newbobooks Chapter 261 The Second Young Master's Whereabouts Have Been Discovered
Chapter 261 The Second Young Master's Whereabouts Have Been Discovered
Because Lady Hou refused to budge, Xie Zhongzhi and Xu Liuer never had a wedding ceremony.
Xu Liuer was not included in the family genealogy either, and now that the line has been severed, things are naturally much simpler.
Even if Xie Zhongzhi wanted to report it to the authorities, he didn't have a reason.
Because Xu Liuer was neither a wife nor a concubine.
In other words, Xu Liuer has been following Xie Zhongzhi for so long without any clear explanation...
Fortunately, the two had nothing to do with each other anymore.
Xiaohe continued to report: "The Princess has instructed the kitchen to stew bird's nest and lotus seed soup every day for Miss Xu to drink, and now her complexion has improved a lot."
Qin Jiuwei listened and slowly nodded, "That's good. Yunzhi really took good care of Liu'er."
"Young Madam." A maid respectfully brought up a wooden tray.
On the wooden plate is a bowl of rock sugar osmanthus soup, with a delicate and pleasant aroma.
Next to it were several pieces of tangerine peel cake. The thin tangerine peel was soaked in honey and looked shiny and translucent. It smelled sweet and fragrant when mixed with the glutinous rice cake dough.
Qin Jiuwei was also a little hungry at this moment, so she picked up a piece of golden tangerine cake and took a small bite.
As she ate, she couldn't help but recall the question Xie Yanli had suddenly asked her last night.
Ask her if she would run away.
Thinking about it now, Qin Jiuwei still couldn't help but chuckle.
To be honest, she never thought of running away.
Even though Xie Yanli treated her badly at first, she never expected this.
Because whether in her past life or this one, all she asks for is to live well.
Moreover, it is about living a more dignified and prosperous life.
Therefore, in her previous life she rose through the ranks, and in this life she tries to understand Xie Yanli's thoughts, establish herself in the Marquis's mansion, and secure her position as the wife of the heir.
But what happened between her and Xie Yanli afterward was something she hadn't anticipated...
However, from any perspective, this life is far better than the last.
-
Over the next few days, Xie Zhongzhi worked tirelessly, searching for people both inside and outside the city, while also sending out many secret guards to gather information.
He guessed that Xu Liuer couldn't have gone far; she was either in the city or around the capital.
He posted missing person notices all over the capital, but no inn dared to take her in.
Xu Liu'er must be hiding somewhere inconspicuous.
He first went to the dock in the south of the city, which was the place with the most cargo traffic and where criminals often hid.
He sent people to question each boatman and unloader, asking them if they had seen Xu Liuer.
He even paid a considerable sum of money to local thugs and ruffians to help him keep an eye out for information.
I've searched every place in the city that I can.
But Xie Zhongzhi still gained nothing.
So he went out of the city to search, checking each village near the four gates of the capital.
He's been to every imaginable place, from farmhouses to shacks in the mountains.
Whenever he saw any signs of strangers coming or going, he would send someone to investigate thoroughly.
The more I couldn't find it, the more anxious I became.
After a few days, Xie Zhongzhi's face showed signs of fatigue, and his complexion became increasingly unpleasant.
At the same time, Qin Jiuwei did not step out of Qinglan Courtyard.
Because she knew that Xie Zhongzhi was definitely spying on her in secret.
At this time, at Zhiyuan Academy.
Xie Zhongzhi sat in his study, his brow furrowed with gloom.
Several maps and manpower distribution diagrams were spread out on the table in front of him, covered with marks and drawings.
"Second Young Master, as you instructed, we have already communicated with all the city's defense checkpoints and told them to intensify their checks on passersby."
The attendant reported cautiously.
To be honest, the second young master doesn't have that much power or influence. Those officials are willing to help him only because of the young master.
But he dared not tell the second young master about this.
Xie Zhongzhi did not react after hearing this; his brows remained furrowed.
For some reason, he had a vague feeling that Xu Liuer had not left the capital...
If she is still in the capital, there is one person who will definitely know where she is.
"Is there any movement from Qin Jiuwei's side?" Xie Zhongzhi asked in a deep voice.
The servant knelt on the ground and respectfully replied, "Second Master, the young mistress has been staying in Qinglan Courtyard and there has been no sign of anything unusual."
"Really not a single sound?" Xie Zhongzhi's eyes instantly turned cold.
"Really, no, the young mistress hasn't gone out at all these past few days." The servant lowered his voice even further.
Xie Zhongzhi clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning slightly white.
This woman is really determined to go against him!
Knowing that he wanted to find clues about Xu Liuer through her, she deliberately stayed in the mansion and didn't go anywhere, for fear that he would find even the slightest clue!
Xie Zhongzhi jumped up from his chair.
Did Qin Jiuwei really think that he wouldn't be able to find Xu Liuer if she didn't say anything?
He absolutely had to find her!
Xie Zhongzhi had just rushed out the door.
Suddenly, a figure draped in a white cloak appeared silently in the corridor like a ghost.
Bai Ying spoke, his voice cold: "Young Master Xie, you've wasted too much time on personal matters. It's time to focus on important things."
Xie Zhongzhi's eyes were gloomy. He stared at the white figure, pondered for a moment, and then said in a low voice through gritted teeth, "I understand."
Bai Ying heard his reply but remained standing there without changing her expression.
Xie Zhongzhi lowered his eyes, his right fist clenched tightly in his sleeve.
Wait until that matter is finished, and until he has more power.
He will definitely be able to find Xu Liuer and bring her back to his side!
Evening, Wenyuan Pavilion.
"Young Master, we have discovered the Second Young Master's whereabouts," Zhao Ming said respectfully.
Xie Yanli raised his eyes and said, "Speak."
"The second young master went to a small alley in the west of the city tonight, but strangely..." Zhao Ming paused, "...the second young master disappeared as soon as he went in!"
"There's only one road in the alley, and the second young master just vanished into thin air!"
“People can’t just disappear into thin air.” Xie Yanli put down the book in his hand. “There must be other hidden passages in the alley.”
"And it's a passage that none of you noticed..."
To be able to set up such a passage in the capital, right under the noses of the Imperial Guards, without anyone noticing.
Things were far more complicated than he had anticipated.
Xie Yanli's gaze darkened slightly, and he tapped his fingertips lightly on the table. After a moment of contemplation, he instructed, "Keep a close watch. Set up more informants around the area. Also, thoroughly investigate this alleyway and make sure to find the passage."
Zhao Ming nodded, turned around and left.
"Your Highness, General Shen requests an audience—" came the report from the eunuch at the door.
Before he finished speaking, Shen Xingjian strode in, still in his armor, his expression solemn yet tinged with urgency.
"Your Highness, our informant has sent word that Prince Qi has set a date for the operation!"
"When?"
"Ten days later."
Xie Yanli's gaze turned cold as he raised his eyes and asked, "Is the information accurate?"
Shen Xingjian nodded. "I have carefully verified the information, and the source is highly reliable."