Yue Er, a simple and honest girl, exclaimed, "Your Highness, these shoes make you look so tall!"
Zhi Qiu couldn't help but chuckle. Seeing Lu Qing Wan's expression about to fall, Man Chun quickly tried to mend it.
"Although these shoes look a bit peculiar, when you walk in them, you appear so elegant and light, as if you're about to take flight. Your Highness, are these shoes specifically designed to match this outfit?"
She picked up the headdress. "And this hat. If all of it were worn by one person, any woman wearing this outfit who appeared in public would undoubtedly have the most dignified bearing!"
Lu Qing Wan felt as though she had found a kindred spirit, nodding vigorously. "Exactly! Your Highness made the right choice in having Man Chun manage your clothes and accessories. Man Chun, hurry, dress Zhi Qiu up! This will be the signature look of my Liren Fang!"
Liren Fang was a women's goods store jointly established by Wu Ying and Li Jin. From ready-made garments to jewelry, cosmetics, and even sanitary napkins, anything a woman could possibly need could be found at Liren Fang. Every new product launch was met with great success, and Lu Qing Wan's current focus was on those aspiring socialites and noble ladies who wished to "fly onto a higher branch and become a phoenix."
She wasn't worried about the charm of the qipao not being understood, for she knew how much the status of a princess consort and a crown princess appealed to the noble ladies of prominent families. As long as she could attract three to five people to pay for the qipao, she could recoup her costs. She wasn't concerned about the money. However, having someone like Man Chun, who truly understood its charm, still brought her genuine joy.
Since Feng Xi Wu's double was not yet ready, Li Yang and the others remained cautious and stayed indoors. Man Chun's task was also not expected to be completed anytime soon. While Lu Qing Wan was idly waiting, Li Su returned. She had been traveling between the imperial palace and the Imperial Prison these past few days and was the most informed person.
The moment Lu Qing Wan saw her, her heart leaped. "How is it? Did they confess? How did His Majesty settle the factions of Prince Ning and Prince Jing?"
Li Su, barely catching her breath, was overwhelmed by the barrage of questions and stopped in her tracks. Clutching her chest and taking two deep breaths, she uttered a stunning statement, "Consort Ye has committed suicide."
"How is that possible?" Li Yang's first reaction was, "Did you use too much force and beat her to death?"
"She is His Majesty's consort. His Majesty has not stripped her of her title, so who would dare to torture her? Besides, whether she dies or not depends on us. We've already saved her, and she's lying in the Imperial Prison!"
Hadn't they been interrogating all the officials involved in the palace coup these past few days? Li Su hadn't been idle either. From the beginning, she had claimed that Duke Xu was the one who instigated her, including that Xu Zhi Huan was brought to her by Duke Xu. Even the truth of the murder of her parents was told to her by Duke Xu. However, Duke Xu's version was that His Majesty desired her beauty but did not want to be branded as a rapist, so he hinted to those around him to abduct her into the palace.
Li Su's anger grew as she spoke. "To retaliate against His Majesty and watch him be ruined and lose everything, she poisoned His Majesty and several princes with a drug that prevents childbirth. Our Prince, with his extraordinary talent and unwavering loyalty to His Majesty, naturally became her thorn in the side. But she didn't expect that neither the Qing Jiang Tóng Mìng Gǔ nor the Ice Silkworm Poison could kill the Prince. When she discovered the Prince was investigating her, she decided to strike first and tried to kill him..."
Li Su, fiercely protective of her mistress, was almost overcome with emotion. The strong-willed girl tried to hold back her tears, but the effort made her eyes roll back. Lu Qing Wan quickly handed her a cup of water. "Don't rush, speak slowly. No matter how big the matter, it can wait a moment."
Li Su boldly drained the cup, her unrestrained manner like someone challenging another to a drinking contest. "There's nothing else. In short, she insists that Duke Xu was the one who instructed her. Even when she poisoned our Prince, it was because Duke Xu had deceived her first. She was determined to drag Duke Xu down with her, showing no will to survive. Yesterday, Tang Xiao told her the truth about her parents' deaths, and she remained silent. In the middle of the night, the prison guards on patrol found her hanging from a beam. Fortunately, there's a physician in the Imperial Prison who saved her."
The few of them collectively let out a sigh of relief. Li Yang frowned and chided Li Su, "Can't you just state the outcome first when you speak? You scared me to death. I thought Consort Ye had died!"
Consort Ye was at the center of all the mysteries. If she were dead, many matters would remain unresolved. Knowing that she had been saved, Lu Qing Wan didn't dwell on past mistakes. She only asked Li Su, "You mean Tang Xiao handed her the information we found, and only then did she attempt to hang herself?"
Li Su nodded. Her subordinate was in the Imperial Prison, and the subordinate was present before and after her suicide attempt. "Less than two hours apart."
"When she tried to hang herself, was there anything with her, such as a suicide note? Or, after she was rescued, did she say anything?"
Li Yang poked his head out from between Li Jin and Li Su. "That's right. Wrongly accusing His Majesty and accidentally harming the Prince, shouldn't she feel remorse?"
Li Su's expression changed in surprise. "Oh no, I must go back and check immediately! Your Highness, I will explain to you later when I return..." Before she finished speaking, she had already rushed out.
Li Yang stood there, bewildered. "What's gotten into her?"
Li Jin sighed knowingly. "Let's hope Consort Ye won't actually die this time."
Alas, fate was not in their favor. Before Li Su could return, Tang Xiao brought news of Consort Ye's death.
"Consort Ye left a suicide note, detailing how Prince Ning instructed Duke Xu to deceive her, mislead her into poisoning His Majesty and the Prince, and also attempted to assassinate Prince Chen, almost causing the Great Qian dynasty to have no heir. She is ashamed of His Majesty and the Prince, and cannot bear to live any longer. She begs to be demoted to commoner status to atone for her sins."
Lu Qing Wan was confused. "You should report such matters to His Majesty. Why come to the Prince's mansion?"
Tang Xiao looked embarrassed. "His Majesty's health is declining. After today's events, the ministers are clamoring for His Majesty to establish an heir. His Majesty wishes for Your Highness to examine whether Prince Jing and Prince Chen still have the ability to procreate. This matter concerns the establishment of an heir, and His Majesty currently only trusts Your Highness."
It was indeed awkward for Lu Qing Wan, a woman, to examine two of her nominal juniors for such an ailment. However, Lu Qing Wan felt no awkwardness. She cut straight to the point, "Does His Majesty know that I am Lin Sa? And does His Majesty also know that the Prince has left the capital?"
Tang Xiao nodded slowly. "Regarding leaving the capital, His Highness personally sought His Majesty's permission. As for Your Highness's identity, His Majesty discovered it himself. After all, the Prince suddenly has a young divine doctor by his side, and His Highness trusts him so implicitly. His Majesty naturally had to be cautious."