Before the coachman could finish, he fell off the carriage with a loud thump. The maidservant’s screams rang out the next instant, and the guards escorting the carriage dashed up to the assailant, brandishing their weapons.

Lu Liangwei furrowed her brow at the sound. Had Long Chi caught up to her again?

The moment that thought appeared in her head, she heard a familiar voice come from outside the carriage. “Second Miss Lu, would you like me to go in there and get you, or would you prefer to come out yourself?” Yuan Xin lifted a corner of the curtain and peeked outside. On the street shrouded in the darkness of the night, a man sat tall on his horse. All the guards were strewn across the ground around him.

The man was dressed in white, but it was too dark to see his face clearly.

Frowning, Yuan Xin lowered the curtain and said to Lu Liangwei, “I doubt he’s here with good intentions. Don’t go out first. The Yuan Mansion’s just nearby; let’s stall for a while more.”

Lu Liangwei had caught a glimpse of the man outside through the curtain crack.

She narrowed her eyes. She had not expected to run into him here at all.

From his stance, he had clearly been lying in wait for a long time.

How did he know her whereabouts?

Multiple thoughts flashed through her mind in that split second, and she patted Yuan Xin’s hand. “It’s all right. I’m his target. If I go out, he won’t hurt you.” Thinking of something, she leaned close to her and whispered in her ear, “When I confront him later, no matter what happens, run as far as you can. Don’t worry about me. I have my own way of escaping.”

Yuan Xin looked at her incredulously, doubtful of what Lu Liangwei was going to do.

Before she could ask, Lu Liangwei got up and climbed out of the carriage.

She had no choice but to get up and follow her out.

“Get off the carriage,” Lu Liangwei instructed her softly without looking over her shoulder.

Yuan Xin stared at her delicate figure hesitantly, but as if under the influence of some unseen force, she did not dare to defy her.

Biting her lip, she lifted her skirts and descended the carriage.

The moment her feet touched the ground, she took to her heels, hoping Lu Er could hold out until she came back with help.

Sure enough, Wanyan Jin’s attention was completely occupied by Lu Liangwei the instant she came out, and he barely spared Yuan Xin a glance.

“Long time no see, Second Miss Lu!” He stared into Lu Liangwei’s eyes, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

He greeted her the way he would an old friend, as if there was no animosity between them at all.

Lu Liangwei snickered, not at all beguiled by his demeanor.

By suddenly blocking her path and injuring Yuan Xin’s guards, Wanyan Jin was clearly conveying that he was not in the least afraid of the Yuan Family and Prince Rui. The aggression with which he had made his appearance suggested that he was not here to catch up with her.

However, no matter what reason he had, it was definitely nothing good.

Lu Liangwei lifted her skirts and got down from the carriage. “You have the wrong person, sir. I’m not the Second Miss Lu you speak of.”

Wanyan Jin’s gaze followed her. When she climbed down the carriage, he was slightly taken back by the glimpse of the chains on her ankles. However, the surprise on his face only lasted for a fleeting second before he resumed his calm expression.

Hearing her words, he said significantly, “You’re right. I guess I should call you Your Highness the Empress.”

“You’re wrong. I’m just Princess Consort Rui’s maidservant. Since this is all just a mistake, I won’t hold you responsible for the trouble you’ve caused. Farewell, sir.” Lu Liangwei started to walk away as she spoke.

Wanyan Jin trotted after her on his horse. “No need for all that pretense, Second Miss Lu. By the way, did you receive the big gift I prepared for you after you gave birth?”

Hearing this, Lu Liangwei whipped her head around to stare at him. It did not take her long to realize what he was talking about, and her pupils shrank as she said in an icy voice, “Manna was your pawn?”