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

Chapter 162 Her Identity
Tang Yanjun knew Lu Jiang would say that.

This was, after all, the child left behind by his aunt, and the one the Lu family had been searching for for so many years.

Even if something unfortunate were to happen, Lu Jiang would not give up.

"Then you should get some rest tonight, and we'll set off first thing tomorrow morning."

"Thank you so much, Brother Tang. You have really helped me a lot."

Lu Jiang looked at Tang Yanjun, unsure how to express his gratitude.

Tang Yanjun smiled and shook his head: "If I say thank you again, it will be too formal. If you really want to thank me, you should find Sister Chaoguang first."

"Let's talk about another business deal."

Hearing Tang Yanjun say this, Lu Jiang nodded with a smile.

The next morning, before dawn, Lu Jiang and Tang Yanjun went to Xinkang County to inquire.

However, too much time has passed, and many people in Xinkang County have died due to the disaster.

Not many people actually know this.

Even the place where Lu Hualan used to live has been demolished, leaving only a pile of rubble.

Looking at the pile of rubble, Lu Jiang felt a deep sense of loss and bitterness.

Vague images of my past interactions with my aunt flashed through my mind, but those few memories have now vanished without a trace.

All that's left is this desolate wasteland.

Tang Yanjun gently patted Lu Jiang's shoulder and whispered, "Let's go ask the old residents around here. Maybe someone can still remember something."

Lu Jiang took a deep breath, suppressing the grief in his heart, and nodded in agreement.

They searched house by house along the streets and alleys, but the responses they received were mostly shakes of the head and blank stares.

Just when Lu Jiang was almost in despair, an old woman with gray hair walked over unsteadily. Her eyes lingered on Lu Jiang for a moment, as if she remembered something.

Why are you asking about that family?

The old woman's hoarse voice rekindled the flame of hope in Lu Jiang's heart.

Lu Jiang asked anxiously, "Grandma, do you know where that family's daughter went?"

The old woman squinted, pondered for a moment, and then said, "I can't quite remember, but someone asked me about it a while ago."

"Has anyone else asked this?"

Hearing the old woman's words, Lu Jiang was also surprised. Who else would ask about his aunt's whereabouts?
My aunt lives here incognito, and not many people know or recognize her.

Could it be the people Tang Yanjun mentioned before, the ones who were hunting them down?

"He looked fierce and menacing, not someone to be trifled with, so I asked him about the ancestral home and land. But my eyesight is failing, so I couldn't see clearly."

Lu Jiang and Tang Yanjun exchanged a glance. Although the clue was not clear, it was better than having no clue at all.

After thanking the old woman, they began to inquire in Xinkang County.

Since these people are memorable, they must have very distinctive features, so they shouldn't be too hard to find.

They had planned to visit Jinyulou again today, but judging from the situation, they figured they would have to stay in Xinkang County for another day.

Although Lu Jiang was a little tired from walking, the thought of finding his sister made the fatigue disappear.

In the evening, Pei Yanzhi had just finished helping Xiang Ning revise the embroidery workshop drawings when he saw Cheng Hua standing at the door, looking somewhat hesitant to speak.

"what happened?"

He wiped the ink off his hands with a handkerchief, and Chenghua said, "It's an urgent report from the Dali Temple. Shall I go to the study to see?"

Upon hearing this, Pei Yanzhi looked up and met Cheng Hua's gaze.

"If you have something to attend to, Mr. Pei, please go ahead and do your work."

Xiang Ning, who was leaning over the table looking at the blueprints, said something without looking up.

Upon hearing this, Pei Yanzhi nodded and led Cheng Hua toward the study.

Now his house has become his place for handling official business, while Xiang Ning's house is where he actually lives.

"what's up?"

As they walked along the covered walkway, Pei Yanzhi asked a question. What could make Cheng Hua hesitate to speak? It probably wasn't anything good.

"Lu Jiang came to the capital and also went to Xinkang County to inquire about Miss Xiang Ning."

“We noticed something was wrong while following Lu Jiang’s men. We asked the locals, and they said that Lu Jiang is looking for his sister.” As Cheng Hua finished speaking, Pei Yanzhi stopped in his tracks.

The wind chimes on the connecting corridor swayed in the wind, and it was as if a thread in his mind suddenly connected them.

"What did he ask?"

"We didn't get any information. When Lord Ming went there, he wasn't wearing the robes of the Dali Temple."

Cheng Hua naturally realized something, so he told Pei Yanzhi what he most wanted to know.

Hearing this, Pei Yanzhi lowered his eyes and then said, "Go to Jin Yu Lou and tell the madam that Xiang Ning and Xiang'er can only be two people."

"I don't intend to let..."

Before Cheng Hua could finish speaking, he saw Pei Yanzhi glance at him sideways.

The chilling cold was even colder than winter.

What should she know?

Upon hearing this, Chenghua lowered his head and said, "I'll take care of it right away."

After Cheng Hua left, Pei Yanzhi leaned against a pillar in the connecting corridor.

Without needing to investigate further, he already knew that the sister Lu Jiang was looking for was Xiang Ning.

There's no such thing as a coincidence in the world. From the first moment Pei Yanzhi saw Xiang Ning, he felt that someone with her appearance shouldn't be a peasant girl.

There are also similar embroidery techniques on handkerchiefs...

For some unknown reason, Pei Yanzhi got up and walked directly out of the Mosong Garden.

Qin Rui must know something, which is why he relentlessly pursues Xiang Ning.

He didn't believe Xiang Ning's explanation, but he also didn't believe Qin Rui's lies.

Only by meeting Qin Rui could Pei Yanzhi verify his own thoughts.

Pei Yanzhi felt his heart pounding wildly, as if something was about to slip from his grasp.

Xiang Ning is the person Lu Jiang is looking for. She is the daughter of the Lu family, and she has a name and status.

Her name is Chaoguang, and she has a loving uncle and brother.

If Lu Jiang knew she was in the Pei residence and knew her identity, he definitely wouldn't be able to keep her.

Pei Yanzhi stood at the entrance of Mosong Garden, and a gust of cold wind blew away all his heat.

He felt a sudden, sharp blow.

At this moment, Pei Yanzhi's thoughts grew wildly like a towering tree.

Lu Jiang will not know Xiang Ning's identity, and Xiang Ning will not know that Lu Jiang is looking for her.

She was his A Ning, nothing more.

Pei Yanzhi admitted that he was despicable and wretched, but he had no other choice.

Pei Yanzhi did not return that night, and Xiang Ning had no idea what he had done.

However, since he didn't come back, Xiang Ning was happy to have some peace and quiet.

If she hadn't seen the figure sitting not far away when she woke up in the morning, she would have thought that Pei Yanzhi wouldn't be seen for several days.

The sky was a hazy white, perhaps because winter skies always give people a gloomy feeling.

When Xiang Ning opened her eyes and lifted the curtain, she saw the man sitting on the soft couch.

He was still wearing yesterday's clothes. She couldn't see his expression, but she could sense that he was somewhat depressed.

Pei Yanzhi turned around after hearing Xiang Ning get up.

She saw him get up and walk slowly toward her.

Xiang Ning didn't know how long he had been sitting by the window. His hands were cold, and his body was even colder, as if he was carrying a chill that he couldn't shake off no matter what he did.

Before she could react, his kiss landed on her.

He also tore off Xiang Ning's thin clothes and threw them out of the curtain.

Pei Yanzhi supported her body, buried his head in the crook of her neck, and said in a muffled voice, "A Ning, say you belong to me."

"Say you'll only be with me."

(End of this chapter)