Allure of a Country Maiden-Chapter 963 - 961_1

That night, every household within the city was searched. Anyone who had a child of a few months old was brought in for questioning, caretakers included.

Two wet nurses participated in identifying the children, but none of them turned out to be the crown prince.

The next morning, when Gong Qinghua heard the results, he wasn’t surprised. If it were so easy to find him, it wouldn’t be the work of the person he had in mind! But how did she manage to dodge the search of so many soldiers?

Or could it be that someone was secretly helping them? This thought made Gong Qinghua give an order:

"Spread the word to prepare to open the city gates and to conduct careful checks on everyone. I myself will rescue the crown prince and the empress!"

When the sun was already high in the sky, the city gate was opened. Every person leaving the city, including those in carriages, had to get down for inspection.

Shangguan Wanru had been anxious for a while. The child had not been with her for a whole day and night. She only had a small bottle of milk reserved. She didn’t know if he would starve without breastfeeding for such a long time! Even if he wouldn’t starve, he would probably cry until he lost his voice.

The three of them sat in a regular carriage. Shangguan Xuanyi lifted the carriage curtain, looking through the crowd, and saw Gong Qinghua personally guarding the city gate.

Shangguan Xuanyi couldn’t help but show a smirk of ridicule. Then he casually looked back at the crowd and saw a small figure. Although she had completely changed her looks and demeanor, he recognized her immediately. He sighed in relief.

He just watched her from behind the carriage curtain in the direction she was located.

"Who are you looking at, the gaze lasting for such a while?" Shangguan Ruixi thought he had seen Xiao’er, and so he tried to take a look himself.

Shangguan Xuanyi casually dropped the curtain: "Gong Qinghua is personally guarding the city gate."

"What!" Upon hearing this, Shangguan Wanru couldn’t help but take a quick peek herself, and the figure indeed looked like Gong Qinghua’s!

She dropped the curtain and sneered: "In order to save us two, he is really going all out! He doesn’t even care about harming his dignity as an emperor!"

Both Shangguan Ruixi and Shangguan Xuanyi remained silent.

Xiao’er also stood in the crowd, naturally, she noticed Gong Qinghua as well. She silently acknowledged his stupidity. He lost the first chess move after ascending the throne!

An imperial emperor himself came to guard the city gate in fear of his nephew being saved? If Xiao’er had previously believed Gong Qinghua could lead Nangong Country to a new level, she didn’t think so anymore.

A man’s mind, to a certain extent, determines the height of his future accomplishments! A person who is narrow-minded, obstinate, and suspicious like him, even if he becomes an emperor and has ambitions, he could easily lose the hearts of loyal subordinates.

The world of Nangong Country is his already. Was it necessary to go through such great lengths due to fear of the potential threats from an infant not even a month old?

Removing the root of the problem is good, but if you ruin the land in the process of weeding, that’s crossing the line!

Even if he put up the banner to rescue the son of King Xuan, wouldn’t all the ministers understand the strategy he’s using?

Who would kidnap the prince and the princess of King Xuan? The smart ones would know without thinking that it must have been Minze Country’s people. But would the people of Minze Country harm them, mother and child? That’s impossible! Therefore, everyone will believe that Gong Qinghua was not drinking just for the taste of the wine!

Gong Qinghua made the wrong chess move, especially at the moment when he just ascended the throne! Which emperor in the world would personally guard the city gate to seize people? This was simply detrimental to his dignity! He would soon realize his impulsiveness and regret it.

Suddenly Xiao’er felt a familiar gaze on her. She turned her head and saw Shangguan Xuanyi in the carriage, but soon after Shangguan Ruixi’s head came out. Therefore, Xiao’er didn’t greet Shangguan Xuanyi. She turned her head, pretending as if nothing happened, and faced forward to queue up and leave the city.

It would be their turn soon! After she left the city, she would have to find a place to bring Zhuan’er out, and then they could join Shangguan Xuanyi.

After standing there for half an hour, Gong Qinghua regretted it! It was all because Rui’an County Master was too cunning. He was worried that the people below would not be able to see through her disguise, so he came in person to check the people. He was indeed impulsive!

He knew their identity, but the enemy was hidden. Seeing him here, they would probably not come out of the city, he shouldn’t have come so openly!

Gong Qinghua stared at the dark crowd, failing to find the person he was looking for.

Gong Qinghua had already learned from the secret agents from the Wang Mansion that the three of them had left the Wang Mansion in disguise as a buyer and a maid. They said that apart from a slightly dissimilar stature, their faces were almost identical to the originals, as if they had changed their heads. It made people feel like it was the person himself, without any flaws.

Gong Qinghua was half skeptical about this, but he was worried that it was true and that the soldiers might not recognize them, so he decided to come in person.

But anyway, him standing here signaled his defeat!

Gong Qinghua was filled with anger. Now he was in a predicament – he couldn’t go or stay!

Luckily, the general who was guarding the city came and said: "General, it’s almost noon. Why don’t you go eat first?"

Gong Qinghua’s face brightened a little. At least he had an excuse to leave, otherwise it would be quite embarrassing for an emperor! He nodded: "Alright! Tell everyone to stay vigilant, especially those who are taking out big items like wooden boxes and large jars. They must open them and check what’s inside! Also, check under carriages and wood piles to see if anyone is hiding there!"

"Don’t worry, General, we will keep a watchful eye. The prince will not be stolen away under our watch!"

Gong Qinghua nodded and walked away quickly. He needed to find a place to hide and watch.

At this time, Xiao’er had already arrived at the city gate. She had already paid attention to the expressions and attitudes of those waiting to leave the city. Therefore, her expressions and manners, even the posture of walking, were similar to everyone else’s. She also copied the mannerisms of a matron she had seen.

She was only a few people away from Gong Qinghua, but he didn’t recognize her.

Xiao’er heard all of Gong Qinghua’s words, and she couldn’t help but complain in her heart. If the soldiers really did what Gong Qinghua said they should, they probably would never catch them!

Even if she had to hide in Nangong Country for a year, she wouldn’t be foolish enough to leave the city like this!

After Gong Qinghua had left and was about 50 meters away, it was Xiao’er’s turn to leave the city.

The city guard, seeing that she possessed no luggage, didn’t pay too much attention to her. However, they still followed procedure and asked: "Where do you come from? Why are you leaving the city? Do you carry any household registration documents?"