My elder sister forced me to become a concubine; I was reborn and remarried into the emperor's

Summer weather can change in an instant; just a moment ago it was blazing hot, but in the blink of an eye, a torrential downpour began.

The drizzling rain fell into the stream, nourishing the shallow water and irrigating the drooping flowers and grasses.

In the courtyard along the stream, a young girl sat on a rocking chair under the eaves, gently swaying. In her arms was a small raccoon cat with fluffy, snow-white fur and a pair of beautiful yellow-green heterochromatic eyes, making it look noble and exquisite.

The kitten didn't like water, and it didn't like the sudden downpour either, so it meowed anxiously.

The woman gently stroked its head with her slender, fair hand: "Little Tiger, don't be afraid. I'll have your sister Zhixia give you some dried fish later."

As if it understood, the little tiger stuck out its pink tongue and gently licked her palm, while its paws kept stepping on her lower abdomen, its meows filled with a hint of joy.

"Sister, it's raining so hard, why aren't you going inside? Be careful you don't get soaked again."

As they were talking, another, thinner girl pushed open the door and came in, holding an umbrella. She was wearing an oilcloth and walked briskly, not even caring that the splashing rainwater had soaked her skirt.

"You're not afraid of getting wet when you go out, so why should I be afraid at home? So, have you found out the news?"

The two people in the courtyard were Wei Nanxun and Zhi Xia. They had been in Pingzhen for almost half a month. They rented a small courtyard by the stream and hired an elderly couple in their forties or fifties. The old woman was in charge of cleaning and cooking, while the old man was in charge of looking after the house.

They claimed to be from Jiangnan, searching for their father. The two sisters were surnamed Jiang, and they would often take a portrait to shops on the street to inquire about him.

However, the real purpose of their search was not to find someone, but to inquire about the situation in the capital.

Pingzhen, where they lived, was only a day's journey from the capital. She deliberately chose to live near the emperor's residence, firstly because it was a safer place for two women traveling, and secondly because if Pei Yuyan found out she was missing, he would definitely look for her to the west of his father or even further away.

The most dangerous place is the safest place; this is commonly known as "the darkest place is under the lamp."

Wei Nanxun's appearance was too distinctive, so she used the excuse of being unwell to stay home most of the time, and it was Zhixia who went out to buy things and gather information.

"I've been cracking sunflower seeds in the teahouse until my lips are all blistered. I need to ask Grandma to make me a cup of chrysanthemum tea."

Wei Nanxun was amused by her: "After you left, Grandpa brought watermelons to the well town, which will help cool you down."

Even though she knew that her grandmother was cooking and her grandfather was helping to tend the stove at this hour, Zhixia still looked around before leaning over and whispering, "I found out that the wedding is in five days. The Crown Prince has just returned to the capital from his busy work a few days ago."

Whether out of guilt or cowardice, she lowered her voice and said, "I've also heard that recently a lot of officials have been flocking to the prefecture and towns, saying they're arresting criminals."

"Arrest criminals? What kind of criminals?"

"It is said that a noble family in the capital has been robbed and a treasure has been lost. They are searching everywhere for the thief."

Wei Nanxun had a gut feeling that this matter was related to him. Which important person in the capital was so influential that the officials had to come to other prefectures to find something he had lost?

No wonder there's been no movement lately; it turns out Pei Yuyan hasn't been in the capital. Otherwise, with his abilities, he should have discovered she wasn't with the Wei family long ago.

"Sister, what should we do? Should we run away?"

They traveled around, stopping and starting, moving to three or four different places before finally settling down in Pingzhen. They had finally found a nice place with mountains and water, and were even planning to grow flowers, open a shop, and start a business. But now they had to leave again. Anyone would be unhappy in that situation.

Wei Nanxun looked at the newly planted flowers and plants in the yard, and the little tiger in her arms. This little cat was picked up on the first day they moved into this new yard.

Little Tiger was injured and soaked to the bone by the rain, huddled weakly against the wall.

At first, I was wary and resistant towards the two of them, but it was only through careful care day by day that I gained them as new family members.

So you're leaving again?

But where else could they go? There was nowhere that was definitely safe.

"Let me think about it."

"Now is the time when they are searching everywhere. If we run around aimlessly, we might run into them. We should think of a way to avoid them for a few days."

She had previously rescued several homeless girls on the road, given them silver, and asked them to pretend to be master and servant and leave in different directions, not knowing if it would lead people away.

Just as they were hesitating, Grandpa came over with a slice of watermelon: "Second daughter is back. Are you wet? Should I have my wife make you some ginger tea?"

"No need, Grandpa. Thanks to you for letting me take the oilcloth with me. Sure enough, it started raining not long after I went out, and I didn't get wet because of the oilcloth."

"That's good. Getting caught in the rain always makes you feel cold and prone to illness. Summer colds are the hardest to cure. Did the second young lady have any good news today?"

This elderly couple had only one son, who went away to do business with his wife a few years ago, leaving the two of them alone at home. Although it was an employment relationship, the couple took care of the two sisters as if they were their own grandchildren, and they got along very well.

"Stop talking. If I go a few more times, all the guys in town will recognize me. Sigh, I wonder where my father and brothers are now."

"Good people are always blessed. Perhaps they went to do business elsewhere after settling here. If you didn't choose the wrong place, you'll always be able to find them."

After saying a few words, the old man put his hands in his pockets and said somewhat embarrassedly, "Young lady, my wife and I go to the temple to offer lamps and pray every month on the fifteenth. I forgot to tell you before that we have to go up the mountain for a few days before and after the fifteenth."

The monthly allowance they received was higher than that of ordinary families. When they suddenly had to take several days off, the elderly couple were naturally uneasy, fearing that there would be no one to take care of them at home.

Unexpectedly, Wei Nanxun asked curiously, "Going up the mountain? Which mountain are you going up?"

"Not far from town, on Baiyun Mountain, there's a Baiyun Temple halfway up the mountain. Prayers for marriage, children, and peace are all answered there. We, the old couple, have no other wishes but that our daughter-in-law gets pregnant soon, and that the couple can live peacefully..."

Before the old man could finish speaking, their daughter suddenly said, "If that's the case, then let's go with the old man tomorrow."

Zhixia blinked. Go up the mountain to pray to Buddha? With the situation so dire, how could she possibly be in the mood for praying to gods and Buddhas?

"I'm not young anymore, it's time to pray for a good marriage."

Zhixia: ? ? ?

-

Meanwhile, in the capital, Pei Yuyan returned weary from his journey, having just concluded a case—a remarkably ordinary corruption case.

However, his uncle was involved, so the emperor specially arranged for him to go and see how he would handle the situation. He showed no favoritism and had all the officials involved confiscated and imprisoned, and his uncle was also implicated.

Recently, he has been experiencing a series of misfortunes. Officials who stood by him have lost power one after another, and the secret guards he sent out to investigate have all been killed. He suspects that someone is manipulating everything behind the scenes, but he can't find any clues about the other party.

He was already troubled by this matter, and as soon as he returned to the capital, he heard from his confidant that Wei Nanxun had disappeared.

Pei Yuyan grabbed his neck directly, his face ashen: "Didn't I tell you to keep an eye on her? She can't even handle such a small matter."

"Your Highness, spare my life! It was the Wei family who sent them away... I was incompetent..."

Pei Yuyan didn't even look at him, threw him to the ground, didn't even drink a sip of tea, and then turned around, went out, and mounted his horse.

"Your Highness, where are you going?"

"I will personally go and capture her."

"Your Highness, you mustn't! Your wedding day is just a few days away. If you leave the capital now, it will delay the wedding."

"will not."

Wei Nanxun, I will definitely catch you.

As he spoke, he squeezed the horse's flanks with his legs, and the horse galloped away.