The little heroine investigates a mysterious case

Han Gu nodded carefully and then replied.

"Your Majesty, we've investigated everything. He's such a poor kid! He escaped from Jinyang City with his mother a year ago and traveled thousands of miles to Liyang to find his family!"

"Jinyang City? Isn't that part of Yue State's territory?"

Han Gu sighed, "This used to be the territory of the Xia Kingdom, but it was later occupied. Many people have fled the city in recent years. It seems that the situation is not good and they can't survive!"

Xiao Aiyue nodded: "What about his mother?"

"His mother died of illness halfway through the journey! That's when he started wandering around begging for a living. He's done farm work at home, and his palms are calloused. He handles all kinds of farm tools well and is a skilled hand. He also knows all kinds of crops. He's even shot birds with a slingshot in the mountains. This old servant has tried it, and every shot hits the target. He's also been carefully examined by the imperial physician. He's pale and thin, and it's true he hasn't had a full meal in a long time, but he's still strong. He's definitely a child who grew up in the countryside. He's nine years old this year. His original name was Gou Wa. He's been taught the rules of the palace. He's smart and quick to learn."

"Is that so... That's good, I feel relieved now. I'll follow Hua'er's wishes and register her as Shishu."

At this time, in Gu Li's bedroom, the palace maid was helping Gu Li change into a set of Confucian clothes. Gu Li looked at Qin Shao pacing back and forth in front of her, feeling helpless.

"Stop wandering around! Even if you made me dizzy, I wouldn't let you go with the delegation! Don't I know your little tricks? You told me you wanted to get married to Xiaoman, so I allowed you to stay in Beijing for a few more days to handle important matters! Now, Xiaoman doesn't want to marry you. Hurry and return to the northern border. Was the delegation the place where you pestered Xiaoman to propose?"

Qin Shao stood in front of Gu Li and asked tentatively, "How about I accompany Your Majesty to Qingfeng Courtyard tonight? I'm familiar with that place!"

"Come on, it's fine if you don't go. If you go, I might end up turning you away because of you!"

Gu Zhanghua spent the happiest and most unrestrained day of his life in Qingfengyuan.

Aunt Zhao carried him on a big horse. He ate three bowls of rice for dinner, and then he and Sister Xuan each sat in a big wooden tub to take a bath.

Butler Zhong helped him wash, and Yulan helped Sister Xuan wash. While washing, they started playing a water-splashing game, which made Butler Zhong and Yulan become drowned rats in the end, but he and Sister Xuan had a lot of fun!

Before going to bed, he and Sister Xuan listened to Aunt Zhao telling the story of tadpoles turning into frogs. He fell asleep while listening, and in his dream, he and Sister Xuan both turned into frogs.

When Gu Li came to Qingfengyuan in disguise, he was quietly taken to the bedroom by Zhao Xiaoman. Zhao Xiaoman lifted the bed curtain and saw Gu Zhanghua lying flat on his back obediently with his hands crossed on his stomach, while Zhao Xuan was lying on her side facing Gu Zhanghua, with one arm on Gu Zhanghua's face and one leg on Gu Zhanghua's stomach.

Zhao Xiaoman quickly reached out to pull Zhao Xuan's arm away.

Gu Li whispered, "It's okay, don't wake the child."

At this moment, the two suddenly heard Gu Zhanghua laugh out loud, but there was no sign of waking up.

Zhao Xiaoman couldn't help laughing: "This child can laugh out loud even in his dreams."

Gu Li waved to Zhao Xiaoman, and the two of them tiptoed out of the bedroom.

After leaving the bedroom, Gu Li said to Zhao Xiaoman, "Xiao Wu will sleep here with you tonight. Don't bother coming back and forth. I'll just tell his mother when I get back."

"Originally, I had no intention of sending Xiaowu back. He was sleeping so soundly, it would be so uncomfortable for him to wake him up! I just don't know if Xiao Aiyue can sleep tonight. Even if she does, she'll probably have a nightmare about my daughter Xuan'er bullying her son again!"

Gu Li said helplessly, "She loves her son so much, and I can't do anything about it. She spent six months in bed to take care of the baby, and after giving birth to Xiaowu, she was sick and listless. If you hadn't frequently visited the palace to comfort her, who knows when she would have recovered."

Zhao Xiaoman chuckled.

"I went to the palace every day for selfish reasons! My daughter Xuan'er had no milk to drink, and I was planning to find a wet nurse. Wow! I heard that Concubine Shu hired ten wet nurses at once so that her son would have enough milk! I thought, why not take advantage of them? I left Xuan'er in the care of the wet nurses whenever I had nothing to do. Xuan'er drank more milk than Xiaowu. The two children lay together and even linked their fingers. It was so adorable!"

"That's what I was saying. During that time, Concubine Shu became more cheerful day by day. You've killed two birds with one stone. Xuan'er is plump and white, and Concubine Shu's illness has also been cured!"

The two of them came into the yard chatting and laughing, and saw Qin Shao already drinking leisurely.

Gu Li whispered, "I thought you didn't like him."

"I don't bother to argue with him. Besides, Your Majesty, you came here incognito, so it would be safer to have him by your side to protect you."

The two sat down on the stone bench. Yulan hurriedly poured wine for them. Zhao Xiaoman raised her glass to toast Gu Li. Gu Li drank it all in one gulp, put down the wine bowl, and said to Zhao Xiaoman: "Xiaoman, I came to you today because I have something private to ask of you."

"Your Majesty, please speak."

"This diplomatic mission to Yue is a great opportunity for Ming'er to gain experience. You might want to take him on more trips and sightseeing trips along the way. This will allow me to observe the people's sentiments and customs during my southern tour. You should also explain to him the local government system, taxes, and corvée labor. In short, tell him everything you can think of and understand."

"I know the Crown Prince likes to show off his knowledge, but Your Majesty wants him to put it into practice!"

"Well said, that's exactly what I meant!"

Zhao Xiaoman raised her wine bowl and drank with Gu Li, saying, "I will definitely do my best!"

At this time, Qin Shao came over and sat next to Zhao Xiaoman, and said dejectedly: "How long has it been since you last drank with me?"

Zhao Xiaoman looked at Gu Li for help and said to Qin Shao, "Your Majesty is here, please be quiet."

"What did I say? I'm such a good boy! Yulan, come, fill your young lady's glass. We don't know when she'll return from her mission to Yue. Your Majesty and I will treat this evening as a farewell party for your young lady!"

When Gu Li saw the look Zhao Xiaoman gave him, he immediately held his forehead and pretended to be dizzy.

"Why do I suddenly feel sleepy and have a headache...Qin Shao, please quickly accompany me back to the palace!"

"That's just the beginning. If you drink a couple more bowls, your headache will go away!"

Zhao Xiaoman glared at Qin Shao and said, "Why are you so ignorant? His Majesty is not feeling well! Can't you see?"

Qin Shao then stood up and helped Gu Li up. Before leaving, he did not forget to drink up the wine in his bowl.

At the gate of Qingfeng Courtyard, Zhao Xiaoman said goodbye to Gu Li and Qin Shao.

Gu Li looked at the Qingfeng Courtyard in the night, which became increasingly quiet and peaceful in the evening breeze. He couldn't help but take a deep breath of fresh air and said with emotion, "I still feel comfortable coming to your place!"

Zhao Xiaoman chuckled: "Now I understand why His Majesty loves Consort Shu so much. It turns out that you two like to come to my place to relax!"

Qin Shao helped Gu Li onto the carriage, then turned around and said to Zhao Xiaoman, "Think about it again, and give me a definite answer when you return from Yue! I'm not in a hurry, I'll wait for you!"

Seeing the painful and pleading look in Qin Shao's eyes, Zhao Xiaoman had no choice but to nod.

After seeing off Gu Li and Qin Shao, Zhao Xiaoman drank alone in the courtyard, lost in thought. After a while, she stood up and said to Yulan, "I have something to go out for. You don't have to wait for me. Go to sleep if you're tired."