CH 185

On the other side, the prefect of Suzhou was summoned by the crown prince on his day off.

He had to leave the comfort of the beauty he was with, and quickly get dressed up to go to the small courtyard where the crown prince was staying and do his best to flatter him.

He waited outside the study with a joyous smile on his face, while his heart was beating like a drum inside his chest, thinking carefully about whether he had done something wrong which the crown prince learned about. When he was at his wit’s end, he was summoned inside.

The crown prince did not even look at him, he threw him a portrait, and ordered him to go look for that person.

Chapter 185

(66.3)

The prefect hastily caught the portrait, and his hanging heart finally could rest as he raised his sleeve to wipe off the cold sweat that had emerged on his forehead. He then rushed to go and do the job.

To find a person in Yangzhou, it really could not be said to be easy. Inside the city, it was easy, but if this person was hiding in the countryside, it would be difficult.

As he got out of the courtyard, he bumped into Lord Song, and hurriedly greeted him.

Song Huaiqing glanced at the painting he was holding in his hands and asked, “What is this?”

The prefect told the truth as it was, “His Highness ordered me to look for a person.”

Song Huaiqing had an idea in mind. Sweeping a glance at the person on the painting, he could not help but frown, could it be that the crown prince really had turned crazy? That he would order people to look for a dead person.

The prefect’s heart was weak when he was in front of them, so he hurriedly said two more words and found an excuse to take his leave. After returning to the government office, he immediately found a painter, to make a few copies of the portrait, and then ordered the chief of the policemen to go and search from house to house.

The chief of the policemen did not take this matter to heart, the girl on the portrait did not look like an evil person that had committed heinous crime, besides, if this beauty was really in Yangzhou, she would have been famous already.

When Hong Ling came out to buy food, she saw the chief of the policemen with the portrait, searching every corner for a person. She started to stare at them, with raised ears, her eyes and ears were alert, looking and listening all around. Holding a vegetable basket, she walked forward and asked, “Sir, who are you looking for ah?”

The chief of the policemen swept a glance up and down her body, “It’s none of your business, hurry up and leave.”

Hong Ling cursed his mother in her mind, but her mouth curled up in a smile, “Maybe I can help, maybe I’ve seen the person before.”

There was a sword hanging on the chief of the policemen’s waist, the look in his eyes as he glared at her was murderous. He asked, “Why are you inquiring about it so much?”

Afraid that he might get suspicious, the smile on the corners of Hong Ling’s mouth became even more cunning, “For the reward money from the yamen bureau.” She blurted out a fabricated tale, “Last time my little cousin caught a wanted criminal, and the yamen bureau rewarded him with 50 taels of silver.”

The chief of the policemen reluctantly believed her nonsense and revealed the portrait in front of her eyes. Raising his eyebrows, he asked, “Have you seen that person?”

Hong Ling clenched her palms with force, her acting skills were exquisite as she looked up with a regretful and resentful expression. She shook her head and said, “I haven’t.”

“If you haven’t, then get lost.”

Hong Ling, dejected, got out of their sight, and turned a corner, into a deserted alley. Leaning against the wall, she took two deep breaths. They really were looking for Ming Zhu.

When her arms and legs finally regained their strength, she immediately started running back towards home.

In a breath of air, she was back home, so anxious that she did not even drink a mouthful of water, she was panting, as if she was close to her last breath.

Ming Zhu gently stroked her back to help her breathe, “What’s wrong?”

Hong Ling was panting, out of breath. She sat on the ground to rest for a moment. Her voice as she talked was hoarse and dry, “The authorities are looking for you.”

Ming Zhu’s face changed, her thin and frail body swayed twice, and her white fingers clenched the edge of the table. She had yet to speak that Hong Ling was already clumsily up on her feet, “Zhu Zhu, let’s quickly run away!”

They really couldn’t stay near Suzhou!

Hong Ling never thought that the dog man’s power would be so great that he could give orders to the prefect of Suzhou. According to the way they were searching the streets today, they probably would start checking household registers very soon!

Ming Zhu lowered her head, her stomach was blocking her vision, and now she couldn’t see her feet.

Hong Ling obviously also realized where the problem was, she was so anxious she started to walk in circles, stomping her feet, “How about you write a letter to Lord Wei, and have him find a way to help you?”

Wei Chiyu was busy with official business and had returned to Changzhou a few days ago.

Ming Zhu shook her head, “This would only harm him.”

“Then what are we going to do?!” She only knew how to fight, and she wasn’t even very good at it, she wasn’t sure she could beat several strong men.

“I’ll hide.” Ming Zhu raised her eyes, the look in her eyes was serious as she looked at her, “In the next few days, you can tell everyone that I’ve gone back to my husband’s house to rest for my pregnancy.”

Hong Ling nodded: “Good.”

After less than two days of peace and quiet, the chief of the policemen began to check the household registers one by one. In the middle of the night, they were still knocking on doors.

Their actions couldn’t be said to be polite, and their heavy knocking at night frightened people, waking them up from their sleep. When it came to them, Ming Zhu hid behind the pile of straw in the woodshed, completely hiding herself.

Hong Ling put on her clothes and went to the front yard with a lantern in her hand to open the door.