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

Chapter 104 Escaping from His Side Again

Hearing Qin Rui's words, Pei Yanzhi's expression turned cold.

He twisted the hilt of the sword, and the sharp blade twisted at Qin Rui's shoulder. Intense pain shot through him instantly, making Qin Rui feel like he was about to die from the pain.

Qin Rui's face turned deathly pale instantly, his lips trembled, but he couldn't utter a sound.

“Go back and tell the First Madam that if she dares to touch anyone in my courtyard again, I won’t hesitate to find Pei Feng a new wife.”

After saying that, he released his grip, and the long sword fell to the ground with a clatter.

Pei Yanzhi's gaze was as cold as ice as he stared intently at Qin Rui.

Qin Rui was in so much pain that he couldn't say a word. Large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead and dripped onto the floor.

Mingxiang stepped forward and lifted Qin Rui up.

Then Pei Yanzhi said, "Find someone to send him back to the capital."

Mingxiang nodded slightly and replied respectfully, "Yes, I will take care of it right away."

After saying that, Mingxiang picked up Qin Rui and turned to leave.

After Mingxiang left, Pei Yanzhi gave Chenghua an instruction.

"Sir, do you find this matter suspicious?"

Cheng Hua frowned slightly and asked in confusion.

"Xiang Ning has left the capital, and the First Madam has achieved her goal. Qin Ruiming knows I am looking for Xiang Ning, so why did he risk coming to the water town to kill her?"

Pei Yanzhi stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes deep and solemn.

Upon hearing Pei Yanzhi's words, Cheng Hua seemed to understand something in an instant.

Unless Miss Xiang Ning has something that Qin Rui doesn't want others to know.

But what this thing is, only Qin Rui probably knows.

A moment later, he looked up and said, "I'll take care of it right away."

Having figured this out, Chenghua bowed his head in agreement, then turned and left.

After doing all this, Pei Yanzhi turned and went up the stairs, but before he could reach the top, he heard a thud.

As if he had just thought of something, Pei Yanzhi took three steps at a time and went straight to the room, pushing open the door.

The bed was empty, and the window next to it was wide open.

The hairband used to bind Xiang Ning was stained with blood, and there was even a bloodstain on the ground that snaked all the way to the window.

The scattered clothes disappeared without a trace as Xiang Ning left.

Seeing this scene, Pei Yanzhi suddenly smiled, as if at this moment he had suddenly understood a truth.

She desperately didn't want to be near her.

While Pei Yanzhi was interrogating Qin Rui downstairs, Xiang Ning painstakingly cut the hair ribbon with a hook.

During the struggle, her delicate wrist was accidentally cut by the hook, and blood dripped onto the ground.

Fortunately, the second floor of this inn is not located on a high floor.

She gritted her teeth, climbed slowly down the window, and felt a sharp pain in her ankle the moment she landed.

The window faces a quiet, deserted alley, narrow and dark.

After Xiang Ning calmed down, she ran outside as fast as she could without hesitation.

Her ankle was in excruciating pain; every step felt like being pricked by countless needles. But the pain couldn't overcome her will to live.

She didn't want any travel permits or place of origin.

Even if she becomes a slave in the Pei household, she will not stay by Pei Yanzhi's side.

Hurried footsteps sounded behind me, particularly clear in the quiet alley.

The person who suddenly appeared in front of her surprised her for a moment.

As those people caught up, she was suddenly pulled into a house.

"You were so close, thank goodness you were quick-witted."

Xiao Ming's voice came to Xiang Ning's ears, tinged with a hint of relief.

She collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.

"You, how did you get here?"

Xiang Ning's voice trembled, full of doubt. "Monkey and Xiao Si originally wanted to deliver some things to you under the cover of darkness, but they unexpectedly ran into Pei Yanzhi. They saw you being taken away and felt something was wrong, so they came to find me."

Xiao Ming quickly explained, and after saying that, he looked at her disheveled clothes and couldn't help but feel a little sorry for her.

"Can I still leave?"

He thought Pei Yanzhi had done something excessive to Xiang Ning.

"Brother Xiao, he's already traced you to him. You'd better leave quickly."

Xiang Ning said anxiously, she didn't want to implicate innocent people because of herself.

Hearing Xiang Ning's words, Xiao Ming smiled, his smile carrying a hint of nonchalance and fearlessness: "They've all traced it back to me, so I definitely can't stay in Shuizhen either. Might as well leave together."

Perhaps if we stay somewhere else, we might find clues about the lady?

"Monkey, take Miss Zhao with you, let's leave now."

Xiao Ming said something to the monkey standing at the door, and then the monkey quickly came over, wanting to carry Xiang Ning on its back.

"It's okay, I can still walk."

Xiang Ning shook her head and refused the monkey's offer. If the monkey carried her, she wouldn't get very far.

She sprained her ankle, but she's not unable to walk.

"Manager Lin..."

Xiang Ning asked worriedly, as she was concerned about Steward Lin.

Then Xiao Ming said, "Lu Jiang will arrive in Shuizhen tomorrow. With him mediating, Manager Lin will be fine."

Xiao Ming's tone was firm, trying to reassure Xiang Ning.

"I'm sorry for causing you trouble."

Xiang Ning's voice was filled with guilt and self-blame.

"At this critical juncture of escaping for our lives, let's not talk about these things. To be honest, Manager Lin told me before that he felt you looked somewhat familiar."

"I can't stand those bullies who rely on their power, and Pei Yanzhi is one of them."

Xiao Ming shook his head and said, "Why would he force a young woman like you to do this? I'm going to get involved in this matter."

As he spoke, a hint of ruthlessness flashed in his eyes.

If it weren't for those people who schemed and plotted in the court all day long, the general wouldn't have died.

In his entire life, he had the utmost contempt for these powerful and wealthy people.

After saying this, the group went out through the back door of the house.

Xiao Ming and his group were very familiar with the water town, and they deliberately chose to take the back roads where there were no lights or people.

Before long, they arrived at the city gate, where there were quite a few people guarding it.

Pei Yanzhi originally intended to trap Xiang Ning to death in the water town; Qin Rui was an accident.

"Brother, there are so many people, it's not easy for us to hide."

The usually composed Xiao Si said something, and upon hearing this, Xiao Ming looked at Xiang Ning and said, "Lend Miss Zhao a piece of jewelry."

Upon hearing this, Xiang Ning took off her hair ornament and placed it in Xiao Ming's hand.

Xiao Si understood, picked up the jewelry, and walked to the side.

He threw out the jewelry and shouted, "The lord has ordered a thorough search of the city!"

The guards at the city gate didn't believe him, but then a patch of orange-red light appeared in the distance. The group exchanged glances and were immediately showered with dust by the monkey as they approached.

Taking this opportunity, Xiao Ming led Xiang Ning out of the city gate.

The advantage of being familiar with the terrain was that Xiao Ming went directly into the mountains and forests next to the water town, intending to take a detour from there.

During his time in the army, he worked as a scout and knew how to conceal himself from being discovered.

The bushes, which were about a meter tall, were not yet completely withered, so the four of them dared not delay and ran as fast as they could.

When Pei Yanzhi arrived at the city gate and saw the fallen guard, he felt a surge of inexplicable anger.

"My lord, something has happened in the capital. The old lady wants you to return immediately."

Just then, Cheng Hua rode up on horseback and placed the letter in Pei Yanzhi's hand.

"Miss Wen has been kidnapped by bandits, and her fate is unknown."

You bastard Pei Yanzhi: You took my wife away and then insulted me on the side?
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(End of this chapter)