The ministers lowered their heads, not daring to speak further. Only Tang Xiao and Chi Yun Shen were exchanging knowing glances.
Lu Qing Wan, however, was not appreciative. "Your face is so oily it could be used for stir-frying, and you still have the nerve to look handsome. Did you get things done..."
Tang Xiao and Chi Yun Shen covered their faces, unable to bear watching.
Just then, a familiar voice sounded from above, "May I ask what important matter Your Majesty intended to entrust to Lord Tang with? Perhaps this King could lend Your Majesty a hand!"
Lu Qing Wan froze as if petrified.
The officials suppressed their laughter. It seemed that in the great Tian Feng, only the Regent King could truly manage His Majesty!
However, they soon found themselves unable to laugh.
Because Lu Qing Wan only stiffened for a moment before quickly turning the tables, "You're finally back? I just woke up from my nap, and these lords were already rushing to see me, one matter after another concerning the spring examinations, official roads, and military affairs. I'm about to drop from exhaustion..."
As she spoke, she feigned support for her waist and coughed a couple of times.
It was known that she had not experienced morning sickness since her sixth month of pregnancy, but when it came to matters concerning Lu Qing Wan, Si Feng Wu turned into a complete fool.
Seeing Lu Qing Wan in distress, his imposing aura vanished. Disregarding the presence of the officials, he scooped Lu Qing Wan into his arms and said urgently, "Su Shang, come quickly!"
He motioned for Su Shang to follow them back to Weiyang Palace and then, as they walked, chastised, "What important matters could not wait until this King returned to the palace to be discussed? Why must she be troubled with such matters at this hour? All of you, go back and handle your own affairs. If you can't get them done, don't bother coming home!"
It was said that birds of a feather flock together. Although Lu Qing Wan had not explicitly forbidden her officials from having multiple wives and concubines after ascending the throne, it so happened that most of the high-ranking officials, those of third rank and above, who stood before Lu Qing Wan, had few or no concubines at home.
Even if some had taken concubines before meeting Lu Qing Wan, they were now very respectful to their principal wives due to her influence.
Consequently, the status of these honored ladies at home had risen significantly. While they might not rush to the yamen to embarrass their husbands if they didn't return home on time, they were certainly not happy.
Si Feng Wu's actions were not only indulging Lu Qing Wan and appeasing her but also subtly warning those officials.
They should not rely on Lu Qing Wan for everything simply because she had influence outside the court, dumping all their responsibilities onto her.
Otherwise, just as they dared to trouble Lu Qing Wan without hesitation, he would openly torment them.
At this, the ministers turned pale and looked at Lian Yu, who had accompanied Si Feng Wu but was forgotten at the entrance of the imperial study, "Uncle-Consort, what should we do? We were all summoned by His Majesty..."
The speaker was the Censorate's Assistant Minister, not necessarily a treacherous official, but an exceedingly shrewd one. He always managed to benefit from any good fortune in the court, yet he could extricate himself completely when Si Feng Wu and Lu Qing Wan were angry.
By asking Lian Yu this question in front of everyone, he was implying that Lu Qing Wan had summoned them, displeasing Si Feng Wu, and now they were being made scapegoats.
If Lian Yu, as usual, acted as a mediator and apologized to them on behalf of Lu Qing Wan, then even if Lu Qing Wan and her unborn child had any issues today, it would be attributed to Lu Qing Wan's childish tantrum, her own fault, and completely unrelated to them.
However, Lian Yu was no fool. He had occasionally played the mediator before, but that was when Lu Qing Wan had not yet ascended the throne. Acting as a mediator then could avoid much unnecessary trouble.
Now that the matter involved Lu Qing Wan, he would have to be out of his mind to continue playing the mediator.
Upon hearing this, he retorted unceremoniously, "Does the Assistant Minister of Censorate mean that His Highness has wronged you? Your Majesty summoned you into the palace, and even if His Highness discovered it, you should not blame him, but bear it yourselves, is that it?"
The Assistant Minister of Censorate's words indeed implied that, but once Lian Yu laid it bare, no one dared to admit it.
However, a Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, who was friendly with the Assistant Minister of Censorate, whispered a weak defense, "Everyone knows how deeply His Highness and His Majesty are in love. His Highness cannot possibly be harsh with His Majesty, so he cannot take his anger out on us, can he? His Majesty was only discussing the autumn examinations earlier, and then suddenly added matters of official roads and the military. How can we possibly handle all of this in one day? If we cannot complete it, can we really stay away from home for several days?"
The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites was not acting out of great loyalty to defend the Assistant Minister of Censorate.
It was because his wife was a notoriously shrewish woman. As long as he didn't return home on time, regardless of whether he was busy with official duties, she would assume he was having an affair with another woman.
If he were confined to the yamen for several days and unable to return, his shrewish wife would undoubtedly cause a scene upon his return. The Vice Minister was not defending the Assistant Minister of Censorate but his own peace at home.
Unfortunately, Lian Yu did not buy into their excuses at all.
"Whether you can go home or not is your problem. If you all worked diligently, would His Majesty have summoned you to the palace? Would His Highness be worried and urge you to finish your tasks?"
After speaking, Lian Yu snorted and strode directly towards Weiyang Palace.
Su Shang had mentioned that Lu Qing Wan's due date was just around the corner. These fools were causing such a commotion; he prayed his little nephew wouldn't make an early appearance because of it.
With this thought, Lian Yu's steps became even more brisk, unaware that his words of ill omen were about to come true.
Just as he reached the entrance of Weiyang Palace, he saw Li Su running out in a panic. Lian Yu grabbed him, "What are you rushing for?"
"Oh, don't stop me! His Majesty is in labor, I'm going back to Kunning Palace to get the medicine box and the labor kit!"
Kunning Palace was where empresses had resided throughout the dynasties. Since the current Emperor of Tian Feng was Lu Qing Wan, Si Feng Wu had naturally occupied Weiyang Palace.
Lu Qing Wan thought that it was a waste to leave the grand Kunning Palace empty, so she had converted its sleeping quarters into a delivery room. Who knew that all this commotion today would cause her to go into labor at Weiyang Palace.
It was too late to go back to Kunning Palace, so Su Shang had to attend to her first, and Li Su was sent to fetch the medicine box and the labor kit that Lu Qing Wan had specifically prepared and taught Su Shang how to use.
Before he could finish speaking, his body was suddenly lifted. Lian Yu had actually hoisted Li Su up by his collar.
Li Su was naturally composed and did not start shouting in the palace. He even tacitly said, "The medicine box and labor kit are on the shelf inside the sleeping quarters. It will be faster for you to get them yourself than for me."
As he spoke, Lian Yu dragged Li Su out of Weiyang Palace by his collar. Upon hearing this, he loosened his grip, dropped Li Su, and then flew to Kunning Palace himself to retrieve the medicine box and labor kit.
Li Su squatted on the ground, loosening his collar with a sigh, and cursed, "What a lunatic!"
After cursing, he squatted there for a long time, catching his breath. Then he got up and ran back towards Weiyang Palace.
Inside Weiyang Palace, Lu Qing Wan was biting down on a piece of gauze, not crying out, but the sweat covering her forehead revealed the agony she was enduring.
Si Feng Wu stood frozen, unmoving. He was completely stiff.