"Yun Qiang?"
The Minister of Dali Temple could hardly believe it. "Yun Qiang's grain is more expensive than gold. It's normal for them to complain about not having enough to eat, so how could they let so much refined rice go moldy?
Where did they get so much moldy rice?"
Lu Qingwan spread her hands, "I wouldn't know about that..."
As they were speaking, Chen Hu, an old acquaintance of Li Su, ran up to the Minister of Dali Temple and whispered something in his ear. The Minister of Dali Temple immediately jumped up.
"The Ministry of War's archive caught fire. When did this happen?"
"About two hours ago. For some reason, the Southern King entered the palace. The Vice Minister of War had gone home, and there was no one in charge.
By the time it was discovered, the fire was out of control. I heard all the documents in the archive were reduced to ashes."
Chen Hu finished speaking with a pained expression and said, "Also, sir, I heard that the armory of the Ministry of War's forging workshop was also burned down."
"Audacious, too audacious!"
The Minister of Dali Temple roared, "This is clearly destroying evidence and silencing witnesses!
No, I must go to the palace to see the Emperor. Even if there is no evidence, I must ask His Majesty to immediately send a batch of new military supplies to the northern border."
Lu Qingwan handed the confession in her hand to the Minister of Dali Temple. "Although these pieces of evidence are not enough to prove that the military equipment of the thirteen-odd thousand troops at the northern border has been replaced, it's better than nothing."
The Minister of Dali Temple took the confession Lu Qingwan handed him, bowed solemnly, and said, "This subordinate apologizes. Chen Hu, escort the Regent Princess Consort out for me."
After saying that, he rushed out.
Military and political affairs were the most important matters in the imperial court. Lu Qingwan had done what she could and could only wait.
Given the safety of Lu Zhenting and the thirteen-odd thousand troops was at stake, she dared not even doze off, just waiting anxiously.
She waited and waited, but instead of receiving news from Feng Qingheng allowing reinforcements to be dispatched to the northern border, she received news that the combined armies of Northern Wei and Yun Qiang had invaded Beixiao Pass and were pushing south.
In just half a month, the victory banquet held during Emperor Jingyou's reign had become a joke.
Lu Qingwan looked anxiously at Li Qing in front of her, "What about my father? How is my father?"
"The intelligence was transmitted by Shen Tangzhou's trained golden eagle. It only stated that Northern Wei and Yun Qiang had jointly sent troops, and the military equipment of the northern border army had been replaced, making their defenses as thin as paper, and requested support.
The specifics are still unclear."
As for Lu Zhenting's personal situation at the moment, whether he was alive or dead, it was even more outside the scope of the intelligence transmitted by the golden eagle.
Lu Qingwan's heart felt like it was burning with a ball of fire, almost consuming her.
Before she could decide what to ask Li Qing, Su Shang ran in, "Master, Hu Yan Che has escaped!"
Thinking of the moldy rice transported from Yun Qiang to the northern border, Lu Qingwan said without hesitation, "Chase after him immediately, no matter what, bring him back to me.
Li Su, accompany me to the palace!"
Without Lu Qingwan's command, Li Qing proactively said, "This subordinate will go prepare the carriage!"
Thanks to Emperor Jingyou's preferential treatment of Feng Xiwu during his lifetime, Lu Qingwan, as his consort, also benefited a lot.
At least, she didn't need to request an imperial decree in advance to enter the palace.
The mourning period had not yet passed, and Li Qing thoughtfully hung white silk on the carriage. Lu Qingwan, still in plain clothes, rushed into the palace.
She had a smooth passage all the way but ran into the Consort of Prince Chen right outside the Imperial Study.
Lu Qingwan was asking the eunuch beside Feng Qingheng to announce her presence when the Consort of Prince Chen arrived. Hearing that Lu Qingwan wanted to see the Emperor, she stopped her from afar, "Do not announce her."
Emperor Jingyou had passed away, and the staff serving in the Imperial Study had all been replaced.
The eunuch beside Feng Qingheng was clearly more afraid of his mistress. Upon hearing this, he nodded and said, "Your Majesty is discussing state affairs with the lords. Regent Princess Consort, please return."
As they were speaking, the Consort of Prince Chen walked over with graceful steps.
After causing a scene in the mourning hall that day, the Consort of Prince Chen had completely fallen out with Lu Qingwan. At that time, she had triumphantly said like a proud rooster, "Lu Qingwan, do you still think this is the time of the late Emperor?
The Imperial Study, the Weiyang Palace, you can enter whenever you want?
Do you know that the iron rule of Da Qian is that the harem is not allowed to interfere in politics?
Do you believe that if you step into the Imperial Study today, no matter what you want to say to His Majesty, countless remonstrance officials will immediately impeach you for 'hen crowing at dawn' and 'overstepping your bounds'?"
The Consort of Prince Chen's eyes were full of triumph. Her grandfather was the Grand Tutor of the current dynasty, and besides old ministers like Prime Minister Wen and Grand Scholar Chi, her grandfather had the most disciples.
She wanted to tell Lu Qingwan that if she wished, she could drown Lu Qingwan with the spit of the remonstrance officials.
Lu Qingwan looked coldly at the Consort of Prince Chen, her eyes filled with obvious sarcasm and disdain like sharp thorns that made the Consort of Prince Chen agitated.
"What kind of look is that?
I am about to become the Empress, how dare you look at me like that?"
After angrily questioning her a few times and receiving no response, she actually ordered her attendant in a rage, "You, go and dig her eyes out for me!"
...
To display her status as the future Empress, she was surrounded by more than a dozen people.
But apart from four dowry maids, the rest were palace maids and eunuchs.
These people were most aware of Lu Qingwan's special status. Upon hearing this, they immediately knelt on the ground, kowtowing and shouting, "Consort, spare us, Consort, spare us..."
They shouted "spare us" repeatedly, yet none dared to step forward to dig out Lu Qingwan's eyes.
Seeing this, the Consort of Prince Chen became even more furious and directly pinched her dowry maid, "Useless, all of you are useless!
You, go and dig her eyes out for me, hurry up..."
After a burst of hysterical shouting, her dowry maid could no longer bear Chen Ruoyu's torment and, with clenched fists, walked towards Lu Qingwan.
"Regent Princess Consort, I apologize. If you have to blame someone, it can only be you for provoking my consort!"
As she spoke, she suddenly pulled out a silver hairpin from her head and stabbed it towards Lu Qingwan. The movement was clearly aimed at Lu Qingwan's eyes.
Lu Qingwan stood still. That maid was then apprehended by Ren Dong.
The other dowry maids saw this and also rushed forward. Ren Dong fought them left and right, and in a flash, turned the four dowry maids into bruised messes.
Then, she kicked them in the knees, causing those dowry maids to fall to their knees.
Lu Qingwan glanced coldly at the Consort of Prince Chen, who was standing stupidly to the side, and took out the Dan Shu Tie Quan and presented it to the eunuch. "Now, can you announce my presence?"
The eunuch, upon seeing the item, was so frightened that he knelt on the ground with a thud. "Consort, please calm your anger. This servant will announce your presence immediately."
A moment later, the chief eunuch beside Feng Qingheng personally came out. "Regent Princess Consort, His Majesty invites you in to speak."
The Consort of Prince Chen saw Lu Qingwan about to enter the Imperial Study and hurried to follow. "This consort also wants to see His Majesty."
However, the chief eunuch quickly blocked the Consort of Prince Chen's path and said, "Consort, please forgive this servant. His Majesty has only summoned the Regent Princess Consort."
The Consort of Prince Chen was furious. "I am His Majesty's legal wife, the future Empress. Why can't I enter?"
The chief eunuch bowed with a bitter expression. "This is His Majesty's decree. Please, Consort, do not make things difficult for this servant."
The Consort of Prince Chen was about to argue further, but Lu Qingwan had already entered the Imperial Study. Seeing this, the chief eunuch quickly took the opportunity to follow, preventing the Consort of Prince Chen from causing any more trouble.