Feng Yinwan's expression remained unchanged. "I'm afraid they won't investigate thoroughly, so I'll go and see."
Ye Tinglan remained silent, his hand on her wrist tightening. "You heard what this prince said earlier?"
Feng Yinwan shook her head, her expression perfectly sincere. "I didn't hear anything. It was too high up, I couldn't make out a single word."
Ye Tinglan: "..."
His gaze fell on her face, and Ye Tinglan's eyes darkened. He pulled her back to the bedside. With a serious expression, he picked up the wedding veil that had fallen to the side and was about to place it over her head again.
Seeing this, Feng Yinwan immediately spoke, "Your Highness, wait."
*I know you're in a hurry, but please don't rush.*
Ye Tinglan frowned, his hand stopping mid-air as he looked at her. "What is it?"
Feng Yinwan didn't offer much explanation. She reached out and deftly pulled out a dark, inconspicuous object from under the bedding. At a glance, Ye Tinglan froze, his expression hardening.
What she produced was a memorial tablet!
The wedding candles had been recently replaced. The bright flames flickered, and the characters "Feng Yinwan" painted in gold dust on the purple cyphedrean wood were dazzlingly prominent, burning into his heart as if with scorching heat.
Ye Tinglan's brows twitched, and the veins on the hand holding the wedding veil bulged. He looked at her with his ink-black eyes, his expression exceedingly dark and complex. "What is the meaning of this?"
When he spoke, his voice was hoarse and difficult to listen to, but Feng Yinwan was quite satisfied. She raised her hand, propped the memorial tablet upright, and looked at him again, her expression earnest. "A concubine entering the manor still needs to serve tea to the main wife. Although the former Princess Consort has passed away, it is proper to pay her respects. I saw that Your Highness seemed weary from socializing and appeared to have forgotten this. So, I took it upon myself to invite her over for you. Your Highness should not be offended, right?"
On such a joyous occasion, who wouldn't feel unlucky upon seeing a memorial tablet? She bet that Ye Tinglan would definitely be enraged! Even though she was still holding the tablet, Feng Yinwan spoke these words with a straight face, completely unburdened, as if her name wasn't carved on it at all.
Ye Tinglan's eyes fixed on her, his handsome face seemingly coated in a thin layer of frost, appearing somber and dark. In the next instant, his pale knuckles reached past her eyes and gripped the corner of the memorial tablet, pulling it from her hand. "This prince did not forget."
His fingertips brushed over the name inscribed on it, and Ye Tinglan's eyes trembled slightly, his expression tender and focused. He spoke, his voice extremely soft. "This prince was only afraid that she would not wish to see me."
Feng Yinwan's gaze followed closely. Upon hearing this, her heart skipped a beat, and an inexplicable strangeness welled up, but she quickly suppressed it. She averted her gaze, pursed her lips, and her voice was now calm. "These past two days, I've heard a lot about the former Princess Consort from the servants. Your Highness bestowed upon me a title with a pronunciation similar to 'Wan,' specifically requested the rites of a main Princess Consort from the Empress Dowager, and had me move into Lanqing Courtyard to await marriage... All of this is because of the former Princess Consort, isn't it?"
Originally, she hadn't thought Ye Tinglan understood her that well. But in Wuxi Pavilion, he had recognized her before her identity was exposed. Feng Wuxi's reminder was not unnecessary. Now that she was staying in the capital, she knew it was impossible to completely conceal herself from Ye Tinglan. However, circumstances forced her hand. As long as this man didn't have absolute certainty, she could continue to maintain her disguise. Interacting with Ye Tinglan, being too vigilant would only make him more suspicious. She just needed to find a suitable moment to deliver a sharp blow and awaken him. And now was an extremely suitable moment. "Am I very similar to the former Princess Consort? Your Highness seems to favor her greatly?"
She casually flexed her fingers, her tone laced with faint sarcasm.
Hearing this, Ye Tinglan's grip on the memorial tablet tightened instantly. His ink-black eyes deepened as he looked at her, his tightly pressed lips parting slightly. "There is indeed some resemblance."
Feng Yinwan hadn't expected him to be so direct. After a slight pause, she nodded. "The world is full of wonders, and it's not uncommon for people to resemble each other. But everyone is unique and irreplaceable. Even if they are very similar, they can never be the same person, don't you think?"
They were both intelligent people, and her meaning was clear. She was not "Feng Yinwan," nor did she intend to be.
Ye Tinglan's eyes dimmed slightly at her words. "This prince understands."
Feng Yinwan nodded. It was good that he understood; she wouldn't have to bother trying to persuade him further. She tidied her skirt and stood up. "Chenchen also made mistakes that day. It was my neglect in discipline, and I have already punished him. Your Highness need not dwell on this matter."
"We have to go to the palace tomorrow to pay our respects. Your Highness should rest early. I bid you farewell."
The window lattice rustled slightly, and that figure vanished into the night. Silence descended upon the room once more, and a soft sigh mingled with the faint glow of the fire.
Ye Tinglan sat in the room all night.
At dawn, the long candle on the table finally burned out. Qi Xuan came to report, but his knocking was hesitant. He was merely making a gesture of knocking, not intending to enter. He withdrew his hand and was about to speak when Ye Tinglan's voice came from within the room. "Enter."
Qi Xuan's eyelids twitched subtly. He cautiously pushed the door open. He walked in with his head lowered, his gaze fixed on his toes, not daring to look around. "Your Highness, we must go to the palace for morning greetings today. The carriage is ready."
"I know." Ye Tinglan's voice came from a chair not far in front of him, not from the bed.
Qi Xuan was stunned. He carefully raised his eyes to look, and saw his prince leaning back against the chair, his eyes closed in rest. Although his wedding attire was slightly disheveled, it was still neatly fastened, as if he hadn't taken it off at all!
Qi Xuan was shocked. His prince had truly been so self-disciplined and proper... sitting there all night? That wasn't like him; judging by his demeanor the past two days, he wasn't that pure at all! Could it be... because of Qin Rulian?
As he was thinking, Ye Tinglan opened his eyes in front of him, frowning slightly as he looked at him. "Is there anything else?"
Qi Xuan jolted and immediately shook his head. "No... no!" He didn't dare to linger. After nodding, he withdrew, closing the bedroom door behind him, and secretly clicked his tongue.
The prince was truly unfortunate. After finally marrying a wife again, he was so tormented that he couldn't even get into bed on their wedding night. Tsk, truly pitiful.
He shook his head and walked away. But as soon as he left the main courtyard, he saw Feng Yinwan approaching from Lanqing Courtyard. From a distance, her steps were swift, carrying a hint of sharpness. For a moment, Qi Xuan thought he was hallucinating, seeing Feng Yinwan's shadow on her. He blinked and looked again. Alright, she still didn't look quite like her. He straightened himself and cupped his hands in greeting. "Side Consort."
As soon as he spoke, he realized something was amiss. Qi Xuan glanced at the tightly closed door of the main courtyard, then at Feng Yinwan in front of him, his mind briefly short-circuiting. Wait... why was she coming from Lanqing Courtyard? Shouldn't she be in the main courtyard?
Feng Yinwan nodded, completely unaware of any impropriety. "I've come to find the Prince."
Qi Xuan (swallowing): "His Highness..."
Before he could finish speaking, the bedroom door opened from the inside, and Ye Tinglan stepped out, his appearance exquisite. He had already changed his clothes. "This prince is here."