Lu Qingwan actually didn't care whether Yan Lihang's past was clean or not. She only wanted to know why Yan Lihang alone would make Ye Jinchen pay such a heavy price.
He didn't hesitate to use his own life as bait to make her and Si Fengwu believe that the incident involving the Crown Prince of Chengan and his wife was related to Yan Lihang.
After much thought, she couldn't come up with a satisfactory explanation.
"I think we shouldn't jump to conclusions about this matter."
Lu Qingwan said solemnly, "I have a feeling something is not right here. Let's observe a bit longer.
Have the brothers below investigate more thoroughly. It would be a terrible loss if we fall into someone's trap."
From discovering the prime minister's men in Wanyan Mansion, to Si Fengming writing to Si Fengwu about Yan Lihang's inappropriate actions, to personally hearing these people repeatedly claim they could not defy the prime minister's orders.
At first glance, the facts were clear, the logic was sound, and nothing seemed out of place.
But it was all too smooth, making Lu Qingwan feel as if someone was whispering in her ear that Yan Lihang was not a good person.
Initially disappointed with Yan Lihang, Lu Qingwan now felt that whether Yan Lihang was good or bad was still a question mark.
Si Fengwu nodded, "We should indeed unravel the clues. I will have people investigate further."
Then he changed the subject, "What do you think of Ye Jinchen's confession?"
"It can be confirmed that the mastermind behind the repeated disturbances in Daqin and the southeastern three kingdoms is in Tujue, but I have no clue as to who it is.
However, more than that, I want to know what method the Grand Elder of Hanxiao Palace intends to use to make the world once again grateful to Hanxiao Palace, as if it were a deity?"
Si Fengwu was surprised, "You suspect that the Tujue people are causing trouble everywhere under the instigation of the Grand Elder of Hanxiao Palace?"
After speaking, he suddenly felt that although this speculation had no evidence for now, it was not impossible.
Lu Qingwan explained herself, "You and I both know the Tujue people's style of doing things. Like Beiwui, they start fighting at the slightest disagreement. Brains and schemes are luxuries for them.
But look at recent years, first the strategic resource acquisitions from Daqin and Nanqi, then cultivating Heige and casting a wide net.
Crucially, don't you think that both the Tujue and the people of Wuan Palace are too interested in you, me, and our parents?"
The interest of Wuan Palace people in them was easy to explain, they were after the True Dragon Token and the King of Ten Thousand Phoenixes in their possession.
But Tujue also found ways to trouble her and Si Fengwu, which made no sense.
If it were for their own national interests, they should have focused on opposing Si Fengming, as Tujue's greatest enemies were Nanqi and Daqin. The southeastern three kingdoms had never been a consideration for the northern states.
But in reality, they had indeed caused all sorts of trouble in the southeastern three kingdoms. This made it difficult for Lu Qingwan not to suspect that the Grand Elder of Hanxiao Palace had people behind the scenes advising the Tujue people.
Even more seriously, the Tujue people might have been manipulated by the Grand Elder of Hanxiao Palace.
"Let's not worry about that for now.
Wufeng has found the headquarters of Sansheng Tower and Hanxiao Palace. The headquarters of Sansheng Tower is in Zhongzhou, and the headquarters of Hanxiao Palace is in Yedu, Nanqi. Both are quite far. How do you plan to send the King of Ten Thousand Phoenixes and the True Dragon Token to them?"
"Send?"
Lu Qingwan's voice rose, "Their own things, why should we deliver them?
Write a royal decree and have it posted everywhere, in all the streets and alleys of the southeastern three kingdoms. I don't believe they can resist coming to get them."
Si Fengwu chuckled, "So this is what the Princess meant by 'delivering the items with great fanfare'?"
Lu Qingwan feigned anger, "Don't play word games with me. Can't you see that a royal decree posted throughout the southeastern three kingdoms would create a bigger stir than beating gongs and drums and setting off firecrackers?"
"You're right, I'll write the royal decree now."
Si Fengwu got up and, like a conjoined twin, led Lu Qingwan along.
"But since you've already thought of this method, why did you still have Wufeng and the others search for the most authoritative headquarters of Sansheng Tower and Hanxiao Palace?"
Lu Qingwan had no intention of personally delivering the King of Ten Thousand Phoenixes and the True Dragon Token. This made it seem as if Wufeng and the others had gone to great lengths, only to do something meaningless.
Si Fengwu truly couldn't figure out what his little princess was up to.
Lu Qingwan looked at her feet dangling proudly, "If I don't investigate, how will I know who to hand the items over to?
I intend to get rid of these two hot potatoes, but although they are hot, they are also golden potatoes!
Even if I can't hold them myself, I can't give them to our enemies, can I?
If a hot golden potato that is thrown away falls into the hands of the enemy and is thrown back at oneself, it's no longer just a matter of being hot, it can be life-threatening."
Si Fengwu's brush danced across the paper, and he didn't forget to glance at Lu Qingwan, his eyes brimming with joy that almost became palpable.
"The Princess is farsighted, I am convinced."
Si Fengwu was in a good mood, like a young man in love, his heart and eyes solely focused on the woman before him.
"I will now have Wufeng bring over the identity information, portraits, and stances of the leaders of each branch and important core members of Sansheng Tower and Hanxiao Palace.
Whether they come to get the items is up to them, but who to give them to is still up to us, right?"
Lu Qingwan nestled comfortably in a chair with an extra-large soft cushion, her eyes narrowed lazily as she nodded, "Naturally. Things that enter my hands, even if they are to be discarded, I decide where they go.
If anyone wants to lead me by the nose, I'll break their hands."
...
The southeastern three kingdoms quickly fell into the hands of Si Fengwu and Lu Qingwan under the crushing offensive of the Xuanjia Army. The entire southeastern three kingdoms, along with the northern states, were watching Si Fengwu and Lu Qingwan.
Especially after they returned to Shangjing, all eyes were almost glued to them.
No one expected that upon their return, they would not make drastic personnel changes, nor would they rush to ascend the throne. Instead, they posted such a royal decree, leaving everyone bewildered!
Those who were unaware had no idea what the King of Ten Thousand Phoenixes and the True Dragon Token were. Some who had seen the King of Ten Thousand Phoenixes rushed to the palace to ask Si Fengwu why he would hand over the Xuanjia Army's military token.
However, those who were truly anxious were the people of Hanxiao Palace and Sansheng Tower.
These people had lived like gods above the mortal world for years. Even if most people might not know of their existence anymore, their sense of superiority from having once saved the common people from dire straits had not disappeared.