Leng Qi was caught off guard and his arm was slashed, causing him to freeze in pain.
"Young Master!" Chun Tao screamed in fright.
With a loud bang, the courtyard gate was violently kicked open from the outside!
"By imperial decree, arrest the wanted criminal! Everyone, surrender!" Xu Heming took the lead, holding the imperial decree, and led the fierce Imperial Guards in, instantly filling the small courtyard to capacity.
Xu Heming's gaze was like lightning. He swept across the courtyard and immediately locked onto Li Zhiwei, whose clothes were slightly disheveled, who was holding a blood-stained gold hairpin and whose face was pale, as well as Leng Qi in front of her, who was acting crazy and whose arm was bleeding.
"Zhiwei!" Xu Heming's heart tightened, and he immediately stepped forward to hug Li Zhiwei, gently comforting her, "I'm late, I'm sorry you were frightened."
Xu Heming's actions undoubtedly confirmed Li Zhiwei's identity and completely shattered Leng Qi and Chun Tao's last shred of hope.
Leng Qi's face turned ashen, his legs gave way, and he collapsed to the ground.
Chun Tao was so frightened that her eyes rolled back and she fainted.
"Your Highness Prince An." When Li Zhiwei saw the familiar face, her tense nerves finally relaxed. The huge emotional shock of surviving the ordeal made her sway and almost collapse. The hairpin in her hand also fell to the ground with a "clang".
Xu Heming quickly helped Li Zhiwei up and ordered his female guards to support her. At the same time, he said sternly, "Take her away! We'll deal with her after we report to the Emperor!"
"Yes!" The Imperial Guards responded with a bang, and stepped forward to tie up the distraught Leng Qi as if he were a chick. The others also quickly subdued all the maids and servants in the courtyard.
"Zhiwei, are you alright? Are you injured?" Xu Heming asked with concern, still feeling lingering fear.
If something were to really happen to Li Zhiwei, he couldn't even imagine how Li Tianyou would react, or how the Emperor would explain it.
"I...I'm fine." Li Zhiwei shook her head, her voice still trembling slightly, but she tried her best to remain calm. "Thank you for your timely rescue, Your Highness."
"I'm glad you're alright." Xu Heming breathed a sigh of relief, then said, "My father-in-law is still waiting for news in the palace. Shall I have someone send you back to your residence first?"
Upon hearing this, Li Zhiwei was taken aback. She didn't actually want to return to Prince An's residence first, but considering that the Emperor and her father were waiting for news in the palace, she nodded in agreement.
The Imperial Palace, the Golden Throne Hall.
News of finding Leng Qi quickly spread.
"Your Majesty, Prince An has found Miss Li in the courtyard next to the Leng family's residence. Miss Li is safe and sound, though slightly frightened. The culprit, Leng Qi, has been sent to prison to await Your Majesty's judgment!" the guard reported loudly.
"Good! Good! It's good that Miss Li is alright!" Zhu Jingchen breathed a long sigh of relief, and his tense expression finally relaxed.
Otherwise, he would have just accepted the dowry, and then the person was humiliated. Wouldn't that be a slap in his own face?
"Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you for your great favor!" Li Tianyou was overjoyed and wept, kowtowing repeatedly, finally feeling a huge weight lifted from his heart.
The officials and ministers sighed inwardly, and at the same time realized more clearly that the newly appointed Vice Minister Li and his daughter probably held a more important place in the Emperor's heart than they had imagined.
"Minister Li, you should leave the palace immediately. I'm sure Miss Li needs you very much right now. I'll have Eunuch Liu take you there later." Zhu Jingchen knew that Li Tianyou must also be eager to see Li Zhiwei, so he quickly said.
After all, it would be easier to handle the following matters without Li Tianyou present.
"Yes! Your subject obeys! Your subject takes his leave!" Li Tianyou was eager to return home at this moment, and quickly bowed and withdrew.
Zhu Jingchen's gaze swept back over the silent officials in the palace, his voice returning to its icy tone: "Leng Chaoyuan has failed in his duty to his son, allowing him to commit violence, even forcibly abducting a woman at the palace gate. This is utterly lawless and unforgivable! Such behavior, once verified, must be dealt with severely!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
