The servants present were all trembling like leaves.
But if a living person disappears right before their eyes, it must be because they failed to keep a close watch on them.
This punishment must be accepted.
Zhao Jing didn't sleep all night, and his eyes were noticeably bloodshot.
He finally learned the whole story of Jiang Tian's escape from the servants' testimonies.
From the moment he was ordered to eliminate the rebels, Jiang Tian began planning her escape.
Two or three days have passed, and she has long since vanished without a trace.
To leave the general's mansion without anyone noticing, there must have been someone secretly helping them.
Zhao Jing felt a surge of frustration, but he couldn't let Jiang Tian escape.
He quickly assembled his capable subordinates and searched the entire capital for any trace of Jiang Tian.
Fortunately, rebel troops came to attack, and the emperor ordered the city gates to be closed; otherwise, Jiang Tian would have truly been in grave danger.
With a gloomy face, Zhao Jing issued a series of orders, and his men, whom he had painstakingly trained, began a thorough search for Jiang Tian in the darkness.
As for Zhao Jing himself, he was not idle either.
He and his men first went to visit Pei Ziye at his home.
Zhao Jing now holds a prominent position, and many people are vying to curry favor with him.
The Pei family treated them with great hospitality, but Zhao Jing called Pei Ziye aside.
His brows were stern, and his eyes held a hint of coldness: "Has Jiang Tian come looking for you?"
Pei Ziye was both angry and somewhat awkward in front of Zhao Jing.
Last time, when he was celebrating Jiang Tian's birthday, before he could even express his true feelings, Zhao Jing took her away like a god of death, which made Pei Ziye very angry.
They've already divorced, yet Zhao Jing still acts this way; he's truly disappointing.
Without figuring out the reason for his visit, Pei Ziye hurriedly came out to greet him. Who would have thought that he had come to see Jiang Tian?
Pei Ziye's expression suddenly changed: "She's gone?"
Zhao Jing stared at him, his gaze almost tangible. After a long while, he nodded: "Yes. The world is not at peace. If she escapes, she won't even be able to save her own life."
Pei Ziye's expression changed several times. Suddenly, he seemed to understand something and abruptly looked up at Zhao Jing: "She hasn't come looking for me..."
"Okay," Zhao Jing said, no longer dwelling on the topic. "Let's go back."
Pei Ziye was somewhat lost and dejected.
He wanted to help Zhao Jing find someone, but he knew that his actions were wishful thinking.
Without a solid reason, he may have done more harm than good.
After leaving the Pei family's house, Zhao Jing went straight to Jiang Yuqin's house.
Jiang Yuqin hadn't finished his shift yet, so Zhao Jing went to the yamen to find him.
Seeing that he was buried in the case files and didn't even look up, Zhao Jing stood aside with his arms crossed, waiting for him.
When Jiang Yuqin looked up, he saw Zhao Jing not far away.
He was startled and asked, "Brother Zhao, what brings you here?"
Zhao Jing said calmly, "Are you done with your work? Let's talk at your place."
Jiang Yuqin observed his expression, and after a while, put down his pen.
The two returned to Jiang Yuqin's impoverished dwelling. Jiang Yuqin poured Zhao Jing a glass of water; he couldn't even afford tea.
"Jiang Tian is missing. She ran away while I was away fighting a war."
Jiang Yuqin, who was pouring tea, suddenly looked up and asked, "How did she get lost? Where is she now?"
"I couldn't find her, so I came to ask you if you know her whereabouts?"
Zhao Jing spoke in a calm tone.
Jiang Yuqin shook his head with a wry smile: "Brother Zhao, I don't have three heads and six arms, how would I know her whereabouts?"
"Well, I just came to ask. If you don't know, then forget it. I'm going back now."
Zhao Jing suddenly stood up, turned around, and walked out.
Jiang Yuqin escorted him to the door.
Zhao Jing had only taken a few steps when he suddenly said to the attendant beside him, "Keep a close eye on Jiang Yuqin, and don't miss a single clue."
"yes."
Jiang Yuqin, on the other side, turned around and went back into the house after a long while.
When he got to the bedroom, he lifted a bed board and found a ladder inside.
Go down the ladder, and soon you'll reach the dark room.
Jiang Tian was flipping through a book when she saw Jiang Yuqin arrive. She smiled at him and said, "Young Master Jiang, thank you for your hard work."
Jiang Yuqin looked at her: "I don't understand..."
He didn't understand why she came to him seeking his help, yet he deliberately let Zhao Jing make a mistake.
Having finally escaped, does she want to go back?
Jiang Tian gave him a reassuring smile: "You don't need to understand. You've helped me a lot, and I'll repay you in the future."
Jiang Yuqin shook his head: "No need for repayment. Miss Jiang, why do you want to go back?"
"It's because my affair with him isn't over yet."
Jiang Tian smiled faintly, but refused to say anything more.
Zhao Jing had a vague premonition that Jiang Tian and Jiang Yuqin must be connected. Sure enough, his subordinates informed Zhao Jing that when Jiang Yuqin went to buy breakfast, he bought more than before.
With his guess confirmed, Zhao Jing calmed down.
While Jiang Yuqin was at the yamen, Zhao Jing led his men to search his destitute residence.
Zhao Jing noticed something was wrong with that bed board at a glance.
When he lifted the lid and saw the ladder inside, his gaze deepened.
He went down the ladder and found signs that the place had been inhabited.
Zhao Jing smelled the unique fragrance emanating from Jiang Tian, then picked up the teacup to test its temperature, his face turning grim.
"She just escaped, after her!"
"yes!"
Zhao Jing refused to believe that she could run away to anywhere else.
His eyes flashed like lightning. He grabbed a little beggar who was sunbathing on the street, gave him a handful of copper coins, and the little beggar told him everything.
“There was a person who came out, but she was dressed as a man and went west.”
Zhao Jing realized the other party wasn't lying, so he chased after them westward.
The west side is a bustling downtown area with many vendors doing business there, making it very difficult for him to find someone.
But Jiang Tian forced out the anger in Zhao Jing's heart. No matter how hard it was to find her, he was determined to bring her back!
Zhao Jing ordered his men to launch a full-scale search under the guise of catching thieves.
He stood on the street, anticipating the route Jiang Tian would choose.
Except for going to the far west, wherever she went, she stayed within the capital city.
There's a boat at the far west end that you can take; he'd already sent people to guard it. She didn't have any credentials, so she couldn't board.
So... will she go west?
Zhao Jing's mind raced, and his gaze fell on the flower street to the north.
Perhaps it was because he hated her so much, Zhao Jing recognized the woman who was drinking and cuddling with a prostitute the moment he entered the largest brothel.
Her movements appeared graceful and unrestrained; dressed in men's clothing, she showed no trace of feminine delicacy.
The prostitute was so charmed by her that she trembled with excitement and leaned into her arms.
The two huddled together, talking about something, and then burst into laughter.
Perhaps he was too focused, because Zhao Jing stood there for a long time without being noticed.
Seeing that the two were about to become even more dissolute, Zhao Jing finally stepped forward and grabbed Jiang Tian's wrist with one hand.
Zhao Jing exuded an extraordinary aura, and his stern face was somewhat intimidating.
The prostitute was startled and was about to scream when Jiang Tian hugged her and whispered with a smile, "Don't be afraid, beauty, he's here to see me."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
