Tempted by the new toys and his favorite foods, the little bun ate his breakfast with unusual speed.
This caused Lu Qing Wan to constantly worry about him choking, watching with bated breath.
Fortunately, the little bun was, after all, the crown prince of the manor, raised with care and discipline. No matter how fast he ate, he wouldn't lose his proper demeanor, nor would he be in the awkward situation of choking.
Lu Qing Wan smiled and took out a Rubik's Cube, demonstrating it for the little bun.
After diverting the little bun's attention, she turned her gaze to Rou Jia.
"Speaking of which, you've only been in the manor for two months, but Li Qing mentioned you have considerable talent in martial arts, and your archery has advanced by leaps and bounds. Dare you try your hand?"
Rou Jia's expression showed a hint of surprise. "This subordinate doesn't fear it, but having only practiced martial arts for two months, would a rash move delay the Princess Consort's important affairs?"
"Whether you fear it or not, you don't get to decide now. Only when your hands have been stained with blood will you know."
Lu Qing Wan set up the chessboard and beckoned Rou Jia. "Come, accompany me for a game."
Rou Jia removed her shoes and stepped onto the carpet. "If the Princess Consort dares to let me act, I don't mind trying. I'm also very curious about my own capabilities."
"That's excellent."
Lu Qing Wan instructed Li Su, "Prepare a crossbow and a sword for her. If long-range shooting is not an issue, then for close-quarters combat, it will provide a buffer."
Li Su acknowledged each instruction. Lu Qing Wan, however, spoke a startling piece of news. "The Emperor has passed away, and to ensure the succession of the throne, Prince Ning has been betrothed. Prince Ning may very well be making a comeback."
Rou Jia's hand, holding a chess piece, paused slightly, then she spoke, "Let him be. Zhen'er died, and while I hate the Duchess of Xu and that cowardly man, I've never hated Prince Ning."
Lu Qing Wan raised an eyebrow, looking at her. "Oh? And why is that?"
Rou Jia's child had died as a test for Prince Ning, so Lu Qing Wan wasn't surprised that Rou Jia harbored deep hatred for him.
Her current calmness was rather unsettling.
The chess piece in Rou Jia's hand remained unplaced for a long time. "Prince Ning is like a chess piece on this board, first used by Prince Jing, then pushed to a dead end by Prince Chen.
He probably still doesn't understand how the seemingly grand coup d'état turned into such a farce.
The sound of exquisite warm jade chess pieces striking the board was crisp. Rou Jia's voice was cold enough to chill one to the bone.
"Moreover, his royal title was only reinstated before the Emperor's death. Most people can guess the reason.
Prince Chen will surely not let him have an easy time. Even if a child is miraculously born, the possibility of 'keeping the child, discarding the father' is high.
Dogs fighting dogs, what a spectacular show!
If I were to rush into revenge now, with my own strength, I might not be able to kill Prince Ning. Even if I succeeded, where would I go to witness all these subsequent dramas?"
"Keeping the child, discarding the father—that's a good idea."
Lu Qing Wan, her expression unchanged, placed a chess piece in the optimal position. "You've reminded me.
Be it Prince Ning or Prince Chen, unless they're willing to have no descendants to save their own lives.
Otherwise, I will definitely make your hypothesis a reality."
Don't talk to her about Prince Ning not having provoked her. In a life-or-death struggle in court, if one always waited for the other side to make a move before retaliating, it would be enough for her and Feng Xi Wu to die eight hundred times.
For two consecutive days, the capital remained peaceful.
Li Su began to doubt if Lu Qing Wan had misjudged. "The Emperor has just passed away, and so many eyes in Da Gan are watching. Surely Prince Chen wouldn't be that bold?"
"Caution is the parent of safety."
Two days after Emperor Jing You's death, Lu Qing Wan had kept herself and the little bun confined in the warm pavilion.
It was already the evening of the second day. Tomorrow morning, she was expected to go to the palace as a noblewoman to mourn.
"Notify them, tell the brothers to be alert. Anyone who dares to be negligent will face military law."
After two days of inactivity, Li Su actually felt that no one would attack the manor.
However, before Feng Xi Wu left, he had entrusted Lu Qing Wan and the manor to her, so she could only follow Lu Qing Wan's instructions.
After a patrol around the grounds, another half an hour passed. Li Su entered the warm pavilion and was about to speak when a deafening roar echoed. Outside the window, flames soared, illuminating the night as bright as day.
"It's Wan Ju!"
Li Su exclaimed, "They really are targeting the Princess Consort!"
"Be quiet, open the side door, and go into the pharmacy!"
As Lu Qing Wan spoke, she picked up the little bun and ran towards the wall. She patted a spot that looked unremarkable, and the smooth wall opened like a door.
Entering with the little bun, Li Su and Rou Jia followed.
The small door quickly closed. Lu Qing Wan gently soothed the little bun. "Yuan'er, don't be afraid. Mother is here, and the bad people can't get in."
The little bun was much more mature than he usually appeared.
He heard her and said in a childish voice, "Yuan'er isn't afraid. Father said the safest place in the manor is the pharmacy.
Mother, go do what you need to do. Yuan'er will wait here for Mother to return."
"Good child."
Lu Qing Wan pinched Yuan'er's cheek and softly called out, "Su Shang."
A woman with a swaying figure squeezed in from outside the door. Her night-traveling attire, from head to toe, couldn't conceal her graceful curves.
Su Shang's charming voice asked, "What are your orders, Master?"
Lu Qing Wan pushed her towards the little bun. "Watch this child. If he gets so much as a scratch, I'll have your life!"
Su Shang looked bewilderedly at the equally bewildered little bun, then scooped him into her arms. "This subordinate obeys!"
Lu Qing Wan then stepped forward, lifting a hanging painting from the wall. Behind the massive "A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains" scroll, a series of glazed mirrors dazzled the eyes.
And in those glazed mirrors, the true scenes of various corners of the manor were displayed.
Among them, several bronze mirrors showed nothing but flames.
After observing for a moment, Lu Qing Wan calmly ordered, "Tell the brothers not to engage yet. Wait for the enemy to enter the manor, then we'll trap the dog."
A dark shadow quietly departed from the doorway. Li Su said nervously, "What about Wan Ju? The fire is quite large. If we delay further, it will spread to the main courtyard."
The pharmacy and Feng Xi Wu's study were both in the main courtyard. The main courtyard absolutely could not be compromised.
Lu Qing Wan calmly said, "Open the fire-prevention channel on the side connecting Wan Ju to the main courtyard. Take the brothers to extinguish the fire. Whether the fire is put out or not is secondary; the performance must be convincing.
Remember, you are not just extinguishing a fire, but also saving me and Yuan'er.
You go personally, and Rou Jia, return to your post. Whether you're a capable horse or a useless mule will become clear after today."
The two received their orders and left decisively. Lu Qing Wan stared at the wall of mirrors and continued to give orders.
"Later, when engaging the enemy, let our people mingle with them. Don't keep too much distance, and be wary of their 'Sky-shattering Bombs'."
"This doesn't seem like ordinary Sky-shattering Bombs."
A clear, cold voice emerged. Wu Ying walked closer. "I heard that Xiliang has a new thing called gunpowder, which is extremely destructive.
I was wondering what could be more powerful than Sky-shattering Bombs, and now I've witnessed it here."