An hour had passed since Jiang Yuzhu was kidnapped. Hongli rushed to the Jingzhao Yin Yamen to deliver a letter and lost one of her shoes along the way.
Hongli's hair was disheveled, and without regard for the rules, she rushed into the yamen and shouted, "Master, the lady has been kidnapped!"
Xie Zhao threw down the file in his hand and said in a cold voice, "What's going on?"
Someone attacked Jiang Yuzhu, but Xie Zhao had not received any information in advance.
Either the other party had sufficient manpower and was too secretive, or they had a sudden idea and attacked us by surprise.
Hongli opened his mouth, anticipating that it would be easy to make mistakes at the critical moment, and quickly took out a piece of paper and handed it over.
Along the way, Hongli sat in the carriage and reminisced with the driver to ensure that no details were missed.
"That person was disguised as Zhao Fendie's dress..."
Xie Zhao lowered his eyes and took a few glances, and immediately had a plan in mind.
"On the way back, I ran into a clerk from the hair growth shop who was out shopping. Miss Zhao has been helping out in the shop these past few days."
Zhao Fendie was safe and sound and had no idea that her dress was lost.
From the beginning to the end, the mastermind's only target was my wife!
"Master, my cousin was also abducted."
Hongli was shaking all over, and she had to pinch herself hard to utter a complete sentence.
Despite this, he couldn't let Lu Yunxi tarnish his wife's reputation.
Hongli held his breath and said, "If it weren't for my cousin who followed and blocked my escape, how could my lady have fallen into that man's hands?"
Hongxiu and Hongjin stayed in Huguo Temple, and the situation was very unfavorable.
But at least there was a glimmer of hope for survival if he struggled, and Lu Yunxi was blocking his wife's escape, so it was not unfair for him to be caught!
Xie Zhao thought for a moment, then turned to Liang An and said, "Come with me into the palace."
Back in Jiangnan, Lu Yunxi was as famous as Xie Zhao. Although he was slightly inferior, he was also a rare figure.
After high school, Lu Yunxi had no intention of becoming an official, but instead went to travel overseas.
He disappeared for several years and no one could find him.
A few years later, he suddenly returned to Beijing to hang out with the Jiang family and taught at Qingzhu Academy. Everything seemed very deliberate.
Xie Zhao didn't take his love rival seriously, but that didn't mean he didn't ask someone to investigate him privately.
The clues seemed reasonable yet strange, as if they had been tampered with.
Jiang Yuzhu was kidnapped and happened to be seen by Lu Yunxi. I'm afraid it's not such a coincidence.
The carriage was moving slowly, and Xie Zhaoli mounted the horse. When they reached the palace gate, Liang An finally found an opportunity to ask, "Master, the abduction of the Madam is a matter of honor. You could have just found someone secretly. Why did you have to publicize it so loudly?"
After Wei Jing was abducted by the barbarians, her reputation was completely ruined.
The young ladies from other families who used to be on good terms with Wei Jing's sisters now avoided her as much as possible, fearing that they would be implicated and have their engagements broken off.
Liang An always kept in mind that he was getting double the wages and considered things from Jiang Yuzhu's perspective.
Xie Zhao stood still, glanced at Liang An indifferently, and said in a slightly cold tone: "Which is more important, reputation or life?"
"There are no secrets in the capital. Even if you and I try our best to conceal it, the dark forces behind the scenes will spread it. This happened suddenly. Both the Jiang and Xie families have mortal enemies, so it's impossible to determine each other's motives."
In this case, finding someone is even more difficult.
Instead of relying on your own manpower, it is better to "borrow strength" and have someone to help you, which will be faster.
Xie Zhao took big strides and headed towards the harem. He decided to ask to see the empress dowager first.
Liang An blinked and scratched his head again, saying, "Master, your words are becoming more and more profound. I don't understand. What does this have to do with the Queen Mother?"
Jiang Yuzhu offended the Xuan family, and Liang An knew some of the inside story.
The Queen Mother was terrified by the continuous thunder. She was trembling with fear and restless all day long, and went to the small Buddhist temple in the palace to worship Buddha every day.
The Xuan family has been keeping a low profile these days, which should have nothing to do with Jiang Yuzhu's abduction.
"If the Xuan family had done it, they wouldn't have given Hongli a chance to come back and report."
Liang An didn't believe that his master didn't understand this principle. If that was the case, he still asked to see the Queen Mother. What was he trying to do?
With no one around, Xie Zhao patiently pointed out, "It's because it has nothing to do with the Xuan family that we need their help. The Queen Mother doesn't tolerate any injustice. What would she do if she found out someone had kidnapped Yuzhu under the Xuan family's name?"
Liang An rolled his eyes and replied immediately, "The Queen Mother was furious at first, but then, to prove her innocence, she was determined to find out who was behind this..."
Liang An thought for a moment and couldn't help but admire his master's foresight. He always took one step forward and looked three steps ahead, or even the overall situation.
With the Xuan family's participation, it will be easier to find Jiang Yuzhu, but this is not Xie Zhao's ultimate goal.
"Yuzhu bullied the Xuan family. The Queen Mother will find an opportunity to punish her sooner or later. She can't hide from it."
If dirty water is thrown on the Xuan family, the Queen Mother will be afraid to prove her innocence.
Not only that, in the short term, we must ensure Jiang Yuzhu's safety to prevent the Xuan family from being framed again.
"On our way to the palace, the rumor that the Xuan family had kidnapped Yuzhu had already spread."
If used properly, even enemies can become helpers.
Xie Zhao went straight to the Queen Mother's bedroom, lifted up his official uniform and knelt in front of the palace gate.
The Queen Mother was worshipping Buddha. When she heard about this, she was surprised and asked, "Thank you, Lord, for coming?"
Xie Zhao was Xiao She's confidant, and the Empress Dowager knew everything.
On the surface, the Queen Mother rarely interfered in government affairs and had no contact with the officials of the Great Qi.
The Queen Mother's curiosity got the better of her, and she sent someone to invite Xie Zhao into the side hall.
Xie Zhao was covered in water and looked disheveled, but his face held the cool and aloof demeanor of a scholar. He straightened his back and knelt respectfully, saying, "Your Majesty, my wife has been spoiled and pampered, so it's inevitable that she doesn't know her place in society. If she has offended you, Your Majesty, please forgive her. I am willing to take full responsibility for your mistakes."
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