"You were so out of it yesterday, you stayed awake staring with your eyes wide open, waiting for news from those two?"
Lu Qingwan nodded gleefully, "The exact locations and defense situations of all secret treasuries are now known. You come with me, help me move everything into the spatial laboratory, and then I'll frame Feng Qingheng for stealing them. Let them tear each other apart, haha..."
Lu Qingwan's eyes squinted into two slivers as she happily pulled him out, still in her nightclothes. Before she could even get off the bed, she was yanked back, "If you want to divert the trouble, you must prepare in advance. Don't act rashly."
Lu Qingwan's waist dipped, and she smoothly slipped away from Feng Xiwu. "Don't try to fool me. Washing up and changing clothes won't hinder the eight hundred schemes brewing in your mind." With that, she went to change on her own.
Feng Xiwu, holding Lu Qingwan's nightgown, was speechless, his mouth twitching uncontrollably. But Lu Qingwan was already mesmerized by the countless gold, silver, treasures, grain, and weapons in the secret treasuries, paying no mind to her husband's minor grievances. Feng Xiwu could only resignedly get up to wash and change, preparing to accompany Lu Qingwan to avoid being left behind again.
The current Lu Qingwan was already wealthier than the entire nation, yet her innate avarice had never vanished. After a hurried wash, Feng Xiwu led her to the dining hall by the scruff of her neck, but she couldn't sit still to finish breakfast. After hastily picking at a few bites, she urged Feng Xiwu, "Have you figured out how to pin this on Feng Qingheng? Also, Feng Qingheng sent an envoy to borrow troops. By the timeline, the envoy should be back in half a month. But we can't return to Shangjing yet. Have you thought of an excuse? If he finds out we've returned to Daqian early, this game won't be fun anymore!"
She chattered incessantly, making Feng Xiwu feel as if two sparrows, named Lu Qingwan, were perched on his shoulders. After finally finishing breakfast, Li Jin and Li Yang were already waiting. Seeing Feng Xiwu's dejected expression, Li Jin approached with a smile, "Reporting to Your Highness, Your Highness, the Emperor has sent a letter. He instructed the Court of State Ceremonial to send a reply to Feng Qingheng in the name of Da Qin, dispatching an envoy to Daqian to discuss borrowing troops. By calculation, when the Da Qin envoy arrives in Daqian, Daqian should have already undergone a dynastic change."
Lu Qingwan was amused, "Our Emperor has learned to be mischievous?"
Feng Xiwu smiled and glanced at her, "Are you satisfied now?"
Lu Qingwan tried hard to suppress her upturned lips, "What about your plan to divert the trouble?"
Feng Xiwu said calmly, "When the former governor of the Northwest, Su Bojun, fell from power, a group of his secret guards, not yet having ascended to the throne, were spared because they were not on the Su family's roster. If I recall correctly, those people have now pledged allegiance to Feng Qingheng. Most of them are in Shangjing, acting as Feng Qingheng's pawns, eliminating his rivals. Another portion remained in the Northwest, tasked with guarding a secret treasury hidden by the Su family there."
Lu Qingwan was not overly surprised this time upon hearing about a secret treasury. "You personally investigated the Su family back then, didn't you? Missing this group of secret guards is already a serious oversight. And then to leave a treasury for them to make a comeback? That's quite excessive!" Lu Qingwan found it hard to believe that Feng Xiwu's men would do something so unreliable. However, as she met Feng Xiwu's teasing gaze, a sudden realization struck her, "You're not suggesting that this was all intentional, are you?"
Feng Xiwu burst into delighted laughter, "At that time, the throne was undoubtedly Feng Qingheng's. If he wasn't allowed to feel some sense of triumph, how could we catch him red-handed now?"
Lu Qingwan understood the implication, "You want Nie Wuming to believe that Feng Qingheng instigated those secret guards left by Su Bojun to empty his secret treasury?"
Feng Xiwu tactfully said, "I think it's a good idea. What do you think, Your Highness Consort?"
"Since it's a good idea, why are we waiting? Let's implement it immediately!" Lu Qingwan grabbed Feng Xiwu, and they hurried out, Li Yang and Li Jin following closely behind. Lu Qingwan excitedly declared, "We won't be returning after leaving the city for now. To prevent Feng Qingheng from panicking and making reckless moves, Li Jin, go back and ensure the safety of Prime Minister Wen, Grand Scholar Chi, and the three families of the Prince of Nan's estate. Wait for my and the Prince's return."
Li Jin took the order, while Li Yang was stunned, "Your Highnesses, you're truly leaving without bringing anyone, just the two of you?" Lu Qingwan and Feng Xiwu hadn't explicitly told their entourage how they planned to empty Nie Wuming's secret treasuries, but everyone had long since understood. They just thought that with so many secret treasuries, they would at least bring a few people to help. But the current situation clearly indicated that the two of them intended to go alone, which scared Li Yang. Ever since they had followed Feng Xiwu, even when they were busy, they would have secret guards accompanying them. Leaving without a single subordinate or attendant was an unprecedented experience for Feng Xiwu and those around him.
Regardless of Feng Xiwu's feelings, Li Yang couldn't bear it. Lu Qingwan found it amusing but didn't make the decision for Feng Xiwu, only looking at him with a smile, "Your Highness, what do you think?"
"Too many people means too obvious a target. I said we're not bringing anyone, and we're not bringing anyone." Feng Xiwu sounded like a rebellious youth, offering no explanation, "Do your jobs well, and wait for my and the Consort's return." He then took Lu Qingwan's hand and strode out.
Feng Xiwu's attitude was resolute, and Li Yang dared not disobey him. Li Jin also wisely stopped in his tracks. He stood on the high platform of the main hall with a few guards, watching Lu Qingwan and Feng Xiwu slowly walk away. Li Yang muttered uncertainly, "Didn't they say they were going to empty Nie Wuming's secret treasury? Why does His Highness's retreating figure seem so cheerful?"
No one dared to echo his nonsensical and slightly disrespectful remark. Li Yang, however, exclaimed in alarm, "Oh no, could His Highness be planning to elope with the Consort?!" With that, he looked around with a look of horror. Li Jin and the other guards finally lost their patience and seized Li Yang, beating him until he finally shut up.
What they didn't know was that Feng Xiwu was indeed very happy. Even Lu Qingwan could sense this joy. As they rode out of the city lord's mansion, Lu Qingwan noticed the barely concealed pleasure emanating from the person beside her. She found it strange, "Why do you seem so happy, like a child going out with adults for the first time?"
"Of course." Feng Xiwu's voice, even the trailing end, was upbeat. "This is the first time I'm going out with you without bringing any attendants."
Lu Qingwan was about to say that the guards usually didn't hinder them and what was there to be so happy about. Then she heard Feng Xiwu continue excitedly, "Every time we went out before, we brought so many guards. It wasn't that I was afraid of death. I was just worried that if something happened to me, no one would avenge my parents' deaths, and my elder brother would be bullied alone in Da Qin. Although all the dangers haven't been eliminated yet, the heavy burden on my shoulders is gone."