"The outside world is abuzz with rumors that you intend to make Chu Yun Shan the Consort of Prince Chen and Chen Ruo Yu the Consort of Prince Jing? Did I mishear you? Is this not your intention?"
Instead of answering, Lu Qing Wan asked, "Your Majesty, what do you think of these two women I've chosen?"
Emperor Jing You, however, evaded the question. "I merely thought you had some minor cleverness that caught Xi Wu's eye. Now it seems I underestimated you. So young, yet so adept at the art of power and strategy. Did your master from the Samsara Hall teach you this?"
Emperor Jing You seemed convinced of a close connection between himself and the Samsara Hall. Lu Qing Wan believed that if she were to attribute everything to the Samsara Hall at this moment, Emperor Jing You would say nothing. However, she chose a more circuitous response. "Why does Your Majesty not believe it is fate, a predestined arrangement? My husband is destined to be no ordinary man. If I were merely a woman who sat in her chambers burning incense, playing the zither, and sighing over the changing seasons, how could my lord be free of worries? And how could Your Majesty sit aside and watch the show?"
"You are certainly not being modest!" Emperor Jing You chuckled with exasperation, "Knowing that Prince Chen is Grand Tutor Chen's most devoted disciple, and Duke Pei is a staunch supporter of Prince Jing. You've offended them all at once. Aren't you afraid they will resent you, and once they gain power, they will bully you and Xi Wu?"
Lu Qing Wan looked at Emperor Jing You with a bewildered gaze. "Is Your Majesty serious?"
Emperor Jing You's face darkened. "What do you mean?"
Lu Qing Wan, fearless, replied, "As the saying goes, a soldier who doesn't want to be a general isn't a good soldier. Being part of the imperial family, it's only natural for the two princes to aspire to the throne. But with Your Majesty still alive, they openly display their ambitions for all to see. Even the daughters of officials know which families support Prince Jing and which support Prince Chen. Is this not akin to forming factions? If they can still hold onto their supporters after my clumsy 'attack,' that is their capability. If they are driven to disarray by my little trick, then they deserve it. As for bullying me and my lord, if they have the ability to bully my lord, shouldn't Your Majesty be pleased?"
It was like Feng Qing Heng, who always glared at Feng Xi Wu, but each time, he was the one who found fault and ended up embarrassed. If Feng Qing Heng could truly corner Feng Xi Wu one day, Emperor Jing You would be able to descend to the netherworld with a smile.
Having finished speaking, Lu Qing Wan changed the subject. "Of course, if Your Majesty wishes for Prince Chen to marry Chen Ruo Yu, and Prince Jing to marry Chu Yun Shan, or if Your Majesty has other ladies in mind for the two princes as consorts, then that is your profound love for your sons, and I can understand. In the end, Da Qian still belongs to Your Majesty, and everything is decided by Your Majesty. I will respectfully obey Your Majesty's decree."
After speaking, Lu Qing Wan very earnestly performed a deep curtsey to Emperor Jing You. Emperor Jing You, however, was amused and exasperated. "You've said all the sweet and sour words. In the end, you still want me to choose the consorts for them? So, you've calculated that if the choice of consorts comes from my mouth, whoever they resent will not be you, right?"
Lu Qing Wan lowered her head timidly. "I dare not!"
"You dare not, I see you dare quite a lot!" Emperor Jing You lightly tapped Lu Qing Wan's forehead with his finger. "I will not grant your wish. Chen Ruo Yu, the legitimate granddaughter of Grand Tutor Chen, will be Consort of Prince Chen. Chu Yun Shan, the eldest legitimate granddaughter of Duke Pei, will be Consort of Prince Jing. Decree this immediately and announce it tomorrow."
Lu Qing Wan knelt respectfully. "This consort obeys the decree!"
After all the commotion, it was already dark. Returning to Xi Wu Palace, she was so tired she didn't even want to move her fingers. Yue'er felt heartbroken but also perplexed. "Everyone says our Emperor is a wise ruler of his era, yet why does the Consort always look so weary after meeting him? Is the Consort very afraid of His Majesty?"
"Even a wise ruler of his era is still an emperor. He is the only one in the world who can decide life and death with a single word. If I were not afraid of him, then there would truly be a problem." Lu Qing Wan sprawled lazily on the chaise lounge, like a salted fish that had lost its dreams. Yue'er used a cotton cloth to wipe her face and hands, and massage her limbs. Li Su entered with light footsteps.
"Consort, we just received news. Someone is spreading rumors about Princess An Yang in Buye Continent. Fan She and other teahouses and taverns in Shangjing have all received the information. It seems the news is being disseminated from different places at the same time. Our men who were monitoring Madam Hua reported that after Madam Hua returned from the prince's mansion, she invited several ladies for tea, and the Duchess of Duke Pei was among them."
Lu Qing Wan sprang up like a carp. "That old hag! She couldn't resist causing trouble, after all!"
Li Su reached out to steady her but did not leave. Lu Qing Wan raised her eyebrows and looked at her. "Is there something else?"
"That day, someone tried to frame Bai Xing Lin. Our subordinates investigated those who were stirring up trouble and discovered that their leader entered Prince Jing's mansion." Li Su's expression was a little complicated, and she discreetly glanced at Lu Qing Wan. The latter mused, "Prince Jing again?"
Li Su seemed to have been waiting for her to say this. Hearing her words, she quickly replied, "Consort also finds this strange, right? Madam Hua inviting several ladies for tea – that was clearly a case of 'the real intention is not in the tea.' It was clearly to pass information to the Duchess of Duke Pei. And the people who caused trouble at Bai Xing Lin initially aimed to destroy your reputation as a divine doctor. If your reputation as a divine doctor is gone, then the diagnosis that Prince Jing has no heirs would be invalid. They want to ruin you, Consort. Threatening you and if their demands aren't met, they will ruin you. Madam Hua is too malicious!"
Li Su was protective and spoke with indignation, as if she wished to rush out and kill Madam Hua. Lu Qing Wan, however, simply smiled and remained silent. "They are all members of the imperial family. Prince Jing has his birth mother and maternal grandfather to guide him. Is he really so foolish?"
Li Su blinked. "Consort means..."
"Keep a close eye on Feng Qing Heng. From the Ning King's rebellion to now, Prince Jing's plan to seize the throne has been full of flaws, yet he has always remained aloof. This is absolutely abnormal."
Li Su responded obediently. "Your subordinate understands. Consort, regarding the rumors about Princess An Yang, should your subordinate have Li Jin try to suppress them?"
"News spreading simultaneously in all the teahouses and taverns of Shangjing – how can it be suppressed?" Lu Qing Wan had been worried about Madam Hua causing trouble, but now that it had happened, she was calm. "It's better to guide than to obstruct. She doesn't get to decide this matter. As long as my father and the Xiliang people believe Princess An Yang is real, and His Majesty is willing to believe us, no one can say anything."
As she spoke, she beckoned Li Su closer. Li Su leaned in, and Lu Qing Wan whispered a series of instructions. Li Su listened with a look of disbelief. "Consort, can this work? Princess Fei Feng is, after all, from Xiliang. Can she really help us like this..."
"She is from Xiliang, but she wishes more than anyone that Xiao Jing An does not have an easy life." Lu Qing Wan said calmly, "Just do as I've instructed. If Xie Shi Luan is unwilling, I will make other plans."
As the mistress had made her decision, even if Li Su felt it was unreliable, she could only obey the order.