Lu Qingwan was shocked, "How could this be?
Yesterday, I examined the Emperor's pulse and he clearly had at least half a month left to live!"
Li Su remained silent.
Lu Qingwan pushed herself up from the table, "Quick, order all the red lanterns in the manor to be replaced with white ones.
Drape white silk over all visible red. Also, I need to change into plain clothes.
Have Li Jin keep a close watch on everyone in the manor, so no one can seize an opportunity at this time. Quickly!"
Without time to grieve, Lu Qingwan began meticulously planning for the future of the Regent's manor.
The entire household mobilized, and within an hour, not a trace of vibrant color could be seen in the manor.
The vast snow, reflecting the white silk, created a scene of pure white as far as the eye could see, making one dizzy.
It was as if heaven and earth mourned the passing of Emperor Jingyou.
Just as everything was settled, Li Yang returned.
Seeing Lu Qingwan's plain clothes and white velvet flower, he paused and said, "Reporting to the Princess Consort, His Majesty has passed away. The Prince will be handling the funeral arrangements and cannot return to the manor for the time being.
He specifically ordered me to inform you, Princess Consort, that you are to observe mourning from now on within the manor.
Until you enter the palace to mourn in three days, you are not to see anyone or leave the manor."
During this special period, Lu Qingwan would not bicker with him and agreed without hesitation.
However, she asked suspiciously, "His Majesty was fine yesterday, and today he has passed away. Did something happen in the palace again?"
Li Yang shook his head, his expression complex, "His Majesty punished many people at once, from the Duke of Pei, Duke of Hua, Prince Guangchang, and Marquis Ningguo, to some mid and high-ranking officials in the six ministries.
Also, Su Bojun, Pan Fuxiang, and other provincial leaders.
After giving many instructions, he restored the Prince of Ning's enfeoffment and bestowed a marriage.
When Prince Chen and the ministers pleaded for those people, His Majesty issued an edict of self-condemnation, taking all responsibility upon himself and committing suicide as an atonement for failing to govern properly!"
No matter how hard Lu Qingwan racked her brain, she never expected Emperor Jingyou's death to be like this.
She was truly shocked and it took her a long time to regain her voice, "Then, how is the Prince now?"
"His Majesty had a private talk with the Prince before the morning court today, but the Prince did not know that His Majesty would commit suicide. When he saw His Majesty's suicide, the Prince was not in good spirits.
However, His Majesty entrusted the Great Gan to him, so the Prince should be able to hold on."
In reality, it wasn't a question of whether Feng Xiwu could hold on, but reality offered him no opportunity to fail.
With Emperor Jingyou's death, the court was in chaos, and Feng Qingheng was watching from the side. Any slight relaxation could endanger everyone in the manor and the forty thousand Xuanjia troops.
Lu Qingwan recovered and said hoarsely, "I will listen to the Prince and stay peacefully at home, not going anywhere.
Take my token to the Marquis's manor and find Duan Yue and the others to come to the palace with you.
Do not leave the Prince's side unless absolutely necessary, and be extremely careful not to give others an opportunity."
Li Yang knew that this was the most dangerous time for Feng Xiwu. He took the token and left without another word.
Lu Qingwan stood under the eaves, stroking the smooth fur of Big White, and asked Li Su, "How many usable people are there in the manor currently?"
"Does the Princess Consort mean the secret guards?"
Lu Qingwan nodded without looking back.
Li Su immediately reported, "Including the brothers on duty in the backyard, there are sixty in total.
If the Princess Consort needs them, I can recall the brothers who are carrying out less important tasks in the capital.
We can gather three hundred people within an hour, which should not be a problem."
Lu Qingwan pondered for a moment, "Sixty people, that should be enough.
There's no need to recall those on external missions. Have Wu Ying bring people and tell her to bring their equipment."
Li Su bowed and withdrew. At the same time, a small sparrow fluttered its wings and flew out of Wutongyuan.
A short while later, Li Su returned, holding a thick fox fur cloak, "Princess Consort, please come inside. It's cold outside, be careful not to catch a chill."
Lu Qingwan looked up at the snowy sky and sighed, "This endless snow is really a good thing.
It buries so much dirt and filth beneath it."
Seeing that she refused to go inside, Li Su draped the cloak over her, "The Princess Consort asked me how many secret guards were in the manor and asked Wu Ying to bring people. Are you worried that someone will attack the manor?"
"Attacking the manor is not the goal, but with the Prince in the palace, their plans cannot be realized."
Lu Qingwan narrowed her eyes and said coldly, "Moreover, if they miss this opportunity, Feng Qingheng will likely have no chance to kill me.
Once His Majesty's funeral is over and his arrangements for the court are made public, the Prince and I will become his thorns in the side, making him restless and uneasy for his entire life.
If I were Feng Qingheng, I would also eliminate such two troublesome opponents before ascending the throne."
Li Su did not understand what Lu Qingwan was saying, but she knew that Feng Qingheng's desire to target her Prince and Princess Consort had never wavered.
Therefore, she respectfully replied, "I will order the brothers to strengthen our defenses and not let any outsiders step into the manor."
"No, you must let them in."
Lu Qingwan said softly, "No matter who it is, once they enter the manor, I will ensure they never leave."
Li Su's body trembled. In that moment, she seemed to see Feng Xiwu, calm and composed on the battlefield, killing enemies with unseen force.
Putting away all her worries, she solemnly replied, "I understand."
"At this time, Yuan'er should be awake?"
Lu Qingwan moved slightly, "Tell Rou Jia to bring him to the warm chamber, and ask the kitchen to prepare some food that children like and bring it over."
As she finished speaking, Lu Qingwan was the first to walk towards the bedroom.
Li Su hesitated for a moment, then called a young maid and asked her to arrange for Little Bun's food and to inform someone to go to the warm chamber. She followed Lu Qingwan closely, not daring to leave her side.
Lu Qingwan said nothing, but rummaged through boxes and cabinets, gathering a large pile of small trinkets and putting them into a brocade box, which she carried to the warm chamber.
Little Bun arrived quickly, holding Rou Jia's hand, toddling along.
Because it was cold, Rou Jia had dressed him in a small fox fur outfit, making him look even more like a milky-white little bun.
Seeing Lu Qingwan, he ran over and pounced into her arms, "Mother Consort looks so beautiful today!"
"Yuan'er is also very cute."
Lu Qingwan sat on the thick fur carpet, with the little bun in her arms. He blinked his eyes and innocently asked, "Why does Mother Consort have time to play with Yuan'er today?
Is it because Father King isn't playing with Mother Consort, and Mother Consort has no playmates, so she remembered Yuan'er?"
"How could that be?"
Lu Qingwan chuckled, "Mother Consort has some new toys. Let's play together, without your father."
"New toys?"
The little bun's eyes lit up, "Are these them?"
The large brocade box was placed on the ground. The little bun looked at it eagerly but did not reach out to take anything.
Lu Qingwan smiled at him, "Let's eat first. After breakfast, Mother Consort will teach you how to play."