Chapter 946 Whereabouts Unknown
"Charity cemetery?" Rong Yue frowned.
Xue Ru stood aside and whispered, "What is Sister Qin doing at the charity cemetery?"
Yue Jian shook her head. "I don't know either. The last time Madam Qin's secret guard came back with a message saying that Madam Qin's junior fellow apprentice had encountered a very strange illness. Madam Qin was unable to return because she and her junior fellow apprentice were treating the patient."
"The disease has some symptoms of the plague and is easily contagious. Several people have died before. Madam Qin and her fellow apprentice placed the patients in a separate farm, sealing the doors and windows and not allowing the secret guards to approach. However, Madam Qin would send out news every two or three days."
"A few days ago, Madam Qin told them that the patients had improved and their symptoms were almost resolved. She should be able to return to the capital two weeks before the madam gave birth, but who knew something unexpected would happen."
The secret guards were ordered to follow Madam Qin just to protect her, not to monitor her. Madam Qin said that the disease was contagious and did not allow them to get close. They had no choice but to leave the manor and leave two people to guard near the manor, delivering some food and drink to the manor every two or three days.
The secret guard who had delivered the things three days ago never returned. It was not until the next day that the others realized something was wrong. They hurried to the manor and found that Madam Qin and her junior brother were missing. The secret guard had left a clue, and they followed the clue and found the charity cemetery.
"When our men rushed over, there was only the body of the secret guard in the cemetery. Madam Qin and her fellow apprentice were gone."
Yue Jian's expression was somewhat serious. "There are signs of a fight in the charity cemetery, and we also found the needle bag that Madam Qin usually used. The secret guard left a mark before he died. He seemed to want to say something, but was interrupted. Madam Qin and the others were most likely taken away because they encountered danger."
Rong Yue and Xue Ru both thought about it when they heard it.
Although Madam Qin is only a doctor, after living with them for such a long time, she and they have long been like close relatives. Madam Qin saved Tang Ning, Rong Yue, and Xue Ru. Her medical skills have saved countless lives, and she never hides her medical skills, which makes her respected by everyone.
Now that Madam Qin is in trouble, how can we not be worried?
Rong Yue said in a deep voice, "Send someone to look for them immediately. Check the charity cemetery and the area around the previous village. Madam Qin and her junior brother definitely wouldn't have gone to the charity cemetery without a reason. Check the patients as well, and Madam Qin's junior brother. Don't miss any clues."
Xue Ru stood aside and said, "I'll leave the palace later and look for Feng Qi. Feng Qi's aunt married into the Qingwu Sect. The Feng family has some connections in the martial arts world."
"Everyone knows that Madam Qin is a distinguished guest in the palace and a close friend of my sister. Now, someone dares to kidnap her. I'm afraid they are already on guard against the people sent by the court. I will tell Feng Qi to ask the Feng family to look for people in the martial arts world. Maybe they can find Sister Qin's whereabouts."
After she finished speaking, she turned to Yue Jian and said:
"My sister is about to give birth. Don't tell her about this for now, so she doesn't worry."
Yue Jian hesitated after hearing this, then nodded: "Okay, I will keep this a secret from the Empress for now."
…
Xue Ru hurried out of the palace on the pretext of having something to do outside the palace. When she found Feng Chiyu, the seventh son of the Feng family, she explained her purpose, and Feng Chiyu agreed immediately.
The Black Armor Guards had already sent people to search everywhere, and after the Feng family sent a message, the people in the martial arts world in the cities near the charity cemetery also took action. However, Madam Qin and her junior brother seemed to have disappeared, and there was no news at all.
After four days, Xue Ru and the others were extremely anxious about Madam Qin's safety, and Tang Ning also noticed something was wrong.
"Sister Qin hasn't returned to Beijing yet?"
Tang Ning was flipping through a memorial sent by the Ministry of War, which described the garrison in Beiling County. As she looked down, she suddenly thought of Madam Qin and casually asked Hua Wu, who was serving beside her:
"She used to send me letters all the time, giving me instructions. How come she hasn't said anything for so long this time?"
Hua Wu's expression changed and he whispered, "Maybe I'm too busy."
Tang Ning looked up in surprise: "What is she busy with? Is it because her master's matter has not been resolved yet?" She said this, and saw Hua Wu's eyes dodging, with a strange look on her face. Tang Ning frowned slightly: "Hua Wu, what's wrong with you?"
Hua Wu didn't say anything.
Tang Ning turned her head: "Yue Jian."
Yue Jian had long known that Madam Qin's affairs could not be concealed for long. Madam Qin was extremely concerned about the Empress's affairs. The reason she had stayed in the capital in the first place, besides the Empress Dowager, was for the Empress. Now that the Empress is about to give birth, she has not returned for a long time. The Empress will definitely notice that something is wrong.
Yue Jian hesitated and whispered, "Madam Qin is gone."
Tang Ning put down the letter in his hand with a thud: "What do you mean it's gone? When did it happen?"
"Seven days ago..."
"What did you say?!"
Yue Jian knelt down at Tang Ning's suddenly raised voice, "This servant did not intend to hide this from Your Majesty. It was because Madam Qin disappeared so suddenly, and Your Majesty was about to give birth. I was afraid that you would worry, so I did not dare to tell you."
Rong Yue came in with ginseng soup and walked to Tang Ning's side: "Aning, don't blame Yue Jian. It was me and A Ru who asked her to keep it a secret from you."
Tang Ning held his waist and sat up straight, and asked anxiously: "What's going on?"
Seeing that she was angry, Yue Jian didn't dare to hide it anymore, and hurriedly whispered what happened before and after Qin Niangzi's disappearance.
After listening to this, Tang Ning said, "So, is this the reason why A'ru has been leaving the palace so often these days?"
Yue Jian nodded. "I've already sent people from the secret camp to search near the charity cemetery. General Di has also led people there. Madam Ru even contacted Feng Qilang and used the Feng family's connections to find people in the martial arts world, but no one has found any news about Madam Qin."
Tang Ning frowned, "There's no clue about the Yizhuang and the previous Zhuangzi?"
"No." Yue Jian said, "Those patients all had clean family backgrounds, and those who died really died of illness."
"Where is Sister Qin's junior brother?" Tang Ning asked.
Yue Jian was stunned for a moment: "Your Majesty, are you suspicious of him? But he and Madam Qin are from the same school..."
Tang Ning said in a deep voice: "Not all fellow disciples are good."
She didn't want to assume the worst of others, but nothing was absolute. Shi Chang'an and Xiahou Ling were from the same school, having known each other since childhood and growing up together, yet hadn't Xiahou Ling turned against his master and killed everyone in his school? With that precedent, who could guarantee that Lady Qin's junior apprentice was a good person?
Tang Ning said, "I've heard Sister Qin talk about her master before. She said that apart from her dual cultivation of medicine and poison, most of the other brothers and sisters practiced their own methods. Some of them also learned some unorthodox methods. Not all of them are good."
"Have someone investigate who the junior fellow who came to see Sister Qin is, and then send someone to inform Madam Qin's sect to ask if there is anything wrong with that person."
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