Chapter 200:
In past life and this life, he never had the slightest suspicion toward her.
Even on the second day, when seeing her off from the residence as usual, a few traces of panic clearly arose in his heart.
He, such a famous general who had battled on the battlefield, actually trusted his gut instinct very much. His first reaction was to keep her there.
But when seeing her full of expectation saying that she wanted to personally purchase some things needed for the marriage, the words of obstruction became hard to say.
These past few days, the affection between the two was harmonious, indeed like a pair of lovers about to marry.
He did not want them to argue again over such a small matter, and even less did he want her to think that he would not let her leave the residence.
In the end, he smiled and instructed: “Just wander around in the city, don’t go too far.”
Xie Wanning naturally had no objection, smiling sweetly as she waved goodbye to him.
…………
The entire day, Lu Ziyan was somewhat restless.
Approaching the year-end, there were indeed many military affairs. He suppressed his irritation and busied himself until the afternoon, finally unable to hold back any longer, and loudly called Ming Jian inside.
“Has she returned?”
The moment this “she” entered his ears, Ming Jian reacted, shaking his head: “Not yet… Should this subordinate go urge her?”
“……Never mind,” Lu Ziyan waved his hand, “Notify me immediately when she returns.”
Ming Jian bowed in acknowledgment and was just preparing to leave when hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the door, sounding chaotic and panicked.
Lu Ziyan managed his subordinates very strictly. For such an important place as the study, unless something enormous had happened, it was absolutely impossible to be this panicked.
His face immediately darkened.
The cold and stern expression on his face abruptly changed at the words of the arriving person, “What did you say!”
“This subordinate is incompetent, and lost… lost track of Miss Xie,”
The guard knelt on the ground. Even in the biting cold winter, his forehead was covered in cold sweat. He repeated his earlier words: “Miss Xie entered a clothing store. As several men, we were not convenient to follow inside, so we waited outside. But after a long time with no sign of her coming out… when we went in to search, she was already gone inside.”
“Was she abducted by thieves?” Lu Ziyan abruptly stood up, “How long did you wait outside? Did you surround that shop?”
“There were no traces of thieves, nor any signs of fighting inside. The clothing store has no back door. The shopkeeper said…”
A flash of hesitation crossed the guard’s face. After being harshly shouted at by Lu Ziyan, he finally said: “He said Miss Xie selected a coarse cloth cotton garment and left on her own.”
The Northern Region winter is bitterly cold. Everyone is wrapped tightly from head to toe, and with the year-end approaching, business in the clothing store was very good.
Xie Wanning considered for several days and finally chose this method to leave.
In the bustling clothing store, right under the eyelids of several guards, she changed into the most unremarkable clothes and just walked out.
This method was simple, but she had the greatest advantage.
That was that Lu Ziyan had no defenses against her, and the several guards also had no defenses against her.
They were following her out to make purchases, not bringing out a prisoner for some air, strictly guarding against her escape.
Therefore, she slipped away just like that.
The expression on Lu Ziyan’s face completely froze in an instant, as if he could not comprehend what “left on her own” meant.
The room fell into brief silence. The sweat on the forehead of the guard kneeling and reporting finally dripped down.
Ming Jian’s back stiffened, a bit uneasy in his heart. Just as he was about to say something, he saw the man standing rigidly by the desk suddenly let out a low laugh.
That laughter was low and deep, suppressing countless emotions, making listeners shiver with fear.
Lu Ziyan seemed to murmur to himself with a light sigh: “She ran…”
