This statement indirectly confirmed that Ye Tingyun's coughing up blood had nothing to do with anyone else.
Feng Yinwan opened her mouth to speak, but was interrupted by the Empress Dowager's furious outburst.
"I knew she deliberately set fire to the Zen courtyard just now, wanting to take advantage of the chaos to harm Yun'er! What are you waiting for? Drag her out and execute her at once!"
Seeing that Ye Tinglan had no intention of stopping them, the guards did not delay any further and immediately dragged Feng Yinwan out.
Unlike her previous punishment at the prince's manor, with the Empress Dowager's people watching closely, the punishment was not watered down in the slightest.
After forty heavy blows, Feng Yinwan was already gasping for breath, on the verge of fainting.
The woman who had been bright and charming, heartily grilling meat with them during the day, was now in such a state. Everyone felt a pang of sympathy.
"Deputy General Song."
As the guards finished with the punishment tools, Song Qing'an had already approached.
His gaze fell upon Feng Yinwan, a flash of pain in his eyes, and he reached out to help her.
The guards were startled. "Deputy General Song."
The Empress Dowager had only ordered Feng Yinwan to be severely punished, but had not specified what to do with her after the punishment. Without an imperial decree, they naturally dared not let her go easily.
Just as they were about to stop him, they met Song Qing'an's cold gaze, and the guards immediately fell silent.
Song Qing'an directly helped Feng Yinwan up and then gave an order, "Go and ask the monks in the temple for some medicine."
Jiang Rumoh was still in the Canshan Hall. Even if Ye Tingyun was unharmed, the Empress Dowager would never allow him to treat Feng Yinwan.
"This..."
The guards were even more hesitant.
"The Empress Dowager ordered Consort Mo to be severely punished with forty blows. The punishment has now ended, but it was not forbidden to use medicine for treatment."
"The matter of Prince Yun has not yet been investigated, and Consort Mo is the beloved daughter of the General who Guards the Nation. If she were to die here, it would be difficult to explain to anyone."
This was indeed the case.
Moreover, although Ye Tinglan had not stopped the punishment, he had not explicitly stated that Feng Yinwan was guilty.
The guards hesitated for a moment, then nodded and stepped aside. They bumped into Qi Xuan a few steps later.
"Guard Qi."
Qi Xuan nodded and quickly asked, "Has the punishment been carried out? How is the Consort now?"
The guards were taken aback and replied truthfully.
"The Consort fainted and has already been sent back to the Zen courtyard by Deputy General Song."
Qi Xuan's brow furrowed upon hearing this. "Deputy General Song?"
Remembering his archery contest with Ye Tinglan during the day, Qi Xuan's eyelids twitched, and he quickly turned back.
The Consort was helped away by Song Qing'an. This was not good!
The Empress Dowager and Jiang Rumoh were guarding the back hall, while Ye Tinglan sat in the front hall with a stern expression, his brow furrowed as if deep in thought.
"My Lord..."
Seeing him return, Ye Tinglan frowned and looked up. "Didn't I tell you to go and see that woman?"
Qi Xuan thought to himself:
I went, I don't know how the Consort is, but your corner, my Lord, seems to be a little... loosened!
He glanced at Ye Tinglan and said cautiously,
"I just asked. The Consort fainted after being punished and has now been sent back to the Zen courtyard by Deputy General Song."
Ye Tinglan's expression suddenly turned cold, and a chill emanated from him.
"Song Qing'an."
These words sounded somewhat gritted.
"That's what the guards who carried out the punishment said. I..."
*Crash—*
The teacup on the table was knocked to the ground, shattering into pieces.
Ye Tinglan pursed his lips, his face chilling to the extreme.
...
"Deputy General Song, the medicine is here."
Song Qing'an had just settled Feng Yinwan onto the bed when the guard followed with the medicine.
Song Qing'an nodded. "Put it down."
The guard complied and was about to withdraw when he stopped.
"Deputy General Song, this medicine..."
How should it be applied?
Not to mention anything else, Feng Yinwan was the Consort of Prince Mo. Based on this identity alone, they could not directly intervene.
Song Qing'an naturally understood the discretion involved. After a moment's thought, he smiled and said, "Go and invite Miss Qin who is with us."
The accompanying soldiers were all men, and there were no female attendants in the temple. Although they knew that Qin Rulian was not on good terms with Feng Yinwan, for the sake of her reputation, this was the only way.
His gaze swept over Feng Yinwan, and Song Qing'an closed his eyes, then turned and left the Zen room.
...
"Cough, cough—"
Accompanied by a violent bout of coughing, Ye Tingyun spat out the remaining blood clots in his mouth and then slowly woke up.
The Empress Dowager beside him quickly leaned forward. "Yun'er, my good grandson, you're awake!"
Ye Tingyun had been unconscious for nearly two hours. Apart from the time when Ye Tinglan had ordered him to be sent back, the Empress Dowager had been guarding the back hall.
Seeing him awake now, her eyes were slightly red, and she was overcome with joy.
"Imperial Physician Jiang, quickly examine Yun'er's pulse!"
Jiang Rumoh, who had been waiting nearby, immediately stepped forward.
Ye Tinglan was not in the room, and the atmosphere was unusually tense. Ye Tingyun looked up blankly.
"Imperial Grandmother, what's wrong?"
The Empress Dowager's eyes turned redder. "It's all Feng Yinwan! She's dull-witted and a harmful fool. She privately gave you the problematic medicinal soup, which caused your heart condition to flare up!"
Ye Tingyun was stunned.
"Imperial Grandmother said that the medicinal soup Feng Yinwan gave to my grandson was problematic?"
The Empress Dowager nodded and was about to speak when the door was pushed open by Ye Tinglan.
"Third Brother."
Ye Tingyun, who was still confused, saw Ye Tinglan enter and immediately wanted to get up.
Ye Tinglan quickly stepped forward. "How is he?"
This was directed at Jiang Rumoh.
"To Your Highness and the Empress Dowager, Prince Yun's body has returned to normal and there is no serious harm."
After the incident of coughing up blood, the Empress Dowager cautiously asked, "Is it true? Will there be no mistake this time?"
Jiang Rumoh nodded. "Please rest assured, Your Majesty. The blood clots in Prince Yun's body have been removed, and there will be no further abnormalities."
The Empress Dowager finally breathed a sigh of relief, but then heard Ye Tingyun's persistent questioning.
"Imperial Grandmother, you just said... Third Sister-in-law gave me problematic medicinal soup?"
Although he was very reluctant, he had also seen Feng Yinwan's care these past few days.
In front of the Empress Dowager, he was willing to call Feng Yinwan "Third Sister-in-law."
The Empress Dowager was displeased.
"That Feng Yinwan arbitrarily changed Imperial Physician Jiang's prescription, causing your heart condition to flare up and you to cough up blood. If Imperial Physician Jiang hadn't intervened in time, who knows what the situation would be now!"
Glancing at Ye Tinglan beside her, she added,
"Lan'er was also deceived in this matter. If not for that, he would never have allowed her to act so recklessly!"
Ye Tingyun naturally didn't believe that Feng Yinwan would harm him.
He looked up and saw Ye Tinglan's thin lips tightly pressed together, remaining silent.
Ye Tingyun frowned and then looked at the Empress Dowager. "Imperial Grandmother, is there some misunderstanding in this matter? Where is Third Sister-in-law now?"
These past few days, he had been drinking the medicinal soup prescribed by Feng Yinwan. Although it was indeed bitter, he felt that his body was being cleared, and he was much better than before.
Why would that woman harm him for no reason?
The Empress Dowager's expression sank slightly.
"Yun'er! How can you also be deceived by her? I have already ordered someone to drag Feng Yinwan out and severely punish her with forty blows."
Even Ye Tingyun was secretly shocked.
The Empress Dowager had always doted on him, but forty blows on a woman, this was probably...
"Imperial Grandmother, for the past few days since returning to the capital, my health has been treated by Third Sister-in-law. I have been drinking the medicinal soup she prescribed for several days, and there have been no problems."
"I believe there must be a misunderstanding in this matter."