She would not, of course, tell Cheng Nan Shu that even without these events, Si Feng Wu would eventually unify the three southeastern kingdoms and the northern territory.
This time, Cheng Nan Shu fell silent. She probably thought Lu Qing Wan had completely lost her mind and just kept shaking her head.
Lu Qing Wan continued, "In a few days, I will have Su Shang send you back to Bei Wei. We will need to put on a show then. Once my part is done, it will be your turn. I wish you success in advance!"
Cheng Nan Shu was utterly bewildered, unable to believe that someone who had just conquered a crumbling Da Qian would dare to set their sights on the entire southeastern region and the northern territory.
As Cheng Nan Shu left in a daze, Li Su worriedly asked, "Your Highness, Miss Cheng doesn't seem very sharp. Can she really help us succeed?"
Lu Qing Wan smiled faintly, "Don't underestimate a noblewoman whose true feelings have been betrayed. Her opponent is Nie Wu Ming. Gao Lan Xin doesn't even qualify to play against her."
Li Su remained uneasy, "If that's the case, what if after we succeed, she seizes power herself and rules from behind the curtain? Won't we have worked for someone else's benefit for nothing?"
Lu Qing Wan found her incessant questions amusing and exasperating, "If she can truly outsmart both me and the Prince, then it's her skill. For now, get out and guard the door for me. I need to sleep. See no one, understand?"
Li Su didn't believe for a moment that she truly wanted to sleep and instead dragged a chair to the doorway.
Lu Qing Wan, indeed, was not going to sleep. She still hadn't finished preparing the medicine for the shadow guards of Wu Feng Hall, which she had promised yesterday. She went straight to the pharmacy in her spatial laboratory and became engrossed in her work, losing track of time.
The Chi family, having endured such humiliation, dared not reveal what they had experienced. Both Lu Qing Wan and Si Feng Wu were convinced that the Chi family was not the only one threatened. However, the individuals behind Nie Wu Ming and Feng Qing Heng were too malicious, and she could not let the shadow guards of Wu Feng Hall risk their lives against them. Therefore, what she was preparing were antidotes and repellents for蠱 (gu, a type of venomous magic). These were far more complex and required more precious ingredients than ordinary medicine.
After toiling for a long time, she had only managed to produce a small portion. Lu Qing Wan, rubbing her sore back, suddenly had an idea to develop a new field in the pharmaceutical industry. The more she thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. Unable to help herself, she rushed out, only to be startled by the person standing there.
"What are you doing here?"
"The Princess was away all night, and this Prince couldn't sleep alone. I had to come find you myself," Si Feng Wu said pitifully. Seeing the dark circles under Lu Qing Wan's eyes, his face darkened in exasperation. "Three consecutive days without sleep, Princess, you're amazing. Are you trying to ascend to immortality?"
Lu Qing Wan saw his expression and clung onto him. "I'm exhausted, and you're scolding me~" Her tone was far more aggrieved than Si Feng Wu's stern voice. Si Feng Wu immediately surrendered. "It's this Prince's fault. Shall we go back to the Prince's mansion to sleep now?"
Lu Qing Wan nimbly hopped onto his back, shouting like a rider, "Let's go!" All of Si Feng Wu's anger vanished. He obediently walked out, carrying his little Princess on his back.
Their extraordinary appearances and statuses were eye-catching, but the patients at Ji Ci Hospital were already accustomed to them. Seeing such an affectionate scene, they merely offered kind smiles. Some even reminded their companions, "Shhh, Doctor Lin stayed up all night to see patients yesterday. I heard she was busy with herbs all morning again. She finally fell asleep, don't disturb her."
Lu Qing Wan, pretending to be asleep on Si Feng Wu's back, heard these voices and her lips curved into a subtle, joyful arc. However, "...Your Highness, the Princess seems to have fallen asleep!"
Ji Ci Hospital was not far from the Regent's Mansion. Si Feng Wu and Lu Qing Wan had arrived by carriage, and they would naturally leave by carriage as well. When Si Feng Wu walked to the carriage and called for Lu Qing Wan to come down, the person on his back remained silent. He called again, still no response.
Li Jin eagerly craned his neck to look and saw his Princess sleeping soundly, her arms around the Prince's neck. Si Feng Wu also heard Lu Qing Wan's steady breathing and sighed helplessly. With a difficult maneuver, he transferred her from his back into his arms, then carried her into the carriage.
As the carriage slowly drove towards the Prince's Mansion, Li Jin couldn't help but mutter, "She didn't even wake up then. How soundly must she be sleeping?"
"What do you think?" Li Su counted on her fingers, "The night before last, the Prince and Princess went to the Prime Minister's mansion. It was already past midnight when they went to sleep. Yesterday, they went to the palace to clean up the mess left by Feng Qing Heng's residual madness. Last night, they were startled by Lord Chi and didn't sleep again. Up until now, for three full days, the Princess hasn't closed her eyes. Do you think she shouldn't be sleeping soundly?" After speaking, Li Su continued, before Li Jin could reply, "Back when we were training in the dark hall, we at least slept for an hour and a half. These past three days, the Princess has probably worked harder than an old ox plowing a field."
Sensing that Li Su, like Lu Qing Wan, was sleep-deprived and growing irritable, Li Jin silently closed his mouth and obediently acted as the coachman, not daring to say another word. Lu Qing Wan, as Si Feng Wu had hoped, slept from noon on the first day until the morning of the next day. She woke up to the familiar bed and was still a bit dazed. "How did I get back?"
A warm cotton cloth was placed over her face. Si Feng Wu's muffled voice reached her ears, "You should say, 'How am I still alive?'" The familiar voice successfully awakened Lu Qing Wan's memories from before she fell asleep, and she chuckled guiltily. Stroking his fingers as she reached for Si Feng Wu, she asked, "Are you angry?"
"Where would I dare be angry?" Si Feng Wu said defiantly and sarcastically. Lu Qing Wan hummed an "Oh" and busied herself with washing up and changing. Si Feng Wu, like a little servant, handed her things and tidied her clothes, but remained silent. Lu Qing Wan found it amusing. After tidying herself up, she turned and threw herself into his arms, planting kisses on his tightly pursed lips. Si Feng Wu initially held his ground and refused, but after Lu Qing Wan persistently kissed him, he could no longer resist. Resigned, he embraced Lu Qing Wan and kissed her back fiercely. Lu Qing Wan, breathless from the kiss, still managed to smile triumphantly, "Are you still angry?" Nothing could not be solved by a kiss, and if one wasn't enough, then two. Si Feng Wu, gritting his teeth, pulled her close and kissed her again, biting her in frustration before letting go. "You just take advantage of my affection for you and act out!" He then effortlessly slung her over his shoulder and spanked her. Lu Qing Wan flailed on his shoulder like a beached fish, wailing as if she were a victim of domestic abuse. "Help! Someone is committing domestic violence..." The guards and maids waiting outside exchanged glances, both amused and exasperated, none daring to barge in. Even the usually unobservant Li Yang and Xiao Ba had learned their lesson, standing by obediently and ignoring Lu Qing Wan's cries.