Linlong understood Feng Qingyin perfectly. By asking the young eunuchs and palace maids to slow their steps so as not to disturb the Crown Prince’s rest, she was in truth simply granting her mistress more time — time to gaze a little longer at the Yuyang Hall.

In truth, the Yuyang Hall was so vast that even if the whole party had made a ruckus here, they could not possibly have disturbed the Crown Prince.

Feng Qingyin reclined against the jade palanquin. The last time she had seen him was two days ago. He had been kneeling outside the Yuxiao Hall; she could only catch his silhouette from afar, for these past two days Emperor Qiwen had forbidden the consorts of the rear palace from approaching the Yuxiao Hall.

Even Feng Qingyin herself, in her capacity as Noble Consort, had been turned away at the door by a young eunuch.

Yet even a single glance, even from that great a distance — Zhan Yuheng’s silhouette had been branded so deeply into her memory that it could never fade away.

Her Heng-gege — the Crown Prince she had cherished for so many years. In the past, she could see him often. Now, even a single meeting had become a luxury, hadn’t it?

Feng Qingyin did not understand why the two of them had come to this point.

The closeness of those earlier years, the tenderness — now, only distance remained.

She had long known that when he was young, he had liked Feng Jiu’er. But Feng Jiu’er had later gone mad and lost her wits — had he not already stopped caring for that woman?

She had originally believed the two of them would end up together. Every effort she had made was for the day she became Crown Princess, so she would bring no disgrace to the Crown Prince.

She had worked so very hard. She excelled at the qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting; whether in literary accomplishment or in appearance, she was of the finest quality.

And Feng Jiu’er, by comparison — Feng Jiu’er had been senseless and foolish all day long, dirty as mud on the ground.

Yet why was it that one day, without warning, Feng Jiu’er was no longer foolish? Why was it that one day, without warning, Feng Jiu’er had become beautiful?

From that day on, her Crown Prince elder brother was no longer willing to spare her even half a glance. Even when she had nearly died, Crown Prince elder brother had not appeared.

Everything she had, every happiness in this life of hers — all of it had been ruined by Feng Jiu’er!

Feng Jiu’er — this debt of hatred, she would carry it her entire life. When the day came that she held true power, she would tear you into a thousand pieces!

“Turn back.” Feng Qingyin closed her eyes. Her body was still deeply uncomfortable. The moment she thought of Crown Prince elder brother, the lingering effects of the drug within her would surge up again.

It had not yet reached the point of losing control, but the restless stirring that would not settle was unbearable.

At last, several young eunuchs carried her back to the Qingxiang Hall. The moment she stepped inside, Linlong closed the chamber door and said in a fluster, “My Lady, is it… is it that something went wrong with the medicine?”

“Nothing went wrong with the medicine.” Feng Qingyin sat in the chair and closed her eyes. If something had gone wrong, why was her whole body reacting like this?

The medicine was indeed working — making her restless and urgent. She had only drunk the smallest amount of the drugged wine, and already she was stirred to this degree.

“It is I who did not listen to you and gave him too large a dose.”

“Then, His Majesty…” Linlong was a little worried. If the dosage had been too heavy, she did not know whether there would be any ill after-effects.

“Sleeping like the dead — like a pig!”

“My Lady…” There was no one else here, yet hearing her Lady speak of the Emperor this way, Linlong was still somewhat anxious.

Feng Qingyin drew a deep breath, accepted the tea Linlong offered, and drained it in a single draught.

Yet the restless urge within her body refused to be suppressed no matter what.

She bit her lip, and suddenly opened her eyes to look at Linlong. “Summon Jian Yi back. Tell him… tell him that this Lady is feeling unwell and wishes to see him.”

“My Lady, but you…” Linlong could now see it plainly enough — her Lady’s eyes were brimming with spring longing! “My Lady, the medicine — you… you too…”

“I drank a little, to keep the old thing company.” Feng Qingyin could barely hold on any longer. She waved her hand. “Quickly — call Jian Yi back!”

Jian Yi had not left the Qingxiang Hall at all. He had been in his room the entire day.

When Linlong came to fetch him, Feng Qingyin’s complexion still appeared normal. Yet the moment she saw Jian Yi, her breathing became disordered again.

She waved a hand; Linlong immediately retreated and personally stood guard outside, permitting no one to approach.

“Something the matter?” Jian Yi knew she had just come back from Emperor Qiwen’s side. In his heart, he harbored no small measure of resentment, and his expression was considerably colder than usual.

“I… feel terrible.” When Feng Qingyin was alone with him, just the two of them, she rarely referred to herself in the formal manner of a Lady.

For men, only frailty and dependence would make them more willing to give their everything — even their lives — to a woman.

When it came to understanding the psychology of men, Feng Qingyin would yield second place to no one.

“Jian Yi, come look at me — am I about to die?” She stood up and walked toward him. But after only two steps, her legs suddenly gave way beneath her, and she softly began to fall forward.

Something was clearly wrong with the way she looked.

Jian Yi stepped forward two paces, steadied her by the arms, and helped her upright, intending to guide her to a chair.

That he was still being so gentlemanly even now — alone with a woman in the dead of night, in this state!

Feng Qingyin exhaled lightly, and just as she was about to sink into the chair, she reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck.

“Qingyin!” Jian Yi was startled. He made to push her away, but she clung to him so tightly that using force would injure her.

“Jian Yi, actually… I had no desire at all to wait upon that old man. The person I care for… the person I care for is you. Can it be that you truly have no idea at all?”

Feng Qingyin held on and refused to let go.

Tears gathered at the corners of her eyes as she said pitifully, “I attended his chambers…”

Seeing his expression turn cold, she feigned fragility by leaning against his chest, and said through soft sobs, “I got him drunk. Tonight, he did not touch me.”

Jian Yi visibly relaxed. Men were all predictably like this when it came to such things.

Feng Qingyin was contemptuous of it inwardly, yet her face held its expression of tender vulnerability throughout. “Jian Yi, the one I have always cared for is you. Attending his chambers was something I could not avoid. Can it be that you cannot see even that? Why must you be angry? Why must you make me feel worse still?”

Jian Yi’s heart softened. Thinking of her circumstances, that cold and hardened heart of his softened a little more.

She truly… had no other choice.

“Jian Yi, I… I want to be with you. Will you agree?” Feng Qingyin’s body was truly uncomfortable. Especially now, pressed against Jian Yi and enveloped in his masculine presence, the restlessness within her surged even higher.

She rose on her tiptoes and drew close to Jian Yi’s thin lips. “Jian Yi, I want to be with you — I want to throw everything aside and be with you, no matter the cost! Jian Yi, you want me too, don’t you?”

Jian Yi’s heart wavered. His consciousness grew a little hazy from the nearness of her presence. In all his life, he had never been this close to a young woman before.

Feng Qingyin could see it clearly enough — this man, in matters like these, was a block of wood.

But even wood, if carved with enough skill, could be shaped into a thousand different forms, could it not?

“Jian Yi — will you have me?”