The little heroine investigates a mysterious case

Tian Yuan brought Liang Changping to the study, pointed at the God-Slaying Sword on the table, and asked Liang Changping, "Do you recognize it?"

Liang Changping picked up the God-Slaying Sword, looked at it carefully, then drew out the blade and stabbed a few times in the air. Then he looked at Tian Yuan in surprise and doubt.

"Could this be? The legendary God-killing Sword?"

"Good vision, General!"

Liang Changping held the God-Slaying Sword tightly in his hand as if it were a treasure, and made a few more sword moves.

"Your Highness, where did you get it?"

"It was sent by King Cheng of Xia Country."

As soon as Tian Yuan finished speaking, Liang Changping felt like he had picked up a hot potato. He quickly sheathed his sword and placed the God-Slaying Sword back on the table.

"This King Cheng has bad intentions, right?"

"King Cheng does have ill intentions towards you. He wants to exchange this God-Slaying Sword for the Evil-Slaying Knife in your hand."

"impossible!"

Tian Yuan sat behind the desk leisurely, stroking the God-Slaying Sword.

"Prince Cheng has good intentions for me. He needs the Evil-Slaying Blade to solve a very difficult bandit case, and I'm trying to do him a favor. General, think about it. I'm about to start a rebellion, and it's okay if you don't want to get involved. It's just that I'm worried that if I lose, you'll be able to escape unscathed. If I win, I'll still use you as I do now. General, you're taking all the benefits without taking any risks. Isn't that a bit unkind of you?"

Liang Changping was sweating profusely, but he still tried his best to defend himself.

"Your Highness, the Evil-Slaying Sword is more than just a precious sword!"

Tian Yuan interrupted Liang Changping.

"I know. You just want to use this sword to disgust Xia Guo. You and Hu Yidao are sworn enemies, but Hu Yidao has been dead for many years? You're still using his sword from back then to disgust others? Don't you think you're ridiculous?"

Liang Changping was speechless for a moment.

Tian Yuan picked up the God-Slaying Sword and placed it in Liang Changping's hand.

"General, you'd better hope that I can ascend the throne smoothly. I don't want your evil-slaying sword for nothing. I will give you a credit for your merit. When the time comes to reward you, you will definitely get a share."

Seeing that the prince had said so much, Liang Changping felt that it would be ungrateful for him not to agree. Moreover, the situation was uncertain and the prince still had an 80% chance of winning. For his future and the military power in his hands, a knife was indeed not that important.

Thinking of this, Liang Changping bowed to Tian Yuan.

"Old minister, I obey!"

The capital of the Xia State was Liyang.

Ever since he explained to his second brother the whole story of Jiaoyang Valley's surrender, Gu Zhanghua had been living a miserable life. Even though his second brother had promised to notify him immediately if there was any news about the Evil-Slaying Blade, Gu Zhanghua still felt uneasy.

From childhood to adulthood, he was the most spoiled prince in the eyes of the world. He was ignorant of the ways of the world and was weak and fragile. His father never entrusted him with important tasks, but arranged an idle position for him as a doctor in the Imperial College. He faced those books and regulations every day, and his eyes almost stared holes into the books.

Recruiting the people of Jiaoyang Valley can be said to be the biggest and most important thing Gu Zhanghua has done in his life. He not only wants the people of Jiaoyang Valley to live a good life, but he also wants his father to look at him with admiration, and let the world know that he is a wise king who is responsible, capable, and able to shoulder heavy responsibilities. He also wants to be Tian Shiliu's most solid backer and the most stable backing. Once the identity of Huang Huacai, the boss of Jiaoyang Valley, can no longer be concealed, he will have the confidence to support her and seek justice for her.

Gu Zhanghua went to Prince Cheng's Mansion several times a day, but he didn't see his second brother once in the past few days. Ma Zhenzhen told him that his second brother was temporarily assigned by his father to go out on official business, and did not say when he would be back.

Gu Zhanghua was irritated. What could be more important than the matter of Jiaoyang Valley? He ignored the matter of the Evil-Slaying Blade and focused on other matters? Even if it was the emperor's will, he couldn't just leave him alone without an explanation. Gu Zhanghua was a little angry with his second brother.

Immediately afterwards, the secretary brought Gu Zhanghua another piece of bad news.

At that time, Gu Zhanghua had just returned from Prince Cheng's Mansion. Before he had time to catch his breath, the secretary ran into the study.

"Your Highness, something bad has happened, something bad has happened!"

Gu Zhanghua had a slight headache and felt depressed.

"I'm already annoyed enough, can't you stop yelling and talk nicely?"

"I also want to talk things over. Isn't this a bit too hasty? Your Highness, many merchants have arrived in Liyang City in recent days. They all came from Fucheng. I heard they came in groups to testify and prove the charges against Yanwangzhai. In addition, they want to see with their own eyes whether the court handles cases openly and fairly. They are all waiting for the day when the trial will begin!"

Gu Zhanghua suddenly became angry and threw the tea bowl to the ground as soon as he picked it up.

"What's going on with Wang Daoding? I made an agreement with him long ago that we wouldn't disclose the news of Jiaoyang Valley being recruited by the imperial court unless it was absolutely necessary. Now it seems these merchants must have learned the inside story, which is why they're all heading to Liyang!"

The secretary analyzed, "Your Highness, you initially asked Magistrate Wang to delay the matter, but that wasn't a foolproof plan. Magistrate Wang could delay it for a while, but not forever. He must have run out of options. He couldn't suppress the merchants' emotions, and he couldn't arrest everyone who came to the yamen to protest, could he? This is how we divert the flow. With you and Prince Cheng in charge of Liyang City, the Jiaoyang Valley case will be resolved sooner or later."

Gu Zhanghua sat on the chair, holding his head, helpless.

"Wait, wait, you just kept me waiting! Waiting is the most torturous thing, okay? I don't know when my second brother will come back. The God-Slaying Sword has been delivered, but there's still no sign of the Evil-Slaying Knife!"

Gu Zhanghua has been having a hard time these days, and Zhao Xuan's situation is not much better.

The information Chunlan found out was more detailed than what Shishu found out.

At this time, Zhao Xuan was in the dormitory, looking at the two portraits placed side by side on the table with an extremely ugly expression.

One portrait depicts Zhao Xuan as the head of Jiaoyang Valley, with a rather slender appearance, a ponytail, and a tight-fitting short shirt. Her face is at least 80% similar to her current appearance. The other portrait is of Hao Xiong, with the same round baby face, which is also 50% similar to her current appearance.

Chunlan stood aside and whispered, "I bought this from a businessman who was crying out for justice. They say they have dozens more portraits like this. They're holding these two up in front of the Ministry of Justice every day, demanding they open a trial for the Yanwangzhai case immediately."

Chunlan said this and pointed at the portrait of Zhao Xuan.

"Those merchants identified the portrait as that of Huang Huacai, the head of Yanwangzhai."

Chunlan pointed at the one with Hao Xiong again.

"This painting is of Hao Xiong, the second-in-command of Yanwangzhai, nicknamed the Living King of Hell."

Zhao Xuan punched the table, and the surface cracked with a crack.

"These merchants who were robbed had never met Hao Xiong and me, and we never robbed them. How did they have these portraits? And how did they paint them so realistically and vividly?"

Chunlan sighed and said, "Of course it's the Tiandao League behind this. Hu Yiba met you when you participated in the martial arts competition. Hao Xiong has been in charge of all matters of Jiaoyang Valley, and he often goes down the mountain to buy things. It's inevitable that he might have missed something. The Tiandao League has a large number of people and is powerful, so it's not difficult for them to find out what Hao Xiong looks like."

Zhao Xuan grabbed the two portraits, rolled them up, and instructed Chunlan.

"Let's go to the Ministry of Justice Prison now!"