Feng Xi Wu naturally picked up the conversation. "They want Yu Mei Ren's child to be emperor. Before that child can ascend the throne, someone must occupy it first. Once the child is qualified to ascend, they will abdicate to him. This person must be someone they can control."
"Clever!"
Hearing that Feng Xi Wu's guess was exactly the same as her own, Lu Qing Wan's eyes lit up as she high-fived him. She then continued excitedly, "This transitional person is undoubtedly Feng Qing Heng. The day that child ascends the throne will be the day Feng Qing Heng dies!"
Having said this, the spirited person instantly became dejected.
Feng Xi Wu chuckled, "What's wrong now?"
Lu Qing Wan's expression was conflicted, and her tone was mournful, "If they didn't target you, we wouldn't have to do anything and could just wait for Feng Qing Heng to return to the netherworld. Why must these two insist on eliminating you?"
Feng Xi Wu laughed dumbfoundedly, "So, Your Highness, are you saying I'm too radiant?"
"How would this concubine dare?" Lu Qing Wan shot him an exasperated glance. "Seriously, setting aside their motives, the Tian Xuan Sect is not easy to deal with. Are you truly going to let it go?"
Feng Xi Wu looked down at Lu Qing Wan. "The Tian Xuan Sect is not easy to deal with, but my imperial brother is no pushover either. This matter will not have a conclusion anytime soon. Whether I intervene depends on my imperial brother's attitude."
Lu Qing Wan lay back and met his gaze, marveling that even from this deathly angle, his handsomeness was striking. Sighing at the Creator's partiality towards this man, she barely managed to pull her thoughts back to the topic. "His Majesty's attitude? What do you mean?" She herself had heard Emperor Jing You's intention to protect Feng Qing Heng to the end, so what other attitude could there be?
"At least I need to let my imperial brother know that even if he cannot act against Da Qian due to our late mother's will, it doesn't mean there are no bottom lines. He wants to protect Feng Qing Heng, and I've already given him enough face. If he cannot handle this matter properly this time and expects you to endure indignantly, then I will have no more courtesy for him in the future."
Lu Qing Wan grabbed his sleeve and pulled herself up. "As you said, His Majesty punishing Consort Wen's servants and Marquis Yong An was to prevent them from using lineage issues to frame you, which was his compensation for you. What else do you want him to do?"
The fact that Emperor Jing You wanted to protect Feng Qing Heng could not be fundamentally changed. Based on this, his so-called compensation seemed insignificant. In Lu Qing Wan's opinion, this was an unsolvable dead end.
Feng Xi Wu did not seem to think so. He watched Lu Qing Wan, who was fidgeting like a monkey, scurrying back and forth within the span of a few breaths. Smiling, he drew her back to his side, resting his chin in the hollow of her neck. "Feng Qing Heng cannot be killed, but what about his cronies? Do you really think that by letting you spare his life for now, I want him to comfortably be the crown prince and emperor, without paying any price for his own actions?"
His warm breath on her neck made Lu Qing Wan squirm uncomfortably. "You're not talking about Su Bo Jun and his ilk, are you? Didn't His Majesty use himself as bait to lure those people out at first? Even if he punishes them, it doesn't necessarily mean he's showing his stance towards you, does it?"
"Then we'll see who my imperial brother eliminates and who he spares," Feng Xi Wu said vaguely. "Let's not talk about this anymore. Let's sleep. Tomorrow morning, there will be a general conclusion to the matter. If the outcome is not to my liking, I will go to the palace to discuss it with my imperial brother."
"Oh." Lu Qing Wan also knew that the initiative was not in their hands. She responded listlessly, "Then I'll sleep here tonight. Don't move me back to the couch again!"
"Understood. Sleep now." Feng Xi Wu adjusted her into a comfortable position and patted her back like he was coaxing a child, lulling her to sleep. Having experienced so much throughout the day, Lu Qing Wan was already exhausted. With Feng Xi Wu by her side, she felt much more at ease and fell asleep almost instantly.
Watching the person in his arms gradually settle into a steady breathing rhythm, Feng Xi Wu carefully placed her on the Persian carpet and tiptoed out.
Li Su saw him emerge and immediately stepped forward. Feng Xi Wu gestured for her to be quiet. As they moved further away from the medicine room, he instructed, "Go get bedding and pillows. See to it that the Princess Consort sleeps soundly. You stay inside to attend to her, in case she wakes up and finds herself alone."
Li Su agreed to each instruction, then suddenly felt something was amiss. "Your Highness, are you going out?"
Feng Xi Wu raised his hand silently. "Go."
Li Su then withdrew as instructed. Feng Xi Wu seemed to be talking to himself. "Where is Prince Chen now?"
A figure leaped down from the parasol tree in the courtyard. Li Qing stood steadily before Feng Xi Wu. "Reporting to Your Highness, Prince Chen left the palace half an hour ago and immediately went to Bu Ye Zhou. The subordinates below have not updated their reports, so Prince Chen should still be there."
"I want precise information, not 'should be'." Li Qing quickly lowered his head. "This subordinate will investigate immediately."
An hour later.
The snow had been falling incessantly all day. The street from Bu Ye Zhou leading to the residential area for officials and nobles was deserted. Only the watchman was diligently calling out, "Dry weather, beware of fire!"
As the watchman's footsteps receded, several heads furtively appeared from the alleyway.
"He's here, he's here! Your Highness, that's Prince Chen's carriage!" Li Yang, hiding by the wall, poked his head out and grumbled, "This Prince Chen is truly audacious. To rush to Bu Ye Zhou right after such an incident, is he afraid of not arousing suspicion?"
"It only shows that Your Highness's sudden return caught him off guard." Li Jin calmly glanced at the approaching carriage and retreated into the alley, moving to the side of a discreetly luxurious carriage. "Your Highness, Prince Chen is coming. Do you have any instructions?"
Feng Xi Wu's magnetic voice came from behind the carriage door, devoid of any emotion. "As long as his life is spared, you can do whatever you wish..."
"Oh, shit!" A suppressed exclamation interrupted Feng Xi Wu's words. Li Jin instinctively turned his head and saw Li Yang and Li Qing, each on one side, pressed against the wall, trembling with excitement. Before he could ask what had happened, Li Yang excitedly ran back. "Your Highness, someone has acted before us."
Feng Xi Wu's eyelids twitched instinctively. He opened the carriage door and leaped out, landing in the alleyway. As soon as he steadied himself, he saw Feng Qing Heng, clad in embroidered robes, being hoisted out of the carriage as if he were a chick. Feng Qing Heng was still cursing and struggling, and a sack was thrown over his head. Three petite figures skillfully pushed Feng Qing Heng to the ground, pounced on him, and began to rain blows upon him. The thudding sounds clearly indicated flesh meeting flesh, and the pain was palpable even from a distance.