Lu Qing Wan's face immediately turned cold, "About when was that?"
"Around, about one or two months after the Prince returned from the Western Regions.
At that time, the Prince had only recently been poisoned, and his leg ailment did not appear as severe as it did later. Coupled with his great achievements, that's why all parties were particularly wary."
Feng Xi Wu naturally knew these matters. He calmly restrained the angry Lu Qing Wan, his tone unusually calm.
"Prime Minister Wen said that half of the grievances this Prince has suffered over the years are your responsibility, but what did Feng Qing Heng do afterward?"
Prime Minister Wen knelt on the ground, his back bent by guilt.
"He learned that the Prince was not the biological son of Emperor Taizu, and further investigated, discovering that the late Empress Dowager and the late Emperor had saved the Prince's life.
The Prince's loyalty to the late Emperor was also out of a promise to the late Emperor and the late Empress Dowager.
Therefore, he dared to act so presumptuously and provoke over the years.
This time, daring to borrow troops from Da Qin, he is relying on this point. If the Prince and Princess push him to a dead end, he might use this to stir up trouble!"
Lu Qing Wan could not suppress her anger.
A life-saving grace had become a handle for so many people to control Feng Xi Wu.
Who did he owe this to?
Her heart filled with concern as she looked at Feng Xi Wu, who, as the protagonist, remained as calm as if listening to someone else's story.
He even leisurely asked, "If this is truly the case, what does Prime Minister Wen wish for this Prince to do?"
Prime Minister Wen gazed at Feng Xi Wu for a long time, then staggered to the bookshelf, opened a hidden compartment behind it, and took out a scroll of imperial yellow decree.
"The current Emperor is unvirtuous and governs poorly; he should abdicate in favor of the worthy."
Prime Minister Wen said with a trembling voice, "If the Prince is prepared to act, I can join forces with Elder Chi and Prince Nan to persuade the civil and military officials to cease resistance and welcome the Prince and Princess to the capital.
Could the Prince please show mercy and spare the people of Da Gan from the suffering of war?"
As he spoke, he bent down, held the imperial decree high above his head, and presented it to Feng Xi Wu.
The latter took it with suspicion and opened it, utterly surprised, "This遗诏 (yi zhao - imperial edict)... was truly left by the Emperor himself?"
"Regarding the imperial decree, how would this old minister dare to fabricate it?"
The late Emperor knew that the current Emperor lacked the talent to govern, but as a descendant of the Feng family, he had to do his utmost to protect the Feng family's empire.
He also knew that the Prince was not without some feelings for Da Gan.
Therefore, he left such a secret decree. If the current Emperor proves to be utterly incompetent, the Prince need not waste time grooming a successor; he can simply set things right himself."
Prime Minister Wen bowed his head, his tone exceptionally sorrowful.
"This old minister, Elder Chi, and Prince Nan hold three identical遗诏, which is enough to prove that this is the late Emperor's will, not the Prince's personal ambition.
If the Prince is willing, the hundred thousand troops of Beizhili under Prince Nan, as well as the military seals of the Shence Camp, can be presented at any time.
We only beg the Prince to give the people of Da Gan a way to live."
Hearing this, Lu Qing Wan leaned on Feng Xi Wu's shoulder to look at the imperial decree in his hand. Upon seeing it, she was truly shocked.
Emperor Jing You had actually left a遗诏; as long as Feng Xi Wu felt that Feng Qing Heng was incapable of handling great responsibilities, he could depose Feng Qing Heng at any time and ascend the throne himself.
Moreover, the遗诏 clearly stated that Emperor Jing You entrusted the empire of Da Gan to Feng Xi Wu.
This single sentence effectively blocked any accusations from the officials of Da Gan that Feng Xi Wu was a rebel.
She was greatly astonished, but Feng Xi Wu calmly asked, "If this Prince agrees to Prime Minister Wen's request, will I be the new Emperor of Da Gan, or the founding emperor of a new dynasty?"
A simple question, but it made Lu Qing Wan stare.
Disregarding decorum, she stared directly at Prime Minister Wen and asked with great seriousness, "Yes, Prime Minister Wen, if the Prince follows your advice and subdues Feng Qing Heng's army without fighting, taking over Da Gan.
With the three遗诏 from you, becoming emperor smoothly, is he the new Emperor of Da Gan, or the founding emperor of a new dynasty?"
Lu Qing Wan, being accustomed to casualness, had never witnessed a formal dynastic change in her two lifetimes and had almost overlooked such an important matter.
Feng Xi Wu's purpose in coming to Da Gan was not merely to covet Da Gan; he wanted all of the three southeastern kingdoms.
Although this matter had never been openly discussed before, everyone knew that Feng Xi Wu's arrival was to establish his own kingdom.
If he were to become the new Emperor of Da Gan due to Emperor Jing You's three identical遗诏, what would that mean?
Wouldn't that be going in a circle, only to return to the same point?
Prime Minister Wen looked at the two of them with a heavy gaze, his back more burdened than before, "Does Da Gan truly have no hope left?"
The prosperity of his family for generations was tied to the empire of Da Gan. It could be said that his ancestors' entire energy was dedicated to Da Gan.
Clinging to the last shred of hope, he avoided the topic he most wished to avoid, thinking that Feng Xi Wu, being known for his generosity and loyalty, would at least preserve the dynasty's name if he handed over Da Gan.
However, he had not expected that Feng Xi Wu, who had returned this time, had come precisely to bid farewell to the past.
His last lingering hope was destined to be unfulfilled.
Also, out of gratitude for his past kindness, Feng Xi Wu frankly stated, "Prime Minister has served three emperors and should understand what the dynasty name means to an empire.
Since Prime Minister does not wish for the people to suffer the ravages of war, he should know the principle that indecision leads to greater trouble."
As long as the dynasty name of Da Gan remained unchanged, people both inside and outside the empire would continue to regard Da Gan as the former Da Gan.
Foreign powers would bully, subjects would doubt, and rebels would emerge like mushrooms after rain, claiming the late Emperor's legitimacy to overthrow the current regime, one after another.
Besides satisfying the nostalgia of some old Da Gan subjects, it would only deplete the strength of the new dynasty. In substance, it would offer no benefit to Feng Xi Wu or the new dynasty.
Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Wen sighed heavily, "Alas, this old minister was indeed asking for too much.
Please, the two of you may leave. This old man will appear on time for the Prince's uprising."
In his official capacity, Prime Minister Wen had passed on the late Emperor's遗诏 to Feng Xi Wu, assisting him in ascending the throne and sparing the people of Da Gan from war. In this, he had undoubtedly succeeded.
In his personal capacity, watching the empire of Da Gan, which he had diligently guarded for fifty years, undergo a dynastic change, even the usually calm and composed Prime Minister Wen could not continue to converse with Feng Xi Wu and his wife with a cheerful heart.
Lu Qing Wan and Feng Xi Wu also understood this. Upon hearing Prime Minister Wen's subtle dismissal, they did not get angry and left immediately.
However, before leaving, Feng Xi Wu left the imperial decree with Prime Minister Wen.
"Since the Emperor left this遗诏 with the three of you, it should be announced by the three of you. It would be inappropriate for this Prince to keep it himself."
Prime Minister Wen took the imperial decree and silently watched the two of them leave the study.
It was still early morning. Feng Xi Wu's special status meant he did not fear the curfew. The group returned to the manor quietly.
Sitting in the carriage, Lu Qing Wan asked Feng Xi Wu, "Do we still need to visit the Chi family and Prince Nan's manor?"