Jiang Rumò, holding a diagnostic cloth, stepped forward, intending to place it on Feng Yínwǎn's wrist. However, his hand faltered uncontrollably.
He and Ye Tīnglán had been in a hurry. Feng Yínwǎn was already awake; there was no need for him to take her pulse!
As if sensing his thoughts, Feng Yínwǎn curved her lips and straightened her posture a bit more.
"Your Highness, your consort is now out of danger."
Her pulse was steady, her breathing strong. Aside from not having fully recovered, she was indistinguishable from the other patients in the tents outside.
Ye Tīnglán remained uneasy. "The medicine you drank this morning hasn't been tested. Let Imperial Physician Jiang examine you to ensure there are no lingering complications."
"The medicine I drank?"
She looked up in surprise, meeting Jiang Rumò's nod. "Indeed, it is the consort's new prescription."
Feng Yínwǎn was briefly stunned, her beautiful eyes immediately sparkling with joy.
"The new prescription is effective?!"
"Imperial Physician Jiang, the situation is urgent. Quickly have someone prepare it and administer it to the severely ill."
After a moment's thought, she added, "Never mind, this consort will go herself!"
As she spoke, she prepared to get out of bed. However, before her feet could touch the ground, her body was enfolded by a pair of long arms.
Ye Tīnglán frowned as he looked at her, his lips parting to speak in a deep voice.
"The imperial physicians have already taken the prescription. The patients are being cared for outside. You are not yet recovered; rest well in the tent."
She had contracted malaria last night. The imperial physicians must have been up all night. He glanced at the dark circles under Jiang Rumò's eyes, about to speak, but was interrupted by Ye Tīnglán.
"I have ordered your stepsister to be apprehended. How dare she cause you to contract malaria? Such a wicked person cannot be easily forgiven!"
Feng Yīyī was, after all, a concubine's daughter from the General's mansion. If it were Ye Tīnglán's way, she would have lost her head last night. However, out of respect for the Feng family's reputation, he had kept her alive for Feng Yínwǎn to deal with personally.
"Your Highness said it was Feng Yīyī who caused me to contract malaria?"
Feng Yínwǎn sounded somewhat surprised.
Malaria was directly transmissible. Putting aside how much Feng Yīyī hated her, with her penchant for self-preservation, would she really dare to touch anything contaminated with the pathogen?
Before her doubts could be voiced, Qin Rúlián, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly spoke.
"Consort, you may not know this, but Rúlián heard the guards mention this matter this morning."
"Last night, the second miss Feng used the excuse of needing to relieve herself to follow you into the pharmacy. While you weren't paying attention, she covered your nose and mouth with a handkerchief contaminated with the pathogen, which is how you inadvertently contracted malaria."
"It is said she then tried to escape. If the guards had not discovered her in time, she would likely have disappeared by today."
Her retelling was quite complete.
Feng Yínwǎn's delicate brows furrowed upon hearing this. She looked up and saw Ye Tīnglán nod.
"After you fell ill last night, Chéngyàn personally caught her beneath the fence. Guards saw her heading towards the pharmacy. The contaminated cotton handkerchief was also found in the pharmacy. Imperial Physician Jiang has already examined it."
Jiang Rumò immediately nodded. "Consort, that cotton handkerchief was indeed among those we discarded while cleaning up for the severely ill. It should have been uniformly taken for burning by the soldiers. I don't know how it came to be..."
The quarantine area had strict controls over the illness. The contaminated cotton handkerchief had, naturally, been deliberately stolen.
In this light, the evidence was indeed ironclad.
Feng Yínwǎn nodded. "Your Highness, may I be permitted to see Feng Yīyī?"
She had just woken up, and her complexion was still pale. Ye Tīnglán hesitated for a moment before nodding.
"I will accompany you."
Ye Tīnglán was not at ease with her seeing Feng Yīyī alone. However, this was ultimately a family matter of the General's mansion. His presence might make certain things difficult to say.
Upon reaching the tent where Feng Yīyī was being held, Feng Yínwǎn decided to go in alone.
Since being locked up last night, Feng Yīyī had not had a single drop of water and was already exhausted. Furthermore, Ye Tīnglán had instructed the guards not to give her medicine, causing her symptoms to worsen, undoubtedly endangering her life!
Seeing Feng Yínwǎn enter now, Feng Yīyī's expression was one of shock bordering on ferocity.
"Feng Yínwǎn? You're not dead?!"
What was going on?
Hadn't this woman contracted malaria?!
Ignoring her stunned expression, Feng Yínwǎn raised her delicate brows slightly and took a seat.
Feng Yīyī had been causing a commotion since being confined. The items in the tent had been largely smashed by her. Yet, amidst the mess, Feng Yínwǎn sat calmly, her complexion not great, but radiating an unassailable majesty.
Feng Yīyī's eyes nearly bulged out.
She had clearly seen this woman lying on the bed, half-dead, last night. In just half a day, how could she be... sitting here!
Amidst astonishment and jealousy, Feng Yínwǎn slowly parted her lips.
"What, second sister, do you wish for this consort to die?"
Of course, she did!
She wished for it even in her dreams!
"What good is it if I wish for it? You're still sitting here perfectly fine! Feng Yínwǎn, we are both daughters of the General's mansion, both contracted malaria, why are you so lucky! Is it just because you are the legitimate daughter!"
This slut was the legitimate daughter, so she could marry the most outstanding prince, and have a retinue of imperial physicians attending to her care.
And she, promised to the son of a fourth-rank official, had to be locked in this tent to await death!
Why!
Why did all the good things fall into this slut's lap!
She looked up at Feng Yínwǎn, venom and madness growing in her eyes. Feng Yínwǎn looked up, her expression as calm as before.
"Feng Yīyī, do you think that if this consort were dead, all of this would belong to you?"
She had initially thought that after several lessons, Feng Yīyī would have learned her lesson. She had not expected her to become even more brazen and rampant.
Feng Yínwǎn's beautiful eyes darkened, her expression turning cold.
"Do not make one mistake after another. For Father's sake, this consort will spare your wretched life."
"Spare my wretched life? Heh heh... If you have the ability, kill me!"
"Kill me, and see if you can still get your mother's belongings!"
Feng Yīyī had been unconscious since being taken to the prison. Madam Yu had visited twice; she likely had not had a chance to speak with her.
Feng Yínwǎn's lips curved into a cold, mocking smile.
"The遗物 (yíwù -遗物) of this consort's mother has already been handed over by Madam Yu. What, does second sister not know yet?"
"What did you say?!"
Feng Yīyī's eyes widened in disbelief that Madam Yu had already handed over the items. She froze for a moment.
Feng Yínwǎn curved her lips and kindly reminded her again.
"This consort said that your mother's遗物 (yíwù -遗物) has been personally presented by Madam Yu. Second sister, have you heard clearly this time?"
To cater to Feng Yīyī's comprehension, she deliberately slowed her speech. It was impossible for Feng Yīyī not to hear clearly.
"Impossible! I haven't returned yet, how could my mother have given you the things!"
"Regarding this, this consort must also sigh at the depth of maternal love."
The unhurried tone struck Feng Yīyī dumbfounded, leaving her unable to utter a single coherent word.
Feng Yínwǎn glanced at her indifferently and stood up. "Take care of yourself. If you are willing to be well-behaved, this consort will not hunt you and your mother down to the last. Otherwise..."
The implication was clear.
She turned to leave, but before she reached the door, Feng Yīyī's voice shrilled again.
"Feng Yínwǎn, don't get too smug! Malaria can't kill you, naturally there are other things that can!"