Li Yang also sighed that the Chi family had suffered too much in their lives.
He silently followed behind Lu Qingwan and Si Fengwu, not saying another word.
It wasn't until the prime minister's mansion gates opened that Si Fengwu dismounted. "Li Yang and Li Su will stand guard. The rest of you can go about your business. The King and Princess Consort will enter the palace ourselves later."
The followers behind them withdrew as instructed. Wen Rusong, however, spoke nervously, "Your Highness, withdrawing all the guards doesn't seem entirely appropriate, does it?"
With Si Fengwu's current status, only a legitimate claim to the throne was missing. Countless people were eyeing him daily. If anything were to happen at the prime minister's mansion, the entire Wen family would be in deep trouble.
Lu Qingwan chuckled at his words, "Young Master Wen, are you perhaps mistaking us for those Crown Prince and Princess Consort candidates who obediently study governance and scriptures in the East Palace, poised to naturally inherit the throne?"
Her words were subtle, and Wen Rusong didn't grasp them immediately.
Li Yang then chimed in with a smile, "Young Master Wen might not know, but when His Highness and the Princess Consort bring their followers, they never expect them to protect them. They're merely for convenience. If a real situation arises, it's hard to say who will be protecting whom—the brothers protecting His Highness and the Princess Consort, or His Highness and the Princess Consort protecting the brothers."
Wen Rusong froze for a moment, then a look of understanding dawned on his face. "So that's how it is. This subordinate has learned his lesson."
In fact, as the eldest grandson of the prime minister's household, Wen Rusong had been personally tutored by Prime Minister Wen since childhood and had accompanied his father, Wen Tan, in defending the southern border. How could he be unaware of Si Fengwu's strength as the former Great Qian God of War? He was merely accustomed to seeing noble sons who, despite possessing the ability to protect themselves, clung to their status and insisted on waiting for their attendants to risk their lives to shield them. He had never imagined that people as esteemed as Si Fengwu and Lu Qingwan would forgo their attendants and act themselves.
Li Yang's tone, a mixture of smugness and pride, made him realize that his grandfather, who always preached loyalty and that a loyal subject serves only one master, had chosen to wait for Si Fengwu's return after Emperor Jingyou's demise, disregarding Feng Qingheng's legitimate claim to the throne, for good reason.
Before he could ponder further, the group arrived at the prime minister's main hall.
In court, Wen Rusong was the commander of the Imperial Guard defending the capital, and officials of all ranks addressed him as Commander Wen. However, back at the prime minister's mansion, he was merely the eldest grandson, placed at the very end.
While Prime Minister Wen spoke with Si Fengwu and his wife, Wen Rusong wasn't even afforded a seat; he could only stand respectfully to the side and attend to them.
Prime Minister Wen, perhaps due to some immense shock, had aged considerably in just a few months. He now truly looked like a man in his seventies. Upon seeing Lu Qingwan and Si Fengwu, his eyes welled up with tears of emotion. "Your Highness, Princess Consort, you have finally returned!"
The increasingly gaunt old man stepped forward unsteadily, so overcome with emotion that he could barely stand, yet he still insisted on bowing to them.
Si Fengwu quickly stepped forward. "Prime Minister Wen, please dispense with the formalities. Let us sit and talk."
Prime Minister Wen, aware of his physical condition, did not stand on ceremony. He merely chided himself with a wry smile, "Your Highness, Princess Consort, you must find it amusing. This old man has truly grown old."
"Prime Minister Wen, please do not speak such disheartening words. My husband and I are waiting for you to witness the founding of a new dynasty and to be one of its founding pillars!" Lu Qingwan assured him confidently, "With me here, you will certainly live to a hundred."
Prime Minister Wen chuckled and shook his head. "In that case, this old life of mine is entrusted to the Princess Consort."
Having said that, the Prime Minister's expression turned serious. "Your Highness, Princess Consort, the situation is urgent. I had no choice but to have Rusong escort you here through the streets. Please forgive any impropriety."
Getting down to business, Lu Qingwan and Si Fengwu ceased their pleasantries. They said directly, "Prime Minister Wen, there is no need for such politeness. We both know that you would not have acted this way unless circumstances forced you to. Let's discuss the matter directly. What has happened to make Prime Minister Wen so anxious?"
Prime Minister Wen sighed deeply. "It was quite unexpected. These Qin people have made the capital city chaotic, and they intend to disintegrate the imperial court before Your Highness's return. Due to their special identities, it is inconvenient for us to act rashly against them, so we had Tang Xiao keep a close watch. Who knew he would actually apprehend a peculiar individual? This is the confession Tang Xiao extracted from that person. Your Highness and Princess Consort, please review it first."
The couple took the confession, written in delicate calligraphy on seven or eight sheets of paper. As they leaned their heads together to read, they were utterly astonished.
"Father and Mother King are returning? Is that true?" Si Fengwu could hardly believe that his parents, whom he had never met, would have a chance to return.
Lu Qingwan, however, experienced a physical discomfort at the news of her own parents' impending return. "Why is it that whenever they return, we have to deal with so many endless troubles?"
The confession was long, and its impact was profound. Crucially, Lu Qingwan and Si Fengwu once again saw the list that Lan Ting Shuang had shown them in the Qin King's mansion. According to the confession, most of the people who had died prematurely were actually still alive but unable to return for various reasons. However, they now seemed to have found a way back. Although the return date was uncertain, at least the method of return was known. And the apprehended person was a vanguard sent by someone of considerable status among these individuals.
Lu Qingwan reread the confession repeatedly and then tilted her head to ask Prime Minister Wen, "Is this all the confession obtained? Did Tang Xiao use any truth serum when interrogating the person?"
Prime Minister Wen shook his head. "That person repeatedly emphasized his close relationship with Your Highness's and the Princess Consort's birth parents. The matter was of great importance, so Tang Xiao dared not use truth serum rashly for fear of causing trouble for Your Highness and the Princess Consort. He was also concerned about the news leaking, so he dared not seek instructions from Your Highness and the Princess Consort through conventional channels. Thus, even the interrogation was conducted personally in the Imperial Prison. Tang Xiao used every method available, yet only managed to obtain this much."
Lu Qingwan scoffed, "Without torture or truth serum, and you obtained so much intelligence? How does it feel like this confession was deliberately told to us?"
Si Fengwu raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps the Princess Consort could painstakingly interrogate them again?"
Lu Qingwan nodded readily. "Alright, I'll interrogate this person. You go attend to your business. I'll find you in the palace later."
"Then let's go." Lu Qingwan stood up and bowed respectfully to Prime Minister Wen. "My husband and I have caused Prime Minister Wen so much trouble with our personal matters. We are truly sorry! Once this is handled, I will personally come to your residence to regulate the health of you and the Old Madam, guaranteeing you both thirty more vibrant years!"
Prime Minister Wen chuckled, "Then this old man and his wife will await the Princess Consort's visit. As this matter is urgent, when the Princess Consort visits next time, I shall prepare a sumptuous feast and entertain you with due ceremony."
...
After exchanging a multitude of promises, both parties parted ways with pleasantries.