Li Qing’s expression was also a little grim, but she was still speaking up for Feng Xi Wu.
“The blizzard in the northern frontier caused the soldiers’ grain and fodder to be donated to the disaster victims. They were already starving and freezing, yet they were ordered to deliver disaster relief at a critical moment, resulting in countless deaths and injuries from frostbite.
If the situation hadn’t been so dire, General Qin wouldn’t have sought help from the Prince.
As the commander of the Xuan Jia Army, how could the Prince stand by and watch his soldiers suffer?
As for the Princess Consort, we will repay this favor on behalf of the Prince together.”
As Feng Xi Wu’s subordinate, watching him being troubled by natural disasters and man-made calamities, and needing the help of Lu Qing Wan, Li Jin and the others felt uneasy.
“His Majesty has ordered me to help Prime Minister transport grain and fodder. As long as the brothers work diligently and deliver the grain and fodder to the northern frontier as soon as possible, without delaying the war effort, it can also be considered fulfilling the Princess Consort’s kind intentions.
After this matter is settled, I will apply for the operational rights to the Northern Zhili grain transport routes for the Bu Ye Zhou transport team. At that time, it will also be considered repaying the Princess Consort’s favor.”
Da Qian heavily favored agriculture and suppressed commerce. The transportation routes from the capital to various locations were all controlled by the imperial court.
Ordinary merchant caravans had to pay hefty transit taxes, but if they obtained the operational rights to the imperial court’s grain transport routes, they would have unimpeded passage.
They could even get involved in the government’s salt, iron, and tung oil businesses.
It could be said that obtaining the operational rights to the imperial court’s grain transport routes within Da Qian was equivalent to grasping the code to wealth.
From an economic perspective alone, if Li Jin could truly accomplish this, what Lu Qing Wan would earn in the future would not be simply ten million shi of grain and the corresponding fodder and medicinal herbs.
Li Su, deeply aware of the value of the imperial court’s grain transport routes, no longer felt indignant on Lu Qing Wan’s behalf. However, she still earnestly reminded Li Jin.
“Even so, you must properly report the matter of lending grain and fodder for the Northwest disaster relief to the Princess Consort.
Do not let the Princess Consort misunderstand that we are ungrateful towards her and the Prince, nor should she think that we do not value her contributions to the Prince’s manor.”
Li Jin chuckled with emotion, “Such matters are hardly our concern!
The Princess Consort is the person the Prince holds dear to his heart. How could he possibly overlook her feelings?
The Prince already explained the entire situation to the Princess Consort in his letter, but due to interference with our intelligence channels, the letter arrived a bit late.”
Li Jin waved his hand, “Here, the Prince’s letter is right here. Would you like to deliver it to the Princess Consort?”
Upon seeing the letter, Li Su was first delighted, then worried again, “But the Princess Consort has just fallen asleep.
It seems that after such complex surgeries, the Princess Consort is very tired. Would it be bad to wake her up now?”
“The Princess Consort has been worried about the Prince for a long time. Even if she is asleep now due to exhaustion, she is not at peace. It is still early, so delivering the letter will bring her peace of mind.”
Li Su thought that made sense and turned to enter the room.
She tiptoed to Lu Qing Wan’s bedside. Before she could speak, Lu Qing Wan’s eyes suddenly opened.
Awakening instantly, her sharp gaze fixed on Li Su. Seeing that it was her, she blinked and hid all her aggression in her eyes.
“Was I asleep?”
Li Su lowered her head in annoyance, “The Princess Consort was too tired, did I disturb you?”
“No.”
After many years of undercover work, Lu Qing Wan was always vigilant, even in her sleep.
She had only not woken up because she knew Li Su and Yue Er would not harm her.
Now that Li Su had returned and was acting so cautiously, as if she were a thief, how could she still sleep?
She rolled over, sat up, rubbed her eyes, and asked Li Su, “Is there something?”
Li Su quickly presented Feng Xi Wu’s letter, “The Prince’s letter.”
Lu Qing Wan suddenly looked up, her movement so sudden that her neck made a crisp cracking sound.
Clutching her neck, she winced and commanded Li Su, “Give it to me.”
Li Su quickly opened the envelope, saying with concern, “Princess Consort, is your neck alright?”
Before Lu Qing Wan could respond, a sharp bird cry echoed in her ears. The hand holding the letter paper stiffened, and she tilted her head to listen to the cry.
The chirping continued for quite some time. Li Su, being astute, did not interrupt her.
A moment later, Lu Qing Wan looked up with an extremely grim expression, “Do the Prince and the Strategist’s intelligence reports to the capital pass through the jurisdiction of Su Bo Jun, the Northwest Governor?”
Li Su was stunned for a moment, “That northern frontier area is half under the Northwest, half under Northern Zhili, and some is under Liaodong.
If the Prince and the Strategist send letters, not much passes through the Northwest; most of it is in Northern Zhili. Why do you suddenly ask this, Princess Consort?”
Lu Qing Wan uttered a shocking statement, “The person intercepting their intelligence is the leader of the martial arts alliance, Ming Wu Ya, but Ming Wu Ya is currently at Su Bo Jun’s residence.
So, what kind of enmity or grudge do Feng Xi Wu and Su Bo Jun have?”
Li Su stood frozen for a while. Without asking where Lu Qing Wan’s intelligence came from, she cupped her hands and said, “Princess Consort, could you allow your subordinate to call Li Jin to discuss this matter together?”
Lu Qing Wan decisively waved her hand, “Go quickly!”
As soon as Li Su left, Lu Qing Wan ran barefoot to the floor and opened the window.
The little sparrow, shivering from the cold, shriveled into Lu Qing Wan’s palm as soon as she reached out.
Lu Qing Wan quickly brought the little messenger back into the room. While feeding the little sparrow with crushed pastries, she asked, “Did you follow Feng Xi Wu’s messenger bird all the way here?
You must have worked hard. How are they doing over there? Did those bad people harm him?”
The little sparrow, perched in Lu Qing Wan’s palm, ate a few crushed pastries before chirping many things to Lu Qing Wan.
Footsteps approached from outside the door. Lu Qing Wan quickly went to the window and released the little sparrow.
As soon as she returned to the bed, Li Su pushed the door open and entered, with Li Jin following closely, his expression more serious than ever before.
Seeing their expressions, Lu Qing Wan had already guessed that Su Bo Jun’s identity was extraordinary.
She patiently asked, “Why the long faces? Is that Su Bo Jun very troublesome?”
Li Jin gave a wry smile, “Princess Consort, do you still remember the genealogy of the noble families that the Prince showed you?”
Lu Qing Wan: …
“Su Bo Jun, Su Ling Jun… Don’t tell me he is the brother of the former Empress, the maternal uncle of Feng Qing Heng!”
Li Jin’s bitter expression could not even conceal his smile, “Although he is a cousin, he is indeed the maternal uncle of Prince Chen.
Furthermore, according to my subordinate’s knowledge, the former Empress’s family had no father or brothers. This cousin, though fifteen years her senior, was indeed very close to the former Empress.
The Su family of the Northwest contributed significantly to the former Empress’s position as the empress.”
In the capital, any two random people could be distant relatives. Lu Qing Wan was not surprised that Su Bo Jun had a connection to Feng Qing Heng.
She was only shocked, “Ming Wu Ya has a close relationship with the noble consort of the King of Xiliang, yet he is now at Su Bo Jun’s residence.
What a grand game is Feng Qing Heng playing?!”
She had truly underestimated Feng Qing Heng before; this man hid himself too deeply!
Li Jin also showed a look of panic, “Your subordinate does not know where the Princess Consort’s intelligence came from, but this matter is beyond our ability to handle.
Princess Consort, would you permit us to inform the Prince and let him handle it?”