Her body had long since turned to ash, and returning would only make her a solitary wandering ghost.
But she couldn't resist the pleas of her respected grandparents, her parents who, though perhaps awkward, clearly doted on her, and her teammates who would die before betraying her. A thought always lingered in her heart.
Even if she couldn't stay long, she wanted to go back and see them, even just once.
Previously, she had no means, so she dismissed the idea. Now, she had a sliver of hope from the enemy, and before it was even solidified, she felt guilty towards Feng Xiwu.
Cursing herself internally for her weakness, Lu Qingwan still instructed Han Chen, "Also, try to find out if, in the last thirty years, there have been anyone like me and Xie Shiyu who underwent such a drastic change in personality, becoming like two different people in a short span of time.
I don't have a deadline, and you don't need to rush. Keep it quiet and don't make a big fuss."
Han Chen, not understanding the reason, complied. He found his mistress's expression peculiar, as if she were hiding something or feeling guilty.
Had his mistress stolen something from Xiliang when they weren't looking?
Unaware of Han Chen's musings, Lu Qingwan quietly slipped into the carriage and let out a stream of sighs.
The dying wishes of the former Empress Dowager and Emperor Jingyou prevented her from killing Feng Qingheng, and Bai's reminder prevented her from killing Xie Shiyu.
Her enemies were right before her eyes, yet she had to find ways to arrange successors for them and ensure their survival. It was utterly frustrating.
After much thought, she slammed her fist against the carriage wall. "Tell Wu Ying to hurry and figure out Cheng Jiuxiao's movements and patterns. Have Lian Yu and the others cooperate, and make sure I get Cheng Jiuxiao's head to mourn the Prince and my father!
Otherwise, on the day of my father and the Prince's funerals, I will throw myself onto their coffins!"
This was clearly the ravings of someone driven mad by frustration, but Han Chen and the others were terrified.
They hastily replied, "Your Highness, please don't act impulsively. Your subordinate will have Wu Ying plan a thorough assassination. We will definitely behead Cheng Jiuxiao to appease the souls of the Prince and Marquis Lu.
As for Xie Shiyu, if he cannot be killed for now, I will ask the strategist to contact General Xie. Perhaps using Xiao Jing'an's head as a substitute would also work..."
In a few brief sentences, Duan Yue mentally reviewed everyone who could be a target for Lu Qingwan's vengeance.
Even after listing everyone she could think of, she received no response from Lu Qingwan.
All she heard was a scratching sound against the wall, so sour it made one's mouth water. Yet, they didn't dare to resist, only silently covering their chins and exchanging bewildered glances.
A thought flashed through their minds simultaneously: "It's over. The Prince and Marquis Lu are buried together in the snow mountain. Has our mistress lost her mind?"
As soon as this thought arose, they were all struck with dread and silently resolved to capture Cheng Jiuxiao's head to comfort their mistress's wounded heart.
Thus, in the not-too-distant future, Cheng Jiuxiao, the Prince of Zhen, in Northern Wei, was subjected to an unprecedented and colossal assassination attempt.
The sheer number of assassins and the frequency of their attacks far surpassed the scale of assassinations faced by hundreds of monarchs throughout history.
For decades, people marveled at what heinous crimes Cheng Jiuxiao had committed to deserve such persistent attempts on his life.
Naturally, they could never have imagined that the unlucky Cheng Jiuxiao had merely followed Feng Qingheng and Xie Shiyu in a scheme against Feng Xiwu and Lu Zhenting. From his personal standpoint, his actions were not unforgivable.
However, due to various circumstances, Lu Qingwan could not kill Feng Qingheng and was forbidden from killing Xie Shiyu. In her fury, she had gone mad.
Her loyal subordinates, fearing their mistress would be wronged, took all their anger, grievances, fear, and frustration and directed it entirely at Cheng Jiuxiao.
Consequently, Cheng Jiuxiao, once an unremarkable Prince of Zhen in Northern Wei, transformed into a bald, colossal scapegoat who bore the brunt of everyone around Lu Qingwan.
Lu Qingwan remained unaware of the immense trouble her momentary, frustrated outburst had caused for the completely unknown Cheng Jiuxiao. After several days of languishing in the carriage, she changed to horseback and rode at full speed towards the Northern Wei encampment.
As both countries had jointly attacked the Xuanjia Army, their respective camps were not far apart.
After arriving in the Northwest, Lu Qingwan and her group did not immediately pursue Cheng Jiuxiao but found an inn to rest and recuperate.
The inns in the Northwest were far from being as refined as those in Shangjing, and they even paled in comparison to the peculiar inns of Xiliang City.
However, after the long journey, everyone was exhausted and only cared about eating and sleeping, so they didn't fuss about the accommodations.
Although Lu Qingwan claimed not to be picky, her companions took great care of her. She was relatively fine, but those around her were utterly drained.
Upon entering the inn, Lu Qingwan declared forcefully, "This inn was arranged by Li Jin long ago. Enough said. Go down and eat, then sleep.
We'll deal with any major issues after we've had enough rest."
Hearing that it was arranged by Li Jin, everyone knew that Lu Qingwan's safety was assured.
After the continuous journey, they were at their limit. They didn't stand on ceremony with her. After bidding Lu Qingwan farewell, they retreated to their rooms and went straight to sleep without eating.
Ru Yue wanted to stay by Lu Qingwan's side, but upon seeing Li Jin arrive, she tactfully withdrew.
Soon, only Lu Qingwan and Li Jin remained in the simple inn room.
Li Jin, disguised as an ordinary person, bowed respectfully to Lu Qingwan.
Lu Qingwan leaned against the crude wooden bed and turned her head to look at him. "What was the reaction from various parties after the Prince's incident?"
"When the news of the Prince's incident spread, Northern Wei and Yunqiang intended to join forces with the Xiliang army to encircle and annihilate the Xuanjia Army.
At the crucial moment, Xie Shiluan led the Xiliang army to defect and, together with the Xuanjia Army, counter-attacked, forcing one hundred thousand Qiang soldiers to flee their armor and retreat over a hundred li west of Yumenguan.
The strategist led the Xuanjia Army to counter-attack the Northern Wei wolf soldiers, forcing the Northern Wei army to the Beixiao Pass. Currently, only the Beixiao Pass remains in the hands of the Northern Wei wolf soldiers..."
Li Jin spoke of the battlefield situation. Lu Qingwan roughly understood that the battlefield situation had become clear.
She held the somewhat rough teacup and tapped it lightly on the table. "What about the court?
With the Prince dead, there must have been significant reactions from all factions in the court, right?"
Li Jin lowered his head and gnashed his teeth. "The new Emperor said that the Prince died saving Marquis Lu, not on the battlefield, so he cannot be considered a martyr.
Furthermore, as the commander of the Xuanjia Army, the Prince received weapons and provisions but failed to resist the enemy. His authority as Regent is to be revoked.
He is to be buried in the Western Imperial Mausoleum with the status of Prince Xiaoyao, without a state funeral..."
With a crack, the teacup in her hand shattered on the table. The scalding tea poured onto Lu Qingwan's already injured hand.
Li Jin, frightened, stepped forward to tend to her wound, but Lu Qingwan ignored it and coldly uttered two words: "Continue."
"Your Highness, your hand..."
Li Jin knew how Lu Qingwan's hand had been injured.
He also knew that the Northwest's environment was not conducive to wound healing. Now, with a fresh injury on top of an old one, Lu Qingwan didn't care, but he, for his Prince, had to care.