The Crown Prince also reached out and put his arm around his wife's shoulders. "Don't alert the enemy. Zhu Shi's mind, and her status, make it impossible for her to know so quickly that my sister-in-law fears red. She must have a superior guiding her from behind. This arrangement was likely made to verify the truth of the news. Only if my sister-in-law leaves the Crown Prince's mansion safely today, and those items are preserved intact, can we prevent someone from using this same tactic to harm my sister-in-law again."
The Crown Princess stamped her foot in anger. "We guarded against everything, yet she still managed to fall into her trap. This Zhu Shi, I don't think the Yan family can keep her!"
"Imperial Aunt, please calm your anger. How is Zhu Shi, such a petty clown, worth your fury? You look so fierce, little Yuan'er might find you scary and not want to be close to you."
The mention of the little bun so naturally made the Crown Princess freeze. "Little Yuan'er?"
The Crown Princess looked at her in surprise. "You're willing to let me see him?"
Lu Qing Wan, having sealed her own vision, could not describe any changes in her eyes, and her expression became stiff. All expression relied on her words. Hearing this, she curled her lips slightly. "Imperial Aunt, what are you saying? Little Yuan'er was born to you. How could I not let you see him? It's just that he hasn't officially returned yet, so Imperial Aunt must bear with it a little longer. When Imperial Uncle and the Prince have cleared his path, you can openly bring him back to the mansion and let him call you Imperial Mother."
The Crown Princess covered her mouth and cried with emotion. "Counting the days, Yuan'er is already five years old, yet I've only taken care of him for less than two months in total. As a mother, I've been too negligent!"
The Crown Prince also showed a sad expression, embracing his wife and sighing. The atmosphere in the study became extremely somber. Lu Qing Wan rubbed her cheeks, trying to liven things up. "No, both of you. The Prince and I are here to offer tea today. Are you going to drink this tea of recognition or not?"
"We will, of course."
As the Crown Prince wiped away the Crown Princess's tears, he encouraged them, "Feng Wu's return signifies our victory over Emperor Geng Shi. Now that my sister-in-law is here, our days will only get better. This tea of recognition must be drunk..."
At the study door, Si Lan and Li Jin personally stood guard. Upon hearing this, they quickly cooperated and brought in the tea. The Crown Prince and Crown Princess sat at the main seat. Lu Qing Wan intended to offer the tea herself, but Feng Xi Wu preempted her. "A'Wan is not feeling well, so I will offer the tea to Imperial Brother and Imperial Aunt on her behalf."
The Crown Prince and Crown Princess had no objections. Lu Qing Wan then stood up and curtsied, "Imperial Brother, Imperial Aunt, please have some tea."
Feng Xi Wu bent down and handed over the teacups. The Crown Prince and Crown Princess took them and, without any pretense, gulped down a large mouthful.
The Crown Princess then smiled. "You know, in the past, only the bride offered tea at weddings. Your way of offering tea like this, I find it quite interesting."
The Crown Prince nodded in agreement. "Ruozhao is right. A couple is one entity. It must be both of them together that reminds people that you are a couple at all times. However, when we met in Shangjing four years ago, I never imagined that I would one day drink the tea of recognition from Feng Wu. Truly, how unpredictable life is!"
His words carried a tone of deep jest. Four years ago was precisely when Feng Xi Wu's legs were injured, leaving him disabled.
Lu Qing Wan's curious gaze swept between their faces, but she did not interrupt them. Feng Xi Wu did not feel awkward. He returned to Lu Qing Wan's side, took her hand, and then said leisurely, "When I came, I sent Zhu Shi to the Jiaofang Division. She did not enter the palace to offer thanks after getting married. If nothing unexpected happens, by tomorrow morning at the latest, memorials impeaching me will be on Emperor Geng Shi's desk. At that time, Imperial Brother will also be implicated."
"Has Imperial Brother thought of how to deal with Emperor Geng Shi's reprimand?"
The Crown Prince snorted. "Yan Ruo Lan whipped the current Princess of the realm and injured the Prince's chief clerk. Zhu Shi is immoral, offended the King, and trespassed into the Crown Prince's mansion. What need do I have to deal with anything? Should the second branch of the Yan family and those behind them not be the ones thinking of ways to deal with the reprimands?"
Feng Xi Wu remained noncommittal. "If I had not been in a foreign land for twenty-three years, or if A'Wan had not married into Da Qin for those cannons and firearms, Imperial Brother's words would be quite reasonable. But the reality is precisely the opposite. Does Imperial Brother think Emperor Geng Shi will accept these reasons you speak of?"
Emperor Geng Shi was already looking for an excuse to demand the blueprints for the long guns and cannons from Lu Qing Wan. He cared little for right or wrong. As long as there were officials impeaching Feng Xi Wu, for him, it would be a good opportunity to threaten Lu Qing Wan into handing over the cannon blueprints.
The Crown Prince had only spoken in terms of common sense. After Feng Xi Wu's reminder, he understood everything. "Emperor Geng Shi is an emperor, after all. He likely wouldn't have the face to publicly demand the cannons and firearms from my sister-in-law. Therefore, the greatest danger should be in the inner palace."
The Crown Prince calmly analyzed, "Given my sister-in-law's status, she only needs to pay respects to the Empress. And the Empress is Emperor Geng Shi's greatest supporter. She understands Emperor Geng Shi's thoughts the best and is most adept at helping him solve problems. The inner palace is her territory. If she truly intends to make a move against my sister-in-law, it would be quite difficult to handle."
The Crown Prince frowned in worry. While he was deep in thought about how to prevent Lu Qing Wan from paying respects to the Empress, Feng Xi Wu said leisurely, "Imperial Brother need not worry. The Empress will soon not have the leisure to continue assisting Emperor Geng Shi."
The Crown Prince looked at him suspiciously. "What did you do?"
Feng Xi Wu offered a finger to Lu Qing Wan, still able to elegantly sip his tea. "I accidentally overheard some things I shouldn't have on the way here." He clicked his tongue and said as if casually, "I heard that Qing Zhou has had consecutive bumper harvests in recent years, and the army is strong and well-trained. Originally, I didn't believe that Da Qin could still have anyone richer and stronger than Zhong Zhou. After seeing it on the way here, I finally understood what 'there's always someone better' means. The soldiers of King Qing Zhou's Eagle, Tiger, and Leopard battalions are very eager for battle!"
The Crown Prince exchanged a surprised glance with the Crown Princess. "Are you saying King Qing Zhou is planning to rebel?"
"Whether he is rebelling or not, I cannot say. But King Qing Zhou is definitely dissatisfied with his current fiefdom and territory. On the way to Zhong Zhou, I had Shen Tang Zhou make a trip to Qing Zhou. It is said that King Qing Zhou has repeatedly expressed his dissatisfaction with the rejected requests to report to Zhong Zhou, and is preparing to enter Zhong Zhou directly, acting first and then reporting."
The Crown Princess, shocked, hurried to the door to keep watch herself. The Crown Prince exclaimed, "Feng Wu, is this news reliable? Could it be that your subordinates made a mistake? King Qing Zhou has always been honest. Among the Nine Provinces, King Qing Zhou contributes the most tribute each year. Why would he suddenly plan to rebel?"
Compared to Feng Xi Wu, who had been away in Da Gan for twenty-three years, the Crown Prince clearly understood the power dynamics of Da Qin better. Feng Xi Wu only smiled faintly. "I have no way of knowing that. Imperial Brother also knows that I am new here, and my influence in Da Qin is not yet mature. However, hearing this news, does Imperial Brother have any thoughts?"