"This king has requested five million piculs of grain and thirteen prefectures in the Western Regions as my fief from the new emperor," Feng Xi Wu said, entering the room covered in a swirl of wind and snow. "Also, the princess consort will no longer need to visit the palace to pay respects to the empress on the first and fifteenth of each month, nor on festive occasions."
Lu Qing Wan took a long moment to process these two sentences. The five million piculs of grain were preparation for this arduous battle. Feng Qing Heng was going to provide it anyway, and with the entire court present, he couldn't refuse. However, she asked, "Wasn't your original fief the nine prefectures of Bei Zhi Li? Why has it suddenly changed to the thirteen prefectures of the Western Regions? While the thirteen prefectures of the Western Regions are more remote and poorer than the nine prefectures of Bei Zhi Li, didn't they discover three iron mines there not long ago? Would Feng Qing Heng be willing?"
If Feng Xi Wu intended to rebel, those three iron mines would be enough to forge another Xuan Jia Army.
"Those three iron mines have long been under the control of the Ministry of War, and the King of the South is directly responsible. Feng Qing Heng gets nothing from them, so he has nothing to worry about," Feng Xi Wu said, his tone revealing undisguised contempt for Feng Qing Heng. "Moreover, compared to the three iron mines, he is more concerned about my army being too close to Shang Jing and threatening his throne. After all, even Shang Jing belongs to Bei Zhi Li. If my fief were still in Bei Zhi Li, I could station sixty thousand Xuan Jia troops there, which would be too great a threat to him."
This explanation was indeed in line with Feng Qing Heng's way of thinking. But, Lu Qing Wan pressed, "If that's the case, why did you choose the thirteen prefectures of the Western Regions as your fief? Trading the prosperous nine prefectures of Bei Zhi Li for the barren and desolate thirteen prefectures of the Western Regions, what were you thinking?"
Feng Xi Wu's eyes curved slightly as he said with pleasure, "Naturally, it's because the thirteen prefectures of the Western Regions are closest to Tian Xuan City!"
Lu Qing Wan was speechless. He had just mentioned taking Tian Xuan City as his base, and now he was already making plans. Such efficiency, anyone would call it incredible.
Feng Xi Wu added with a smile, "This is one reason. Another is that the Xuan Jia Army's four hundred thousand troops are dispersed across the borders of Da Qian, and I am far away in Bei Zhi Li. With the Xuan Jia Army dispersed, their combat effectiveness is greatly reduced. However, seven of the thirteen prefectures in the Western Regions are on the border, plus the sixty thousand Xuan Jia troops stationed in the fief. I will have one hundred and eighty thousand Xuan Jia troops by my side. With such a strong backing, no matter how Feng Qing Heng schemes, what can he do to me? Even if the two countries' border troops attempt to invade Da Qian again, they will have to think twice."
Lu Qing Wan nodded repeatedly, "I understand. In short, as long as Da Qian doesn't perish, you've dug Feng Qing Heng's grave. You even wasted a condition to have Feng Qing Heng exempt me from my monthly greetings, and your only worry in Shang Jing is gone. Your Highness, you have truly calculated well. Are you planning to leave and never return?"
Lu Qing Wan was a lady of the court, and even as emperor, it was inconvenient for Feng Qing Heng to summon her to the palace. If he wanted to deal with her, he could only do so through the women of the harem, and only the empress held a higher status than Lu Qing Wan. By exempting her from greetings, Lu Qing Wan would no longer have to enter the palace frequently, and Feng Qing Heng would naturally lose the opportunity to trouble her. This was a good thing, but Lu Qing Wan inexplicably felt that Feng Xi Wu's arrangement was very similar to how Emperor Jing You made arrangements for his affairs before his death. Even before he had left, a heavy emotion had settled in her heart, making her feel uncomfortable.
Feng Xi Wu gently rubbed her cheek and said with a smile, "If you are still here, how can this king leave and never return? Wait obediently. After I find your father, I will send someone to pick you up and bring you to the Western Regions. We will go to Tian Xuan City together to see our future home."
She could tell he was trying his best to cheer her up, so Lu Qing Wan put on a brave smile. "Does Bei Ming Xiao know that you've already designated Tian Xuan City as your possession?"
Feng Xi Wu snorted smugly, "What does it matter if he knows or not? What this king desires will ultimately be mine."
"Stop bragging and go prepare for tomorrow's journey," Lu Qing Wan urged him away, not wanting him to be tired for the long journey.
"There's no rush. It's still early. The matter of the military supplies being swapped hasn't been decided in court today. Hu Yan Che has also disappeared again, so the court will surely be in chaos for a while. No matter how the situation develops, you shouldn't get involved." Feng Xi Wu reluctantly held his little princess consort and refused to leave. "As for Chen Ruo Yu, you should avoid meeting her for the time being. If something happens to her and she blames you, we're not afraid of those censors, but your father will suffer."
When she heard about something she was curious about, Lu Qing Wan forgot to rush Feng Xi Wu away. "How do you know Chen Ruo Yu will have an accident?"
Just then, Li Su brought hot water and a cotton cloth. Feng Xi Wu wiped Lu Qing Wan's face with the soaked cloth while explaining, "The position of Grand Tutor, while considered the head of the civil officials with numerous disciples, is awkward in court due to the renowned presence of Xiang Yu. Especially now that Feng Qing Heng's position is unstable and he needs military commanders to pacify the court, Grand Tutor Chen clearly cannot do that. Therefore, Feng Qing Heng wants Chen Ruo Yu to ruin her reputation before the empress's enthronement ceremony, be impeached by the censors, and thus make way for the empress's position. This way, he can continue to use Grand Tutor Chen's network of influence and also choose a noble daughter who is more beneficial to him as the empress."
Lu Qing Wan counted on her fingers, "The daughter of Wen Tan, the Governor of the Southern Territory, Wen Ru Ge, is unlikely to be his empress. The Governor of Liao Dong is my father, the Governor of the Northwest is驸马 Shao, the Governor of Bei Zhi Li is the King of the South, and the Governor of Nan Zhi Li seems to have a family of monks, with no daughters. So, who does Feng Qing Heng want to choose as his empress?"
"Princess Chang and驸马 Shao's cherished daughter, Shao Min Min, and the young princess of the King of the South's manor, Nan Ru Yi, are both good candidates. However, the most likely is Yue Wu Xia, the niece of Yue Yuan Ting, the Governor of Nan Zhi Li." Feng Xi Wu had indeed conducted a comprehensive analysis of her question, which surprised Lu Qing Wan.
"How can this be? Princess Shao and the young princess of the King of the South's manor are not as attractive as the niece of the Governor of Nan Zhi Li?" She hadn't met Princess Shao, but she had met Nan Ru Yi. She was definitely raised to the standards of a noble lady. She was proficient in all the arts, beautiful, and due to her parents' loving relationship and her upbringing in a military family, she possessed a boldness and cheerfulness that ordinary noble ladies lacked. If it weren't for the fact that the position of princess consort had already been predetermined during the imperial selection, she might have even won first place. Moreover, both the King of the South and驸马 Shao held considerable power, so they should have been more in line with Feng Qing Heng's criteria for alliance.
Feng Xi Wu shook his head. "Although the King of the South and驸马 Shao have greater power, they are too upright and honest to be controlled by Feng Qing Heng. Feng Qing Heng has just ascended the throne and needs a supporter who is capable and willing to obey him. The Yue family started as merchants and only rose in the last four generations. Compared to old noble families, they are insignificant. They want to build up their family's foundation, so they have to curry favor with the new emperor. In essence, they are a perfect match for Feng Qing Heng."
Lu Qing Wan nodded in realization. "I see. I was wondering, after so many days of the imperial selection, Chen Ruo Yu seemed so gentle when serving tea later. Suddenly, she became so arrogant and overbearing. So, Feng Qing Heng drugged her and ruined her reputation for this purpose!"