Chapter 106 Looking for People
In the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the huge palace had a high seat with an empty ceiling. Shen Yuheng, the prime minister, sat at the front right of the high seat. Jiang Weiman accompanied him as they looked through the accounts of the Ministry of Revenue for the past three years. An official from each of the six ministries accompanied them, and they listened to the orders of Lord Shen, who had reached the highest position at a young age.
From time to time, a cough could be heard from behind the bright yellow screen. Wei Junming was sleeping soundly, and coughing seemed to have become his body's instinct.
The cold wind in the first month of the year is heartbreaking, just like Wei Junming's tearful cough, which touches the hearts of countless old ministers.
A young guard in black suddenly stumbled in, his head sweating with anxiety. "I'm sorry to bother you all, Lord Prime Minister, please forgive me! A woman came in from outside, claiming to be Lord Jiang's wife, and that she had a matter of life and death! I didn't dare to stop her and brought her in without permission. Please forgive me, Lord!"
As soon as these words were spoken, Jiang Weiman was the first to run out, followed by Shen Yuheng who briefly explained a few words to the leaders of various departments and then followed out.
In the biting cold wind, Murong Xue was only wearing autumn clothes, her hair was disheveled, her nose was red from the cold, and her eyes were sparkling. Jiang Weimian's heart seemed to be gripped. He rushed over and wrapped his cloak around Murong Xue, grabbed her cold hand and held it against his chest, "Why are you so cold? Aren't you going to the Lantern Festival?"
He caught a glimpse of the frost on the girl's eyelashes and without any time to think, he grabbed her in his arms and rushed into the house.
Seeing this almost tragic scene, Shen Yuheng immediately had a bad premonition in his heart. He blocked Jiang Weimian's way to the Yangxin Palace with the person on his shoulders and said, "Let's go to the side hall to warm up first. Where's Qiao Xiao? Isn't Qiao Xiao with you?"
Murong Xue buried her head in Jiang Weimian's shoulder and sobbed. Shen Yuheng felt a surge of anxiety in his heart. He tried his best to keep his tone calm and ordered the attendant beside him: "Please prepare hot water and hot food and send them to the side hall. Madam Jiang needs to rest."
The charcoal brazier in the side hall was burning brightly, and Murong Xue's body temperature gradually rose. Her pale face was stained with several layers of blood, and she recounted the whole story in detail.
After just watching the fireworks, the two of them got separated, and a gold hairpin belonging to Lu Qiaoxiao fell to the ground. If they had simply gotten separated, they would not have left behind such a personal item.
Before entering the palace for help, she had already gone to the Yong'an Marquis' Mansion and the Prime Minister's Mansion, but neither of them came back.
Jiang Weimian carefully held Murong Xue, whose eyes were red from crying, in his arms. Looking at Shen Yuheng, whose face was gloomy and seemed ready to explode at any moment, his heart sank.
It's almost the holidays, which is often the time when bandits and robbers are active. Today is the Lantern Festival and there are many people in the capital, so it's not difficult for the bad guys to blend in with the crowd.
Although Lu Qiaoxiao was good at martial arts, it was not impossible that he was kidnapped without noticing when he was traveling with his daughter and his mind was relaxed.
Moreover, from his understanding of Shen Yuheng, his best friend had never cared so much about anyone in his entire life, treating her like the moon in his heart and doting on her like a darling in his palm. If anything happened to Lu Qiaoxiao, Shen Yuheng might really go crazy. "Changjue—we..."
Jiang Weimian was about to say that he should calm down first and send all the people he could mobilize to search for Lu Qiaoxiao from now on, but the next moment, he was interrupted by Shen Changjue's voice.
"Zizhi, take my sign to the princess and ask her to dispatch some men. Tell her that Commander Lu is in danger and ask her to provide all possible assistance."
"Then check the criminal records of the bandits in the Ministry of Justice for the past year. Now that the year is drawing to a close, these desperate criminals must be seeking wealth."
Shen Yuheng didn't realize that his voice was trembling. Lu Qiaoxiao worked in the Patrol Department. He came into contact with too many prisoners and had offended countless people.
He could only comfort himself that if he wanted money, then money would be the best.
The man's eyes were bright, his lips were trembling slightly, and his voice sounded cold to outsiders:
"Miss Murong, please ask Duke En for help. Close the city gates and search the entire city for anyone."
"If he disappeared an hour ago, he must still be in the city now."
…………
He explained everything he could think of at the moment. After he could no longer come up with a more comprehensive plan, he gritted his teeth and said:
"Qingyu Guard, follow me—to find someone."
Shen Yuheng could feel his hand holding the golden hairpin shaking. He turned around resolutely and strode out of Ningxi Palace.
Jiang Weimian watched Shen Yuheng's figure quickly disappear in the snowy night. His mind couldn't help but flash back to his childhood when other young masters gathered together to play, while Shen Changjue sat alone at the desk flipping through books and learning to read.
At the age when others go on cruises and drink, he is still alone, walking a thorny road that carries the high hopes of his family and is also the responsibility that a genius must bear.
It was not until he met the eldest daughter of the Yong'an Marquis family that some color appeared in his gray eyes that seemed indifferent to everything.
If there was no Lu Qiaoxiao, without Lu Qiaoxiao, he would become - would become alone again.
Jiang Weimian retracted his gaze, held Murong Xue's hand tightly, and said with a resolute and firm look, "Let's go. We must, we must find my sister-in-law back."
——
When Lu Qiaoxiao woke up, the first thing that hit her nose was a burning smell. She tried to struggle twice, but found that she had no strength left.
She looked around the claustrophobic and dilapidated house, suppressed the discomfort in her chest, and tried hard to recall what happened before she fainted.
She was hit on the back of the neck with a stick, and was abducted here while there were many people on the Twin Bridges.
Who on earth would have kidnapped her and brought her here? If they were just after money and sex, they wouldn't have chosen her from such a huge crowd.
This person must have had a grudge against her before, so he deliberately chose the day when she was traveling and waited for her in the densely populated area of Liangsheng Bridge.
She couldn't help but think of the people who had harmed her in her previous life: Wang Xiuwan, Lu Qingyue, Lu Xiuzhu, Lu Wenpei, the Pei family, Lin Miaofu...
Now that the Pei family has been burned to ashes, it seems that they can no longer come back to harm her.
Lu Wenpei?
In his previous life, he colluded with bandits and killed his younger brother, but now Wang Xiuwan is in her hands. Would a coward like Lu Wenpei really gamble with his own mother's life?
Lu Qingyue?
As a concubine, she does have this ability, but with her vicious nature, if anyone wanted to humiliate her, they would have appeared in front of her impatiently. Moreover, there are so many ways to torture people in the palace, she would definitely capture me and keep me by her side.
Lu Qiaoxiao's thoughts were in a mess, but he couldn't make sense of it.
She thought about how she had offended many people when she was investigating cases at the Patrol Department. Could it be that the family of a criminal came to seek revenge?
Or maybe some desperate criminal had a grudge against Shen Yuheng and wanted to use her to threaten Prime Minister Shen?
She looked at the surroundings in the dim moonlight. There seemed to be some incense ash on the ground. Ordinary people could not afford to enshrine a big Buddha. The firewood rooms of the rich and powerful would be more exquisitely decorated than this place. The only thing left might be - a Buddhist temple?
At this moment, the door creaked open. When Lu Qiaoxiao saw who was coming, his face turned pale instantly.
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