The time it took for a single surgery saw the grand hall of Bai Xing Lin return to quiet.
Lu Qing Wan glanced around and walked directly back to her private room. "Prepare the carriage, I'm returning to the manor."
Meng Sheng followed nervously. "Shigong, this distinguished guest, are you not going to manage them?"
"The surgery is complete. You are well-versed in the subsequent treatment matters, my staying here would be in vain."
Lu Qing Wan quickly tidied her belongings while instructing Meng Sheng. "You don't need to worry about the security of Bai Xing Lin these days.
Just take good care of that distinguished guest and appease the other patients.
I will handle the other matters, you don't need to fret."
Meng Sheng obediently agreed, "Yes, Shifu."
Within Bai Xing Lin, Lu Qing Wan possessed such influence that everyone believed she could handle all matters properly.
While everyone else was swamped with work, the path from the manor gates to Wutong Courtyard was illuminated all the way.
As soon as she entered the courtyard, Yue Er rushed out. "The Princess Consort has returned. This servant just prepared supper, would you like some?"
"Quick, bring it over, I'm starving."
Lu Qing Wan sat down at the dining table. "Li Jin and Li Qing, have either of them returned?"
Li Yang, with one foot already crossing the threshold, pouted with feigned grievance. "Should I leave then?"
Lu Qing Wan shot him an annoyed look. "Do you know where they've gone?"
Her playful remark went unanswered, but Li Yang didn't feel awkward. He rubbed his nose and walked in. "Li Jin was borrowed by Prime Minister Wen to arrange the transportation of grain.
Li Qing, under the Prince's orders, is assisting Tang Xiao with the matter of the swapped grain supplies.
Duke Hua and Prince Guang Chang were reprimanded by His Majesty. Duke Hua has already sent fifty thousand taels of silver notes to the Prime Minister's manor.
Prince Guang Chang has some connections in the northern territories, and it is said he is helping Prime Minister Wen procure grain, also contributing thirty thousand taels of silver."
Li Yang shook his head and recited the intelligence Lu Qing Wan cared about most, as if reciting a text. Then he blinked, playing the good subordinate. "What else does the Princess Consort wish to know?"
He was like a child eager to perform.
Lu Qing Wan asked as he wished. "Regarding my mother's matter, who spread the news?"
"The one who spread this news to the major restaurants was a minor steward serving in the manor of the Duke of Pei's wife.
However, our subordinates discovered that the steward had a large gambling debt a while ago, and was almost beaten half to death.
And his gambling debt was repaid by the page boy attending Xie Shuang Ting, the eldest son of Minister of Works Xie Wen Zhong."
Lu Qing Wan's eyes narrowed slightly. "If I recall correctly, Xie Shuang Ting is a staunch supporter of Feng Qing Heng, isn't he?"
Lu Qing Wan was not well-acquainted with the noble young gentlemen in the capital, but Xie Shuang Ting was an exception.
For no other reason than Xie Shuang Ting was like an obsessive fan of Feng Qing Heng; wherever Feng Qing Heng appeared, Xie Shuang Ting could be found within ten feet.
This man not only constantly touted Feng Qing Heng as a talent both in civil and military arts, worthy of being the Crown Prince,
but he even dug into the lives of Feng Qing Heng's consorts and confidantes.
When Lu Qing Wan was betrothed to Feng Qing Heng, the people who reacted most strongly were not the noble ladies who admired Feng Qing Heng and coveted the position of Crown Prince Consort, but Xie Shuang Ting.
It was simply because he believed Lu Qing Wan was ugly and stupid, unworthy of the divinely talented Feng Qing Heng.
The reason Lu Qing Wan's reputation was in tatters and she was bullied everywhere, this son of the Minister of Works had indeed used considerable effort behind the scenes.
As a result, after Lu Qing Wan learned of the original owner's past experiences, she had a deep impression of Xie Shuang Ting.
Upon hearing this, Li Yang nodded without hesitation. "More than just a staunch supporter, Minister of Works Xie Wen Zhong became part of the Crown Prince faction because this son forced him to.
Xie Shuang Ting constantly praised the Crown Prince's virtues. Xie Wen Zhong wanted to remain neutral and observe the trend before acting, but his son cut off all his other options.
This time, instigating that steward from the Duke of Pei's manor to spread rumors about Princess An Yang everywhere is likely intended to trip up Prince Jing on behalf of the Crown Prince.
Who doesn't know that Duke Pei is allied with Prince Jing? However, this time, he has miscalculated.
With a great enemy at the gates, His Majesty has no intention of investigating the truth of Princess An Yang's identity. He only wants to quell the disturbance. No matter how he jumps, Prince Jing will not get any benefit from this!"
Li Yang pouted with disdain. "Cleverness in one's own eyes, always treating others as fools. He is remarkably similar to the Crown Prince in this regard."
Lu Qing Wan smiled faintly. "Do you truly believe His Majesty will simply let this matter rest, without even investigating the truth of what happened?"
Li Yang stared at Lu Qing Wan blankly for a moment. "This subordinate understands. If Tang Xiao asks, this subordinate will tell him the truth."
A genuine smile spread across Lu Qing Wan's bright eyes. "Go rest. If there's any news from the palace, or from Bai Xing Lin, come inform me."
Li Yang silently withdrew. Yue Er, with keen observation, brought the supper.
Lu Qing Wan, alone, had little appetite to savor the supper slowly. She ate quickly, looked at the sky, and asked Li Su with a sigh.
"Has the Prince, or Xue Hong Yi, sent any further news?"
Li Su replied softly, "Replying to the Princess Consort, we have not yet received any messages from the Red Clothes Cult leader or the Prince."
Lu Qing Wan leaned back in her chair, gazing at the dark, starless sky. "Xue Hong Yi has the backing of the Samsara Hall and immense power. He should be able to deliver the grain supplies to the Prince without issue, right?
Ten million shi of grain, along with corresponding fodder and medicinal supplies, should be enough for the army to endure this winter."
She spoke to herself, not needing anyone to respond. Li Su and Yue Er stood guard at a distance. After a long while without movement, Li Su quietly stepped forward to check, only to see Lu Qing Wan had fallen asleep in her chair.
He bent down to pick her up. Yue Er tacitly pushed open the door to the master bedroom and mouthed to Li Su, "The bed is prepared."
The two of them, like thieves, carried Lu Qing Wan to the couch and tiptoed out, only to be startled half to death by the three figures before them.
Yue Er almost cried out in surprise, but Li Qing quickly covered her mouth and dragged her to the outer room before letting go.
"What are you doing?"
Yue Er asked in a hushed voice, "You scared me to death!"
"We haven't even asked what *you* are doing yet," Li Qing retorted irritably. "What's wrong with the Princess Consort? Why are you acting like thieves?"
"The Princess Consort is asleep!"
Li Su made a shushing gesture. "Just now, we were asking if there was any news from the Prince or the Red Clothes Cult leader. You've been out all day, have you received any new intelligence?"
"There is new intelligence, but I'm afraid it's not what the Princess Consort wants to hear." Li Qing sighed.
Li Su's heart leaped into his throat. "What is it? Has something happened to the Prince?"
"The Red Clothes Cult leader's grain has been delivered to the northern territories. However, that scoundrel Jiang Ding Kun has incited a riot in the northwest, and His Majesty has entrusted the disaster relief matters to the Xuan Jia Army.
Ten million shi of grain, as emergency relief supplies, have been mostly sent to the northwest.
Less than one-tenth or two-tenths will reach the Prince."
Li Su's eyes widened. "That was emergency relief that the Princess Consort procured for the Prince using her own connections. How dare you use it for other purposes?"