Inside the imperial study, officials were gathered.
As Lu Qingwan entered, she met Feng Xiwu’s worried gaze. Lu Qingwan’s eyes conveyed that she was fine.
Their brief exchange of glances was interrupted by Feng Qingheng, who sat at the head of the room.
Before the official enthronement ceremony, Feng Qingheng was only wearing simple, plain attire.
He frowned and said, “Regent Princess, you insisted on seeing me. For what matter?”
Lu Qingwan withdrew her gaze, bowed to the seat of honor, and then spoke, “The Regent’s Mansion guards discovered that the Yunqiang hostage Huyanche was attempting to flee the capital.
Prior to this, my husband and I discovered that the one million piculs of moldy rice in the case of the swapped military rations were transported from Yunqiang into Bei Xiao Pass.
Given the gravity of the situation, the guards could not locate the Regent for a time and feared delaying state affairs. Thus, they entrusted me to report to the palace. I hope I have not caused any delay to national matters.”
After saying this, she stood silently in place.
Bowing to Feng Qingheng felt uncomfortable, but she reasoned that since his life was temporarily spared, causing a scene over a trivial matter like a bow would be too disadvantageous.
At this point, Lu Qingwan could only console herself, fortunate that Feng Xiwu was so capable that she did not have to kneel before Feng Qingheng, which was already a great blessing.
According to plan, she was supposed to report this matter and then withdraw.
Unexpectedly, Feng Qingheng neither cared about Huyanche’s whereabouts nor the case of the swapped military rations.
Instead, he directly asked Lu Qingwan, “Chang’an said that you showed him your Iron Certificate of Appointment to force him to announce your arrival. From where did you obtain your Iron Certificate of Appointment?”
Lu Qingwan strongly suspected that if not for the special status of the Iron Certificate of Appointment, he would have even asked, “Is that Iron Certificate of Appointment even real?”
From the moment she produced the Iron Certificate of Appointment, Lu Qingwan knew that Feng Qingheng would be furious.
However, since she had a ready-made cheat, she calmly produced the Iron Certificate of Appointment, “The late Emperor, grateful for my repeated saving of his life, specially bestowed upon me this Iron Certificate of Appointment. Your Majesty may examine it.”
The eunuch named Chang’an respectfully presented the Iron Certificate of Appointment to Feng Qingheng. The latter, with great effort, managed to refrain from forcibly confiscating it.
His resentment towards Emperor Jingyou rose to a new level.
He meticulously examined the Iron Certificate of Appointment, then ordered it returned to Lu Qingwan before gritting his teeth and saying, “In the three hundred years of our dynasty, you are the first to receive an Iron Certificate of Appointment.
The Regent Princess must remember your proper place and assist the Regent in governing Da Qian, so as not to disappoint your father’s great expectations.”
If she did not know Feng Qingheng’s true nature, she might have been deceived by his words.
But at that time, Lu Qingwan understood Feng Qingheng’s character as clearly as if it were etched in her mind, and she responded perfunctorily, “This consort remembers Your Majesty’s guidance.”
She said no more.
However, Feng Qingheng, as if deliberately, changed the subject and said, “Regent Princess, you have arrived at a good time. His Majesty and the ministers are currently discussing the joint invasion of the Da Qian northwest border by the Northern Wei and Yunqiang armies.
Your esteemed father is the commander of the thirteen-thousand strong northwestern army. His situation is currently unknown.
Regent Princess, who do you think would be a suitable general to dispatch to reinforce Marquis Lu?”
Lu Qingwan kept her eyes focused on her nose, her nose on her heart. “This consort does not understand court affairs, but will abide by His Majesty’s arrangements.
This consort must return to the mansion to offer incense to the late Emperor. I shall not trouble Your Majesty and the esteemed ministers any further. This consort takes her leave.”
After speaking, without waiting for Feng Qingheng’s agreement, she directly withdrew.
She adhered to all the necessary etiquette, but nothing more, nothing less.
Truly, she had a bit of propriety, but not much.
Feng Qingheng watched Lu Qingwan leave with a cold expression before resuming the topic he had been discussing with the ministers before Lu Qingwan’s arrival.
Feng Xiwu, however, brazenly slipped away, following Lu Qingwan out of the imperial study.
Once they were a safe distance from the imperial study, Feng Xiwu asked curiously, “Why did you come to the palace in person? The matter of Huyanche could have been reported by Li Qing and the others. Were you harassed by the宸王妃 (Chen Wangfei) before entering?”
Lu Qingwan shook her head. “Reporting Huyanche’s matter was a pretext. The true reason for coming was to see you.
I just received news that the seventh-level martial artist who assassinated me that night had visited Tianxuan City before entering the capital. He also met privately with Feng Qingheng, Cheng Jiuxiao, and Xiao Jing’an.
The Northern Wei’s counteroffensive this time is suspicious. If Feng Qingheng sends you to reinforce the northwest, you must be extremely careful.”
As there was no definitive evidence, Lu Qingwan could not make any firm conclusions.
However, the sudden invasion of Da Qian by the combined armies of Northern Wei and Yunqiang looked like a conspiracy orchestrated by these individuals, with the sole purpose of targeting Feng Xiwu.
It was hard to imagine that three kingdoms and one faction would mobilize their entire forces just to deal with one Feng Xiwu.
But the clues pointed in this direction, and despite her reluctance, Lu Qingwan had to prepare for the worst.
Feng Xiwu clearly understood Lu Qingwan’s unspoken words. He squeezed her hand tightly and nodded solemnly, “Don’t worry, I will handle this with caution.”
Lu Qingwan knew that such a promise was meaningless, but she could only nod.
After thinking for a moment, she added, “The 宸王妃 (Chen Wangfei) has been poisoned with a slow-acting toxin that, if taken for a long time, will cause her to become irritable and difficult to control.
I can see that the poison has already taken effect. What do you think, should I intervene?”
Lu Qingwan’s intuition about the changes in the court was not as keen as Feng Xiwu’s. She did not know the motive behind poisoning the 宸王妃 (Chen Wangfei), nor did she know how the 宸王妃’s (Chen Wangfei’s) poisoning or lack thereof would affect the court. Thus, she dared not act rashly.
Upon hearing this, Feng Xiwu instantly understood the reason for the 宸王妃’s (Chen Wangfei’s) drastic change in personality recently.
He said softly, “Do not intervene in this matter for now. When the time is right, I will tell you what to do.
First, go to Cian Tang. Prince Ning will be waiting for you there. While Feng Qingheng is occupied, take the opportunity to treat Prince Ning’s condition.
Once Feng Qingheng recovers, it will be difficult for you to treat Prince Ning.”
This was a task left to Lu Qingwan by Emperor Jingyou, and she had intended to do it anyway.
Nodding, she was about to leave when Chang’an caught up with her. “Regent, His Majesty summons you back to the imperial study for discussion.”
This was likely out of fear that Lu Qingwan would reveal some secret intelligence to Feng Xiwu, as if guarding against a thief. Lu Qingwan and Feng Xiwu exchanged a knowing smile and parted ways.
Having received too much information in a short time, and all of it fragmented and unreliable, Lu Qingwan deeply felt that her intelligence network was not yet perfect. The first thing she asked Li Qing after leaving the palace was, “Has Shen Tangzhou’s golden eagle departed?”
Lu Qingwan shook her head. “The golden eagle needs to carry the Regent’s latest instructions back. The Regent has not yet left the palace, so the golden eagle is likely resting in the backyard right now.”
Lu Qingwan nodded, a new thought forming in her mind. “The golden eagle is wild and untamed. How did Shen Tangzhou get this golden eagle to agree to carry messages for him?
Does he have a peculiar talent for taming birds of prey?”