What other tricks does she have up her sleeve?
Ye Tinglan narrowed his eyes, offering no comment, but his action of lifting his robe to sit down said it all.
An explanation?
Ye Tingyun's temple twitched subtly at the mention, knowing it had something to do with pregnancy. He immediately tugged at Jiang Rumò's sleeve.
"Third Brother, your matters with Third Sister-in-law are not for us to intrude upon. How about this, I'll step out with Imperial Physician Jiang first!"
He said this and then pulled Jiang Rumò towards the exit. However, after only two steps, Ye Tinglan's voice echoed from behind.
"You stay."
"I… I?"
Ye Tingyun's foot slipped, and he nearly fell.
Ye Tinglan remained silent, but his dark eyes were profound, and his expression clearly brooked no refusal.
Seeing this, Ye Tingyun instantly drooped like a frost-bitten eggplant, lowering his head.
The door was quickly shut. Feng Yinwan got up and saw Ye Tingyun shuffling back with his head down, feeling a little more balanced.
We're all in the same boat, no one gets away!
As if sensing something, Ye Tingyun looked up and glared, his eyes clearly filled with anger.
Feeling the chill around him gradually intensify, Feng Yinwan coughed lightly and quickly spoke.
"Your Highness, please do not be angry. This matter is a long story, but I am not pregnant."
Upon hearing this, Ye Tinglan's narrow eyes exuded a hint of coldness.
Feng Yinwan only felt a pang of guilt for a second before immediately becoming righteous.
"If Your Highness does not believe me, to ascertain the truth, I had no choice but to resort to this tactic."
After seeing the peach kernel powder last night, Ye Tinglan had almost eaten her alive.
If she had proposed using pregnancy to completely allay the Empress Dowager's suspicions, he would definitely not have agreed, so she simply concealed the matter.
However, seeing Ye Tinglan's disgruntled face this morning made her feel incredibly relieved.
The price was that she got another slap!
"I was framed in this matter. If I did not say so, the Empress Dowager would not have dispelled her suspicions. That would have played right into the hands of the person behind this, and there would be no possibility of investigating this matter!"
Given Ye Tingyun's trust in Qin Rulian and Ye Tinglan's tolerance, she didn't believe they would push out the "white lotus" for her sake.
"So you lied about being pregnant? Feng Yinwan, do you know what the crime of deceiving the emperor is!"
This woman actually dared to deceive the Empress Dowager!
Ye Tinglan's brows, though slightly less grim, still held a gaze as cold as ice.
"You also went along with her foolishness."
Ye Tingyun shivered.
These words were clearly directed at him.
"Third… Third Brother, this woman forced me!"
"She sneaked into my room last night and threatened to poison me if I didn't cooperate, and to prick me with needles. I… I'm too weak…"
As he spoke, he wiped his tears dramatically, like a seasoned actor.
Feng Yinwan's lips twitched fiercely.
Act! Keep acting!
Just wait until I really prick you a few times!
Compared to her insubstantial threat, Ye Tingyun valued his life more.
"Third Brother, you know I've always been honest and dutiful, and I always follow your teachings. How could I possibly deceive our Imperial Grandmother!"
His acting was abominable, but Ye Tinglan was clearly willing to believe him.
"Deceiving the Empress Dowager, feigning pregnancy for favor, Feng Yinwan, how many lives do you have."
Feng Yinwan secretly cursed him for being a hypocrite, but nodded respectfully, "Your Highness, please rest assured, I have my own plan."
The priority now was to find the culprit and clear her name.
As for the pregnancy, once they returned, she could simply come up with an excuse and claim a miscarriage.
Ye Tinglan cast a deep gaze at her and grimly curled his lips, "I will give you one more chance."
Feng Yinwan nodded, about to express her gratitude, when she heard him say coldly.
"If this matter fails, I will not conceal your actions in the slightest. At that time, you will not be the only one punished!"
There was also the entire Feng family.
Even Ye Tingyun and Jiang Rumò.
This matter, concerning royal bloodline, was indeed not trivial.
Hearing the implication in his words, Feng Yinwan pursed her lips, "This matter was entirely my doing from beginning to end. I, Feng Yinwan, will take full responsibility. Your Highness, please rest assured."
Hearing this, Ye Tinglan's eyes darkened silently.
After taking Ye Tingyun's pulse, Feng Yinwan handed the previous prescription to Jiang Rumò and then went out to find Song Qing'an herself.
After being beaten forty boards last night, she vaguely remembered that Song Qing'an had escorted her back to the meditation room. Although she didn't know why he did that, based on this, he should be a trustworthy person.
Although the search of the entire temple was a mere formality, the show of force needed to be convincing. As a随行副将 (accompanying deputy general), it was most fitting for him to lead it.
Song Qing'an was patrolling the temple with his men when he saw her, a slight look of surprise on his face.
"Greetings, Consort."
Feng Yinwan nodded, "Thank you, Deputy General Song, for your assistance last night. I have something to ask of you."
Song Qing'an did not ask further upon hearing this, "Please instruct me, Consort."
Feng Yinwan nodded and directly took out a roll of soft silk from her sleeve.
"By order of the Empress Dowager, all guards in the temple are now at my disposal. We will thoroughly investigate the matter of harming Prince Yun."
Her brows were exquisite, her beauty dazzling, and her eyes full of confidence and composure, unlike the disheveled figure of last night.
Recalling the news he had heard from the soldiers this morning, Song Qing'an was slightly taken aback before he heard her continue.
"I am now entrusting you, Deputy General Song, with the important task of searching Qingpu Temple. I implore you to do your utmost and not disappoint me or the Empress Dowager."
"Your subordinate obeys."
Seeing him take the decree, Feng Yinwan smiled, a hint of a smile gracing her usually cold face.
"I will trouble you to take care of this matter."
She said this and was about to turn away. Recalling her injuries, Song Qing'an's heart tightened, and he couldn't help but ask.
"That medicine… did the Consort use it?"
Feng Yinwan blinked, "What medicine?"
When she woke up last night, there was no medicine by her side. The only bottle of wound-healing ointment was taken by that scoundrel Ye Tinglan, and… she had personally broken it.
This unexpected turn of events left Song Qing'an somewhat bewildered.
"After the Consort's punishment last night, she fainted. I ordered someone to get medicine from the monks in the temple."
Looking at Feng Yinwan, his eyes were filled with confusion, "Due to the difference between men and women, I asked Miss Qin, who accompanied us, to apply the medicine for you. Consort…"
Feng Yinwan said she had not seen the medicine.
Could it be that Qin Rulian took the medicine with her?
Feng Yinwan's face turned icy as she heard this news.
"So that's how it is."
No wonder the small bottle containing peach kernel powder appeared on her. It seemed the "white lotus" not only didn't apply medicine but also used the opportunity to frame her!
"Consort?"
Song Qing'an did not understand the meaning of her words.
Feng Yinwan regained her senses and immediately smiled, "I remember now, there was indeed a bottle of medicine by my pillow. I was wondering about it, but it turns out Deputy General Song sent it. Thank you."
She nodded and walked away. Song Qing'an watched her retreating figure, his mind filled with doubt.
A bottle?
But he remembered that the guards borrowed what seemed to be a medicinal pouch.
The monks in the front courtyard were practicing meditation, and it was still some time before lunch. In the vast kitchen, only Jiang Rumò was by the stove, brewing medicine.
"Imperial Physician Jiang, Prince Yun is feeling unwell. Please go and see him."
A guard ran to deliver the message. Jiang Rumò put the lid on the medicine pot and immediately stood up.
"Lead the way."
The two left the kitchen, one after the other. Unexpectedly, a figure darted into the back kitchen swiftly from behind them.