The ministers who rushed over upon hearing the news were instantly embarrassed.
Upon hearing that Si Fengwu had been assassinated and died in Da Qin, they had rushed into the palace one after another.
They were both seeking confirmation of the news from Lu Qingwan and preparing for the future.
If Si Fengwu truly died, wouldn't they have to choose a new master?
Moreover, in the minds of these ministers, Si Fengwu had been assassinated, and Lu Qingwan, a mere woman, should be weeping and at a loss.
Their inquiries about the truth of the news at this time, and even Si Fengwu's arrangements for his successor, would be easy.
But Lu Qingwan's demeanor was clearly beyond everyone's expectations.
With this appearance, capable of fighting better than them, who would dare to speak to her about Si Fengwu's assassination?
It was still a few old ministers who were reliable. Elder Wen did not forget his purpose for entering the palace, "I heard that the Princess Consort was attacked at Yudai River last night. Is the Princess Consort unharmed?"
Lu Qingwan adhered to the principle of treating others as they treated her. She was as respectful as usual to Elder Wen, "Thank you for your concern, Elder Wen. This consort is unharmed.
It was just a few presumptuous petty individuals who couldn't harm this consort.
Instead, I heard early this morning that the Prince had been assassinated and died, which greatly frightened this consort. Did all you lords also enter the palace upon hearing that absurd rumor?"
While everyone was eager to ask this question, Lu Qingwan's calm words blocked them all.
Just as everyone was being cautious and circuitous, Lu Qingwan got straight to the point.
This barrage of unexpected moves completely stunned the officials, and for a moment, no one dared to respond.
Seeing this, Elder Chi stood out helplessly, "Da Qin is a thousand miles away from the New Dynasty, and the Prince has been away from the capital for less than a month. To say that the Prince was assassinated in Da Qin is simply unfounded.
Princess Consort, do not cause unnecessary panic. The Prince is blessed with good fortune and will surely be fine."
After Elder Chi finished speaking, the Minister of Dali Temple echoed, "Elder Chi is right, Princess Consort. Moreover, even if the Prince were truly assassinated, the news should at least spread gradually.
How could it have erupted simultaneously like this?
It is clear that someone is deliberately spreading rumors.
Your humble servant implores the Princess Consort to send the Shence Camp to assist the three departments in investigating the source of these rumors and to eradicate such absurd remarks that disrupt the imperial court from the root!"
The words of Elder Chi and the Minister of Dali Temple were quickly echoed by a crowd of court officials.
The officials scoffed at the news of Si Fengwu's assassination.
But at this moment, dong dong dong...
A dull and distant drum sound echoed. The Southern Prime Minister exclaimed, "It's the Dengwen Drum. Someone has struck the Dengwen Drum."
The Dengwen Drum was the only shortcut for ordinary people to contact the imperial court, and it was a shortcut earned at the risk of one's life.
Although the rule of being beaten eighty times for striking the Dengwen Drum was abolished after the establishment of the New Dynasty, ordinary people still dared not strike the great drum that symbolized the imperial dignity of thousands of years.
Today, at such a sensitive moment, someone actually struck the Dengwen Drum.
This time, not only did Lu Qingwan and Si Fengwu's faction panic, but even those who came to watch Lu Qingwan's predicament also became nervous.
They merely wanted to take this opportunity to expand their influence in court, get a promotion, and become marquises and ministers.
But with the Dengwen Drum sounding now, who knew what the other party was here for?
If the New Dynasty were to be abolished before it was even established, all their glory and wealth would be gone.
With Si Fengwu absent, Lu Qingwan had to face the person who struck the Dengwen Drum directly.
Compared to the panicked officials, Lu Qingwan was much calmer.
"Silence, everyone."
She raised her hand, signaling the officials to be quiet, and calmly said, "Go and see who is striking the Dengwen Drum?"
The Shence Camp soldiers at the door quickly departed, and Lu Qingwan and the ministers in the imperial study held their breath in anticipation.
Everyone knew that the person striking the Dengwen Drum was likely not here with good intentions, but they did not know who their target was.
The Dengwen Drum had dedicated officials guarding it, and the official responsible for receiving the Dengwen Drum was already on his way to the palace to report.
The Shence Camp soldiers were known for their swiftness. Knowing the seriousness of the recent events, they particularly quickened their pace.
Therefore, they did not wait too long to learn the origin of this major accuser.
They saw the Shence Camp soldier dragging the official guarding the Dengwen Drum and rushing back.
Frightened and unable to catch his breath, the official urgently reported, "Reporting to the Princess Consort, Lin Tianmu, the young master of the Lin family's business, accuses the Princess Consort of arbitrarily injuring people and forcibly abducting his father, Lin Dongye.
Furthermore, Lin Tianmu also accuses the Jici Hospital under the Princess Consort's name of transporting a large number of young and middle-aged men and young women to Da Qin, causing thousands of families to be separated and homes destroyed."
The Shence Camp soldier was stunned.
He had brought the person back after a strenuous effort, just to help Lu Qingwan understand the intention of the person striking the Dengwen Drum.
Who would have thought that this person was brainless and could say such things in public?
He could already imagine how the ministers would trouble Lu Qingwan.
He kicked the drum official, "Nonsense! How could the Princess Consort commit such an absurd act?
Can you think before you speak?"
The drum official was too nervous. He had been in office for less than a year when the Dengwen Drum sounded.
Flustered, he didn't know what he was saying and merely relayed the words of the drum striker based on instinct.
After being kicked by the Shence Camp soldier, he remembered where he was and his knees suddenly weakened, causing him to kneel on the ground.
"Princess Consort, please forgive me, your humble servant, your humble servant..."
He stammered for a long time, unable to utter a complete sentence.
This was because the person who struck the Dengwen Drum had told him so. As a drum official, his duty was to report the accuser's demands to the Emperor and Empress verbatim.
It was just that this time, the defendant was Lu Qingwan.
Lu Qingwan raised her eyebrows slightly, "Why are you kneeling?
You are in your position and doing your duty. You have done very well."
She tilted her head and looked at the Shence Camp soldier who had kicked the drum official to protect her, "Your reaction is quite fast, but the Shence Camp is not suitable for you.
I will transfer you to Kunning Palace to be the chief guard. Are you willing?"
This was an opportunity that not everyone could have, to go from an ordinary Shence Camp soldier to the just chief guard of the Empress.
The young soldier was stunned for a moment, then kowtowed and expressed his gratitude, "Your humble servant Mo Bei thanks the Princess Consort for the promotion."
Lu Qingwan smiled, "Don't thank me yet.
As a soldier of the Shence Camp, you have assaulted a court official without authorization. Not only have you shown disrespect to your superiors, but you have also broken the law.
This consort punishes you to apologize to this drum official in person and to receive thirty military strokes. Do you accept?"
Mo Bei pursed his lips and lowered his head. He turned and bowed to the drum official, "Your humble servant was impolite and offended you, sir. Please forgive me."
...
The person who struck the Dengwen Drum was still waiting outside, but Lu Qingwan was here dealing with such trivial matters. The ministers were anxiously pacing back and forth.
Elder Wen, however, reminded her slowly, "Princess Consort, the people you are waiting for have almost all arrived. You can set off."
This abrupt sentence made the ministers even more bewildered.