Late at night.
The cellar wasn't cold.
It was even a bit warm.
After all, there was a stove for heating branding irons.
It also provided some warmth.
The nuns had repeated their story many times.
They said they had heard that Lord Commander was devastatingly handsome, and Madam Meng was as beautiful as Daji.
So they wanted to take their youngest daughter away.
To raise her properly.
What about returning to the right path? That was just rhetoric.
It's usually just rhetoric.
When large families hear that a girl might hinder the family's fate, they tend to believe it to some extent.
Because they had found out that the family had no elders present, and seeing that the little girl was indeed quite beautiful, they decided to simply abduct her.
The nuns had repeated this story many times.
But Jiang Changtian didn't believe it.
Neither did Jiang Feng.
Meng Shaoxia interrogated them again.
He hadn't even resorted to torture.
There was no need to.
The two nuns and the coachman kept eagerly repeating their story.
And it was always the same content.
It sounded like a spur-of-the-moment decision.
The prefectural city of Jingzhou had numerous temples.
There were about a hundred, big and small.
The most famous were the True Return Temple and Shangqiu Convent.
True Return Temple was full of monks.
Shangqiu Convent was a place for nuns to practice.
It was said to be particularly efficacious; as long as one was sincere, all wishes could come true.
Many nobles worshipped there, especially the women.
Shangqiu Convent also housed women from great families who had made mistakes.
In short, it had significant connections.
When Zi Lu led a rebellion earlier, these two temples were not affected.
Unlike Ming County managed by Jiang Changtian, where even the senior monks obediently paid taxes and had to personally perform rituals, working hard to earn incense money.
Busy until midnight, they had another late-night meal, noodles in swan soup.Upstodatee from n(0)/ve/lbIn/.(co/m
It was still a bit fishy, but the wild onions covered the taste, giving it a unique flavor.
Qin Luoxia had opened up a patch of land in the mansion to grow wild onions; these things grew quickly, reaching full height in just a month.
By now, Jiang Mianmian was already asleep.
Jiang Xiaoshu had somehow found his way to the cellar, following the scent.
The coachman called the nuns "mistress," suggesting they held significant positions in Shangqiu Convent.
They had fallen unconscious several times during the torture.
But when she opened the window.
It wasn't.
It was raining.
An autumn rain brings a chill.
It was very cold.
Jiang Mianmian was dressed in a cotton robe, then a cotton vest, and cotton shoes.
Pangya held an umbrella and carried her to eat.
Though it was raining, the path had been swept quite clean.
Arriving at the dining hall, Jiang Mianmian greeted each elder in turn.
She called out to everyone, after all, she was the youngest.
Finally, she ended up in her father's arms.
It's nice being a child, often able to be a legless accessory.
After eating.
It was raining today.
Commander Jiang wasn't in a hurry to go to work.
After all, he didn't have much official business at the office.
Being late for roll call didn't matter.
But unexpectedly, despite the heavy rain, someone came calling.
It was Judge Yu.
Lord Yu, in charge of criminal cases.
Lord Yu brought a group of subordinates and knocked on Commander Jiang's door.
"Brother Jiang, pardon the intrusion. Someone reported that two masters from Shangqiu Convent went missing in your home. They insisted I come to check. You know, people like us, even though we've obtained official positions, are still nobodies, just following orders. I hope you'll forgive the offense." Yu Qian wore a smiling face, but behind him stood a full complement of yamen runners.
The rain made everything look a bit white.
Jiang Changtian smiled at Yu and said, "No worries, no worries. We all follow orders. Please, do search thoroughly. How could someone disappear in broad daylight?"
Looking at Commander Jiang's exceptionally beautiful face, Yu Qian's heart inexplicably raced. He inwardly cursed: I've fought tooth and nail in Jingzhou, and all I got was the position of a judge. This Jiang fellow did nothing, stayed holed up in Ming County, and became a Commander. Surely he didn't get it by selling his body?
Yu Qian was just starting to make a name for himself in Jingzhou, even the prefect had to treat him with respect, so he didn't think much of Commander Jiang.
Seeing Jiang's weak and compliant attitude, he also smiled: "Excuse us, then."
He not only brought men, but also dogs.
Dogs could track scents.
This Lord Yu might be lacking in character, but he did have some skills.
However, after a thorough search, they found no one.
But they did see a horse carriage.
This Commander was interesting.
So greedy, yet he kept the carriage.
It was as if he was openly telling them he had the people.
Yu Qian left with his subordinates.
Looking back through the rain, Commander Jiang was still there.
He cupped his hands towards Commander Jiang.
Then galloped away on his horse.
Commander Jiang and his mansion became part of the rainy evening scenery.