The little heroine investigates a mysterious case

An absurd and short-lived palace coup drama soon came to an end.

Liang Changping rode his horse slowly and walked with Tian Shang on the palace road.

Liang Changping turned to look at Tian Shang, with admiration in his eyes, but more of fear.

"What a talent! Ninth Prince, oh no, I should call you His Royal Highness the Crown Prince now!

For more than ten years, you have been attached to Tian Yuan, supporting and helping him, and using his power to defeat many princes.

On the surface, you were helping Tian Yuan eliminate his enemies, but now it seems you are the one who ultimately benefits!"

Tian Shang didn't comment, just looked straight ahead and laughed.

"General Liang is no ordinary person either. He is an expert at saying one thing in public and another in private.

I remember that year when you were defeated miserably in the Battle of Fengcheng, your father was furious and wanted to chop off your head in court.

Tian Yuan earnestly persuaded the emperor to spare your life. Today, you led the troops to control his men. You have repaid the favor well!"

Tian Shang thought to himself, "Compared to me, you're even worse than me, and you're still mocking me here? Everyone is stepping on Tian Yuan to get to the top, and no one is any better than anyone else!"

Liang Changping rode on his horse in silence, and Tian Shang bowed to him perfunctorily.

"General Liang, I still have to go visit my mother, so let's say goodbye now."

After saying that, he flicked his sleeves and walked towards another road.

Liang Changping pulled the reins and looked at Tian Shang's back.

He anticipated that Tian Yuan would be no match for His Majesty and would kill himself, but he did not expect Tian Shang to ascend the throne of Crown Prince so quickly.

This is a very tricky person. Liang Changping needs to think carefully about how to get along with Tian Shang in the future.

In Mingxia Palace.

Nie Zhaoyi sat blankly on the couch, while dozens of palace maids and eunuchs stood around her quietly, with their heads down and not saying a word.

There were more than a dozen large wooden boxes stacked on the floor of the bedroom, all with their lids open. Inside, they were filled with silks, satins, jewelry, and exquisite jade and porcelain.

When Tian Shang walked into the bedroom, Nie Zhaoyi hurriedly stood up and walked to Tian Shang, grabbing Tian Shang's arm, with surprise and fear in her eyes.

"I was just about to send someone to look for you!"

Tian Shang smiled reassuringly at Nie Zhaoyi and turned to look at the palace maids and eunuchs.

"All of you go down first and take the boxes down to register. No one is needed here. This prince and my mother have something to say."

The palace maids and eunuchs responded in unison and carried the boxes out of the bedroom.

Tian Shang helped Nie Zhaoyi sit down on the couch.

"Did the Emperor give you a higher rank?"

Nie Zhaoyi held Tian Shang's hand tightly.

"His Majesty has just promoted me to Consort Liang and bestowed upon me so many jewels. My son, you have done His Majesty a great service, haven't you?"

Tian Shang laughed out loud.

"My father has already appointed me as the Crown Prince, so of course he must reward my mother who raised me with her own hands!

Mother, our hard times are over, from now on you just enjoy yourself!"

Nie Zhaoyi was ecstatic and she gently stroked Tian Shang's face.

"So that's how it is! Mother was trapped in the deep palace all day, unaware of anything. His Majesty suddenly issued an edict to reward her, and she was almost scared to death.

His Majesty's temper has always been changeable, fearing that he would give you a sweet date today and slap you tomorrow. My good child, it turns out that you are favored by His Majesty!

I know that all this has not come easy. You have come this far thanks to your own abilities. I can’t help you much, I can only pray every day that everything goes well for you.”

Nie Zhaoyi then remembered something and looked at Tian Shang with some concern.

"Now that you are the crown prince, how will His Majesty deal with Tian Yuan? Will he make a comeback? Will the prince be in danger in the future?"

Tian Shang gently held Nie Zhaoyi's hand and patted it soothingly.

"Don't worry, mother. Father has ordered Tian Yuan to be demoted to a commoner and exiled to Deadwood City. He is currently imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice.

My father is still reluctant to kill him, but I won't give him any chance to make a comeback!"

"My prince must be careful!"

Tian Shang suddenly smiled gently.

"Mother, have you thought of something good?"

"What good could there be? Mother feels that now is a world of difference compared to before. It couldn't be better!"

Tian Shang stood up and walked to the window. He looked at the blue sky and the white clouds.

Several wild geese formed a V-shape and flew by with loud cries.

He seemed to see his sister Tian Shiliu, as pure and beautiful as a cloud, standing on the top of the cloud and smiling at him.

Tian Shiliu's smile was like a spring breeze, gently blowing across Tian Shang's heart, instantly blowing away all the fatigue and haze in his heart.

He turned around and said to Nie Zhaoyi with certainty.

"Mother, I think Little Pomegranate will come back to see you soon!"

When Zhao Xuan and her group of five passed through Qingyang City, they decided to stop and rest for a night, and then continue their journey early the next morning. They should be able to reach Chuyang City by the evening.

They found an inn that looked clean and tidy, handed the carriage to the innkeeper, and went into the inn to check in.

Several men were gathered in front of the inn's counter, chatting animatedly with the innkeeper.

A man put his hands in his sleeves and shook his head with a look of regret.

"Crown Prince Tian Yuan is such a fool! He seemed quite capable in governing Yue State these years, so how could he be so foolish as to lead his troops to force the emperor to abdicate?

"You're forcing the emperor to abdicate, idiot! Even if I were the emperor, I wouldn't agree!"

The innkeeper moved the beads on the abacus, making crisp sounds.

"Who says it's not true? It's because the Ninth Prince Tian Shang knows the current situation and has always been on the same side with his father. When Tian Yuan was deposed and demoted to a commoner, he was immediately made the crown prince!"

The other man had a full beard and a voice as loud as a bell.

"After being the crown prince for over thirty years, now I'm doomed. I'll be exiled to Deadwood City and never come back!"

Zhao Xuan and the other four stood there in a daze. The news that Tian Yuan was crippled hit them like a bolt from the blue.

Everyone was stunned for a moment, feeling like they were having an extremely bizarre dream.

Gu Zhanghua walked up to the counter first and asked a few men.

"The Crown Prince is doing well, why would he force the emperor to abdicate?"

Several people looked Gu Zhanghua up and down, seeing that he was a stranger they had never seen before, and fearing that he would say something bad, they dispersed as if nothing had happened.

In order to make a deal, the innkeeper sneered and answered Gu Zhanghua's question perfunctorily.

"Why else? I have a brain cramp! Sir, do you want to stay overnight or stay the night?"

Gu Zhanghua said with a smile.

"There are five of us, three men and two women. Please give us two good rooms."

After completing the formalities, the five people hurriedly gathered in Zhao Xuan and Xiao Yixian's room. After closing the door, none of them could hold back any longer.

Zhao Xuan slammed her fist on the table.

"Is Tian Yuan crazy? Why did he suddenly think of forcing the emperor to abdicate? Is he forcing the emperor to abdicate or is he courting death? He's played himself into Deadwood City."

Hao Xiong helped Guan Liushui sit down at the table, and Guan Liushui could not hide his anxiety.

"I wonder if my cousin will be implicated in this matter?"

Hao Xiong looked at everyone blankly.

"Are we still going to Chuyang? Tian Yuan has been demoted to a commoner and will be exiled soon. He can't help at all!"

Gu Zhanghua had no idea what to do at this moment. He had not yet fully digested this explosive news.

"Tian Yuan has been deposed! How can we avenge the soldiers of Guze Town? Without Tian Yuan's support, how can we continue the investigation?"

Everyone was at a loss for what to do and remained silent.

Guan Liushui suddenly spoke.

“The Tiandao League has a branch in Chuyang City, which is officially a silk shop called Fanhuajin.

With such a big incident, my cousin will definitely leave me a message at the branch office. I think it’s best for us to contact him, find out the situation, and then act accordingly.”

Xiao Yixian squatted on the ground and checked the injury on Guan Liushui's leg. She looked up at everyone.

“I need to go to Chuyang to buy some rare medicinal herbs to make an ointment for Xiaoling to eliminate scars.

We'll rest tonight and set off early tomorrow morning. We should be able to reach Chuyang by evening."

Gu Zhanghua made the final decision.

"We will rush to Chuyang City tomorrow morning and find Hero Hu to ask him about the details of what happened and see if there is any room for maneuver!

I really can't accept this. Is there no one else in Yue State who can help us except Tian Yuan?"

Zhao Xuan held Gu Zhanghua's hand and spoke to everyone seriously.

"The situation in Yue State has changed dramatically! We must be careful when we go to Chuyang this time!

We know nothing about the Yue Emperor's newly appointed Crown Prince Tian Shang, but it seems he's quite extraordinary!