Gu Shenci’s face showed relief. "Your father and I are very pleased that you and your imperial brother have achieved so much in our absence.
However, Tianfeng is so far from Zhongzhou. No matter where your father and I are, we can't stop worrying about you two brothers!"
Both her sons ruling their own kingdoms brought great comfort to Gu Shenci and Si Rui’an, but also a sense of helplessness.
If they stayed in Zhongzhou with Si Fengming, they couldn't bear to leave Si Fengwu.
If they went to Tianfeng with Si Fengwu, they couldn't bear to leave Si Fengming. Either way, it was a difficult choice.
Si Fengwu had considered this issue when he decided to have the elders stay in Zhongzhou, so he was not caught off guard.
"Mother, you don't need to be troubled. You and Father can return to Zhongzhou to reunite with your imperial brother for now. After our return, the coronation ceremony will be held soon. At that time, your imperial brother will send an envoy to attend my coronation.
If Father and Mother do not find it too arduous, you can represent the envoy to Tianfeng. You can then stay in Tianfeng for a period, and bring Yuan'er back with you when you return.
As the Crown Prince of Great Qin, he should also go back."
Given that both he and Si Rui’an had been saved by Si Fengwu at great risk, Gu Shenci naturally assumed Si Fengwu still resented them for their previous actions.
Hearing that he had arranged a legitimate way for them to go to Tianfeng, her heart finally settled.
Without further pleasantries, Lu Qingwan returned. "I'm ready. We can start the surgery."
Si Rui’an stood up, looking somewhat worried.
Seeing this, Lu Qingwan directly invited Si Fengwu, "Father is encountering new treatment methods for the first time and is naturally apprehensive.
Would Your Highness be willing to assist me and accompany Father?"
As it was a surgery, Si Rui’an was truly nervous. Hearing Lu Qingwan’s words, he looked at Si Fengwu with hopeful eyes.
Si Fengwu walked forward directly. "Let's go."
Although he maintained a distance from Si Rui’an, not appearing overly close, this still brought tears to the eyes of Gu Shenci and Si Rui’an.
The makeshift operating room was much simpler than the one at Jici Hospital, but it had all the necessary equipment.
As Lu Qingwan put on the sterile surgical gown, her entire aura changed.
"Please remove your outer garment, Father, and lie down."
As she spoke, she was already preparing the anesthetic. Si Rui’an, however, clutched his robe. "I still need to remove my clothes?"
"Only the outer garment. A'wan often needs to remove clothes when treating external injuries. Please cooperate as soon as possible, otherwise, the difficulty of the surgery will increase if the light changes."
If only Lu Qingwan had said it, Si Rui’an might have argued, but now that Si Fengwu had also spoken, he had no choice.
Reluctantly, he removed his outer garment and lay down. The medical assistant who came to help quickly covered him with a sterile cloth and pulled down his collar to expose his neck.
Just as Si Rui’an was about to say something, Lu Qingwan unceremoniously administered the anesthetic.
Soon, Si Rui’an fell completely silent, and Lu Qingwan began the surgery.
From being a complete novice in Western medicine, Si Fengwu could now accurately and quickly locate the tools Lu Qingwan needed and hand them to her promptly.
The surgery was not very complicated to begin with, and with a good surgical environment, Lu Qingwan finished the treatment in less than an hour.
Putting down her instruments, she stretched her limbs and asked the medical assistant, "You will be responsible for the follow-up care. Are there any problems?"
The medical assistant respectfully replied, "I have studied medicine since I was young and later interned at Jici Hospital. I should be able to complete the tasks assigned by the Princess Consort."
Lu Qingwan was finally at ease. She tilted her head and asked Si Fengwu, "Are we staying here to accompany Father and Mother and wait for your imperial brother's people, or are we leaving immediately?"
"We'll leave first thing tomorrow morning and hold the coronation ceremony as soon as possible to avoid any unforeseen circumstances."
Lu Qingwan naturally had no objections. However, as soon as Si Fengwu finished speaking, they bumped into Gu Shenci, who was waiting outside nervously.
Those who had been worried about Si Rui’an now focused all their attention on Si Fengwu. "You... you're leaving already?"
"A country cannot be without a ruler for a single day. I have been away for long enough."
Gu Shenci, having once been a Crown Princess, knew the consequences of Si Fengwu being away from his territory for an extended period.
She swallowed all her reluctance and cautiously asked, looking into the room, "How is your father?"
"The surgery was very successful. Father will wake up in about two hours.
I will leave medicine and people by his side. With their careful care, Father will be able to speak before he meets his imperial brother and sister-in-law."
The joy of her husband's recovery slightly eased the sorrow of her son's imminent departure.
Gu Shenci composed herself and said gently, "I heard from the subordinates that the surgery was very taxing. I have had some meals prepared. Please come and eat first.
After eating, get some good rest. You two have been through too much these past few days."
When busy, they didn't feel the hardship, but once they relaxed, fatigue and hunger instantly filled their bodies.
Lu Qingwan unceremoniously accepted Gu Shenci's kindness and dragged Si Fengwu to comfort their stomachs.
After eating until her belly was round, she suddenly asked, "Mother, have you always been on the island all these years, never leaving the Illusionary Night Sea region?"
Gu Shenci nodded. "Meng Fuyuan is very cautious. Although your father and I tried our best to appease him, the people he sent out from the island were all old members of the Cold Night Hall.
We never had a chance to leave the island."
Si Fengwu found it strange. "Since he didn't trust you, why would he let Father become the Hall Master of the Cold Night Hall?"
"He intended for the Cold Night Hall to be above the various dynasties. He specifically selected a group of people from each royal family to win over and cultivate.
He wanted them to ascend to power as disciples of the Cold Night Hall, and then use this experience to control them to serve the Cold Night Hall.
Therefore, even without your father, there would have been other royal family members who would have become the Hall Master of the Cold Night Hall.
The value of this position is no longer what it used to be."
Lu Qingwan clicked her tongue. "So, Nangong Che joining the Three Lives Tower is for the same reason?"
Gu Shenci shook her head. "I don't know about that, but it should be similar.
Otherwise, why would a perfectly fine Crown Prince be willing to confine himself to such a small space for decades!"
The reason for not leaving was simply that their goal had not yet been achieved.
Lu Qingwan and Si Fengwu absently chatted with Gu Shenci about turtles for a while longer, then excused themselves, claiming they needed to rest, and returned to their room.
As soon as the door closed, Lu Qingwan's spirits instantly perked up, and the drowsiness she seemed to have, capable of falling asleep while sitting, vanished.
"I said that Liu Hanyan and Meng Fuyuan only captured transmigrators, but from the looks of Father and Mother, they are not transmigrators. Why would they have caught Meng Fuyuan's eye?
Now it seems that their criteria for capturing people are not only transmigrators but also members of the royal family!"