In the middle of the night, a layer of white mist floats on the surface of the vast Yangshui River. In the damp and cold river breeze of late autumn, one can hear the sound of the rushing water swirling and rushing downstream.
It was so cold that a layer of frost formed on the eyebrows, foreheads and hair of everyone present, but it could not extinguish the anxiety in Yang Yanzong's heart.
After receiving the news, he rode a fast horse to the scene in less than an hour. It was still light at that time. He personally led people to search for dozens of miles along the river bank, but there was no news at all. It was as if Su Ci had disappeared out of thin air.
Their own people, including all the large and small fishing boats and sailors along the coast, were mobilized. With the huge reward, these common people who made their living on the water were very active. They paddled their boats into the water until their faces turned blue from the cold, but there was still no clue.
The rushing river and the rolling waves can cover up too many things.
As time went by, everyone's heart couldn't help but sink. When Yang Yanzong arrived, no one expected him to come so soon. Akang was so anxious that his eyes turned red. He knelt down hurriedly to apologize. Yang Yanzong, who was so angry that he was about to attack him, kicked him in the heart: "I asked you to lead so many people out, and this is how you protect her?!"
But no one had time to talk about this anymore. Akang was fine and got up quickly. Yang Yanzong urgently ordered the people he brought with him and those who were originally there to be divided into several teams, and also mobilized a large number of people to find her at all costs!
But I can't find it at all.
After searching for a whole night and searching all the possible locations, we still couldn't find her. Su Ci had been missing for nearly twelve hours, so we could definitely conclude that she was missing.
Unable to find Yangshui, Yang Yanzong even turned around and went upstream along the Yongji River to look for him, for fear that Akang and the others were chasing too hastily and might make mistakes, giving those people an opportunity to take advantage.
But there is none.
It started to drizzle in the second half of the night, soaking him all over and freezing him to the bone. Yang Yanzong's face turned terribly pale. He had already searched all the way back to the Yongji Bridge and even personally inspected the scene, but he couldn't find anyone!
The cold rain, the dark and fast-flowing river, the endless wilderness all around, an unprecedented anxiety sweeping over my heart and lungs, where is she? !
"Porcelain, porcelain!!!"
…
Su Ci doesn’t know where she is right now. She may still be in Yangdu. Maybe she will be gone soon.
The two Beirong men were so good at swimming that she had never expected. They were actually on par with her, and their skills were obviously very high. She could catch them off guard once or twice, but she would definitely not be able to win a head-on confrontation. The last memory she had was a pain in the back of her neck.
When she woke up again, she was stuffed into a narrow barrel. The walls of the barrel were fishy and slippery, and it felt very much like the barrels used by fishermen to store their catches. Then she guessed that she was stuffed into a pile of fish because she heard the "pa pa" sound of fish flapping their tails in the barrel next door.
No, no, what I said just now is a little wrong. This barrel should actually be a big barrel. The reason why she felt it was unusually cramped was because there was more than one person stuffed inside.
They were roughly stuffed into the bucket in irregular positions, and then the lid was sealed. The person next to her struggled and moved, and a wet sole stepped on her face. Su Ci: "..."
"Hey, hey, big brother, stop moving. You're stepping on my face."
The other party was very panicked, quickly shrank back, and said hastily: "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it."
He was a young boy, who was in the voice change period and had a hoarse voice like a drake.
At this time, the third person in the bucket (this broken bucket actually held three people!!) was startled, and a female voice tentatively called out: "...Is that Sister Su?"
Su Ci: “…”
Shit, isn’t this Ren’s voice? !
She was shocked: "Sister Ren?"
"Yes, it's me!"
Both sides were a little excited, "Why, why are you also..."
Ren hurriedly introduced her to her son, "Mu'er, this is your aunt Yang," and called out in a hoarse voice, "Aunt Yang." Su Ci hurriedly responded.
The three of them lowered their voices, and Su Ci said, "I was going back to Suiping to move, but I didn't expect to meet the remnants of the Huang and Shi families and the Beirong people on the way. I fell into the river and that's what happened."
Through the exchange of messages, Su Ci learned that Ren had gone out to worship Buddha that day. She was a believer in Buddhism, and on days like the Bodhisattva's birthday, she would usually go to the temple to add some incense oil. The eldest son escorted his mother out, and coincidentally, he was also attacked. The mother and son fell into the river one after another, but they fell into the Tongming River.
In order to prevent the four kings from forcing a wife on him, Ji Yuanhao got married early. His eldest son was born the following year and is now fourteen years old.
Su Ci was very surprised, because just by looking at his face, one could not tell that Ji Yuanhao and Ren had such a big son.
Ren smiled and touched her eldest son's head.
Su Ci touched her chin: "What a coincidence?"
Yes, it’s such a coincidence that it’s hard not to associate the two things together. Now the three people are stuffed in the same barrel as evidence.
Su Ci whispered: "We have to find a way to get out of this."
Who said it wasn’t true? Ren was also a little anxious. The people who caught them were the Northern Rong people. It would be terrible if they were transported away from Daqing!
But how easy is it to get out of this situation?
The three of them first lay down on the crack of the barrel and tried to look out. The barrel was very old, and there were many irregular cracks on the barrel wall. You couldn't see inside from the outside, but you could see outside from the inside. The three of them tried to look for a while, and finally Su Ci could barely see a little bit. She stretched her head and through the gap and the moss-covered plywood floor, she saw a bit of the river surface. The afterglow was dark red, disappearing on the river surface little by little, and a thin white mist gradually rose from the water surface.
"It's getting dark," she whispered.
Everyone felt heavy in their hearts, as they had been unconscious for more than three hours.
Su Ci whispered to encourage everyone: "Don't be afraid, someone will definitely come to find us."
They waited and watched, waiting for their opportunity.
Ren and Ji Zimu nodded vigorously.
But who knew that after they waited for the opportunity, they could only be forced to watch it slip away in the end.
The situation on the river suddenly became tense. Yang Yanzong and Ji Yuanhao were powerful enough. One in the south and one in the north, they quickly mobilized a large number of people and fishermen along the river to conduct an emergency carpet search!
Suddenly, the movement on the deck and in the cabin became more urgent, and then someone rushed straight to their barrel. Su Ci saw that the situation was not good, and shouted urgently: "We are here, we are here!!!"
She guessed what the other party wanted to do, so she didn't pretend to be unconscious and started shouting. Ren and the young boy Ji Zimu immediately followed suit. The three of them were shouting very loudly, but unfortunately they were far away from the shore. The man sneered, opened the lid of the barrel, and kicked each of them in the heart. It felt like her heart was about to be kicked apart. Then she was grabbed up and a handkerchief was covered tightly over her mouth and nose. Su Ci struggled for a few times, and soon fainted.
The man waited for a while, let her go, picked up Ren and Ji Zimu, and did the same thing to them.
Then they tied the man's hands and feet, sealed his mouth, stuffed him back into the original barrel, and sealed the lid.
Su Ci was so angry, what the hell is this Beirong spy!
She was a doctor and was quite familiar with the properties and usage time of this kind of knockout drug. When she saw the other party pick up the handkerchief out of the corner of her eye, she held her breath in advance and pretended to kick a few times, but in the end she didn't inhale much.
Ren and Ji Zimu had fainted, but Ren was still stubborn and dazed, but she had no strength to move. She tried to move her mouth, trying to push the rag stuffed in her mouth out a little, but this Beirong spy was very skilled in this and had wrapped several strips of cloth around it, so she couldn't spit it out at all.
She was breathing heavily and sweating profusely in the cold weather. At this time, the fishing boat was heading towards the fishing port.
It was unknown how long this group of Beirong spies had been hiding in Daqing. Su Ci suspected it had been at least ten or twenty years, because the man who had just silenced them had a weather-beaten face and red skin, and his hands were full of calluses and cracks from pulling fish day after day. He was obviously an old fisherman who had been exposed to the river breeze for many years. There was absolutely no flaw.
Moreover, this man is extremely strong, so strong that he is simply beyond the reach of ordinary people.
The fishing boat was heading for the fishing port. Before it reached the shore, the people on the fishing boat could be heard talking with other boats: "Hey, Ge Laoliu is back!"
"Yeah, what's going on?!"
In the middle of the night, fishing boats are racing to leave the port? Ge Laoliu looked surprised.
"You don't know, a good job has come!" The person on the other side said excitedly: "A noble person fell into the water and disappeared. We are hired to help search and salvage. We will give you two taels of silver!! If you find useful clues, you will be rewarded with one thousand taels of gold and can help you move to the inner city and become a citizen to ensure that you have no worries! !"
The entire Yangshui coast was in an uproar. Everyone was rubbing their hands and widening their eyes as they set off. "No more talking. Our team is going to fish in the middle of the river. You should hand in your catch and come along too!"
"Oh, okay!"
Su Ci once passed by Yang Yanzong's men.
But Ge Laoliu dared to take the boat to the fishing port, so he must have been confident. There was a flash of fire leaking in from the gap in the barrel. Su Ci shook her head and stretched her neck with difficulty to get closer, only to see several young men standing on the dock, who were obviously his own people, but none of them she knew. This fishing port was very conspicuous and had been searched once before, so only young people were allowed in. Old hands like Akang got one, but he was arranging the fishing boats in the overall situation and was not here.
Several young men were very serious, staring with eyes wide open, "Pour out all the fish in the bucket! All the cages that can hold things!!"
Ge Laoliu nodded repeatedly and shouted to his wife and son to quickly push the fish bucket out. This honest old fisherman looked a little tired, but who knew he was actually very strong. He poured out bucket after bucket of fish. Finally it was Su Ci's bucket's turn. Ge Laoliu was very flexible. With a push and a pull, he quickly swapped the bucket where Su Ci and the other two were with the bucket that had just been emptied in the shadows.
There were at least twenty or thirty large and small fishing boats entering the port at the same time, and the guys were still a little short of manpower. The fish on the deck and in the cabin were jumping around, which made it easier for him to deceive his eyes.
Su Ci watched him change positions and almost vomited anger. Damn, you are so powerful, why are you a spy? Go and perform magic tricks, I guarantee you will make a fortune!
Then this even stronger Ge Laoliu was still behind. When the young man turned his head, he emptied all the buckets and put the empty buckets at his feet to the other side of the empty buckets. He picked up the three people's "empty buckets" with one hand, as if he had really pulled an empty bucket at random. It was so natural that no one could see any flaws. Then Su Ci and the others were pulled over like this.
She tried desperately to shout, but she had no strength and her mouth was blocked so she couldn't make any sound. She could only make a few breaths, and no one outside could hear her!
Someone jumped onto the boat to check, including the air tank, lifeboat, other places on the fishing boat where people could hide, and the bottom of the water. After checking one by one, Ge Laoliu's family nervously protected their catch, because many fish had already jumped back into the water after being poured out, and the family was anxious and tried hard to stop them.
After the inspection, no problems were found. A handsome young man even said, "Don't worry, old man. We will compensate you."
Ge Laoliu was overjoyed, "Thank you, thank you, thank you, General!"
"Okay, no problem, hurry into the port, next batch!"
The fishing boats rushed into the fishing port and entered the market where the fish were purchased in bulk. However, private individuals were not allowed to enter the market to purchase the fish today. All fishermen had to haul the fish out to sell. Su Ci's bucket was loaded onto a large cart, and he watched helplessly as the dock got farther and farther away.
She tried to make some noise, and perhaps she managed to make a little bit, but the noise from the fish jumping and people walking in the market easily drowned it out.
In the darkness, the barrel was pulled farther and farther away.
She finally passed out for a short time. The dosage of the knockout drug was really strong. When she woke up, she was in a different position. She was swaying in the carriage, and it was already dawn outside.
From time to time, someone would lift the curtain to observe them. Su Ci looked through the gap in the curtain and saw that she was in some wilderness, the road was very remote, and there was no one, so she simply pretended to be dead.
Ren and Ji Zimu woke up the next night. They were still a little dizzy after being shaken awake. Someone threw in a few coarse bread buns and tied their hands from the back to the front. The three of them ate the cold and hard buns like rabbits. Ren whispered anxiously, "How long have we slept? Where is this?"
"Almost two days."
Damn, he gave me such a strong knockout drug, aren't they afraid of killing me?
"We are probably about to leave Yangdu territory."
She was just guessing, but judging by the distance traveled, it was probably true.
At this point, Su Ci also became anxious. If they were successfully evacuated, they would be dead!
…
Yang Yanzong also thought of the same problem.
He was really getting anxious!
It has been almost three days, and Su Ci is very likely no longer on either side of the Yang River. In fact, he may even be transported away from Yangdu.
Yang Yanzong endured for three days without sleep or rest. His eyes were red and his expression was as if he was biting someone. He held his forehead and paced back and forth by the river several times, then exchanged a glance with Ji Yuanhao who was riding a fast horse. They both knew that they had to expand the search range and even block the Yangdu area!
But this was beyond their authority. To set up checkpoints, blockades, and dispatch garrisons, they had to get the emperor's explicit order!
Without any further hesitation, the two mounted their horses and headed straight towards Yangdu.
Let's go back to the palace first. It has been drizzling these past few days, and it's wet and cold. The two of them were wet and dry, dry and wet, and they didn't even have time to change their clothes. But we can't go to see the emperor like this.
Yang Yanzong's residence was nearby, so the two men went straight to him.
As soon as he entered the room, Yang Yanzong said in a deep voice: "Go find some clothes for General Ji to change into!"
He quickly ran to the outer study, quickly arranged his clothes, and asked as he put them on: "How is the mansion? How is the old lady?"
It was said that Yan was injured, but the injury was not serious. Yang Yanzong was concerned about her first and did not even ask about her in detail. But now that he had returned home, he had to find time to visit her.
He hurried away and rushed to Shou'an Hall reserved for Yan in the west of the backyard, without even bothering to look at Daming's hesitant expression.
As soon as he stepped into Shou'an Hall, the first thing he heard was Yang Chongying's angry roar: "The whereabouts of our eldest daughter-in-law are unknown, so of course the family should focus on her first! Are you dying or something? Ah! Isn't it just a scratch on your palm? Why are you howling? Your son is busy! Try howling again! "
Immediately afterwards, Yan's screams and tearing sounds were heard in the main hall!
“Bang!!!”
With a loud slap, Yang Chongying could no longer bear it, and finally pushed Yan away and slapped her hard!
"You bitch, if it weren't for my son, I would divorce you today!!"
Yang Chongying was furious and yelled, then turned around and left, shouting, "No one is allowed to run around, do you hear me? Anyone who violates this will be beaten to death!!"
He rushed out of the main hall door, and in his anger he didn't even notice Yang Yanzong coming in through the side door.
Yang Yanxin and Daming looked at each other, and Yang Yanxin rushed in: "Mom, what's wrong with you?"
Yan's screams and curses were heard in the house. She cursed Yang Chongying, Su Ci, and even complained about Yang Yanzong, saying that he didn't care about his mother and only had his wife in his heart, and that she had raised him as a son in vain. Yang Yanxin couldn't stop her!
Yang Yanzong closed his eyes and let out a long breath.
Fatigue, mixed with anxiety, an indescribable depression and fatigue surged into my heart. My mother always complained that it was not enough, and my wife was missing and no one knew whether she was alive or dead, but she was still scolding her!
Over the years, he has done his best to protect his family and be filial to his mother. Is all he has left is resentment?
For the first time, he felt angry with his mother.
Afterwards, Yan ordered people to call the two new concubines to be tortured. Whenever she had free time, she would torture these two people, and she would become even more severe when she was in a bad mood.
But Yang Yanzong had already left.
When Yan's trusted maid went to call for help, Yang Yanzong was no longer in Shou'an Hall.
All his emotions and all the things at home were pushed aside by him. He could ignore everything else for the time being. He had to find Su Ci first.
The longer she delays, the more dangerous she will be!
…
Yang Yanzong and Ji Yuanhao hurriedly changed their clothes and rode out on horseback. Before they reached the imperial city, they met the imperial eunuch who was riding out of the city on a horse to summon them.
On that day, it was not only the carriages of Su Ci and Ren that were attacked, but also several officials involved in the Huang case, and even the family of Tong Jie'en's son who was adopted outside the palace.
Some people even died on the spot. The disappearance of Su Ci and Ren Shi Ji Zimu was certainly terrible, but it was not the worst.
There was a civil servant whose mother died. He cried so much that he fainted in front of the palace gate.
They had been keeping an eye on the situation of Yang Yanzong, Ji Yuanhao and others. As soon as they heard the news, the two of them rushed over to the city to meet the emperor without even changing their clothes.
He knelt and cried in indignation, but they had come many times and the old emperor had said everything he should say. Sun Shiping had no choice but to persuade and support the man with a few eunuchs and help him into a side hall to rest.
Officials in the capital were unexpectedly attacked by the remnants of Tongji, resulting in casualties and disappearances. The old emperor was furious. Two days ago, he issued an imperial decree to pursue and intercept them and capture them if necessary. In addition, all departments must fully cooperate in rescuing the missing officials.
The victimized official's voice was very loud and could be heard clearly in Shangyang Hall. When Yang Yanzong and Ji Yuanhao entered the hall, the old emperor was rubbing his brow tiredly and his face looked solemn.
Yang Yanzong and Ji Yuanhao didn't waste any words and knelt down to greet the emperor. The emperor asked about the progress. The two of them exchanged a few brief words and then requested a blockade and the dispatch of garrisons.
The old emperor let out a long breath, "Okay."
"Do your best to rescue them."
His brows knitted tightly together. "Special matters will be handled separately. I will allow you to act according to your discretion when encountering special matters."
Yang Yanzong Ji Yuanhao felt relieved: "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
The two anxious people did not stay long and immediately took their leave.
The two figures walked away, and the old emperor's solemn expression relaxed and became indifferent. Tong Jie'en stepped forward from the back hall door, "Your Majesty?"
Their people are also searching secretly. Are they going to continue... and kill them?
The old emperor shook his head slightly: "That's all."
Unexpectedly, the Beirong people suddenly appeared and things went in a different direction.
Okay, then I won’t kill him.
No need.
The old emperor said: "Clean up the tail, and let them follow up, and guide them appropriately when necessary."
As for what to guide, it is of course Kun.
Tong Jie'en understood what he meant and immediately went back to work without saying anything more.
…
Let’s talk about Yang Yanzong and Ji Yuanhao.
The two men hurried out of Shangyang Hall, quickly walked out of the palace gate, took their reins, and climbed up.
Ji Yuanhao looked back at the towering imperial palace.
"What do you think?"
During their search, the two of them did not find Su Ci and the mother and son of the Ren family. However, Ah Zheng risked his life and seriously injured an enemy expert. When they followed this line, they unexpectedly obtained some faint traces.
——In fact, if it were just the Huang and Shi families, even if the Northern Rong people were added, it shouldn't have come to this.
It is impossible for the Northern Rong people to have so many spies.
This was their initial guess, but later on there seemed to be some vague traces of Kun.
It is reasonable for Kun to take action!
The old emperor has been trying to win them over with gentleness from the beginning until now, and his attitude has not changed since before the accident.
Yang Yanzong's eyes were deep and full of a devouring viciousness. He said calmly, "No need to jump to conclusions too early."
The old emperor was never a good person, and of course, Kun was not much better. On these two sides, one was a jackal, and the other was a tiger and leopard.
Yang Yanzong has always been very cautious about such matters. Even if he has some clues, they are far from enough for him to make a conclusion immediately.
Yang Yanzong turned around suddenly, and saw the red walls and golden tiles behind him, majestic and magnificent.
The same thing.
There's no rush for this.
The most urgent task is to save people, and everything else will be done after she is rescued!
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