The group arrived at Qingpu Temple deep into the night. The mountain was tranquil and vast, with only a few points of light from the temple illuminating the darkness.
As soon as their procession halted, two young monks rushed out from the temple.
"Amitabha, greetings, Your Highness."
Ye Tinglan reined in his horse and dismounted.
"Where is the Empress Dowager now?"
"Replying to Your Highness, the Empress Dowager has finished her evening meal and is currently in Canshan Hall with Princess Qingyun, reciting scriptures."
The Princess Qingyun he mentioned was Ye Tinglan's younger sister, Ye Ziyun.
When Feng Yinwan married into the prince's manor, she had been a vocal opponent of the union.
According to protocol, they were to first pay their respects to the Empress Dowager upon entering the temple. Unexpectedly, Ye Ziyun was also present, causing Feng Yinwan to raise an eyebrow and feel a sense of resistance.
"Lead the way."
Qingpu Temple, being a royal temple, was far more grand and spacious than ordinary monasteries. The group followed the monks, winding through numerous turns, and reached the entrance of Canshan Hall after a good while.
The guards at the entrance went in to announce their arrival and quickly retreated.
"Your Highness, please come in."
Ye Tinglan nodded and stepped inside. Feng Yinwan followed closely, her gaze lowered. Upon entering, she saw a golden Buddha statue several feet tall. The hall was illuminated by flickering candlelight, casting dancing shadows.
"Grandson pays respects to the Empress Dowager."
"Lan'er, Yun'er, you have arrived."
The Empress Dowager, clad in a plain blue monk's robe, knelt on a prayer mat. Though her appearance showed signs of age, her presence was still commanding, exuding an unspoken authority.
Beside her, a woman in a vermilion dress held a wooden fish, her features bearing a slight resemblance to Ye Tinglan's. She was undoubtedly Ye Ziyun.
"Empress Dowager, how has your health been recently?"
"This old body is just bones, whether it's good or not, it's all the same."
Ye Tingyun spoke with displeasure.
"Third Brother, don't listen to Grandmother's words. Imperial Physician Jiang said Grandmother is in good health and has a high chance of living past a hundred!"
The Empress Dowager chuckled and shook her head, a fond smile on her face. "You child, you always say such things to make me happy."
Qin Rulian, seeing this, quickly interjected.
"Your Majesty, what Prince Yun said is not unreasonable. Your devout prayers and sincerity will surely be felt by the Buddha, who will grant you a long life."
"Grandmother's devotion is sincere, and this granddaughter sees it everywhere. If the Buddha is touched, I believe it will be as Miss Qin said."
Feng Yinwan secretly raised an eyebrow.
Ye Tinglan's sister was simple-minded, having been pampered and doted on by Consort Rong since childhood. Qin Rulian had long since won her over.
Their gazes met in mid-air, and Ye Ziyun regarded her with a clear measure of hostility.
The Empress Dowager had always disliked her calculating niece, the Empress.
She casually glanced up, and before she could speak, her gaze fell upon Feng Yinwan beside them. Her expression faltered.
"Who is this?"
Ye Tinglan nodded. "This is my Consort, the Feng clan."
The Feng clan.
Wasn't that the young girl from General Zhenguo's manor?
She recognized that girl, but her appearance...
Sensing the Empress Dowager's confusion, Ye Tinglan immediately explained.
"Consort had a scar on her face, which has now been healed, and her appearance has been restored. The Empress Dowager is not often in the capital and may not recognize her."
As he spoke, his thoughts paused slightly.
The healing of Feng Yinwan's facial scar was peculiar. Now that he knew she practiced medicine, could it be that she had treated it herself?
This woman, what else was she hiding from him?
The Empress Dowager looked visibly surprised. Before she could speak, Ye Ziyun exclaimed in astonishment.
"Brother, what are you saying? This woman is that ugly girl from the Feng family?!"
Her tone conveyed utter disbelief.
Feng Yinwan smiled faintly. "Princess Qingyun, I trust you are well."
Ye Ziyun stared at her, even more astounded.
That voice was unmistakably the voice of that ugly woman.
But the woman before her, in both appearance and demeanor, bore no resemblance to her past self!
Was she... really Feng Yinwan?
"Ziyun."
Ye Tinglan's voice was slightly stern as he reminded her.
Ye Ziyun snapped back to attention. As she began to pull at her lips to speak, a loud "bang" sounded from behind. Ye Tingyun, who had been standing fine moments before, suddenly collapsed.
The turn of events was too sudden. Ye Tinglan's expression turned cold, and he immediately stepped forward to lift Ye Tingyun.
"Feng Yinwan."
Assuming Ye Tingyun's heart condition had flared up, he quickly asked Feng Yinwan to check his pulse.
However, before Feng Yinwan could step forward, the Empress Dowager commanded.
"Quick! Quickly send for Imperial Physician Jiang!"
"Lan'er, the floor is cold. Quickly help Yun'er onto the bed in the back!"
Ye Tinglan pursed his lips and nodded, immediately carrying Ye Tingyun towards the rear chamber.
The guards followed closely, sealing the side door, and everyone except the Empress Dowager was barred from entering.
Feng Yinwan, after several attempts to enter and check, was blocked. Her beautiful eyes cast a subtle glance towards the rear chamber, her brow furrowed.
After days of treatment, Ye Tingyun's heart condition was basically stable. Unless subjected to extreme shock, it would not easily relapse.
Though they had experienced the fatigue of travel today, nothing had gone wrong along the way. Why would it suddenly act up?
As she was pondering, a figure flashed by the entrance, and a young man in a blue robe, carrying a medicine chest, rushed in.
"Where is His Highness Prince Yun?"
"In the rear chamber, Imperial Physician Jiang, please hurry in."
The man nodded and immediately plunged into the rear chamber.
Feng Yinwan was slightly taken aback.
She had assumed that the Imperial Physician Jiang they spoke of would be an old man with a white beard, but he was so young.
He looked about the same age as Ye Tinglan.
As she marveled, a cold snort came from beside her.
"Imperial Physician Jiang is a renowned physician and scholar in the martial world, specially recruited by the Emperor to serve in the Imperial Academy."
"He can enter because he has the ability to treat Ye Tingyun's illness. I truly wonder where you get your confidence, thinking you can also enter!"
This tone was completely different from the one she had used earlier in front of the Empress Dowager.
Feng Yinwan raised an eyebrow.
"Prince Yun is, after all, a prince. By seniority, Princess Qingyun should also call him Imperial Brother. With his heart condition acting up and him losing consciousness, is Princess Qingyun not worried?"
Ye Ziyun's beautiful eyes narrowed. "My father and the Empress Dowager are worried about him. I don't need to!"
Although they were full siblings, Ye Tinglan, her elder brother, treated Ye Tingyun with more affection than he did her, his own sister!
She truly didn't understand what he was thinking!
As if sensing the excessive hostility in her words, Qin Rulian pursed her lips and said softly.
"Ziyun, Tingyun has had this illness since birth. It is natural for the Emperor and the Empress Dowager to dote on him."
"You were the only princess brought to Qingpu Temple by the Empress Dowager this time, which shows how much she values you. Why dwell on this matter?"
Ye Ziyun's expression immediately improved upon hearing this.
What Qin Rulian said was indeed true. Among all the princesses in the palace, the Empress Dowager valued her the most!
She hooked her lips with a smug smile and nodded in agreement.
"Sister Rulian understands best. That's why I like it when my brother marries you as his consort! Unlike some people, no matter how beautiful they are, they are still uncultured simpletons!"
Feng Yinwan, who had been hit by a stray remark, narrowed her eyes. Before she could retort, a startled cry came from the rear chamber.
"Who dared to change Prince Yun's prescription? The medicine he drank is problematic!"
Who...
It was naturally her, Feng Yinwan.