The little heroine investigates a mysterious case

When everyone returned to Ayiduo's house, Xiao Yixian immediately checked Guan Liushui's injuries and determined that it would take about three days for him to be able to walk again.

Everyone decided to settle their bills at the inn in the town first, and then stay at Ayiduo's house to watch the flowing water. Three days later, they would set off back to Gucheng.

When they have a carriage, it will be much more convenient for them to rush to Chuyang City, and Guan Liushui can also continue to recuperate in the carriage.

Hao Xiong and Ayiduo then went to Guze Town to settle the accommodation bill for the inn and brought Guoer back with them.

Everyone played with Guoer every day, eating, drinking and chatting. The haze in their hearts gradually dissipated, and Ayiduo smiled more often.

Three days passed quickly, Guan Liushui recovered well, and the wound had scabbed over.

That morning, while having breakfast, Zhao Xuan said goodbye to Ayiduo.

"Sister, we'll leave for Gucheng right after breakfast. You and Guo'er should take care of yourself. Maybe we'll meet again one day."

Aido looked at everyone reluctantly, then stood up and walked out of the kitchen.

"Just wait for me."

Soon Ayiduo came back with a small bundle. She opened the bundle and found five small jewelry boxes inside.

She handed the jewelry box to each of her five friends.

Everyone opened the jewelry box with confusion, their surprise beyond words.

In each jewelry box was an exquisite silver comb.

Guoer raised her head proudly.

"Mom said that my brother and sister are very kind and wanted to buy you silver combs as gifts. I helped choose these. The flowers carved on each silver comb are different!"

Aido touched Guoer's hair with a smile and said to everyone.

“You guys have been so helpful and I don’t know how to thank you enough.

The other day I heard the clerk in the jewelry store talking about the meaning of silver combs, so Uncle Hui and I ordered five as gifts for you.

I hope you five little friends will have a smooth life, healthy and happy!"

Everyone hurried to thank Aiduo and admired the silver comb lovingly.

Zhao Xuan winked at Xiao Yixian, who made an excuse to ask Guoer to accompany her to pack the medicine box and took Guoer away.

Zhao Xuan held the silver comb in her hand and looked at Ayiduo reluctantly.

"Sister, after we arrive in Gucheng, we will rush back to Chuyang as soon as possible and use the power in the hands of the prince to find out the truth!

Give me your address. If I can't come in person, I will write to you to let you know the details!"

The Prince's Mansion in Chuyang City.

Crown Prince Tian Yuan, Ninth Prince Tian Shang, and several men in plain clothes gathered in the secret room.

Tian Yuan looked at everyone seriously.

"The Emperor has been ill for over half a year. Now the military power is in our hands. After these days of planning, 80% of the people in the court are on our side!

To be frank, I am already half an emperor, just lacking the title!"

Tian Shang pondered for a moment and asked Prince Tian Yuan.

"Your Highness, what are your plans now? The imperial physician responsible for your father's illness has already given a clear answer.

Father's illness is the result of years of alcoholism and indulgence, and has already damaged his foundation, but he should be able to hold out for another three to five years, unless we use some drastic measures."

Tian Yuan looked up to the sky and sighed, his voice sad.

"I don't want to be charged with patricide and regicide, but I don't want to wait any longer!

I have been waiting for more than 20 years. It is not so much waiting as it is that I have been exhausted and walking on thin ice in the vortex of power struggle!

Sometimes I even thought about not being the prince. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be a leisurely young man and indulge in the beauty of nature?

The State of Yue was so large that there were many scenic spots and historical sites worth visiting.

For more than thirty years, I have hardly ever left Chuyang City, wasting my youth staying in the tiny Prince's Mansion all day long.

I have decided to force the emperor to abdicate in three days. I will force my father to abdicate to me. I want to be my own master, the master of the Kingdom of Yue!"

A minister asked Tian Yuan.

"What's Liang Changping's attitude? Is he still neutral and not helping anyone?"

Tian Yuan nodded.

"He won't help me seize the throne, but he won't say anything bad about me in front of my father either. Once I ascend the throne, he will naturally be at my service."

Another minister slapped his thigh hard.

"Alright! Force the emperor to abdicate at noon three days from now! These frustrating days must be over! If this continues, what hope is there for the Kingdom of Yue?"

Your Highness, as long as you ascend the throne, we will swear allegiance to you until death!"

Others also expressed their loyalty to Tian Yuan.

Tian Shang stood up and bowed respectfully to Tian Yuan.

"I congratulate Your Highness in advance on your immediate success!"

Tian Yuan laughed out loud.

"When the time comes, you will all have made invaluable contributions, and I will reward you accordingly!"

Around midnight that night, on the dark road to the Yue Kingdom's palace.

A guard led the way holding a dim lantern, and behind him was a man wearing a black cloak with a cape on his head.

The two men hurried towards the bedroom of Emperor Tian Yi of Yue, one in front and one behind.

The person in the cloak kept his head down, his face was blurry, and his figure looked like a man.

The door of the bedroom opened silently to both sides, and the man followed the guards into the bedroom.

Emperor Tian Yi of Yue leaned lazily on the beauty couch, his face was sallow and looked a little sick, but he seemed to be in good spirits.

Two palace maids were kneeling on the ground massaging his legs.

Tian Yi looked up at the man.

"You came."

The man fell to his knees and bowed to Tian Yi.

"Your Majesty, I am here."

Tian Yi slowly stood up and paced back and forth in front of the man with his hands behind his back.

"You are indeed promising! You are much better than your brothers and sisters! You are so ruthless in enduring humiliation and bearing heavy burdens!

But I like it, it has a bit of my former glory!"

The man was still lying prone, his forehead pressed against the floor, his voice extremely respectful.

"Your Majesty, your praise is unbelievable. I cannot bear it!"

Tian Yi chuckled.

"Tell me, when does the prince plan to take action?"

"At noon three days later."

Tian Yi sneered.

"Is he planning to poison me or force me to abdicate and kill me?"

The man's voice was deep and clear.

"Neither. The Crown Prince is planning to force the Emperor to abdicate, but I'm worried that he might suddenly change his mind and break into the palace to kill my father!

I, your son, am willing to pretend to be your father and stay in the bedroom in three days, just in case!"

Tian Yi looked at the man curiously.

"Aren't you afraid that the prince will see you and stab you to death? You are his most loyal lackey, yet you were the first to deliver the fatal blow."

The man kowtowed to Tian Yi again.

"I, your son, have sworn to follow my father till death, and I have never had second thoughts. Serving under the Crown Prince is merely a chance to gain experience.

If the Crown Prince has no intention of treason and the matter involves the safety of my father, I will never report it.

I believe that my father will do everything he can to save my life!

Even if I die for my father, I will have no regrets!"

Tian Yi laughed heartily, bent over to help the man up, and looked at the man's face with relief.

"You are very smart, you know how to act and you are flexible. You are not afraid of death!"

A gust of night wind blew in from the window, and the man's face flickered in the light of the flickering candlelight.

He turned out to be the ninth prince Tian Shang.

Tian Shang did not feel a bit happy about his father's praise. He was never afraid of death because he had no way to survive.

Like his sister Tian Shiliu, he came from a poor family. His mother had fallen out of favor, and no one cared about him as a prince.

Ever since he was old enough to understand, he has been risking his life to survive time and time again. He has long been accustomed to being in danger of death and then being reborn.

Now he has finally won the best chance in his life, and he no longer cares about life or death.

If he wins the bet, he will rise to the top overnight. If he loses, the worst that can happen is that he will exchange his life for another's. In addition, his father will sympathize with his filial piety and fight for better treatment for his sister and mother.

Tian Shang looked at Tian Yi with admiration.

"Father, if I fail to escape my fate and am killed by the Crown Prince, I beg Your Majesty to treat my mother well and, if possible, send someone to Xia Country to visit my younger sister, Tian Shiliu, and support her."

Tian Yi patted Tian Shang on the shoulder.

"Don't worry, I won't treat you unfairly no matter what! You can go back first, and report to me anytime if anything happens!"

Tian Shang bowed to Tian Yi.

"Yes, Father!"

The imperial guards took Tian Shang out of the bedroom.

Tian Shang walked silently on the palace road. He looked at the dark night around him. The palaces looked like crawling monsters.

If the prince wants to survive in the Yue royal family surrounded by wolves, he is not ruthless enough!

All he does all day is complain about how other princes are giving him a hard time. Compared to himself, the prince's life is still too comfortable. He really doesn't know how to appreciate what he has.

At the last critical moment, she still wanted to use the doctrine of the mean. She wanted the throne and fame at the same time. It's ridiculous to think about it.

Born in the royal family of Yue State, people only look at the results and not the process.

The prince can either continue to wait until his father passes away and inherit the throne naturally, or force the emperor to abdicate and kill his father in one fell swoop!

If that were the case, he might not have secretly reported it to his father. He really did not have a good impression of the prince.

There is no such thing as the best of both worlds in his dictionary, only the winner takes all!