For the past month, there have still been those in the court who questioned Situ Fengming's youth and impetuosity, believing him incapable of holding the imperial position.
Some also brought up Lu Qingwan's actions during the suppression of the rebellion, accusing her of a hen crowing at dawn and a woman interfering in politics. Lu Qingwan did not hold back even once.
As long as she heard it, regardless of who it was, she would have them whipped a few times. If they were injured and unable to attend court, then someone else could be found to take their place.
At first, some people used the chaos to cause trouble, saying that although Lu Qingwan had burned the evidence against those individuals, she would still settle accounts later.
The next day, Feng Xiwu had the rumor monger beaten and plainly told those gathered in the Zichen Palace hall, "Everyone knows who is on the blacklist of the King of Jizhou and the Empress. My wife has not seen all the blacklists, and even if she had, she couldn't remember everyone on them.
But if someone reminds us every day, then do not blame me and my wife for dredging up old accounts."
In one sentence, he made it clear to the ministers that they originally had no idea who was involved in the Gengshi Emperor's rebellion. But since these people insisted on reminding them, they had no choice.
Good heavens, with such a stir, everyone in the court was on edge, afraid that a wrong word would implicate them.
As of today, no one mentions those past events anymore.
Feng Xiwu knew that Lu Qingwan was pleased with his swift and decisive actions.
"By the way, my Imperial Brother said that after his enthronement, he wishes to bestow upon me the title of Prince Regent and upon you the title of Princess Regent. What do you think?"
Lu Qingwan, flushed and with loving eyes from his kiss, responded a beat late, "The new Emperor is ascending the throne, full of vigor and strength. Why would he bestow the title of Prince Regent?"
Feng Xiwu gazed affectionately at her enchanting eyes and couldn't resist kissing her again. "My Imperial Brother does not wish to slight you or me."
Lu Qingwan nestled in his embrace, whining and shaking her head. "There are many ways to show closeness. Let's forgo the title of Prince Regent.
While your brotherly affection is commendable, who can predict the future?
The affections of royalty are too fragile.
The importance and trust shown today might just become a death warrant for being too powerful in the future.
Being a carefree prince is quite good."
"Then I will inform my Imperial Brother tomorrow."
...
As they chatted idly, enjoying the comfortable atmosphere, Li Jin arrived. "Reporting to Your Highness and Your Highness Consort, the Grand Empress Dowager Lan has arrived."
Indeed, it was Lan Tingshuang, now the Grand Empress Dowager.
With the confessions of Lan Tingshuang, Lan An, and the Gengshi Emperor, the Grand Empress Dowager of Yangquan Palace had no chance to return. Situ Fengming had her die in the palace coup and be buried with the rites of a Grand Empress Dowager.
The current Grand Empress Dowager was Lan Tingshuang.
However, "Grand Empress Dowager" was merely a title. Since the ministers acknowledged Situ Fengming as the new Emperor, she had moved out of the palace and was temporarily residing in Prince Rui's mansion.
Now, outsiders should address her as the Grand Empress Dowager of Jizhou.
Upon hearing this, Lu Qingwan sat up. "She's here for Prince Rui, isn't she? Why doesn't she go see His Majesty?"
"The matter between her and the King of Jizhou is known only to us. She likely doesn't believe our promises in front of others and has come to silence us. Do you want to see her?"
Lu Qingwan, feeling languid under the warm sunshine, still had her mind working. "It wouldn't hurt to see her, but I've been meaning to ask you: are you truly at ease letting Grand Empress Dowager Lan and Situ Fengchi go to Jizhou?
The Lan family and the King of Jizhou were destroyed by our hands. Can Grand Empress Dowager Lan truly advise Situ Fengchi to stay peacefully in Jizhou and not cause trouble, without any lingering resentment?"
Lu Qingwan admitted that Lan Tingshuang was one of the few intelligent people in the Lan family. She was pragmatic and possessed a dignified bearing. If their positions had not been antagonistic, she would have been willing to befriend her.
But fate played its hand, and their positions were already determined.
Therefore, in Lu Qingwan's opinion, it would have been safest for Lan Tingshuang and Situ Fengchi to die in Zhongzhou.
Feng Xiwu understood her thoughts and simply said, "Pei Yu, the Prefect of Jizhou, was groomed by the King of Jizhou himself. He knows all of the King of Jizhou's secrets.
Only by sending Lan Tingshuang and Situ Fengchi can all the overt and covert forces in Jizhou be brought under control.
Someone must be the King of Jizhou. With Lan Tingshuang there, Situ Fengchi is more suitable for that position than anyone else."
Lu Qingwan instantly understood. Feng Xiwu, like her, was not interested in Situ Fengchi but in Lan Tingshuang.
The King of Jizhou had spent many years preparing for his rebellion, making countless secret arrangements. If the court were to rashly send people to take over, there would undoubtedly be immense difficulties.
It wasn't that they couldn't achieve it, but Situ Fengming had just ascended the throne and had no need to waste manpower and resources on such an inefficient endeavor.
With ready personnel, why not use them?
Understanding this, she rose and went into the inner chambers. "Wait for me a moment. I will accompany you to see Lan Tingshuang."
...
In the flower hall, Empress Lan was no longer adorned in her phoenix robes, but wore a common deep-colored gown favored by noblewomen, her hair styled in a simple bun.
However, having held a high position for many years, her innate bearing was still striking.
Seeing Feng Xiwu and Lu Qingwan arrive, her eyes lifted slightly, and she did not speak in haste.
After Lu Qingwan and Feng Xiwu were seated, she slowly took a roll of parchment from her sleeve and placed it on the table.
As she was a lady, the task of communication fell to Lu Qingwan. "Grand Empress Dowager, this is...?"
"I have always kept abreast of matters concerning the southeastern nations."
Lan Tingshuang did not beat around the bush and was very frank. "In the snow-capped mountains of the northwest, the imperial capital of Daqian, and Xiliang City, on many occasions, where you and your husband should have appeared together, Prince Qin was always one step behind.
Have you not noticed the strangeness of these circumstances?"
Feng Xiwu's brows furrowed slightly, but Lu Qingwan recalled something. "I can't speak for others, but Cheng Jiuxiao, the King of Zhenbei of Northern Wei, indirectly caused my father's death and trapped Your Highness in the snow mountains.
At that time, I believed Your Highness and my father were both dead and went to seek revenge on Cheng Jiuxiao.
My subordinates told me at the time that before I arrived in the northwest, they had already organized many skilled individuals to assassinate Cheng Jiuxiao, but someone deliberately kept Cheng Jiuxiao alive, insisting that I kill him myself."
Feng Xiwu's handsome brows remained tightly knitted. "Xie Shiyu besieged you in Xiliang City, and the Emperor's death was orchestrated by the imperial guards assassinating you. Each time, either the plea for help was intercepted, or I happened to be tied up with other matters.
It's not that I haven't been suspicious and sent people to investigate, but I could never find anything conclusive."
"The events involving everyone are true. Naturally, you two could not find anything."
Lan Tingshuang pointed to the parchment on the table. "You two might as well take a look at this. Perhaps you will understand a little."
Lu Qingwan opened the parchment with suspicion and was bewildered. "What the hell is this?"
Feng Xiwu leaned over to take a look and showed surprise. "This is a list of people who rose to prominence in various countries over the past thirty years but died for various reasons.
It also details their achievements and causes of death.
Just as we encountered before, no flaws can be found, yet the people are dead."