The little heroine investigates a mysterious case

But before the three could investigate the truth of Emperor Song's death, many civil and military officials, on the grounds that "a country cannot be without a ruler for a day," naturally supported Crown Prince Xiao Shouqing as the new emperor.

Moreover, according to the edict left by the late Emperor Xiao Zhensheng, the funeral should be kept simple. After seven days of mourning, Xiao Zhensheng's coffin was sent to the already built imperial mausoleum for burial.

The white banners were taken down and replaced with red silk to welcome the new emperor's ascension to the throne.

Everything is going smooth.

In the guest room of the Honglu Temple, Gu Zhanghua, Zhao Xuan, and Guan Liushui stared at each other.

The late Emperor Xiao Zhensheng had at least ten sons, so why didn't the tragic struggle for the throne among the nine princes occur? Were all the princes so indifferent?

The three outsiders didn't even get to see any excitement. They explored the entire new city, ate and drank whatever they wanted, and spent all their time in their hotel rooms, so bored they were practically growing mold.

"How about we submit a memorial today to request an audience? And talk to the new emperor about learning from their navy?"

Zhao Xuan, holding a teacup and covering her hands, suggested this to Gu Zhanghua.

Before Gu Zhanghua could respond, Guan Liushui, with his elbows propped on the table and his chin resting on his hand, began his rambling again.

"That old fox is really dead? How could he be dead? It's so unreal, like a dream!"

Zhao Xuan rolled her eyes at Guan Liushui.

"If I didn't know you were Guan Liushui, the young leader whom I personally brought out from the Heavenly Dao Alliance, I would have thought you were Emperor Song's beloved eldest son! You care about him even more than his own son!"

"Your intuition! You must trust my intuition!"

Guan Liushui changed his posture, pointed to his head with his finger supporting his chin, his eyes wide open, and began to make his guess.

"Do you think that old fox might have faked his death to escape, but is actually holding back a big move? He might stir up a storm on the entire Qiankun Continent?"

"This is the umpteenth time in the past few days that you've guessed what the Song Emperor would do if he were still alive."

Gu Zhanghua looked at his palm with a bored expression and slowly summarized.

“That’s right. Whether he’s really dead or faked it, the fact is that he’s dead and the current Song Emperor is our cousin.”

Zhao Xuan also spoke slowly.

She looked up at the roof, seemingly trying to find something interesting, but found nothing but beams and planks.

So she turned her head to watch the flowing water.

"Give your intuition a rest; I feel tired just looking at him."

"I don't want to dwell on this matter."

Guan Liushui scratched his head in frustration, making his hair bun a little messy, but in the end he still chose to compromise.

"Forget it, I don't want to think about it anymore. Let's get down to business."

Watching the flowing water sigh softly, he truly missed that old fox!

The next morning, after the court session, the three met the newly enthroned Emperor Xiao Shouqing in the imperial study.

Xiao Shouqing sat upright behind his desk, his face showing no trace of the joy of ruling the world, but rather a somewhat worried expression.

"I apologize for neglecting you all."

Xiao Shouqing beckoned the three of them to sit down, speaking to them very politely.

“I know why you’ve come. I’ll have General Gao make arrangements for you. You can continue to live in the Court of State Ceremonial or stay at the naval base, it’s all up to you.”

Gu Zhanghua stood up and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Xiao Shouqing.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

When Gu Zhanghua addressed him as "Your Majesty," Xiao Shouqing was momentarily stunned. He then glanced at his bright yellow sleeves and let out a barely perceptible sigh.

“Cousin, there’s no need for such formalities. After all, we are relatives and should help each other… Since you have come to our country to learn naval techniques, I would like to ask you for something in exchange.”

Zhao Xuan couldn't help but mutter to herself, "Here it comes! I knew there was no such thing as a free lunch!"

But this is fine, so neither side owes the other anything. I just don't know what the Song Emperor wants.

Gu Zhanghua smiled and asked Xiao Shouqing, "I've changed how you address me."

"What does my cousin want?"

"How about the blueprints for your country's crossbows? Not too much to ask, right?"

Gu Zhanghua turned and exchanged a glance with Zhao Xuan.

Fortunately, the two had discussed it with their father before coming. After all, the Song Dynasty's navy was a unique secret of the Song Dynasty and the foundation of its existence. There was no reason to learn from others for nothing; they had to pay some tuition fees.

The couple considered many possibilities.

Gold and silver jewelry, ancient zithers and famous paintings, even joking about watching flowing water—all these could be used to keep Emperor Song company in the palace until the emperor grew tired of his face.

Only when the emperor mentioned the blueprints for making crossbows did the Song emperor, who was full of wicked schemes, realize that he was not so easily fooled and would definitely seek the greatest benefit for the Song state.

In retrospect, although the Song emperor is dead, the newly enthroned emperor did indeed mention the blueprints.

I wonder if Emperor Song specifically instructed his son before his death that he must never let them learn naval tactics lightly?

Regarding the blueprints, Zhao Xuan specifically asked Huang Shuo about them, and Huang Shuo frankly told Zhao Xuan at the time.

“There are many talented people in the world, and there are also many skilled craftsmen who are good at making weapons. Now our crossbows are in use in large quantities. As long as these talented people get their hands on ready-made crossbows, it’s only a matter of time before they can make the exact same ones.”

It can be said that the blueprints for crossbow manufacturing are still very rare now, but before long, while they won't be commonplace, anyone with the will can certainly draw them, and then perhaps those with money will be able to buy them.

Therefore, this deal is very worthwhile for the Xia Kingdom.

Even if Zhao Xuan took it out now, she wouldn't feel any pain.

However, following his father's instructions, if something is obtained too easily, the Song emperor might go back on his word, or even take advantage of the situation and propose other conditions for exchange.

Zhao Xuan accurately received Gu Zhanghua's hint and stood up to bow to Xiao Shouqing.

"Your Majesty, the blueprints for the manufacture of crossbows are far too valuable to us. We must first inform my father. Moreover, the blueprints are extremely complex, and currently only my father is capable of drawing them. Would you please wait a few days?"

"That's only right. You'll be staying for at least a few months anyway... By the way, you know General Gao, right?"

Finally, it was Guan Liushui's turn to make his grand entrance, and he raised his hand toward the Song Emperor.

"Your Majesty, I am not very talented, but I am quite familiar with General Gao. I was the special envoy between the two countries, leading General Gao and his navy to support the Xia Kingdom."

"So good..."

At this moment, a young eunuch quietly entered the imperial study, stood beside Xiao Shouqing, and whispered something. Xiao Shouqing's eyes immediately swept over the three of them.

Gu Zhanghua and Zhao Xuan hadn't yet figured out what Xiao Shouqing's look meant, but Guan Liushui instantly understood based on her intuition.

When he was placed under house arrest in the palace by Emperor Xiao Zhensheng of the Song Dynasty, every time Xiao Zhensheng summoned him for an audience, before the grand performance began, he would glance at the ministers who were discussing state affairs with him.

This was clearly a declaration that she was already very impatient, hoping that the ministers would have some self-awareness and take their leave.

To put it bluntly, it's about using your eyes to drive people away.

Guan Liushui stepped forward and bowed to Xiao Shouqing.

"Your Majesty, if there is nothing else, shall we take our leave?"

"Alright, I will order General Gao to go to the Court of State Ceremonial tomorrow to meet with you. You can discuss the next steps yourselves."

Xiao Shouqing finally showed his smile, the only one he ever smiled at the three of them, and waved to them.

Guan Liushui pulled the still somewhat dazed couple along and quickly led them out of the Imperial Study.

Meanwhile, a group of brightly dressed dancers filed in, brushing past the three men.

Zhao Xuan's eyes widened suddenly, and she chuckled twice as if she had just realized something.

"Like father, like son! He seems to be having a lot of trouble being emperor!"

"That's why I think Emperor Song isn't dead. He might have faked his death and gone off to live a life of leisure! He's probably having a great time in some brothel right now!"

Guan Liushui brought up the topic of whether Emperor Song was dead or not again. After he finished speaking, he realized that Zhao Xuan and Gu Zhanghua had almost disappeared.