Feng Xi Wu wholeheartedly agreed with Lu Qing Wan's opinion.
"As you said, it's too late today. After leaving the palace tomorrow, I will personally meet with my imperial brother to see whether this cousin of ours is truly one of us or not."
Lu Qing Wan nodded absentmindedly, her attention already captured by the remaining invitation cards.
"The rest are from some middle to high-ranking officials. They're probably just here to join the fun, so we don't need to bother with them for now.
My imperial sister-in-law told me that once we're more familiar with Zhongzhou, she'll host a flower appreciation banquet at the Crown Prince's mansion, so we can get acquainted with the court officials.
But what are these two?"
She specifically picked out two invitation cards and held them up to Feng Xi Wu. "One is from the Lan family, and the other is from the Fan family. Both are inviting me for tea in their capacity as matriarchs. Are they trying to put me on the spot?"
Feng Xi Wu took the two cards and examined them carefully. "It's only natural for the Lan family to want to put you in your place. I rejected their daughter and married you.
As for the Fan family, they probably want to see our stance to determine their future actions."
He said, setting aside the two invitations mixed with the calling cards. "Both the Lan and Fan families are influential clans in Zhongzhou. Since they've invited you for tea, the occasion will likely be significant.
Wait for news from your imperial sister-in-law. If she attends, you should go too. If she doesn't, don't waste your energy. You won't go wrong by following her lead in this regard.
However, you should pay attention to this invitation."
Lu Qing Wan doubtfully took the calling card and, upon seeing the name, couldn't help but chuckle. "Bai Lian Hua, is this name for real? And she's a county princess. What's our connection to her that she's inviting me to tour on a pleasure boat?"
Feng Xi Wu didn't quite grasp the humor in the name and calmly replied, "She is Lian Yu's cousin, and by nominal status, the daughter of our benefactor. Twenty-three years ago, her grandfather was merely a supervisory censor in the Southern Commandery. In twenty years, he rose rapidly through the ranks. Last year, he was transferred from the Grand Master of the Crown Prince's Household to the Ministry of Works, and was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Pingning. Five promotions in twenty-three years is not an unprecedented speed, but in terms of achievements, his resume has almost nothing to show."
Lu Qing Wan's intuition told her that this Bai Lian Hua's grandfather had issues, given that Feng Xi Wu had spoken so much about him. However, Feng Xi Wu's mood was quite grim, and she hesitated.
"If you don't mind, could you tell me if there's anything special about this Marquis of Pingning?"
When Feng Xi Wu was in Da Qian, he was always very purposeful in his actions, speaking no unnecessary words except to those close to him, such as Lu Qing Wan and Emperor Jing You. After arriving in Da Qin, he became even more concise. Yet, he had said so much about this Marquis of Pingning. Even without knowing the full story, Lu Qing Wan could guess that this person had an inseparable connection to the unfortunate incident involving the former Crown Prince and Crown Princess.
"Twenty-three years ago, Lian Yu and Bai Lian Hua's great-grandfather were the Grand Master of the Crown Prince's Household at the time. After Prince Liang rebelled, my imperial grandfather, fearing for our family's safety, ordered the then elder Mr. Bai to escort me and my imperial brother out of the city. Lian Yu's father, a mere civil official, took us out of Zhongzhou. But along the way, we were always found by remnants of Prince Liang's forces and Emperor Geng Shi's men."
As expected, Feng Xi Wu's explanation was shocking.
"Later, being cornered, Lian Yu's father cut ties with his family, no longer seeking help from the Bai family, and shouldered the responsibility of protecting us alone. The assassins were easily shaken off. It wasn't until we were outside Zhaojue Temple in Shangjing that someone found us again and killed all our guards right in front of my imperial brother and me. Lian Yu's father, though gravely wounded, entrusted me to the former Empress Dowager before finally succumbing to his injuries."
Lu Qing Wan listened with bated breath. "So, you suspect that your whereabouts were so quickly exposed back then because someone in the Bai family betrayed you?"
"It's not a suspicion, it's been long confirmed." Feng Xi Wu's face was extremely grim.
"Not long after my imperial brother and I left Zhongzhou, Emperor Geng Shi, then the King of Ji Prefecture, seized power under the guise of 'protecting the emperor and coming to his aid.' The head of the Bai family, considering himself a man who knew how to adapt to the times, volunteered to capture me and my imperial brother to protect the Bai family. To this day, the Bai family has indeed climbed the ranks on the blood of thousands from the Eastern Palace and is now using Bai Lian Hua, masquerading as Bai Shu Fu's daughter, to try and win us over. My imperial brother was not fooled and married my imperial sister-in-law. Now, they've set their sights on me."
Feng Xi Wu's face was full of mockery. "Ignore Bai Lian Hua's invitation. If she causes trouble for you in the future, feel free to beat her to death. If you kill her, consider it filial piety to our father and mother." His murderous intent was almost impossible to conceal.
Lu Qing Wan gently soothed Feng Xi Wu's hand, her heart aching. "Don't be angry. Since their actions have been confirmed, when the time is right, the path to glory they paved can also become the Yellow Springs that sends them to hell. Until then, I will keep the Bai family perpetually walking a tightrope, scaring them half to death!"
Feng Xi Wu's emotions were greatly agitated. Even though Lu Qing Wan still had many questions, she didn't pry further. She simply harbored a doubt: if Bai Lian Hua was a fake sent by the Bai family to deceive the two brothers, then what was Lian Yu's identity? Seeing Feng Xi Wu's dark expression, Lu Qing Wan held back. She decided to postpone the question for now, letting Feng Xi Wu calm down.
However, he had already moved on to another topic. "Although Da Qin's ceremonial attire primarily features black and gold, many female attendants still wear red on a daily basis. Tomorrow, when we go to the palace, I won't be able to stay by your side at all times. How about this: tomorrow morning, you, I, Li Jin, and the others will all wear blue. I'll have the carriage decorations changed to blue as well. This way, when you truly see red, your vision will be tinted purple. Do you think that's appropriate?"
Lu Qing Wan couldn't help but express her surprise. "Visual displacement? How did you think of such a method?" This method, so distinctly modern, stunned Lu Qing Wan. She could hardly believe it was devised by a native of this era.
Feng Xi Wu tugged at the corner of his mouth, attempting a smile that didn't quite materialize. "When fighting in the northwest, we spent half the year in the snow. Soldiers who stared at the snow for too long would develop eye ailments. Later, General Lin Feng Mian discovered that the soldiers in the rear logistics units had a lower incidence of eye disease. After an investigation, it was found that the soldiers in the front, lacking any visual obstacles, spent too much time looking at the snow. The logistics soldiers, however, had to deliver supplies to various locations at all times, so their eyes were exposed to a variety of colors. Naturally, the incidence of eye disease was lower. Later, Li Yang and the others, both to alleviate their eye strain and out of playfulness, compared the changes after various colors clashed and discovered this phenomenon."