Tonic?
Feng Yinwan poked her head out from behind Ye Tinglan, clutching her sword.
With power regained, her presence was indeed different. Little White Lotus was followed by a long line of servants, each holding a dark rosewood tray.
So many, all tonics?
Ye Tinglan was clearly surprised.
"You are considerate."
Qin Rulian's lips curved into a gentle and friendly smile upon hearing this.
"The child in Your Highness's womb is Tinglan Gege's bloodline. Even if Consort Rong had not given such instructions, Rulian would have taken good care of her."
She certainly knew how to speak.
Feng Yinwan pursed her lips and scoffed.
"Ordinarily, I don't see Miss Qin being so diligent. Is this meticulous care just talk?"
She couldn't help but suspect that it was all for show, and that they might be poisoning her in secret.
Unexpectedly, Qin Rulian showed no displeasure. She didn't resort to her usual innocent and virtuous act.
She slowly walked forward, curtsied to Feng Yinwan, her expression earnest.
"It was Rulian's folly before, which led to one mistake after another, causing hurt to Your Highness. If not for Tinglan Gege and Your Highness's magnanimity, I would not still be in the Prince's mansion today."
"Now, I have had a change of heart and sincerely repent. I do not seek Your Highness's forgiveness, but only wish to do my part and find inner peace."
Little White Lotus lowered her gaze, her tone more serious than ever.
This completely stumped Feng Yinwan.
What was this old sister-in-law trying to do?
If she couldn't confront her directly, was she going to play mind games?
Feng Yinwan frowned. Before she could speak, Ye Tinglan's thin lips curved.
"It is rare for you to realize this. In my heart, I have always regarded you as a sworn sister, and Your Highness is naturally generous and broad-minded, so she will not be petty."
Feng Yinwan, who held grudges: ?
If you want to talk, just talk, but don't involve me.
Qin Rulian lowered her head, her posture even more submissive.
"Rulian thanks Tinglan Gege, and thanks Your Highness."
After delivering the tonics, Little White Lotus left obediently, without the slightest inclination to linger.
Feng Yinwan found her behavior to be inexplicably abnormal.
Yuping looked at the small mountain of tonics on the stone table, somewhat at a loss.
"Miss, these..."
Feng Yinwan frowned and stepped forward.
The tonics were placed in neat, square boxes on the trays, making them easy for her to pick up and inspect.
Feng Yinwan meticulously examined them one by one and, to her regret, found nothing amiss.
"Put them away."
Free good things were not to be refused.
After giving the order, she was about to have lunch. Unexpectedly, she turned around and bumped into Ye Tinglan, only then remembering that he was still in her courtyard.
She froze instantly.
"Ahem... Is Your Highness hungry?"
Ye Tinglan glanced at her, his dark eyes pointedly shifting to the sword lying discarded to the side.
"Continue."
Feng Yinwan: Deceased.
She was forced to train until noon. Seeing her sway precariously while holding her sword, Ye Tinglan, in his magnanimity, finally spoke.
"That's enough for today."
Feng Yinwan heard this as if she had been granted amnesty. Tears were about to well up.
However, before she could even take a step, her back hem was grabbed again.
"What's the rush?"
Ye Tinglan strode forward, his steps carrying a hint of laziness.
"Together with this Prince."
Feng Yinwan, dangling by her back hem, gritted her teeth, indicating that she could still endure.
"Rulian genuinely repents, and choosing tonics is enough to show her sincerity. I hope you will keep your word and not make things difficult for her anymore."
This, she could not endure.
"Giving a few tonics constitutes sincere repentance? She speaks with her mouth alone, while I, your concubine, have to run my legs off just to stay alive!"
"Besides, Your Highness, your words are truly biased. How would I, your concubine, dare to casually make things difficult for her? What I was doing was clearly self-defense!"
Before she finished speaking, her back hem was lifted higher.
Feng Yinwan swung like a swing in mid-air as Ye Tinglan's stern gaze approached her faintly.
"Making her do the rough work of a servant, and then throwing her out of the courtyard, is that also self-defense?"
Feng Yinwan: "Well... why not?"
"My body had not yet recovered, and at that moment, I only felt unbearable pain. When my consciousness was clear, Miss Qin had already fallen to the ground. Perhaps she slipped and lost her footing herself."
Ye Tinglan sneered, "Quibbling."
Nagged all the way, Feng Yinwan's appetite was greatly diminished. She pecked at her food perfunctorily and left the dining hall.
Ye Tinglan's chopsticks paused slightly, his dark eyes silently following her departure.
"Imperial Physician Jiang?"
Feng Yinwan was about to return to her courtyard when, after just two steps, she saw a figure entering through the flower gate. She had seen that green long robe on the street the day before yesterday. Who else but Jiang Rumeng?
Jiang Rumeng was clearly taken aback.
"Greetings, Your Highness."
Feng Yinwan waved her hand, "No need for formalities. Why are you here? Are you here to take the pulse of Prince Yun?"
The Empress Dowager had entrusted the matter of the heart ailment to the two of them.
Since the last acupuncture session, Ye Tingyun's condition had stabilized. He only needed to take the herbal medicine for half a month before a new round of treatment could begin.
Counting the days, it was indeed almost time.
Jiang Rumeng hesitated slightly upon hearing this.
"Not entirely."
"Hmm?"
Feng Yinwan raised her eyebrows in confusion. "Imperial Physician Jiang, do you have another matter to attend to?"
Jiang Rumeng raised his eyes seriously, a hint of solemnity on his face.
"The Empress Dowager is concerned about Your Highness's pregnancy and has specially ordered me to look after you. Before delivery, I will reside in the Prince's mansion, so that I can simultaneously treat Prince Yun's heart condition."
"Reside in the Prince's mansion?"
Feng Yinwan's forehead twitched subtly.
This meant that the Empress Dowager had entrusted her pregnancy care to Jiang Rumeng?
Originally, it would not have been difficult for her to have a "miscarriage." Ye Tinglan knew the truth, and as long as the two of them presented a united front, it would be fine.
But now... things seemed to be spiraling out of control.
First, the Emperor publicly bestowed a title, and then Jiang Rumeng was ordered to oversee her pregnancy. Too many eyes were on her belly, and the current situation allowed for no rash actions.
If she were to have a "miscarriage," Jiang Rumeng would also be implicated.
A sense of solemnity crept into her heart, and Feng Yinwan's delicate brows furrowed tightly.
"I understand."
Everything still needed to be planned carefully.
She was worried about this matter. While pondering it during her nap, time had already passed. Yuping came in to help her get up.
"Miss, I've put away the tonics from this morning in the cabinet. Is there anything you'd like to have? I'll have it made in the kitchen."
She casually picked up a hairpin from her vanity case and put it in Feng Yinwan's hair, then reached for accessories.
Feng Yinwan's mind was elsewhere. "No need, leave them for now."
Yuping nodded, then fastened a sachet to her, but the courtyard gate was pushed open again.
"The kitchen stove was free this afternoon, so I had someone stew a bowl of Euryale seed and snow frog soup. This is originally a good tonic. Please try it, Your Highness."
Qin Rulian hurried in. With a wave of her hand, the maids behind her presented the bowl of soup.
Feng Yinwan looked up and saw this, her delicate brows raising imperceptibly.
"You came to deliver tonics this morning, and now at noon you've stewed this. Miss Qin is truly diligent."
She spoke calmly, slowly turning her body.
Her gaze swept over Qin Rulian's hair. Qin Rulian withdrew her eyes, her smile as gentle as it was that morning.
"Rulian dares not. Everything must prioritize Your Highness's health."
Feng Yinwan raised her eyebrows and said nothing further.
Qin Rulian understood and immediately curtsied, "Please enjoy, Your Highness. Rulian will take her leave."
She then withdrew with her entourage. Feng Yinwan's beautiful eyes swept over the soup bowl, then she suddenly caught sight of a smear of bright red in the mirror.