When Zhang Wan slowly woke up on the bed, Zhao Shouzhen had been waiting by her side for a long time.
His eyes were full of concern, and his hands were clenched tightly, as if he were silently praying for something.
Zhang Wan opened her eyes, a hint of confusion flashing across them, followed by deep fear and worry.
"Is what Yun'er said true?" Zhang Wan's voice was weak and trembling.
Zhao Shouzhen nodded, a sorrowful expression on his face: "Wan'er, it's true. The Prince Rui's mansion was burned down, and the Eldest Princess is missing. This news has spread throughout the capital."
Zhang Wan's tears instantly streamed down her face. She clutched Zhao Shouzhen's sleeve tightly, as if trying to find some comfort in it: "Then what should we do? The Princess, the Princess actually..."
Zhao Shouzhen gently patted Zhang Wan's hand, trying to soothe her emotions: "Wan'er, don't worry. I've already sent people to find out the whereabouts of the Princess. Once we have information, I'll take you to visit her immediately."
Zhang Wan nodded, but tears kept streaming down her face.
She glanced at the doorway and asked, "Where's Yun'er?"
"I went back with my son-in-law," Zhao Shouzhen said, frowning.
He said carefully, "Wan'er, you have never met the Princess, yet you seem to be overly concerned about her affairs."
Zhang Wan gestured to Zhao Shouzhen to close the door.
“Master, there’s something I’ve been keeping from you…” Zhang Wan then revealed Zhao Zhi’s true identity.
Zhao Shouzhen was so shocked that he sat down on the edge of the bed and held Zhang Wan's hand tightly, saying, "Wan'er, you've suffered so much! I deserve to die for bearing such a big secret all by myself. I didn't even notice anything."
He looked at Zhang Wan, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He finally understood why Zhang Wan cared so much about the Princess. At the same time, he also realized the seriousness of this incident.
He held Zhang Wan's hand tightly, a resolute glint in his eyes: "Wan'er, no matter what happens, I will be by your side, helping you through this difficult time. Zhizhi's identity shouldn't be known to too many people. Let's move to Chaoyang County tomorrow. That's Zhizhi's fiefdom. We can't help her in other ways, but we can wait for her there. What do you say?"
Zhang Wan looked at Zhao Shouzhen, a hint of gratitude flashing in her eyes.
She took a deep breath, wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, and said to Zhao Shouzhen, "Okay, let's go to Chaoyang County and wait for news of Zhizhi together."
Zhao Shouzhen nodded, pulled Zhang Wan into his arms, and gazed thoughtfully out the window.
On Liujiang Street, horse-drawn carriages rumbled along the stone-paved road.
Inside the carriage, Zhao Yun and Li Huai'an sat side by side.
Zhao Yun pretended to be tired and tentatively leaned against Li Huai'an. Unexpectedly, Li Huai'an suddenly moved aside, and she almost bumped into the carriage.
Li Huai'an's obvious disgust made her feel extremely ashamed and embarrassed.
"Your mother-in-law is unconscious and you're already in such a hurry to leave?" Li Huai'an, who had been holding back for a while, finally couldn't help but retort.
"My lord, I was just worried that if I got back late, it would disturb your rest," Zhao Yun said gently, suppressing his anger.
“If it were Zhizhi, she definitely wouldn’t be as cold and indifferent as you!” Li Huai’an’s expression softened slightly when Zhao Zhi was mentioned.
"Yes, in your hearts, Zhizhi is filial, lively, cheerful, and sensible. But so what?" Zhao Yun sat up slightly, placing her hands folded on her knees, her tone tinged with a mocking smile. "She was jilted by Prince Rui, spends her days with a merchant, and now nobody knows where she's gone. Such a girl, and you—"
"Slap!" A loud slap suddenly rang out in the carriage.
Yu Ming and Li Ling, sitting outside the carriage, looked at each other, not daring to utter a sound.
Yu Ming thought to herself: Miss, you know perfectly well that the Second Miss is the young master's darling, so why do you still go out of your way to plant thorns in his heart?!
"Li Huai'an! You hit me?! How dare you hit me?!" Zhao Yun covered her burning face and glared fiercely at Li Huai'an.
"Zhao Yun, don't think I don't know what you're thinking!" Li Huai'an scoffed. "Ever since we were little, whenever I went to play with Zhizhi, you would hide in the side and watch. Whenever I gave Zhizhi some new and interesting toys, you would try every means to coax her to play with them."
As you grew older, you envied her for being bestowed upon Prince Rui, and you despised my status for not being as noble as Prince Rui's. You conspired with Zhao Rou to plot against me!
Later, your father resigned from his official post, and you were rejected by Prince Rui. Suddenly, you felt that I, Li Huai'an, was worthy of you again.
You've started trying so hard to please me? Too late! Let me tell you, Zhao Yun! I, Li Huai'an, am not a dog you can summon and dismiss at will!
Li Huai'an's words hit the nail on the head, and Zhao Yun blushed deeply. However, having one's secrets exposed was one thing, but admitting it was quite another.
She cried out in grievance, "Li Huai'an, you're bullying me! You only dare to bully me like this because my father resigned from his official post!"
Li Huai'an snorted coldly and ignored her.
The two awkwardly made their way back to the Duke's mansion.
Bai Wei was already waiting at the gate of the mansion. When she saw Zhao Yun coming down with her face covered, she hurriedly asked what had happened.
Zhao Yun sobbed, "It's alright, Mother-in-law, I just accidentally bumped my face."
"Then you'll have to be more careful from now on." Bai Wei gestured for Li Huai'an to help her up. "You shouldn't hit someone in the face, so you should be even more careful when walking so you don't bump your face."
Zhao Yun immediately stopped crying. No matter how she listened, she felt that her mother-in-law's words were a sarcastic remark directed at her.
“Mother, my mother-in-law fainted upon hearing the news of the Princess’s accident. She was still unconscious when we returned! If you have nothing to do tomorrow, please go and talk to her,” Li Huai’an reminded Bai Wei.
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