan, lost in the act of seducing the Third Prince, stumbled and fell heavily onto the ground, kneeling in a most undignified manner.
"On the Mid-Autumn Festival, to sing such a demoralizing song, and dare to entice the princes, you are truly deserving of death."
"Your Majesty, forgive me, this humble daughter had no such intentions!" Feng Ruoyan trembled with fear and begged for mercy.
"Your Majesty, my daughter absolutely had no such intentions."
Feng Yuanping also hurriedly stepped forward to plead.
"No intentions? The narcissus tattooed on her wrist is used by women of low status to please their customers. Moreover, the song you just sang features Fei Yan and Heduo, two notorious enchantresses who brought ruin to the nation. Is she perhaps taking them as role models and intending to emulate them!"
Feng Ruoyan's face turned ashen. "Your Majesty, this humble daughter merely thought the narcissus looked beautiful and had no such intentions. This song was chosen to match the scene of blooming flowers and a full moon today, not to..."
"Blooming flowers and a full moon? I think you have thoroughly ruined the blooming flowers and full moon. Prime Minister Feng, this is the daughter you raised, truly..."
"Your Majesty!"
"Mother!"
Before the Empress Dowager could finish speaking, she slumped rigidly onto her throne.
Feng Jin rushed forward to take the Empress Dowager's pulse; it was a myocardial infarction.
She took a pill from her怀 and placed it into the Empress Dowager's mouth.
"Your Majesty, disperse everyone and bring screens to surround this area!"
"Quickly, disperse the people..."
Emperor Xuanwen followed Feng Jin's instructions, clearing the area and cordoning off the waterside pavilion.
Feng Jin kept only a few palace maids present. "Lay the Empress Dowager flat on the floor."
The palace maids were stunned, exchanging bewildered glances. The Empress Dowager was the esteemed imperial body; how could she be placed on the floor?
"What are you dawdling for? This is a critical moment, hurry up."
Feng Jin berated them angrily. The palace maids, intimidated, quickly laid the Empress Dowager flat on the floor.
"Have the imperial physicians prepare Si Ni Tang."
There was no nitroglycerin, only the preparation of Si Ni Tang to dilate the blocked blood vessels.
Feng Jin quickly pushed aside the Empress Dowager's clothing and began performing CPR repeatedly.
After three rounds, the Empress Dowager finally showed signs of breathing.
Feng Jin took ginseng slices and had the Empress Dowager place them under her tongue.
"Young Madam, Si Ni Tang is ready."
"Quickly bring it up and let the Empress Dowager take it," Feng Jin instructed urgently.
After taking the Si Ni Tang, the Empress Dowager's breathing gradually stabilized. "Child, I owe you greatly today."
"Your Majesty, your body is weak, please refrain from speaking for now."
Feng Jin took charge of the situation. "Bring a soft couch and escort the Empress Dowager back to Shou'an Palace."
In Shou'an Palace, after taking her medicine, the Empress Dowager had just lain down when Emperor Xuanwen, the Empress, and others knelt outside the door.
"Concubine Yun, let the Emperor in. The rest of you may depart."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Concubine Yun said upon receiving the order and walked out.
"Concubine, how is Mother?"
Emperor Xuanwen asked with utmost respect. Concubine Yun had been by his mother's side since his childhood, and Emperor Xuanwen had been cared for by her, considering her a second mother.
Emperor Xuanwen held Concubine Yun in great esteem.
"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has ordered only Your Majesty to enter. Everyone else should disperse."
Emperor Xuanwen then turned to the others and said, "You may all disperse. Remaining here will only disturb Mother's rest."
"Your Majesty, Mother is gravely ill. As her daughter-in-law, I should be here to serve her. Please allow me to stay."
"Empress, as you know, Mother has never favored you. Your presence will only cause her more worry. Please return for now."
The Empress's expression suddenly turned grim. "Then I shall take my leave."
Since entering the palace, the Empress had been exceedingly respectful to the Empress Dowager, but for some reason, the Empress Dowager had always disliked her, making excuses to refuse her visits each time.
"Your humble servant pays respects to Mother. Is Mother feeling any better?"
"This Empress is fine. I won't die anytime soon."
Emperor Xuanwen was the Empress Dowager's only son. In his childhood, he relied entirely on the Empress Dowager's protection to secure his throne. After he came of age, she retired to the inner palace, entrusting all state affairs to Emperor Xuanwen.
"Mother, please do not say such things. Mother will surely live a long and prosperous life."
"This time, we owe a great debt to Feng Jin for her rescue. Your Majesty must reward her handsomely."
"That is only natural. Feng Jin has rendered meritorious service in saving the Empress Dowager. She is hereby bestowed the title of Princess Ji Ning, with an estate of a thousand households, rewarded with one hundred taels of gold, a thousand taels of silver, and a jade Ruyi..."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. Long live His Majesty!"
Feng Jin quickly knelt to express her gratitude. Emperor Xuanwen was truly generous; she was going to be rich.
The Empress Dowager was very pleased with Emperor Xuanwen's reward for Feng Jin, a smile playing on her lips.
"Your Majesty, Feng Ruoyan sang this song to mock and disrespect the royal family. This is a grave offense. How does Your Majesty intend to deal with her?"
"Mother, Prime Minister Feng is, after all, the head of the officials and has always been loyal. It is difficult to find fault with him. Furthermore, Third Prince is also inclined to marry Feng Ruoyan. Punishing her too heavily or too lightly would be inappropriate. I truly haven't thought of how to deal with her for the moment."
The matter of disrespecting the royal family, if handled severely, could lead to the execution of the entire clan; but if handled lightly, it would make the royal family appear lacking in law and majesty, fostering misguided behavior.
"Then listen to me. Feng Ruoyan showed disrespect to the royal family. In consideration of her unintentional mistake, she shall be administered twenty lashes and ordered to copy Buddhist scriptures one hundred times at Qing'an Temple to atone for her sins. Feng Yuanping, for failing to discipline his daughter, shall be fined a year's salary. He will be demoted to a second-rank official. What does Your Majesty think of this arrangement?"
"Your arrangements are certainly proper, Mother. However, regarding Third Prince..."
The Third Prince had proposed marrying Feng Ruoyan as his consort more than once, but the Empress had always disagreed, causing the matter to drag on.
Watching the Third Prince's gaze fixed on Feng Ruoyan throughout the banquet, it was likely that he would plead for her in this matter of punishment.
"Third Prince, like his mother, is unable to discern clearly. To take such a woman as his principal consort would be his complete ruin."