The hand holding the cup froze in mid-air. Lu Qingwan looked up and saw the very person who had questioned her and Feng Xiwu earlier on behalf of Bei Mingxue.
He wore a royal blue brocade robe embroidered with silver thread and auspicious clouds, his hair meticulously styled. He looked no different from an ordinary young master from a noble family.
However, the arrogant air about him was truly detestable.
Lu Qingwan raised an eyebrow, "With so many people in the grand hall, how is it that you, my lord, managed to spot that this consort did not drink the celebratory wine? Your eyesight is truly admirable!
However, you are so passionately defending the Prince Regent and my father, and you are so worried that this consort might neglect His Majesty, that you seem to care more about Great Gan than all the officials here!
Are you trying to take their jobs, and will you lead the Tian Xuan Sect to surrender to Great Gan?
If that were the case, let alone this cup of celebratory wine, even if I were marinated in wine, this consort would be utterly delighted!"
Some ministers and their families couldn't help but chuckle. The man, however, was furious. "The Regent Princess is indeed sharp-tongued. It's no wonder my sister and Senior Sister Yu both stumbled when dealing with you.
But some matters are not resolved by sharp tongues."
Seeing that he couldn't gain an advantage over Lu Qingwan, he turned to Emperor Jingyou, "Your Majesty, we came specifically to offer medicine to His Majesty on behalf of Senior Sister Yu.
Yet, Great Gan has imprisoned Senior Sister Yu, who is with child, and allowed the person who severely injured her to sit in a position of honor.
If Great Gan cannot provide a reasonable explanation to the Tian Xuan Sect for this matter, I fear that Tian Xuan City will close its doors to Great Gan in the future!"
The Tian Xuan Sect controlled the crucial passes connecting Great Gan to Da Qin and other nations. As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of the ministers changed.
Lu Qingwan also stared intently at Emperor Jingyou, wondering how he would decide.
Amidst the complicated gazes of the crowd, Emperor Jingyou spoke slowly, "Beauty Yu was imprisoned the day before yesterday. It was only discovered last night that she was with child.
I personally ordered that no one be allowed to see her. Young Master Bei Ming is so well-informed, his news travels fast?
Emperor Jingyou did not even ask what medicine they were offering, but instead confronted the Tian Xuan Sect.
This was something none of the Tian Xuan Sect members expected, but Bei Mingkun was also formidable. After a brief pause, he countered.
"Senior Sister Yu discovered she was with child over half a month ago, and you only found out the night before yesterday.
No wonder she was bullied while pregnant. It shows the kind of life Senior Sister Yu has been living in the palace."
Emperor Jingyou remained silent, seemingly lost in thought, not intervening. Bei Mingkun's words became more impassioned, as if he had convinced himself of his own lies.
"If Your Majesty dislikes Senior Sister Yu, you can simply notify the Grand Elder to bring her back to the Tian Xuan Sect. We can support Senior Sister Yu.
If Your Majesty does not severely punish the culprit who injured Senior Sister Yu and nearly harmed the imperial heir, and instead blames us for knowing about Senior Sister Yu's pregnancy, are you trying to protect Lu Qingwan?
Is it simply because she is the Regent Princess, whom you rely on most?"
Emperor Jingyou lowered his eyes slightly, glanced at Lu Qingwan, and asked him, "Oh, how should I punish the Regent Princess to quell the anger of the Tian Xuan Sect?"
"Of course, depose her as Regent Princess, and then cripple her hands and feet, not one, but both! Make her a military prostitute, to be slept with by thousands and ridden by tens of thousands, never to see the Regent Prince again for the rest of her life!"
Bei Mingxue shouted these words with almost hysterical fervor.
Lu Qingwan hadn't seen her at first. Only when she heard the voice did she realize she had also come.
Almost without thinking, she said, "You can still manage to attend the celebration banquet?"
Bei Mingxue's face contorted in rage, "Of course, I have to come! You wretched woman, no one has ever dared to treat me like this.
If I don't see you living a life worse than death, ruined and disgraced, I will not rest in peace!"
"This consort truly never imagined that I could possess such immense power.
If hatred could make all the sick people walk with ease and forget their pain, then this consort would gladly be hated by everyone. In that case, I alone could support the entire Great Gan!"
Lu Qingwan exaggeratedly clutched her chest in a pose of feigned fragility, "Ah, when did I become so concerned with the nation's well-being?
Indeed, after marrying the Prince Regent and becoming his consort, my mindset has changed. My perspective has broadened, hasn't it, my Prince Regent?"
Feng Xiwu stifled a laugh and nodded, "The Regent Princess has always been this kind. There is no need for her to be so modest."
The little bun caught between them, unsure if he understood the adults' conversation, simply clapped his hands and echoed foolishly, "Mother Consort is the kindest!"
The father and son's unreserved praise for Lu Qingwan was like a fatal blow to Bei Mingxue, making her blood surge, and she almost vomited blood again.
Emperor Jingyou, perhaps fearing that the matter was not yet resolved and that this family of three might anger the other party to death, spoke at the opportune moment.
"Elder Yu, since you are the Grand Elder of the Tian Xuan Sect and also the father of Beauty Yu, may I ask if the words of Young Master Bei Ming represent the stance of the Tian Xuan Sect?
If I do not severely punish the Regent Princess, will the Tian Xuan Sect completely cut off all trade routes for Great Gan to Da Qin and the surrounding countries?"
Elder Yu, Beauty Yu's father, was the only one among the Tian Xuan Sect group who, at first glance, appeared to be different from the court officials.
He wore a silver-white robe, his gray hair tied atop his head with a peach wood hairpin, and he sat there holding a whisk, resembling an old monk in meditation.
Regardless of how Bei Mingkun and his sister argued, he remained silent.
Only when Emperor Jingyou spoke did he slowly open his eyes, "Young people have hot tempers, and their words cannot be taken entirely seriously.
However, it is true that my daughter was injured in Great Gan, and it is true that the eldest miss was humiliated in Great Gan. If Your Majesty does not give the Tian Xuan Sect an explanation, I fear I will not be able to explain myself to the Sect Master and my colleagues."
Emperor Jingyou nodded, "So, Elder Yu also agrees with the punishment proposed by Bei Mingxue for the Regent Princess?"
Fortunately, Elder Yu had some sense. He stroked his beard and said, "How can a child's angry words be taken seriously?
If the dignified Regent Princess were to meet such an end, it would be too heartless of His Majesty and the Prince Regent.
However, the Regent Princess injured my young daughter first and then humiliated the eldest miss. If no further action is taken, it will be difficult for me to report back to the Sect Master.
Therefore, let the Regent Princess's glory end here."
Lu Qingwan couldn't help but laugh at his words. Every sentence targeted her, yet he maintained an air of magnanimity.
She sarcastically remarked, "According to Elder Yu, if this consort is no longer the Regent Princess, can the Tian Xuan Sect resolve its conflict with Great Gan?"
"Of course not, how could it be so simple?"
Bei Mingkun interjected anxiously, "Senior Sister Yu is carrying an imperial heir and was almost killed by you. To simply dismiss it like this, do you really think the Tian Xuan Sect has no one?"
Lu Qingwan pressed further, "Then how do you expect us to compensate Beauty Yu?"
As soon as Lu Qingwan finished speaking, a relatively young middle-aged man beside Bei Mingkun attempted to stop him.