The little heroine investigates a mysterious case

Zhao Xuan recalled carefully.

“The crossbow my father made for me is very precious, and I won’t use it unless it’s absolutely necessary.

Once when I was hunting in the mountains of Jiaoyang Valley, I shot a ferocious wild boar. After pulling out the arrow and wiping it clean, it was still usable.

Back then, Qin Shao and the Rongdi cavalry were fighting in the northern border. I was watching from the sidelines and shot a cavalryman who was attacking Qin Shao, but I couldn't get the arrow back."

Gu Zhanghua guessed.

"Could it be that this Rongdi cavalryman is seeking revenge against you?"

Zhao Xuan smiled disdainfully.

"A worthless soldier, I can pierce a dozen holes in his body with one sword. He wants to seek revenge on me? It will take forever!"

Gu Zhanghua was still a little worried.

"It's better to be careful. A small soldier might be able to cause a big storm."

Zhao Xuan looked at everyone in the carriage and waved her hand indifferently.

"This matter is not important, let's put it aside for now. Xiaoling, keep the drawings.

The main purpose of our trip to Yue this time is to find out from Hu Junfeng what clues he has discovered."

Zhao Xuan looked at the little medical fairy who had her head down, not knowing what she was thinking.

"Little Medical Fairy, they already know my true identity. I haven't had the chance to tell you yet that my real name is not Daylily."

The Little Medical Fairy suddenly looked up at Zhao Xuan.

"I know your name is Zhao Xuan, the only disciple of Zhao Xiaoman, the former head of the Wuwei Escort Agency."

Zhao Xuan immediately looked at Hao Xiong with a smile.

"Why do you tell Xiao Yixian everything? You like her, right?"

"He didn't tell me that."

The Little Medical Fairy shook her head slightly.

"I've known you for many years."

Everyone looked at Xiao Yixian in surprise, waiting for her to explain what had happened.

Xiao Yixian lowered her head again and remained silent.

Zhao Xuan held Xiao Yixian's hand.

"You know me? Many years ago? It's okay, you can say it if you want to, and don't say it if you don't want to.

You are my good sister and everyone's good partner, and we will not force you."

Xiao Yixian raised her head, her eyes were filled with tears, her lips were trembling, and even her body was shaking slightly.

She closed her eyes, as if making a difficult decision.

Tears fell down her cheeks. She opened her eyes again and looked at Zhao Xuan, her voice clear and steady.

"My name is Li Xing'er. Do you remember me? We met at the Mid-Autumn Festival many years ago."

"Li Xing'er? I remember! You're the sister who freed me from the woodshed!"

Zhao Xuan said this and hugged Xiao Yixiang, feeling both surprised and happy.

"I often think of you, wondering if you are doing well. I also think of the promise we made.

We agreed to meet at that alley entrance next year during the Mid-Autumn Festival to see the lanterns together, but I broke the promise."

Little Medical Fairy stroked Zhao Xuan's hair and suddenly burst into tears.

"I am still the daughter of Li Dali from Jigong Mountain..."

Everyone was shocked. Zhao Xuan left Xiao Yixian's arms and stared at her in a daze.

"Li Dali? Li Xing'er?"

Hao Xiong suddenly understood.

"I was wondering why you didn't want to come to Liyang with me. It turns out one of the skulls hanging on the city wall is your father!"

"shut up!"

Zhao Xuan glared at Hao Xiong fiercely and wiped away the tears of Xiao Yixian with pity.

"Sister, I believe you are a good person. Li Dali is Li Dali, and you are you. He has already paid the price of his life for what he did back then. Let's not talk about this."

The Little Medical Fairy shook her head.

"Some things have been buried in my heart for many years. Since everyone is going to Yue Kingdom to investigate the old case, I will tell you everything. Maybe it will be helpful in the investigation."

When Xiao Yixian said this, she took a deep breath and then slowly talked about the past events.

“My family has been from Fengcheng for generations, and we make a living by making lanterns, a skill passed down from generation to generation.

When I was five years old, the Xia Kingdom was still the Chen Dynasty. In the north, the Rongdi tribe frequently invaded, and in the south, the country repeatedly competed with the Yue Kingdom for the important town of Fengcheng.

The Chen Emperor ignored foreign threats, not only increasing taxes on the people, conscripting soldiers and grain, but also conscripting able-bodied men to repair the imperial mausoleum. Who would have the heart to buy lanterns?

As the Little Medical Fairy spoke, the tragic scenes of that year gradually emerged before her eyes.

The end of the Chen Dynasty.

On the streets of Fengcheng, a group of officers and soldiers were arresting people everywhere. They would arrest any young men they saw, and the older men could not escape the fate of being arrested either.

For a while, the streets were filled with cries for help and screams.

In front of a lantern shop.

Li Xing'er looked at the chaotic scene on the street and hugged her father's thigh in horror.

Li Dali leaned over, picked up Li Xing'er, pushed his son into the door, turned around and closed the door tightly.

Li Dali's wife was carrying a basket filled with pots, pans, and utensils, and was holding two large bundles in her hands. When she saw her husband closing the door and going back into the house, she hurriedly asked.

"The streets are in chaos. Are the soldiers rounding up men again?"

"We can't go out the front door. If we go out, Xiao Zhuzi and I will be caught and killed! Let's go out the back door quickly!"

Li Dali walked quickly towards the backyard. When he turned around and saw that his wife had not caught up with him, he turned back and took the two big bags from his wife's hands and threw them on the ground.

"Why are you carrying so many things? Run for your life!"

Li Dali grabbed his wife's hand and hurried to the backyard with his son and daughter.

Li Xing'er hugged her father's neck tightly, shocked and scared, and fell asleep in a short while.

When she woke up, it was already dark and she was in her mother's arms.

Li Xing'er saw their family of four walking in the wilderness.

Her father and her brother were walking in front, chopping the branches blocking the road with the knives they usually used to cut bamboo strips.

She shrank into her mother's arms.

"Mom, I'm scared. Where are we going?"

Mother kissed her on the cheek.

"We'll go wherever there's a way to make a living. We can't stay in Fengcheng any longer. Dad and Mom will take you and your brother to Liyang. Maybe there'll be food for us at the foot of the emperor."

They took a nap in the wild at night and set off again early in the morning.

Li Xing'er found that there were more and more people traveling with them, and everyone was dressed in rags.

I ate the same food as them, just the dry food I brought with me. Occasionally, when I passed by a small town, I would buy a few steamed buns if I had some copper coins.

By the time we were almost at Liyang, everyone was exhausted and had run out of money and food.

Li Dali looked at the refugees around him who were as miserable as they were, and then looked at the mountain range not far away.

Someone told Li Dali, "That's Jigong Mountain. What are you looking at it for?"

Li Dali looked at the person who asked the question, then looked at his wife and children who were ragged and emaciated, and clenched his fists tightly.

"I'm wondering what will happen if we go to Liyang? There's war everywhere. How will we survive? Will we beg for food?

We men really have no choice but to join the army and earn a salary, but what about our wives and children? "

There were cries and groans from the crowd.

Li Dali looked at everyone.

“If you all trust me, I’ll take you up the mountain to try your luck.

Let’s pick wild fruits and vegetables, and if you are strong enough, come hunting with me in the mountains!

If we can catch a pheasant or a rabbit, we can have a good meal and survive!"

Everyone was silent for a while, and soon someone echoed Li Dali.

"My whole family will follow you up the mountain. Living is better than waiting to die!"

Soon, several families agreed with Li Dali's idea.

Li Dali took his daughter from his wife's arms, and Li Xing'er looked up at his father.

"Daddy, why won't you die if you don't go up the mountain?"

Li Dali held his daughter's skinny body in his arms and stroked her dry and yellow hair that looked like weeds.

"Xing'er, don't be afraid. Daddy won't let you die. Our family will all live well."