Her eyes blazed with a light that almost set Si Fengwu ablaze, rendering him speechless for a moment.
It was as if a transparent barrier had enveloped them, exuding a sweet, cloying aura from within.
However, the overexcited Li Qing, lacking all social graces, burst this enormous pink bubble. "Your Highness, you mean this Ring of the Third Sister is actually a symbol of the powers of the three Great Deities?" he exclaimed excitedly.
As soon as he finished speaking, he felt a sharp gaze, like a blade, resting directly on his neck.
Li Qing instinctively turned his head and met his own prince's gaze, a look of disdain so profound he wished Li Qing would vanish on the spot.
Li Qing stammered, "Um, Your Highness, your subordinate truly did not mean it.
But if I recall correctly, the King of Ten Thousand Phoenixes has been with you since birth.
If nothing unexpected occurs, is it possible that you, like Her Highness the Consort, are also a descendant of one of the three Great Deities?"
This remark successfully dispelled Si Fengwu's impulse to strike him dead.
Lu Qingwan also chimed in with great interest, "That's right!
I recall that the 'Chronicles of Jiuzhou' stated that the National Preceptor of Southern Xuan and the Empress of Azure Phoenix were deeply affectionate. After withdrawing from court, they each took their beloved mounts as their personal symbols.
The National Preceptor of Southern Xuan used the Azure Phoenix Empress's favorite pet, the Golden Dragon Canghui, as the totem of the Cold Night Palace, while the Azure Phoenix Empress used the National Preceptor of Southern Xuan's beloved pet, the Yuan Feng, as the totem of the Three Lives Tower."
As she spoke, she quietly picked up the ring that resembled a blood pigeon. "And Liu Mo Bai, the founder of the Reincarnation Palace, later became companions with Prince Qianning, Feng Sheng.
Therefore, it's not surprising that he used the Qianning King's beloved pet, the Three-Headed Black Turtle, as the symbol of power for the Reincarnation Palace, is it?"
The three rings, each with its unique form, lay on the table. Lu Qingwan suddenly felt that these three small objects carried immense weight.
She tilted her head, looking at Si Fengwu. "Setting aside the Reincarnation Palace, even if it's for the Three Lives Tower of the Azure Phoenix Empress and the Cold Night Palace of the National Preceptor of Southern Xuan, it doesn't seem so inexplicable that we've been schemed against and hunted, does it!"
The latter could only offer a wry smile. "The innocent are guilty when they possess treasures. If it truly is for this reason, then we are not wronged."
As a member of the royal family with considerable knowledge, Si Fengwu understood too well what the Azure Phoenix Empress and the National Preceptor of Southern Xuan represented in those times.
They were the only imperial couple in the recorded history who unified all known territories, ruling the world together for millennia without war.
It was an unprecedented feat that no other had achieved in thousands of years.
They were the role models and the lifelong aspiration of all emperors.
For such god-like figures to have inexplicably fallen into the hands of him and Lu Qingwan, it would be strange if they were not coveted.
Both shocked and amused, he turned to find several brocade boxes and placed the King of Ten Thousand Phoenixes, the True Dragon Token, and the ring of the Three-Headed Black Turtle from the Reincarnation Palace into separate boxes, pushing them all towards Lu Qingwan.
"You should keep these things for now.
If there's an opportunity, meet with Palace Lord Liu. Perhaps then we can at least know what kind of enemies we are facing."
"Alright."
Lu Qingwan also felt that keeping these items in her spatial laboratory would be safer.
"The matter with the Chi family cannot be left unresolved. Tell Wu Feng that once I find the culprits, have Wu Feng bring them before Chi Yun Shen and Scholar Chi for judgment."
Such humiliation demanded revenge in person.
Chi Yun Shen had the courage to burn his bridges, but Lu Qingwan wished for him to live a good life more.
Si Fengwu was also deeply moved by the resolute spirit of the Chi family and readily agreed.
However, he suddenly felt something was amiss. "What's with that tone of yours, like you're assigning a task? Are you going out again?"
"What else would I do?"
Lu Qingwan said like a heartless woman who takes and leaves. "Accompany you to the palace and serve you tea?"
Si Fengwu looked at her with a gentle gaze. "Must you go?"
"Of course."
Lu Qingwan nodded decisively, then suddenly remembered something. "By the way, where is Physician Shen? I haven't seen him in a long time. Can I ask him for a favor?"
"He's in the Northwest. After my health improved, he volunteered to join the Xuanjia Army as a military doctor. What do you want him to do for you? Shen Ci's skills are not just in medicine; he is also adept at training calm, decisive, and skilled military doctors for the Xuanjia Army. If Si Fengwu hadn't been indisposed earlier, he wouldn't have kept Shen Ci by his side."
Lu Qingwan pouted in disappointment. "The apprentices at Ji'ci Hospital are about to graduate. I asked Meng Sheng to select a group of medically proficient individuals willing to serve as military doctors, and I wanted Physician Shen to mentor them. The need for military doctors will only increase in the future, and I was worried that Physician Shen and his few disciples wouldn't be able to handle the workload!"
With Shen Ci absent, Lu Qingwan was already considering who else could shoulder such a responsibility.
Si Fengwu, however, had already selected someone for her. "Shen Ci cannot leave the Northwest for now, but there is someone you will definitely be satisfied with."
Lu Qingwan raised an eyebrow. "Who?"
"Your dowry maid, Liang Xia."
Si Fengwu said with a smile. "That little maid's medical skills are a culmination of the Imperial Hospital's knowledge, and she's learned a lot from being by your side. Her martial arts are also not bad. Over the past year, she has been among the top of your apprentices. With a protracted war on the horizon, instead of sending an outsider to slowly integrate, why not let her lead the group to the Northwest? It can both improve the morale of the soldiers and appease the students. It's a win-win situation, isn't it?"
Of course, Si Fengwu would never tell Lu Qingwan that one of the reasons he recommended Liang Xia was to have Lu Qingwan's people integrate with his own. The Xuanjia Army, Wu Feng Tang, and Ban Yue Ge were already practically loyal to Lu Qingwan. If Lu Qingwan's own people remained outside the center of power, how could that be? It would seem like he was bullying Lu Qingwan! He wanted a situation where each was intertwined with the other.
Lu Qingwan, unaware of Si Fengwu's hidden agenda, considered his words and found them quite reasonable. She agreed.
"You're right. After things are settled there today, I'll go talk to her. If it's too late, I won't come back..."
After rambling on, she had already left the room.
Si Fengwu stood under the eaves like a statue waiting for his wife to return, watching her leave. Li Jin, who had been waiting by the entrance, stepped forward.
"Your Highness, Young Master Chi and Young Master Shao are requesting an audience. Also, the golden eagle has delivered intelligence: General Lin, General Shen, the Military Advisor, Jin Yangfan, Xu Wenzhou, and others holding important positions have been successively assassinated and poisoned within the last month. However, thanks to the poison-repelling incense beads Your Highness the Consort gave them, they narrowly escaped."
Li Jin expressed his relief and added, "The Military Advisor suspects that someone is targeting the Xuanjia Army and earnestly requests Your Highness to send people to thoroughly investigate, to prevent further turmoil."