Over here, Ren Yong'an gathered his emotions, his eyes filled with tears, his steps grew smaller and smaller, and he sobbed softly, as if he had suffered a great injustice.

Lu Xiaoyun stopped and asked, "What's wrong? Why are you crying? Is it because of this woman 'Lu Xiaoyun'? Don't worry, I will not let her off easily."

Ren Yong'an carefully tugged at Lu Xiaoyun's sleeve, wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, and said softly, "Brother Yu, Sister must have misunderstood Yong'an. Today, when the Empress punished her, Yong'an swore that she really pleaded for her. Brother Yu, you have to believe Yong'an. But, but Yong'an is too stupid and doesn't know how to speak properly. Maybe the Empress misunderstood. It's all Yong'an's fault."

Lu Xiaoyun shuddered, realizing what Ren Yong'an was worried about.

So she patted Ren Yong'an's hand and said, "You're too kind. This woman has only herself to blame. How could I possibly make things difficult for you because of this woman? Don't worry."

Ren Yong'an's eyes were filled with tears: "Really? If sister says something bad about Yong'an, will brother Yu believe her or Yong'an?"

Lu Xiaoyun pulled Ren Yong'an into her arms and chuckled, "How could I believe his words? Don't worry. I won't believe a single word he says. In my heart, you will always be someone I can trust."

Pah! How disgusting!

Ren Yong'an slowly exhaled. She knew that as long as she acted as if she had suffered a great injustice, Zhu Yu, that fool, would believe her unconditionally.

Just like on the day of the palace banquet, she clutched her handkerchief tightly, tears streaming down her face, her fingertips turning white, and her complexion becoming deathly pale. This forced Zhu Yu to marry Lu Xiaoyun while simultaneously feeling guilty towards her.

Upon arriving at the manor gate, Lu Xiaoyun helped Ren Yong'an into the carriage, and then she herself boarded the carriage as well: "I will escort you back to the manor."

Ren Yong'an was startled. She had already achieved her goal, so why did he still want to stay by her side?

As the tall figure of "Prince An" approached, Ren Yong'an felt extremely uneasy. What if he did something to her in the carriage?

No, she couldn't do anything to betray her brother, the Crown Prince.

Ren Yong'an gripped the handkerchief tightly in her hand and tried her best to soften her voice: "Brother Yu, I'm fine. You're busy with official duties, so you should go ahead and do your work. With Qinglian here, Yong'an will be alright."

Lu Xiaoyun smiled faintly, reached out and put her arm around Ren Yong'an's slender waist, pulling him into her embrace: "I am currently recuperating in the manor and have no official duties. Since you are not feeling well, I will send you back today. I was wrong before, and I will try to spend more time with you from now on."

Ren Yong'an trembled slightly. She had never been alone with Zhu Yu before, let alone been so close to him.

Even if she had no choice, she would have maids by her side. But now, Qinglian has been driven out. What if someone sees her on her way from the Prince An's residence to the Prime Minister's residence and reports it to her brother, the Crown Prince?

Ren Yong'an sat up straight, got out of Lu Xiaoyun's arms, and was no longer the person who had almost fainted just now: "Brother Yu, I'm much better now, it's okay, your injuries haven't fully healed yet..."

"The most important thing now is for you to recover from your injuries as soon as possible, otherwise what will happen to the 200,000 Northern Army soldiers? Brother Yu, will you still lead the Northern Army back to the Northwest? Can you talk to the Emperor and have the Northern Army stationed in the outskirts of the capital, and transfer the Xishan Military Camp to guard the Northwest border?"

Ren Yong'an paused for a moment before saying softly, "Yong'an doesn't want to leave Brother Yu anymore."

Lu Xiaoyun's lips curled into a barely perceptible sneer. So this was what she was waiting for after all that talk. The Xishan Military Camp was in the hands of the Duke of England and was loyal to the Third Prince. Her purpose in having "Prince An" transfer the Third Prince's troops was obvious.

"This matter will be arranged by my father. My most important thing now is to marry you."

Ren Yong'an tightened his grip on the handkerchief. What was wrong with Zhu Yu today? Didn't he promise when he returned to Shengjing two months ago that he would find an opportunity to talk to the Emperor about it?

That's enough, we can't rush things. If we arouse his suspicion, it would be a real loss.

Seeing that "Prince An's" body was about to get closer again, and with nowhere left to retreat in the cramped carriage, she panicked.

"Your Highness, Her Majesty requests your presence." Yuan Xiu's voice rang out from outside the carriage.

Ren Yong'an felt that Yuan Xiu's originally effeminate and sharp voice sounded like heavenly music at this moment.

Lu Xiaoyun glanced at Ren Yong'an without showing any emotion, and said to Yuan Xiu outside the carriage, "Go and report to Mother Consort that I will escort Yong'an back to the Left Prime Minister's residence. He will pay his respects to Mother Consort after we return."

Before Yuan Xiu could speak, Ren Yong'an hurriedly said, "Brother Yu, you should go quickly. The Empress may have something urgent to discuss with you."

"It's alright, it won't take long."

Ren Yong'an was so anxious that his face turned red. He wished he could kick this tall and burly man out of the carriage. How could this man be like a shameless scoundrel?

So annoying.

“Brother Yu, Yong’an also wishes she could be with you every moment, but Princess Consort just displeased Her Majesty. If she knew that Yong’an was also so insensible, wouldn’t she also displease Her Majesty and dislike Yong’an?”

"Ha!" Lu Xiaoyun chuckled.

"Alright then, go back to your residence and rest. If you feel unwell anywhere, please have the imperial physician come to see you immediately. I will visit you at the Left Prime Minister's residence whenever I have time."

Ren Yong'an was overjoyed, but dared not show it on his face. He only shyly and playfully scolded her, "Brother Yu~~"

Lu Xiaoyun almost vomited on the carriage.

Seeing "Prince An" get off the carriage and walk towards the mansion, Ren Yong'an finally breathed a sigh of relief, and his back was covered in cold sweat.

"Miss." Qinglian climbed into the carriage and asked worriedly when she saw that her young mistress's face was pale.

Ren Yong'an closed his eyes, leaned his whole body against the carriage wall, and then said coldly, "Tell the driver to hurry up and return to the manor."

"Yes," Qinglian said to the driver and returned to the carriage.

She pursed her lips and said timidly, "Miss, Mei Lan, she, she..."

Mei Lan was the maid who was punished by Lu Xiaoyun to be flogged.

Ren Yong'an's eyes turned cold, and his icy gaze was like needles fixed on Qinglian: "What, do you want to take the beating for her!"

Qinglian trembled violently in fright.

"That idiot can't even speak properly, what use is she to me! Even if Zhu Yu beats her to death today, it's just bad luck for her."

Qinglian huddled in a corner, trembling with fear, and dared not say another word.

Half an hour later, the carriage returned to the Left Prime Minister's residence.

Ren Yong'an lifted the curtain and got out of the carriage. As soon as she stepped into the inner courtyard, she saw the Left Prime Minister Ren Yushan sitting in her courtyard with a gloomy face.

Ren Yong'an's heart skipped a beat: "Father."

"Where did you go?" Ren Yushan stared at Ren Yong'an with cold, hard eyes on his deeply lined face.

"They went to Prince An's residence."

"Did you get any information from Prince An?"