The Duke's Mansion.
As evening fell, Li Zan returned home looking exhausted. Li Huai'an followed behind his father, his face also etched with worry.
"What's wrong? You two look like wilted eggplants," Bai Wei teased, while instructing Bai Lian to quickly prepare dinner for the two of them.
"This morning at court, Prince Rui was stripped of his title and demoted to a commoner," Li Huai'an said weakly.
“Today at the Cabinet, I heard some news. Brother Zhao and Wan’er’s carriage was hijacked a month ago,” Li Zan sighed. “There were no signs of a struggle at the scene, so even if I wanted to find them, I’m helpless!”
"Wan'er—" Bai Wei exclaimed in surprise, closed her eyes, and fell backward stiffly.
Bai Wei's exclamation threw the entire Duke's mansion into chaos.
Li Zan and Li Huai'an rushed forward to help her up, and Bai Lian also hurriedly ran out of the kitchen, holding a bowl she had prepared to serve rice to Li Zan and Li Huai'an.
"What's wrong with Madam? Quick, call the royal physician!" Li Zan shouted anxiously.
With the help of Bai Lian and Li Zan, Bai Wei sat down in a chair. Her face was pale and her eyes were full of tears.
"Wei'er, are you alright?" Li Zan's voice was gentle yet firm as he tried to soothe his wife's emotions.
Bai Wei gently shook her head, her eyes slightly red, and said with remorse, "I... I was just too worried about Wan'er. It's all my fault. If I hadn't sent An'er to deliver the silver notes, they might not have met with this misfortune!"
Upon hearing this, Li Huai'an felt a mix of emotions. He gently comforted her, "Mother, don't say that. This matter has nothing to do with you; those thieves were just too cunning. What we need to do now is find my father-in-law and the others as soon as possible and ensure their safety."
Bai Lian had just brought in some warm medicine. Seeing this, she quickly stepped forward and handed the medicine to Bai Wei, gently advising, "Madam, drink some medicine to calm your mind. Your health is the most important thing. Young Master is right; the most urgent task is to find the person."
Bai Wei took the medicine bowl and drank it all in one gulp. The bitter taste spread on her tongue, but it also seemed to make her much more awake.
She took a deep breath, her gaze hardening: "Yes, I can't fall. An'er, immediately send people to inquire at all the major medical clinics and inns in the capital, and also send people to search outside the city. In addition, notify our friends in the martial arts world to see if they have any clues."
Li Huai'an nodded in agreement and immediately turned to make the arrangements.
Bai Wei turned to look at Li Zan, her eyes flashing with unwavering determination: "My lord, this matter is probably not simple. Prince Rui has been demoted, and Brother Zhao and his wife have been kidnapped. There may be some connection between the two. You should pay close attention in the cabinet and look for any clues related to this matter."
Li Zan pondered for a moment, then nodded in agreement: "Madam is right. I will carefully inquire with my colleagues after the morning court tomorrow, and at the same time, I will have the secret guards in the mansion take action to ensure that we have the latest information."
"Bai Lian, go and inform the young mistress and Aunt Rou to come to me immediately."
After much deliberation, Bai Wei decided to tell Zhao Yun and Zhao Rou about the disappearance of Zhao Shouzhen and his wife.
Bai Lian departed upon hearing this.
Zhao Yun and Zhao Rou had no idea what had happened that their mother-in-law had summoned them so urgently in the middle of the night. But their intuition told them it couldn't be anything good.
Because Bai Lian's face looked very unpleasant.
Bai Yunxiang was also whispering something to Liu Mei. After talking for a while, they glanced at Zhao Yun with sympathetic eyes.
"Mother-in-law, what brings you to call Yun'er so late at night?" Zhao Yun bowed gracefully upon seeing Bai Wei.
Zhao Rou stood timidly behind Zhao Yun, also curtsied, and asked with concern, "I noticed that Mother-in-law doesn't look well. Is she feeling unwell?"
Bai Wei's probing gaze shifted from Zhao Rou to Zhao Yun.
In an instant, she suddenly understood why Zhang Wan was unwilling to say goodbye to Zhao Yun, the eldest daughter of the legitimate wife, before leaving.
In this daughter-in-law's eyes, only things related to her own vital interests are considered; everything else is automatically ignored and disregarded.
She recalled the slap Zhao Yun received on the day she returned to her parents' home, and silently thought to herself, "A daughter-in-law like that deserves to be beaten. If she is so cold and heartless towards her own mother, she is even less likely to be filial to her mother-in-law."
Bai Wei raised her head, looked at Zhao Rou, and said in a gentle tone, "It's alright. I've invited you two young people here so late tonight because there's something urgent. I received some bad news today. Your father and mother were kidnapped on their way to Chaoyang County. Although the news says the kidnappers didn't kill anyone else, I'm still uneasy..."
Before she could finish speaking, Zhao Rou collapsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably. "I've lost my birth mother and relied entirely on my mother and father's teachings. I thought that even if they moved to Chaoyang County, home would always be where they were. But if something happens to my parents, I'll truly have no family left!"
"Aunt Rou!" Zhao Yun frowned and scolded her unhappily, "Don't lose your composure in front of your mother-in-law and the maids!"
"Elder sister, I don't want this either, but I'm so scared!" Zhao Rou sobbed uncontrollably, her voice choked with emotion. "If there's no news of second sister, and something happens to Father and Mother, our family will really fall apart!"
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Zhao Yun angrily bent down and grabbed Zhao Rou's arm. "We've already married into the Duke's mansion, this is our home!"
Bai Wei coldly observed all of this, but in her heart she was thinking: Although Aunt Rou didn't have the airs of a well-bred lady, she certainly revealed her true nature. Zhao Yun spoke only beautiful words, but not a single one of them showed any concern for the lives of her parents and sisters.
She sighed softly and shook her head in disappointment.
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