In truth, Lu Qing Wan hadn't given it much thought.
Initially, the Samsara Hall had been indebted to her, but by now, it was impossible to say who owed whom more.
However, if she could manage the Samsara Hall properly, it would save the imperial court a lot of trouble in the future, which was why she hadn't refused Si Feng Wu's offer.
The two chatted casually, and Lu Qing Wan found her eyelids growing heavier. She eventually fell asleep without realizing it.
When she opened her eyes again, the sun was high in the sky, marking a new day.
A familiar face suddenly appeared before her. Lu Qing Wan blinked, her reactions a beat slower. "What time is it?"
"Past the hour of Chen, the carriages are ready, and breakfast has even been brought into the carriage. We were just waiting for you to wake up."
It was clear that he was eager to return.
Lu Qing Wan slowly got up. "Leaving so early, will Father King and Mother Consort bear to part with us?"
"Imperial Brother sent a letter last night. Besides inquiring about Father King and Mother Consort, he also included some analysis of the current international situation. After Father King and Mother Consort read it, they urged us to return."
Si Feng Wu's gaze remained affectionate, though his eyes held a hint of a smile.
Lu Qing Wan's eyes darted around, and she understood. "Did you tell Imperial Brother that you didn't want Father King and Mother Consort to stay in Tian Feng?"
Although the current situation in the world was chaotic, it wasn't to the extent that it truly threatened Tian Feng's stability. Otherwise, Si Feng Wu, the future emperor, wouldn't have traveled so far.
Thus, to make Gu Shen Ci and Si Rui An endure their longing for their child and urge them to return, it could only be Si Feng Ming's doing.
Si Feng Wu chuckled upon hearing this. "Perhaps it's a meeting of minds between me and Imperial Brother?"
Lu Qing Wan let out a cold laugh, slid off the bed, and lazily shuffled towards the washbasin in her slippers.
After a leisurely wash, Si Feng Wu simply picked her up and carried her.
Lu Qing Wan, like a salted fish that had lost its dreams, slumped over Si Feng Wu's shoulder without struggling, having reached a new level of indolence.
"Oh, what's wrong? Is A Wan feeling unwell?"
Gu Shen Ci's voice reached them. Lu Qing Wan performed a somersault from Si Feng Wu's shoulder and landed nimbly.
"Qing Wan greets Mother Consort."
From landing to bowing, the entire process was fluid and seamless, leaving Gu Shen Ci momentarily stunned.
Gu Shen Ci blinked in surprise. "Rise, quickly. I thought you might be leaving, so I came to see you off."
Lu Qing Wan rose with the motion, her hand reaching behind Si Feng Wu's back to grip and twist.
Si Feng Wu, with a polite smile, bid farewell to Gu Shen Ci, while his other hand engaged in a playful chase with Lu Qing Wan behind his back. The guards standing behind them struggled to suppress their laughter, their faces contorting.
Fortunately, Gu Shen Ci was concerned about her ailing husband and didn't linger for too long before returning.
As soon as she left, Si Feng Wu and Lu Qing Wan shifted from their covert squabbles to open foot-kicking, and the guards no longer had to strain themselves to hold back their mirth.
They bickered and playfully fought their way along, the game of hands and feet ending with the appearance of the carriage.
The world finally quieted down, and the guards collectively breathed a sigh of relief, escorting the two "ancestors" back to Tian Feng.
From Yazhou back to Tian Feng, they had to traverse almost the entire Qin territory, and also pass through a small part of the Nan Qi domain. However, these matters were handled by their subordinates and did not require Si Feng Wu and Lu Qing Wan's arrangement.
Their daily tasks consisted of receiving intelligence from all directions and providing feedback.
They spent their days either practicing martial arts, lazing around, or searching for useful clues among the intelligence reports submitted by various parties. They were never idle throughout their journey.
"Your Highness, Your Consort, we have arrived at Rongzhou."
Li Yang's voice came through. Lu Qing Wan opened her eyes. "Has Old Man Liu arrived?"
Two months ago, they had departed from Yazhou, enduring the hardships of travel, and finally returned to Tian Feng.
Li Yang and his group had also concluded the follow-up matters in the Phantom Night Sea Domain and had rushed to catch up. Now, everyone who was supposed to be with Si Feng Wu and Lu Qing Wan had arrived.
Upon hearing this, Li Yang nodded excitedly. "Li Qing sent a message. The Lord of the Samsara Hall has been waiting at West River Moon for a long time."
Beside her, Si Feng Wu also opened his eyes. Their gazes met. Lu Qing Wan smiled and asked him, "Shall we go directly, or should we rest at Buye Continent before meeting him?"
"Go directly. We're almost at the New Capital, so there's no need to waste time here."
Rongzhou was only a hundred miles from the New Capital. Their arrival here was a deliberate choice to avoid the risk of being detained by the Samsara Hall, and also to prevent Liu Xun Ran from going to the New Capital again.
This was Lu Qing Wan's way of practically demonstrating her intention to sever ties with the Samsara Hall to Liu Xun Ran.
Seeing that Lu Qing Wan didn't object, Li Yang drove the carriage directly towards West River Moon.
Lu Qing Wan climbed out of the carriage and sat on the carriage shaft, waving to those behind her. "All of you, come here."
Li Yang, seeing this, subtly slowed down the carriage, making it more stable.
Twelve months quickly rode forward on horseback. Duan Yue, as usual, respectfully inquired, "What are your orders, Master?"
Lu Qing Wan's small face was extremely serious. "Everyone knows about the recent events, so I won't go into details. You all understand what I'm going to do next. I'll ask only once: do you wish to remain by my side, or return to the Samsara Hall?"
The expressions of Twelve Months changed simultaneously. Duan Yue said without hesitation, "Master, your subordinates are your people. Unless you yourself no longer want us, we will not go anywhere."
"That's right, we are Master's people. We won't go anywhere."
Lu Qing Wan recalled that a few years ago, she had also attempted to leave the Samsara Hall. At that time, Twelve Months had also said that Lu Qing Wan was their master, but their attitude was far less resolute than it was today.
Lu Qing Wan smiled with relief as she remembered. "I've already given you a chance, and you refused it yourselves. If you want to leave in the future, I won't agree!"
Twelve Months said in unison, "Your subordinates swear to follow Master to the death!"
Lu Qing Wan was thus satisfied. "Good, I'll make you something delicious when we get back."
Her behavior, like coaxing children, made Twelve Months laugh and cry. Lu Qing Wan, however, had already retreated into the carriage.
The journey was smooth and unimpeded. Upon entering the city, Li Qing's men led them directly to West River Moon.
In a refined and tranquil room, Liu Xun Ran, dressed in purple robes with black hair, sat by the window, showing no sign of being nearly seventy years old.
Orange-clothed stood beside him. Seeing the familiar carriage entering their line of sight, he said softly, "Master, the Saintess and the Young Master have arrived."
"Go and bring Yuan'er over."
Orange-clothed quietly withdrew. Liu Xun Ran gazed intently at the carriage as it disappeared from view before slowly coming back to his senses.
A moment later, the door was knocked. "Master, the Saintess and the Young Master have arrived."
As the door opened, Lu Qing Wan and Si Feng Wu entered hand in hand, with no one else accompanying them.
Their eyes met. Liu Xun Ran calmly toyed with his teacup. "You've come. Sit."
The two sat down peacefully. Lu Qing Wan got straight to the point. "I believe Madam Zi Yi and Wen Ji Ting have already reported my purpose for coming here to you, haven't they?"
Liu Xun Ran gave no definitive answer, but his eyes held an undeniable sadness. "Must we part ways?"