He looked at Lu Qingwan with sparkling eyes, his voice filled with joy, "Ah Wan, this is the most relaxed outing of my life.
And from now on, everything I do will be from the bottom of my heart, with nothing I *have* to do anymore."
Listening to his rambling words, Lu Qingwan no longer found it amusing, only a heart full of concern.
But seeing how happy Feng Xiwu was, how could she possibly dampen his spirits by crying?
So she also smiled and said, "Isn't that fortunate?
As long as Feng Qingheng is dead and I've avenged my father, I'll be free too."
As she spoke, she produced a pair of water skins from somewhere, tossed one to Feng Xiwu, and raised it to the void, "Come, here's to freedom!"
Feng Xiwu followed suit, downing the potent liquor in one gulp. The fiery spirit burned from his throat straight to his stomach, and he couldn't help but cough, his face flushing red.
Lu Qingwan laughed with schadenfreude, "You say there's only a jar of Turkic imperial wine per year, is that strong enough, haha..."
Their hearty laughter echoed along the winding path outside Tianxuan City. Feng Xiwu shook his head, a look of doting helplessness on his face, as their uninhibited figures disappeared into the afterglow of the sunrise.
...
"Phew!
Finally, we're done moving!"
Lu Qingwan, clinging to Feng Xiwu, gasped for breath.
"This is the first time I've ever felt that money could be so troublesome. I'm so tired, I'm done with love!"
Feng Xiwu skillfully hoisted her up, turned, and started walking, "We should go. Be careful not to let Nie Wuming find out, or we won't be able to shift this blame."
Lu Qingwan, like a limp fish, hung from Feng Xiwu's shoulder and whined, "Then carry me. We don't need to go back to Tianxuan City, just go straight back to Shangjing.
I need to see Feng Qingheng's heart seize up from anger with my own eyes to be satisfied."
Feng Xiwu, with a person weighing him down on his shoulder, still moved with the agility of a swallow, traversing rooftops and walls.
He carried Lu Qingwan and landed them both on horseback. He then urged the horse forward, with Lu Qingwan's own mount trotting obediently behind them.
It would follow them without needing to be led.
Under a moonlit sky, the two rode horses, traveling through the night, and finally crossed the Jade River before dawn.
Having rested well during the day, Lu Qingwan felt no trace of sleepiness now.
They sat in a room at an inn by the Jade River, gazing out the window towards the place where the two armies were in a standoff.
Lu Qingwan sipped her tea and didn't hold back her criticism, "It's been twenty days, and they've only reached the Jade River. Nie Wuming is still holding his ground by the Jade River with no movement. What do you think he's up to?"
The not-so-luxurious inn stood less than a hundred zhang from the Jade River, allowing them to observe the standoff between the two armies from their window.
"After so long, he should have received news about the problems with the provisions and armaments in the secret storehouses.
Also, news has come from Shangjing that Chen Ruoyu died during childbirth, both mother and child lost.
Although Feng Qingheng posthumously conferred Chen Ruoyu the title of Imperial Noble Consort, the Chen Grand Tutor's faction doesn't seem to believe Chen Ruoyu died in childbirth.
I imagine Nie Wuming has also received this news and is waiting for Shangjing to fall into chaos!"
Feng Xiwu's tone was grave, "This way, they can conserve grain and avoid depleting troops. Although he's anxious, Feng Qingheng, or rather, Da Gan, is more anxious than he is."
Lu Qingwan pondered for a moment, then turned to him, "Is it of any use for the Chen Grand Tutor not to believe Chen Ruoyu died in childbirth?
A scholar's rebellion takes three years to fail.
Even if he knows Feng Qingheng caused Chen Ruoyu's death, what can he do?
With no heir to the throne, will other ministers be instigated by him to depose Feng Qingheng?"
"But the problem is, Da Gan does have potential heirs to the throne."
Feng Xiwu reminded Lu Qingwan, "Have you forgotten the Prince of Ning's children?
Although the Prince of Ning was found guilty, the late emperor restored his royal status before his death.
His children are eligible to inherit the throne."
Lu Qingwan scoffed, "I thought the Chen Grand Tutor was standing up for his daughter, but it turns out he just wants to protect his own glory!
Then I definitely can't give him that opportunity!"
She straightened up, her previous exhaustion gone, "Let's go back to the capital. We have ample provisions, it's time to act."
"Let's sleep first. We'll go back after you've rested. Let me make some arrangements."
Lu Qingwan blinked her eyes, "What arrangements do you need to make?"
"I need a plan to seize the throne in one fell swoop.
This plan requires the cooperation of Prince Consort Shao and the Governor of the Southern Territories, Wen Tan, and the Prince of the South."
"Understood."
Lu Qingwan forced her eyelids open, "We need to make those in the Da Gan court realize their defeat is inevitable, that even the Prince of Ning's children are useless, so that we can conquer without fighting, right?"
Before Feng Xiwu could reply, she mumbled again, "After my father died, who was the Governor of Liaodong?"
The Xuan Jia Army had to defend against the Northern Wei cavalry at the Jade River and guard against sneak attacks from Yun Qiang and Xi Liang, so they could offer little substantial help to Feng Xiwu.
The provincial governors had divided Da Gan's five hundred thousand troops. Feng Xiwu needed to secure at least two-thirds of these troops to form a sure path to victory.
Prince Consort Shao had already pledged his allegiance to them. Feng Xiwu had long since won over the Prince of the South and the Governor of the Southern Territories, Wen Tan.
As for the Governor of Southern Zhili, Yue Yuanting, who had risen to the ranks of first-class regional officials through Feng Qingheng, Lu Qingwan didn't count on him.
What worried her most now was the overlooked Governor of Liaodong.
Da Gan was a vast territory. Although Liaodong sounded far from Shangjing, it could be reached in five to six days if necessary.
Lu Qingwan verbally asked who the Governor of Liaodong was, but in her mind, she was already calculating how to minimize the threat from that official.
However, for this seemingly ordinary question, Lu Qingwan waited until her eyelids were almost glued together, but still did not receive Feng Xiwu's answer.
She waited until she was almost asleep, and then Feng Xiwu wearily replied, "After your father's death, the successor to the Governor of Liaodong was Marquis Xuanwu, Feng Yaoxian."
Lu Qingwan, who was on the verge of collapsing from exhaustion, froze. In an instant, all sleepiness vanished from her eyes.
She slowly sat up, looking calmly at Feng Xiwu, "You said, who was the successor to the Governor of Liaodong?"
"Marquis Xuanwu, Feng Yaoxian."
Having said it once, the name was no longer as difficult to utter.
Seeing the rage in Lu Qingwan's eyes, Feng Xiwu quickly held her hands and feet.
"Don't get angry just yet.
Although Feng Yaoxian is indeed the Governor of Liaodong, he has long been a puppet with no real power.
The true authority in Liaodong belongs to the Provincial Administration Commissioner of Liaodong, Zhou Xue'an. He is your maternal uncle.
He is the true relative of the white skeleton found in the lotus pond of the Marquis Zhaolie's mansion."
After speaking, a flicker of stiffness crossed Feng Xiwu's face.
He had been planning for so long, intending to give Lu Qingwan a surprise once everything was settled.
But no one expected that this Lu Qingwan was not the same Lu Qingwan. Upon suddenly learning that Lu Qingwan was not the daughter meticulously raised and taught by Lu Zhenting, he was unsure whether to reveal his surprise.