All this happened so fast that the people in the secret path were shocked.
Xue Mu's eyes darkened, and he led Tang Zibo to the place where the guard fell: "Where does this trap lead to?"
Tang Zibo pursed his bloodless lips, and his voice was hoarse: "How would I know... oh!"
Tang Zibo let out a cry of pain, his face turned blue from the pain, Xue Mu looked at him calmly, "You'd better think clearly before answering, otherwise I will break your other wrist as well."
Tang Zibo gritted his teeth, staring at Xue Mu without speaking. Nuo Yan took a few guards to search the surrounding floor tiles, and soon found the trigger mechanism.
The trap opened again, and inside was a long and narrow passage, which looked deeper and bottomless than the entrance they had entered before.
Tang Zibo also glanced over there. In fact, this is not a trap, but an exit, leading directly to the Biqing River outside the city. It's just that because the exit is at the bottom of the river, it will be covered in water after coming out, which is very embarrassing, so if it is not an emergency evacuation, no one will choose to take this exit. Of course, people with poor water quality cannot take this exit.
But Xue Mu and the others didn't know, Nuo Yan studied for a while, got up and said to Xue Mu: "Master Hou, I'll go down and have a look."
Xue Mu thought for a while and said, "No need, brother Guangyuan will find the way for us."
Tang Zibo's expression changed, before he could scold him shamelessly, he was thrown down by Xue Mu. Xue Mu heard his screams gradually fade away, and also jumped down.
Nuo Yan was frightened by his sudden action, and quickly jumped down.
The passage stretched forward in a meandering way. Besides the whistling wind, Xue Mu could also faintly hear the sound of water flowing. After a while, I saw a light in front of me, and cold river water poured into my mouth and nose without warning.
Xue Mu took a sip of water and quickly floated up from the bottom of the water. He looked around and recognized that this was the Biqing River outside the city. A violent coughing sound came from the left, and he turned his head to take a look. It was Tang Zibo who was also struggling to float up from the water.
He swam to Tang Zibo's side, swam to the opposite side with his collar in hand, and climbed onto the shore. The guards who fell earlier also landed in front, and Nuo Yan, who came out last, looked around and swam towards Xue Mu.
The people who fell from the trap gathered here, but there was no sign of Liu Qinghuan.
Xue Mu frowned as he looked at the deserted suburb.
"Qingqing!" These two words used 100% of the internal force, and the echoes spread wave after wave, startling a black mass of birds in the forest, and they scattered in all directions with high-pitched neighing.
When all the echoes disappeared, no one responded to him.
Xue Mu's heart became heavier and heavier. If it wasn't here, could it be that he returned to the Hou Mansion? He glanced at Nuo Yan, and threw Tang Zibo to him: "Take him back, and see if Qingqing has returned to the Hou Mansion by the way."
"Yes." Nuo Yan twisted Tang Zibo, who had fallen into a semi-comatose, and walked towards the city gate, followed by the guard who accidentally touched the mechanism just now. Xue Mu stayed outside the city alone and searched along the river.
When Nuo Yan returned with a team of people, Xue Mu's clothes were all dried, but he still didn't find anything. He looked at the oncoming Nuo Yan, and walked up anxiously: "Can Qingqing return home?"
Nuo Yan shook his head: "I haven't returned home yet."
Xue Mu's eyes suddenly darkened.
Nuo Yan paused for a moment, and then said: "Master Hou, the Shilang's Mansion has already heard about what happened in the morning, and Mrs. Liu is still in the Hou Mansion."
Xue Mu was slightly taken aback, Qingqing was only married into the Hou's mansion in April, but two incidents happened in succession, Mrs. Liu might have a big opinion on him as a son-in-law. He pursed his lips and asked, "How is the situation now?"
Nuo Yan said: "Madam Liu is very anxious, she is waiting for Master Hou to return to the mansion to ask about the situation, the old lady has been with her all the time." He thought for a while, and then said, "Liu Shilang was also summoned into the palace by the emperor earlier. "
"Understood." Xue Mu was silent for a while, and said, "Find out Qingqing's whereabouts first, and gather people to search around here."
"yes."
After this search, Sunset was found, but Liu Qinghuan's whereabouts were still not found. Nuo Yan looked at Xue Mu's gloomy back, stepped forward and said, "Master Hou, it's inconvenient to search after dark, why not continue tomorrow morning?"
"Continue to search." Xue Mu said without turning his head.
Nuo Yan frowned, and persuaded: "Master Hou, you haven't eaten for a day, and your health will not be able to bear it if you continue like this. In addition, there are some things in the Hou Mansion that need Master Hou to go back and preside over them in person."
Xue Mu stopped and stood still. It's even more dangerous for Liu Qinghuan to stay here alone after dark, and she may still be injured, Xue Mu is absolutely unwilling to go back. As long as he doesn't find her for a moment, he will have no peace of mind.
But as Nuo Yan said, there are still many things waiting for him to go back and host.
He tightened his fists and said in a deep voice, "You continue to lead people to search along the river bank, and I will go back alone."
Nuo Yan nodded and said: "Master Hou, don't worry, the subordinates will definitely try their best to find Madam."
After Xue Mu returned to the Hou Mansion, he went directly to the Ning family's house, but Mrs. Liu hadn't left yet. Seeing Xue Mu's return, the eyes of the two old ladies became a little anxious: "Is there Qing Huan's whereabouts?"
Xue Mu pursed his lips, and said, "Nuoyan will bring people to search again, please rest assured, Aniang and mother-in-law, I will definitely find Qingqing."
Mrs. Liu's heart sank when she heard what he said. She wiped the red corners of her eyes, stepped forward to look at him and said, "Master Hou, you keep telling me what's going on? Why did the Fire Worship Cult arrest Qing Huan? Will she have life?" Danger?"
"No." Xue Mu said firmly, "Qingqing will be fine."
Xue Mu spoke with certainty, he didn't know whether he was comforting Mrs. Liu or persuading himself.
Mrs. Liu pondered for a while, he only answered the last question, but seeing that his face was uglier than his own, he couldn't force him anymore: "It's getting late today, and it's inconvenient for me to continue to bother you in the Hou's mansion, so please ask the Hou Ye As soon as there is news of Qing Huan, I will send someone to report to the Minister's Mansion."
Xue Mu nodded: "Mother-in-law, don't worry."
Mrs. Liu responded casually, and left with her maid. Liang Chen went out to see her off, and Ning looked at Xue Mu, also worried: "Mu'er, is Qing Huan really all right?"
Xue Mu stepped forward, held her hand and said, "Don't worry, Auntie, Qingqing is very smart, and she will definitely save the day."
Ning Shi glanced at him and said nothing.
Xue Mu let go of her hand, stood up straight and said, "The child has to go to the palace, so Auntie should rest earlier."
Ning stopped him: "Mu'er, you just came back, have you had dinner?"
Xue Mu said: "The child is not hungry, so don't worry, Aunt."
What Ning wanted to say, Xue Mu had already gone far. Ning leaned on the couch and rubbed her tingling temples.
When Xue Mu entered the palace, Liu Shilang just came out of Zichen Palace. When the two bumped into each other, Xue Mu didn't know what to say for a while, but Liu Shilang spoke first: "Qing Huanji has his own appearance, Lord Hou, don't worry too much."
When he said this, Xue Mu felt even more guilty: "My son-in-law is ashamed of his father-in-law."
Liu Shilang walked up to him and said in a low voice: "She escaped a catastrophe seventeen years ago, and she will be fine today."
Xue Mu was stunned for a moment, then nodded and said, "I hope so."
If something happened to Qingqing, he might directly cut Tang Zibo regardless of the overall situation of the emperor.
After saying goodbye to Liu Shilang, Xue Mu stepped into the Zichen Hall. Emperor Yan looked at his gloomy look, and frowned slightly: "There is still no news about Liu Qinghuan?"
Xue Mu shook his head.
Emperor Yan grew up with him and knew that he had a deep affection for Liu Qinghuan, so he could only comfort him at this moment.
Xue Mu suddenly felt a little funny. He comforted others in the same way when others comforted him, but it was of no use at all.
His heart felt as if someone had set it on fire, and he was extremely restless. He was terrified... finally found a dead body.
Emperor Yan felt uncomfortable seeing him like this, but he had to say something: "You led a large team to search the Ao Temple today. Several ministers have criticized this matter. Although I suppressed this matter, but Tang Zibo... I'm afraid I have to hand it over."
Xue Mu's brows gradually tightened, and the murderous look overflowed from his body: "A few friends of Lingnan King asked the emperor for someone?"
Emperor Yan sighed and said: "Xue Mu, now we have reached a critical moment, we must not be impatient, otherwise all previous efforts will be wasted."
"What about Qingqing? Her life or death is uncertain now. You want me to let Tang Zibo go?"
Eunuch Gao, who was serving the emperor, twitched his eyebrows. General Xue's posture, if it continues like this, will definitely conflict with the emperor.
"Princess Yongfu arrives—"
The eunuch passing outside the door shouted loudly, and Yongfu walked in quickly: "Sister Chen pays homage to Brother Huang."
The appearance of Yongfu eased the tense atmosphere in the hall, and Emperor Yan asked her to sit flat on the dragon chair and did not speak. Yongfu glanced at Xue Mu who was livid, smiled and said: "General Xue, this princess has something to discuss with the emperor, I wonder if General Xue can avoid it first?"
Xue Mu pursed his lips, stepped forward and said, "I will take my leave first."
After he finished speaking, he exited the Zichen Palace, and after a while, Yongfu chased him out: "Xue Mu!"
Xue Mu didn't stop walking, and asked without turning his head: "Didn't the princess have something to discuss with the emperor, and the chat was over so soon?"
Yongfu frowned: "You know...forget it." She glanced at Xue Mu, pursed her lips and said, "If something happens to Liu Qinghuan, what are you going to do?"
Xue Mu's complexion became gloomy again because of the question she said, and the murderous aura all over his body made Yongfu feel uneasy. She bit the corner of her mouth and said: "It is said that the disaster will last for a thousand years, Liu Qinghuan is not like such a short-lived person."
Xue Mu still walked quickly, ignoring her. Yongfu felt resentful and shouted: "Xue Mu, stop!"
Xue Mu finally paused, turned around and asked, "What's the matter with the princess?"
Yongfu stepped forward and looked directly at him. His eyes were pitch black, reflecting the stars in the sky and the beams in the palace, except himself.
He never had himself in his eyes.
Yongfu looked at him for a long time, and finally smiled in relief: "Xue Mu, if I told you that when you were dying of illness seven years ago, Liu Qinghuan was not me but Liu Qinghuan who stayed by your bed all night, would you hate me?" I?"
Xue Mu was taken aback for a moment, lowered his eyes and said, "No."
Yongfu was a little surprised: "Why?"
"Because I knew that person was Qingqing." He paused, his voice low, "I can recognize her hand."