Feng Xiwu knew about the Love-Sickness Gu, which saved Lu Qingwan a lot of trouble.
She preemptively shut down their questions before the master and servant could even ask.
"Don't you dare ask me where the Love-Sickness Gu came from. If I knew, I wouldn't have been afflicted."
But even so, what was meant to happen still happened.
"Since the Love-Sickness Gu is so terrifying, how did you discover you were infected, and how did the sub-gu end up in your stepmother's body?"
As expected of the Great Qian's God of War, he posed two life-threatening questions in one go.
Lu Qingwan's perfect expression almost shattered. "I have to thank Your Highness for the Love-Sickness Gu being curable. Doesn't the most basic requirement of the Love-Sickness Gu is loyalty? That day, when I was with you, you know... cough...
Then, the sub-gu started acting up. Coincidence, pure coincidence!"
The imperial court had always treated witchcraft and curses with extreme caution. Feng Xiwu's understanding of such matters was entirely thanks to Emperor Jingyou's trust in him.
The emperor did not restrict what books he could read or whom he could associate with, preventing him from being completely ignorant.
However, the awkwardness was real!
Forcing himself to ignore the awkward atmosphere, Feng Xiwu calmed himself and said, "Then how did the sub-gu end up in Madam Lan's body?"
"They, mother and daughter, coveted the position of Crown Princess and used me as a stepping stone."
If I hadn't escaped in time that day, can you imagine what I would have gone through?"
Feng Xiwu was speechless.
He recalled how his subordinates reported that ruffians from Shangjing were loitering around Xiangguo Temple after they returned from there.
If Lu Qingwan had not mistakenly taken herself as an antidote, she would not only have been defiled by the people Madam Lan had arranged, but she would have appeared dishevelled in the busy streets of Shangjing.
Immediately after, the news of her lost virginity would have spread throughout Shangjing. At that time, let alone the position of Crown Princess, Lu Qingwan would probably not have been able to keep her life.
In an instant, he wanted to kill Madam Lan and her daughter even more than Lu Qingwan did.
However, in the end, he only said, "This move, killing two birds with one stone, was well executed."
Lu Qingwan was slightly surprised. "You don't think I'm heartless and cruel?"
"It's just self-preservation. I'm very glad that my future Crown Princess is not a weak and easily bullied pushover."
What he didn't say was that if Lu Qingwan hadn't retaliated against Madam Lan and her daughter, he probably would have, for the first time, used the methods for punishing traitors of the Xuanjia Army on two women.
Crash...
The sound of a shattered cup interrupted their conversation.
Yue'er rushed over, "Miss, please go and see. Aunt Lan... I don't know how to tell you, but she's too shameless!"
Lu Qingwan hurried over upon hearing the news. She saw Madam Lan's clothes were soaked, clinging to her body and revealing her shapely figure.
Feng Qingheng stood there with an embarrassed expression, unsure whether to move or not.
The faces of Prime Minister Wen and his wife, and King Nan and his wife, could no longer be described as merely displeased.
Lu Qingwan quickly removed the silk scarf from her shoulder to cover Madam Lan's wet patches and said sternly, "Someone, send Aunt Lan back to Lan Yuan.
Crown Prince, although the Zhaolie Marquisate is temporarily without a master, it does not give you the right to be presumptuous. Yue'er, see the guest out!"
Feng Qingheng's face immediately turned extremely ugly. Yet, Madam Lan, with excessive coquettishness, shielded him and said, "Qingwan, how can you speak to His Highness the Crown Prince like that?
Although His Highness the Crown Prince previously broke off your engagement, he specifically came today to propose to your sister, which is giving face to the Zhaolie Marquisate!
My child, how can you be so ungracious?"
This was as green as tea could get.
Lu Qingwan almost couldn't resist slapping her. "Steward Zhou, don't you understand what I'm saying?"
Steward Zhou certainly wouldn't listen to her. For years, he had relied on Madam Lan to bully the original owner and had forgotten what occasion it was today.
Upon hearing this, he immediately said, "Eldest Miss, Madam Er is your elder after all, and she is entertaining guests on behalf of the Marquis today. Your words are too disrespectful to Madam Er!"
"I think Qingwan's words are perfectly fine."
Old Madam Wen had long been displeased with Madam Lan secretly sending flirtatious glances at Feng Qingheng. However, she had refrained from acting out because they were at someone else's residence.
Now, seeing that a mere steward dared to bully Lu Qingwan, her protective nature could no longer be concealed.
"A concubine is just a concubine and cannot ascend to the grand hall. What Madam Er? When did a concubine become a Madam?
I would like to ask the Censorate, whose rule is this?"
If Prime Minister Wen was the head of all officials, then Old Madam Wen was naturally the head of all female officials in the court.
No matter how bold Madam Lan was, she dared not instigate this elder. She immediately trembled, and tears flowed before she could even speak.
Seeing this, Lu Qingwan gestured for Yue'er to drag her away.
This time, Madam Lan's maid realized the gravity of the situation and no longer dared to delay, cooperating with Yue'er to drag her away. Even from a distance, Madam Lan's coquettish cries of "His Highness the Crown Prince" could be heard, making one's legs go weak.
Prime Minister Wen and King Nan, however, had grim expressions. They patiently bid farewell to Lu Qingwan and the others and left immediately, their sleeves flicking.
Feng Qingheng's finger almost poked Lu Qingwan's eye socket. "It was you, wasn't it? You deliberately framed me!"
After finally receiving his father's permission to lift the ban, if Prime Minister Wen and King Nan said anything to the Emperor now, his father would be angry with him again.
Crucially, Feng Qingheng had a premonition that after today, he might never be able to get the support of Prime Minister Wen and King Nan again.
Lu Qingwan feigned innocence. "What are you talking about? I don't quite understand."
The engagement was broken. She couldn't even be bothered to call him "Your Highness" anymore.
"Lu Qingwan, you'd better not play any tricks. The tactic of playing hard to get won't work on me!"
Feng Qingheng still refused to believe that Lu Qingwan had no feelings for him at all.
Reflecting on her previous actions, he decisively attributed them to playing hard to get.
Lu Qingwan was almost amused to the point of anger. "Your Highness the Crown Prince, overthinking is an illness. It needs treatment.
Also, I will soon be your Imperial Aunt. I don't mind if you call me Imperial Aunt in advance, my grand-nephew!"
Feng Qingheng: ...
Feng Qingheng stomped away in a huff.
Mei Yuan.
Madam Lan was startled by the teacup thrown at her as soon as she entered the room.
She hurriedly swayed her waist and went forward, "What's wrong? Who made my Wan'er unhappy? Tell mother, and mother will teach her a lesson for you!"
"You! You are the one who made me unhappy!"
Lu Siwan, dressed in loose, soft nightclothes, with a bandage on her face and her hands also bandaged, looked like a mummy.
She cursed Madam Lan furiously, "His Highness the Crown Prince came to propose to me, and you, dressed so glamorously, were flirting with him and fawning over him. Do you want me to be embarrassed enough?
No wonder people say a concubine is just a concubine and cannot ascend to the grand hall. I shouldn't have let you entertain His Highness the Crown Prince for me!"
"Slap!"
Madam Lan slapped Lu Siwan across the face. Mother and daughter froze.