"His Majesty was on a private visit incognito. Officials from all over wanted to bribe court officials to find out His Majesty's itinerary so they could prepare in advance and deceive him.
When His Majesty passed through Jihua, he saw Consort Ye on the road. Your Highness and Your Highness Consort, you know Consort Ye is a beauty. His Majesty merely complimented her on her looks.
That Prefect of Jihua, in order to flatter His Majesty, colluded with the Prefect of Cangwu and several officials accompanying His Majesty incognito. They forcibly took Consort Ye, who was meant as a gift for His Majesty."
"Knowing that His Majesty was upright and would not accept a daughter of an official, they fabricated a pitiable backstory to make His Majesty willingly accept Consort Ye.
This is why His Majesty believed the fabricated backstory of Consort Ye."
A trap meticulously set for Emperor Jingyou, devoid of sharp blades, but filled with the sweet scent of romance. How could Emperor Jingyou have suspected anything?
However, "Since Consort Ye is not an orphan, who is she then?"
"Consort Ye's father was a county clerk in a small county town in Cangwu. The Prefect of Jihua had initially discussed this with Consort Ye's father, but he was unwilling to sell his daughter for glory.
As a result, Consort Ye's fiancé, that Deng Wenyuan, without needing anyone to bribe him, poisoned himself with arsenic, killing Consort Ye's parents and then drugging Consort Ye and handing her over to the Prefect of Jihua.
He received a large sum of money from those corrupt officials, went to Cangwu, and became prosperous. Later, he impersonated Xu Zhihuan and transformed himself into a court official."
As Li Yang spoke of Xu Zhihuan, his heart was filled with disdain, wishing he could kill him right now.
Lu Qingwan and Feng Xi Wu exchanged glances, seeing the shock and anger in each other's eyes.
"Compile the actions of those corrupt officials. I will report them to my brother when we return to the capital. For now, just tell me what you wish to convey by reporting this to me."
Having served for many years, Li Yang knew which matters to report to Feng Xi Wu and which not.
If it were just this, he would not have smashed the door and disturbed the rest of the two masters.
Li Yang hesitated upon hearing this, "My subordinate, along with Li Jin, previously investigated Xu Zhihuan. Since reuniting with Consort Ye three years ago, Xu Zhihuan has had continuous contact with her.
And it was three years ago that the various princes began to encounter danger to varying degrees. Your Highness also suffered from the Green Zombie Symbiotic Gu and the Ice Silkworm Poison three years ago..."
With that, there was no need to continue.
Feng Xi Wu coldly ordered, "Pass down the order. Tomorrow morning, we will return to the capital at full speed."
...
The next day, it was still dark when Lu Qingwan heard the commotion.
She got up, and Feng Xi Wu was already clean and ready, waiting by her side.
He had even changed into a narrow-sleeved, short half-length outfit suitable for action, his hair tied up with a golden crown.
Lu Qingwan, with her sleepy eyes, admired her husband's stunning beauty. She belatedly remembered that he seemed to have confessed his love to her yesterday.
So, was he her husband now, or her boyfriend?
After much thought, she shook her head, feeling neither was quite right.
They were married, so how could he still be a boyfriend?
But if he were her husband, they had only just started dating?
Lu Qingwan felt a little troubled.
Feng Xi Wu was packing their belongings nearby. Seeing Lu Qingwan get up without washing up, he watched her smile slyly and shake her head.
He walked over, pinched Lu Qingwan's slightly chubby cheeks, "What are you thinking about so early in the morning? Are you still groggy from sleep?"
Lu Qingwan bumped her head against his stomach and rubbed against him. Then she looked up and flashed a smile, "Good morning, my love!"
Her voice was soft and her smile sweet, with the lingering haziness of waking up.
With the word "love," it struck Feng Xi Wu's heart.
Feng Xi Wu's heart instantly melted, "Good morning, is this a nickname you specially came up with for me?"
"It's not a nickname."
Lu Qingwan explained seriously, "I've been thinking, our relationship is a bit complicated.
You are already my husband, but we only fell in love yesterday. Calling you husband now makes it feel like we're an old married couple with no passion.
Calling you boyfriend, however, we are already married.
After thinking about it, only the term 'lover' seems most appropriate.
Regardless of gender, regardless of ceremony, as long as we are mutually in love, we are each other's only lover.
What do you think, doesn't it feel like there's no other title in the world more fitting for us right now?"
As she spoke, she smiled brilliantly at Feng Xi Wu like a child seeking praise.
She was like a little sweet cake, making Feng Xi Wu so dazed with sweetness that he couldn't possibly disagree.
He dotingly tapped her forehead, "You're full of mischief. Fine, from now on, I will be the Princess Consort's exclusive lover, alright?"
Lu Qingwan nodded repeatedly and happily added, "I am also your lover."
"You are my beloved Consort."
Feng Xi Wu said as he picked her up, "Let's go, I need to attend to my beloved Consort's grooming!"
From the room came sounds of laughter and playful teasing. The guards who were already ready exchanged helpless glances.
One guard sighed, "Our Prince seems like a different person since marrying the Princess Consort. Every time I hear the Prince laugh, I have the urge to push open the door and see if he's really the Prince."
Li Yang immediately chimed in, "Here's your chance. Come on, go in now and tell the Prince and Princess Consort that we should depart."
The guard decisively took a few steps back, "Do you think everyone is like you, eager to get beaten?
The Prince said to return to the capital at full speed, not necessarily early in the morning. The Prince himself isn't in a hurry, so why should I be?"
Li Yang: ...
He didn't fall for the trap!
Disappointed, he returned to his post, continuing to wait for Feng Xi Wu and Lu Qingwan to emerge.
Fortunately, although those two were playful, they hadn't forgotten their main task and came out without much delay.
Seeing that his Prince was clearly in a good mood, Li Yang was glad he hadn't gone in to disturb them.
Outside the small courtyard, over twenty horses waited quietly, making not a sound.
Seeing this, Feng Xi Wu frowned, "Where is the carriage?"
"I instructed Li Yang not to prepare a carriage."
Lu Qingwan tugged at his sleeve, "Didn't we need to return to the capital at full speed? Riding horses is faster."
Her eyes sparkled as she looked at the tall horses, "These horses are so well-behaved, they must be warhorses, right?
I've never ridden a warhorse before, I want to try!"
The horses, hearing Lu Qingwan praise them, proudly raised their heads but remained quiet, making no sound.
Feng Xi Wu's eyes hesitated, "A long journey is different from riding around the capital for fun. Can you handle it?"
"Let's try first. If not, we can have someone buy a carriage."
Seeing her enthusiasm, Feng Xi Wu couldn't bear to dampen her spirits, so he nodded in agreement.
"If you get tired on the way, just say so. Don't push yourself. Although I said we need to return to the capital at full speed, it's not like we're short of time."
Lu Qingwan nodded vigorously, turned, and jumped onto the horse's back, responding playfully, "Yes, sir!"
Feng Xi Wu chuckled and mounted his horse, pulling the reins tight and galloping away.
The twenty-odd people behind him followed silently, the sound of hooves like a harmonious counter-melody, disappearing into the dust that rose behind them.