Bada ignored Yuan Xin and turned to look at the Prime Minister, Yuan Zheng. “Prime Minister Yuan, my prince was injured by an assassin just now. Please send your men to search for that assassin as soon as possible. We can’t let that scoundrel get away.”

Yuan Zheng narrowed his eyes. Only then did he notice that Wanyan Jin was in Bada’s arms, and he stepped forward with a grave expression on his face. “What happened? How did Prince Wanyan get injured?”

Bada replied, “His Highness was taking a night stroll when he ran into an assassin. Isn’t the security in this kingdom a little too lacking?”

Yuan Zheng said solemnly, “If it’s true that Prince Wanyan was injured by an assassin, I promise I won’t let that scoundrel get away with it!”

Yuan Xin frowned at their conversation. “Father, he’s obviously…”

Yuan Zheng shot her a look.

Yuan Xin stopped talking reluctantly.

Bada did not seem to hear what Yuan Xin said, and he nodded at Yuan Zheng. “Thank you, Prime Minister. Since my prince has fainted, I’ll take him back to the coaching inn first. Please excuse me!” With that, he left the scene hastily.

Once he was gone, Yuan Xin looked at Yuan Zheng unhappily. “Father, he was lying!” Assassin, her foot! That man had clearly tried to abduct Lu Er, but now he had shifted the blame to her.

Yuan Zheng’s face softened. He glanced at Beitang Rui, who was standing not far off, and lowered his voice. “He said his prince was injured by an assassin. If you’d kept pressing him for information about your maidservant, he’d probably shift the blame to you and accuse you of letting your maidservant attack Wanyan Jin. If that’d happened, you’d be charged for attempting to assassinate him.”

Wanyan Jin and Bada were envoys from the Yan Kingdom, after all. The fact that they were almost assassinated in the capital city was enough for them to chastise the Yan Kingdom. If Wanyan Jin were to demand some form of compensation after he woke up, the Emperor would have to appease him, too.

Yuan Xin was sensible enough to understand that. “But Lu Er’s gone…”

Yuan Zheng’s glance swept over the surroundings. “I think she’s still around here somewhere. You can go and look for her.”

Just when Yuan Xin was about to answer, she saw Long Chi and his men splitting up. Clearly, he had thought of the same thing and wanted to find Lu Er.

The thought sent her heart pounding, and she decided not to hesitate a moment longer. However, before she could begin her search, Beitang Rui walked over to them.

He nodded at Yuan Zheng. “Prime Minister Yuan.”

Yuan Zheng returned the nod. “Your Highness.”

They were in-laws, but they were rather formal and distant with each other.

Beitang Rui looked at Yuan Xin. “Are you staying in the Yuan Mansion tonight, or do you want to go back with me?”

Yuan Xin was about to give him a cutting reply, but Yuan Zheng spoke up before she could. “Xin’er misses her mother. Since she’s back, please let her stay with us tonight. Her brother will send her back to your mansion tomorrow.”

Beitang Rui paused before nodding. “Very well.”

Yuan Xin could not be bothered to feign cordiality with him, and she said to Yuan Zheng, “You can go home first, Father. I want to look for my maidservant.”

Yuan Zheng sighed. “Take more people with you, and be careful.”

“I will,” Yuan Xin replied hastily and started to head off with her servants to search for Lu Liangwei.

She could not let Beitang Rui’s men find Lu Liangwei before she did, or there would be hell to pay.

However, she had only taken a step when she felt Beitang Rui seize her wrist. “Xin’er, do you know where that maidservant of yours came from?”

His sudden grip startled Yuan Xin, and his use of her pet name put her into a light trance.

Nevertheless, her unusual reaction lasted only for a fleeting second. Regaining her composure, she struggled to break free of his grip, and when Beitang Rui refused to let go, she said sarcastically, “When did you start to care about the people beside me?”

Beitang Rui frowned in displeasure. “I just wanted to warn you about keeping someone whose origins are unknown beside you. If she has malicious intentions, you’ll end up putting yourself in danger!”