After the favored concubine remarried, the aloof and powerful minister forcibly took her away.

Chapter 137 I Missed You and You Came

After Lvzhi finished tidying up the side room, Xiangning went inside to rest.

Wen Caifu goes to the Mahavira Hall to chant sutras every afternoon, so she can't accompany Xiang Ning.

About half an hour later, after the chanting ended, Wen Caifu left the main hall.

"Sister-in-law!"

A familiar voice came from afar, and Wen Caifu frowned.

"What are you here for?"

She walked over quickly, her eyes filled with coldness and wariness, successfully stopping the second brother from saying anything more.

Upon closer inspection, this man was none other than the second-in-command of the bandits who had previously kidnapped Wen Caifu.

Ever since Duan Zhuo let Wen Caifu go, the second son has felt that something was wrong.

In addition, Duan Zhuo had been visiting Xiangguo Temple quite frequently these days, so the second son assumed that Duan Zhuo liked Wen Caifu.

Calling her "sister-in-law" without any burden.

"My elder brother asked me to deliver a message to you. In a few days, there will be a royal sacrificial ceremony, and Princess Huihe will also be coming to Xiangguo Temple."

After saying this, the second brother left, leaving Wen Caifu alone.

Watching her second son's retreating figure, Wen Caifu seemed lost in thought.

Wen Caifu will never forget the grudge that drove her to this point.

However, Lu Jiamin was the daughter of Prince Qing and was very favored. She didn't go out often, so Wen Caifu couldn't find a way to harm her.

This royal sacrificial ceremony is a good opportunity.

Use the way of the person to treat the person's body.

After Xiang Ning woke up, Wen Caifu also returned to the courtyard. Seeing that Wen Caifu looked somewhat solemn, Xiang Ning thought something had happened.

However, when she asked, Wen Caifu shook her head and said it was nothing.

This is her own business, and she doesn't want to involve Xiang Ning.

At this moment, in the Cining Palace of the Imperial Palace, Pei Yanzhi and Wei Ziqian watched the busy figure of the imperial physician behind the curtain.

Empress Dowager Feng fell ill for several days because of Princess Jian'an's disappearance.

After talking with Pei Yanzhi for a while, she fainted again.

The young emperor sat to one side, his brow furrowed in worry.

"Master Pei."

Upon hearing the young emperor's voice, Pei Yanzhi turned around: "Your Majesty."

"Lord Anping, Lord Pei, please come with me to the Hall of State Affairs."

The young emperor was only ten years old, but he was very composed.

The two nodded in agreement and followed the young emperor to the council hall.

"My two ministers, the Empress Dowager has not slept for several days because of my elder sister's matter."

"The royal sacrificial ceremony is in a few days, and we must find the Empress within three days."

On the dragon throne, his youthful face was filled with a mixture of worry and majesty.

The three talked for a long time in the council hall. When Pei Yanzhi and Wei Ziqian came out, their faces were also full of solemnity.

“I asked the palace maid who served Princess Jian’an. She said that the princess originally wanted to go to the theater to watch a play that day, but the maid waited outside for a long time and the princess did not appear.”

Wei Ziqian stood to the side with his arms crossed and said something.

Who would have thought that Princess Jian'an disappeared in the palace?

The general guarding the palace gates also said that everyone who entered the palace that day had been checked, but there was no trace of the princess.

"A person cannot simply disappear into thin air."

Pei Yanzhi stepped down the stairs: "I want to go and see Princess Jian'an's palace."

Wei Ziqian nodded. Empress Dowager Feng trusted the two of them, and of course, she would go to the crime scene to investigate the case.

Pei Yanzhi and Wei Ziqian stepped into Princess Jian'an's bedroom, where a faint fragrance of cosmetics filled the air.

The palace maid's eyes were red and she looked very uncomfortable.

Who would have thought that a living person could disappear inside the palace walls?

Pei Yanzhi, with his keen eyes, first carefully examined the area around the bed. The bedding was neatly folded and there was nothing unusual. Wei Ziqian then walked to the desk, where an unfinished calligraphy work lay, the ink already somewhat dried.

"Did the princess only say she wanted to go out that day?"

Pei Yanzhi stood aside and asked the sobbing palace maid, who nodded and said, "His Highness is not well. The Empress Dowager usually does not allow His Highness to leave the palace."

"But His Highness heard that the performance at Yuxiang Tower that day was of The Peony Pavilion, so he wanted to go and see it, and he even pleaded with the Empress Dowager for a long time for this purpose."

The palace maid wiped away her tears and continued, "I remember it very clearly. After His Highness got the Empress Dowager's approval, he was very happy and hardly slept all night. Just before dawn, His Highness told me to go back and rest for a while."

"It was during that short time that, after I had rested and went back into the palace, I couldn't find His Highness."

After saying this, the palace maid began to sob softly again.

It's strange to see a living person just disappear right under your nose.

When Empress Dowager Feng found out, she was furious. She not only had many guards beaten to death, but also punished many palace staff.

After listening to the palace maid's words, Pei Yanzhi seemed to be deep in thought.

"What did you find?"

Wei Ziqian walked over, his usual playboy demeanor gone, his expression now somewhat cold and aloof.

"The Empress Dowager does not want this matter to be publicized."

Seemingly sensing Pei Yanzhi's thoughts, Wei Ziqian frowned and said, "This palace maid cannot be brought back to the Dali Temple."

"I know, but if I go to the palace too often, someone with ulterior motives might find out something."

Pei Yanzhi raised an eyebrow slightly, walked to the desk, and left a message for Wei Ziqian.

Although the two sometimes fight to the death, they naturally work together when it comes to such crucial moments.

"Then, let's leave it to Marquis Anping."

The paper was folded and placed in Wei Ziqian's arms, and Pei Yanzhi's smile was meaningful.

Wei Ziqian frowned even more deeply: "You're smiling like a ghost."

However, after saying that, Pei Yanzhi also left.

Wei Ziqian unfolded the paper in his arms and immediately saw the words on it.

"That's funny, so I'm supposed to do all the dirty and hard work."

However, he has one advantage: he generally doesn't refute what others say when they are right.

As Pei Yanzhi emerged from the palace, the sun was already setting. He had arrived at the palace that morning but had not yet eaten.

I wonder how Xiang Ning is doing.

"Sir, the old lady is asking if you are going home today."

During this period, Pei Yanzhi returned to the Pei residence very few times.

The old lady knew he was disappointed in the Pei family, but it was still a home, and he had to go back.

"Tomorrow, you go back first and have Bitao tidy up Mosongyuan."

After giving instructions to the servant, Pei Yan boarded the carriage.

The emperor only gave him three days. If he couldn't find Princess Jian'an, the empress dowager would surely be furious.

Pei Yanzhi leaned against the carriage, feeling utterly exhausted.

"Go to Xiangguo Temple."

As the carriage turned around, Pei Yanzhi said this to the outside.

The driver agreed and headed towards Xiangguo Temple.

Xiang Ning lay on the bed, half asleep and half awake, when she felt a chill coming from behind her, and she frowned.

Amidst the rustling sounds, a pair of hands reached out and wrapped around her waist.

She woke up suddenly, and just as she was about to turn around, his hand covered her eyes.

"Didn't Pei Lang say he would come tomorrow?"

Xiang Ning's throat tightened, and she was wide awake. Who would have thought that Pei Yanzhi would come under the cover of night?

"I came because I missed you."

In the deep darkness of the night, his voice was hoarse and weary, but beside her was a peaceful haven.

(End of this chapter)