It had been nearly half a year since Lu Qingwan and Si Fengwu had left Shangjing.
They were not far from Xindu now. Li Jin Na, to amuse them, would often tell stories and anecdotes he had gathered about Si Fengwu and Lu Qingwan.
After he finished, he asked, "Your Highness, Your Consort, Prime Minister Nan has sent another letter, urging us to inquire when we will arrive at Xindu.
Next month, on the twenty-seventh, is Elder Wen's eightieth birthday. The Wen family intends to hold a grand celebration for him, and Elder Wen has also sent you both an invitation, personally penned by him!"
More than half a year had passed, and everyone had become accustomed to referring to the King of Nan as Prime Minister Nan. The former Prime Minister Wen and Grand Scholar Chi were now respectfully called Elder Wen and Lord Chi.
The speakers said it so naturally that the listeners no longer found it awkward.
At that moment, Lu Qingwan was playing by the water on a pleasure boat.
It was early March, and the weather in Jiangnan had already warmed up. She sat on the deck of the pleasure boat, her short legs dangling, her toes just brushing the surface of the water.
Upon hearing Li Jin Na's words, she looked up in surprise, her gaze meeting the figure that appeared before her. "Elder Wen is eighty already?"
"What did you think?"
Si Fengwu bent down and scooped her up as if she were a potted plant. "I told you the weather has been cold these past few days. Why are you playing in the water like a child, not listening to advice?"
Lu Qingwan, caught off guard, was lifted away. Her hands, reluctant to let go, clutched at the railing of the pleasure boat, but missed. Childishly, she swung her fists at the empty air.
"In my impression, Elder Wen has always been full of vigor. How can he be eighty already? At this age, I'm almost embarrassed to assign him any more work."
Lu Qingwan chuckled. "Then Your Consort will be truly disappointed. Not only Elder Wen, but Lord Chi will also be turning eighty soon. The people you can order around are getting fewer and fewer!"
Lu Qingwan shot him a cool glance, then looked at Si Fengwu, who had placed her on the couch and was turning to leave. "What's going on with you? Are we really going back?"
When they were out and about, the two of them did whatever felt most comfortable.
Although Si Fengwu's upbringing prevented him from being too unkempt, his daily attire was loose and comfortable.
Now, he had suddenly donned the exclusive dark robe of Si Fengwu, presenting an air of a king returning to his domain. Lu Qingwan felt a surge of panic.
After half a year of indolence, the prospect of suddenly becoming a proper consort again made her feel unaccustomed.
"Since you and I left Shangjing, everyone has been speculating about when we would arrive in Xindu.
Elder Wen's eightieth birthday is a milestone, and it's about time for us to return. However, I suggest you take a look at this first."
Si Fengwu held a thick stack of intelligence reports and specifically gave a few pages to Lu Qingwan.
"Just as everyone is guessing about my imminent arrival in Xindu, this matter has occurred. Tell me, isn't this rather interesting?"
Lu Qingwan took the intelligence reports with suspicion. As she read, she burst out laughing.
"The road into Xindu has encountered a landslide?"
Lu Qingwan raised an eyebrow. "There's been no earthquake, no rain these past few days, and yet it collapses out of the blue?"
Si Fengwu raised an eyebrow. "It's not just a landslide, look more closely."
Following his reminder, Lu Qingwan continued to read. What was clearly a serious report was rendered comical by him.
"What are they trying to imply? That the landslide, the lack of rain for consecutive days, and the persistent wind are all because you, the future emperor, have arrived at an inconvenient time?"
Si Fengwu smiled and nodded. "Currently, it seems they are indeed trying to accuse me of this."
Lu Qingwan scoffed. "I just want to ask, does the person who plans to attack you with these things have any common sense?
In Jincheng, landslides and persistent winds might be understandable. If they insist on blaming you, you can grudgingly accept it.
But a continuous drought? If it were truly because of you, shouldn't the people be lining up to thank you? Why would they blame you for being inauspicious?"
Jincheng enjoyed two harvests a year. Around March, it was the spring plowing season. The lack of rain at this time would greatly facilitate the farmers' work.
After they finished planting, a wave of rain would follow, saving them even the trouble of irrigation.
The common people prayed every day for no rain during this period, yet someone was planning to use this to attack Si Fengwu's claim to the throne, implying he wasn't the true emperor. Lu Qingwan was utterly speechless by these people.
"Haven't we already expelled those old loyalists of the Great Gan from the court? Where did these imbeciles with such flawed logic spring from?"
In the past half-year spent traveling, she hadn't heard anyone express dissatisfaction with Si Fengwu's ascension. Yet, now that he was returning, trouble seemed to follow.
Lu Qingwan knew that Si Fengwu's path to kingship would inevitably have such stumbling blocks. However, these particular stumbling blocks were not just unsightly; they were rather irritating.
"There are plenty of people in the three southeastern kingdoms and one contingent who don't want me to be emperor. Where do these people need to 'spring from'?
As long as I haven't ascended the throne for a single day, they will be lurking in those obscure corners!"
Si Fengwu had cultivated himself to the extreme. Such petty squabbles had no effect on him whatsoever.
Lu Qingwan thought about it and nodded. "Since that's the case, let's return and ascend the throne. Let's cut off their hopes early."
Si Fengwu raised an eyebrow and looked at her. "You're not playing anymore?"
They had been traveling for half a year. While they hadn't been idle, it was undoubtedly more relaxed than being cooped up in the court, dealing with memorials and state affairs every day.
He could see that Lu Qingwan was clearly enjoying herself and reluctant to leave. Yet now, she was proactively suggesting they return?
"I'm not playing anymore."
Lu Qingwan stretched and stood up. "After playing for half a year, I suddenly feel that the outside world is just so-so. Let's find a different place to play."
As the prospective emperor of the new dynasty, Si Fengwu had indulged her for half a year, and Lu Qingwan was already content.
She had no intention of becoming a seductive consort who made the emperor neglect his duties.
She had played enough. The ministries of the court officials had likely completed their construction of the 'clear water yamen,' and if they didn't return soon, more chaos would ensue.
While Si Fengwu couldn't fully fathom Lu Qingwan's thoughts, he understood some of them.
He nodded upon hearing her words. "Very well, then let's go back to celebrate Elder Wen's eightieth birthday. Meanwhile, let the Ministry of Rites send out the invitations. How can the enthronement ceremony of this king be without congratulations from all four directions?"
Lu Qingwan was slightly surprised. "You intend to widely invite all nations to attend your enthronement ceremony?"
"Yes."
Si Fengwu said with extreme calm, "My imperial brother must be invited. Aren't the Tujue and Southern Qi eyeing the three southeastern kingdoms and one contingent?
During my enthronement ceremony, let them see clearly if they have the ability to snatch the three southeastern kingdoms and one contingent from my grasp!"