Li Qing said without hesitation, kneeling directly, "Your subordinate has failed in his duty. I have indeed never heard such news before.
I beg Your Highness to give me a chance to thoroughly investigate this matter. After it is concluded, I will go to the Dark Hall to receive my punishment."
Si Fengwu waved his hand, acknowledging Li Qing's request.
Lu Qingwan did not intercede for Li Qing. Regardless of the reason, as Si Fengwu's intelligence officer, missing such crucial information was indeed a dereliction of duty.
She even directly summoned Duan Yue.
Without Lu Qingwan needing to ask, Duan Yue proactively said, "Your subordinate will contact Wu Ying immediately. Once the news is confirmed, Wu Ying and I will go to headquarters to be punished."
Lu Qingwan waved her hand, "Forget about going to headquarters. Your Highness and I have just returned to the new capital. Let's not waste anyone's time.
Immediately lead people to establish a branch here in the new capital. The Dark Hall of the branch will be your trial run."
Duan Yue's small body stiffened. She dared not say another word and turned to retreat.
Nan Xiang and the others acted as if they hadn't seen this scene and spoke on their own, "Your Highness, the other party is amplifying this matter while deliberately cutting off your intelligence channels. This shows they intend to make a big deal out of it.
With the coronation ceremony approaching, Your Highness, do you think this matter needs to be prioritized?
At the very least, we need to make the common people believe that the new dynasty is truly new, unrelated to the Great Qin, and will not become a slave market for Great Qin, right?"
Si Fengwu nodded, "We need to make all the people of the realm realize this. However, there is no other way but to rescue the person.
I will contact the Great Qin side and strive to rescue the person before the coronation ceremony. However, the few of you need not interfere in this matter. Just pretend that Your Highness and the Princess Consort know nothing about it."
This was a classic case of "clearing the path in the open and attacking in the dark," which Nan Xiang and the others could understand.
Elder Wen understood tacitly, "If that is the case, then shall we find an excuse for the Imperial Observatory to postpone the coronation ceremony?"
"There's no need to find a special excuse."
Lu Qingwan chimed in, relaxed and cheerful, "According to common thinking, Your Highness should have been crowned half a year ago. Since no excuse was needed then, there's even less need for one now, half a year later.
Just let them drag it out. The excuses will be found for us by those people themselves."
Elder Chi chuckled upon hearing this, "That's true. We really don't need to trouble ourselves too much with such matters.
However, regarding the mastermind behind the interception of intelligence, should Your Highness and the Princess Consort pay some attention?"
Si Fengwu and Lu Qingwan's intelligence channels were not something ordinary people could intercept. The incident had been ongoing for quite some time, yet they had received no news at all.
This indicated that the mastermind was truly not simple.
Lu Qingwan nodded, "You gentlemen can rest assured about this. We must properly entertain those who have caused Your Highness and me to suffer a loss."
...
With the serious matters mostly handled, the elderly ministers exchanged glances, but no one left.
Lu Qingwan found it amusing, "What is it? Do the esteemed ministers have other matters?"
After a moment of mutual glances, Elder Chi was the first to speak, "I am ashamed to say, personal family matters should not trouble Your Highness and the Princess Consort, but... Yao Yao has been away from home for months with no news.
My wife is worried and has asked me to inquire with Your Highness and the Princess Consort..."
Lu Qingwan smiled upon hearing this, "Oh, that's what it is. Yao Yao is very well. She is now a minor general in the Xuan Jia Army.
If Elder Chi and his wife wish to see her, why don't I call her back during the coronation ceremony and have her serve in the Shen Ce Camp or the Imperial Guard?
This will not hinder her future prospects and will also allow her to serve by your and the old madam's side with Chi Jing Chuan. What do you think, Elder Chi?"
Elder Chi was clearly tempted, but just as the word of agreement was about to slip from his lips, he retracted it.
"Perhaps not."
Elder Chi's smile was tinged with bitterness, "It's rare for her to have such ambition, and Your Highness and the Princess Consort are willing to give her this opportunity. We shouldn't hold her back.
As long as she is well, it is better than anything."
A perfectly good family, torn apart by a group of rats lurking in the sewers.
Those who knew the inside story felt a pang of sadness.
Elder Wen, seeing this, proactively broke the silent atmosphere, "I heard that the Princess Consort has a method to temporarily block a person's memory for a period of time. Is this true?"
The experiences of several old ministers were more or less related to her and Si Fengwu. Hearing this, Lu Qingwan understood the implication and asked, "Is Princess Ruge not feeling well?"
Elder Wen neither confirmed nor denied, merely sighed wistfully.
Lu Qingwan then said, "Regarding Princess Ruge's matter, it is ultimately due to our insufficient protection, Your Highness and I. Would Elder Wen be willing to entrust Princess Ruge to me for a period of time?
If Elder Wen is at ease, I will do my utmost to return your lively granddaughter to you."
Elder Wen became extremely agitated upon hearing this, "Does the Princess Consort truly have a way?"
Wen Ruge, a young lady from a noble family, was forced into a brothel. No one knew what she had endured during those few days. Elder Wen was both heartbroken and helpless.
If it were not for the absolute lack of alternatives, he would never have approached Lu Qingwan.
After all, Lu Qingwan's current status was equivalent to that of the ruler of the harem. Who would willingly seek help from the current Empress?
It was merely a last resort. To his surprise, Lu Qingwan not only had a method but was also willing to help. This made Elder Wen extremely excited.
However, Elder Wen quickly became dispirited again, "But since the incident, Ruge has been confined to her room and refuses to even step outside..."
Wen Tan and his wife were far away in the southern territory. There was only he and the old madam in the mansion, and they were truly at a loss for what to do with Wen Ruge.
Lu Qingwan was completely unfazed, "It's alright. Isn't your eightieth birthday coming up in a few days?
Governor Wen and the others will only arrive on the day of the birthday. It's perfectly normal for me, someone who loves to help, to visit the mansion and assist the old madam in preparing for the banquet, isn't it?"
There are no secrets under the sun. While the matter of Wen Ruge was not widely known, it was no longer an absolute secret.
Lu Qingwan's status was different now, and her reputation as a divine physician was widespread. If she were to visit the mansion rashly, the idle ladies and young ladies in the court would undoubtedly become suspicious.
Once rumors began to spread, it would undoubtedly be a devastating blow to Wen Ruge, who was already emotionally fragile.
However, if Lu Qingwan were to visit the Prime Minister's mansion under the guise of helping the old madam prepare for her birthday banquet, it would be a legitimate reason.
As for what she did in the Prime Minister's mansion, as long as she wished, she could certainly keep it hidden.
Elder Wen was immediately relieved, "In that case, I will instruct my wife to await the Princess Consort's arrival at home."
Lu Qingwan's lips curved slightly, "It's a small matter!"
Then, her attention turned to Nan Xiang, who had hesitated to speak several times. "Prime Minister Nan, if you have something to say, please say it. You have always been forthright, why are you learning the hesitant demeanor of the censors today?"