Chapter 141 Dawn

Ming Huashang and Su Xingzhi went to all the places Su Yuji might go. Ming Huashang brought guards to help her look for her, but they still found nothing.

The clouds in the sky were as bright as fire, but Ming Huashang and Su Xingzhi had no intention of appreciating such a beautiful sky. Ming Huashang asked, "Is there any other place you haven't looked for?"

Su Xingzhi shook his head slowly: "Yuji usually stays at home except for going to the West Market to buy cloth and vegetables. It is rare to see her go to other places for entertainment, and she has never been out all night."

Only then did Su Xingzhi realize that although Chang'an was so prosperous and grand, Su Yuji had not been to many places. She had no relatives or friends in this city, and if she disappeared, he would have no one to ask.

Ming Huashang was also very anxious. She looked at the busy West Market and said, "It's no use wasting time like this. Brother Su, go home first and see if Sister Su has already gone home. I'll also go back home and wait. If she shows up near the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion, I'll send you a message immediately."

This was the only solution for now. Su Xingzhi had no choice but to accept the request, and Ming Huashang returned home exhausted with her guards.

When she got home, the sun had already set, and the sky turned dark blue, like an unfathomable sea hanging overhead, and a sense of oppression silently descended on the ground. Ming Huashang had been looking for people and asking questions all day, and her voice was hoarse, but she didn't even have time to drink saliva, and hurried to find the Duke of Zhen as soon as she got off the car.

Duke Zhenguo paced back and forth in the study, his brows shrouded in anxiety. When he heard the servant report that "Second Madam is back", he angrily said, "She even knew to come back. I told her to return home immediately, but she went to play somewhere unknown. Does she still have me as her father in her eyes?"

As soon as Ming Huashang walked in, she heard the Duke of Zhenguo scolding her. Ming Huashang asked the maids and guards to leave and closed the door before she said to the Duke of Zhenguo: "Father, I left without saying goodbye. It's my fault. But I came here to help find someone."

Duke Zhenguo sneered: "Who are you looking for?"

When Ming Huashang took the guards of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion away, she certainly couldn't say that she was going to look for another lady in the mansion. She simply didn't tell the Duke of Zhenguo the reason and just said that she would be back soon. Judging from the Duke of Zhenguo's look, he must have thought that Ming Huashang was out having fun again.

This misunderstanding was fine. Ming Huashang did not reveal their family's biggest secret, but asked, "Father, has my second brother not come back yet?"

Duke Zhenguo looked very disappointed with Ming Huashang, but when he mentioned Ming Huazhang, his expression softened a lot and he sighed, "Not yet. The attendants said he was out of town and we don't know when he will be back."

Ming Huashang asked: "Where did he go?"

Duke Zhenguo shook his head and said, "I don't know. He didn't bring anyone with him. Even the Jingzhao government officials couldn't explain it clearly. But it's better to go out at this juncture. If you don't know anything, you won't make any mistakes."

Ming Huashang's eyebrows moved. There seemed to be something else in the words of the Duke of Zhenguo. Ming Huashang glanced at his father and asked, "Father, is there something wrong in the palace?"

Duke Zhenguo sighed deeply and said, "When the sage heard about the two Zhang brothers, the prince of Shao and the prince of Wei were talking about them, he was furious and ordered them to be punished with 100 strokes of the cane each. The execution place was at Danfeng Gate. Not long ago, the prince of Shao and the prince of Wei were sent home. It is still unknown whether they are alive or dead."

"What?" Ming Huashang was shocked. She only knew that the Queen was angry, but she didn't know the situation was so serious. Prince Shao was the eldest son of the Crown Prince, the Crown Prince of the Crown Prince, and he was of great significance to the country. How could the Queen be so cruel and treat her own grandson like this?

This is a move that is aimed at death.

She asked hurriedly, "His Royal Highness Prince Shao is only nineteen years old. Even if he is outspoken, he should be given a chance to correct his mistakes. When a saint is angry, won't others try to persuade him?"

"Hush!" Duke Zhenguo hurriedly stopped Ming Huachang from speaking. He checked the doors and windows to see that they were closed and no one was around, so he said sternly, "Don't discuss the emperor's will."

Ming Huashang was a member of the Xuanxiao Guards, and knew how powerful the Queen's intelligence network was, so she could only keep her mouth shut reluctantly. Seeing Ming Huashang's indignant look, the Duke of Zhenguo sighed in his heart.

Ming Huashang could not accept the empress's cruelty, but the Duke of Zhenguo remained unperturbed. How could someone who could force his own son to death care about the life and death of his grandson?

That was a full one hundred strokes of the cane, and even the best fighters in the inner court would have to change several people to finish it. In such a long time, didn't Princess Taiping, the Crown Prince, and the Prince of Xiang receive the news?

They obviously knew it, but they would rather pretend they didn't know. It wasn't because they were cowardly, but because they knew the Queen's cruelty.

After all, he was just a nephew. The Crown Prince and the Prince of Xiang each had many sons. If this son died, they could still raise another one. If he angered the Empress and caused trouble in the process of the Empress passing the throne to the Crown Prince, he would be a sinner for all eternity.

In the face of Li Tang's great cause of restoring the country, any sacrifice is worth it.

So the first reaction of the Duke of Zhenguo when he heard the news was not to try to save people, but to quickly keep an eye on Ming Huazhang and not let him act impulsively. He was relieved to learn that Ming Huazhang had left the city.

It's better to leave the city. It has nothing to do with the flood. It won't cause trouble and it won't offend the prince. As for the case that will be closed tomorrow, Duke Zhenguo doesn't care at all. If he can't find out the problem, he will just be scolded for incompetence. If he can be transferred away from Jingzhao Prefecture, a place of trouble, it will be a good thing.

What happened in the palace was useless no matter whether Ming Huashang was satisfied or dissatisfied. Since Ming Huazhang was fine for the time being, Ming Huashang sighed silently in his heart and retreated with Zhenguogong.

She returned to her room, and after a day of wandering, she finally sat down to rest. She drank some sour plum soup and felt that the room was inexplicably empty. She was puzzled for a while, and finally realized the reason.

Ming Huashang asked: "How to make money?"

Jinbao and the other maids looked at each other in bewilderment: "She went to look for the lady, didn't the lady see her?"

Ming Huashang was surprised and asked, "I made an appointment with her to meet at home. It's been so long, and she hasn't come back yet?"

At this time, a little maid ran in and announced that a guard wanted to see her. Ming Huashang called the person in, and the guard greeted her and asked, "Second Madam, has Miss Zhaocai returned?"

Ming Huashang frowned, feeling a little ominous, and her face became serious: "No. Aren't you following her?"

The guard also realized that something was wrong and quickly knelt down to apologize: "My lady, please forgive me. Miss Zhaocai felt that it was too slow for two people to ask questions, so she asked me to act separately. After I finished asking questions, I waited for a long time but didn't see her. I thought Zhaocai went back home by herself..."

Ming Huashang couldn't sit still halfway through listening, and immediately stood up and said, "Such a big thing, why did you come to tell me now? Hurry up and call someone to go find her!"

When the maids saw Ming Huashang was about to go out, they hurriedly advised: "Madam, it's so late outside, it's not safe for you to go out, just let the servants go and look for her."

"It's so late outside, is she safe alone?" Ming Huashang said, "I have made up my mind, no need to persuade me, go prepare the car and call all the servants!"

Ming Huashang came back not long ago, and she was in a hurry to go out again. There was not much time left before curfew, and she looked at the time, her heart became more and more anxious, and she kept urging the driver to go faster.

The incident at Danfeng Gate had just happened, and the streets were empty and somewhat murderous. In the deliberate silence, the sound of Ming Huashang's horse hooves seemed particularly harsh.

When passing through Zhuque Street, a group of soldiers stopped Ming Huachang's carriage and asked, "Who is ahead?"

Ming Huashang handed over the token of the Duke of Zhen's Mansion and said earnestly, "My daughter, Ming Erniang, my maid got lost in Changshoufang. I want to go find her. I hope you can be accommodating."

The soldier checked the token of the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion and returned it after confirming that it was fine. However, his attitude was still cold and hard: "The curfew is about to start. Even if you go there now, it will be too late for you to come back. Wait until tomorrow to look for it."

"How can this be possible?" Ming Huashang said, "She is a weak woman who has never stayed in a guest house. It is too dangerous for her to stay out all night. I promise to go and come back quickly and will not delay the curfew. I hope you will help me."

Ming Huachang said all he could, but the night watchman remained unmoved. Just as Ming Huachang was considering whether to force his way in, the sound of horse hooves came from the street. A man in blue clothes tightened the reins, slowly approached, and asked, "What's wrong?"

Ming Huashang saw Xie Jichuan coming from the north and guessed that he must have just come out of the East Palace. Ming Huashang thought about what happened in the East Palace today, sighed, and replied: "Brother Xie, I have an urgent matter to go to Changshoufang, but the Jinwu Guards will not let me pass."

The soldiers recognized Xie Jichuan as a popular figure around the prince, and they all saluted with their fists clasped together: "Thank you, Mr. Xie."

Xie Jichuan glanced at Ming Huashang. She frowned slightly and looked uneasy. She didn't even notice that the jade comb on her hair had fallen off. She looked really anxious. It was very stupid to invite trouble in such a troubled time, but Xie Jichuan took out the token of the East Palace and said calmly: "I am ordered by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to go to the West Market to look for medicine. It won't be too much to take her alone. Let her go."

The soldiers looked at each other in bewilderment. Everyone had heard about what happened in the East Palace. Prince Shao was still lying in the East Palace, dying. No one dared to be accused of delaying Prince Shao's request for medicine. They stepped aside and bowed their heads, saying, "Yes. Let him go!"

Xie Jichuan reined in his horse and headed west, and Ming Huashang's carriage followed behind and was also able to start. Ming Huashang breathed a sigh of relief, and after walking out of the soldiers' hearing range, Ming Huashang whispered, "Thank you."

Xie Jichuan held the reins with one hand and walked aimlessly in front of Ming Huashang's carriage. He used to be smiling, but today Xie Jichuan had no expression on his face, as if he was so tired that he didn't even bother to put on a mask.

He said calmly, "Why thank me? I'll just consider it as a favor to you for tipping me off."

Ming Huashang knew that even without her reminder, Xie Jichuan would have received the news from the Eastern Palace, so her favor was actually meaningless. Ming Huashang did not dare to delay Xie Jichuan, and hurriedly said, "Brother Xie, go and find medicinal materials for the prince, don't delay the treatment."

Xie Jichuan chuckled, staring at the empty long street, and said, "I was just saying it casually. The Crown Prince has already prepared the best doctors and the best medicines for Prince Shao, and the Crown Princess is personally guarding the bed to take care of Prince Shao. The best medicines in the world are all in the East Palace, so there is no need for me to look for them."

Ming Huashang listened with a heavy heart. The Crown Prince and the Crown Princess saved Prince Shao at any cost, and it seemed that they loved their son, but it was also them who did not step out of the Eastern Palace when Prince Shao was caned by the Empress.

Ming Huashang asked: "What about the Prince of Wei and Princess Yongtai?"

"We are back to the Prince of Wei's mansion." Xie Jichuan said, "Don't worry, the Prince of Wei must have prepared precious medicinal herbs. As for whether they can survive, that depends on the lives of our children."

Ming Huashang looked at his indifferent face, and hesitated to speak. Finally, she whispered, "Shao Wang is a lucky man. Brother Xie, don't worry too much."

Xie Jichuan smiled and did not answer. Instead, he asked, "You will be in violation of curfew if you go out at this time. What are you doing out?"

Ming Huashang's face was solemn when she spoke of this, and she said, "Zhaocai is missing. I had other things to do today, so I asked her to help me question someone at Changshoufang, but she hasn't come back yet."

Xie Jichuan remembered Zhaocai. At first he had laughed at the vulgar name, but there were so many elegant maids' names in Chang'an that he couldn't remember any of them, but he remembered Zhaocai deeply.

Xie Jichuan thought she was out for a case, but she was out for a maid. Xie Jichuan said, "She's just a maid. If she doesn't come back, just wait until tomorrow. Why is it worth it for you to stay up all night?"

The missing person was just a maid, which was just a piece of property lost for the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion. But since Ming Huashang went out to look for someone, the blame will be put on her.

A bloody incident had just occurred at Danfengmen. Going out late at night at this time was not a wise move.

Xie Jichuan was expressing the thoughts of many people, but Ming Huashang frowned and said seriously, "She is a maid, but before she was sold as a maid, she was also a person of flesh and blood. I grew up with her and I know her character very well. She never causes trouble for others. It's so late and she hasn't come back yet. She must have been held up by something. How can I wait until tomorrow?"

Xie Jichuan remained silent and asked, "What if the person missing today was an ordinary maid?"

"Then I can't just sit there and do nothing." Ming Huashang said, "No matter who is missing, I will go out to look for her. It has nothing to do with whether she is a maid or whether I am close to her or not."

Xie Jichuan was silent for a long time this time, then chuckled: "You are the same as him, both of you have the heart of a saint, naively idealistic and unrealistic. You don't have the imperial token, and you will definitely be arrested by the Jinwu when you go back. I will go with you."

Ming Huachang was surprised that Xie Jichuan had belittled her. She thought he disdained such behavior. Xie Jichuan saw her thoughts and said, "Don't get me wrong. I just want to see when you will realize that this kind of self-righteous innocence will not survive in the world."

It's a good thing to have one more person to help at a time like this. Ming Huashang didn't care about his weird temper and said, "Then I'll take it as a compliment from Brother Xie. Thank you very much for your help."

Ming Huashang asked the guards to lead the way to the place where he and Zhaocai separated, and searched every house. Xie Jichuan also asked his servants to disperse and search for him. Ming Huashang didn't know how many doors she knocked on and how many times she apologized. Suddenly, she found Xie Jichuan standing at a remote alley, not moving for a long time. She felt something was wrong, so she walked over and asked, "Brother Xie, what's wrong?"

Xie Jichuan turned around, blocked her line of sight, and said, "Nothing, let's look for it somewhere else."

Several things happened today, and Ming Huachang was exhausted both physically and mentally. Her face was pale, and she walked away from Xie Jichuan with an expressionless face. Xie Jichuan did not move, and still stood in front of her.

The remaining blood on Ming Huachang's lips also faded away, and tears welled up in her eyes involuntarily, but she still pushed Xie Jichuan away, insisting on seeing the scene with her own eyes.

At the end of the alley, the corner of the wall was still covered with last winter's snow. A woman lay in the shadows, curled up in a ball, motionless. The soil beneath her was dark purple, and a large pool of blood had formed.

She still had her hair in a bun shaped like a gold ingot and pinned her favorite pearl flower on it. But this time, the pearl flower fell to the ground, and her rapid-fire complaints could not be heard for a long time.

Ming Huashang seemed to be in a trance, and walked forward step by step: "Zhaocai, it's curfew, what are you doing here?"

Xie Jichuan stood at the entrance of the alley. He was the one who had just said he wanted to see Ming Huashang hit a wall. Now that he had really seen it, he was the one who couldn't bear it. Xie Jichuan sighed, walked quickly forward, and stretched out his hand to cover her eyes.

"Don't look at it."

Xie Jichuan thought he might finally know what the riddle was. No one cares about the sunrise, no one cares about the moon, no one cares about the flowing water. He thought of many ways to combine them, but he didn't expect that the answer to the riddle was the simplest hidden meaning.

Sun, moon, bright.

Zhaocai stayed here to question Ming Huashang. Except for those who knew the inside story, others would only think that this woman was the second daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo. If the answer to the third case is Ming Huashang, then Zhaocai was mistakenly identified as Ming Huashang and died.

Ming Huashang naturally thought of what Xie Jichuan thought of. Tears welled up in her eyes. Su Yuji, Ming Huazhang, Zhaocai, all the pressure during this period collapsed on her like a mountain. Ming Huashang's eyes went dark and she finally fainted.

She thought that the discovery of her father's secret and the quarrel with Ming Huazhang last night were the worst days. She did not expect that when the night passed and the sun rose, the real despair had just begun.

It turns out that even if the day breaks, life won't get any better.