The little heroine investigates a mysterious case

Li Cuihua walked over to Ma Baoguo, tugged at his sleeve, and complained, "Why are you in such a hurry? General Qin knows his limits! Ma Yi and Ma Er are already sixteen, why not just send them to the military camp to gain some experience? The military camp provides food and accommodation, and they can also receive military pay, which will save a lot of money!"

After a while, the five boys were exhausted and out of breath. Ma Baoguo hurriedly called a halt and invited Qin Shao to have dinner together.

Qin Shao didn't hesitate. He picked up a steamed bun, took a bite, and said to Ma Baoguo, "Being in your house, I really feel like I'm in the military camp! It's so friendly!"

Li Cuihua immediately expressed her opinion: "If you like Ma Yi and Ma Er, take them both back. I have no objection!"

Ma Baoguo looked at Li Cuihua and asked softly, "Can I have any objection?"

But Ma Yi and Ma Er were already cheering excitedly.

Ma Baoguo felt a little disappointed: "Why isn't there anyone who follows me and dedicates himself to landscapes, calligraphy, painting, and music?"

"Ma Baoguo, what do you mean by this?!"

Qin Shao quickly waved his hand to ask the couple to be quiet.

"The children's military service needs to be carefully arranged. There's no need to rush. Master Ma, I'm here first to return the zither, and second to thank you. You fought tooth and nail to persuade His Majesty to strip me of my military power. Well done!"

"What do you mean? General, aren't you angry?"

"I'd love to! Leading troops in battle is no problem for me, and guarding the border is also a pleasure, but all those things in the Ministry of War are driving me crazy. I've already mentioned this to His Majesty, but he won't let me resign from my post as Minister of War. I don't even want the title of General Protector of the Nation, but it's useless for me to say it alone. Fortunately, you, Lord Ma, dared to speak up!"

Ma Baoguo coughed to hide his embarrassment: "I am also considering the country..."

"That's right! I'll be in Beijing for a while this time, so hurry up and help me get this done. I'll treat you to a feast at the Moon Tower! The whole family can go, order whatever you want, and pick the most expensive ones!"

Li Cuihua cheered first, nudging Ma Baoguo with her elbow: "Did you hear that? What a great thing! You're the best at it! Work harder! My family has lived in Liyang for so many years, and we still don't know how many floors the Moon Landing Building has!"

Ma Baoguo had a bitter face: "You only know how to ruin my plans!"

Qin Shao looked at the interesting couple in front of him and laughed out loud.

It wasn't until dusk, when it was time to give Zhao Xuan a bath, that Zhao Xiaoman saw Yulan. She watched Yulan busy putting Zhao Xuan in pajamas and putting her on the bed. Then she leaned close to Yulan and said with a smile, "I haven't seen you all day. Are you shy?"

"I'm not……"

Zhao Xiaoman patiently and persuadingly.

"That's good! Huang Shuo is such a great man! He's a martial arts expert with a calm personality, handsome, and in great shape, and he comes from a prestigious family! I'll buy you another house when the time comes, and you can pick whatever you like, no matter how expensive it is! I'll also prepare a large dowry for you, enough to ensure that even if you do nothing, you can still live a good life with plenty of food and drink!"

Zhao Xuan seemed to understand and asked, "Master, Uncle Huang is so nice, why don't you marry him?"

Zhao Xiaoman picked up Zhao Xuan and spun her around, saying with a smile, "Uncle Huang deserves your Aunt Lan because he's so good. Xuan'er, do you understand?"

Yulan said hurriedly: "Miss, I don't want to get married, you, you haven't married yet..."

Zhao Xiaoman's expression was a little gloomy, but she immediately returned to normal. She combed the messy hair around Yulan's ears and said softly, "I'm relieved that you have a good home!"

"Miss, I really..."

Zhao Xiaoman changed the subject and asked, "Why aren't you wearing the jade hairpin I gave you? Don't you like it?"

"I just like it too much, so I can't bear to let it go."

At this time, I heard Butler Zhong whisper outside the door: "Miss, General Qin is here and is waiting in the side hall."

"Okay, got it. I'll be right there."

Yulan asked, "Shall I warm up a pot of wine? And make some side dishes?"

Zhao Xiaoman nodded, and Yulan ran out like the wind.

Zhao Xuan was already so sleepy that she couldn't open her eyes, but she stood up and hugged Zhao Xiaoman tightly.

Zhao Xiaoman coaxed, "Xuan'er, be good. Master will go talk to General Qin for a few words and then come back to sleep with you, okay?"

"And sing..."

"Okay, I'll sing it for you when Master comes back!"

Zhao Xuan then reluctantly let go: "Come back soon..."

Zhao Xiaoman kissed Zhao Xuan on the cheek: "Sure."

Qin Shao was dressed in a casual blue shirt today, with a jade flute on his waist, which made him look even more handsome. At this moment, he was sitting in the side hall waiting anxiously. Just as he was about to get up and go to the inner courtyard to look for her, he saw Zhao Xiaoman walk in.

Qin Shao immediately went forward and reached out to hold Zhao Xiaoman's hand, but Zhao Xiaoman dodged lightly and sat on the chair.

Qin Shao smiled and sat next to Zhao Xiaoman.

"Is it Xuan'er who's pestering you again? Why didn't this little girl come with you?"

"Sleep."

"That makes me feel relieved. The first time I saw her, she was only a little over a year old. She was like a dog-skin plaster stuck on your body, impossible to tear off!"

"What did you say?"

"Yes, let's get down to business! Why is Yulan so tactless today? Where are the good wine and food?"

"Is this what you were talking about?"

Seeing that Zhao Xiaoman was a little impatient, Qin Shao had to get to the point: "Okay, it's not too late to drink after we finish talking about business. Let's just celebrate! Xiaoman, I have good news to tell you. I have negotiated with my wife on my trip back to Beijing. She finally agreed to let me marry you as my principal wife. After so many years, she has finally figured it out. I have always been chaste and treated her with respect. I have never thought of taking a concubine, let alone divorced you when we were in love. This is finally a perfect ending. Xiaoman, you refused to be a concubine. What do you think of this result?"

Zhao Xiaoman looked at Qin Shao's expectant eyes, and her heart softened, but she still spoke her mind: "Qin Shao, it's really all in the past. I think it's good like this now. We are still friends."

Qin Shao couldn't control himself and held Zhao Xiaoman's hand tightly. "You knew that my marriage was arranged by my parents and the matchmaker, so how could I have known that I would meet you so late?!"

"Because I know this, I don't want to embarrass anyone, especially myself," Zhao Xiaoman pulled her hand back. "It's all my fault for being so stubborn and willful back then. I've decided to never marry and just live with my Xuan'er..."

Qin Shao stood up and pulled Zhao Xiaoman into his arms: "I don't believe you don't have me in your heart! What do you want me to do in order to marry me?! At worst, I'll just divorce her, is that okay?!"

Zhao Xiaoman covered Qin Shao's mouth with her hand: "If you really do that, I will look down on you!"

At this moment, Zhao Xuan's crying voice came from far away and soon appeared in front of the two of them. She reached out and hugged Zhao Xiaoman's thighs, crying breathlessly.

Zhao Xiaoman hurriedly pushed Qin Shao away, hugged Zhao Xuan into her arms, and coaxed her: "Xuan'er, be good, don't cry..."

Zhao Xuan hugged Zhao Xiaoman's neck tightly, put her little face against Zhao Xiaoman's face, and choked with sobs: "I, I fell asleep, slept for a while, Master, Master hasn't come back yet..."

Qin Shao's face was filled with rage. "This little girl is here just to mess things up! I just said a few words to your master, and you're still tired of being with her every day? She's such a dog-skin plaster!"

Zhao Xiaoman immediately glared at Qin Shao: "Why are you arguing with a child? Look at what you can do! I'm going to sleep with Xuan'er. You should go home early too. I will never agree to what you said!"

Zhao Xiaoman hurried away holding Zhao Xuan who was crying loudly. Qin Shao wanted to stop her but failed. He sat there dejectedly for a while before getting up and leaving. As he reached the door, he almost bumped into Yulan who came in excitedly with wine and food, and hurriedly took a step back.

Seeing Qin Shao's sad face, Yulan couldn't help but ask, "General, did you... have a quarrel with our young lady?"

Qin Shao picked up the wine jug that Yulan brought, uncorked it, drank it all in one gulp, wiped his mouth, and shouted, "Go get some wine!"

In the bedroom, Zhao Xiaoman sat by the bed, gently patting Zhao Xuan's body and humming, but her mind went back to Xiangzhou City in the sixth year of the Yuanzhen Period of the Chen Kingdom, the day she first met Qin Shao...