Lu Qing Wan found her mind struggling to keep up.
"I recall, Your Majesty is twenty-seven years your elder.
By that calculation, you were at most one year old then, and His Majesty should have known your identity, right?"
After all, the former Empress Dowager was a woman of the inner chambers. Such a matter as mixing royal bloodlines was likely beyond her ability alone.
Furthermore, Feng Xi Wu had mentioned that he and his brother were being pursued at the time.
How could the former Empress Dowager, by herself, have so discreetly dealt with those assassins and swapped the stillborn child of Feng Xi Wu and Consort Wen?
Just as she had suspected, Feng Xi Wu nodded, affirming her guess. "It was at Ban Ruo Temple that Imperial Brother helped the former Empress Dowager save the two of us brothers."
Despite her conjecture being affirmed by Feng Xi Wu, Lu Qing Wan grew more perplexed. "If that is the case, how has he treated you like a brother and father for so many years?
Or is it that his treatment of you is not as good as rumors suggest?"
Having lived two lives, this was the first time Lu Qing Wan doubted her judgment of people.
Emperor Jing You's kindness towards Feng Xi Wu seemed genuine from any angle.
Could that complex blend of affection for a younger brother and the mutual admiration between confidantes truly be faked?
Feng Xi Wu, lying on the operating table, had a flicker of reminiscence in his eyes.
"With the former Empress Dowager's countless instructions and my Imperial Brother's entrustment, his kindness towards me cannot be false.
However, this kindness will not supersede his responsibility to Da Gan."
Feng Xi Wu's tone was filled with complexity, it was unclear whether it was regret or a sigh for twenty years of brotherhood.
"Before, I never doubted my Imperial Brother's kindness towards me, until, as you said, he contracted the wound festering and knew his time was short, his methods changed.
Now that I think about it, he had probably made his decision from then on, hadn't he?"
She had initiated the conversation, but now Lu Qing Wan found the depth of the topic beyond her control.
After pondering for a long time without reaching a conclusion, she decisively chose to ask when she didn't understand. "What decision had he made?"
"To pave the way for Da Gan's future successor."
Whether Ning Wang, Jing Wang, or Chen Wang would ascend to the throne, Imperial Brother might not have made a final decision.
But one thing he was clear about was that the court was riddled with corrupt officials, and the old foxes who wished to profit from the succession struggle among the three princes were even more numerous.
For example, the former Duke of Xu, the current Duke of Pei, and the Marquis of Ning, even Duke of Hua and Prince Guang Chang, were all within the scope of his purges.
Feng Xi Wu analyzed Emperor Jing You's thought process with remarkable clarity.
"There are also provincial officials like Su Bo Jun, who must be completely exposed before his demise.
Perhaps, the only thing outside his expectation was the invasion of Bei Wei into Sai Bei.
However, this did not affect his plan; instead, it greatly aided him, causing Su Bo Jun to reveal his hand.
I believe that not long from now, Su Bo Jun will be convicted."
Lu Qing Wan listened, terrified and bewildered. "In this way, nearly half of the court officials will change.
Is he not afraid of court turmoil and unrest in the realm?"
"If he feared this, he would not have earned the reputation of a wise ruler of his time."
Feng Xi Wu held Lu Qing Wan's hand, his face filled with remorse. "Every action he took was worthy of the title of a wise ruler of the era.
It is merely my illegitimate and improper identity that has caused you too much grievance."
Although Emperor Jing You was a wise ruler, no matter what, he would not be magnanimous enough to pass down the empire built by his ancestors to an outsider.
Therefore, it was destined that no matter how Feng Qing Heng courted disaster, Emperor Jing You would protect him.
And with the life-saving grace of Emperor Jing You and the former Empress Dowager, Feng Xi Wu was also destined to be unable to kill Feng Qing Heng immediately and avenge Lu Qing Wan.
Lu Qing Wan squeezed his hand back. "I do not blame you. I can understand that Your Majesty is doing all this to pave the way for the future emperor.
I just don't understand why it has to be Feng Qing Heng?
Even if Ning Wang and Jing Wang each have their own crimes, Feng Qing Heng colluded with martial arts factions, the Western Liang Consort, and Su Bo Jun to murder you and poison His Majesty.
If these charges were all revealed one by one, which one is not more serious than the crimes of Ning Wang and Jing Wang?
Why does His Majesty not protect Ning Wang or Jing Wang, but insists on protecting Feng Qing Heng?
Is the new emperor of Da Gan indeed irreplaceable by Feng Qing Heng?"
Feng Xi Wu extended his hand. "Help this king up."
"Although your injuries are not minor, they do not affect normal movement, nor do you need to rest in bed. Would you like to take a walk?"
If he could move around, Feng Xi Wu was naturally delighted.
As Lu Qing Wan helped him change, he patiently explained to her.
"This is the difference between royalty and ordinary people.
The crimes committed by Ning Wang and Jing Wang were not as serious as Feng Qing Heng's, but they failed to conceal their crimes, which is incompetence.
Feng Qing Heng is the opposite; his crimes, even more so than Ning Wang and Jing Wang, yet he has left no trace of evidence.
Just like this time, you and I, even Imperial Brother and the ministers, all know what he is scheming, but who has the evidence to prove that he intended to assassinate the emperor today?"
Lu Qing Wan was speechless. Indeed, what angered her the most was that Feng Qing Heng could always perfectly extricate himself after committing evil, without suffering any consequences.
As she happened to walk in front of Feng Xi Wu to tie his belt, Feng Xi Wu casually stroked her chin, like petting a cat.
"To you, this is treacherous cunning; to Imperial Brother, this is Feng Qing Heng's capability.
This capability is sufficient to ensure he sits firmly on the throne without his thoughts and actions being swayed by the ministers.
Especially after Ning Wang and Jing Wang have both foolishly exposed their wicked deeds, Feng Qing Heng's cunning and treachery appear even more resourceful."
"Resourcefulness can be used this way, I am truly enlightened."
Lu Qing Wan scoffed and took a step back. "Alright, let's go."
As she helped Feng Xi Wu out, they saw Li Yang standing on one leg, glancing at them with a half-smile.
"Such a serious fall, did you not break a toe?
Would you like this consort to perform a bone-setting surgery for you?
Considering our acquaintance, I won't ask for too much in return. Just ten days as a caregiver at Bai Xing Lin's internal medicine department."
Li Yang, who had been standing on one leg, instantly recovered and stood firmly on both feet. "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. My toe is fine, really not hurt at all."
Li Jin by his side covered his face in despair.
Lu Qing Wan didn't hesitate at all. "You've recovered so quickly? That's great. Bai Xing Lin is short-handed these days, go help out and share Meng Tang's burden."
"Your Highness~"
Li Yang whimpered, trying to get away with it, but Lu Qing Wan's face hardened. "You don't want to go to Bai Xing Lin? How about staying here to test medicine for this consort?"