Xiao Huaijin patted her back reassuringly, then turned to Yao Zhan beside him and said, "General Yao, take half of the troops and go check ahead. I'll take her back first."

"Xiao Huaijin, I want to too—"

"Jiaojiao, you've finally escaped danger, I absolutely won't let you go back." Xiao Huaijin reached out and touched Shen Yunjiao's cheek, interrupting her before sighing and saying.

"It's all my fault."

Shen Yunjiao's heart fluttered, and a warm and tender feeling instantly spread through her. She shook her head and quickly said, "I'm the one who was wrong. I shouldn't have gone to find Yelü Qi. I wonder how he is now."

As she spoke, her eyes reddened again.

Upon hearing this, a cold glint flashed in Xiao Huaijin's eyes. "He couldn't even handle his own family affairs properly, and instead dragged you into it. Why do you care about him?"

Shen Yunjiao was stunned for a moment, then fell silent.

Upon seeing this, Xiao Huaijin took a deep breath and reassured him in a low voice, "Don't worry, General Yao is leading his troops there. He will be fine."

Although he disliked Shen Yunjiao's concern for other men, he didn't want her to feel guilty.

"Let's go back."

Xiao Huaijin mounted his horse and extended his long, slender, pale hand to Shen Yunjiao, saying, "I'll take you back."

Shen Yunjiao couldn't help but look back before following Xiao Huaijin back.

The sound of hooves rang out again, and Xiao Huaijin, carrying Shen Yunjiao in his arms, galloped back to the capital.

Originally, Xiao Huaijin saw that Shen Yunjiao's complexion was not good and wanted to return to the Shen residence first.

But Shen Yunjiao gazed at him with bright eyes and said that she wanted to stay at the East Palace tonight.

Xiao Huaijin was taken aback; Shen Yunjiao seemed somewhat different from usual.

She never usually asks to spend time with him; instead, he's the one who always clings to her.

Perhaps it was because she had just been frightened and was afraid to be alone.

Xiao Huaijin naturally wouldn't refuse Shen Yunjiao's request. He nodded, turned his horse around, and headed straight for the palace.

He kept his eyes fixed ahead, ignoring the growing tension in Shen Yunjiao's eyes.

The night was cool as water, and the moon was as white as snow.

Xiao Huaijin led Shen Yunjiao through the palace gate and back to the Feihua Palace in the East Palace.

Upon entering the hall, Shen Yunjiao softly requested Xiao Huaijin, "I wish to take a bath."

She was covered in blood and mud, and smelled terrible, yet Xiao Huaijin had just been holding her tightly like a treasure, showing no disgust whatsoever.

Xiao Huaijin nodded upon hearing this. He ordered the palace servants to prepare water, and then went out to the side hall.

Nanfeng was waiting for his master with his head bowed in the side hall. When he saw Xiao Huaijin enter the hall, he immediately stepped forward and bowed.

"Has the Prince of Guangping returned?" Xiao Huaijin shook his wide sleeves, picked up a cup of tea from the table and drank it all in one gulp, then looked up at Nanfeng.

Nanfeng lowered his eyes and said, "Your Majesty, the Prince of Guangping has already been persuaded to return by the Prince of Yan."

"That's good." Xiao Huaijin put down the cup in his hand.

"Your Majesty, is Miss Shen alright?" Nanfeng couldn't help but ask cautiously. "If you hadn't had an appointment with the Second Prince of the Northern Barbarians tonight, we would never have known that Miss Shen had been kidnapped by those Northern Barbarians."

"They had it all planned out. Knowing that the Prince of Guangping had a well-trained army left in the capital, they deliberately sent assassins to the Prince of Guangping's residence. Once the Prince of Guangping found out, he would definitely bring his troops to the palace to cause trouble. At that time, I would be distracted by other matters, and they would naturally be able to make their move against Yelü Qi."

Nanfeng sighed and said, "But why would Miss Shen appear at the Honglu Temple Inn?"

Xiao Huaijin's eyes darkened. "Didn't you hear what Shi Man said? The poison he planted was a secret medicine of the Northern Hu—Snake Entangling Vine. I guess Yun Jiao went to question Yelü Qi, didn't she?"

Xiao Huaijin had always known that Shen Yunjiao had actually had several private dealings with Yelü Qi.

He wasn't a jealous person, and he believed that Shen Yunjiao wouldn't do anything to betray him, so naturally he wouldn't interfere.

However, Yelü Qi is truly despicable. Not only did he fail to protect Shen Yunjiao, but he also put her in danger.

Thinking of this, Xiao Huaijin's face darkened to a frightening degree.

He reached into his sleeve and took out a colorful rope tied with pink jade—the one Shen Yunjiao always wore on her wrist.

If it weren't for being held up by the army of the Prince of Guangping, Yelü Qi wouldn't have arrived at the inn so late.

On the way, he received a message from the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies, saying that the entire Northern Hu delegation had been wiped out, and only a pink rope was found in the pavilion.

At that time, he knew that Shen Yunjiao was in trouble, and that she was very likely suffering the same fate as Yelü Qi.

So he immediately sent Yao Zhan out of the city with him to search for their whereabouts.

Fortunately, they finally found Shen Yunjiao.

Otherwise he'll go crazy.

Nanfeng knew that His Majesty was unhappy about Miss Shen's matter, so he spoke up to comfort him, "Your Majesty, I guess Miss Shen was only in danger because she wanted to give an explanation to Prince Guangping. Now that she has returned safely, Your Majesty should be happy."

Xiao Huaijin said calmly, "You're right."

"It's fortunate that Prince Yan stopped Prince Guangping this time and explained the identity of the assassin to the prince, which is why the prince was willing to return to the manor. Otherwise, if this matter had blown up, the royal family would have suffered a complete loss of face," Nanfeng said, cupping his hands in greeting.

Xiao Huaijin said coldly, "The Prince of Guangping still doesn't believe me. Let him explain after we find Yelü Qi." He paused, then added, "Yan Shiman did a good job this time. I intend to reward him with something. Do you have any good ideas?"

Needless to say, Yan Shiman had no shortage of gold and silver jewelry, and he had also expressed his desire to enter officialdom and take the imperial examinations.

Xiao Huaijin wanted to give him a different kind of reward.

Nanfeng touched his nose, a little awkwardly, and said, "I think His Majesty has already given the Crown Prince a reward."

Xiao Huaijin was taken aback at first, then blinked and asked, "You mean... the North Wind?"

Nanfeng nodded somewhat awkwardly, "The young master asked me to leave you a message before he left today, saying that he wants to bring Beifeng to the palace to be his, his personal bodyguard."

Xiao Huaijin smiled faintly, "If Beifeng is willing, then I grant your permission."

Nanfeng coughed softly, "Brother Beifeng is naturally willing."

When he saw the North Wind today, he realized that everyone's eyes were practically glued to Prince Yan.

Nanfeng felt a chill run down his spine. He never expected that his brother Beifeng, with whom he spent every day, was actually a hidden version of a short-sleeved shirt.

It would be a lie to say I wasn't shocked.

But His Majesty doesn't care at all, so why should I be bothered?

Unexpectedly, Bei Feng actually caught the eye of Prince Yan.

The arrangements of God are truly wondrous!

While Nanfeng was lost in thought, Xiao Huaijin strode towards the main hall.

When Nanfeng came to her senses and tried to follow, Xiao Huaijin deliberately cleared his throat.

He remained calm and said to Nanfeng in a flat tone, "Nanfeng, you should go back now and stop bothering me here."

Nanfeng suddenly realized that he had been a bit tactless, his face flushed red, and he bowed his head respectfully and replied, "Yes."

When he walked out of the palace, he also dismissed all the palace servants inside, leaving only the guards to patrol outside the East Palace.