The city guard told Pei Xiaoyuan that today, as usual, the city gates were opened at five o'clock in the morning. Among those waiting to leave the city, there seemed to be someone whose appearance matched his description. After checking the passport he carried, he let him go without asking any more questions.
Obviously, this person is Ms. Ye.
Pei Xiaoyuan was about to leave the city when he saw Chengping riding up to him from behind. He was full of guilt and started to confess his crime. It turned out that He had just asked him to verify what Zhu'er said. He realized that his words had caused trouble and he felt extremely guilty.
"I have already explained to the county magistrate that it has nothing to do with you! I was the one who found out about your marriage from the maid and asked you about it. When you refused to tell me, I made up some nonsense and caused Miss Ye to misunderstand me. You were even blamed by the county magistrate—"
"Forget it! You didn't mean it!"
Pei Xiaoyuan stopped Chengping, "No need to say more. You should start your journey first. I'm sorry I can't see you off. I'll go after her."
"I'll go too! I caused the trouble, so I should explain it to her myself!"
Pei Xiaoyuan looked at him and saw that he looked sincere, so he followed him and rode out of the city first, followed closely by Chengping. At this time, He Jin had also arrived at the city gate and was waiting. He saw the two of them coming out from a distance and went forward to meet them, only then did he know that this accident had happened.
"I'll go too. I know the way!"
He Jin immediately called a few of his men to follow behind.
This city is the seat of Weiyuan County and the only way from Ganliang Road to the capital. In addition to travelers, camel and horse teams are also in an endless stream on the official road during the day. Pei Xiaoyuan chased and searched, and finally heard the news he wanted from the leader of the caravan who stopped by the roadside to rest at noon: a young man had bought a horse from them in the morning. If there was no delay on the road, it should have gone at least dozens of miles.
Based on this, the group rode at full speed and finally caught up with the enemy at a fork in the road.
The road splits into two from here. The main road leads to the capital, and the other branch road, according to He Jinzhi, is the road he took when he picked up the young lady.
She should have taken this fork in the road to go back. Pei Xiaoyuan took this road, but just in case, he asked He Jin's men to continue searching along the main road.
"If you encounter her, stop her. No matter if she is willing or not, you must not let her go."
"Keep the people here and wait for me!" he emphasized again.
The men answered. After giving his instructions, Pei Xiaoyuan immediately turned his horse onto the side road.
Few people travel this road. After chasing for another 10 to 20 miles, the scenery becomes increasingly desolate, with few carriages and horses. The distances between the garrisons, passes, and villages along the way are also getting farther and farther apart. There is even no human habitation for dozens of miles, and only endless wilderness and barren hills.
Pei Xiaoyuan chased her for a while and began to become uncertain about her whereabouts.
"I have already taken the path, and am returning the way I came."
That's what she said in the letter.
Isn’t the way back referring to the road leading to where she came from
By this time, most of the day had passed, the sun was setting, and they had already chased for two or three hundred miles in one breath. The caravan horses had limited leg strength, and could not compare to the strong and tough military horses they were riding. Even if she was a good rider, she couldn't walk so fast. They had chased her here, but they still couldn't see her.