The next day.
It was a holiday, and Feng Qingheng did not have to attend the morning court, so Lu Qingwan was able to see him as soon as she entered the palace.
Feng Qingheng was still feigning ignorance, "Why has the Regent's Consort come to the palace so early in the morning?"
He was dressed in a black robe with five-clawed golden dragons and a gilded crown, perfectly attired as if he were about to attend the morning court.
Lu Qingwan sneered inwardly, finding it no small feat for Feng Qingheng to go to such lengths to assert his status.
She clearly remembered that when Emperor Jing You was alive, he dressed as he pleased in informal occasions, but never like this, as if afraid of losing his imperial status.
Since she had whipped Feng Qingheng with a whip, Lu Qingwan no longer bowed to him.
She stood there with her back straight, speaking without reservation, "Didn't you already send Grand Tutor Chi to find me? Why ask what you already know?
Feng Qingheng, the grievances between us are clear and distinct, a matter of life and death. Is there any need to beat around the bush?"
Feng Qingheng's expression darkened, and he retorted, "I just want you to see clearly what kind of people you are protecting with all your might.
You sent away Chi Yaoyao and Chi Jingchuan successively to protect the Chi family. They must have known that I would then take it out on you.
Yet, before Chi Yunshen has even been dealt with, that old dog of the Chi family, upon a mere hint from Changan, rushed to find you.
Do you think it's worth it to protect them like this?"
After he finished speaking, his eyes were fixed on Lu Qingwan.
If Lu Qingwan had shown even a shred of resentment towards the Chi family at this moment, his plan to sow discord would have succeeded.
However, to his disappointment, Lu Qingwan's eyes were clear and unfettered by his words.
She even took the initiative to say, "What about Prime Minister Wen, the Xuanjia Army, and Little Yuan'er? I'm protecting more than just the Chi family.
What charges will you pin on them to make me as selfish and cynical as you?"
Her few words, sharp and incisive, struck directly at the darkest depths of Feng Qingheng's heart.
Feng Qingheng instantly shed his disguise, his eyes glinting menacingly at Lu Qingwan, "You are mistaken. I don't need you to become like me. I just need to know that you have so many weaknesses.
As long as you don't agree to enter the palace as my consort, Chi Yunshen, Prime Minister Wen's family, that bastard Feng Xiwu, and the Xuanjia Army will all disappear before your eyes, one by one.
Until they, like Feng Xiwu and Lu Zhenting, are completely gone from your life."
Seeing the undisguised anger in Lu Qingwan's eyes, Feng Qingheng laughed from the bottom of his heart.
"Lu Qingwan, I know you are formidable, but I have the patience.
I just wonder if the people you care about can withstand such torment as you can."
As he spoke, he deliberately asked the eunuch by his side in front of Lu Qingwan, "By the way, Changan, how is Grand Tutor Chi's hand?
Da Gan's foremost master of calligraphy and painting cannot afford to have his hands ruined by a torture device!"
The eunuch named Changan seemed to have served Feng Qingheng for many years and understood him best.
Upon hearing this, he responded cooperatively, "Your Majesty, please rest assured. The old nanny from the Department of Punishment who is serving Lord Chi is highly skilled. The torture device was used without shedding a drop of blood. Lord Chi's fingers are still long and slender, with no damage to the flesh.
However, whether the bones and tendons can recover fully after a long time is uncertain.
This statement seemed contradictory, but Lu Qingwan understood.
There was a form of torture that left no visible external damage but severely injured the bones and tendons. If not treated in time, the person would be crippled.
This master and servant, in their synchronized performance, were clearly threatening her by targeting Chi Yaoyao's father.
After Changan finished speaking, Feng Qingheng, seeing that Lu Qingwan remained unmoved, began to escalate.
"Oh, and that bastard of unknown origin, Feng Shuyuan, I had the descendants of the Gu Nanzhao royal family take good care of him.
I heard that the Gu Nanzhao royal family has been trying to break the Hundred Poisons Gu of the Samsara Hall. This thing is best cultivated using young children..."
The suppressed rage finally erupted at this moment.
Lu Qingwan didn't even know how she moved. When she came to her senses, a jeweled hairpin was at Feng Qingheng's throat. "Feng Qingheng, are you even human, to target a five-year-old child?"
Feng Qingheng had been beaten by Lu Qingwan several times and had grown accustomed to it.
A knife at his throat was a minor incident he no longer feared. He even provocially said, "That bastard of Feng Xiwu, why can't I target him?
Besides, it's not like you've only just met me. When have you ever seen me show mercy?"
He was completely putting on a show of being impervious to consequences.
Seeing this, Lu Qingwan felt the moment was ripe. The hand holding the hairpin trembled slightly, and her voice was laced with suppressed sobs.
"Feng Xiwu is already dead. I just want to live a peaceful life guarding the legacy he left behind. What is it you truly want?"
Her suppressed tone, her reddened eyes, and her heart-wrenching voice earned Lu Qingwan a perfect score for her acting.
Feng Qingheng was indeed fooled. The jealousy in his eyes was almost impossible to conceal. "You ask what I want?
You clearly love me. It hasn't been that long, and I don't even mind that you've been defiled. Yet, you'd rather live as a widow than enter the palace as a consort.
Lu Qingwan, is your affection so cheap?"
Lu Qingwan was stunned. She had always thought Feng Qingheng wanted her to enter the palace as his consort to cure his hidden ailment, but it turned out it was also to compete with Feng Xiwu?
While she was in a daze, Feng Qingheng stated his demands directly and decisively.
"There's no need to say anything further. Either you completely sever ties with Feng Xiwu and enter the palace as my consort.
Or, you will watch as the people you desperately protect disappear before your eyes one by one.
Of course, you could also kill me. As long as you're not afraid of Lu Zhenting and Feng Xiwu being branded as rebels, reviled by all, and leaving a legacy of infamy for ten thousand years, my life is yours."
This outwardly magnanimous statement was, in fact, a precise grasp of Lu Qingwan's many scruples, knowing she wouldn't dare to kill him.
Although Lu Qingwan was somewhat agitated by his previous words, she hadn't forgotten the plan for her visit to the palace today.
She closed her eyes tightly, then spoke as if in a fit of pique, "Fine, I agree. I will enter the palace.
However, I, Lu Qingwan, will only be an empress, never a concubine.
Since you want me to enter the palace, I want to rule the central palace and never be subordinate to anyone.
If you can do this, I will be the Empress of Da Gan. If not, I will take Chi Yunshen with me."
Feng Qingheng's eyes suddenly fixed on her face, as if trying to gauge the truth of her words.
Lu Qingwan met his gaze without a hint of guilt. "What, can't you do it?"
They stared at each other for a long time, and then Feng Qingheng suddenly burst out laughing. "I thought you loved Feng Xiwu so much. Turns out, you're just clinging to the position of Regent's Consort.
A woman who remarries dares to aspire to the position of Empress? You are truly delusional.
I will only grant you the rank of consort. Agree, and I will let Chi Yunshen go immediately. You can then go heal him and comfort the Chi family.
If you don't agree, I will send someone out now to spread the word that the former Regent's Consort deliberately seduced me. Who do you think the outside world will believe?"