Zhaoning Palace.
"Your Majesty, the matter concerning the Zhong family has been thoroughly investigated."
At that time, Gu Lin was being pestered by Gu Qingyan about matters of state in the Taihe Hall, while Jiang Yu was calmly reading a book at the table. Upon hearing Wan Ji's words, Jiang Yu's expression suddenly changed.
"Who sent them?"
"It's the Pei family."
Hearing this expected answer, Jiang Yu twitched the corner of her mouth, "Pei Jian... does he really think we haven't traced Chen Ping's matter back to him?"
They didn't want to alert the enemy before, but now they dare to target her people?
“Zhong Qi’er is now doing my bidding, and using Zhong Qi’er… I’m determined to handle this matter.” Jiang Yu thought of the Zhong family father and son, and a mocking look immediately appeared in her eyes. “Have the Emperor summon the Zhong family father and son after court tomorrow.”
"yes."
After receiving the news, Gu Qingyan did not ask Jiang Yu for the reason. Instead, he stared at Zhong Wuyi's memorial from a few days ago for a long time.
"Is Your Majesty troubled by the matter of summoning the Zhong family father and son tomorrow?" Yingzhi lit some calming incense for Gu Qingyan at the right time. "The Empress Dowager specifically instructed Your Majesty to rest early."
“I am not troubled by the matter of the Zhong family father and son. Zhong Qi’er is now the Empress Dowager’s person, so naturally the Empress Dowager will handle it.” Gu Qingyan paused. “It’s just that the Pei family seems to be getting more and more presumptuous.”
"This Miss Zhong is quite an extraordinary person. Now she's serving the Empress Dowager. If the Zhong family father and son knew, they might regret it." Yingzhi's expression also carried a hint of sarcasm. The Zhong family abandoned Zhong Qi'er decisively back then, but now they're fawning over someone who looks just like Zhong Qi'er.
"Zhong Qi'er is no longer in this world."
Gu Qingyan spoke softly, "Zhong Qi'er had already died in that fire."
......
At the same time, on a street corner in Chongqing.
Zhong Qi'er quietly followed behind a burly man, who was accompanied by a timid and hesitant woman.
"Damn it, who dares to hit me?!" A furious roar rang out, and Zhong Qi'er crossed her arms. "Is that your wife next to you?"
"Isn't that obvious? Would my wife come with me if she weren't my wife?"
A hint of guilt flashed in the burly man's eyes. The next second, Qi'er waved her hand, and a figure immediately darted out from the shadows. The burly man was instantly bound hand to hand and pinned to the ground.
Zhong Qi'er sneered, "You call yourself 'I'? I've been watching you for a long time. This woman is clearly not your wife. Ling Mo, send her to the yamen."
Seeing the burly man being taken away, the woman finally squatted down and burst into tears.
Zhong Qi'er slowly squatted down and reached out to tidy up the woman's slightly messy hair. "My name is A Hui. If you don't have a place to stay for the time being, come home with me."
"Ah Hui, thank you, you are my savior."
"Don't cry." Zhong Qi'er had seen this scene many times in the months since she left Beijing. "Don't worry, I will definitely find your family."
The courtyard where Zhong Qi'er was temporarily staying was extremely simple and almost completely unfurnished.
After escorting the person to the yamen, Ling Mo quickly returned to the courtyard. He was specifically assigned by Jiang Yu to follow Zhong Qi'er.
“My name is He Ling, I’m from Suzhou. I… I was kidnapped and brought here on my way to the temple to pray for blessings.” He Ling cried as she recounted what had happened. “My father and mother are so worried.”
"them?"
Zhong Qi'er gleaned important information from He Ling's fragmented words, "Think carefully, how many people were there?"
"At least...at least three, all men."
"Were you the only one who was arrested?"
He Ling nodded upon hearing this. She had never seen any other woman captured like she had.
"I understand. You should get some rest." Zhong Qi'er smiled. "You'll be able to see your parents soon."
As she was leaving, He Ling reached out and grasped Zhong Qi'er's wrist. "Your name is... A Hui? Which 'Hui' is it?"
Seeing that He Ling could read, Zhong Qi'er slowly wrote the character "茴" on He Ling's palm.
“It’s rare to see someone use this character in their name.” He Ling showed her first genuine smile since she had been captured for so long.
“It means I’m taking you home.” Zhong Qi’er squeezed He Ling’s hand. “May you all be safe and sound from now on.”
After stepping out of the courtyard, Zhong Qi'er's face immediately darkened.
"Ah Hui, this is the fifth woman we've rescued," Ling Mo's voice rang out. "The people of Dayu live in peace and prosperity, yet there are still so many places where women are being abducted."
"We will get rid of these bedbugs in the sewers sooner or later."
Zhong Qi'er glanced at Ling Mo, "What did the yamen say?"
"They said they would like us to come and investigate in person tomorrow."
Upon hearing this, Zhong Qi'er reached out and touched the token at her waist. This token was personally bestowed by the Empress Dowager, and seeing the token was like seeing the Empress Dowager herself; it was her trump card.
"Then we'll go and see for ourselves tomorrow."
Ah Hui at this time was completely different from Zhong Qi'er at that time.
......
The next day.
Zhong Wuyi and Zhong Min knelt tremblingly in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, but for a long time they did not hear Gu Qingyan call out.
A full half hour passed before Wanji's voice finally rang out from outside the hall, "The Empress Dowager has arrived—"
"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty."
Gu Qingyan stood up and helped Jiang Yu to a seat. Jiang Yu glanced at the kneeling Zhong family father and son, "I summoned you here today."
"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty the Empress Dowager. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings."
"May the Empress Dowager enjoy peace and prosperity?" Jiang Yu seemed to have heard a joke. "Zhong Wuyi, I heard that you recently had a concubine's daughter?"
Suddenly, Zhong Wuyi's back was covered in cold sweat.
"My lord...my lord..."
"If you continue to conceal anything, Zhong Wuyi, your official hat will be worn out." Jiang Yu's tone was clearly angry as she looked at the father and son kneeling on the ground, her eyes sharp.
Zhong Wuyi could not withstand Jiang Yu's pressure and almost without hesitation revealed the whole story about the woman: "Your Majesty, I really have no illegitimate sons. That woman is the reincarnation of Qi'er."
"Reincarnation?"
Jiang Yu slowly stood up. "If Zhong Qi'er has truly been reincarnated, why would she be willing to see you two again?"
“When Zhong Qi’er got into trouble, she begged that the Zhong family not be implicated, and you are begging that the Zhong family not be implicated either.”
Jiang Yu's words made Zhong Wuyi's vision go black. How could this be... Qi'er has been raised to be lawless, how could she possibly disregard her own safety to protect the Zhong family?
Impossible, impossible...
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