Pain gnawed at Lu Liangwei’s heart, and she dug her fingernails into her palms.

The Emperor…

She could imagine how worried the Emperor must have been.

To think that he coughed up blood and passed out…

Lu Liangwei’s eyes welled up with tears of heartache for Long Yang.

“His Majesty misses you very much, but I’m sure he’ll be delighted when he hears that you’re all right.” Noticing her concern, Chu Jiu quickly comforted her.

Lu Liangwei nodded, and only after some time did she manage to suppress the twinge in her heart.

“By the way, I need you to do something for me.”

“What is it?”

…

The Yuan Mansion.

It was already late at night, but Yuan Xin was still awake with worry for Lu Liangwei.

Her servants had searched all the streets in the surrounding area, but Lu Liangwei was still nowhere to be found.

Just then, the housekeeper brought her a letter.

Yuan Xin took it. “Who is it from?”

“I have no idea. The doorkeeper gave it to me, but the sender said it’s for you,” the housekeeper replied.

“I see.” Yuan Xin nodded.

Once the housekeeper was gone, Yuan Xin opened the letter.

There were only a few lines written on it, revealing it to be a message from Lu Er.

The letter was signed off with Lu Er’s name.

Actually, Yuan Xin could tell that it was from Lu Er just from the handwriting.

After she finished reading the letter, her uneasy heart was finally relieved.

Lu Er told her not to worry as her servants had found her and she was now in a safe place.

At the same time, she reminded her to continue taking her medicine.

Yuan Xin’s heart warmed as she reread the letter.

She did not expect that Lu Er would remember her condition. At least she had not spent the whole night worrying about Lu Er for nothing.

With a smile, she tucked the letter away and turned in for the night.

…

The coaching inn.

It was already the next night when Wanyan Jin finally came to.

Bada was tending to him at his bedside. Seeing that he was awake, he hurriedly fetched him a cup of warm water.

Wanyan Jin instantly felt better after drinking the water. “What happened to me?”

“You were knocked out by that woman’s coma-inducing smoke.” Bada recounted the happenings of the previous night to him.

Wanyan Jin knitted his brow. “Did you send anyone to search for Lu Liangwei?”

“Yes, but they couldn’t find her. In fact, the Yuan Family and Prince Rui’s servants couldn’t find her either. I think she’s been rescued by someone else.”

“Rescued?” Wanyan Jin was taken aback and also disgruntled by his conclusion. Last night, he had been too careless with her, which had almost led to his own demise. If Bada had not appeared and saved him in time, there was no doubt that Lu Liangwei’s dagger would have penetrated his heart.

He had never been so careless, but this time, he had nearly fallen into a woman’s trap.

However, when he recalled the woman’s dazzling smile before he fell from his horse…

He narrowed his eyes.

He had underestimated her, after all!

Nevertheless, he was now even more determined to get his hands on her.

“Continue searching for her, and if necessary, ask the Yan Kingdom’s Emperor for help. Just tell him that my beloved concubine ran away and hid herself after fighting with me, and I need his help to search for her.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Bada answered obediently.

When Bada was gone, Wanyan Jin put his fist to his lips and coughed several times, then placed his hand on his heart.

What a beautiful and intelligent yet ruthless woman…

The imperial capital of Great Shang.

Lin Qingyuan had just returned home from the palace when she was informed by a servant that her father was waiting to see her in the front hall.

Lin Qingyuan was puzzled.

Lately, she had been spending very little time in the mansion.

Lu Liangwei had disappeared for quite some time, and there had been no news of her whereabouts up until now. Despite Lin Qingyuan’s worry, there was nothing else she could do except go to the palace and look after Lu Liangwei’s children.

Besides, she was also doing this to deceive outsiders into thinking that the Empress was still safe and sound in the palace.

For that reason, she had been spending less and less time in the mansion.

She followed the servant to the front hall. Sure enough, her father was waiting for her there.

“You called for me, Father?”

Instead of answering her directly, Minister Lin dismissed the servant before handing her a letter. “Take a look at this. Do you recognize the handwriting?”

“Who is it from?” Lin Qingyuan took it from him in bewilderment, but when she saw the handwriting on it, her jaw dropped.

Minister Lin tensed up at her reaction. “What’s wrong? Do you know who it’s from?”

Lin Qingyuan raised her head, revealing the tears on her face. She grabbed her father’s hand and said frantically, “Father, I have to go back to the palace.”