Lu Qing Wan listened with great interest, "What happened next?"
"Then Bei Ming Xue relentlessly pursued the Prince, driving away every woman who came near him and orchestrating numerous chance encounters. The Prince remained unmoved. She was quite persistent and intended to continue her pursuit, but since there was a war in Xijiang and the Prince led his troops to battle, she wanted to follow. The Prince warned her that if she dared to disrupt the front lines, he would flatten the Tian Xuan Sect with his Xuan Jia Army. Only then did Bei Ming Xue give up."
Li Su spoke of Bei Ming Xue with a headache.
Lu Qing Wan grinned, "She was certainly persistent. But, how long has it been? Is it possible she no longer desires the Prince?"
Li Su pursed her lips with a troubled expression, "That is probably unlikely."
Lu Qing Wan was puzzled, "What do you mean? Did she make any moves later on?"
Li Su cautiously glanced at Feng Xi Wu's expression. Lu Qing Wan pouted and was about to urge her on when Feng Xi Wu spoke.
"Regarding the incident at Xiangguo Temple, you must have noticed some clues, right?"
His words made Lu Qing Wan sense a juicy revelation: "Are you referring to the fact that the esteemed Regent and his close attendants were drugged with Soft Muscle Powder, or that you yourself were drugged with an aphrodisiac that day?"
A flicker of embarrassment crossed Feng Xi Wu's face, his ear tips slightly red, his gaze evasive, not daring to meet Lu Qing Wan's eyes.
Lu Qing Wan suddenly had an epiphany, "The Soft Muscle Powder for his guards and your aphrodisiac, could it all have been Bei Ming Xue's doing?"
The incident at Xiangguo Temple was too embarrassing for both Lu Qing Wan and Feng Xi Wu, and they had deliberately avoided discussing it openly.
As soon as Lu Qing Wan voiced her suspicion, Feng Xi Wu sighed. He looked relieved, but his tone was serious, "This matter, I did not intentionally conceal it from you. Firstly, I never thought I would have any further dealings with Bei Ming Xue. Secondly..."
"I understand," Lu Qing Wan interrupted with a suppressed laugh. "It was too embarrassing, wasn't it? The mighty Regent and seven or eight guards were outmaneuvered by a young woman, nearly losing their purity. No, you already lost your purity. I'm almost impressed with this Bei Ming Xue, haha..."
Lu Qing Wan was fearlessly probing at the edge of Feng Xi Wu's embarrassment. Seeing her having fun, he seemed to forget that he was also a participant in the Xiangguo Temple incident.
A thought struck him, and he curved his lips, saying slowly, "You managed to claim my purity before Bei Ming Xue did. Princess Consort seems quite pleased with herself?"
Lu Qing Wan froze like a rooster whose crowing had been abruptly cut off. Her triumphant laughter died mid-air. She blinked and looked at Li Su, "Uh, you two may leave. I have something to discuss with the Prince privately."
The two were already startled by their master's bold words. Hearing this, they scurried away as fast as their feet could carry them.
Lu Qing Wan watched them leave, then swiftly leaped onto Feng Xi Wu's lap, playfully grabbing his neck and laughing like a wolf grandma, "Come on, let's hurt each other! I'll strike first, you fend for yourself!"
With that, she sat firmly on Feng Xi Wu's lap and bounced a few times, as if intending to crush him to death to silence him. Feng Xi Wu indulgently allowed her to be unruly, his hands lightly resting on her waist to prevent her from falling.
Seeing that Lu Qing Wan had had her fill of mischief, he gently cupped her head with one hand and kissed her. No matter how Lu Qing Wan struggled, he remained in control. He made no forceful moves, yet she found herself trapped, unable to escape, and could only melt into the kiss.
Months into their marriage, their passionate embraces had become commonplace. Yet, Lu Qing Wan was never content with always being at a disadvantage and tried to counterattack. However, without exception, each attempt ended in a humiliating defeat. This time was no different. Feng Xi Wu felt her small hands pushing him grow soft and weak before he slightly pulled away.
Lu Qing Wan collapsed into his arms, whimpering, "Honestly, tell me, have you been cheating on me with other women?"
Feng Xi Wu hugged her tightly as if she were a child, fondly caressing her flushed cheeks. He chuckled at her question, "What do you mean by cheating in something like this? And what are 'other women'?"
Lu Qing Wan stubbornly nudged his chin with her head, "It's unfair! Everyone is a novice on their wedding night. If you weren't cheating, how could I have almost suffocated?"
Feng Xi Wu burst into laughter, his hearty chuckles reaching outside the courtyard, causing the maids and guards in Wutong Yuan to peek out frequently. Lu Qing Wan, embarrassed, covered Feng Xi Wu's mouth and threatened him with mock ferocity, "You're still laughing! Bei Ming Xue caused you to lose your purity, and she's still fine? Don't tell me Feng Xi Wu suddenly became benevolent and wanted to be gentle with her! If that's the case, I'll pack you up and send you to Bei Ming Xue's bed tomorrow to help her fulfill her wish!"
Despite her fierce words, the blush on her cheeks and the darting of her eyes betrayed her bluster. Feng Xi Wu, in an exceptionally good mood, shifted her position to hold her in his arms. "Princess Consort need not be jealous. I have not been lenient with Bei Ming Xue."
"Who's jealous?" Lu Qing Wan squirmed uncomfortably, her curiosity getting the better of her. "What did you do to Bei Ming Xue, or rather, the Tian Xuan Sect?"
"The Tian Xuan Sect is strategically located at the throat of the four nations of Da Gan, Xiliang, Bei Wei, and Yun Qiang, as well as bordering Da Qin and its surrounding countries. All trade and travel between them must pass through Tian Xuan City. Not only is the transit fee heavy for merchants passing through Tian Xuan City, but paying it doesn't guarantee safe passage. After the incident at Xiangguo Temple, Ban Yue Pavilion stopped paying any money to the Tian Xuan Sect. Furthermore, they used the Tian Xuan Sect's influence to establish a firm foothold in Da Qin. Princess Consort, do you think this deal was worthwhile?"
Feng Xi Wu was undoubtedly shrewd. When he spoke of these matters, he sounded as if he were discussing an ordinary business transaction, setting his personal emotions aside. Lu Qing Wan clicked her tongue, "Is one Bei Ming Xue worth that much?"
During Feng Xi Wu's absence, she had gained a deeper understanding of Ban Yue Pavilion. It was precisely because of this that she knew how significant the loss of transit fees to the Tian Xuan Sect was. And Feng Xi Wu had used the Tian Xuan Sect's influence to help Ban Yue Pavilion establish itself in Da Qin, the benefits of which could no longer be measured in monetary terms.
Feng Xi Wu chuckled and shook his head. "It's not Bei Ming Xue who is valuable, but I am valuable."
Lu Qing Wan looked at him questioningly. Feng Xi Wu patiently explained, "Don't forget, to Bei Ming Xue, I was merely a man she coveted. But to the Tian Xuan Sect, I am the Regent of Da Gan. Sects and nations have historically maintained a 'clear separation,' an unwritten rule. Bei Ming Xue's actions undoubtedly broke the tacit understanding between the sect and the various nations. If I were to truly pursue this matter in my capacity as the Regent of Da Gan, and not to mention those far away, would Bei Wei, Xiliang, and Yun Qiang, who are closest to the Tian Xuan Sect, miss an opportunity to strike while they are down? And then there are the sects that are in constant conflict with the Tian Xuan Sect. The people of the Tian Xuan Sect are not fools. They can clearly calculate which is more advantageous: dealing with me alone, or dealing with all these other powers."