252 Unidentified Soldiers (2/2)

Li Xueyue didn't know what inclined her to feel anything for him. Maybe it was because he had always tried his best to help her, or maybe it was because she was an idiot. She decided it was the latter.

- - - - -

Li Xueyue thought Wen Jinkai would only lead her to the palace gates where she'd have to struggle to find a way home. He surprised her with his courtesy of actually escorting her home. Granted, they rode on his horse together, with his arms on either side of her body, but he didn't speak or touch her inappropriately.

”Xiao Yue!” Li Wenmin called out when he saw her on top of a large horse.

”There you are,” Li Wenmin breathed out. When she slid off the horse, he engulfed her. ”I was so worried you were stuck in the chaotic courts.”

Li Xueyue could hear the worry in his voice before she saw it on his face. His arms shook around her as if he was terrified by the thought of losing her.

Li Xueyue wrapped her arms around her brother, hugging him tightly. It had been a long day. His tender embrace reassured her that everything would be alright, even if it wasn't.

”Where are Mom and Dad?” Li Wenmin asked as he pulled back. He was too distracted by her to see Wen Jinkai urging his horse away from the manor. Only when the horse galloped off did Li Wenmin saw something.

”Who was that—”

”N-nevermind him,” Li Xueyue said, knowing what his reaction would be if he found out the truth. ”I haven't seen Mother and Father anywhere.”

”What do you mean?” Li Wenmin asked, ”How could you have returned home without their help?”

Li Xueyue opened her mouth and explained the entire story. She started with her court summon and then progressed to the unidentified soldiers barging into the Throne Room, then getting lost in the Palace chasing after Duchess Wang Qixing, and lastly, waking up unconscious near the Empress's lifeless body.

Li Xueyue thoroughly explained everything and didn't leave out a single detail, except the one about Wen Jinkai.

”I don't know what to say,” Li Wenmin muttered. He felt like he needed to sit down with the amount of information revealed. ”The Empress is dead… and you think Li Minghua is still alive?”

”Yes,” Li Xueyue said and nodded. ”I thought Mother was crazy when she said she saw Li Minghua in the distance. But when I got lost and wandered into the Empress's quarters, I clearly heard her address someone in the room as Minghua.”

Li Wenmin didn't even know where to begin. He was ecstatic at the news that Li Minghua was alive, but a part of him didn't believe it. The coincidence of her surviving that fire was surreal. It was a dream come true. He needed to see Minghua for himself to believe it.

”Are you sure the Empress is dead?” Li Wenmin asked as he began to usher her into the manor.

”I saw her dead body with my own eyes.” Li Xueyue cringed at the memory of the Empress's pale and blue body. ”Mother had rushed me out of that room when I woke up. Even now, I still don't know who attacked me from behind. It seems like they were trying to frame me for murder.”

Li Wenmin slowly nodded. ”The identity of that person is a mystery, but I agree.” He angrily clenched his fist, his face morphing into a deep scowl. Who the hell was trying to harm his precious sister? Whoever it was, they better prepare themselves. He won't leave them unscathed.

”Let's head inside now,” Li Wenmin said. ”Chenyang has been worrying himself to death at home. With the amount of pacing he did, there might as well have been a dent on our floors.”

Li Xueyue bit her bottom lip. ”I think none of us expected things to go south that quickly.”

”Yeah.” Li Wenmin let out a reluctant sigh. ”The plan was to get you and everyone else home as soon as possible. It's already nightfall. Mom and Dad still aren't home. I'm worried.”

”Mom had rushed me out of the Empress's room which was less than an hour or two ago. I think she'll be fine. It'll only be a matter of time before she and Dad return home.”

Li Wenmin placed a hand on her upper back and began to guide her inside the manor. ”I hope so.”