Chapter 69 Another Escape
Wei Xun hadn't slept a wink all night.
The Yanwei Camp conducted a thorough search of the capital twice.
There was no sign of Madam Jiang.
Such a grown man, accompanied by a maid and a child, seemed to have vanished into thin air.
If Jiang Niangzi left behind a series of traces to escape, he would doubt whether those three charred corpses were really them.
Wan Quan came in from outside, his eyes filled with dissatisfaction.
"If the Crown Prince remains obstinate, I will resign today."
Wei Xun glanced at him, thought for a moment, and then offered a word of comfort.
“The young master knows what he is doing. Although the Yanwei Camp is looking for Lady Jiang, they have also gathered a lot of hidden evidence in the past two days.”
Wan Quan scoffed, "If he knew, he wouldn't have gotten drunk over a woman!"
"In the past, the crown prince would even scheme about his own marriage in order to achieve his grand ambitions."
"And now? Go and see for yourself at Dexinglou!"
Wei Xun frowned slightly. "Wan Quan, you're too hasty."
The Crown Prince has said more than once that Wan Quan is skilled in martial arts, but also arrogant.
Wan Quan was taken aback, then looked at him with a mocking gaze, "Me, in a hurry? Of course you don't need to be in a hurry. You are the young master's right-hand man, the most important one!"
Wei Xun didn't want to argue with him now, so he turned around and walked out of the capital's government office.
Wan Quan snorted coldly as he watched his retreating figure.
There were many wine jars on the floor of the third-floor wing of Dexinglou.
Zhou Congxian's clothes were loose and baggy; he no longer resembled a young master from a prominent family.
He had just been promoted to the rank of Deputy Commander-in-Chief, making him a favorite of the Emperor.
But he just happened to make a mistake at this crucial moment.
The Duke of England was so angry at his indifference to the future that he had summoned the imperial physician several times.
Zhou Congxian had just offended nearly half of the court's officials, giving them ammunition to impeach him. Impeachment memorials flew to the emperor's desk like snowflakes.
His Majesty not only did not reprimand them, but also suppressed all the memorials.
Everyone could see that His Majesty now showed Zhou Congxian exclusive favor.
For a time, everyone was terrified of Zhou Congxian's men's investigation at the mansion.
At this point, they realized that they weren't looking for anyone in particular, but rather purging the officials in the capital!
Who knows, in the imperial court, the next knife might fall on his own neck.
When Wei Xun entered, he stared at the young master's back without moving.
Rumors are flying everywhere in the capital.
Some say that Zhou Congxian's cunning was no less than that of King Cheng.
Some say that the Crown Prince of Zhou has gained the Emperor's favor and has become arrogant, and will sooner or later suffer the same fate as King Cheng.
Hmm, not as good as King Cheng.
Although he was banished to his fiefdom without any troops or power, King Cheng was still a member of the imperial clan, and he would certainly enjoy a life of wealth and honor for the rest of his life.
Only Wei Xun knows that the young master truly has feelings for Lady Jiang.
"Your Highness."
Zhou Congxian moved slightly, slowly turning his head. His hair was disheveled, and stubble had sprouted on his face.
She was still clutching the burnt bracelet in her hand.
Still no news?
Wei Xun shook her head, then paused, "I suspect that Lady Jiang has already left the city."
Zhou Congxian gave a wry smile.
"I never imagined she had been planning her departure for so long!"
Wei Xun hadn't expected that Madam Jiang would be so bold.
They dared to steal the Duke's mansion's silver to start their own business!
However, if she's capable of buying a corpse to fake her death, what's a little business dealing with her?
Having earned so much money, he probably spent it to buy status and connections.
The capital city is so big that it's not impossible to leave quietly.
"I remember that Lady Jiang is from Chuzhou. She may have gone in the direction of Chuzhou."
"Jiang Niangzi's brother, Jiang Xingyao, is going to the capital to take the imperial examination. He should arrive in the capital within this month. Perhaps he will also have news of Jiang Niangzi."
Zhou Congxian narrowed his eyes slightly. "Have someone keep an eye on the students going to the capital."
"Even if she's a bird that's flown out of its cage, I, the young master, will bring her back!"
Wei Xun couldn't help but think of the Frost's Descent.
Jiang Niangzi may have planned her escape because of Song Jiyun.
What about Frost's Descent?
Is she still willing to come back?
What right does he have to question this?
A bitter smile crept onto his lips.
Zhou Congxian moved into the inner room. Unlike the outer hall, which was full of wine jars, this room was piled with books and memorials.
From the moment he entered, his eyes were clear, as if his drunken state outside had been a lie.
"When Grand Secretary Li is buried five days later, Grand Secretary Chen will also be released soon."
"If no evidence of wrongdoing is found, Grand Secretary Chen will surely stir up a bloody storm."
Wei Xun: "The Yan Guard has practically turned the capital upside down, and all the evidence pointing to Grand Secretary Chen has been destroyed."
Zhou Congxian said, "Nearly half of Chen Ge Lao's faction were promoted from local officials."
"Why don't we start with the local officials? The Shadow Guards that His Majesty lent me will surely come in handy."
Wei Xun said, "I've heard that the Shadow Guards are elusive and can travel a thousand miles a day, so they can even obtain heads from a thousand miles away."
A faint smile appeared on Zhou Congxian's lips. "Whether it's that mysterious or not, you can try and find out."
"Subordinates, please go?" Wei Xun asked in surprise.
The Yanwei Camp was just a nominal official position, while the Jiying Guard was different; they had official ranks, equivalent to the Commander of the Capital Office.
"That's all he needs..."
He and Wan Quan had both served the Crown Prince for over seven years.
Zhou Congxian shook his head. "The Shadow Guard's skills are certainly important, but patience is even more crucial."
"Wan Quan is too impatient, eager to win, and too reckless. He is not suitable to join the Shadow Guard."
Wei Xun's lips twitched slightly.
Over the past two years, the gap between him and Wan Quan has widened.
If Wan Quan finds out that he has joined the Shadow Guard, their years-long friendship will likely be severed.
Zhou Congxian pulled out a booklet and gave it to him.
"This was given to me by His Majesty yesterday. Tang Qifeng, the governor of Ningzhou, died saving Prince Cheng."
"Logically, King Cheng's carriage should have left Hezhou soon, but it's still in Ningzhou. Take some men and go to Ningzhou to take a look."
"yes."
*
Yao Shisan didn't know how he got back.
The bright moon hangs high in the sky, casting its light on the pebble path.
She felt a deep sense of powerlessness, wondering if she couldn't fly away no matter how hard she tried.
Is Xiao Shu short of 10,000 taels?
What he really wants are pawns.
Zhou Congxian is still in the capital and is very likely to become the next rising star.
"elder sister!"
Yao Shisan quickly wiped his eyes, and Shuang'er ran over with a smile in her eyes.
"Sister Wenxi really did find something unusual in the well..."
Her smile froze on her face. "What's wrong with you...?"
Yao Shisan smiled and said, "It's nothing. It's just that an assassin just walked in and scared me."
Shuang'er stepped forward and took her arm, her face full of relief. "It's fortunate that we're in the inn now, with so many guards around."
She pursed her lips, thinking that if they hadn't been by Xiao Shu's side, these dangers would have stayed far away from them.
But saying these words to her now wouldn't make much sense.
It will only cause more trouble.
Shuang'er is now filled with longing for the future.
Back when we were at the Duke of England's mansion, my sister had already told me that Chuzhou was a livable place.
“I heard from Sister Wenxi that King Cheng’s fiefdom is in Yuzhou. We just happened to follow King Cheng’s carriage to Yuzhou, so we can take a boat to Chuzhou.”
"It's a bit roundabout, but it's safe!"
Looking at her smiling face, Yao Shisan smiled and nodded.
Her eyes darkened as she looked away.
Once she reached Yuzhou, it became Xiao Shu's territory, making it even harder for her to leave.
She needed to find a way to escape before entering Yuzhou.
She took a deep breath.
What if it's a wolf's den, or a tiger's mouth?
She can always run away again!
Having finally been reborn, how could she not have faced some hardships to make up for the opportunity that God had given her?
Early the next morning.
The staff at the guesthouse immediately began to take action.
The entourage consisted of more than a hundred people, as well as all of Prince Cheng's luggage and belongings in the capital, totaling more than thirty cartloads!
Shuang'er looked at the endless convoy.
He sighed, "It must take at least a day to load this onto the truck."
Wenxi took out a hairpin from her waist, quietly approached her from behind, and put it into her hair.
"Huh?"
She turned around and saw Wen Xi, then touched the top of her head and found an extra hairpin.
"Was this given to me by Sister Wenxi?"
Wenxi smiled and said, "I made one last night, and I also made one for Madam Yao."
"I don't know anything else, this is all I know."
Shuang'er immediately turned around happily to find Yao Shisan.
Xiao Shu stepped down from the carriage and glanced at Wen Xi indifferently.
"Can small favors really win people's hearts?"
Wen Xi curtsied and said, "Your Highness, I regard Shuang'er as my younger sister. This is not a favor, but a token of my heart."
Xiao Shu stopped looking at her and turned to enter the residence.
Wenxi then looked at the carriage that was packed to the brim.
"What's this?"
The coachman said, "Miss Huiwen, these were all brought back by His Highness from the governor's mansion."
Before he could finish speaking, seven or eight more horse-drawn carriages arrived.
"All of those?"
"Those were all silvers found in the cellars of the governor's mansion."
A hint of disgust flashed in Wenxi's eyes. Another corrupt official. It was too easy for him to die last night.
The area in front of the guesthouse was bustling with activity.
Yao Shisan led Shuang'er and Fu'er out through the back door.
The servants at the inn all believed that she was truly the king's beloved concubine, and no one dared to stop her from going out.
Back in the British Duke's mansion, she always had to come up with a good reason to go out.
This was actually the smoothest time she had ever gotten out.
The three of them found a clothing shop by the roadside and bought three sets of cotton and linen clothes that ordinary people usually wear.
They dressed up again to resemble a family of three.
But when the three of them drove the cart out of the city with the road signs, they were all amazed at how smoothly it went!
Yao Shisan was not very skilled at driving the car, and she even pinched her own face in disbelief!
Was it really that easy?!
Inside the inn, Wen Xi was the one who was found missing from the three people.
She hurriedly found Xiao Shu, "Your Highness..."
"What's the rush? She's gone, so what? Do you expect me to beg her to come back?"
Xiao Shu leaned back against the soft cushion.
Inside the room, four or five guards were examining the items that had been brought back from the governor's mansion.
"But...but ahead lies Panyi Mountain! Bandits have been entrenched there for over a decade! The three of them are defenseless; they're surely doomed!"
Wenxi panicked.
She had a good impression of Yao Shisan when she was in the capital.
After spending these past few days together, we've developed an even stronger bond.
Such a wonderful girl, and the lovely little Fu'er.
How could she feel at ease!
Xiao Shu raised his eyes, which seemed to be smiling but were not.
"She's willing to go and scout ahead, what can you do to stop her?"
His voice was languid.
"Zhou Congxian's concubine died, and that was that."
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