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

Chapter 90 is considered his bedmate.
Seventh Sister and Xiang Ning were talking when they suddenly heard Seventh Brother's words. Seventh Sister got up with some confusion.

Xiang Ning's heart sank even further. The government's boat?

Seven Sister walked over, looked through the binoculars, and said, "It's a government ship; it's probably just a routine inspection."

They've encountered this kind of thing quite often in maritime shipping.

"Something's not right with this ship."

Seventh Brother took the binoculars and looked again. If it was a routine inspection, why were the people on the ship wearing the official robes of the Dali Temple?
Upon hearing this, Qi Niang's expression also turned serious. She looked at the boat chasing them and had a bad feeling.

"Just improvise."

Seventh Sister suddenly remembered that before boarding the ship, Seventh Brother had mentioned that the government was issuing warrants for the arrest of fugitives.

"Miss Zhao, you... that's strange, where is she?"

She turned around, about to say something to Xiang Ning, only to find that Xiang Ning was no longer there.

He didn't touch the bowl of porridge that had been served.

Seventh Sister concealed her emotions, walked over and drank the bowl of porridge in one gulp, then threw the bowl and chopsticks directly into the water.

"What are you doing?"

Seventh Brother turned around and saw this scene, and asked in confusion.

Seven Sister shook her head and said, "It's nothing."

After saying that, she sat down, and soon the government's boat caught up with her.

The leader was Mingxiang.

"Routine inspection by the government."

After boarding the boat, Mingxiang glanced at Seventh Brother, who was at the helm, and then looked at Seventh Sister, who was sitting to the side.

"Sir, here are our documents, please take a look."

Seventh Sister had already prepared everything and was just waiting for the government officials to come and inspect.

Mingxiang took the documents from Qi Niang, checked them, nodded, and asked, "Where are the people on the boat?"

“A fugitive recently escaped from the Dali Temple. Bring up any suspicious individuals.”

“Harboring a criminal wanted by the imperial court is a capital offense.”

Mingxiang drew his long sword from his waist and sat down in the spot where Xiangning had just been sitting.

Seventh Brother frowned. Of all the people who had boarded the ship at the last minute, only Miss Zhao was on board.

"Sir, we are all honest and law-abiding people. Please see our true colors."

Seventh Sister stood beside Seventh Brother and reached out to pull him back: "Hurry up and go fetch someone."

Seeing that Qi Niang was so cooperative, Ming Xiang didn't intend to make things too difficult for them.

Before long, Seventh Brother brought the person over. Seventh Sister glanced at her secretly and, not seeing Xiang Ning, breathed a sigh of relief.

The guest list was also in Mingxiang's hands, but Xiangning was only brought onto the boat by the couple, Qiniang and her husband, at the last minute.

Her name wasn't on the roster, and she wasn't among these people either, which saved a lot of trouble.

The people Mingxiang brought checked the roster against these people one by one, and then shook their heads at Mingxiang.

The men who had been sent to search returned at that moment: "Sir, everyone on the ship is here."

"Let's go."

Mingxiang also felt it was a bit of a pity, as this was the only ship they had found that had sailed from Shangjing to the outside world last night.

But to my surprise, it was still a fruitless effort.

After watching Mingxiang and his men walk away, Qi Niang hurriedly returned to her room. Xiang Ning was hiding under the stove in the kitchen, concealed by firewood, so no one noticed her.

"Miss Zhao, the officials have all left, please come out quickly."

Hearing Qi Niang's voice, Xiang Ning pushed aside the firewood and poked her head out. "Miss Zhao, we've been through thick and thin together now, so can you finally tell me your true identity?"

At first, Qi Niang only felt that Xiang Ning's identity was problematic, but she did not expect that it would be involved with the government.

The portrait held by that group of people was clearly of the young lady Zhao in front of them; she was not a wanted criminal by the imperial court at all.

Xiang Ning sighed and looked at Qi Niang: "I am actually a maid in the Pei family."

She told Qi Niang her identity because she knew Qi Niang wouldn't betray her.

If she really had that idea, she would have been arrested by the authorities just now.

"The Pei residence where Pei Yanzhi, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, resides?"

Qi Niang was also surprised when she heard Xiang Ning's words. No wonder those people who just came were from the Dali Temple.

"Who are you?"

If it were just a maid who ran away, why would Pei Yanzhi go to such great lengths, even using his connections in the Dali Temple?

"He's my bedmate. I didn't run away; I redeemed myself. But his mother lied to me and didn't give me a contract of indenture."

"They even tried to kill me, so I had no choice but to jump into the river to save myself."

Xiang Ning explained the matter clearly in a few words, and Qi Niang's eyes couldn't help but show a bit of heartache: "I see."

“He took me back not because he liked me that much, but because he felt that I had run away on my own.”

After saying this, Xiang Ning knelt down and said, "Seventh Sister, I know you are a good person. All I need is for you to take me to Ling'an. You don't need to get involved in anything else."

“But if I fall into his hands, I will really have no way to survive.”

When Qi Niang saw Xiang Ning kneel down, she quickly reached out to stop her: "What are you doing? Get up quickly."

“If I wanted to hand you over, those government officials would have taken you away long ago.”

She pulled Xiang Ning down to sit and reached out to wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes: "Don't cry. We're all unfortunate people. I'll help you if I can. Once you find your uncle in Ling'an, it will be a family reunion."

Seventh Sister spoke gently, and Xiang Ning felt a lump in her throat.

"Thank you, Seventh Sister. I know I've caused you trouble."

Xiang Ning's words prompted Qi Niang to speak up: "Actually, my experience is similar to yours. Back then, my parents sold me to someone as a concubine for money."

"Seventh Brother robbed the bride to save me and brought me to the capital to do this deal."

"So it's not a big deal. Now that you've escaped, just keep looking ahead and don't dwell on the past."

They were both unfortunate, but also fortunate. Seventh Sister met Seventh Brother, and Xiang Ning met them.

Mingxiang returned to the Dali Temple with the news of the search. After telling Pei Yanzhi, he didn't even look up, just grunted in response.

"My lord, once Miss Xiangning leaves the capital, it will be difficult for us to search her."

The roads outside the city are interconnected, and who knows where Xiang Ning might go? If they search for her then, it will be like looking for a needle in a haystack.

"Since she has no identity, she will definitely buy one. Just keep the authorities in mind."

On the surface, Pei Yanzhi would create some panic to pressure her, but in private, he would send more people to search for her.

In his entire life, no one has ever dared to lie to him or run away right under his nose.

"Yes, my subordinate will do it now."

"How's Lu Jiang doing?"

Just as Mingxiang was about to turn and leave, Pei Yanzhi asked a question, and then Mingxiang said, "Our people have been protecting him, just waiting for the person behind the scenes to make a move."

"Make arrangements, I need to go to Ling'an."

Mingxiang was taken aback: "Ling An might be a spy right now, why don't you send your subordinates?"

"No, I want to go myself and do it."

(End of this chapter)