Ning Dao Covered with Snow

Chapter 62 Reporting to the Official
Yan Ciwan had been very confused. Liu looked healthy and had a rosy complexion, so how could she suddenly die of illness in just two days?

It was not until she heard about Fang's story at this time that she suddenly understood.

She said in a deep voice, "Mrs. Fang died quietly back then. As for what disease she had, outsiders had no way of knowing. How similar are Madam Chao's situation to Madam Fang's now? Madam Chao is locked up in Taoran Residence. She can't see people outside, and people outside can't see her either. No one knows her true situation. If Army Officer Chao suddenly announced to the public that Madam Chao had died, who would know whether it was true or not? In the end, it would be the same as what happened to Madam Fang back then. It would just end up like that."

Li Chengge, who was originally resting with his eyes closed, couldn't help but open his eyes after hearing this.

He complained, "The more I talk about it, the more frightened I feel."

Xiao Wang thought carefully about what Yan Ciwan said, and said cautiously: "It's not impossible, but this is just your guess."

Yan Ciwan saw the future through predictive dreams, so she could infer the causes from the results.

In the dream, Chaolu poisoned her father and brother for revenge.

The most important person in Chaolu's heart is Liu. Outsiders said that Liu died of illness, but now it seems that Liu's death was probably just an illusion. She was actually killed by someone, and the murderer is most likely Chao Yuanzhi or Chao Yue.

If Chaolu hadn't decided to go home to visit her mother last night, if Chaolu hadn't suddenly disappeared today, if Yan Ciwan hadn't used the Inner Guards' token to force Chao Yuanzhi to agree to her meeting with Liu...

Then Liu would most likely die quietly in the backyard of the imperial palace, just like Fang did fifteen years ago.

Chao Yuanzhi could tell others that Liu died of illness. When Chao Lu heard the bad news and returned home, she was proficient in medicine and would be able to find out that there was something wrong with the cause of Liu's death if she paid more attention.

When she finds out the truth and knows that Liu actually died at the hands of someone else, she will do everything she can to avenge her mother.

So there was the scene that Yan Ciwan saw in his dream.

She felt like she was putting together a puzzle, and after a series of events, a corner finally fell into place.

She just noticed that there was mud on the soles of Liu's shoes, so she must have sneaked out, but she didn't know where she had gone.

"Xiao Liulang, I asked you to help keep an eye on Madam Chao the day before yesterday. Did you get anything out of it?" Yan Ciwan asked.

Xiao Wang actually gained something.

In the past two days, he asked Uncle Jiu to guard near Taoranju. There were people guarding inside and outside Taoranju, and all the people Liu trusted were transferred away, leaving only Luhua to serve her closely.

Just as Yan Ciwan guessed, Chao Yuanzhi placed Liu under house arrest on the pretext of recuperating from illness, completely cutting off her contact with the outside world.

Liu was forced to stay in Taoran Ju and could not step out of the room.

Until last night, when Chao Yuanzhi took his eldest son and Xiao Wang out to attend a banquet at the Governor's Mansion, Liu finally found an opportunity. She asked Luhua to find a way to get rid of the people guarding outside the door, and then quietly slipped out of Taoran Ju and sneaked into the Wenshu Pavilion under the cover of night.

The Wenshu Pavilion is Chao Yuanzhi's private study. Normally, no one is allowed to enter the Wenshu Pavilion without his permission.

Because the doors and windows were closed, Uncle Jiu could not see what was going on inside the document room, and he didn't know what Liu was doing inside.

About a cup of tea later, Liu came out of the office with nothing in her hands.

Then she returned to Taoran Ju.

Not long after, Chaolu was sent back to the Chao Mansion. The first thing Chaolu did after returning home was to go to Taoranju to visit her mother.

Chaolu came out again not long after she went in.

Uncle Jiu thought she was going back to Tingfeng Courtyard, so he didn't pay much attention to her. He still stayed near Taoran Residence and continued to keep an eye on Liu.

Who would have thought that Chaolu would disappear like this!
Yan Ciwan pondered and said, "So, Chaolu was not abducted by someone. She may have quietly left the palace on her own."

At this time, Li Chengge was completely sleepless.

Whether it is Liu's situation, Fang's death, or Chaolu's disappearance, they are all shrouded in layer upon layer of doubts.

These things are much more interesting than drinking and listening to music.

Li Chengge couldn't help but interrupt, "Where can Chaolu go? The Compassion Temple?"

Xiao Wang said, "Let's go and take a look and we'll know." The carriage carried them through the streets and finally stopped at the entrance of Ci Xin Temple.

Everything in the temple remains the same as before, with no changes.

True Man Yuqing already knew that Yan Ciwan had been cleared of suspicion, and she was very happy for him.

But this happiness did not last long, because she soon learned that Chaolu was missing.

She asked anxiously, "Why did Second Mother disappear? How long has she been missing? I'll get everyone to go look for her."

Yan Ciwan asked, "Didn't Chaolu come to you?"

"I haven't seen her since she left the Compassion Monastery with you the day before yesterday. If she came to my place, would I need to be so worried?"

Yan Ci Wan and Xiao Wang could only return empty-handed.

They returned to the carriage, and looking at their expressions, Li Chengge knew that they definitely hadn't found the person.

Li Chengge said slowly, "There aren't many places Chao Erniang can go. Apart from Ci Xin Temple, there is only the official post station. But we came from the official post station this morning. She didn't come to Ci Xin Temple, nor did she go to the official post station. So where else can she go?"

Uncle Jiu asked, "Where are we going now?"

"Go to the government office." Yan Ciwan said.

Uncle Jiu looked at Xiao Wang, and seeing that Xiao Wang had no objection, he drove the carriage straight to the government office.

Li Chengge asked: "Why are you going to the government office?"

"Report to the police." Yan Ciwan answered concisely.

"You want the government to help you find Chao Er Niang? But hasn't General Chao already sent people to look for Chao Er Niang?"

Yan Ciwan said calmly: "I don't trust Chao Yuanzhi."

Seeing that she called Chao Yuanzhi by his name directly and was unwilling to maintain even the minimum surface courtesy, it was obvious that she disliked this person very much. Li Chengge and Xiao Wang looked at each other, and neither of them had any intention of speaking for Chao Yuanzhi.

When they arrived at the government office, Yan Ciwan met his acquaintance Gao Dahai at the door.

Gao Dahai felt complicated when he saw her.

At first, he led people to capture her, but she ran away, causing him to be scolded by his boss and lose face. Later, in order to atone for his sins, he led people to search house to house in the city and almost ran his legs off.

After three days of hard work, the boss finally told him that the wanted order was rescinded and Ning Ci was innocent.

They put in so much effort and shed so much sweat, but it was all in vain.

Don’t even mention how angry Gao Dahai was!

But he knew that Ning Ci was not to blame for this, so he could only ask while holding his breath.

"Why are you here?"

Yan Ciwan said she wanted to see Wei Lansheng and asked him to pass on the message.

Gao Dahai did not move: "This is the government office. You can't just see Wei Fazuo if you want to."

Yan Ciwan didn't waste any words and directly took out the token of the Inner Guard Palace.

Now Gao Dahai was speechless.

He went in obediently to pass the message and soon came back, saying that it was Wei Fazuo who invited them in.

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(End of this chapter)