In Love With My Fierce Farming Wife!
Chapter 1153 - 1065: Panic at the Slightest Sound

Chapter 1153: Chapter 1065: Panic at the Slightest Sound

"Search thoroughly! Ensure that those traitors meet their demise without return!"

The harrowing experience had left Qin Yi’s heart pounding erratically, and it still hadn’t calmed down.

Thinking of the two children in the carriage, as well as the pregnant Pan’er and himself, who almost perished at the hands of those traitors, how could he remain composed?

"Yes, Your Majesty, rest assured, even if I have to turn Shengjing upside down, I will find those villains! To kill one to warn a hundred!"

Lord Zhang spoke with exceptional ferocity!

This was his dereliction of duty, and only by redressing his wrongs could he make amends for today’s mistake.

"Search! Search thoroughly, you may mobilize as many people as you need! I command the Prefect of Kaifeng and the Bureau of Military Affairs to cooperate with you fully to capture those villains! Only one thing, try to avoid disturbing the commoners and prevent causing widespread panic!"

Qin Yi immediately summoned troops and quickly called several officials, who were originally celebrating the New Year, to enter the palace.

Although these officials were in their own mansions, an assassination attempt on His Majesty was not something that could be concealed from the public eye. Upon being summoned by His Majesty, they acted promptly, quickly mobilizing enough manpower and starting the dragnet search.

However, His Majesty had instructed to avoid disturbing the commoners as much as possible, but how could such a large-scale search not be noticed by the populace? Although the effect of minimizing disturbance was negligible, the large movement of people naturally resulted in many arrests, causing both the Ministry of Justice and the Imperial Dungeon to be overwhelmed with detainees.

In an instant, the entire Capital City was gripped by panic!

Although Su Pan’er’s child in her womb was unharmed, the shock had taken its toll, and she had lain in bed resting for pregnancy health for a few days before she finally got up.

During these days, the latest news came daily from outside the palace— either how many people were caught today, how many confessed, or how many troops were dispatched. But Su Pan’er knew these were just small fry. Not to mention that some among them were innocents wrongly implicated, even if they truly were traitors, they were likely already abandoned, with no one caring for their fate anymore.

"Are you saying that after we left, you received news and came to our rescue, leaving the defenses vulnerable, which those villains took advantage of to rescue Princess Anping and Princess Consort Huainan?"

Su Pan’er could hardly believe her ears and quickly thought of something else, urgently asking, "Are there any survivors? How many came to the rescue, and did anyone see which direction they fled?"

Qingwen shook her head somberly.

"Your servant heard it from Eunuch Guan who serves in front of the hall. It is said that Princess Consort Huainan had a complication with her fetal gas, and when she was taken away, she was holding her stomach in pain, with blood seeping out incessantly. The officials in charge of the arrest are discussing, saying that if Princess Consort Huainan wants to save her child, she would definitely seek treatment at a nearby clinic in the city. Although they have guarded the city gates and thoroughly inspected everyone leaving the city, Princess Consort Huainan was not found, so it seems she is still in the city. However, they have searched all the clinics, large and small, and still haven’t found her. It’s as if she has vanished from the city."

"Is that so."

Su Pan’er replied indifferently.

She unconsciously placed her hand on her stomach, feeling the faint movements of the mischievous children inside, and couldn’t help but reminisce about the time she was close with Jun Ruoxue, when they were in Yongze County. That year, Su Sikong guarded all four city gates, attempting to capture her and leverage her weaknesses. She had been hiding in Jun Ruoxue’s courtyard, evading the search, and later it was thanks to Jun Ruoxue holding off Su Sikong that she was able to escape.

Reflecting on these things now, she felt there was a curious parallel.

Su Pan’er quietly got up and went to the window, looking out at the snow beginning to fall again in the sky, her eyes filled with a different kind of meaning.

Where would Jun Ruoxue be hiding at this moment?

Qin Yi had been very busy lately, busy dealing with endless state affairs, hardly sleeping at night, and he had not returned to rest at Huayang Palace for several consecutive days. Even when he visited Su Pan’er twice and saw that she and her daughter were safe and sound, he hurriedly rushed back to the Purple Zen Hall.

The streets and alleys of Shengjing were outfitted with the secret guard’s informants, yet still, there was no hint of activity. Princess Anping and Jun Ruoxue, who had been abducted, seemed to have vanished into thin air, and they were utterly untraceable.

Today, Heaven was not favoring them, as snow began to fall again.

Qin Yi considered that the officers and soldiers had been searching continuously for five or six days and were all exhausted. And with the Lantern Festival approaching tomorrow, he, sympathizing with everyone’s hardship, gave everyone a day off, leaving only half of the personnel to stand guard at their posts. He himself, dragging his fatigued body, returned to Huayang Palace.

To his surprise, upon returning to Huayang Palace, he heard that Su Pan’er had gone to the hot springs.

He didn’t mind it, and without bothering to wash and rinse, he threw himself directly onto the chaise lounge in the Warm Pavilion, and nearly fell asleep the moment he closed his eyes. In a dazed state, he suddenly woke up. Opening his eyes and looking around, he was still somewhat unable to discern where he was.

He sat up abruptly, shouting loudly, "Someone! Quick, come here!"

No sooner had his voice faded than Eunuch An immediately appeared at the door of the Warm Pavilion, "Your servant greets Your Majesty."

"Eunuch An, who was guarding the Warm Pavilion when I returned earlier?"

"To reply to Your Majesty, it was Miss Qingwen from the Empress’s entourage who was on guard. Just now, Miss Qingwen said she was going to the small kitchen to brew some soup and had only left a short while ago. Shall Your servant call for Miss Qingwen?"

Eunuch An carefully chose his words.

"Very well."

Unexpectedly to him, Qin Yi nodded in agreement, "You quickly send someone over, I want to see her right away."

"Yes, Your servant will go now."

Eunuch An hurriedly left the Warm Pavilion to give orders to the servants.

Qin Yi, however, flopped back down onto the lounge and closed his eyes again, as though he had fallen back asleep.

But a short moment later, he abruptly opened his eyes again and sat up to go to the cleaning room in the adjoining patio to wash and rinse. When he came out, Qingwen was already waiting there.

Having washed his face, Qin Yi felt his thoughts clearing up a bit. He looked Qingwen over, the girl still modestly casting her eyes downward, her demeanor unchanged, standing in her place without showing any different expressions.

"You said earlier that the Empress had gone to the hot springs, is this really the case?"

"To reply to Your Majesty, Your servant dares not deceive Your Majesty. Indeed, that is what the Empress told Your servant before she left."

Qingwen still repeated the same statement.

But Qin Yi suddenly slammed his teacup to the floor.

"Presumptuous! How dare you deceive me, do you know that the crime of deceiving the emperor can lead to the extermination of nine clans? Who gave you such audacity to lie, are you tired of living?"

Qingwen was so frightened that she dropped to her knees with a thud, hurriedly knocking her head against the floor repeatedly, "Your Majesty, spare my life, Your Majesty, spare my life! Your servant has not lied, the Empress indeed told Your servant before she left that she was going to the hot springs. Your servant speaks nothing but the truth, and dares not utter a single lie! Please, Your Majesty, discern the truth."