Seeing Xu Jiujiu's expression change abruptly, Dai Youheng knew the moment had come. The smile on his face slowly froze, giving way to confusion and unease. "What's wrong, Your Highness?" he asked tentatively. "Don't you like the gift?"
"N-no, that's not it." Xu Jiujiu struggled to speak, avoiding his gaze. "Youheng, you've only just returned to the city, so you probably haven't heard. Your mother and brother-they've been involved in an incident. You must prepare yourself."
"Prepare myself?" Dai Youheng repeated in astonishment, the confusion on his face swiftly replaced by anxiety. "An incident? What happened? Your Highness, what are you talking about? What happened to my mother and Luo Li? Tell me!"
His voice rose involuntarily, carrying just the right amount of trembling.
Knowing she could no longer conceal it, Xu Jiujiu took a deep breath and pulled out a soul-tool image scroll containing a copy of the recording. Her fingers trembled slightly as she unfurled it.
It clearly recorded the conversation in which Zhu Man and Dai Yueheng had plotted to capture Bai Wanning and her son.
"Zhu Man sent people to seize your mother and Luo Li. She wanted to secretly send them to the Zhu Family as hostages, but-" Xu Jiujiu's voice was heavy with sorrow. "But during the journey, the carriage exploded violently. The scene was too horrific to bear. Your mother and brother-they didn't make it out."
The images and words struck Dai Youheng like a thunderbolt out of a clear sky.
He staggered back three steps, his face turning as white as paper in an instant. His pupils contracted sharply, as though he could neither understand nor accept this horrifying news. His lips quivered as he muttered, "N-no, impossible. This can't be true! Mother and Luo Li, they couldn't have-"
The next moment,