Female martial arts fanatics only love to fight, while men fight for their lives.

62

The matter is confusing and it is difficult to distinguish true from false.

But Lou Xiao realizes that there seem to be many mysteries involved, and the truth is hidden in the fog, looming and hard to find.

She had no experience in unraveling a case, so she had to wait and see the results from the Ministry of Justice and Youshan King Xiao Zhengdu.

Her Majesty took some time to review the memorials and stopped for the time being. She pulled Lou Xiao to her side and asked her to go and see Xiao Zhengze.

"Little Seventeen has been asking about you in the palace. He is also worried. You should go and see him. At the hour of Xu, the Ministry of Rites in the palace will have a fireworks feast. Don't forget it."

The injection he received caused a hidden danger, but the imperial physician failed to find the problem.

Xiao Zhengze was feeling restless in the palace and wanted her to be by his side to feel safe.

Lou Xiao nodded and left.

Her Majesty sat quietly for a moment, and then listened to servant Ling Yu say that Xiao Zhengdu came to report.

"Let him in."

After all, Lou Xiao might be a good fighter, but the trial still depends on Xiao Zhengdu.

"Tell me what you have found out. Were you listening when the Duke of Zhenguo was talking to her?"

Xiao Zhengdu replied, "Yes, Your Majesty, I am right behind the Duke of Zhenguo."

"Okay," Her Majesty's face was hard to read in the half-bright candlelight, "Then report it word for word, in detail."

────

Lou Xiao went to Xiao Zhengze's palace. Before she even stepped into the door, she was spotted by a sharp-eyed servant and quickly left to report the news.

Then he heard voices of "Ancestor" coming from the palace. Xiao Zhengze shook off the imperial physician and the servant who was chasing him with a cloak, and ran out wearing only his loose pajamas.

"You're here!!"

He had a big smile on his face, full of innocence and sincerity.

Lou Xiao seemed to see the hypocritical but innocent child on Yunwu Mountain again.

Waiting for her to bring back the sweet potatoes, I roasted them over the fire, and then ate them with my cheeks full like a hamster.

I still remember that when I asked him to eat a sweet potato at the beginning, he cried tears of grievance.

Now I'm so tall...

Lou Xiao grabbed his clothes and stuffed him into the room, saying, "Or let the imperial physician tie you up with a rope and tie you to the bed. Didn't I tell you not to move?"

Xiao Zhengze was very obedient to her strength and let her push him. He just turned back and smiled foolishly, "Look, I'm fine. It's okay to walk a few steps!"

Pushing him to sit on the bed, the servant hurriedly came to wrap Xiao Zhengze with clothes, but he looked indifferent.

"I heard that you and His Majesty went out to patrol the streets and encountered someone who was crying out for justice. What was the injustice? Tell me about it."

He wanted to know everything that happened around her, everyone she met, and it would be great if he could just hear her talk about it.

Lou Xiao saw him instruct the servants to set up a small table in front of the bed and bring up snacks one by one. He knew her hobbies very well.

So he asked the imperial physician about his health condition.

After coming to the conclusion that there was nothing unusual, she sat down on the stool beside the bed with peace of mind and ate and chatted with him very skillfully.

"A couple lost their child and couldn't find him. They complained to the local government that the child was incompetent." There were many servants in the palace, so Lou Xiao couldn't speak easily.

But Xiao Zhengze didn't really care about the injustice of ordinary people, he was just looking for an excuse to talk to her.

"They should be severely punished. If the government officials do not do their job, they will betray the trust of His Majesty!"

He then asked her with his eyes shining, "I heard there are many acrobatics and operas on the streets of the capital. Have you seen them? Are they fun? Which one do you think is good? I will invite it to the palace to have a look the next day!"

It was a pity that he was unable to accompany Her Majesty the Queen out of the palace due to health reasons and missed the lively scene.

Lou Xiao didn't pay attention to these things, so she couldn't tell the details.

Fortunately, Xiao Zhengze noticed it quickly and changed the subject, asking one after another whether there were many people on the street. I heard that the male and female prostitutes in the Hongzhao Tower had arranged a show, but it was good...

Lou Xiao was so distracted by his words that she couldn't think of anything else for a moment. She tried hard to recall the impressions she had from what she had seen during the day or from just a casual glance at them, in order to satisfy Xiao Zhengze's strong curiosity.

Time passed little by little, and before we knew it, it was almost the hour of Xu.

────

Outside the palace, the bustling streets of the capital.

Li Huaiqing took Ai Ying and moved slowly along the streets of the capital city with the flow of people.

Ever since Ai Ying saw Lou Xiao, he became even more reluctant to speak. He felt depressed and absent-minded.

Li Huaiqing waved a small folding fan with orchid and stone paintings. Under the illumination of countless lanterns on both sides of the street, there was a little more breath of life.

Just like the sentimental scholar next door, who is about to spend a night with his sweetheart.

He occasionally glanced at Ai Ying casually, and seeing that he was about to bump into the hawker's food stall, he finally asked,

"Are you tired, knight? Please accompany me, an idle person, to tour the capital. The capital has not been so lively for a long time. If I go home early, I will miss it."

He said tentatively, "This rare bustle doesn't seem to be in the eyes of the knights. It seems that the knights are knowledgeable and I am narrow-minded."

Ai Ying nimbly moved away, narrowly avoiding the food stall that she had nearly bumped into due to her distraction.

He regained his composure and looked around calmly. "The capital is luxurious, and I have never seen it before. It is not something that I cannot see, but I know very well that I am just a passer-by."

He is a man without a home, he can go wherever he wants, the worldly affairs attract his attention the most.

But now that he knew that Lou Xiao was in the same city as him, even though they had never met, he felt a little scared.

Afraid of meeting her, afraid of not recognizing her, and even more afraid of her recognizing him...

He didn't want her to see him in such a state, but he also wanted to see her again... He thought it would be fine if she could just take a glimpse of him from a distance.

As for the knife he was looking for -

"Mr. Li and Zhenguo Gong are in love. She has been staying at the Li residence for several days to practice calligraphy. I guess the sweetheart Mr. Li is talking about is her, right?"

I can only blame myself for not seizing the opportunity at that time and seeing her so close to me.

Li Huaiqing didn't say yes or no, "Is Knight Ai anxious? After the Wanshou Festival, I will find a chance to talk to her about the old knife. Maybe I can return it to her."

Ai Ying's lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but Li Huaiqing smiled and said, "Perhaps I can introduce Xixia Ai to meet the Duke of Zhenguo and ask her in person..."

"No... no need!" Ai Ying felt inexplicably ashamed when he thought about meeting her in such an embarrassed state, "How can a commoner like me meet her! I am just a commoner..."

Suddenly, a loud noise interrupted Ai Ying's words. The people around her pointed at the palace wall and shouted, "Fireworks! Fireworks!"

Li Huaiqing looked up along with the crowd and said something to the brilliant fireworks exploding in the dark sky, but Ai Ying could not hear clearly.

What a beautiful night with fireworks all night long.