"Are you certain nothing slipped through the checks?"
Upon returning to the City Guard's Inner Court, Lou Xiu immediately summoned his subordinate Tu Bicheng for questioning.
Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang were actually missing from the Vermilion Jade Pavilion. Neither the men stationed outside nor the informant inside had seen them leave. That alone was suspicious.
The two would not have secretly left the Vermilion Jade Pavilion just to find another hiding place in the city. In all likelihood, they had left the city altogether.
He had already ordered controls at all four city gates, making it unlikely those two fellows could have escaped undetected. Hence his question.
Tu Bicheng said, "Commissioner, our own men went to all four gates, and they all understand what's at stake. The City Guards might be careless, but with our own people watching, you can trust that they wouldn't be. Nothing should have slipped through."
Lou Xiu said, "I don't want 'should.' I want a definite answer. Did anything slip through or not? Go ask them immediately!"
"Yes." Tu Bicheng grumbled inwardly in reluctance, but outwardly accepted the order and hurried away.
He was not gone long. A little under an hour later, he hurried back, looking hesitant to speak. "Commissioner, I questioned them carefully. If we have to name something that went unchecked, there was one thing. Before dawn, a carriage left the city. It belonged to the City Lord's Manor. The gate guards had no authority to search it, so they could only let it pass."
Lou Xiu froze, then pressed him. "A carriage from the City Lord's Manor left before dawn? What for?"
Tu Bicheng smiled bitterly. "Commissioner, how could someone like me have the standing to ask about the City Lord's Manor's affairs?"
Lou Xiu fell silent. He wanted to