The next day, Xia Ning quickly came to report to Xu Qingye.

"Master, people traveling outside Mingyue Tower and the medical clinic have successively sent news that they seem to have spotted traces of someone suspected to be the county master in Hongjiang City."

Xu Qingye quickly stood up.

"We talked about it on the way. Go get the horses first. We'll call Wang Yan to go to Hongjiang City together."

"Yes."

Xia Ning prepared a horse, and he and Xu Qingye rode one horse each to Yingshan City first, and then called Wang Yan to go with them to Hongjiang City.

Gu Lansheng knew about Song Yuntang's disappearance.

I thought she was dead and felt guilty about it for a long time. If she hadn't been treating his injuries, she wouldn't have been killed by the villain.

Now that I know that the person may still be alive, I feel a little comforted.

"Come here, prepare the carriage. Now that this matter is over, I plan to return to the capital and stop by Hongjiang City to check out the situation there."

"Yes!"

Yun Yi clasped his fists, turned around and went out to prepare the carriage.

On the way, Xu Qingye asked Xia Ning.

"Where did they find Tang'er?"

Xia Ning rode his horse after Xu Qingye and Wang Yan.

"The disciple from the clinic took a quick glance at the woman in the carriage on the official road outside Hongjiang City. He thought she looked like the county lady, so he immediately turned back and returned to Anyang County."

"Yang Xiaoliu, the head chef of Mingyue Tower in Hongjiang City, is Chef Zhang's apprentice. Influenced by Chef Zhang, he has a deep understanding of the county lady's taste."

"Yesterday, someone ordered roast duck at Mingyue Tower in Hongjiang City and also asked for shredded green onions, shredded cucumbers, dipping sauce, and balsamic vinegar. Yang Xiaoliu heard about this and had the person who came to Anyang County to buy food today inform Chef Zhang about this. Chef Zhang was worried that his master was really in Hongjiang City, so he quickly sent someone to find his subordinates after hearing the news."

The other people in Mingyue Tower did not know about Song Yuntang, but Chef Zhang and Manager Miao did. After Xu Qingye found out that the body in the cave was not Song Yuntang, he gave orders to them to keep an eye out.

Tang'er is pregnant and might be injured after falling from the cliff, so she can't run too far.

She is so smart. Once she has the chance, she will definitely find a way to pass the message to Anyang County. Judging from her taste preferences, it really seems like something she would do.

People from both the clinic and Mingyue Tower have made the discovery, so it can't be just a coincidence.

"Let's speed up and try to get into the city before dark." Xu Qingye said, speeding up again.

It takes about four hours to ride from Yingshan City to Hongjiang City on horseback.

Prince Heng is also in Hongjiang City now. He originally wanted to kill Tang'er. If he knew that Tang'er was still alive, he probably would not leave her alive.

The three of them rode at full speed and finally arrived at Hongjiang City before the sun set.

After Xu Qingye arrived in Hongjiang City, he asked the locals for directions and found Mingyue Tower directly.

"Is your shopkeeper here?"

The waiter saw that the visitor looked exhausted and looked puzzled.

"Does this gentleman have something to ask our shopkeeper?"

Xia Ning followed Xu Qingye into Mingyue Tower and said, "It was Shopkeeper Miao and Chef Zhang who asked us to come. We hope you can be more efficient, young man. We have something urgent to discuss with the shopkeeper."

When the waiter heard this, he didn't dare to delay and hurried to the backyard to find the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper saw the visitor and asked hurriedly.

"Who are you two?"

"I learned from Chef Zhang that someone ordered roast duck from your restaurant yesterday and also ordered shredded green onions and cucumbers. Is that true?" Xu Qingye asked.

The shopkeeper nodded.

"Indeed, what's wrong?"

"What did the person who came yesterday look like? Does the shopkeeper still remember?" he asked again.

The shopkeeper recalled.

"He looks ordinary, and judging by his clothes, he must be a servant from some family. Yesterday, I curiously asked him if he was sure what he wanted to order. He explained that his wife was pregnant and had a particular taste, so he ordered this much. Then he took the food box and left."

When Xia Ning heard the news, he clenched his fists slightly.

It's the master!

The master is still alive!

There was no emotion on Xu Qingye's face. He walked to the counter, picked up a pen and paper, and simply drew a portrait on the paper.

"Boss, take a closer look. Does the person who came here look like this?"

The shopkeeper was surprised when he saw it.

"Sir, your painting skills are truly lifelike. With just a few simple strokes, you were able to capture the spirit of the young man from yesterday."

Xu Qingye made a judgment in his heart.

"Boss, do you know where that boy went?"

"I was busy at the restaurant, so I didn't notice anything strange about that person yesterday, so I didn't pay any attention to him." He thought for a moment and pointed in a direction. "It seems like he left from that direction, but I don't know where he went exactly."

Xu Qingye thanked him and led Xia Ning out of Mingyue Tower.

Wang Yan handed the reins to the two men.

"are you sure?"

Xu Qingye nodded. "We've confirmed who took them away, but we don't know where they live."

Xia Ning looked at the two of them and said, "Lin Jingyao is from Cile Town. Since he just entered the city yesterday, he definitely won't settle here. Maybe we can find him by searching every house and inn."

"Searching the inn requires a search warrant issued by the government. We don't have one. Prince Heng is also in Hongjiang City now, so we shouldn't make a big deal about it. We can only do it in secret."

Xu Qingye thought about it.

"Tang'er is pregnant now. Lin Jingyao probably won't take her to a crowded place. I'll draw a few portraits later. You can take them and go to the inns on the outskirts of the city to ask. When you move, try to be as covert as possible. Once you have determined Tang'er's location, don't act on your own. We will meet at the city gate in an hour."

The two nodded.

"it is good."

It was getting dark now.

There were people walking in a hurry on the road, and there were fewer and fewer of them later on.

Xu Qingye found a noodle stall and ordered three bowls of noodles for dinner. Then, in the dim light of the lanterns on the stall, he drew two portraits and asked Xia Ning and Wang Yan to take them away.

He drew another portrait for himself and went to the city commander's mansion in Hongjiang City.

A quarter of an hour later, when he left the city commander's mansion, he took with him a team of soldiers guarding the city, a total of about twenty people.

With this team of soldiers following him, not only would it be easier for him to find someone, but even if he met King Heng's men, he would not dare to hurt them at will.

This team of soldiers followed Xu Qingye to the outskirts of the city. After searching seven or eight inns in the city without success, they met up with Wang Yan and Xia Ning at the city gate.

"How is it?" Xu Qingye looked at the two of them and asked.

Xia Ning clasped his fists and said, "All the inns my subordinates visited said they found no trace of the county lady."

Wang Yan also said, "I don't have any here either."

Xu Qingye looked at the leader of the soldiers.

"Commander Wu, besides the inn, is there any other place suitable for people to stay temporarily around here?"

Lieutenant General Wu thought for a moment, stroking his stubble, and said, "There is a mountain villa on Dangyun Mountain outside the city. It used to be very deserted, but recently some people have gone there."

Xu Qingye looked at Xia Ning and Wang Yan.

Seeing the two men shaking their heads, indicating that they had never been there, he immediately asked Brigadier General Wu's men to lead the way and take them to Dangyun Mountain.

……

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