Seeing her maidservant being beaten, Qin Rulian's face changed, and she immediately stepped forward.
"What does the Princess Consort mean by this?"
Feng Yinwan's expression remained unchanged.
"This Princess Consort is merely disciplining your subordinate for you. Today is your capping ceremony. If it were to be marred by unpleasantness because this maidservant spoke out of turn, wouldn't that be a shame?"
"But Feise didn't say anything wrong. Is the sister punishing her in public because she is dissatisfied with me..."
Seeing her bite her lip and start her usual act of the 'green tea' innocent girl again, Feng Yinwan sneered.
"So Miss Qin also believes these pastries are from the palace?"
Qin Rulian nodded without hesitation, "Naturally."
Seeing this, Feng Yinwan's lips curved slightly.
"This Princess Consort has often accompanied my father into the palace since I was five years old and have eaten pastries from the imperial kitchen no less than dozens of times, yet I have truly not tasted any like this. Miss Qin says these pastries are from the Empress's palace... Does the Empress have a private chef in her palace?"
Qin Rulian's heart jolted violently at this.
"No... No!"
"Then where did these pastries come from?"
"I..."
Qin Rulian stammered, unable to answer, a stark contrast to her earlier demeanor.
It would have been natural for the Empress's palace to have a private chef, but everyone knew the Empress was renowned for her frugality. Even if she did have one, she couldn't possibly have one now.
Seeing this, the crowd knew Qin Rulian was lying, and whispers began to circulate privately.
Qin Rulian was so ashamed and angry she felt like dying, her heart burning with resentment.
She had intended to use the Empress's name to present these pastries today, to show everyone how favored she was by the Empress, and how perfectly she suited the position of concubine to Ye Tinglan.
Who would have thought... it would be ruined by this wretched Feng Yinwan!
She shot Feng Yinwan a hateful glare, her eyes welling up with a thin layer of tears.
"Perhaps the servants were careless and accidentally mixed up the recipe. I originally thought these pastries were delicious and wanted everyone to try them. I didn't expect... it's all my fault."
She sobbed softly, appearing as someone whose good intentions had gone awry. This, in turn, made Feng Yinwan seem overbearing and overly sharp.
Ye Tinglan spoke to comfort her, "Your servants were not careful, but you had good intentions. Don't blame yourself too much."
He then turned a stern gaze to Feng Yinwan. Unable to send her away in front of everyone, he could only order an additional seat to be placed nearby.
"Sit down."
Feng Yinwan accepted gracefully but, lifting her skirt, walked straight to the head seat, pushed Qin Rulian's bowl and chopsticks aside, and beckoned to a servant.
"Quick! Hurry and move Miss Qin's bowls and chopsticks over there, you have no eyes!"
Ye Tinglan's handsome face darkened again at this. He lowered his voice and warned her, "Feng Yinwan, what are you doing! I told you to sit over there!"
Unexpectedly, Feng Yinwan looked at him and exclaimed in surprise, "What? Does His Highness think Miss Qin's status is not worthy of sitting with us?"
"I didn't expect His Highness to value propriety so much. What are you standing around for? Quickly move Miss Qin's table lower!"
Her voice was deliberately raised, falling clearly into the ears of everyone present. The servant, bewildered, began to move the table lower, almost to the level of the guest seating.
Ye Tinglan's face darkened even further.
What nonsense was this woman spouting?
When had he ever said such a thing!
He suppressed the urge to strangle Feng Yinwan and picked up his wine cup, taking a heavy sip.
Seeing that their prince remained silent, the servant, under Feng Yinwan's urging gaze, moved the table to the lower position. The height instantly dropped by a considerable margin, almost disappearing into the guest seating.
She, who was supposed to be the protagonist of the day, had been unceremoniously demoted from the head seat. Qin Rulian was both ashamed and furious, her jealousy so intense she was almost in tears.
Yet, Feng Yinwan sat calmly and gracefully at the head seat, a smile on her lips, urging her, "Miss Qin, don't just stand there foolishly. Sit down quickly, the food will get cold."
Qin Rulian bit her lip tightly. Under everyone's strange gazes, she sat down in humiliation.
She dug her nails into her palm, her eyes filled with a hatred so deep it was about to overflow. Her gaze fell upon Feng Yinwan's mask, but it flashed away quickly.
This damnable ugly monster!
I'll make you pay later!