"At this point, Li Yang was even more furious!
A bunch of snobbish beasts. They practically had to beg for their words to be heard at the Court of State Ceremonial.
But for the Consort, they didn't even bother to send a calling card, directly asking her to meet them at the inn. Did they really think they were that important?
And they expected her to go and see him in person. The subordinate suggested they should drag that person to the imperial mausoleum to move bricks instead!"
With the new emperor's enthronement, preparations were already underway for the construction of Feng Qingheng and Yan Ruozhao's imperial mausoleums. While there was no shortage of manpower, Li Yang clearly wished for the Great Gan envoy to lend a hand.
Lu Qingwan pondered for a moment and instructed him, "Find a way to get that envoy to meet me. Also, discreetly gauge the attitude of the other members of the delegation towards me.
As for those who are merely going through the motions and filling a role without merit, let them return.
Anyone who harbors even a shred of the same idea as Feng Qingheng, looking down on me while using me, send them to the Ministry of Works. Tell them they are free labor."
Lu Qingwan's arrangements, while not directly sending the envoy to move bricks, were quite close.
Li Yang jumped up excitedly, "Understood, subordinate will depart immediately!"
As Li Yang bounced away, Li Su, who had been confined to her bed for nearly two months due to her injuries, arrived.
Her complexion was still a little pale from prolonged confinement, but her efficiency in handling matters remained.
"The envoy sent by Feng Qingheng is someone temporarily promoted from a collateral branch of the Lu family, named Lu Tong. By seniority, he should be your uncle.
Upon arrival in Da Qin, he dispatched members of the delegation to spread malicious rumors about you, calling you crude, bloodthirsty, sycophantic, and abusive...
Essentially, they said every nasty thing they could think of. However, Consort, please rest assured. The men below are keeping a close watch, and those rumors have not spread.
Anyone who agreed to spread rumors is already on the list for the Ministry of Works to move bricks.
However, there is one person in the delegation who requests a private audience with you and His Highness. Her identity is rather special, and your subordinate did not dare to be overly disrespectful. We wish to ask if you and His Highness would consent to see her."
Li Su's injury was known to all. During the chaos in Zhongzhou, she had used her recovery as an excuse to withdraw from public view. Lu Qingwan had encouraged her to operate in the shadows, discreetly monitoring the movements of various factions.
While Li Yang was outwardly handling the matter of the Great Gan delegation, Li Su was in charge of it from behind the scenes.
Lu Qingwan and Feng Xiwu had already made their stance clear to him: there was no need to show any courtesy to the people from Great Gan. Li Su and her subordinates had been obedient, ensuring that the Great Gan delegation did not disturb her and Feng Xiwu.
Now, to speak so earnestly on behalf of someone within the delegation, Lu Qingwan could not help but feel suspicious, "Who is it?"
Could there be someone in Feng Qingheng's delegation that Li Su held in such high regard?
Lu Qingwan harbored deep doubt.
Li Su's expression turned grave, "It is Miss Chi."
Li Su's face was heavy as she continued, "Feng Qingheng had her forcibly brought here and administered a potent poison. He intends for her to bring a sorceress from the former Nan Zhao royal family to meet you.
Miss Chi refused, so the sorceress began using her body to cultivate her蠱 (gu) poison.
The inn they are staying at is under the management of Bu Ye Zhou. Miss Chi recognized the innkeeper's waist token, and that is how your subordinate received the news and went to meet her.
According to Miss Chi, Grand Tutor Chi, Lord Chi, the Old Madam, Prime Minister Wen and his wife, the King of Nan, and the Queen of Nan have all been placed under house arrest in their respective residences.
If you cannot persuade the Emperor of Da Qin to lend troops to help Great Gan fight the Northern Wei cavalry, he will slaughter all members of the three households.
From the moment the first letter from the envoy was sent from Zhongzhou, for every ten days that pass without Da Qin agreeing to lend troops, he will kill one person.
This will continue until all eight elders you and His Highness cherish are completely dead."
After finishing her statement, Li Su almost buried her head in her chest.
Lu Qingwan's killing intent was so potent that it made her unable to lift her head.
"Well done, Feng Qingheng. He truly knows how to provoke me."
Lu Qingwan rose, "Summon three hundred of the Tian Zi Battalion's Xuan Jia Army to accompany me to the inn. December, depart early to rescue Miss Chi and prevent that sorceress from escaping.
If even one person escapes, none of you need to return. Take your own lives!"
Li Su responded swiftly. With a wave of her hand, the guards waiting outside had already departed for the training grounds to mobilize the troops.
The two of them stormed out of the Qin King's mansion, startling Li Jin, who had just returned from outside.
Not daring to block Lu Qingwan's path, he grabbed Li Su, "What's going on? Who has the audacity to make the Consort this furious?"
Li Su grinned, "Who else could it be?"
Li Jin accurately surmised, "Is it that pesky grasshopper Feng Qingheng causing trouble again?"
Li Su let out a cold laugh, "He is truly doomed this time. Quickly tell His Highness to prepare to go to Great Gan. I fear the Consort will go on a solo mission herself if we delay!"
As she spoke, Lu Qingwan on horseback flashed past. Li Su exclaimed, then hurried to catch up.
Fortunately, the guards were accustomed to Lu Qingwan's decisive actions and had already prepared her horse.
Without further delay, Li Su shouted, "Quickly tell His Highness to go to Langqiao Inn," and then spurred her horse to chase after Lu Qingwan.
Li Jin stood dumbfounded but did not dare to waste a moment. He turned and sprinted off, heading to the palace to find Feng Xiwu.
Langqiao Inn was Lu Qingwan's new enterprise in Zhongzhou.
Although called an inn, it actually provided a complete range of services, including dining and accommodation, and was well-liked by travelers passing through Zhongzhou.
In just a few months, it had become the foremost inn in Zhongzhou, thanks to its advanced management model and excellent service.
The Great Gan delegation, having been treated coldly in Zhongzhou, wished to maintain their dignity in the eyes of the Da Qin court. Thus, they spared no expense to stay at Langqiao Inn.
At that moment, Li Yang was engaged in a verbal sparring with the envoy. To ascertain the attitude of other members of the delegation towards Lu Qingwan and Feng Xiwu, Li Yang's demeanor was not overly aggressive.
He even adopted a somewhat leading tone, speaking as if he were hesitant to act: "The current Consort of Qin is no longer the former Regent's Consort. No matter what, she is a subject of Da Qin.
Do not forget, you are here to petition Da Qin. Without His Highness and the Consort, you would not even be able to meet a minor official of the Da Qin court, let alone borrow troops..."
His overbearing yet insecure demeanor successfully led the envoy to believe that Lu Qingwan was afraid of her reputation being ruined and had sent Li Yang to probe their intentions. Consequently, the envoy's attitude immediately became more forceful.
"Guard Li Yang's words are indeed quite intimidating!
But I wonder, does the Emperor of Da Qin know that their Consort of Qin had a past entanglement with our Emperor before arriving in Da Qin...?"
"I was not aware that I had any connection with Feng Qingheng. Envoy, why don't you elaborate for this Consort? So that I may have a good recall, what unspeakable past do I have with Feng Qingheng?"
The sudden voice surprised both the envoy and Li Yang.
Of course, Li Yang was surprised that Lu Qingwan would personally come here, while the envoy was surprised that Lu Qingwan could still command troops in Da Qin."