The little heroine investigates a mysterious case

The Xia Kingdom, Xiangzhou.

Yangquan Village, Taiping County.

There is a cemetery on the hillside behind the village.

For the villagers of Yangquan Village, this is a blessed land, where villagers who have died over the years are buried.

It was an early autumn evening. Xu Shangxian, the village schoolteacher, was still wearing his faded long gown and squatting in front of a newly built tombstone, lighting three sticks of incense in the incense burner.

The tombstone was very simple, just a single piece of stone with uneven edges.

The inscription above reads: Tomb of Zhao Hu.

The calligraphy is flowing and powerful, written by Xu Shangxian himself, who spent three days and nights carving it. Every stroke conveys his sorrow.

Zhao Hu was the first person to express great goodwill to him when he arrived in the unfamiliar Yangquan Village.

Zhao Hu was a simple and cheerful person. On his first day teaching the children, Zhao Hu brought lunch prepared by his wife and asked him not to mind and to do him the honor of trying it.

He still remembers it to this day; it was a steaming bowl of noodles with minced meat and eggplant sauce.

The people of Yangquan Village are not wealthy; they can only be said to have enough to eat and wear, and they can only have meat to eat during festivals.

Zhao Hu's wife not only put a lot of thought into making this bowl of noodles with diced meat, but also spent a lot of money. It's very likely that the family of three will have to eat porridge for three days in a row.

Zhao Hu told him that at the time.

“Mr. Xu, it’s not easy for a teacher to come to our village, so our children can finally read and write. This bowl of noodles is a gift from everyone in our village. Please don’t mind it. If you ever need anything from me, just let me know.”

Zhao Hu was sitting opposite him when he spoke to him.

But Zhao Hu didn't look at him. Instead, he stared at the bowl of noodles, subconsciously swallowed his saliva, and scratched his head embarrassedly.

So he realized that the simple-minded man in front of him hadn't tasted meat for many days either.

From that day on, he and Zhao Hu gradually became closer. He called Zhao Hu "Brother Hu", while Zhao Hu always called him "Mr. Xu".

But a year ago, Zhao Hu was drafted into the army.

Three months later, someone from the army came and told them that Zhao Hu had died in battle in Fengcheng. He was shot down from the city wall by the Vietnamese army and his body was never found.

The compensation is very generous.

The grave in front of me is empty; it's just a cenotaph.

Shi Tou, who enlisted at the same time as Zhao Hu, stayed in the army and is said to have made meritorious contributions and become a centurion.

Er Gou, who lost an arm, returned to the village after recovering and now helps with cleaning at the school.

He gave Er Gou eighty coins every month, and Er Gou refused any more than that. So he taught Er Gou to read and write in his spare time.

Xu Shangxian pulled his wandering thoughts back; the incense had already burned out.

He opened the food box, took out a bowl of minced meat and eggplant noodles, and placed it in front of the tombstone.

Although it's just a cenotaph, it can still leave Xu Shangxian with something to remember him by. He looked at the words on the tombstone and said softly.

"Brother Hu, don't worry, your wife and Xiaoshu are both very good. I'm thinking of letting Xiaoshu try next year to see if he can pass the imperial examination."

He knew that this was the thing Tiger Brother was most concerned about before he left.

"And this bowl of noodles, I know it's your favorite. Eat it, eat it while it's hot..."

A layer of mist welled up in Xu Shangxian's eyes. Through the mist, he seemed to see Zhao Hu sitting opposite him, swallowing hard, and greeting him warmly.

"Eat it, eat it while it's hot!"

"Mr. Xu! Mr. Xu..."

Xu Shangxian suddenly heard Er Gou's familiar voice behind him. He quickly lowered his head to wipe away his tears before standing up and turning around.

"Ergou, what's wrong...?"

The question that had been on his lips suddenly caught in his throat. Xu Shangxian looked at the person next to Er Gou in disbelief and rubbed his eyes blankly.

How could it be him?

Am I seeing things? Or have I mistaken someone for someone else?

But the person got closer and closer to him, and soon stood in front of him, smiling at him.

Xu Shangxian could never forget this face, the face that gave him a new life.

"Sincerity..."

"Brother Xu! Long time no see! Back then, we went to the capital together to take the imperial examination. If it weren't for you lending me two taels of silver, I almost wouldn't have had the money for the journey home!"

Gu Jiancheng grabbed Xu Shangxian's hand, laughed loudly, and at the same time gave Xu Shangxian a wink.

"Brother Gu, it's you!"

Xu Shangxian desperately suppressed his shock and excitement, and held Gu Jiancheng's hand tightly.

Er Gou watched with a chuckle.

"Mr. Xu, I've brought the person to you. You two can chat for a while. I'll head back now. Oh, by the way, Xiaoshu said his wife made dinner and wants us to go together later!"

"okay, I get it……"

As Er Gou's figure gradually disappeared into the distance, Xu Shangxian suppressed his excitement and asked in a hoarse voice.

"Your Highness Prince Cheng, what brings you here? I thought... I thought I'd never see you again in this lifetime..."

"Tian Shang is dead."

Xu Shangxian stared blankly at Gu Jiancheng, completely failing to understand the meaning of those four words Gu Jiancheng had uttered.

Is Tian Shang dead?

Tian Shang!! Is dead!!

Xu Shangxian's eyes widened suddenly. He knew that the news Gu Jiancheng brought to him when he suddenly appeared in front of him could not be a lie.

Having experienced life and death, Xu Shangxian had already accepted his new identity in the ignorant little mountain village. His past seemed like a distant memory, and when he heard that his greatest enemy in this life had died, he was not stirred by anything.

"How did he die?"

Gu Jiancheng saw several large rocks nearby and pulled Xu Shangxian to sit down on them.

"It's funny and absurd, really, he choked to death on peanuts."

Xu Shangxian didn't want to laugh, but he couldn't control himself and burst into laughter, but his hands on his knees gripped them tightly, and the veins on the back of his hands bulged.

He believed what Gu Jiancheng said: Tian Shang is dead, and everyone has to die eventually.

But Tian Shang's death was so bizarre and so ridiculous that, as he laughed, he looked at Zhao Hu's tombstone and tears streamed down his face.

"Die well!"

"So you are still you, you are Tian Yuan, the former crown prince of Yue, Tian Yuan."

Tian Yuan let his tears fall without wiping them away. He just stared at Gu Jiancheng, knowing that Gu Jiancheng still had something to say.

Gu Jiancheng patted Tian Yuan on the shoulder.

"The Yue Kingdom is in chaos right now. Tian Shang's son is not even a month old and has no chance of inheriting the throne. However, the group of military officers led by Liang Changping are urging the Empress to let the young crown prince succeed to the throne. Do you understand what this means?"

Tian Yuan frowned, then nodded.

"You mean you want me to return to Yue and seize the throne?"

Gu Jiancheng smiled.

"That depends on whether you're willing or not. I can't make that decision for you, but you are indeed the most natural successor, aren't you? There are still quite a few people in the Yue court who once supported you, right?"

After a pause, Gu Jiancheng smiled again.

"Moreover, the more chaotic the Yue Kingdom is, the better for the Xia Kingdom. However, my father still hopes that you can return to take charge of the overall situation. With you in power, at least the people of Xia and Yue can live peaceful lives for several decades."

"You and Emperor Xia trust me that much?"

"letter."

Gu Jiancheng said without hesitation.

"it is good."

Tian Yuan gripped Gu Jiancheng's hand tightly again, her eyes gleaming with determination and confidence.

one year later.

Guze Town, on the southern border of the Yue Kingdom.

At the foot of a hillside outside the town, twelve new tombstones have been erected in neat rows.

In front of one of the tombstones bearing Shen Xiaobao's name, Ayiduo stood quietly, holding Guo'er's hand.

A large bouquet of white magnolia flowers was placed in front of the tombstone.

Ayiduo's voice was gentle and soft as she spoke to Guo'er.

"Guo'er, remember this: Shen Xiaobao is your father. He is an upright man and a good soldier who protects our country. From now on, your name is Shen Guo."

The distant Xia Kingdom.

Prince Xian’s Mansion.

Zhao Xuan and Gu Zhanghua stood hand in hand in the courtyard, gazing towards the distant south.

Zhao Xuan asked Gu Zhanghua.

"When Tian Yuan ascends to the throne, everything will be set right, and won't Shen Xiaobao and the others too?"

"It will definitely happen! Just as you wish!"

(end)