"Everyone in the palace knows Ming Ji was a gift from the Empress to Emperor Geng Shi, and Emperor Geng Shi himself is aware of it.
What he doesn't know is that any movement he makes in the palace, Ming Ji would relay the news to the Fan family.
Emperor Geng Shi has only been focused on the Empress from beginning to end, so even after Ming Ji has been in the palace for three years, he still has found nothing."
Lu Qing Wan listened, amused, "So, we don't need to find evidence ourselves.
As long as we find a way to leak the news of the Lan and Fan families' alliance to Emperor Geng Shi, and remind him to keep a close eye on Ming Ji, we can just sit back and watch the show unfold?"
However, after speaking, she realized, "That's not right. Wasn't Ming Ji given to Emperor Geng Shi by the Empress?
Shouldn't she be sending intelligence to the Empress?
Sending intelligence to the Fan family, from any perspective, would be a betrayal of Empress Lan, wouldn't it?"
Feng Xi Wu smiled without comment.
Lu Qing Wan, however, saw something in his exceedingly expressive eyes, "You're not going to tell me that Ming Ji was sent to Emperor Geng Shi by the Lan or Fan family through the Empress, are you?"
The unique understanding between them made the smile in Feng Xi Wu's eyes spread to his face.
"Ming Ji was a Yun Zhong girl personally bought by Lan Hua Jing, and her loyalty naturally lies with the Lan family."
Lu Qing Wan's mood became incredibly complex, "The Lan family found Ming Ji, who was destined to please Emperor Geng Shi, and shared intelligence through the Fan family.
In this way, aren't the only ones kept in the dark Empress Lan and Consort Li, and their respective sons?"
Two women, in their prime, were sent into the palace by their families, becoming chess pieces for the family's prosperity.
Now that the families are prosperous, they and their children have all become discarded pawns.
Lu Qing Wan felt a pang of sympathy for these two women she had never met.
Feng Xi Wu, on the other hand, was more pragmatic, "Daughters of noble families, who enjoyed over a decade of prosperity and wealth without any cost, and after entering the palace, held positions of rare nobility among women in the world, naturally have to pay a price.
You don't need to pity them. To be able to stand undefeated in the harem, neither of them are simple characters.
Instead of pitying them, it would be better to think about how to deal with them tomorrow.
The Empress and Consort Li should be your main opponents tomorrow."
His words completely extinguished Lu Qing Wan's overflowing sympathy.
Lu Qing Wan sat up, ready for battle, "Duan Yue?"
A shadow-like figure appeared quietly. Lu Qing Wan said sternly, "Did you hear what the Prince just said? Send someone to Yun Zhong to verify Ming Ji's identity.
Also, send someone to investigate whether Fan He's meeting with Lan Hua Xiao was his own initiative or if Prime Minister Fan instructed him."
Duan Yue cupped his fists, "There is a branch of the Reincarnation Hall in Yun Zhong. May I ask if I can have the brothers of the Reincarnation Hall help investigate? This way, the efficiency of intelligence transmission will be greatly improved."
Lu Qing Wan nodded, "Of course. I only want the results, I don't care about the process."
Duan Yue glanced at her with surprise, then withdrew.
Feng Xi Wu gently stroked Lu Qing Wan's nape, like petting a cat, "Didn't you dislike the people from the Reincarnation Hall interfering in your affairs? Why are you allowing Duan Yue to use them now?"
"When did I?"
Lu Qing Wan shrunk her neck and hummed, "I dislike Wen Ji Ting secretly coming to monitor me. As for others, I haven't taken my anger out on them.
I've used them so many times, and now I say I don't like them. Isn't that annoying, pretending to be virtuous?"
Feng Xi Wu chuckled, and pulling Lu Qing Wan into his arms as if embracing a child, he instructed Li Qing, "Investigate the details of the dealings between the Lan and Fan families over the years, and try to obtain some concrete evidence, just in case."
Li Qing readily agreed. Lu Qing Wan, nestled in his embrace, stiffened her neck, trying to find a comfortable position, "What about Emperor Geng Shi?
Who will deliver the news of the Lan and Fan families' alliance to him for us?"
Feng Xi Wu pressed her back into his embrace and instructed Li Yang, "Go and see my imperial brother. Have him find a way to deliver this message to Emperor Geng Shi."
Li Yang and Li Qing accepted their orders and left. Only Li Jin remained in the room.
Seeing that the two masters were about to get cozy again, he quickly interjected, "Your Highness, several officials have sent calling cards today, wanting to visit you. Please review them."
"Hmm?"
Upon hearing that someone wanted to visit Feng Xi Wu, Lu Qing Wan became restless. She tugged at his sleeve and stood up, sticking her head out to see, but her vision was black, and she saw nothing.
Only then did she remember that she was still blind. She frantically flailed at Feng Xi Wu, "You promised Shen Ci would come to needle me and restore my sight.
How long have I been back? Where is he?"
Feng Xi Wu and Li Jin finally realized that Lu Qing Wan was still blind!
Without Feng Xi Wu's order, he bolted out, shouting, "Your subordinate will go find Doctor Shen!"
The usually steady man's voice was so startled it changed tone. His shout made Lu Qing Wan unable to even feign anger to playfully sulk with Feng Xi Wu.
Unable to help herself, she burst out laughing.
Feng Xi Wu, however, could not laugh. He worried, "You've been discussing important matters since you came in, I almost forgot.
Will not receiving acupuncture for so long to restore your sight cause any harm to your eyes?"
Her blindness made Lu Qing Wan's judgment of time less accurate. She grabbed Feng Xi Wu's hand and asked him, "How is the light in the room? Is it bright?"
Feng Xi Wu seriously looked towards the window before replying, "Not too bright. Li Jin has already brought out the colored glass lamp."
Earlier, absorbed in the discussion, she hadn't noticed anything amiss, but suddenly remembering, she was instantly enveloped by fear and unease.
Lu Qing Wan's other hand reached out to grasp Feng Xi Wu's, but when she raised her hand, she realized she had no idea where Feng Xi Wu's hand was, and it froze in mid-air.
Feng Xi Wu quickly extended his fingers. Lu Qing Wan held his finger in one hand and was held by him in the other. Only then did her tension and anxiety subside.
"Later, after Shen Ci removes my needles, you can take away that colored glass lamp and allow me to adapt to the room's light."
"Good, I'll do whatever you say."
Feng Xi Wu readily agreed, his few words revealing his guilt, self-blame, and worry.
Lu Qing Wan lightly swayed his finger, "Don't worry, will I blind myself?
Once the needle is out, it will be fine."
Feng Xi Wu mumbled his agreement, but in his heart, he couldn't believe that Lu Qing Wan's sensory deprivation would have absolutely no damage to her eyes.
Fortunately, just as he was restless, almost wanting to pace back and forth holding Lu Qing Wan, Shen Ci was dragged in like a dead dog by Li Jin.
With a clatter, Shen Ci was thrown before Feng Xi Wu and Lu Qing Wan amidst his wails.
Before he could even catch his breath, Feng Xi Wu bent down, picked up Lu Qing Wan, and gruffly ordered, "Come and perform acupuncture on the Princess."
On the way, Li Jin had already explained the situation to Shen Ci.