"Xue'er! In fact, you fell in love with Yun Haoxuan a long time ago, didn't you? You two have been acting all along!" Yun Lang said tentatively.
"Acting? We were just pretending to be in love, but why do you say that?"
"We are acting between us, but Yun Haoyu's feelings are genuine. I can clearly feel his love for you. He wouldn't lie to me!"
"You mean he likes me?" Murong Xue was a little surprised. "But why would he act? What's his motive?"
"Xue'er, he wouldn't harm you! I believe him!"
"But I am the Emperor's woman now. Wouldn't this be treason? He wouldn't be that foolish, would he?"
"Xue'er, he's not that foolish! He must have his reasons for acting this way. Regardless of his reasons, as long as I know he has no ill intentions, I won't expose him!"
"Yun Lang! Thank you!"
"What for? You are my fiancée, it's only natural that I protect you!"
"Mm! Yun Lang, from now on, please don't fight with Yun Haoxuan again. He's very annoying, but he's a prince, the future emperor. You shouldn't provoke him easily, lest you bring trouble upon yourself!"
"Xue'er, are you worried about me?" Yun Lang's eyes suddenly lit up.
"No! I just don't want you to suffer losses!"
Yun Lang's expression immediately darkened, "Does Yun Ling'er, like you, worry that he will bully me?"
"Yun Ling'er is just concerned about you!" Murong Xue quickly explained.
"Hmph, no matter what, Yun Ling'er is a woman, she will help Yun Haoxuan! Xue'er, you must never meet Yun Haoxuan again. He's a dangerous man, not worth your effort!"
"I know, I will try to avoid him!"
"Mm! It's good that you think so!"
As they spoke, the two arrived at the main hall of the Prime Minister's mansion.
At this moment, three people were seated in the main hall.
One was the Prime Minister, and the other two were Yun Ling'er's parents and elder brother.
"Father, Mother!" Yun Lang ran into the main hall and threw himself into the Prime Minister's embrace.
"Oh my! My son! You must have been terrified this time. Fortunately, you returned safe and sound! Father was so worried!" The Prime Minister hugged Yun Lang and wept, his tears soaking his robes.
"Father, don't worry, I'm fine! See, I'm standing right in front of you?" Yun Lang wiped away the tears from the Prime Minister's eyes, comforting him.
"Mm! My son has indeed grown up!" The Prime Minister patted Yun Lang's shoulder kindly. "You chat with your mother for a while, Father will change clothes and be right back!"
"Mm!" Yun Lang nodded obediently.
"Master! Madam! Second Young Master! You've returned!"
"Where is Xue'er?" the Prime Minister inquired.
"The madam has gone to the garden, saying she felt a bit stifled," the maid replied.
"Then go and call her back! I want to see where she's been fooling around!" the Old Madam said unhappily.
"Yes, Old Madam!"
A moment later, Murong Xue returned to the main hall.
"Greetings, Father, Mother!"
"Xue'er! Come and sit down quickly!" the Prime Minister beckoned.
"Thank you, Father, Mother!"
"What happened between you and Yun Haoxuan on the street today has spread throughout the capital. You are both famous figures now!" the Prime Minister said with emotion.
"Father, please don't tease Xue'er! This time, Yun Lang was trying to save me..."
"Father knows! You're worried that Yun Haoxuan will find fault with Yun Lang and have him beheaded!"
"Exactly! Yun Haoxuan is cunning. If he knew Yun Lang was with me, he would never let Yun Lang go! That's why I wanted Yun Lang to stay away from him, so he wouldn't discover Yun Lang!" Murong Xue said.
"Xue'er, I know you are worried about Yun Lang, but he is, after all, a descendant of the Yun family. No matter how powerful Yun Haoxuan is, he wouldn't dare lay a hand on a Yun family descendant, would he?"
"Father! It's not that Yun Haoxuan wants to deal with Yun Lang, it's that Yun Lang voluntarily stayed to protect me!" Murong Xue explained.
"What? You mean Yun Lang voluntarily offered to help Yun Haoxuan in this incident? That's impossible, isn't it? Although Yun Lang is smart, he's still young and wouldn't understand how to handle the treacherous dealings in the imperial court!"
"No! Yun Lang has grown up. Not only that, he is also an exceptionally talented martial artist!"
"What? Exceptionally talented? Can he really cultivate?"
"Yes! Yun Lang has already broken through to Spirit King!"
"Spirit King? That's too..."
"Indeed! His talent is truly exceptional!" Murong Xue marveled.
"No wonder Yun Haoxuan values Yun Lang so much!"
"Mm! Therefore, Father, please absolutely do not let Yun Lang clash with Yun Haoxuan!" Murong Xue said.
"Xue'er, don't worry! You know Yun Haoxuan's attitude towards me! If he dares to touch Yun Lang, I will never let it go!" the Prime Minister declared firmly.
"That's good then!" Murong Xue breathed a sigh of relief, then said, "Father, since Yun Lang is fine, I should be going now!"
"Going? Where are you going?" the Prime Minister was taken aback and asked in confusion.
"Of course, back to my maternal family. Yun Lang is injured, I must let them know I've returned!"
"Oh! That's good too! Yun Lang is injured, you can take care of him," the Prime Minister said.
"Mm!" Murong Xue turned and left.
Yun Lang watched Murong Xue's receding back, his eyes dimming slightly.
"Yun Lang, Xue'er is a good girl, you must cherish her!" the Prime Minister exhorted earnestly.
"Father! Daughter understands! I will!"
"You are both of age now! I think, while you are still young, you should get married!" the Prime Minister suggested.
"Marry? No!" Yun Lang immediately refused. "Yun Lang's purpose for returning this time is to find his sister's whereabouts. Once Yun Lang finds his sister, he will bring her back to the Yun family!"
"Yun Lang! Why are you so stubborn? Yun Lang's identity is special! He is of Yun family blood, and your brother. If you fall out with the Yun family, it will not be good for either of your reputations. Moreover, the Yun family's influence is growing stronger, and the Yun family will face increasing crises. Falling out with the Yun family will do you no good; on the contrary, it will be beneficial!" the Prime Minister persuaded earnestly.
"Father, daughter's mind is made up! Please grant my request!"
The Prime Minister shook his head helplessly.
"Since that is the case, then so be it! Yun Lang, you must promise Father that no matter when or where, you will not oppose Yun Haoxuan!" the Prime Minister said solemnly.
"Father, daughter promises you!"
"Mm!"
"Mother!"
"Mm? Is something wrong, Yun Lang?" the Old Madam frowned slightly.
"Mother, daughter wishes to return to the Prime Minister's mansion for a moment! I want to discuss some matters with Mother!"
"Mm! Alright! Then hurry and go! We will await your news!" the Old Madam agreed.
The Prime Minister and his wife watched Murong Xue's departing figure, both with expressions of relief. Their daughter had finally grown up!
Murong Xue returned to the Prime Minister's mansion and went straight to the Prime Minister and his wife's room.
The Prime Minister and his wife were discussing something in the room and were very happy to see Murong Xue return so suddenly.
"Xue'er, why have you returned so early?" the Prime Minister's wife asked in surprise.
"Back to Mother, Yun Lang sustained some minor injuries, so daughter returned first to check on him," Murong Xue replied.
"Is Yun Lang's injury very serious?" the Prime Minister asked with a frown.
"Mm! Very serious!"
"In that case, take him back to see a doctor," the Prime Minister said.
"Alright! Father, then I'll be leaving now!"
"Mm! Be careful on the road!"
"Understood, Mother! I'm leaving!"
"Go slowly on the road!"