The Cheng Princess's sudden fainting threw the main courtyard into chaos. When the Cheng Prince arrived in a hurry with Imperial Physician Sun, he found Rong Yue lying pale and unconscious on the bed, her eyes tightly shut. Nanny Jiang, who was always by her side, appeared completely at a loss.
“Yue’er.”
The Cheng Prince rushed forward, but before he could approach the bed, a young maid, unfamiliar to him, stepped in to block his way.
“What are you doing?” he demanded.
The Cheng Prince had only seen Ling Yin once before, during a chaotic day at the Cheng Prince’s residence. His attention at the time had been entirely on the Cheng Princess and Song Tang Ning, not to mention the intrusion of the Black Armored Guards, so he hadn’t taken note of Ling Yin, who had fought alongside them.
Not recognizing her now, he frowned and said coldly, “Step aside!”
Ling Yin, however, moved to block his path again. “This servant is Ling Yin, acting under Lady Song’s orders to ensure the princess’s safety.”
“The princess and the prince have not reconciled, and she explicitly stated that you are not to set foot in the main courtyard. If the prince truly cares for the princess, he should respect her wishes. Please step back so that the physician can examine her.”
The Cheng Prince’s face darkened instantly. “Yue’er fainted for no apparent reason, and you think now is the time to lecture me? Song Tang Ning is just a junior—what right does she have to meddle in her elders’ affairs? This is the Cheng Prince’s residence, and her word carries no weight here.”
“Move aside!”
Hearing that this woman was sent by Song Tang Ning and that she dared to obstruct him publicly, the Cheng Prince was furious. He reached out to push Ling Yin aside, but the seemingly slender and frail maid didn’t budge an inch.
After two failed attempts to move her, his frustration boiled over. In a fit of anger, he raised his hand to strike her, but before he could, his wrist was seized in a vise-like grip.
The Cheng Prince cried out in pain, “What are you doing? Let go of me!”
“The princess’s health is poor, and yet the prince has the energy to quarrel with a servant. It seems the prince’s love for the princess is not as deep as he claims,” Ling Yin said, her gaze icy as the Cheng Prince’s face turned pale from the pain. The onlookers, including Imperial Physician Sun and the servants of the Cheng Prince’s residence, were stunned. With a sharp flick of her wrist, Ling Yin sent the Cheng Prince staggering backward.
When he steadied himself, his wrist throbbed with sharp, bone-deep pain, and it was already red and swollen.
“Your Highness!” The old steward of the Cheng Prince’s residence rushed forward to support him and turned angrily to Ling Yin. “How dare you lay a hand on the prince!”
“Wasn’t it the prince who raised his hand against a servant first?”
“You insolent wretch—”
Slap!
Before the steward could finish, Ling Yin’s hand struck his face with a crisp slap. By the time she returned to her spot, her expression was icy and composed.
“This servant belongs to Jiyun Alley. My life and honor are dictated solely by my master. Before fainting, the princess entrusted this courtyard to me. Until she wakes, no one is allowed to enter except the physician.”
The Cheng Prince stared at the imposing woman standing guard at the bedside, the steward clutching his bleeding mouth. Suddenly, recognition dawned on him. His eyes widened in shock. “It’s you!”
His surprise quickly gave way to anger.
“You’re one of Xiao Yan’s people, aren’t you?!”
Ling Yin ignored his question, responding coldly instead. “The princess needs rest. You two, escort the prince out.”
Two young maids stepped forward, their faces cold and resolute. Another positioned herself beside Ling Yin. Though they appeared to be ordinary servants, the unmistakable aura of bloodshed around them made it clear to everyone present—they were not mere maids.
These women had seen battle and taken lives.
If anyone dared to act rashly, they wouldn’t hesitate to retaliate.
The atmosphere in the room grew suffocating. The Cheng Prince’s expression shifted rapidly, while Nanny Jiang, standing on the sidelines, trembled nervously. She ventured cautiously, “Miss Ling Yin, the prince is only worried about the princess…”
“Nanny Jiang!” Ling Yin interrupted sharply, her gaze as piercing as a blade. “Lady Song made it clear that apart from the princess, I have the final authority here.”
Nanny Jiang froze under Ling Yin’s intimidating stare, her voice trailing off into silence. Only when Nanny Jiang quieted did Ling Yin continue, “If the prince truly cares for the princess, he should leave at once so the physician can tend to her. Or perhaps the prince doesn’t wish for the princess to recover?”
“Ridiculous!” The Cheng Prince growled. But seeing Nanny Jiang, usually so confident, now pale and silent, an inexplicable unease gripped him.
Nanny Jiang was the most trusted and relied-upon servant of Rong Yue. Even if Song Tang Ning and Xiao Yan had sent someone, they wouldn’t dare treat Nanny Jiang with such force unless there was a reason. Ling Yin’s authoritative claim to be in charge—and Nanny Jiang’s uncharacteristic silence—left him deeply unsettled.
The Cheng Prince’s anger faded, replaced by a growing sense of foreboding. He clenched his fists tightly.
When Rong Yue returned to the residence, he had assumed it was a sign of reconciliation. He had hoped they could mend their relationship. Yet now, seeing the formidable guards she had brought with her and recalling her guarded demeanor earlier, he felt a chill creep through him.
His tone softened. “I misspoke in a moment of anxiety. If you distrust me, I will wait outside.”
“Thank you for your understanding, Your Highness,” Ling Yin replied curtly, her calm response only deepening the Cheng Prince’s unease.
He cast a lingering glance at Nanny Jiang, whose anxiety was palpable, before sighing and stepping out. Before leaving, he instructed the physician, “Do your best.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The maids stationed themselves at the door as the Cheng Prince left. Ling Yin turned to the visibly stunned Imperial Physician Sun and said, “Please, examine the princess.”
Physician Sun, though experienced with the intrigues of noble households, found this situation exceptional. The open tension between the Cheng Princess and the Cheng Prince was unlike anything he had seen before.
Ling Yin’s disregard for the Cheng Prince had shocked him. That she was from Jiyun Alley—linked to Xiao Yan—only made the situation more bizarre. However, he kept his thoughts to himself and stepped forward to examine the princess.
The Cheng Princess’s health was already frail, and her pregnancy had been unstable from the start. Only Lady Qin’s acupuncture and medicine had kept things under control. Though her fainting was feigned, her physical weakness was undeniable, and her pulse revealed troubling signs.
“This…” Physician Sun hesitated. “The child…”
“The princess’s pregnancy has always been fragile,” Ling Yin said calmly. “Lady Qin’s treatments have been protecting her.”
“That explains it.” Physician Sun nodded, his expression thoughtful. The Cheng Princess’s pulse was indeed weak, and her pregnancy precarious. Yet, there was a faint vitality sustaining the child.
Still, examining her closely, something seemed off. Physician Sun’s gaze fell on the seemingly unconscious princess. Her condition didn’t entirely align with a typical fainting spell.
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