Feng Xi Wu saw the churning emotions in Lu Qing Wan's eyes, but said nothing, only shaking his head gently at her.
Emperor Jing You himself descended, and Tang Xiao, with the guards of the Divine Strategy Battalion, moved decisively.
Those named by Emperor Jing You did not even have a chance to beg for mercy before they were dragged away.
The ministers were stunned. Such important matters were handled so sloppily; it was truly anticlimactic, a slap on the wrist!
Only Feng Qing Heng, standing amidst the ministers, acted as if nothing had happened, still feigning concern for Emperor Jing You.
"Father, are you feeling alright?"
Emperor Jing You glanced at him with a complex look and said coldly, "You too, you believe whatever others say.
Do you not know what kind of person your imperial uncle is?
And your imperial aunt, she hid the identity of Divine Doctor Lin simply because she didn't want to be constrained by the title of princess, wanting her medical skills to be put to use to save more patients.
Where are there so many conspiracies and schemes? They are your imperial uncle and aunt; must they report everything to you?"
Having escaped the mortal danger of beheading, Feng Qing Heng was now in a good mood, accepting whatever Emperor Jing You said.
He even feigned surprise and asked, "Father, you knew all along that the Regent Princess was Imperial Aunt?"
"If I didn't know her identity, how would I dare entrust my life to her?
And to wrongly accuse her of plotting to murder me, you are utterly foolish. Apologize to your imperial uncle and aunt, and then go back to reflect in isolation. You are not allowed into the palace without my permission!"
Feng Qing Heng knew he had caused a great mess this time. Despite his lingering resentment, he walked towards Feng Xi Wu and Lu Qing Wan as instructed.
However, just as he had finally convinced himself to apologize to Feng Xi Wu and Lu Qing Wan, Feng Xi Wu ignored him, putting his arm around Lu Qing Wan's waist and walking to Emperor Jing You's bedside.
He said in a cold tone, "Your brother is feeling tired. I will take the princess back to our residence to rest. Brother, please take care."
With that, he put his arm around Lu Qing Wan and turned to leave.
Lu Qing Wan squeezed his arm, "There are some matters I wish to report to His Majesty in person. May I ask His Majesty to dismiss everyone else?"
Feng Xi Wu looked at her, confused. She was clearly angry enough to pinch herself, so why did she want to stay?
Emperor Jing You, on the other side, had already agreed, "Prime Minister Wen may stay. The rest, withdraw for now."
The ministers withdrew as ordered. Feng Qing Heng watched the backs of Feng Xi Wu and Lu Qing Wan with a livid expression for a long time. Glared at by Emperor Jing You, he grudgingly withdrew.
Unusual Palace was silent. Emperor Jing You looked at Feng Xi Wu with complex eyes and coughed lightly, "Today's affair..."
Before he could finish, Lu Qing Wan interjected, "Your Majesty is the ruler of Da Qian. How Your Majesty chooses to handle today's affair, this concubine and the prince have no objections.
This concubine merely wishes to remind Your Majesty that your esteemed Consort Yu is a top disciple under the Grand Elder of the Heavenly Profound Sect.
And who else, besides those lofty sects, could possess such formidable power to influence the Six Ministries and the Three Judicial Offices, and make all the ministers so tacitly agree to come to the palace at the same time to witness my matricide attempt?"
Emperor Jing You was aghast, "She is from the Heavenly Profound Sect? Who would have placed her by my side?"
"That, this concubine does not know."
Lu Qing Wan handed a bottle of truth serum to Tang Xiao, "If you wish to interrogate, strike quickly while the person is weak.
If the people of the Heavenly Profound Sect learn of her predicament, then trying to interrogate her will be, heh..."
Leaving Emperor Jing You with a chilling, ambiguous laugh, she pulled Feng Xi Wu towards the exit.
"Xi Wu."
Emperor Jing You called out to Feng Xi Wu, who had been unusually quiet since returning to the palace.
Feng Xi Wu, with his back to him, replied without turning his head, "Does my brother have any orders?"
Emperor Jing You lowered his eyes bitterly, "If not for Mother's imperial decree, would you and I no longer be brothers after today?"
"My brother worries too much. Such a hypothesis is meaningless."
Lu Qing Wan felt as if her fingers were about to break, then she heard Feng Xi Wu say something astonishing, "Brother, you should hasten to leave an heir.
With him acting so recklessly, it is truly difficult for me to restrain myself from going against Mother's dying wish."
With that, he tightened his embrace around Lu Qing Wan's waist and strode out quickly, as if afraid of being caught.
From a distance, Lu Qing Wan heard Emperor Jing You's sigh, her heart filled with even more questions.
Those outside were unaware of what had happened in the palace. Even Lu Qing Wan's carriage was still waiting outside Unfettered Palace, just as it had been.
Snow began to fall as they left. Feng Xi Wu bent down and scooped her up. The carriage creaked as it carried them away.
After leaving the palace gates, Lu Qing Wan struggled, "Relax, you're going to strangle me!"
Feng Xi Wu felt guilty and held Lu Qing Wan even tighter, "I'm sorry for letting you suffer!"
If Feng Qing Heng's crimes were thoroughly investigated today, he would have no good end. For Lu Qing Wan to have her revenge would have been a matter of a few days.
But Emperor Jing You chose to shield Feng Qing Heng, and he also chose to tacitly agree. Everyone who knew the truth understood that this outcome was the most unfair to Lu Qing Wan.
"No, why should it be like this?"
The more it was not mentioned, the more Lu Qing Wan's unwillingness erupted.
"Every time he gets away with it! This time, if you hadn't arrived in time, I would have died, do you know?
When Consort Yu attacked me with her hairpin, Feng Qing Heng's sleeve arrow was aimed at my back. If I had been even a little slower, I would have died right there!
But he, colluded with foreign officials and martial forces, with Western Liang's invaders, with sect members to hunt you, the current Regent Prince, slandered me for murdering my husband – each and every one of these offenses is enough to cost him his head!
Why is it that he is completely unscathed?"
Lu Qing Wan angrily punched Feng Xi Wu's chest. In her rage, she forgot to control her strength. After a few blows, blood appeared at the corner of Feng Xi Wu's mouth.
Lu Qing Wan was terrified, "Are you injured?"
"No, just an old wound. It's nothing. If you're still angry, keep hitting."
As he spoke, he even guided Lu Qing Wan's hand to hit his chest. The surging undercurrent in his eyes was terrifying, clearly showing he was also extremely angry. Lu Qing Wan's eyes suddenly welled up with tears, "They're too bullying! Just because they have an emperor father, is that it?
If it doesn't work out, why don't you just rebel? I'll provide the money, you provide the effort, and we'll tear down Feng Qing Heng's backing together, and see if he can still be so arrogant?!"
These shocking words startled Li Yang, who was driving, and Li Jin, who was following in the carriage, almost causing them to fall from the carriage shafts.
Amidst their shock, they saw each other's eyes filled with agreement. Both pairs of eyes clearly conveyed "The Princess is right!"
Feng Xi Wu gave a wry smile, "Alright, alright. Anger is anger, but you can't talk nonsense!
Of the entire Da Qian, anyone can rebel, but I cannot."
Lu Qing Wan was about to curse again, but Feng Xi Wu's next words caught her attention.
He said, "Although I can't kill Feng Qing Heng, since your medical skills are so superb, making him wish he were dead should not be difficult, right?"