latelenovela Chapter 513 Finding the Cellar Exit
Chapter 513 Finding the Cellar Exit
“I’ll have Qiu Shu and the others follow you.”
Knowing that Ling Silang was worried about her, Du Mingxian didn't want him to worry either, so she said, "Okay, I'll go with them."
The next day, Du Mingxian changed her clothes and led her people to the cellar.
Because she didn't want anyone to know that Du Mingxian had been there, she didn't bring Xia Yu and Xiang Yang with her, but only brought Chunfeng and Qiushu, who were hiding in the shadows, and gave them simple disguises as well.
There are two government officials guarding this courtyard, so they might not be allowed to enter. That's why Xiang Guang, who is with Ling Silang, brought them here.
Xiang Guang had always stayed by Ling Silang's side, and everyone in the government office knew him.
When they arrived at the courtyard gate, the two constables fawned over Xiang Guang, "Brother Guang, what brings you here?"
"My lord has asked me to find a few experts to check if there's anything suspicious in the courtyard. You all just continue to keep watch outside while they go in and investigate."
With Xiang Guang present, the yamen runners didn't stop them and let the two of them in directly.
With Qiu Shu following them, they headed straight for the cellar.
The cellar wasn't dug into steps; a ladder was placed there instead.
Everyone knew that Du Mingxian was pregnant, and they were a little worried when they saw the ladder.
"I'll go down first."
"it is good."
After Qiu Shu and Chun Feng went down, Du Mingxian was allowed to go down as well, while Xiang Guang stayed up to wait for them.
The three of them went downstairs. Qiu Shu already had a torch in her hand, but it didn't seem bright enough in the dimly lit cellar.
Helpless, Du Mingxian took out a flashlight from her spatial storage. She didn't explain, and Qiu Shu and Chunfeng didn't dare to ask either. This was a tacit understanding they had developed while serving the Madam and the Lord.
The flashlight was very bright, so Du Mingxian searched carefully. The cellar didn't seem to have anything special about it. The group searched the floor and walls, but couldn't find anything suspicious.
Du Mingxian wasn't in a hurry to leave; once someone comes in, they can't just disappear right there.
Therefore, there must be a secret in the cellar.
The cellar was large. As Du Mingxian searched, she suddenly shone the light on the ceiling. She first walked to the entrance, then slowly moved forward, searching. Soon, the group saw... something different above their heads.
Qiu Shu was about to make a move when Du Mingxian stopped her, saying, "This exit should be next door. Qiu Shu, you go out and keep watch outside. Let Xiang Guang take some people to check next door."
"If no one is around, then forget it. But if someone is next door, then take control."
"Yes."
After Qiu Shu left, Du Mingxian stood there waiting. Soon Qiu Shu returned. "There was no one next door to the mansion. There were signs of activity in the courtyard, but... the people should have left when they were found here."
"Okay, let the spring breeze push it open and see."
Chunfeng stepped forward to push him away, but no matter how hard she tried, it was no use. Qiushu stepped forward to help, but neither of them could push him away.
"No need, this opening should only be able to be opened from the outside. Let's go up and take a look."
Du Mingxian led the two out. Based on the location she had just found, she determined that it was not the neighboring house connected to this house, but rather the house behind it.
They didn't take a detour, but went directly there using their light-footed skills. Xiang Guang was waiting alone in the courtyard. When he saw the group coming, he hurriedly said, "I've already checked. There's no one inside, but there are signs that someone has lived there."
"Xiang Guang, go back to the yamen now and investigate to see who owns this house. Have the magistrate arrest the person directly."
"Yes."
Since the person wasn't taken out through a secret passage, the owner of this house must be an accomplice, or even the mastermind.
After Xiang Guang left, Du Mingxian and Qiu Shu checked and quickly found the entrance in the woodshed of the courtyard. There was also a bed in the woodshed, indicating that someone was guarding the place.
There was a large urn on the opening. Because it was moved frequently and no water was put in it, the edge of the urn was worn smooth from being touched.
Qiu Shu and the other woman moved the urn away, but they couldn't open the opening. Du Mingxian searched around and finally found a protruding nail on the wall. She reached out and tried to pry it open, and the opening below opened.
Qiu Shu went in with a torch, and when he came out, he nodded to Du Mingxian, "Madam, it's working."
"They were quite cautious, designing the entrance at the top and connecting the two houses, which shows they were prepared in advance and left as soon as they received word of the danger. They were very decisive."
"Let's go, let's go look at other places."
This house is a two-courtyard house. Du Mingxian checked every part of it. There were boxes in some places, which shows that goods were sometimes stored here.
Those children who were taken away were probably put directly into boxes and taken out.
She didn't miss a single detail, and just as she finished checking and was about to leave, Ling Silang arrived. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that she was alright. "Finished checking?"
"Yes, the people here are very cautious. Your presence here has probably been tipped off by someone."
Ling Silang waved his hand dismissively, "Let them report. Right now, we're in the open while the enemy is in the dark. Even if we're careful, we'll be hesitant to act rashly. It's better to be open and aboveboard."
"That's true." Du Mingxian then asked, "Would you like to go in and take a look?"
"You've already checked everything, let's go straight back to the mansion."
"No, I'm a man now. You go back first, I'll go back later."
"it is good."
After changing her clothes outside, Du Mingxian told Qiu Shu and Chunfeng to go about their own business before returning to the mansion, where Ling Silang was already waiting for her.
"I never expected that those people would put the exit on top. If I hadn't had a flashlight, I would never have been able to find it no matter how I shone the torch."
"Yes, and the two houses have been connected, and this one is also very cleverly designed."
"The enemy is not simple."
Ling Silang chuckled, a storm brewing in his eyes. "The worst thing is if they take action and then hide and do nothing, making it impossible for us to find them."
"Hmm, what's next?"
"We've already sent people to investigate the house, and we'll have the results soon. Once the results are out, I'll go and meet the owner of this house."
Du Mingxian knew he was busy, "Then you go ahead and get busy. I'll go if you need me."
"Okay, you get some rest, I'll go get back to work."
"Ah."
Du Mingxian was really tired. She ate something and then fell into a deep sleep. When she woke up, she saw Xiangyang guarding the room.
"Is something wrong?"
It's alright, this girl won't stay in the room.
“That Aunt Liu from the Zhao family came to see you, but Madam is resting. I didn’t want her to come in and disturb you, so I had no choice but to come in and stay with Madam.”
Du Mingxian had a pretty good impression of this person. "What's she doing here?"
Since the banquet, she hasn't had much contact with these ladies, and she now presents herself as sickly, suffering from various ailments due to the change in environment, and has even declined the banquet invitations sent by the ladies.
"The master sent Xiang Guang to report that the house that the lady discovered today is a villa belonging to the Zhao family."