The answer put Lu Qingwan’s anxious heart at ease.
"One last question, where are the remaining two secret edicts of Emperor Gengshi?"
Three secret edicts had blocked the path of many. Lu Qingwan intended to support Si Fengming’s ascent to the throne, and these two edicts could not be ignored.
The King of Jizhou, still dazed, replied, "The decree ordering all meritorious officials of that year to have no offspring is in the hands of that eunuch, Wei Kun. As for the imperial edict stating that anyone who succeeds without his public acknowledgment is a regicide and usurper, it is with He Song, the chief clerk of the King of Youzhou's mansion."
The words sent shockwaves through everyone present, leaving them stunned.
"How could Emperor Gengshi's imperial edict be in the hands of the chief clerk of the King of Youzhou's mansion?"
Lu Qingwan was aghast. The King of Youzhou was someone whom Feng Xiwu and Si Fengming had entrusted their lives to without question. Lu Qingwan dared not imagine the consequences if the King of Youzhou harbored any ill intentions towards the Feng Xiwu brothers.
Her doubts involuntarily escaped her lips, yet she prayed fervently that, even if the entire household of the King of Youzhou's mansion rebelled, the King of Youzhou himself would remain uncompromised.
Fortunately, the King of Jizhou's answer this time was less alarming. "When He Song served in the former Crown Prince's residence, he had a brief liaison with a maidservant. That maidservant gave birth to a daughter, and both mother and daughter were kept by Emperor Gengshi's side."
The rest was unnecessary to elaborate; Lu Qingwan understood everything.
"Li Qing, come and continue questioning. Extract everything from him, and then kill him outside the Donghua Gate."
As she spoke, Lu Qingwan exited the secret stronghold. Looking out, the Xuanjia Army and Wei Wuzu were locked in a fierce battle, with Feng Xiwu fighting with great fervor. She descended from the city rampart, declaring, "Return to Ziyang Pass, and find the King of Youzhou!"
Her arrival had been imposing, her departure was hurried. The only difference was that, looking at the Xuanjia Army soldiers fighting for their lives not far away, Lu Qingwan knew that Feng Xiwu was also striving for their future. She was no longer the one dragging Feng Xiwu forward.
The journey from Donghuang Pass to Ziyang Pass spanned the Central Province. By the time she returned, the sky had already brightened considerably. Because the King of Youzhou was a vassal king and could not lead troops into Ziyang Pass without an imperial decree, he remained in the open area outside Ziyang Pass.
Upon seeing Lu Qingwan, he, despite being an elder, approached her in surprise, "Did the Princess Consort not go to find the King of Jizhou? Why have you returned?"
Lu Qingwan observed the many retainers behind the King of Youzhou. Unfamiliar with him, she did not know if the chief clerk was among them. She could only say with a stern expression, "There has been a problem at Donghuang Pass. May I request a private word with Your Highness?"
Yesterday evening, they had discussed palace secrets without any reservations, but now she requested a private conversation. The King of Youzhou immediately realized the gravity of the situation and readily agreed, "Please, Princess Consort of Qin!"
Ying Shi and the secret guards arranged by Feng Xiwu stepped forward, separating them from the people of the King of Youzhou's mansion. Not far away, the King of Youzhou asked with a serious expression, "Why the somber mood? Has something happened to that boy Fengwu?"
The moment he spoke, his concern was for Feng Xiwu, which softened Lu Qingwan's gaze slightly. She shook her head. "Fengwu is well. This humble granddaughter-in-law specifically returned to inquire if Your Highness's mansion has a chief clerk named He Song, who once served in the former Crown Prince's residence?"
"He Song? Yes, he is my chief clerk accompanying me on this trip to the capital. He has been handling all my provisions and transport. Why, is there a problem with this person?"
Lu Qingwan immediately relayed what the King of Jizhou had told her to the King of Youzhou. The latter was horrified. "What a malicious scheme! Leaving such a secret edict is tantamount to telling the world that even if Fengming inherits the throne as Crown Prince, his succession will still be illegitimate!"
"Precisely. That is why this humble granddaughter-in-law rushed to you upon receiving this news. Your Highness, He Song is a member of your household. This humble granddaughter-in-law should not overstep, but the matter is of great importance. I implore Your Highness to allow me to secretly search He Song's belongings to find that secret edict and prevent future trouble."
A chief clerk, to put it bluntly, was merely a subordinate with a slightly higher status. The King of Youzhou could clearly discern the priority between such a person and the future of his own grandson. He immediately replied, "There is no question of overstepping. If it can be found, it must be found. However, if you do not wish to alert him, how will you find it? He likely wouldn't keep such an item in a place where it could be easily discovered, would he?"
"I have my methods. Your Highness need only keep him occupied and not alert him."
The King of Youzhou nodded repeatedly. Lu Qingwan stroked Teng Snake’s head, and the slender, eel-like creature slipped away. Ying Shi stepped forward, "Princess Consort, Wu Ying reports that the various vassal kings are approaching. Within two hours, the Kings of Qingzhou, Xuzhou, and Yanzhou will arrive. The Kings of Yongzhou, Liangzhou, and Guangling are only half a day's journey from Ziyang Pass. The slowest, the King of Yuezhou, will also arrive tonight if nothing unexpected happens."
This situation was something Lu Qingwan and Feng Xiwu had anticipated since Lan An's rebellion. The fact that these lords had delayed their arrival in the capital until now was much better than they had expected.
"Does the intelligence indicate how many troops the various vassal kings have brought with them?"
The King of Youzhou quietly interjected, "Of the thirty thousand troops I brought, only ten thousand are from Youzhou. The remaining twenty thousand were borrowed from the Kings of Yanzhou and Xuzhou. They should only have a few hundred attendants with them, and no one else."
Ying Shi nodded, "Wu Ying's intelligence states the same. Even the King of Qingzhou only brought eight thousand attendants. The other vassal kings, however, seem to have brought around eight thousand troops each."
Lu Qingwan clicked her tongue. "Eight thousand per person. Excluding the King of Jizhou and the King of Youzhou, the retinues of the six other vassal kings would be equivalent to an entire Xiaoji Camp. These people must remain outside Ziyang Pass."
Ying Shi was responsible only for conveying intelligence and did not comment on Lu Qingwan's judgment. The King of Youzhou, however, smacked his lips in contemplation. "Logically, eight thousand attendants is reasonable for a vassal king entering the capital. How will you accommodate them if they remain outside the pass?"
"The King of Jizhou, also a vassal king, has already rebelled. Can't they at least behave themselves and lie low for a while?" Lu Qingwan pursed her lips and instructed Ying Shi, "You stay here and keep an eye on He Song. The rest of you, follow me back to the city."
The King of Youzhou was startled. "You're leaving just like that?"
Lu Qingwan turned back. The King of Youzhou breathed a sigh of relief, only to hear Lu Qingwan push her luck further, "I almost forgot. Since Your Highness could borrow troops from the Kings of Xuzhou and Yanzhou to support you, you must have good relations with the other vassal kings. Before the court can make proper arrangements, please help appease the various kings and persuade them to agree to leave their attendants outside the pass, entering the imperial city with only three hundred attendants each. I'm counting on you, Grandfather!"
Before the King of Youzhou could react, Lu Qingwan had already bowed and turned to leave at full speed, leaving him bewildered in the swirling dust.