They had originally planned to stay in Chunxi Palace for at least half an hour, but due to the previous incident, they only stayed for less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before leaving.
The two exchanged glances and headed straight for Changle Palace.
As soon as they passed the palace path, they noticed two figures hiding in the shadows. Upon seeing them, they quickly retreated. Feng Yinwan glanced at them; they were from the direction of Changle Palace.
Ye Tinglan's gaze followed hers, and his eyes darkened at the sight.
"No need to mind them."
As soon as they entered the palace gate, Su Xi, in a hurry, came out to meet them from the hall, blocking their path.
Ye Tinglan raised his eyes, a cold sharpness silently spreading across his brows. "This Prince has come to pay his respects with his secondary consort."
Su Xi nodded, her eyes sweeping over Feng Yinwan beside him. "Your Highness and Secondary Consort have come in haste. His Highness the First Prince is still inside speaking with Her Ladyship. Please wait outside the hall."
After speaking, she turned and retreated back into the hall. Feng Yinwan's gaze naturally drifted into the hall, her beautiful eyes subtly flickering.
Another intimate conversation?
How coincidental. What day is it today, that everyone is crowding together?
The Empress was not like Consort Rong, deliberately trying to embarrass her. After a moment, Ye Tingzhu emerged from the hall. Seeing them, his steps paused slightly.
"Congratulations, Third Brother."
He had never paid much attention to royal affairs and did not wish to get entangled with other princes. Encountering him here now, he had no choice but to speak.
Ye Tinglan nodded, his expression showing no emotion. "Eldest Brother."
The two sentences, meant for pleasantries, were spoken by them in such a cold, stiff manner, devoid of any emotion.
Feng Yinwan, listening from the side, couldn't help but rub her forehead.
She could tell. They were brothers, but not very close. There was some familial affection, but not much…
The atmosphere became heavy, on the verge of solidifying, when Su Xi emerged from the hall.
"Prince Mo, Her Majesty the Empress requests your presence."
Ye Tinglan nodded and, holding her hand loosely, went inside.
Almost the moment they stepped into the hall, a rich fragrance wafted into their nostrils. Feng Yinwan, with her keen sense of smell, immediately knitted her brows and looked towards the source of the scent.
On a small table, incense smoke formed clouds and mist, gurgling out from a bronze censer shaped like a bird with a branch in its beak. The hall was filled with a subtle fragrance, the scent indescribably strange.
Sensing her peculiarity, Ye Tinglan lowered his eyes, and the hand holding her wrist tightened silently.
Feng Yinwan came back to her senses and looked up, meeting the Empress's scrutinizing gaze.
"Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress."
She performed the bow meticulously, neither overly respectful nor leaving any room for fault. The Empress narrowed her eyes and nodded faintly.
"You went to Consort Rong's place first. Why did you come over so hastily? I didn't have time to prepare."
This remark, seemingly casual, carried a hint of blame. After speaking, she glanced sideways slightly.
"Su Xi, prepare tea for Prince Mo and Consort Wan."
"Yes."
Su Xi responded and withdrew. Feng Yinwan nodded, neither humble nor arrogant.
"Consort Rong is unwell, and it was not convenient to disturb her further. This concubine thought she still needed to pay her respects to Your Majesty the Empress and dared not delay, so she came directly after leaving Chunxi Palace."
Her gaze swept over the incense burner, and she then curved her lips.
"It was a bit of a hurried visit. Did I not disturb Your Majesty?"
She said it was a hurried visit and they didn't have time to prepare, yet she still had the leisure to order someone to light incense.
The censer was clean, with hardly any ash. It was clear it had just been lit.
Such haste, what was she trying to conceal?
The Empress disliked her immensely. The word "no disturbance" was still stuck in her throat weakly when she heard her speak again.
"The incense in Your Majesty the Empress's palace has a unique aroma. This concubine finds it very pleasant. May I be so bold as to ask what incense this is, and where it can be purchased?"
Having burned for only a moment, the subtle fragrance had already filled the hall. Such efficacy was unlikely for ordinary incense.
Unexpectedly, she noticed so carefully. The Empress's expression shifted slightly at her words. She pressed her lips together and spoke.
"This is the Golden Thread Orchid Breath Incense I made myself, modified from several spices supplied by the Imperial Household Department. It cannot be purchased anywhere."
"It's just that the fragrance is a little unique, nothing particularly special. If Consort Wan likes it, I can have someone bring you some."
Homemade?
Feng Yinwan's brows slightly raised. "Your Majesty also knows how to make incense?"
This she had never heard before.
Su Xi was bringing tea and stepped forward upon hearing this, speaking indifferently.
"Her Majesty comes from the esteemed Qin family. Due to her great love for incense, she researched the art of incense making. She was already quite famous in her maiden days. It is understandable that Consort Wan, having only recently entered the imperial family, is unaware of this."
This was to mock her for coming from a humble background and having shallow knowledge.
Feng Yinwan curved her lips and glanced at the tea tray in Su Xi's hand. She showed no displeasure on her face.
"So that's how it is."
Su Xi said no more. After serving tea to Ye Tinglan, she turned to Feng Yinwan. Just as she was about to extend her hand, a slender hand in the tray reached out and took the teacup first.
Feng Yinwan's eyes met hers, and she curved her lips.
"I'll take it myself."
Su Xi certainly did not intend to stop her from this act of lowering her status. She nodded slightly, tacitly agreeing.
Feng Yinwan gracefully took the teacup, but the moment it left the tray, her fingertips loosened, and the teacup immediately fell from her hand.
The lid of the cup collided, creating a series of delicate tinkling sounds. She looked down to see Su Xi steadying the teacup in her hand, not even a drop of water spilling.
Feng Yinwan's beautiful eyes narrowed, and her voice was filled with feigned fear.
"This teacup is really quite hot. It's fortunate that Miss Su Xi was quick and caught it, so it didn't fall to the ground."
Although she spoke with relief, Su Xi's body stiffened. Her expression froze for a moment before she handed the teacup back to Feng Yinwan.
"Consort should be careful."
After saying this, she glanced at the Empress's slightly darkened expression and bowed, exiting the hall.
Feng Yinwan, with a curved lip, picked up the teacup and took a slow sip, exclaiming in praise.
"Mmm, indeed, this is good tea."
Seeing this, the Empress's expression grew even more somber.
After they finally managed to get her to finish her tea, she immediately spoke, urging them to leave. "At this hour, I should have kept you in the palace for a meal. However, you still need to pay your respects to other consorts. In that case, it's not a good time."
At this point, her meaning was quite clear.
Unexpectedly, Feng Yinwan seemed to genuinely not understand. Without thinking, she directly waved her hand.
"It's no matter. Your Majesty the Empress is the head of the Six Palaces, so of course, we must prioritize you. It's not too late to leave after we've had a meal."
The Empress, never having expected her to act this way, had the smile on her face freeze for a moment.
After choking for a while, she stiffly looked at Ye Tinglan.
"Prince Mo?"
This woman was foolish and crude, unable to even distinguish between polite and direct words. However, Ye Tinglan was not ignorant of etiquette.
Moreover, he had never been close to her, and there had been unpleasantness before regarding Qin Rulian. He certainly wouldn't let this woman act so presumptuously now!
When she called him, she wanted him to take this woman and leave quickly. To her surprise, Ye Tinglan looked over upon hearing her words and nodded with an impassive expression.
"What the Secondary Consort said is what this subject means. This subject is willing to stay and have a meal with his Imperial Grandmother before leaving."