After seeing off the old ministers, Lu Qing Wan sighed aloud.
"As expected!
All beginnings are difficult, and the process of establishing a new dynasty is more troublesome than anticipated!"
Having annihilated three kingdoms and a part of one in one fell swoop, Si Feng Wu and Lu Qing Wan never naively believed that merely doing their own jobs well would smoothly establish a new dynasty and steadily become the founding emperor and empress.
However, reality proved that even with sufficient psychological preparation, their preparations were far from enough in the face of the ever-changing court situation.
"Other matters are easy to handle. For instance, the families of officials from humble origins leveraging their connections to abuse power. As long as these are supervised, they may appear to have a bad influence, but they are not difficult to deal with.
What I am worried about is the so-called 'enslavement' of the southeastern three kingdoms and their people.
At first glance, it seems like a disruption to the new dynasty's order. But upon closer inspection, it is not difficult to discover that the perpetrators are using this method of instilling fear to sow discord between Da Qin and the new dynasty.
This kind of act is clearly not the work of ordinary people. I worry that the Tujue people are involved in this."
If it were merely cases of mass disappearances, it would be one thing. But the intelligence channels were completely blocked. If Marquis Shao had not reported it in person, he and Lu Qing Wan would still be unaware.
Once the matter escalated, as Elder Wen had suggested, and it erupted on the coronation day, it would undoubtedly signal to the populace that Si Feng Wu was unworthy to be the ruler of a nation.
Afterward, if anyone wished to stir up trouble in the new dynasty and divide it, it would become much simpler.
"Could a decree like this be conceived by the Tujue people's minds?"
Lu Qing Wan believed someone was behind the scenes sowing discord between Da Qin and the new dynasty, but she harbored deep doubts about the Tujue people's intelligence.
Si Feng Wu pondered for a moment, understanding her unspoken meaning. "Are you suspecting that even though we have handed over the King of Ten Thousand Phoenixes and the True Dragon Token, the elders of the Cold Heaven Hall have not let us off?
They are still continuing to wreak havoc upon the world, preparing for their so-called revival?"
Lu Qing Wan did not deny Si Feng Wu's speculation. "Didn't we say before that their goal is not a city or a person, but to restore the Cold Heaven Hall to its former status as a savior in the eyes of the world?
But now that the world is at peace, where is the room for the Cold Heaven Hall to spread its savior's light?
If the world does not descend into chaos, can that elder be content?"
To be a savior, one must first have great disasters or calamities in the world that require saving.
If there are no natural disasters or man-made calamities, then one must manufacture them.
Clearly, Da Qin, Tujue, and Southern Qi had been stable for many years, and the elder of the Cold Heaven Hall did not seem confident in disrupting those three great nations. Thus, they turned their attention to the new dynasty, whose foundations were not yet firm.
Si Feng Wu agreed with Lu Qing Wan's reasoning, but he was also genuinely angered. "If that's the case, are we being treated as a pushover?"
Lu Qing Wan puffed out her cheeks and nodded. "Judging by the current situation, in their eyes, we are indeed the softest target.
As for whose hand is squeezing us, if we don't think of a solution beforehand, we might only find out on the coronation day."
The coronation ceremony was important; they knew this, and their adversaries knew it too.
Therefore, as long as the mass disappearances were not exposed in advance, their opponents would undoubtedly devise a way to reveal this scandal on the coronation day, or even during the ceremony itself, thereby completely undermining Si Feng Wu's supreme authority over the southeastern three kingdoms and their people.
However, if they were prepared and kept silent, only to watch those people jump out like clowns on the coronation day, the effect would be entirely different.
"This matter should be addressed sooner rather than later. I will investigate it myself."
Having clarified her thoughts, Lu Qing Wan decisively made up her mind. "As for you, you should have many things to do. I don't need to teach you, do I?"
Si Feng Wu had just returned to the new capital, and countless miscellaneous tasks awaited his attention. He likely had little time to handle matters outside the court.
Of course, this was also thanks to Lu Qing Wan's capable handling of affairs. Otherwise, no matter how busy Si Feng Wu was, he would have to carve out time to resolve issues one by one.
He nodded with a pleased expression. "Leave the court matters to me. As for the disappearances, have someone keep me updated on the progress.
Also, ask Wu Feng, Wu Ying, and Duan Yue to investigate further, to see if any other important intelligence has been overlooked, so that we are not caught off guard on the coronation day."
"Understood!"
Lu Qing Wan playfully cupped her hands at Si Feng Wu and stood up to leave. "I'm off to attend to important matters. If I don't return tonight, don't wait for me."
With that, she had already exited the imperial study, leaving Si Feng Wu sitting in place, bewildered.
Li Yang stood still, looking back and forth in distress. "Your Highness, should I follow the Princess Consort or serve here?"
Li Jin follows the Prince, and Li Su follows the Princess Consort. Their duties are clear. Only he and Li Qing seem to have grown up in the same household. It's fine when both masters act together, but when they separate, they are pitiful.
Every time, they don't know who their master will be this time, and it's chaotic.
Si Feng Wu glanced at him with disdain. "The Princess Consort has the Twelve Months and Li Su by her side, so don't go and cause trouble.
Go and verify the contents of this. If the information is true, re-examine the properties forcibly occupied by the families of those officials and send them to the heads of each department. Let them handle it themselves.
I want to see the results ten days before the coronation."
What Si Feng Wu handed to Li Yang were precisely the pieces of evidence concerning the abuse of power and private seizure of ordinary citizens' property by the families of low to mid-ranking officials, as presented by Elder Wen and Elder Chi.
After reviewing it, Li Yang solemnly accepted the order and left.
As for Si Feng Wu, he began to read through the memorial tablets on his desk.
Meanwhile, upon exiting the imperial study, Lu Qing Wan directly ordered, "Go to the Shence Camp headquarters."
Tang Xiao served as the commander of the Shence Camp, and Wen Ru Song served as the commander of the Imperial Guard. Both held important positions and had far-reaching influence.
Marquis Shao arrived in the new capital yesterday. Lu Qing Wan did not believe that Tang Xiao and Wen Ru Song were unaware of the news brought by Marquis Shao.
More than twelve hours had passed. She believed she could extract some useful intelligence from Tang Xiao and Wen Ru Song.
Lu Qing Wan did not expect that although she obtained intelligence, it was completely different from what she had imagined.
At that moment, as soon as Lu Qing Wan arrived at the Shence Camp headquarters, Wen Ru Song and Tang Xiao, having been summoned by Li Su, were already waiting at the Shence Camp headquarters.
Lu Qing Wan cut to the chase without beating around the bush, her bottom not yet settled on the seat. "Have you heard any rumors about the large-scale disappearances of young men and women across various regions?"
Wen Ru Song remained silent, but Tang Xiao immediately turned and took down a stack of memorials from the price treasury. "Princess Consort, you've arrived at a good time. These are the information on missing persons collected by your subordinate from various regions. Please review them first."