Chapter 376
The next day, the group arrived in Miao Jiang.
They had rented several houses from the people in Miao Jiang, but there were not many rooms, so they needed to squeeze a little.
After discussing it, it was decided that the three men would sleep together, while Jian Han and Ning Qing slept together. This was the best and most effortless arrangement.
The local people brought dinner, and after they had eaten, they discussed strategy.
Zhou Yao took the map and spread it out on the table. “Big Brother, Tang Xueli is hiding with his men in the Han Palace not far ahead. Our people have already surrounded them. As far as combat effectiveness is concerned, it is not a problem for us to exterminate them. However, Tang Xueli has the mother maggot in his hand. If we force him into a corner, he will certainly do something unfavorable to you. It’s imperative to find out who has the mother maggot.”
Zhou Yao’s deputy commander said, “Boss, we have been monitoring them for several days. They are quiet and have had no contact with others. I think the person with the mother maggot must be hiding in the Han Palace.”
Zhou Yao nodded, and he looked at Lu Shaoming. “Brother, we can’t rush into the Han Palace. Now… If only someone else could infiltrate…”
Zhou Yao looked at Ning Qing.
Ning Qing put her cell phone under her pillow, and she smiled sweetly. “Sister Jian, I was just looking at the time.”
Looking at the time?
Jian Han didn’t know why she wanted to know the time.
“Ning Qing, go to bed soon. Goodnight.”
“Alright, goodnight, Sister Jian.” Ning Qing closed her eyes.
…
The next morning, when Jian Han opened her eyes and looked at her side. Ning Qing was no longer there.
Jian Han sat up and looked around. She opened her mouth and cried, “Ning Qing, Ning Qing…”
There was no answer in the room.
Jian Han looked at the time. It was 7 o’clock now. She patted her head. How could she have slept so late?
Ning Qing had already gotten up.
Jian Han didn’t think too much about it. She got up, got out of bed, washed her face, and opened the door.
When she went out in the bright sunshine, she happened to see Lu Shaoming and others. Jian Han looked at them and did not see Ning Qing. She asked, “Young Master Lu, where’s Ning Qing?”
Lu Shaoming had intended to see Ning Qing for a moment. Last night, Zhou Dayuan had drugged her, which guaranteed her two days’ sleep. Only when he saw her would he feel relieved.
Hearing Jian Han’s question, his eagle-like eyes widened and he asked, “Ning Qing is not in the room?”
Jian Han shook her head. “No, Ning Qing was gone when I got up. I thought she was worried about you, so she got up very early to find you.”
Behind him, Zhou Yao secretly said, “This is bad.” He strode forward with his long legs to the special guards who guarded the door. In a bad temper, he cursed, “I asked you to watch the people inside. What did you do all night, sleepwalk? Where’s my sister-in-law?”
“Boss, we’re innocent. We dared not close our eyelids last night. There was no movement in the room. Nobody came out, and we don’t know what is going on.” The soldiers were at a loss.
Zhou Yao kicked open the door of the room with his long legs. He glanced around the room, then he went straight to the window. He opened the window and looked out. “Big brother, there are footprints under the window. My sister-in-law has escaped.”
“Escaped?” Jian Han was shocked. She hadn’t expected Ning Qing to run away. Where had she gone?
At this time, her shoulders were grasped. Zhou Dayuan half hugged her in his arms. The man’s body smelled of floral Chinese medicine. He had probably been busy all night.
He squeezed her shoulders and gave her the strongest support and comfort. “Don’t worry.”
As he said that, Zhou Dayuan looked at Lu Shaoming, “Shaoming, Ning Qing must have gone to look for Tang Xueli. By now, Ning Qing must already be in the Han Palace.”
Then, a soldier shook his head and said, “No way. We have surrounded the Han Palace in groups. If someone were to enter the Palace, we would know. But it’s so strange that Sister-in-law could enter the Palace so silently… Unless…”
Zhou Yao’s entire face sank. “Big Brother, there’s a secret way into the Han Palace!” he concluded with certainty.
“Tang Xueli could obviously escape through the secret pathway we didn’t know about, but he didn’t; he waited for you and Sister-in-law to come. Sister-in-law is in danger. Brother, what should we do now, rush in immediately to rescue Sister-in-law, or… wait for news of Sister-in-law’s?”
“Shaoming.” Zhou Dayuan took a step forward. “Ning Qing must have had a plan to leave when she chose to go to the Han Palace. She took the risk for you. If you make a bold move at this time, you will waste all her efforts and intentions. Ning Qing is always alert and wise. We can wait for her.”
“No.” Jian Han shook her head. “Ning Qing was prepared but so is Tang Xueli. Ning Qing’s alertness and wisdom can’t make a difference in the face of a psychopath. Let’s not take a risk with Ning Qing’s life.”
“Jian Han,” Zhou Dayuan said with a low voice. “Ning Qing’s life is a life. Shaoming’s life is also a life. Don’t forget that the mother maggot in Tang Xueli’s hands, if we fight him head-on, the result would be defeat and injury on both sides.”
Jian Han didn’t speak anymore. Her eyes were wet. She couldn’t imagine what would happen if Ning Qing, a girl so delicate, were to fall into the hands of someone like Tang Xueli.
“Big Brother…” Zhou Yao looked at Lu Shaoming and asked for instructions.
Zhou Dayuan sighed softly. “Shaoming, don’t you know what Ning Qing’s intentions are? She already knew you were going to drug her, and now she has cut off all means of retreat, tying her life together with yours.Are you going to choose to let her efforts go to waste or to cooperate with her from the outside, going through the hard times together? You think about it.”