"You are introducing the Phoenix Ring, and the topic suddenly shifts to this. Lu Qingwan is astonished. 'You're going to the battlefield yourself?'"
"She thought from what Feng Xiwu had conveyed through Tang Xiao that Feng Xiwu intended for others to campaign while he remained in the capital to oversee matters. But now, it seems his plan is not what she had imagined."
"'Northern Wei has coveted Da Gan for a long time but has been hesitant to act. If they are striking now, it must be because they believe the time is ripe. My imperial brother was first poisoned by mushrooms, then suffered from a golden wound festering. I myself almost died from poisoning. Prince Ning and Duke Xu plotted rebellion… Da Gan has just fallen into chaos, and Northern Wei's armies are pressing on the borders. This opportune moment, how much of it is artificially created by the collusion of Northern Wei and the rot within the court, I am not yet clear. But they have plotted for so long and chosen this moment to march their armies, their ambitions must be significant. I must go.'"
"Feng Xiwu's tone was calm, but Lu Qingwan could discern his unwavering resolve. He was, after all, the God of War of Da Gan, and if he were to go to the battlefield to fight the enemy and defend the nation, she naturally had no reason to stop him. Yet, she still felt uneasy. 'Then, if you leave, what about the capital? Will the crimes of poisoning you, poisoning His Majesty, and plotting rebellion be overlooked?'"
"Feng Xiwu intended to deal with the vipers in the court, and Emperor Jingyou could support him. But if Feng Xiwu left, who would deter those individuals? Relying solely on Emperor Jingyou to deal with them would by no means be easy. As soon as Lu Qingwan voiced her concern, and even began contemplating whether she should take people to assassinate Duke Pei and others, she heard Feng Xiwu chuckle. 'Your Consort, do you perhaps believe that Da Gan has reached its current state entirely because of this so-called God of War?'"
"'Not entirely reliant on you, but at least you are like a stabilizing force, aren't you?' Lu Qingwan did not quite understand the amusement in his words. 'Otherwise, why would they have risked so much to incapacitate you before making trouble?' Lu Qingwan firmly believed that a person's status was not solely determined by the trust of their own people, but also by the apprehension their opponents held towards them. In this regard, Feng Xiwu's position in Da Gan was undeniably extraordinary, and she did not believe her understanding was flawed."
"Feng Xiwu, however, laughed even more heartily. 'A stabilizing force? You think very highly of me. I am honored by your high praise, but Your Consort, you must remember, my imperial brother is the Emperor of Da Gan. If I am not here, the border will be in chaos, but if my imperial brother is not here, the entire Da Gan will fall into disarray.'"
"'What does that have to do with me?' Lu Qingwan mumbled. 'In any case, you have no intention of taking me to Saybei, do you?'"
"Feng Xiwu was utterly stunned. 'You want to accompany me to Saybei?' His expression was filled with a belated surprise and shock, as if Lu Qingwan's desire to go to Saybei was something utterly rebellious."
"'I don't want to anymore.' Lu Qingwan's thoughts came and went quickly. Seeing that Feng Xiwu did not quite support her idea, she simply skipped the topic. 'You were about to say that even if you are not here, His Majesty will oversee matters in the capital, right?'"
"Lu Qingwan did not understand why Feng Xiwu placed so much importance on Emperor Jingyou, but it did not prevent her from seeing that Feng Xiwu placed complete trust in Emperor Jingyou. However, she was not Feng Xiwu, and she could not trust Emperor Jingyou as he did. She began to make her own plans in advance."
"Feng Xiwu, unaware of her thoughts, continued very frankly. 'Precisely. My imperial brother, by living in this era, has achieved the reputation of a wise ruler that many emperors never attained in their lifetimes, proving him to be a capable and shrewd emperor. Prince Ning and Prince Jing are still young and pose no significant threat. Duke Pei and Duke Xu may have some stratagems, but they are no match for my imperial brother. Therefore, you need not worry too much about the situation in the capital. As long as you take care of yourself, I will be at ease.'"
"With his words, anything further Lu Qingwan said would seem redundant. She walked silently to Feng Xiwu and said, 'Since you have such confidence in your imperial brother, you should also do your part to reassure him.' As she spoke, under Feng Xiwu's bewildered gaze, she took his hand."
"Feng Xiwu felt a flash before his eyes, and he found himself in a different place. Everything before him was so unfamiliar. Gleaming machines stood like automatons in various parts of the room. Walls clearer than glass revealed flora and fauna several dozen feet away, and there were many other things. He thought they resembled the instruments used in Bai Xing Lin, but he was not entirely sure. As he looked around, there were too many unfamiliar objects. He confirmed that this place was entirely unknown to him."
"So, naturally, he turned to Lu Qingwan, who had brought him here. 'Where is this…'"
"'Dabai has repeatedly appeared out of nowhere, and I have made various things disappear in front of you. You must have been suspicious long ago, right?' Lu Qingwan pushed the wheelchair to the control panel. With a mere thought, Dabai appeared on Feng Xiwu's lap. The dark, furry ball lay softly on Feng Xiwu's lap. He was slightly startled but did not react too dramatically."
"'In the Reincarnation Palace, I told you that you were too deeply poisoned and would need three to six months of medicinal nourishment to be cured of the蠱. However, you suddenly relapsed, and I had to prematurely remove the蛊, leaving more residual poison in your body than I had initially anticipated.' Lu Qingwan spoke as she took Feng Xiwu's finger and brought it to Dabai's mouth."
"'Originally, I thought that with me by your side, I could slowly regulate it. Although you would awaken later than expected, at least the residual poison could be cleared. But our enemies did not give us the opportunity to detoxify slowly. Any illness I have treated can be replicated and the treatment process simplified in this Xuanyuan Space Laboratory. Dabai is the guardian spirit of the space laboratory and an excellent detoxifier. Do not struggle; it will completely clear the residual poison from your body.'"
"Having said this, she picked up a syringe and administered an antidote serum to Feng Xiwu herself. Since they were in the space laboratory, the syringe was not disguised. Feng Xiwu trembled as he saw the needle about to descend onto his arm."
"Lu Qingwan chuckled. 'What's wrong? The dignified God of War of Da Gan, surely you're not afraid of needles?' As she spoke, she deftly injected it into Feng Xiwu's arm."
"As the liquid entered his body, Feng Xiwu said softly, 'This is the brush-like tube you used for Father Emperor and Marquis Lu, isn't it?'"
"'You recognized it?' Lu Qingwan raised an eyebrow. 'Not just the syringe; all the peculiar machines in Bai Xing Lin were also taken from here. Do you have anything to say, Your Highness?'"
"Every decision Lu Qingwan made was a careful calculation of risks and benefits. Bringing Feng Xiwu into the space laboratory was undoubtedly a gamble. If Feng Xiwu deemed it a strange place, or harbored even the slightest covetous thought towards this laboratory, she would be utterly ruined. But since she had made the decision, she did not intend to back down."