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

Chapter 93 Passing By Him
After the matter was settled, Xiang Ning returned to the courtyard and rested briefly for a night, feeling exhausted both physically and mentally.

That night, her thoughts were like a tangled mess, tangling and intertwining in her mind.

Her current situation is extremely precarious; every step she takes is like walking on a knife's edge, and the slightest misstep could lead to utter ruin.

The only thought in Xiang Ning's mind was that she couldn't let Pei Yanzhi find out.

The next morning, as dawn broke, Xiang Ning got up early and went to the Lu Family Trading Company to find Lu Jiang.

In order to avoid being discovered by Pei Yanzhi's men, she disguised herself.

Xiang Ning put on a veil to conceal her face. The light veil of the veil hung down, shrouding her face in a hazy mist, with only her bright eyes vaguely visible.

She also changed her clothes, wearing a simple yet appropriate outfit, making her look like an ordinary woman walking by, inconspicuous and easily blending into the crowd.

Lu Jiang arrived at Lu's Trading Company early today. He stood there with his upright posture, watching intently as his subordinates busily moved goods.

Upon seeing Xiang Ning, Lu Jiang greeted her with a smile.

"Miss Zhao, you've arrived very early."

Lu Jiang greeted Xiang Ning warmly with a friendly smile.

For some reason, he always felt a strange sense of closeness to nature when he was with Xiang Ning.

This feeling is like a gentle spring breeze, softly caressing the heart and bringing joy.

"I'm afraid I'll oversleep and delay Young Master Lu."

Xiang Ning responded softly. Her voice, though slightly low through the veil, still conveyed sincerity and politeness.

Lu Jiang nodded slightly, and after thinking for a moment, said, "Miss Zhao, please leave with Steward Lin first. I still need to settle some accounts, and I will catch up with you later."

Xiang Ning naturally didn't say much about Lu Jiang's arrangements.

She gently took out the silver and placed it aside, saying simply, "This is for my travel expenses."

Although Lu Jiang's family was well-off and he didn't lack money, after these two interactions, he came to understand Xiang Ning's character.

She was independent and feared owing favors, so Lu Jiang accepted the money without hesitation.

Before long, Xiang Ning followed Manager Lin and quietly left Ling An ahead of everyone else.

Not long after Xiang Ning left, Pei Yanzhi also rushed to Ling An.

After receiving the letter yesterday, he set off overnight, speeding along the way without stopping for a moment.

For some reason, Pei Yanzhi had a strong feeling in his heart.

The girl who suddenly appeared next to Lu Jiang is very likely Xiang Ning.

This feeling was like an invisible hand gripping his heart tightly, making him inexplicably irritable.

"grown ups."

Those responsible for receiving Pei Yanzhi bowed respectfully upon seeing him.

"What about people?"

Pei Yanzhi dismounted with a swift and graceful movement.

His robes billowed in the wind, creating a fierce gust that howled past, carrying a hint of oppressive power.

When Pei Yanzhi asked about Xiang Ning, the group exchanged glances, their eyes filled with fear and unease.

One of them said tremblingly, "She has already left the city with Lu Jiang's caravan."

His voice trembled slightly, as if he were afraid that Pei Yanzhi would blame him.

"Sir, we only heard Lu Jiang call her Miss Zhao, and we didn't see her face clearly, so we didn't..."

The man cautiously observed Pei Yanzhi's increasingly gloomy face, feeling an invisible pressure bearing down on him. The words he was about to say were caught in his throat, and he dared not continue. Seeing this, Mingxiang was furious. He kicked the leader and shouted, "What are you dawdling for? Go after them!"

The man stumbled from the kick, but dared not utter a word of complaint. He scrambled away with the others to search for Xiang Ning's whereabouts.

After giving his instructions, Mingxiang turned around and looked at Pei Yanzhi with a face full of guilt: "It was my dereliction of duty."

He was filled with self-reproach. If that Miss Zhao was really Miss Xiang Ning, he felt that he had been incredibly foolish.

The land route to Ling'an the day before yesterday was heavily blocked, completely sealed off. He even went to check the ship at sea himself, but he didn't expect that Xiang Ning would still have an opportunity to take advantage of it.

"Keep a close eye on Lu Jiang."

Pei Yanzhi's expression was cold and stern. He uttered these four words in a low voice, his voice carrying an undeniable authority.

"Sir, please go to the inn to rest first."

Mingxiang lowered his head and obediently agreed, stepping aside to make way for Pei Yanzhi, and respectfully indicating that he should go back to the inn to rest first.

He knew Pei Yanzhi's frustration and exhaustion at the moment, and dared not slacken in the slightest.

Not long after, the men sent to chase after Xiang Ning and the others returned dejectedly, saying with a helpless expression, "We didn't catch them."

Before Pei Yanzhi arrived, Xiang Ning and Steward Lin had already quickly left the city. Ling An's roads were intricate and interconnected, and no one knew where they had gone.

Mingxiang suddenly realized what Pei Yanzhi meant by "keep an eye on Lu Jiang" when they were outside.

It seems Lu Jiang is going to deliver this shipment personally. As long as we follow Lu Jiang closely, we will definitely be able to find the whereabouts of that Miss Zhao.

"Make arrangements tonight; I want to meet the person who makes gold bracelets."

Pei Yanzhi frowned slightly, a hint of coldness in his eyes, and sighed before uttering these words.

Mingxiang, without any suspicion, readily agreed.

After obtaining the bloodstained gold bracelet, Pei Yanzhi followed the letter Lu Jiang sent back and found the craftsman, and sent someone to take care of him.

The fire, and the subsequent news Pei Yanzhi sent back to the capital, were merely a ploy to lower the guard of those behind the scenes.

Outside Ling'an City, Steward Lin led Xiang Ning all the way to Yangzhou.

"Yangzhou is a wonderful place. If Miss Zhao doesn't know where to go, why not take a look at Yangzhou?"

Manager Lin sat outside the carriage, smiling as he spoke with Xiang Ning.

Xiang Ning turned her head to look at the scenery rushing past outside, smiling without saying a word.

After leaving the city, the feeling of being watched disappeared. It seems that Pei Yanzhi's men were only monitoring Lu Jiang.

"Manager Lin, what's the nearest city?"

Upon hearing Xiang Ning's question, Steward Lin thought for a moment and said, "That's still a long way off. However, we will rest in the water town for a day in a couple of days before setting off again."

"Okay, when we arrive at the water town, please drop me off."

"Oh? Miss Zhao doesn't want to go to Yangzhou?"

When Manager Lin saw Xiang Ning smile and agree, he thought she was going to Yangzhou.

Xiang Ning shook her head: "I'll go see it again when I have the chance in the future."

She was just worried that Pei Yanzhi's men would discover her whereabouts after Lu Jiang caught up with them.

That's why she thought she should part ways with Manager Lin and the others in the water town before making any further plans.

"By the way, Steward Lin, do you know how to obtain a travel permit? Ideally, one that can be obtained without official documents."

It was clear that the farther Xiang Ning ran, the more frantic Pei Yanzhi became.
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(End of this chapter)