"You think too highly of me. I don't believe the Reincarnation Palace would collapse without me, Lu Qingwan.
But if I resign as Saintess, the path the Reincarnation Palace takes in the future will be none of my concern.
Once the Reincarnation Palace and the imperial court clash in interests, neither we ourselves nor our future children will be caught in a difficult position.
This is what I call preparing for a rainy day, to avoid future troubles."
Sibling rivalry was common in royal families. As the Reincarnation Palace grew, conflicts of interest between it and the imperial court became inevitable.
Though they hadn't openly fallen out yet, Lu Qingwan was already prepared to be an enemy of the Reincarnation Palace.
Si Fengwu gently pressed her back of the neck. "If you are truly worried, why not remain in the Reincarnation Palace and make it serve me?
That way, you wouldn't have to worry about future disputes."
"It's not that easy. The Reincarnation Palace isn't just a bunch of ordinary outlaws. They are united and have strong cohesion.
Even if I were the nominal Saintess, or even the Palace Master, if my actions harmed the Reincarnation Palace's interests, most of them wouldn't obey me.
At that point, it wouldn't be them serving me, but us doing all the work for them."
Si Fengwu was astonished. "Doing all the work for them?
You believe the Reincarnation Palace also has ambitions for the empire?"
Lu Qingwan raised her eyebrows and looked at him, smiling without speaking.
Si Fengwu took a deep breath. "Indeed. For a sect like the Reincarnation Palace, with profound heritage and great power, it's unlikely they have no ambitions.
It's just that the current Palace Master is merciful, cherishing the common people, and hasn't encountered the right opportunity.
If the opportunity were presented to him, he might not be able to resist."
"So, the Reincarnation Palace is more than just a hot potato for us; it's a time bomb, waiting to explode at any moment.
Let's not keep it close. Let's throw it as far away as possible..."
As she finished speaking, the boatman in front called out, "Your Highness, Your Consort, look!"
They followed his gaze and saw a scene of flickering candlelight and figures on the shore. Two groups of people were separated by less than twenty feet of open ground, illuminated by torches as brightly as day.
Si Fengwu quickly made a judgment. "Before we came, Li Su mentioned that the Nanqi government had discovered our whereabouts and was on their way.
Now, it seems Daqin has also sent people."
Lu Qingwan puffed out her cheeks and asked him, "Should we go ashore now?"
Without Si Fengwu present, the relevant personnel from both sides would have argued for a while and then left.
But if they showed themselves, the situation would become complicated.
At worst, it would be seen as Nanqi officials harboring ill intentions towards Si Fengwu, a Prince of Daqin. At worst, it could ignite a dispute between the two countries.
Si Fengwu pondered for a moment and then said, "Let's go ashore.
A confrontation between us and Nanqi is inevitable. Since that's the case, let's strike first and cause some trouble for Nangong Che and Liu Hanyan.
The Emperor of Nanqi is not to be trifled with. With him interfering, Nangong Che and Liu Hanyan should at least be kept in check until after the enthronement ceremony.
By then, we'll have the freedom to arrange a suitable place for them."
Since Lu Qingwan had promised Liu Xunran to spare Liu Hanyan's life, Si Fengwu would not put her in a position of being unrighteous.
However, given the disgusting acts committed by those two, Lu Qingwan and Si Fengwu could not simply let them off without consequence.
Stripping them of their sharpest fangs, crushing their desire for chaos, and then casting them into some remote corner to eke out a meager existence was already their greatest mercy.
Lu Qingwan loved playing pranks the most.
She cheerfully agreed, "Alright, let's do that. Come, let's go give the Emperor of Nanqi the good news!"
As they spoke, the small boat docked. An official from Daqin personally stepped forward and respectfully said, "Your subordinate, Yan Songlin, Prefect of Yazhou, along with his subordinates, pays respects to His Highness Prince Qin and Her Highness Princess Consort."
As Yan Songlin finished speaking, a dense crowd behind him knelt down.
They exclaimed in unison, "Your subordinates pay respects to His Highness Prince Qin, and Her Highness Princess Consort!"
Though they were merely officials of the small Yazhou, the display was considerable.
Si Fengwu ignored them and turned to the side. "What's going on here?
Could it be that the Emperor of Nanqi already knows that Crown Prince Wulie has returned with his children and has also sent someone to escort them?"
This remark confused the officials from both sides.
The Prefect of Yazhou exclaimed, "W-Crown Prince Wulie is still alive?!"
"Impossible!"
The Prefect of Danzhou, Nanqi, who was not far away, was so shocked he ran over. "Your Highness Prince Qin, you must be joking, right?
Crown Prince Wulie died in a palace coup nearly thirty years ago. He turned into a pile of bones long ago. How could he possibly return alive?"
"It seems Nanqi does not wish for Crown Prince Wulie to return, does it?"
Lu Qingwan, like a little bird hiding in Si Fengwu's embrace, timidly said, "Your Highness, did we save the wrong person?
Or should we have let Crown Prince Wulie and his two sons die at sea?"
The Prefect of Danzhou was somewhat astute. Seeing Lu Qingwan and Si Fengwu's demeanor, he quickly calmed down.
"May I ask His Highness Prince Qin, you say Crown Prince Wulie is still alive, what is your proof?"
Si Fengwu said coldly, "Proof?
What proof do I need to give you?
Since you are not here to greet them, just retreat. I haven't asked you to do anything."
With that, he walked directly towards the carriage prepared by Yan Songlin and his men. "Escort His Highness and Her Highness Consort to the posthouse."
The Prefect of Yazhou hurried to follow, while the guards kept a vigilant eye on the Prefect of Danzhou, Nanqi.
Little did they know that the Prefect of Danzhou was so terrified by Lu Qingwan and Si Fengwu that he had lost all desire to pursue them.
The Prefect of Yazhou, hosting such a high-ranking guest as Si Fengwu for the first time, made the arrangements and procession somewhat elaborate. By the time they departed, they were almost out of sight.
When the guards reported back, the Prefect of Yazhou was flabbergasted.
He looked back in Si Fengwu's direction and involuntarily showed an expression of admiration.
Si Fengwu and Lu Qingwan were not idle. As soon as they got into the carriage, Lu Qingwan said, "Did you notice? When we said Nangong Che was alive, the Prefect of Danzhou's denial seemed particularly emphatic!"
"I noticed."
Si Fengwu nodded. "Nangong Che's identity is special, and it was publicly announced that he died many years ago. For us to suddenly say he's alive, it's natural for a subject of the current Nanqi Emperor to be shocked and unwilling to believe it.
But his reaction didn't seem like surprise, but rather like he truly didn't believe Nangong Che was alive."
Lu Qingwan nodded vigorously. "Exactly, I felt the same way.
It's as if he knew the truth of Nangong Che's death back then.
Could it be that we're so lucky to have stumbled upon Nangong Che's mortal enemy?"