"Help me find a better flowerpot. Other than that, nothing else,"
Lu Qingwan rested her chin on the car window, gazing at the bustling street outside, and couldn't help but sigh, "Great Qin is indeed much more prosperous than the southeastern three-part territory!"
Even a small city like Wulan City seemed more lively than many large cities in Great Gan, and the goods displayed on both sides of the street were not easily found in Shangjing City.
She felt a wave of emotion, "For us to aspire to control the southeastern three-part territory and stand shoulder to shoulder with Imperial Brother, the road ahead is truly long and arduous!"
Feng Xiwu pinched the soft flesh of her cheek and smiled, "You really want to be on equal footing with Imperial Brother that much?"
"Only through equal strength do we have the right to talk about brotherly affection,"
Lu Qingwan did not hide her little thoughts from Feng Xiwu.
"I know your feelings for Imperial Brother are very deep and will not change due to external factors, but as Emperor, he has too many people around him, too many voices.
For three to five years, he can still maintain brotherly affection with you, but in ten to eight years, twenty years, can you guarantee it?"
She turned around and looked at Feng Xiwu earnestly, "Even if you are lucky, and Imperial Brother's initial intentions remain unchanged for decades, what about the next generation?
Little Yuan and our children will grow up together; who can guarantee they won't turn on each other?
You command four hundred thousand Black Armored Troops; what emperor could feel at ease with a prince like you standing in court?"
As she spoke, she became somewhat agitated. After all, Emperor Jingyou and Feng Xiwu had a good relationship, yet in the end, he still unfairly made Feng Xiwu work for his son for free.
Feng Xiwu patiently comforted her, "So, you want this King to occupy the southeastern three-part territory and declare himself King, with Imperial Brother guarding Great Qin and this King guarding the southeastern three-part territory, neither interfering with the other?"
Lu Qingwan nodded frantically, "That's exactly it. Before, it was about avenging parents and grandparents; you brothers should have been united and worked together for revenge.
But now that revenge is complete, you should start your own family and career, right?"
"It's not wrong, it's just that the leaders of the three-part territory will probably be so angry they'll curse."
For them to establish their own family and career, while others lose their fortunes; Feng Xiwu felt this was a bit unethical.
But this did not prevent him from strictly following his little princess consort's instructions and feeling a schadenfreude towards the leaders of the three-part territory.
Lu Qingwan proudly lifted her small head, "If they can't even protect their ancestral heritage and commit suicide to atone before their ancestors, what right do they have to lecture us?"
As the two of them casually plotted a plan that would make the leaders of the southeastern three-part territory spit blood, the carriage stopped in front of a low-key courtyard in Wulan City.
Having made arrangements in advance, as soon as the carriage stopped, Li Jin had people bring out a stretcher and carry Chi Yaoyao inside. The innkeeper also hung a temporary closure sign outside.
Seeing Lu Qingwan and Feng Xiwu arrive, Li Jin quickly explained, "The Red Robe Cult master had already made arrangements. There are no other guests in the inn, and everyone inside and out belongs to us. It's very safe, so Your Highness and Princess Consort need not worry."
Lu Qingwan looked suspicious. This courtyard, located in a deep and narrow alley, did not look like an inn at all.
Seeing her doubt, Li Jin quickly explained, "This is the back door of the inn. Your Highness and Princess Consort have special identities, and to avoid attracting attention, we specifically used the back door."
"That's what I thought. Xue Hongyi, who loves liveliness so much, how could his stronghold be so secluded?"
Lu Qingwan muttered, "Has Imperial Uncle Ziyi arrived?"
"The Purple Robe Envoy seems to have encountered an ambush on the way. The Red Robe Cult master went to her aid.
However, the Red Robe Cult master asked his subordinate to inform Your Highness and Princess Consort that they will return before dinner and that the Princess Consort need not worry."
Lu Qingwan nodded. This time was just enough for her to transplant the hibiscus from her spatial laboratory into a flowerpot.
Since it was a stronghold of the Reincarnation Hall, and there were no other guests to disturb them, Lu Qingwan and her entourage were given the best room as soon as they entered the inn.
She habitually diagnosed Chi Yaoyao, and after administering the medicine, Lu Qingwan finally settled down.
Li Qing then followed up, "Your Highness, Princess Consort, as you predicted, as soon as the Princess of Liang left Zhongzhou, someone immediately went to Shangjing and Xiliang City to investigate your background.
However, with our people in Shangjing, she found nothing.
In Xiliang City, Xie Shiluan has also made excellent arrangements. No matter how much Princess of Liang investigates, she will only find out that your mother was Princess Anyang of Xiliang, Xiao Liangyin."
This greatly surprised Lu Qingwan, "Xie Shiluan could arrange these things for me? What is she doing now?"
Li Qing's words were astonishing, "Xie Shiluan is now the nominal Empress of Xiao Jing'an.
However, according to my subordinate's investigation, Xiliang is now under Xie Shiluan's control, and Xiao Jing'an is merely her puppet.
Xie Shiluan is already six months pregnant. It is expected that the day she gives birth will be the day Xiao Jing'an meets his demise."
Lu Qingwan's delicate eyebrows furrowed, "What about the Prince Li who, along with Xie Shiluan, forced the abdication back then?"
"He is dead. He died before entering the palace. His hundred thousand troops were all transferred to Xie Shiluan. Xie Shiluan, at that time, returned to the Xiliang Imperial Palace under the guise of 'coming to the king's aid'."
Li Qing's expression was complicated. It was clear that he too could not comprehend Xie Shiluan's rather unconventional actions.
However, regardless of Lu Qingwan's doubts, whether Xie Shiluan had killed Xiao Jing'an or not would not change her ultimate decision.
She merely asked an additional question, "In that case, the person who reached an agreement with Nie Wuming to keep Xiliang out of the conflict must also be Xie Shiluan, right?"
Li Qing nodded, "Precisely.
My subordinate has already ordered people to investigate the specific contents of the agreement between Xie Shiluan and Nie Wuming.
As for Hu Yanche, my subordinate has also sent people to investigate the inside story of his successive transactions with Nie Wuming. Currently, no obstacles have been encountered.
However..."
His tone shifted, and Li Qing hesitated.
Lu Qingwan raised an eyebrow, "However what? Is there something you cannot tell me?"
She and Feng Xiwu disliked their subordinates speaking hesitantly. The people around them knew this clearly and never acted that way before.
Li Qing, knowingly breaking the rule, made Lu Qingwan extremely curious.
But she disliked it, and although Lu Qingwan's tone of urgency was still light, her expression was decidedly not good.
Li Qing dared not delay any longer and quickly spilled everything out.
"When my subordinates investigated the process of the Turks providing evidence to Northern Wei, they encountered obstruction from a mysterious force.
My subordinate requested Wu Ying, Shen Tangzhou, and Wu Feng to cooperate.
Upon deeper investigation, it was found that the one blocking our investigation into Nie Wuming's cooperation with the Turks was likely the former Saintess of the Reincarnation Hall—Liu Hanyan."
As soon as this name was uttered, everyone in the spacious room fell silent.
Lu Qingwan quickly looked towards the doorway, and Li Qing hurriedly said, "When I came, I asked Li Jin and Li Su to stand guard."