Attended to by two palace maids, Feng Qingyin dressed and left the tent.
Catching sight of the guards stationed nearby, she walked over with light, graceful steps.
“Noble Consort.”
“Noble Consort.”
As she drew closer to the inner tent, two guards blocked Feng Qingyin’s path.
“I’d like to pay my respects to my Crown Prince brother — I wonder if he has a moment?” Feng Qingyin curved her lips slightly and asked in a soft voice.
“Apologies, Noble Consort. His Highness the Crown Prince is still in his morning assembly. Perhaps, once the morning assembly concludes, this servant can go and announce you.”
“What does the Noble Consort think of this arrangement?” one of the guards replied.
Those who gave Feng Qingyin face generally called her “Miss Qingyin,” but most guards, absent any orders to the contrary, still addressed her as “Noble Consort.”
As much as Feng Qingyin couldn’t stand it, she knew this was not the place for a scene.
“Very well, then.” She pressed her lips together and turned to leave.
“My appetite isn’t good today. I’d like to wait and take the morning meal together with my Crown Prince brother. I’m not hungry anyway — a little more waiting won’t hurt.”
“Miss Qingyin, how can that do? The imperial physician said you must eat on time — whether it’s the morning meal, the midday meal, or the evening meal, you must take them all punctually.”
“What if the child is harmed?” said one of the palace maids accompanying Feng Qingyin, her voice carrying quite clearly.
“His Highness the Crown Prince has always been deeply concerned about the child Miss Qingyin carries. Miss Qingyin, please don’t give His Highness cause for worry.”
“Miss Qingyin, shall this servant go and make preparations?”
“No need.” Feng Qingyin shook her head. Her steps were a little unsteady, and she was visibly growing more and more irritated.
“I said my appetite isn’t good — I can’t eat a thing. None of you need to follow me! Go on — stop following me!”
“Miss Qingyin, you mustn’t!” the other palace maid said anxiously.
Seeing that there was no persuading Feng Qingyin, she turned back and looked helplessly at the guards.
“Brothers, is there any way you could go in and announce us? Miss Qingyin didn’t even eat the evening meal yesterday, and now it’s nearly noon and she still hasn’t had the morning meal. I’m worried about her…”
“Guards, please, would you do us this kindness and go ask? Would you?”
Every time they brought up Feng Qingyin’s condition, the guards — genuinely worried something might go wrong — had no choice but to go in and inform Zhan Yuheng of the situation.
As Feng Qingyin imagined the guard nodding and inviting her inside, the guard’s voice came from behind her instead.
“Apologies. His Highness the Crown Prince has given orders — during the morning assembly, he is not to be disturbed by anyone.”
Feng Qingyin clenched her teeth hard, struggling to push her fury back down.
She said nothing and did not turn around, continuing to walk forward.
The palace maid watched the guard stand tall with his chest out and dropped helplessly to her knees.
“Guard, please, please go and announce us — my mistress, she…”
Before the maid could finish, another palace maid nearby let out a low cry.
“Miss Qingyin, are you all right? What’s wrong?”
Seeing her mistress being held up, the first maid immediately got to her feet and rushed over anxiously.
Feng Qingyin leaned against the other palace maid, one hand pressed to her forehead, her face pale and frail.
“I… I… Lingling, where’s Lingling? I… I feel awful!”
“Miss Qingyin.” The maid supporting her called out, sweeping a glance at everyone around. “Quickly, go fetch the imperial physician — hurry! Go fetch the imperial physician!”
By the time the imperial physician arrived, Feng Qingyin was already resting on a long chair that the guards had brought over.
The moment she saw the imperial physician, she immediately waved him off. “I don’t want the imperial physician — I want to see my Crown Prince brother. I want to see my Crown Prince brother.”
Feng Qingyin’s eyes opened and closed intermittently, giving the impression of someone half-delirious.
“Crown Prince brother, I want to see my Crown Prince brother. I don’t want the imperial physician — I don’t!”
The only reason Feng Qingyin was making such a fuss was to alarm the people inside. Her Crown Prince brother had, until now, still maintained a degree of restraint around her in front of others — he would definitely come out. Of that, Feng Qingyin was certain.
Sure enough, set into motion by Feng Qingyin’s commotion, Qing Yun emerged from the tent with a number of people following behind him.
Everyone only dared to glance in this direction before pulling their gazes back and returning to whatever they were doing.
Qing Yun waved a hand. The guarding soldiers withdrew, taking with them even those stationed nearby.
Coming to Feng Qingyin’s side, Qing Yun said quietly, “Take the Noble Consort back for treatment. His Highness the Crown Prince will go to her after midday.”
“Yes.” With Qing Yun present, the palace maids didn’t dare say anything more and could only nod.
“I’m not leaving. I want to see my Crown Prince brother — I want to see my Crown Prince brother.” The half-conscious Feng Qingyin cried out softly. “I feel awful. I want to see my Crown Prince brother.”
The imperial physician wanted to step closer and take her pulse, but Feng Qingyin’s words stopped him from moving forward.
Caught between a rock and a hard place, the elder of the imperial physicians turned his head toward Qing Yun.
“General Qing Yun, you should still go in and report to His Highness the Crown Prince — tell him that Miss Qingyin is showing signs of exhaustion and ask how he wishes to proceed.”
No sooner had the imperial physician spoken than a guard behind Qing Yun strode over, murmured something in his ear, then stepped back a few paces and stood to the side.
Qing Yun turned around, his gaze settling back on Feng Qingyin.
“His Highness the Crown Prince says that once his affairs are in order, he invites the Noble Consort to come in.”
Feng Qingyin hadn’t misheard — Qing Yun had said “invites.” So her Crown Prince brother was summoning her? Could it be that Lingling had confessed everything?
She furrowed her brow slightly and grabbed hold of a palace maid’s arm.
“I… help me to my Crown Prince brother, and — I’m hungry. Prepare the morning meal for me and my Crown Prince brother.”
“Yes.” The maid helped her to her feet.
“Yes, Miss Qingyin.” The other maid gave a nod of her head and turned to go and make preparations.
One incense stick’s time later, Feng Qingyin sat inside the tent where Zhan Yuheng had been sequestered, a considerable spread of food laid out before her.
After drinking a mouthful of bird’s nest soup, some color began to return to her face.
She waved her hand and kept her voice as low as she could manage. “All of you, go outside — don’t disturb my Crown Prince brother’s work.”
“Yes, Miss Qingyin.” The two palace maids dipped their heads and withdrew.
Feng Qingyin lifted her gaze to look at the man seated at the main position not far away, and a faint smile curved her lips. She lowered her head, scooped another spoonful of bird’s nest soup, and put it in her mouth.
Zhan Yuheng had been working the entire time. From the moment Feng Qingyin entered, his attention had remained fixed on the letter in his hand.
It wasn’t that Feng Qingyin didn’t know — she simply didn’t want to dwell on it.
Only when he had finished dealing with the matter at hand did Zhan Yuheng close his booklet and raise his eyes for a look.
“What business did you have seeking this prince out?”
His voice was its usual low, deep timbre — though today it carried a few degrees more of cold.
Feng Qingyin furrowed her brow slightly, set down her chopsticks, and picked up her handkerchief to dab at her lips.
Meeting Zhan Yuheng’s gaze, she blinked her large, round eyes and asked softly, “Can’t I come and see the father of my child? Is there something wrong with that?”
Zhan Yuheng swept a glance at her, then withdrew his gaze.
“You should know — were it not for the child you carry, this prince truly would not spare you a second glance.”