Chapter 161: Leverage
An hour had passed since Jiang Yuzhu was kidnapped. Hongli rushed to the Jingzhaoyin Yamen to deliver a letter and lost one of her shoes along the way.
Hongli's hair was disheveled, and he didn't care about the rules. He rushed into the government office and said, "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 something might go wrong 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 coachman to ensure that no details were missed.
"That person disguised himself by wearing Zhao Fendie's dress..."
Xie Zhao lowered his eyes and glanced a few times, and immediately had an idea in his mind.
"On the way back, I met the hair growth shop's clerk out shopping. Miss Zhao has been helping out in the shop these 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 could not 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 wife's escape, how could my wife fall into that person's hands!"
Hongxiu and Hongjin stayed in Huguo Temple, and the situation was very unfavorable.
But at least there was a glimmer of hope if he struggled, and Lu Yunxi hindered his wife from escaping, 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 then 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 went to Qingzhu Academy to teach. 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, so Xie Zhaoli got on the horse and waited until they reached the palace gate. Liang An finally found an opportunity to ask back, "Master, the kidnapping of the Madam concerns your reputation, so you should just find someone secretly. Do you have to publicize it?"
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 try to avoid her as much as possible, fearing that they might be implicated and have their engagements cancelled.
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. The incident happened suddenly. Both the Jiang family and the Xie family have mortal enemies. It is impossible to determine the other party's motives."
In this case, it is even more difficult to find someone.
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 was determined to ask for an audience with the empress dowager first.
Liang An blinked and scratched his head again, "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 fidgeting 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 did it, they wouldn't give Hongli a chance to come back and report the incident."
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 doing?
With no one around, Xie Zhao patiently pointed out, "It is because it has nothing to do with the Xuan family that we need to rely on the Xuan family's manpower. The Queen Mother will not tolerate any injustice. If she finds out that someone has kidnapped Yuzhu in the name of the Xuan family, what will happen?"
Liang An rolled his eyes and answered immediately: "The Queen Mother was furious at first, and then, in order to prove her innocence, she was determined to find out the villain who was doing evil in secret..."
Liang An thought for a moment and couldn't help but admire his master's foresight, always taking one step forward and looking three steps ahead or even the overall situation.
With the participation of Xuan family members, 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 a chance 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 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, "Master Xie is here?"
Xie Zhao was Xiao She's confidant, and the Queen Mother knew everything.
On the surface, the Queen Mother rarely interfered in government affairs and had no dealings with officials of the Great Qi Dynasty.
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 embarrassed, but his face had the unique coldness of a scholar. He straightened his back and knelt down respectfully and said, "Empress Dowager, my wife has been spoiled and pampered, so it is inevitable that she does not know the difference between high and low. If she has offended you, please forgive her. I am willing to take full responsibility for the mistakes made by my wife."
As soon as Xie Zhao opened his mouth, the Queen Mother was stunned and said lovingly, "Master Xie, what a joke! Yuzhu is a blessed person. I have always favored her. How could I punish her?"
They must be cleaned up for sure, and once Xuan Yao ascends the throne, there will be more opportunities to do so.
If she loses her patience, the Jiang family will act rashly and the Queen Mother will have a headache.
It was time to go to the government office when Xie Zhao ran to the harem. The empress dowager had already noticed something was wrong, so she sent a young eunuch to find out the news.
Soon, the young eunuch reported back: "Madam Xie was abducted. The kidnappers claimed to be from the Xuan family and sent threatening letters to the Jingzhao Yin Yamen."
When the Queen Mother heard this, she almost choked on her breath. Her eyes and face twitched. She smashed two vases in anger and roared, "Who on earth is so bold as to tarnish the reputation of the Xuan family and sow discord between the Xuan family and the Jiang family!"
The Queen Mother was so angry that she covered her chest and gasped for breath. She was no longer as dignified as usual and was hysterical.
Xie Zhao watched coldly, becoming even more certain that it had nothing to do with the Xuan family.
The Queen Mother is so angry, it doesn't seem like she is pretending.
However, what made the Queen Mother angry was the mastermind who framed the Xuan family, not that Jiang Yuzhu was abducted.
As expected, you are the only one who loves your wife.
Xie Zhao tried his best to keep calm. With the help of the Queen Mother, he wanted to clear all obstacles for Jiang Yuzhu.
After a long while, the Queen Mother finally suppressed her anger and said calmly, "Thank you, Sir. Please go back to the government office first. I will definitely give the Jiang family an explanation for this matter. I will catch the mastermind behind this and will not let him off easily!"
The false accusation was placed on the Xuan family, which touched the Empress Dowager's sore spot. A cold frost suddenly fell on her face, and she immediately issued an imperial decree.
Xie Zhao got the confirmation and went straight to the imperial study. He said to Xiao She, "Your Majesty, the situation is urgent, but it's time to act."
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