Just then, a series of hurried footsteps broke the silence of the night. The footsteps echoed clearly in the quiet corridor, like the drumbeats of fate, striking at everyone's heart. The Prime Minister and his wife, hearing the commotion, rushed over. They were dressed casually, their hair slightly disheveled, their faces filled with worry.
The Prime Minister entered the room first, his eyes anxiously searching for Lin Qian. When he saw Lin Qian sitting safely in a chair, a huge weight lifted from his heart, but the concern in his eyes remained undiminished. "Qian'er, are you alright?" The Prime Minister quickly walked to Lin Qian's side, carefully examining her from head to toe, his eyes filled with worry. His brows were furrowed, and the wrinkles on his face appeared even deeper in the lamplight, as if they were marks left by time, recording his worries and vicissitudes.
Lin Qian forced a smile, trying to reassure her father: "Dad, I'm fine, just a little tired." Her voice was slightly hoarse, revealing her exhaustion. However, her eyes revealed a firmness and composure, as if telling her father that she was capable of handling these difficulties and challenges.
The Prime Minister's wife entered the room shortly after, her eyes filled with love and tenderness. She hurried along, heading straight for Lin Qian. "Qian'er, my precious daughter, you've worried me so much!" she said, walking to Lin Qian's side and gently stroking her hair. Her movements were incredibly gentle, as if Lin Qian were the most precious treasure in the world, and she feared that even the slightest force would harm her.
The Prime Minister's wife hugged Lin Qian tightly, gently patting her back, and kept murmuring, "My Qian'er, you've suffered so much. That Prince Ning is truly heartless! Thank goodness you're alright, otherwise how could I live!" Her voice trembled slightly, and tears welled up in her eyes, a mother's deep love and worry for her daughter.
Lin Qian nestled in her mother's warm embrace, feeling the deep love within her. Her heart warmed, and her eyes welled up with tears. She knew that no matter what difficulties she faced, her parents would always be her strongest support. "Dad, Mom, I'm sorry to have worried you," she said, her voice slightly choked with emotion. In this unfamiliar world, her parents' love was the warmest harbor in her heart, giving her courage and strength to face difficulties and challenges.
The Prime Minister frowned, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes, as he surveyed the mess in the room. He looked around, trying to find clues in the chaos. The overturned furniture, the broken porcelain, and the tense atmosphere in the air all made him realize the seriousness of the situation. "What happened?" the Prime Minister asked in a low, serious voice, hoping Lin Qian could give him a reasonable explanation.
Lin Qian took a deep breath, composed herself, and then recounted Liu Xu's story in detail. Her narration was clear and organized, explaining the course of events and her analysis step by step. From the struggle with the shadowy figure, to discovering that the figure was Liu Xu, to the conversation with Liu Xu, and finally the subjugation, she didn't omit any detail.
Upon hearing this, the Prime Minister's expression grew increasingly grave. "The Prince of Ning is so insidious, using a mere maid to deal with us." His eyes revealed anger and worry; the Prince of Ning's actions filled him with rage. He knew all too well that the Prince of Ning was ambitious, and this incident was just the beginning. If precautions weren't taken, the consequences would be unimaginable. "Qian'er, you've done well. But we cannot let our guard down. The Prince of Ning will not let this go easily." The Prime Minister's voice was firm and resolute. He decided to strengthen the defenses of the Prime Minister's residence to prevent another attack from the Prince of Ning.
Lin Qian nodded, understanding her father's worries. "Father, I will be careful. We must find a way to expose Prince Ning's conspiracy and not let his scheme succeed." Her eyes shone with determination; she was determined to fight Prince Ning to the end to protect herself and her family.
Just then, a guard rushed over, his face showing a hint of anxiety. "Prime Minister, we just discovered some suspicious traces outside the mansion. It seems someone is watching us."
The Prime Minister's face grew even more grim; he realized the seriousness of the situation had exceeded his expectations. "Strengthen patrols outside the palace; do not allow anyone to take advantage of the situation," he decisively ordered.
The night was as dark as ink, so thick it seemed impossible to dissolve, yet the Crown Prince's residence was brightly lit, a stark contrast to the darkness. In the study, His Highness the Crown Prince, dressed in magnificent robes, sat at his desk, his face grave, a hint of anxiety in his eyes.
"Your Highness, we have just received news that Miss Lin Qian of the Prime Minister's residence was assassinated by a maid of Prince Ning tonight." The subordinate reported respectfully with his head bowed, his voice particularly clear in the quiet study.
Upon hearing this, His Highness the Crown Prince paused abruptly, his brows furrowing tightly, and a hint of worry flashed in his eyes: "Is Lin Qian injured?" His voice carried a trace of urgency, clearly indicating that he cared deeply about this news.
"Your Highness, it is said that Miss Lin Qian only suffered some superficial injuries and is otherwise fine," the subordinate hurriedly replied, secretly relieved that the news was not too bad.
His Highness the Crown Prince breathed a slight sigh of relief, and his tense body relaxed a little. But then his face darkened further, and a flash of anger appeared in his eyes: "How dare Prince Ning be so audacious as to send a maid to assassinate Lin Qian!" His voice was full of rage, and his fists clenched involuntarily.
"Your Highness, there is another piece of news. We have discovered that the Prince of Ning in the imperial prison is a double. The real Prince of Ning has already joined up with the army and is heading towards the capital." The subordinate's voice was tinged with tension, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
The Crown Prince turned around abruptly, grabbed his subordinate by the collar, and his eyes were filled with rage that seemed about to burst forth: "The Prince of Ning has rebelled? How dare he!" He gritted his teeth, and every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth.
The subordinate answered tremblingly, "Prince Ning... Prince Ning seems to have planned this all along. He secretly cultivated his power and won over the hearts of the people. Now that he has gained enough influence, he..."
"Useless!" The Crown Prince shoved his subordinate aside and roared, "A bunch of useless trash! The Prince of Ning has made such a huge commotion, and you're all completely unaware! What use are you to me?!"
The subordinate was so frightened that he knelt down on the ground, trembling all over, and dared not utter a word.
The Crown Prince's chest heaved violently as he suppressed his rage and tried to calm himself. He walked to the window, gazing at the dark night outside, a ruthless glint in his eyes. "Prince Ning, since you're so eager to die, don't blame me for being impolite!"
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