You can't only love the Qing Dynasty when you're eating the fruits of others' labor.

Chapter 260 The darkest place is under the lamp: Arrest Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang!
Noon.

Jiang Qingyun was a little anxious.

A bunch of women who looked exactly like officials' wives were caught, but they were all not what was described.

Door-to-door searches are extremely costly and have a far greater impact, so they cannot be conducted frequently; otherwise, the hard-won unity of the people will dissipate again.

But Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang was like a cunning mother wolf; if you couldn't catch her, you couldn't eat or sleep in peace.

Jiang Qingyun walked out of the courtyard:
"Pass down the order: thoroughly search the residences of the Empress Dowager's faction, especially the residences of Mongolian princes."

"As ordered."

……

Suofu.

The imperial guards searched even wells and latrines, their search meticulous and thorough.

Up in the observation deck.

Sony and his son spoke in hushed tones.

"Father, they've gone too far."

"Song'etu, if you want to do great things, you must learn to be patient!"

"Jiang Qingyun is Dong Zhuo now, and he'll be Wang Mang or Sima Zhao in the future. He'll kill us sooner or later. Are we just going to sit here and do nothing?"

"Be patient!"

Sony is like an old monk in deep meditation.

"Father, were there any guests at the manor the day before yesterday?"

"Shut up."

"Father, you're not worried that I'll betray the Hesheli family, are you?"

"Song'etu, this is not a question you should be asking!"

Sony suddenly turned his head, his eyes sharp as knives as he stared fiercely at his son.

Soetu felt a chill run down his spine, lowered his head and remained silent, but he had some guesses in his mind.

……

After searching the inner city, a thorough search of the southern city began. Regardless of whether they were Manchu or Han, regardless of rank, regardless of whether they were merchants or civilians, and regardless of whether anyone lived there, all households were to be searched.

It started to rain in the evening.

The officers of the various search teams returned to the Infantry Commander's Office, looking embarrassed and having found nothing.

"How could that be? Did they run away?" Disappointed, Jiang Qingyun rubbed his face repeatedly. "Did you search thoroughly?"

Jiangbei took the lead in answering:

“The brothers have inspected every house in Beijing except the Forbidden City. If there is any oversight, it is possible that the cellars were overlooked.”

"She is the Empress Dowager. Would she not have guards around her? One person can hide in a cellar, but it's not easy to hide a group of people."

Jiangbei remained silent.

After a while~
He blurted out, "Prime Minister, why not draw a portrait and offer a reward for its capture?"

……

Sudden.

Minister of Justice Suksaha rushed in from outside.

"Prime Minister, my men have discovered something."

"what?"

"Please dismiss those around you."

Jiang Qingyun waved his hand, and the crowd immediately dispersed.

Suksaha pulled out a bright yellow silk cloth from his pocket, and instantly, Jiang Qingyun felt a chill run down his spine.

"An imperial edict hidden in a belt?"

"Yes."

The edict, written on a belt, read: "The traitor Jiang has coerced the Emperor and seized control of the court. Anyone who carries this edict may enter the capital to defend the Emperor and restore the Qing Dynasty." It was signed: Borjigit Bumbutai.

The most terrifying thing is the bright red stamp on the back.

Jiang Qingyun jumped up: "The Imperial Seal?"

Suksaha's expression was solemn, and he nodded silently.

There are essentially two possibilities: either the Empress Dowager is hiding in the palace, or she is still among the common people but has already made contact with the Emperor.

"Where did you find this?"

"It is likely that the nephew of the former Grand Secretary Chen Mingxia harbors resentment towards the Grand Secretary."

"Has it been interrogated?"

"The person jumped into a well as soon as they were found. His family members are being tried by the Ministry of Justice, but based on experience, family members are often unaware of such things."

Jiang Qingyun paced back and forth.

Suksaha took a step forward and said in a low voice, "My lord, there are so many people who should have been killed but haven't been."

……

The next day. Cloudy turning to showers.

The nine gates of the capital were wide open.

Although the large-scale manhunt has ended, the number of plainclothes officers roaming the streets has reached a new high, their cold eyes fixed on passersby.

The Infantry Commander's Office.

Jiang Qingyun personally assigned a task.

"Starting today, the Criminal Investigation Department will be deployed to lower levels to develop a large number of informants in the commercial sector of Beijing, especially in industries such as tea, rice, oil, salt, carriages, and hotels."

"We need hundreds or even thousands of eyes to keep an eye on the capital for us."

"As ordered."

The people of the southern city monopolized almost all the businesses in the capital, from waiters in grand restaurants to night soil carriers, from tailors to blacksmiths.

Once mobilized, it becomes an impenetrable network.

……

Clubhouse No. 13.

Having tasted the sweetness of it, Jiang Qingyun spent the night there again.

Qian Lihua plays the zither with her delicate hands.

Jiang Qingyun stood by the window gazing outside. The rain was pattering, the lamplight was dim, and the night scene had a unique charm.

The music ended.

Qian Lihua stood up and hugged her from behind.

"Sir, would you like to go over there and take a look?"

"where to?"

Jiang Qingyun was completely confused and turned to ask in return.

Qian Lihua immediately regretted it, but she knew that since the words had already been spoken, she shouldn't hesitate any longer, otherwise she would only be disliked by this kind of man.

"It's my fault, sir. You are so busy with state affairs, you may not know that over there is Miss Hong's villa."

The atmosphere was slightly awkward.

About a year ago, Wen told Jiang Nan that she should bring Hong Tao's daughter into the mansion to be raised. As for where Hong Tao himself lived, Jiang Qingyun really didn't pay attention.

Where does she live?

"Right there."

In the hazy darkness of the night, Qian Lihua simply pointed, but in reality, nothing could be seen.

Do you have any contact with her?

“Sir, I have never met her, nor have I had any contact with her in private.”

Fearing that Jiang Qingyun wouldn't believe her, Qian Lihua quickly explained, "Everyone calls that place the Hong family compound. To avoid suspicion, not to mention ordinary people, even ordinary government officials wouldn't dare to go there."

……

Dark under the lamp!
Jiang Qingyun's expression suddenly changed drastically. He turned around and walked to the stairwell.

"Someone come here."

"The end will be here."

Zhou Cang, with his hand on the hilt of his knife, rushed up the stairs, startling Qian Lihua, who turned pale and thought she had just offended him.

How many people are in the guard team?

"100 people."

"Not enough, quickly send 500 armored soldiers as reinforcements."

"As ordered."

"Wait, have them run over, not on horseback, and keep it as quiet as possible."

"I will obey my orders."

Zhou Cang left in a hurry.

Jiang Qingyun returned to the window, his eyes sharp, as if trying to see through the night to see what demons and monsters were hiding in the Hong family compound.

Qian Lihua's words unexpectedly reminded him that, in this capital city, besides the Forbidden City, there are several other residences that no one dares to search.

The Hong Family Compound is one of them!
Empress Xiaozhuang is very likely hiding in the dark.

Jiang Qingyun's heart pounded with excitement!
……

The Hong family compound was deserted and quiet.

Only a few dim oil lamps were lit in the room.

"Your Majesty, the situation outside is tense these past two days, with soldiers everywhere. I dare not let anyone go out to buy supplies, for fear of attracting attention and causing a great disaster. There is only some coarse food left, please make do with it."

"Okay, you're right."

Empress Xiaozhuang picked up the bowl and started eating.

When you're hungry, everything tastes delicious. She ate plain porridge and pickled vegetables, while the more filling dry rations were reserved for the dozen or so Mongolian men hiding in the next room.

Hong Tao thought for a moment and then suggested, "Your Majesty, with the citywide manhunt, things are in complete chaos outside. There are too many people and too many eyes in the capital. You should leave the capital; you'll be safe once you're outside."

(End of this chapter)