Lu Qingwan knew that Feng Xi Wu and Si Feng Ming had deep brotherly affection and had been reunited after a long separation. As the sister-in-law, it seemed somewhat unfeeling of her to say such things.
But she was truly tired of seeing Feng Xi Wu's pathetic state in Da Qian.
He clearly had the ability and was not lacking in strength or status, yet he was held down by a life-saving favor from Emperor Jing You and the late Empress Dowager, allowing Feng Qing Heng, that imbecile, to strut around before him and almost end their lives.
Now, in Da Qin, they owed no one. If Feng Xi Wu remained as unmotivated as before, she would not stand for it.
Feng Xi Wu looked at Lu Qingwan's serious expression and her preemptive warning. He thought she was about to say something, and his heart hung in suspense.
Upon hearing Lu Qingwan's words, he felt both heartbroken and amused.
Seeing Lu Qingwan nervously fidgeting with her fingers after pouring out her heart, Feng Xi Wu grasped her two small, slender fingers and sighed helplessly, "Am I that unreliable in your eyes?"
Lu Qingwan guiltily raised her eyes. Seeing that he wasn't unhappy, she mumbled softly, "What else would you think?"
She always felt that even if the late Empress Dowager and Emperor Jing You had saved Feng Xi Wu's life, everything Feng Xi Wu had done for Da Qian was enough to repay that debt.
Emperor Jing You was not qualified to repeatedly demand that Feng Xi Wu tolerate Feng Qing Heng's senseless provocations for his sake.
The current situation in Da Qian was in the past. She absolutely did not want Feng Xi Wu to return to that stifling state because of so-called brotherhood.
Therefore, even though he knew Empress Lan was in the palace and Si Feng Ming would be in danger, he still stopped Feng Xi Wu from intervening.
She just wanted to see if Si Feng Ming had the ability to secure the position of Crown Prince and fight for the throne himself without Feng Xi Wu's help.
She and Feng Xi Wu had already wasted too much time. If Si Feng Ming lacked the ability, even if he ascended the throne now, Feng Xi Wu would have to spend his entire life assisting him.
And their children might even have to assist Si Feng Ming's descendants generation after generation. Lu Qingwan could not even imagine what kind of life that would be.
"Silly girl."
Feng Xi Wu gently stroked Lu Qingwan's head, "I have already spoken with my brother. After we avenge our father and mother, I will take you back to Tian Xuan City.
We'll casually harass Feng Qing Heng and Xiao Jing An, or at the very least, scare the Emperor of Northern Wei.
We'll visit my brother and sister-in-law during festivals. Da Qin will have nothing to do with us then."
Lu Qingwan was slightly stunned, then climbed out of his embrace and ran outside.
Feng Xi Wu, looking bewildered, pulled her back, "Where are you going?"
Lu Qingwan said with a serious face, "I was wrong. I thought you were still the same as you were in Da Qian, but I didn't expect you to have improved behind my back.
I'm going back to protect the Crown Prince now. I will escort our Crown Prince to a stable enthronement."
Feng Xi Wu was speechless and flicked her forehead, "You don't need to worry about my brother's safety. Since you're here, accompany me onto the battlefield this time."
Feng Xi Wu said with a hint of regret, "We've entered and exited battlefields so many times, yet you and I have never fought side by side. This time, let's have some fun together."
"Okay!"
Lu Qingwan agreed with extreme alacrity, feeling that a beautiful future was beckoning her.
Just as their conversation ended, Li Yang arrived, "Your Highness, everything is ready. We can depart at any time."
Lu Qingwan got up with the flow, "I'll leave with Li Qing and the others."
Feng Xi Wu also knew that although Lu Qingwan was skilled and intelligent, she had never participated in formal warfare. Keeping her by his side would only limit her potential.
So he didn't say much, only stating, "Be careful. Your safety is paramount."
"Yes, sir!"
Lu Qingwan gave a playful salute and then slipped away.
Feng Xi Wu shook his head with a smile and then gave the order, "Depart."
The army set out. As Feng Xi Wu had commanded, the six-thousand-strong contingent managed to suppress their voices to an extreme low, almost to the point of silence.
At the army camp, Li Qing looked at the departing army and asked Lu Qingwan suspiciously, "Princess Consort, we've brought a hundred musketeers and a hundred skilled brothers. They are all our own men.
However, why are we still here and not going to Zi Yang Pass with His Highness?"
"We are going to Zi Yang Pass, but not with His Highness."
Lu Qingwan, dressed in black armor, crossed her arms and squinted as she watched the direction the army had gone.
"I can't fight. I have no way to deal with Lan Hua Xiao's ten thousand heavy cavalry, but I've had my eye on his twelve cannons for a long time.
Are you brave enough to come with me and snatch those twelve cannons?"
Li Qing was jolted by her words, "Brave enough, more than brave enough!"
As one of Feng Xi Wu's four most trusted guards, he was already familiar with the blood and thunder of the battlefield.
While he enjoyed engaging in combat, Lu Qingwan, who claimed to be unable to lead troops, had opened up a new perspective for them.
Warfare wasn't just about swords clashing against swords and spears against spears; small units could achieve effects that large armies couldn't in a short period.
When Lu Qingwan proposed taking her own men to snatch the twelve cannons from Lan Hua Xiao, Li Qing didn't doubt her for a moment that she was being fanciful; he only thought about following Lu Qingwan.
Lu Qingwan smiled upon hearing this, "Then, let's go.
Shuang Yue is already waiting for us with explosives. "Tell the brothers to march silently and approach the Zi Yang Pass artillery platform without a sound.
Anyone who makes a sound and alerts the enemy, thus ruining my plan, will be dealt with according to military law!"
"Understood!"
Li Qing responded excitedly and turned to relay the orders. Soon, the two-hundred-strong team quietly disappeared from the camp.
Zi Yang Pass, the foremost pass of the Central Plains, was flat for miles in every direction within and outside the pass. During the day, not even a single living person could hide.
It was a magical place that baffled all generals, where any military law was useless except for direct action.
Because everyone knew that if Zi Yang Pass fell, it would mean the loss of the Central Plains. Therefore, every emperor of Da Qin would spare no effort in reinforcing Zi Yang Pass.
To this day, the walls of Zi Yang Pass were thicker than the Great Wall on the frontier, and its height was not to be underestimated.
Lu Qingwan, lying in the grass on the flank of Zi Yang Pass, gritted her teeth in anger, "No wonder Lan Hua Xiao dared to hold the civil and military officials of Da Qin captive within and repel the armies of the feudal lords from all directions with his ten thousand heavy cavalry.
This place, even if it were unguarded, as long as the gate is closed, this wall alone could block an army of thousands, right?"
She was even worried about Feng Xi Wu. If Lan Hua Xiao's rebels discovered them, and the cannons fired, wouldn't it be over?
Li Qing grinned wryly, "Why else would it be called the foremost pass of the Central Plains? Princess Consort, what should we do?"
"What else can we do? Have the trebuchets arrived?"
Li Qing nodded, "They have arrived. There are twelve trebuchets in total, ready for use at any time."