The County Lord Disappeared

Zhao Yuan refused to say where he went that day, and Yan Qing did not ask again.

The one who was wrong was Jiang Weiren.

A few days later, there was a meeting in the Wende Hall. After Yan Qing left, several cabinet ministers arrived, but the place where the chief minister, Jiang Weiren, usually stood, was empty today.

In the past, Jiang Weiren must have been the first to arrive, but today he was late for some reason.

Yan Qing didn't pay much attention, but after sitting down, his second assistant, Lu Yunsong, stepped forward to report the matter.

Yan Qing couldn't help but said, "Don't you wait for Mr. Jiang?"

Cao Dingzhen on the side replied: "Sister, Mr. Jiang is sick."

Is he sick?

Yan Qing seemed to refuse to believe it, and the shock at that moment could not be concealed. It was not that she was too worried about Jiang Weiren's health and lost her bearings, but that she was discussing matters in the Wende Hall three days ago, and Jiang Weiren did not appear to be sick at all.

Since the death of the late emperor, the two queen mothers and the Wende Palace listened to the cabinet's proceedings. Jiang Weiren has not been absent for a day. All state affairs are on his shoulders. He works hard day and night, and has never been lazy or complained once. Fake.

On weekdays, Yan Qing and Cao Dingzhen listened to his reports, but they subconsciously felt that even big problems could be solved as long as he was around.

He was suddenly absent, and it seemed that he didn't know how to decide on the matter reported to the cabinet.

Yan Qing was absent-minded throughout the whole process. When he returned to Renshou Palace, he would be lost even while sitting there. Even Fuying noticed it and asked, "Empress, what happened today?"

Yan Qing looked at Fuying and waved to her, He said softly: "Come here and do something for the Ai family."

Fuying approached, but Yan Qing motioned for her to come closer, and finally he was almost close to her ear. After hearing her instructions, Fuying immediately said: "Don't worry, Madam, I will handle it."

A few hours later, Fuying received the news and immediately went to report to Yan Qing.

"Mother, there have been no doctors in or out of Jiang's house these past two days, and none of the servants in the house have gone to get medicine." Fuying said, looking up at Yan Qing's expression.

Yan Qing nodded. As she expected, Jiang Weiren was not really sick. But since he was not sick, what reason did he have to miss the meeting at Wende Hall?

She frowned, as if she was deep in thought. Seeing that she didn't dare to disturb her, Fuying was about to leave, but Yan Qing suddenly murmured: "You haven't taken the medicine yet?"

Fuying didn't understand why this attracted the attention of the empress. After thinking over and over again, he tilted his head and thought, but couldn't think of any clues. Yan Qing spoke again: "The Empress Dowager Ciyi sent the imperial doctor to Qinghe County Master's illness, but it seems that there is no improvement, right?"

Fuying nodded, "I heard that the doctor from Dongbi Hall will continue to prescribe Qinghe County Lord..."

At this point, she suddenly realized: "Yes, even if Mr. Yuanfu doesn't need medicine, the County Lord does too!"

So The abnormality was here. Fuying immediately said: "I will send someone to investigate carefully."

"Don't go," Yan Qing stopped her and said, "Go and call Chen Min."

Chen Min Soon after being called, Yan Qing looked as usual and only said: "The Lord of Qinghe County has been ill for these days, and I don't know if he will get better now. Today I heard that Mr. Jiang also complained of illness, so you will go to Jiang Mansion to visit on behalf of the Ai family." After a while, it was useless to reward others, so I asked Nei Dusi to prepare some medicinal materials that were sent as tribute from Funan this year."

Chen Min followed the order and left. It took him a long time to come and go. When you come back to reply. Yan Qing said calmly: "Go to Jiang Mansion and see how Mr. Yuanfu is doing?"

"Mr. is a little unwell, but he has asked the doctor from Dongbi Hall to check it out. There is nothing serious. County Lord Qinghe still has He is recuperating and everything is as usual."

Hearing this, Yan Qing nodded, "Mr. Jiang is not feeling well. Now that you have gone, you should persuade him to stop working on state affairs and go to the Wucheng Army and Horses Division. Why are you still sick? Can you withstand such a torment..."

Chen Min's expression changed, and he knelt there, sweating on his forehead for a while. Yan Qing saw his expression and didn't want to continue talking in circles, so he asked: "Tell me, What happened?"

"I'm stupid, I don't know what the Queen Mother is asking about?" His voice was low, but he looked calm.

Yan Qing smiled coldly, "Chen Min, the Ai family sees that you are getting better and better at serving as an official. Are you a minister of His Majesty or a minister of the Jiang family?"

The matter has reached the point where it is going to alarm the military commanders of the five cities. Zhang Fang can't help but Maybe you don't know that he, the Supervisor of Ceremonies, is in charge of a factory and a guard, so nothing can be found. Moreover, Chen Min went with Jiang Weiren that night, and Chen Min was Zhang Fang's confidant. We can get a glimpse of the relationship between Zhang Fang and Jiang Weiren.

Chen Min went to the Jiang Mansion. How could he not know what happened to the Jiang family?

Yan Qing's words frightened Chen Min so much that he rattled his head several times and kept saying that he didn't dare. Yan Qingping backed away from the palace and said to him: "Say it."

Chen Min hesitated and replied: "The Queen Mother, yes Lord Qinghe... is missing. "

Xue Shiying is missing.

She was usually willful, but in the end it was Jiang Weiren's control, but he didn't expect her to be so bold.

He first ordered the people in the government to strictly prohibit leaking the news. Xue Shiying was a girl who had not yet left the cabinet. If there was news that she was missing, it would definitely lead to all kinds of speculation, which would be bad for her future reputation.

So he immediately went to the 50% Army and Horse Department and asked the Army and Horse Department to send people to guard each city gate. The Army and Horse Department was also responsible for inspections, so finding talents in the name of inspections would not allow the outside world to speculate.

But the entire imperial capital was searched, and Zhang Fang even asked the Jin Yiwei to dispatch and secretly visit after learning about it. The Jin Yiwei was responsible for arresting and interrogating, and their eyes were all over the city and the public, but they couldn't find a little girl.

More than ten days passed without finding any clues.

Jiang Weiren asked his servants to announce to the outside world that the Lord of Qinghe County was still ill and had to take a good rest and could not see guests. He concealed the news, even the Empress Dowager Cao.

He never expected that Yan Qing already knew everything.

The news about Yan Qing came from Chen Min. Chen Min originally thought that the Queen Mother Shengyi knew about it, and she might not be able to hide the news. But he didn't expect that although Yan Qing knew about it, he pretended not to know.

From what Chen Min said, Xue Shiying should have left home on her own. She was really curious about what could have happened that could make a girl who had not left the court feel so angry and leave home.

"Fifty percent of the troops and guards have been mobilized, but still nothing has been found. In such an imperial capital, it takes more than ten days to search every inch of the city," Yan Qing said slowly, sighing, "Xue Shiying... The little girl is really not simple."

"Yes," Chen Min said, "Mr. is very anxious. These days, he has to take care of state affairs and find people secretly."

Yan Qing smiled lightly and lowered his eyes. She looked down, but there was not much joy in her eyes, and she said in a low voice: "Yes, this is the first time the Ai family has seen Mr. Jiang like this..."

When he went to see Zhao Yuan in Ganlu Hall, Zhao Yuan seemed to have noticed her. His expression was a little downcast, and he asked with some anxiety: "What is your Majesty unhappy about?"

Yan Qing shook his head, covering up the tiredness in his eyebrows, and said with a smile: "I heard from the person who was waiting in front of me, Your Majesty, these days You are working very hard, but you must rest more and don't get tired."

On the way back, Fuying also said: "Your Majesty is really sensible. In the past, every time my queen came to see your majesty, your majesty would always pull her away. , I have to hang out with her for a while. "

Zhao Yuan has always been close to her, and Cao Dingzhen is strict in discipline, so he prefers to stay with Yan Qing.

Fuying said, but Yan Qing was a little absent-minded. She was still thinking about Xue Shifang. Where in the imperial capital could the Bingma Si and the Jinyi Guards not find it? I heard that they even searched in the flower houses in Qujiang. But how could a girl who had not left the court hide in such a place? Jiang Weiren was probably too anxious to do anything.

"I heard from the palace servants in front of me that since the last time, His Majesty has only stayed in the Manna Palace after leaving court. He doesn't go anywhere and has no intention of having fun." Fuying continued.

"It would be great if he is really sensible, but if he stays in Ganlu Hall, he may not be studying, he may be tinkering with something..." Yan Qing sighed, thinking about Zhao Yuan missing last time, and he still has lingering fears. How come Xue Shiying is bolder than A Yuan?

Suddenly, a thought flashed through her mind, and Fuying's words "since last time" made her eyes brighter.

I just feel that from Xue Shifang's serious illness, to Zhao Yuan leaving the palace, to Xue Shifang's disappearance, all the time happened to be connected.

"Stop!" She stopped the sedan chair, motioned Fuying to come forward, gave some instructions in a low voice, and then said, "If that's the case, come and tell me immediately."

Fuying nodded, then took the order and left.

The door of Ganlu Hall was closed, and Xue Shiying, dressed as a palace maid, was sitting under the window, fiddling with a nine-link ring and several jade rings in her hand, but none of them could be removed.

Zhao Yuan was sitting opposite her. Seeing her putting the jade rings on the kang table, looking unhappy, he took the nine rings over. Finally there was some smile on his face.

Her facial features are already bright and her appearance is extraordinary, and her smile makes her even more beautiful.

"Your Majesty is so smart!"

She smiled, and Zhao Yuan also laughed, but he was a little worried and said: "Sister, you must be very anxious. Are you serious about not going back?"

After hearing this, Xue Shiying said His smile also faded, "Is Your Majesty trying to drive me away?"

"How could that happen?" Zhao Yuan looked at her, "What does sister want? Although I can't help her achieve everything now, maybe I will never refuse to do it for my sister. "

Although he is the king of a country, he has learned the way of a king, and he also decides on world affairs related to the livelihood of all people. But all day long in this huge Jinming Palace, surrounded by only palace maids and eunuchs, he actually maintained a sincere heart.

"It's better for him to be anxious," Xue Shifang said quietly, "Let him look for it. Even if he searches all over the world, he won't find that I am actually the nearest place."

Wenyuan Pavilion is just outside the Meridian Gate. From the Ganlu Hall, you can see it from a distance. Seeing the glazed tiles on the palace, Jiang Weiren was dealing with cabinet matters in Wenyuan Pavilion every day. He would have never imagined that she was hiding in the Meridian Gate behind her.

Fuying went there in person according to Yan Qing's instructions. She did not go to Ganlu Hall, as Yan Qing had said, so as not to alarm others, but went to the inner prison.

According to her wishes, the Imperial Guard made an excuse to investigate the maids of the Imperial Palace in Ganlu Palace.

After getting the result, she immediately went back to Renshou Palace to report it. In fact, Yan Qing just thought about it and was not sure, so he checked it out just in case.

"Mother, as you expected," Fuying said, "only a few people in front of me knew about this matter, and they actually hid it from Eunuch Zhang."

Yan Qing was also quite shocked. Unexpectedly, he was really deceived. Forget it that Xue Shiying was so bold, Zhao Yuan also followed suit.

She endured her anger and said to Fuying: "You sent someone to bring Mr. Jiang here, just saying that the Ai family has something to ask about. This Xue Shiying... the Ai family went to the Manlu Palace in person."