"Hearing this, Lu Qingwan was utterly despairing of Consort Wen.
'Could the poisoned coal also be Consort Wen's doing?'
Compared to an external official like Qi Ping'an, Consort Wen was, after all, a nominal elder to Emperor Jingyou and Feng Xi Wu. With the Wen family backing her, it would be too easy for her to send things into the palace.
Li Qing nodded with a stern face, 'Indeed, the poisoned coal passed through the hands of the merchant convoy managed by the Consort. Coal is not a dangerous item, and the imperial court's checks are not stringent, making it effortless to send into the palace. The eunuch who delivered the poisoned coal to Weiyang Palace has been apprehended by Tang Xiao.'
Li Qing finished speaking, but Lu Qingwan was furious. 'Is the evidence conclusive?'
Li Qing nodded gravely, 'Given that it concerns Consort Wen, I would not dare to speak without irrefutable proof.'
'Do you know when Consort Wen obtained this 'Soul-Disturbing Incense' from the Western Regions, and why she intended to use it on His Majesty?'
Li Qing clasped his fist, 'Our subordinates traced the Soul-Disturbing Incense back to a merchant convoy, and from there, we followed the trail to Consort Wen. However, given her extraordinary status, we were unable to interrogate her. Therefore, we do not yet know why she acted against His Majesty.'
Lu Qingwan acknowledged that these were objective limitations that could not be blamed on Li Qing. She had calmed down now. 'Put aside your other tasks for now. You and Li Jin should focus on investigating His Majesty's poisoning. Try to ascertain the truth before the Prince returns.'
Li Qing nodded, then hesitated before relaying his latest intelligence. 'Princess, it seems Prince Chen has realized that His Highness is no longer in Shangjing.'
Lu Qingwan's heart skipped a beat. 'Do you have any basis for that statement?'
'News from the martial world indicates that Su Bojun is offering a hefty reward for information on the Prince's whereabouts. It's said that Wu An Palace has received a kill order for the Prince. The authenticity of this kill order is yet to be verified, but if Su Bojun hadn't caught wind of something, he wouldn't be spending such a fortune searching for the Prince.'
The person most likely to have informed Feng Xi Wu that Su Bojun was not in Shangjing would be Feng Qing Heng. Lu Qingwan's heart sank. 'Prepare the carriage, I need to go to Bu Ye Zhou.'
She was currently Lin Sa, and Li Qing, as a guard of the Prince's manor, could not drive for her. She lowered her head, 'Your subordinate withdraws.'
Bu Ye Zhou had no curfew, making it exceptionally lively at night. However, even during the day, Bu Ye Zhou remained bustling, its vibrancy rivaling that of the night. Lu Qingwan's carriage arrived at a renowned inn in Bu Ye Zhou. As a waiter approached, Lu Qingwan casually revealed the jade pendant at her waist.
'Waiter, I'd like a private room.'
The waiter responded smartly, 'This way, sir!'
It was a standard private room, subtly scented with incense. Sitting by the window, one could hear the pleasant pipa music played by a woman on stage outside.
*Knock, knock, knock.* Three knocks on the door. Lu Qingwan called out, 'Come in.'
Wu Ying pushed the door open and then, surprised, asked, 'Mistress, why have you come so suddenly?'
Dr. Lin's disguise was already half-revealed, and the disguise as the proprietor of Bu Ye Zhou could not be compromised. Wu Ying knew how hard Lu Qingwan worked to conceal her identity. Hearing that she had appeared in Bu Ye Zhou during the day, Wu Ying had wanted to rush over immediately. However, with many people outside, she restrained herself, despite her urgency.
'Something unexpected has happened. What kind of place is Wu An Palace? Do you know?'
Wu Ying was taken aback. 'Wu An Palace? How should I put it? The 'Demon Cult' is what the Red-Clad Cult Leader calls himself. People call it a demon cult for two reasons: first, the plaque above the entrance of the cult's manor reads 'Demon Cult.' Second, the people of the cult act unpredictably, neither righteous nor evil, so people are accustomed to calling it the Demon Cult.'
Wu Ying chose her words with some difficulty. 'But if you were to truly define what a 'demon cult' is, Wu An Palace would undoubtedly fit the bill. As long as the money is sufficient, there is no act of murder or theft that Wu An Palace would refuse. Moreover, the methods employed by Wu An Palace are extremely cruel, bordering on torture. Although I haven't witnessed it myself, it is said that few who have been killed by Wu An Palace have been left whole. Some have even been driven mad upon seeing the bodies left behind by Wu An Palace.'
Lu Qingwan's expression grew colder. 'In other words, if someone hires Wu An Palace to kill, they will basically not refuse, correct?'
Although she didn't know who Wu An Palace was hired to kill, seeing Lu Qingwan's grim expression, Wu Ying weakly nodded.
What Lu Qingwan said next, however, terrified her. 'If our people were to protect the person Wu An Palace intends to kill, would we have a chance of winning?'
'There... might be?' Wu Ying swallowed. 'If we were to stake the entire fortune of Bu Ye Zhou.'
The faint hope that had begun to form within Lu Qingwan deflated like a pricked balloon. Her resentful gaze made Wu Ying extremely uneasy. 'Well, there's something the Red-Clad Cult Leader forbade me from telling you. But if you need help from experts, perhaps I might have a way.'
Lu Qingwan looked at her with no trace of trust remaining. 'A way that requires us to stake our entire fortune?'
Wu Ying gave a dry chuckle. 'Don't be like that, Mistress. I'm not joking this time. If you're willing, I really have a way.'
Lu Qingwan's fierce gaze looked as if she might devour Wu Ying. 'Stop rambling and speak.'
'Uh...' Wu Ying nervously edged towards the door, saying, 'Why don't you hang the jade pendant the Red-Clad Cult Leader left you on your waist and take a stroll outside?'
Lu Qingwan's small face stiffened. Thinking of the ten million shi of grain Xue Hongyi sent to Saibei, and then thinking of Feng Xi Wu, she slowly stood up. 'Continue with the acquisition of grain. As much as funds allow, buy as much grain and medicinal materials as you can.'
Wu Ying silently acknowledged, bowing as she saw Lu Qingwan leave. As Lu Qingwan walked out, she fastened a delicate phoenix jade pendant to her waist. Fearing that the intended recipient might not see it, she did not take a carriage but walked out of Bu Ye Zhou on foot before finally getting into a carriage.
Upon returning to the manor, the expected tail was nowhere to be seen. As she alighted from the carriage, a gray shadow quietly appeared beside it. Ying Yi instinctively reached for his sword, but the figure spoke softly, 'Your subordinate greets the Saintess.'
'Someone from Reincarnation Hall?' Lu Qingwan raised an eyebrow. 'Did Xue Hongyi arrange this, or Liu Xunran?'
The person's voice was chillingly devoid of emotion, like a machine without feelings. 'Your subordinate belongs to Reincarnation Hall, but ever since we learned of the Saintess's existence, the Purple-Clothed Protector expelled us from Reincarnation Hall. Now, your subordinate is one of yours.'
Lu Qingwan was extremely surprised. 'Uncle-Master Purple-Clothed expelled you from Reincarnation Hall? Why?'
The person looked at Lu Qingwan with a confused expression but finally spoke. 'Senior Sister Purple-Clothed said that only if your subordinates are not of the Saint Hall would you allow us to help you when needed.'"