Lu Qing Wan hummed happily, having an elder brother bestowed upon her, a plan concocted by Si Feng Wu to protect her.
However, this good mood was shattered by an uninvited guest.
When the red figure suddenly appeared in Kun Ning Palace, Lu Qing Wan was trying on the phoenix coronet for her ascension ceremony in front of the mirror.
Startled by the unfamiliar yet familiar red figure in the mirror, she quickly stood up. "Why are you here so suddenly? The ascension ceremony is still some days away, you don't need to rush to congratulate me, do you?"
It was Xue Hong Yi, whom she hadn't seen in a long time.
He was still clad in red, and despite the years that had passed, his face bore no trace of age. He stood there, retaining the same alluring appearance as when she first met him.
Meeting Lu Qing Wan's bright smile, he seemed momentarily lost. "You're happy to be the Empress?"
"Not entirely because of that," Lu Qing Wan said cheerfully. "Do you know I'm going to have a big brother? He's the strategist of the Xuan Jia Army, already a Vice Minister of War at twenty-seven, skilled in both literary and martial arts, and good-looking too. Most importantly, he's reliable. I won't have to feel awkward asking him for favors anymore, haha..."
Lu Qing Wan's eyes crinkled with joy at the thought of being able to legitimately order Lian Yu around without having to pretend to be polite.
Xue Hong Yi twitched his lips, his expression stiff.
Lost in her good mood, Lu Qing Wan didn't notice. "Oh right, why did you suddenly decide to look for me? For the past few years, it's been Shi Er Yue when nothing's happening, and Wen Ji Ting and Zi Yi Shibo when something is. You never showed up. I thought you were planning to never see me again!"
Back then, no one knew Liu Han Yan had been possessed. Xue Hong Yi had been fiercely protective of his senior sister, an action that had severed the already limited rapport between her and Lu Qing Wan with a single slap. Even after finding out about Liu Han Yan's possession, he never apologized to Lu Qing Wan. Everyone knew Xue Hong Yi blindly protected Liu Han Yan. In his heart, Lu Qing Wan's decision to no longer tolerate Liu Han Yan and resolve to deal with her, without knowing about the possession, was filial impiety. He never thought he was wrong to slap her back then. Lu Qing Wan also never thought she was wrong. With neither of them backing down, their connection naturally broke.
His sudden reappearance today didn't evoke lingering resentment in Lu Qing Wan, but she was genuinely curious about what could have brought Xue Hong Yi back into her life.
Xue Hong Yi, no longer as carefree as before, looked somewhat awkward, his tone hesitant. "Out of the blue, why did you decide to recognize an sworn brother?"
After all, this was her territory, and everyone inside and out was someone she trusted implicitly. Lu Qing Wan, not immediately noticing the flaw in his words, said gleefully, "The Prince is about to ascend the throne, isn't he? He wants to establish a nominal harem and is worried the ministers won't dare to defy him, so he's making things difficult for me. He wants to find me a maternal family for support. Lian Yu is suitable and we have a good relationship, so I chose him."
Lu Qing Wan was genuinely happy, making her chatter more than usual. "You know Lian Yu, right? His biological father was the Crown Prince's Grand Tutor during the reign of Crown Prince Cheng An. He's now the abbot of Xiang Guo Temple! We plan to visit him the day after tomorrow, have him, Elder Wen, and Elder Chi witness our ceremony, and recognize him as an adoptive father..."
Lu Qing Wan spoke animatedly, completely unaware that Xue Hong Yi hadn't responded to her for a long time. It wasn't until she sensed something was amiss that she met Xue Hong Yi's profound and unreadable expression. Her body instinctively leaned back. "Why the long face? Are you envious and jealous that I'm living better and better?"
Xue Hong Yi's face gradually darkened as Lu Qing Wan gesticulated and narrated. Hearing her words, he stopped hiding his feelings. "I heard Si Feng Wu is going to re-establish the Lu Mansion for you, and that Lian Yu will even adopt the surname Lu?"
Lu Qing Wan had never heard of this, but considering Lian Yu's sudden proposal to become sworn siblings, she could indeed infer that Si Feng Wu had such intentions. Thus, she naturally replied, "Ah, there's such a thing. After all, where will all the people under me go? Besides, how can a dignified Empress be without a maternal family? Wouldn't people think I'm too easily bullied?"
What was meant as a self-deprecating remark ignited Xue Hong Yi's agitation. His voice uncontrollably rose, and his tone became agitated. "You don't need to re-establish a mansion, you have a maternal family!"
Meeting Lu Qing Wan's astonished gaze, he forced himself to calm down and repeated, "Really, you don't need to re-establish a mansion, you have a maternal family. Don't you know? Your mother is still alive, and I can responsibly tell you that your father is also still alive. You recognize Lian Yu as a sworn brother, and acknowledge a monk stained with blood as an adoptive father. What about your own parents?"
Lu Qing Wan was stunned, unable to comprehend his words for a moment. But then, she quickly realized, "The monk stained with blood you're talking about, is it Master Bai?"
Xue Hong Yi, perhaps realizing he had spoken out of turn, panicked slightly. "I'm sorry, it's my fault, I misspoke. But Junior Sister, can you... not recognize Lian Yu as a sworn brother? Even if you must become sworn siblings, don't re-establish the Lu Mansion, don't let the world think the Lu family is your maternal family..."
"The Lu family isn't A'Wan's maternal family, then whose family is?" Si Feng Wu strode into the room, standing straight beside Lu Qing Wan. "Perhaps the Sect Leader Hong Yi can tell us, which family should be A'Wan's maternal family?"
Xue Hong Yi, perhaps knowing he was in the wrong, flinched for a moment, but stubbornly argued. "This is between Junior Sister and me, it has nothing to do with you. Surely you're not saying that now that the Prince is Emperor, he's going to interfere in Junior Sister's maternal family affairs as well?"
This statement carried a hint of provocation, as if Si Feng Wu, upon becoming Emperor, wouldn't allow Lu Qing Wan any autonomy. If Si Feng Wu had been any less confident, he would have fallen into the trap. However, who was Si Feng Wu? Apart from in front of Lu Qing Wan, he had never bowed his head. So, he put his arm around Lu Qing Wan's waist and said matter-of-factly, "This Prince *will* interfere in all matters concerning her. Do you have an opinion?"
Xue Hong Yi looked at Lu Qing Wan in disbelief, as if expecting a scene of Lu Qing Wan flying into a rage and berating Si Feng Wu for his tyranny. However, Lu Qing Wan merely narrowed her eyes. "It's been three years. After such a long time, you've come to find me, is it not because you want me to indulge in my saintly compassion again and forgive your unfortunate world. To disregard being bullied by officials when you're alone in the future, to not re-establish the Lu Mansion, to not recognize Lian Yu as a sworn brother. And to obediently wait for her to return and become her good son?"