The body was held up with extreme nimbleness. Feng Yinwan raised her eyes to meet Ye Tinglan's questioning gaze, pursed her lips, and shook her head silently.
They claimed to have invited eminent monks from out of town, yet their chanting of scriptures was equally sleep-inducing. Feng Yinwan's eyelids had been heavy since she sat down, and despite her efforts to stay awake, she finally succumbed.
Sensing no movement beside him for a long time, Ye Tinglan subtly turned his head, only to be met by a waft of fragrance. His brow furrowed, and he quickly used his shoulder to support her.
She could actually fall asleep at such an occasion.
Not only could Feng Yinwan sleep, but she slept even more soundly, nestling her small face against his shoulder twice, her expression serene.
She looked so charming like this. Ye Tinglan curved his lips, a hint of tenderness subtly flashing in his ink-black eyes.
Behind them, Qin Rulian watched this scene with clenched fists, her silk handkerchief tightly grasped.
Before she could act, a low female voice suddenly came from her side.
"Miss Qin, the Empress Dowager requests your presence."
Turning, she saw Pan'er, a palace maid by the Empress Dowager's side. Qin Rulian was slightly taken aback and immediately rose to follow her.
She was led to a spot behind a rockery not far away. The Empress Dowager was standing with her back to her, clearly having waited for some time.
Seeing that no one was paying attention to their movements, as everyone else was engrossed in listening to the scriptures, Qin Rulian felt at ease and stepped forward.
"Aunt, do you have any instructions for summoning me at this hour?"
The Empress Dowager waved Pan'er away with her hand, turned, and cast a glance at her, a hint of sternness flashing across her face.
"I ordered you to take good care of the墨王妃's pregnancy. Have you done as I instructed?"
Recalling the recent discussion about Feng Yinwan's pregnancy, Qin Rulian's expression faltered. She immediately nodded.
"Aunt, Rulian has done everything according to your instructions. All the nourishing tonics have been provided without any negligence!"
"The Consort has not yet shown any signs of pregnancy. This matter truly has nothing to do with Rulian..."
Recently, she had treated Feng Yinwan, that lowly woman, with utmost respect, sending her many tonics before and after, and yet she still hadn't shown any signs of pregnancy. It could only mean her own womb was not cooperating, and she couldn't be blamed!
The Empress Dowager did not seem angered by her words. "You child, when did I say I would blame you?"
"Then, what does Aunt mean..."
Uncertain of the Empress Dowager's intentions, Qin Rulian was also a bit confused.
The Empress Dowager cast a faint glance at her. "Did the Consort eat all the tonics you sent?"
"This..."
Qin Rulian paused slightly, then thought for a moment and answered truthfully, "Rulian is also unsure about this. The Consort has always disliked me, so she didn't keep the items for long after they were delivered."
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager's expression changed slightly. "Meaning, she did not consume that item."
"It's not entirely so. Imperial Physician Jiang has also prescribed medicinal diets... Aunt, why are you asking this?"
The Empress Dowager was ambitious and would never allow anyone other than the eldest prince to produce an imperial heir first. Now that she was so insistent on the tonics, could there be some hidden secret within them?
Qin Rulian's heart tightened secretly. Before she could think further, the Empress Dowager spoke again.
"I understand. The 墨王妃's pregnancy is difficult. I will petition the Emperor for tonics to help her pregnancy. After you return, you must personally oversee her."
Oversee, of course, meant watching Feng Yinwan consume the tonics with her own eyes.
Not daring to say more, Qin Rulian nodded in agreement. "Please don't worry, Aunt. Rulian will certainly remember."
Feng Yinwan slept for as long as the monk lectured above.
For more than half an hour, Ye Tinglan sat as still as a mountain, his shoulder, which she leaned on, not moving an inch.
"Awake?"
Her gaze met a pair of ink-black eyes that held a hint of concern. Feng Yinwan rubbed her sleepy eyes and instinctively nodded.
Immediately, Ye Tingyun's sour tone sounded in her ear.
"Finally awake. Grandmother called you here to listen to the Buddha, but you slept through the entire morning. Third Brother's arm is numb from you using it as a pillow!"
With so many eyes watching, how could this woman indulge herself so much and what would that make Third Brother?
Feng Yinwan's delicate brows furrowed. The retort was on the tip of her tongue when a female voice from behind her spoke first.
"Yun'er, what are you doing there? Hurry and come over!"
The voice, alluring yet with a hint of sharpness, was clearly the bearing of someone in a superior position.
Ye Tingyun's body trembled upon hearing this; he was obviously intimidated. Then, Feng Yinwan saw him become obedient in an instant, and he called out softly to the person behind him, "Mother Consort."
Mother Consort?
Feng Yinwan's beautiful eyes flashed, and she followed his gaze.
Not far away, a woman in magnificent robes exuded nobility and grace. Her face was beautiful and showed no signs of aging, making her the most dazzling presence among the palace consorts.
Feng Yinwan's eyes were slightly dazzled by this beauty, and she sighed from the bottom of her heart.
If not for Ye Tingyun's call of "Mother Consort" just now, she truly wouldn't have believed that this beauty before her was the favored Noble Consort Li, who was the most cherished in the harem.
She looked... too young!
As their gazes met across the distance, the sharp expression on Noble Consort Li's face instantly vanished, replaced by a gentle smile.
Feng Yinwan was slightly taken aback and immediately nodded in return.
As she got up, a fragrant breeze reached her. Feng Yinwan's nostrils twitched, and she keenly smelled a hint of medicinal aroma.
"墨王妃, I heard your name long ago, but I have been unwell and confined to the palace for a long time. Seeing you today, you are indeed an unparalleled beauty."
It wasn't just because of Ye Tingyun's heart ailment; Noble Consort Li seemed to have a natural fondness for her.
Feng Yinwan's face flushed slightly from the praise. Before she could speak, Ye Tingyun beside her spoke with displeasure.
"Mother Consort, have you misjudged? What unparalleled beauty? This woman is so crude; she's clearly a tigress."
He lowered the latter half of his voice guiltily, but Feng Yinwan heard him clearly.
Just as she was wondering whether to give Noble Consort Li some face, Noble Consort Li's eyebrows knit together, and her hand reached out.
Her ear was unexpectedly grabbed, and Ye Tingyun cried out, immediately starting to wail.
"Ow, it hurts, it hurts! Mother Consort, what are you doing!"
She was only saying one word about this woman, and yet Mother Consort was scolding him.
Noble Consort Li looked at him with a cold face. "What am I doing? I told you to stay by the Empress Dowager's side, and this is what you've learned?"
Ye Tingyun was terrified of that look from her.
"Mother Consort, I was wrong. Your illness has not healed; please do not get angry on my account. If Father Emperor finds out..."
He'd be beaten for sure!
His handsome face contorted, and the tips of his ears clearly turned red, but Noble Consort Li remained unmoved.
"Looking at your attitude towards the 墨王妃 just now, you don't seem truly repentant!"
"墨王妃 is your Third Sister-in-law, and she cured your heart ailment. Yet you were so disrespectful to her right in front of me. Do you think I am too ill to discipline you now?"
Ye Tingyun kept crying injustice. He looked up and met Feng Yinwan's amused expression. His face flushed, and he grumbled, leaning closer.
"Mother Consort, let's discuss this when we get back. We are still in front of outsiders; please save me some face!"
To her surprise, Noble Consort Li cast him a cold glance and increased the strength of her grip.
"Face? What face do you want!"