The little heroine investigates a mysterious case

Gu Zhanghua had just served porridge to an old man and handed him a steamed bun when he saw a young girl behind the old man holding an empty bowl. She was dressed in tattered clothes and her face was dirty so her appearance could not be seen clearly. Only her eyes were bright and clear. She was staring at him blankly, tears welling up in her eyes.

He sighed inwardly and felt a little distressed.

Gu Zhanghua leaned over and asked softly, "Miss, are you hungry? Pass me the bowl."

Zhao Xuan finally saw her Xiao Wu so close, and she looked at Gu Zhanghua's eyes.

Ten years later, they finally met. When she heard that the fifth prince's condition had finally improved and healed, her heart was filled with deep longing for Xiao Wu. Her master was dead, her grandfather was also dead, and her former home was gone. Apart from Huang Shuo, she could rely on him. In this world, Xiao Wu was not only her childhood friend, but also her only relative.

Zhao Xuan looked up at Gu Zhanghua and thought silently, he was still the high and mighty Fifth Prince of Xia State, but she was no longer the beloved young lady of Wuwei Escort Agency, nor was she the respected granddaughter of the Minister of Revenue. She was a fugitive wanted by Xia State for ten years!

Only then did Zhao Xuan understand that since the evening attack on the diplomatic mission ten years ago, she was no longer his Sister Xuan, and he was no longer her Xiaowu.

Hao Xiong, who was following behind Zhao Xuan, saw that Zhao Xuan was staring at the Fifth Prince, so he hurriedly and quietly pulled Zhao Xuan's clothes with his hand.

"Sister, the Fifth Prince is quite handsome, but don't act like a crazy fan. Eat more!"

Seeing that Zhao Xuan didn't say anything, Gu Zhanghua guessed.

"Miss, are you too hungry to have any strength? Can I ask the guards to take you to the side to rest? Have some steamed buns first."

Gu Zhanghua said this and picked up a steamed bun and stuffed it into Zhao Xuan's hand. Only then did Zhao Xuan come back to her senses.

She lowered her head and took a bite of the steamed bun. It was delicious, the best steamed bun she had eaten in the past ten years. Zhao Xuan looked at Gu Zhanghua with a complicated expression and said softly, "Thank you, Your Highness..."

"You're welcome. I just did what I had to do."

At this moment, Hao Xiong suddenly rushed to Gu Zhanghua, and Xiao Ling followed him, and they both suddenly burst into tears.

Hao Xiong looked at Gu Zhanghua pitifully.

"Your Highness! We are all so grateful for your porridge distribution... but... but I have an eighty-year-old mother at home, and I can't come here to ask Your Highness for a bowl of porridge... and... and we have two babies who are still in swaddling clothes... Please give us some rice, just a little bit, so we can go home and make porridge for them, so they won't starve to death! Your Highness!"

Xiao Ling also cried out, "It's the same at home... My mother, father, and sister are all seriously ill in bed... We can't come in person. A bowl of porridge we bring home isn't enough for the whole family. Please, Your Highness, have mercy on us and give us some rice!"

Zhao Xuan secretly complained that the acting skills of these two people were really better than each other, but she was more worried that if Gu Zhanghua felt pity and gave the opportunity to send rice, the consequences would be disastrous if other refugees followed suit.

At this time, Gu Zhanghua said, "I know your difficulties..."

Sure enough, the refugees in the queue rushed forward and told their sufferings. Zhao Xuan felt a little anxious for Gu Zhanghua and really wanted to kick Hao Xiong to the ground.

Gu Zhanghua waved gently to everyone.

"I'll try my best to have my subordinates make the porridge thicker these days, but even if I share some rice with everyone, it can only solve the problem temporarily. Besides, I really need to take care of the majority of the people, so I'm sorry that I can't meet the requests of some individuals."

Just as Hao Xiong was about to cry again, Zhao Xuan walked over and picked him up.

"That's enough! Don't embarrass His Highness!"

At this time, Gu Zhanghua continued, "His Royal Highness Prince Cheng is urgently mobilizing food from nearby counties and prefectures for disaster relief. Everyone will be able to get their share of rice and grain after these two days. The government office is also working hard to build simple houses. By then, everyone will have enough food and clothing. Let's wait a little longer!"

At this point, Gu Zhanghua turned around and shouted, "Shishu! Bring me my lunch today! And yours too!"

The secretary was stunned for a moment, then quickly ran into the back room and brought in two bowls of white rice with a few pickles on top.

Gu Zhanghua took the bowl and handed one to Hao Xiong and Xiao Ling respectively.

"Take it back and feed it to your family first..."

"This……"

"Take it!"

Gu Zhanghua put the bowls of rice in the hands of the two people, stood up and walked towards the refugees in front of the porridge shed.

"From now on, my guards and I, including the officials helping out at the porridge shed, will eat porridge together with everyone three times a day. Our daily rations will be provided to those who are truly in need. Although we can't take care of every household, we will do our best!"

The people surrounding the porridge stall cheered, and everyone lined up in order again, praising the Fifth Prince for being such a nice person.

Zhao Xuan felt very proud when she heard this, but she also began to worry that Gu Zhanghua would not be able to bear drinking porridge every day, so she turned around and glared at Hao Xiong.

Hao Xiong looked at the bowl in his hand and said awkwardly, "Boss, Aunt Six, Uncle Wu, and Little Stone are really too sick to get out of bed..."

"I know, let's try to be self-reliant and earn money to support our family!"

Zhao Xuan was about to leave when she heard Gu Zhanghua's voice behind her: "Miss, please stay."

Zhao Xuan was shocked. Did Gu Zhanghua recognize her? If so, what should she do?

Should she admit she was Zhao Xuan, or deny her identity? How would she explain to Xiaowu why she had been hiding in Heyan Village for so many years? If she told Xiaowu that there was another murderer behind the attack on the diplomatic mission, would he believe her?

Just as Zhao Xuan was hesitating whether to stop, she heard Gu Zhanghua ask a question from behind.

"I just want to ask if the girl has a place to stay?"

Zhao Xuan felt very sad when she heard this. As expected, they became strangers.

"My brothers and I are refugees who have drifted to Jiaoyang Valley. This thatched hut can temporarily shelter us from the wind and rain. Thank you for your concern, Your Highness."

"Then... take care, girl."

Gu Zhanghua silently watched Zhao Xuan's figure disappear into the distance.

The secretary was worried.

"Your Highness, she definitely can't be your Sister Xuan. You can't always suspect it's Sister Xuan every time you see a girl of similar age. It makes me embarrassed."

"They say girls change a lot when they grow up. Maybe Sister Xuan has changed so much that I wouldn't even recognize her if I saw her again. I don't know where she and Aunt Zhao have been all these years. How have they been living? But I can feel that she's still alive. This girl just now is different this time. How should I put it? She always gives me a sense of familiarity."

"Your Highness, I see that you feel close to everyone you meet. You're almost like a living Bodhisattva just by giving out porridge."

"Don't talk nonsense. The Empress is the real living Bodhisattva. Ever since the Crown Prince passed away, the Empress has been meditating and worshipping Buddha, saving her own food and drink expenses to benefit the people. I am far inferior to the Empress."

"Yes, Your Highness is right to blame."

Gu Zhanghua murmured, "It's really strange. Why do I feel like I've met that girl before?"