Lu Qingwan snorted, "He's always been good at scheming, isn't he? He's not afraid of one day getting himself into trouble with his own schemes."
With a change of topic, she asked, "Is Bai Xing Lin almost rebuilt?"
Li Su blinked, surprised by the sudden shift in conversation, but nodded. "It's almost rebuilt, but the equipment is incomplete, so Meng Tang is only accepting patients treatable with traditional Chinese medicine. Serious cases requiring surgery are temporarily not being handled."
"It's good that it's open."
Lu Qingwan nodded. "Send someone to the Chi residence to deliver a post. Whoever from the Chi family is available should come to Bai Xing Lin to see me. Prepare the guards. I'll head directly to the northwest after I leave Bai Xing Lin."
Knowing Lu Qingwan's heart had long flown to the northwest, Li Su immediately replied, "Your subordinate will personally go to the Chi residence. If possible, may I invite Madam Chi and young master Chi to see you, Your Highness?"
Lu Qingwan raised an eyebrow. "You want Madam Chi and Chi Jingchuan to see me, what are you thinking?"
Li Su answered truthfully, "The Chi family has a clear and upright family tradition; they wouldn't associate with a turncoat like Minister Meng. Moreover, Meng Xintong's lack of decorum is well-known among the noble ladies of Shangjing. It's impossible to arrange for young master Chi to marry Meng Xintong through proper channels with matchmakers and formal betrothal. The remaining methods are simply the underhanded tactics of women in the inner chambers. Your subordinate believes it would be best to have the two ladies of the Chi family prepare for this early on. And have young master Chi take some precautions. The two Chi adults are scandalously upright; speaking to them would be of little use, wouldn't it?"
Lu Qingwan never expected that the Chi family's adults' extreme uprightness could also be a source of annoyance for Li Su. She chuckled and shook her head. "Alright, as you say. Invite Madam Chi and young master Chi to Bai Xing Lin. You don't need to worry about the affairs in the northwest; go to the Chi residence yourself. I'll have Ying Yi handle the rest."
Li Su acknowledged and left. Lu Qingwan proceeded at a leisurely pace. She estimated that Madam Chi and Chi Jingchuan would have arrived at Bai Xing Lin before she leisurely set off. Ying Er drove the carriage, while Ying Yi had already departed with the guards to wait on the official road outside Shangjing, to avoid drawing too much attention.
Lu Qingwan made no attempt to conceal her identity, arriving at Bai Xing Lin in her carriage openly, even somewhat ostentatiously. Li Su was already waiting at the entrance and greeted her upon seeing her. "Madam Chi used a heart ailment as an excuse to come. She and young master Chi are in the special care ward on the third floor."
Lu Qingwan nodded and walked towards the room Li Su mentioned, with Ruyue and the others following behind her. Li Su asked, confused, "Your Highness has specially invited Madam Chi and young master Chi to meet here for Yanran's ears, yet you've brought so many people. Aren't you afraid of being discovered?"
"It's no secret that I'm on good terms with the Chi family. If I hide it, will others not know?" Lu Qingwan calmly replied, "The Chi family has entrusted Yaoyao to me. Is it so hard to understand that they want to inquire about Yaoyao's news?"
Li Su blinked, then suddenly understood. Feng Qingheng had no idea that Lu Qingwan already knew about his schemes against the Meng family. By meeting the Chi family elders and grandson in a way that was both covert and conspicuous, Feng Qingheng and his faction would only assume that the Chi family elders and grandson were there to inquire about Chi Yaoyao's whereabouts.
As they spoke, they entered the ward. Ruyue and the others lined up, forming an impenetrable barrier around the room. The room, lacking complete equipment, was still quite spacious. Li Su cleverly brought a set of tables and chairs for the Chi family elders and grandson to rest. Upon seeing Lu Qingwan, they both stood up.
Seeing Lu Qingwan's noticeably more haggard face, Madam Chi's voice was filled with emotion. "Your Highness has suffered greatly these past few days."
Lu Qingwan did not commit. "Thank you for your concern, Madam. I am actually doing alright." Thinking of her father and husband in the northwest, Lu Qingwan wasted no time on pleasantries. "I believe Li Su has already informed the two of you of the purpose of my invitation, correct?"
Madam Chi nodded repeatedly, her hand gripping Lu Qingwan's. She was deeply moved. "Your Highness's great kindness is something the entire Chi family will never forget. Please accept a bow from this old woman and Chuan'er!" With that, she released Lu Qingwan's hand, took a step back, and prepared to perform a deep kowtow to Lu Qingwan.
Lu Qingwan was startled. "Madam, you must not. The current Emperor and I already have many grievances. All that I have done is for my own sake, how can I dare to claim credit?" However, she could support Madam Chi, but not Chi Jingchuan. The steadfast and upright man immediately bowed. He kowtowed to Lu Qingwan three times with resounding thuds before kneeling and stating with great integrity, "Your Highness first saved my sister, and now you have saved me. The Chi family, especially I, are worthy of this bow."
Lu Qingwan, supporting Madam Chi, felt a bit helpless. She tried her best to adapt to the customs and traditions of this era that did not violate her principles, but having people of such advanced age kowtow to her was still something she could not accept. Hearing Chi Jingchuan's words, she sighed, "You've already bowed. I cannot accept it, but can I kneel and return it to you?"
Chi Jingchuan's face turned as red as a monkey's backside. Madam Chi chuckled softly. "Alright, you may rise. If you continue to kneel, Your Highness will leave in a huff." After diffusing the awkwardness for her grandson, Madam Chi said gently to Lu Qingwan, "The new Emperor is relentlessly pressuring the Chi family, repeatedly targeting Yaoyao and Chuan'er. This shows he knows his foundation is unstable and he is anxious. My husband was trusted by the late Emperor and has many disciples. The new Emperor dares not move against my husband, so he can only target Yaoyao and Chuan'er. Their schemes are endless and difficult to guard against. My husband's intention is for Chuan'er to distance himself from Shangjing and seek refuge in the military for a while. What are Your Highness's thoughts?"
This development was indeed beyond Lu Qingwan's expectations. "The Chi family is a scholarly household with a hundred years of history. Are you truly going to have young master Chi join the army?" Although he was already a junior general in the Imperial Guard, everyone assumed this was merely an exercise for Chi Da University Scholar's son. When the time was right, Chi Jingchuan would enter officialdom. No one had ever thought he would truly enter the military; Lu Qingwan was astonished.
Madam Chi replied calmly, "If it were a time of peace and prosperity, Chuan'er could be an idle official without issue. However, the Great Qian is currently in turmoil. Relying solely on pure civil officials like his father and grandfather cannot save Great Qian. His grandfather and father hope that Chuan'er can achieve something in the military and, when necessary, defend the realm and ensure its security through combat."
Lu Qingwan had thought that Madam Chi was sending Chi Jingchuan to the military for a short period to evade Feng Qingheng's schemes. She never imagined that the Chi family's method and purpose for Chi Jingchuan's evasion were completely different from what she had envisioned. Even though their family had already been targeted by Feng Qingheng's schemes, they still thought about protecting Great Qian and ensuring peace in the land.