Lu Qing Wan nodded, "I heard Chen Jian Zhang is a very rigid person. When the new emperor and Yu Chu Wei slandered me for regicide and usurpation, he also strongly advocated against empresses interfering in politics.
I'm worried that if I go to him rashly with the new emperor's decree, he might refuse to execute it due to his dislike for me, thus implicating Your Highness and the Xuan Jia Army soldiers."
Prime Minister Wen put away the decree. "The Regent Princess's concerns are not unfounded. Since the Regent Princess has approached me, I will handle this matter.
However, Regent Princess, you don't need to worry too much. Although Chen Jian Zhang is a bit rigid and has many disagreements with the new emperor, he is fundamentally just.
The late emperor left him untouched while punishing so many others, which is enough to illustrate this.
When it comes to the stability of the nation, he will not be foolish."
"That would be for the best."
Lu Qing Wan was immensely relieved. "The safety of Your Highness and the Xuan Jia Army is entrusted to you two!"
After a brief exchange, Lu Qing Wan took her leave in a hurry, saying to Li Su as she walked, "Later, you and Ying Yi will drive back to the manor as usual. I will go to the posthouse to find Princess Fei Feng.
Arrange for someone to escort Princess Fei Feng out of the city tomorrow morning."
Li Su immediately understood. Lu Qing Wan intended to send Xie Shi Luan back to Xiliang to check Xiao Jing An and Xie Shi Yu. Without a second thought, she agreed.
Lu Qing Wan's plan, as expected, received full cooperation from Xie Shi Luan.
"I am naturally very happy to leave Da Qian, but if I leave, won't Feng Qing Heng trouble you?
He is the emperor of Da Qian after all. If he decides to deal with you, you will be in great danger!"
After half a year, Lu Qing Wan and Xie Shi Luan had already become friends with tacit understanding. Xie Shi Luan was absolutely unwilling to put Lu Qing Wan in danger for her own freedom.
"Return quickly and regain control of Western Xinjiang. If you prevent the Xiliang army from continuing to attack the Xuan Jia Army, that will be the best protection for me."
Lu Qing Wan said, patting Xie Shi Luan's hand, "To avoid being discovered, take nothing with you.
Tomorrow at dawn, when the city is most crowded, sneak out. I have prepared a travel pack and guards, horses, and carriages for you. They will escort you all the way back to Xiliang."
Looking at Xie Shi Luan's strikingly beautiful face, she added, "Do you have any rouge and powder here? I'll disguise you. Your appearance is too conspicuous."
From their first meeting, Lu Qing Wan had openly admired Xie Shi Luan's beauty in front of Feng Xi Wu. It was understandable that her appearance was extremely striking.
When traveling, a woman with overly outstanding looks would attract too much attention.
Hearing this, Xie Shi Luan immediately took Lu Qing Wan to her bedroom and pointed to the dressing table. "Use whatever you need from here."
Lu Qing Wan pushed her onto a chair and began applying various rouges and powders.
Xie Shi Luan sat obediently, letting her haphazardly apply makeup to her face. Suddenly, she chuckled.
Lu Qing Wan quickly held her down. "Don't move, the makeup will be ruined."
After holding her down, she asked suspiciously, "Why are you suddenly laughing? It's so strange."
Xie Shi Luan's eyes were full of laughter. "Actually, when I first arrived in Da Qian, I also considered a marriage alliance with the Regent. Do you want to know why I changed my mind?"
"Why?"
Lu Qing Wan's hands continued to work, but she said smugly, "Could it be that seeing a consort as naturally beautiful and exceptionally graceful as I am by his side made you, General Xie, feel inferior and retreat without a fight?"
Xie Shi Luan couldn't help but laugh. "If you put it that way, it's not impossible.
I don't admire the Regent, but he was a good partner to deal with Xiao Jing An and Xie Shi Yu. As it turns out, my judgment was not wrong.
I just didn't expect his consort to be someone like you."
Lu Qing Wan paused her work, observing her masterpiece, and casually asked, "What kind of person am I?"
Xie Shi Luan looked at her with a smile, seemingly teasing, but extremely serious. "Someone who, when standing there, can draw all of Feng Xi Wu's attention to you."
Lu Qing Wan was slightly taken aback. In others' eyes, was her attraction to Feng Xi Wu so great?
Before she could recover, Xie Shi Luan spoke again. "At that moment, I knew that if I insisted on a marriage alliance with him, not only would I not achieve my own goals, but I would also create a formidable enemy for myself.
Therefore, I chose to form an alliance with you two."
"That was a very wise choice!"
Lu Qing Wan picked up some powder and added a few more touches. "Alright, take a look."
With that, she pushed aside all the bottles and jars on the dressing table, making Xie Shi Luan face her reflection in the mirror.
"Is this me?"
Although the woman in the mirror's features were not bad, her complexion was sallow, her eyelids drooped, her nose was like a bulb, and even her signature bow-shaped lips had become unremarkable, thick lips.
Xie Shi Luan hesitated for a long time, but she couldn't help but bare her teeth at Lu Qing Wan. "After dressing me up like this, do you have a grudge against me?"
"I observed that women who travel frequently between Northern Xiao and the inner regions often look like this.
Your goal is to return to Xiliang, not to sightsee or participate in a beauty pageant. What benefit is there in looking glamorous, other than attracting trouble?"
Xie Shi Luan was speechless. After a long pause, she managed to blurt out, "Although what you said makes sense, I still feel like you're playing a trick on me."
Lu Qing Wan shamelessly spread her hands. "So, do you want to take off the makeup?"
Xie Shi Luan gritted her teeth. "Let's forget it."
Although the makeup was indeed hideous, her life was more important. Being able to safely return to Xiliang was the most crucial thing.
"That's the spirit?"
Lu Qing Wan said leisurely, "Beauty is precious, and dignity is even more so. For the sake of one's life, both can be cast aside!"
After muttering this, she turned and waved to Xie Shi Luan. "No need to thank me, bye-bye!"
As soon as she finished speaking, she was already at the door.
"Wait."
Xie Shi Luan quickly caught up and pulled her to the stables of the posthouse.
"Go out from here, head south, and follow the alley out to Buye Zhou. Don't let anyone see you."
Both Lu Qing Wan and Xie Shi Luan had sensitive identities. If Feng Qing Heng heard any commotion from two people with sensitive identities meeting, he would definitely investigate.
Once he discovered Xie Shi Luan's intention to leave, the plan would be dead in the water.
Lu Qing Wan decisively followed Xie Shi Luan's suggestion and returned to the manor, hiding all the way. Li Su and Ying Yi had already been back for over an hour.
The sky had completely darkened. As Li Su watched Lu Qing Wan enter her room, she cautiously said, "Consort, it's getting late. You only drank a few sips of water today, and you've been so busy. Please eat something."
With Li Jin and the others gone, Li Su was clearly more nervous than usual.
Ying Yi and Ying Er stood guard at the door, not daring to stray far, for fear that Lu Qing Wan might be harmed by Feng Qing Heng's men.