A few people had just calmed their hearts when a small boat on the sea rapidly approached. Li Su and his group hurried forward and knelt in unison. "Your subordinates arrived late. Please punish us, Your Highness, Your Highness Consort!"
They had neither thermal imaging equipment to help them find people nor did they encounter Meng Fusu's guidance on the way. If it weren't for Lu Qingwan's golden eagle, they might still not have found anyone. However, Si Fengwu and Lu Qingwan did not blame them and simply asked, "Who is in charge of the laboratory on the west side of Sansheng Building?"
The group exchanged glances, and it was Li Su who spoke first. "Reporting to Your Highness, Your Highness Consort had reminded your subordinates earlier that the items in that laboratory are a bit bizarre. Therefore, Shen Qingzhou and Madame Zi Yi went together this time." In fact, before coming here, Lu Qingwan's beast army had already ascertained the general situation of the island. The laboratory that Gu Shenci mentioned had been a key focus for Lu Qingwan from the very beginning. Shen Qingzhou was the most familiar with firearms among all of Lu Qingwan and Si Fengwu's subordinates, and Feng Ziyi's medical skills were also considered top-notch. The two of them together were a perfect match.
Lu Qingwan heard this and turned her head to look at Si Fengwu. "Are we still going?" When they came, they had agreed that they would be responsible for Hanxiao Hall, and Feng Ziyi's group would be responsible for Sansheng Building. Going over now felt like they didn't trust the others.
Si Fengwu, however, decisively said, "Let's go and see. They don't know yet that Liu Hanyan's soul has returned to its place. It would be bad if they injured Meng Fusu. Besides, don't you want to meet Nangong Che and your few siblings?" Si Fengwu did not believe that Nangong Che was completely unaware of what Liu Hanyan had done to Lu Qingwan over the years. He did not want Lu Qingwan to bear the infamy of killing her father and stepmother, so he did not mind Nangong Che and Liu Hanyan continuing to live. When Lu Qingwan proposed to have Liu Hanyan's soul return to its place, he had highly praised it, wanting them to reap what they sowed. However, Lu Qingwan's method truly only punished Liu Hanyan. If Nangong Che did not care so much about Liu Hanyan, then whether Liu Hanyan's soul returned to its place would have no impact on him. This was not what Si Fengwu wanted to see. He not only wanted to disgust Liu Hanyan but also wanted Nangong Che to personally experience the consequences of harming Lu Qingwan.
Lu Qingwan was already someone who loved to stir up trouble and enjoyed watching a good show. Since Si Fengwu had already found an excuse for her, how could she not go? She then rose and said to Li Su, "Since that is the case, Your Highness and I will go again. You all protect well..." She stopped midway, unable to think of a suitable term, and got stuck.
Si Fengwu smiled and finished for her, "These two are this King's father and mother. They are also the Grand Emperor and Empress Dowager of Da Qin and Tian Feng. You will refer to them as Grand Emperor and Empress Dowager from now on. You will escort the Grand Emperor and Empress Dowager ashore and find a place to settle down first. This King and Your Highness Consort will arrive shortly."
Li Su and the others all bowed towards Si Ruian and Gu Shenci. "Greetings, Grand Emperor. Greetings, Empress Dowager." When they left, they were the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Da Qin, with elders above and juniors below. Upon returning, they had become the Grand Emperor and Empress Dowager with elevated status. Crown Prince Chengan and his wife exchanged a glance, and Gu Shenci said helplessly, "You may rise."
Everyone stood up. Lu Qingwan instructed Li Su on the time to administer the acupuncture, then grabbed Teng Snake and bade farewell to Crown Prince Chengan and his wife. "Father and Mother, please go back with them first. Your Highness and I will be right there." Having said that, she turned and left. Gu Shenci wanted to say something to remind her but seeing this, she had to swallow her words.
Back on Teng Snake's back, Lu Qingwan finally had a moment to speak intimately with Si Fengwu. "Before finding Father and Mother, you were clearly very worried about them. Why, after meeting them, did you become silent?" Lu Qingwan asked in confusion. "You didn't see Mother's disappointed look when you repeatedly avoided interacting with Father and Mother just now. After such a long reunion, what's wrong?"
Si Fengwu shook his head. "I don't know either. I hoped they were safe and sound, but that's all. When Mother looked at me, I felt no joy from her affection. I just felt uneasy all over..." Si Fengwu's eyes were full of confusion and guilt, confused by his unexpected reaction and guilty for his actions that had hurt Si Ruian and Gu Shenci's hearts.
Lu Qingwan, however, hugged him dearly. "You silly boy, what are you guilty about? Father and Mother never raised you for a single day, and you've been separated for so many years. It's perfectly normal for you to feel awkward. No one will force you to be intimately close with them immediately, clinging to them like a child, and seeking their favor. If you don't like it, you can send them back to Da Qin. Your elder brother now has clear memories, so I imagine interacting with him will be more harmonious. Don't think about anything else; your own feelings are the most important." She spoke with great firmness, as if she could send them away immediately if Si Fengwu just said he disliked them.
Si Fengwu was warmed by her unreserved favoritism. He stroked her face and smiled, asking, "But they are my birth parents. If I send them away, aren't you afraid of being cursed by the world along with me?" Filial piety is paramount. Many times, people do not care what parents have done to their children, but once children are exposed for being unfilial, a large group of righteous individuals will rush out to condemn them. For someone of Si Fengwu's status, being branded as unfilial would not only lead to scolding but likely eternal infamy.
Lu Qingwan, however, said indifferently, "What does that matter? Those who want to curse us will find countless reasons anyway. But I only want you to be happy. Even saving Father and Mother is because you wanted to save them. If you don't like it, I will not get close to them again. Let the world say what they will; I know who is most important to me." Without the connection to Si Fengwu, Crown Prince Chengan and his wife would be mere strangers to her. She was too lazy to bother. However, Lu Qingwan truly did not expect Si Fengwu to be unhappy after Crown Prince Chengan and his wife were freed. Fortunately, Si Fengwu was good at controlling his emotions and did not make Lu Qingwan worry for him.
As Teng Snake circled Phantom Night Island to the small island where the laboratory was located, Si Fengwu's emotions had stabilized. Before landing, he said to Lu Qingwan, "I've thought it through. I respect them, and I hope they are safe and sound, but I truly cannot be as close to them as the children of ordinary families. After we return, I will personally escort them back to Zhongzhou to meet my elder brother and clarify their future whereabouts. I will not shirk what this son should do. As for what happens in the future, let nature take its course. But for now, I don't want to force myself to perform a play of father-son affection with them."