The little heroine investigates a mysterious case

After hearing Zhao Xuan's speculation, Guo Da pondered for a moment.

"Xuan'er..."

Guo Da immediately realized that this name would make Zhao Xuan sad, and immediately changed his words: "Oh, right, I should call you Cai Cai..."

Zhao Xuan said sadly, "Uncle Guo, you can call me Xuan'er in private. It's okay. No matter how sad or upset I am... Master will not come back to life... I know..."

Guo Da sighed. "I'll call you Cai Cai. What you just said is possible. Back then, the imperial court was in a state of panic because of the attack on the diplomatic corps. After the case was closed, it was announced to the whole country. I still remember the general content..."

Guo Da recalled, "The leader of the Jigong Mountain bandits was named Li Dali. He had a feud with Xiaoman a year before the incident. Xiaoman had killed Li Dali's son while escorting an convoy. Li Dali bore a grudge and took advantage of Xiaoman's diplomatic mission to the Kingdom of Yue to seek revenge. However, he accidentally killed the crown prince. His crime should be executed along with his entire clan and his head displayed in public. If this is true, then Li Dali and his gang are definitely not innocent!"

Huang Shuo pondered.

"If it's not the Xia army, then it's more likely the Yue army. Yue's smelting technology is far superior to Xia's, and they are rich in copper and iron ore. Moreover, Xia and Yue have always been at odds. I believe the Yue army is more likely to be equipped with such sophisticated weapons."

Guo Da said, "There's another strange thing. General Qin Shao was stripped of his military power and his position as Minister of War shortly after the incident and demoted to the garrison commander of Fengcheng. He's currently living in the General's Mansion in the east of the city. Could this also be related to the Xia Army's possible involvement, but because it involves important military and political matters, it's being kept secret? Was he simply demoted and sent out to serve as a small garrison commander?"

Huang Shuo asked Guo Da, "Are you saying that Xia Jun might be involved as well?"

Guo Da shook his head: "We have too few clues at hand right now, so it's hard to say."

Huang Shuo slapped his forehead twice and stood up.

"That sounds like a headache. It's too complicated. I'm going to lie down for a while. You guys continue."

Huang Shuo said as he walked to the chaise longue beside him and lay down to rest.

Zhao Xuan asked Guo Da in surprise: "So Qin Shao is in Fengcheng?"

"That's not all. Guess who the general's wife is now?"

"How do I know this?"

"That's your master's personal maid, Yulan!"

"Auntie Lan?"

Zhao Xuan felt mixed feelings of sadness and joy. She remembered that her grandfather was falsely accused by Qin Shao of smuggling and harming the country, and he committed suicide outside the mansion to prove his innocence, with blood splattering on the spot. She hated Qin Shao to the core, but now Aunt Lan, who had taken such good care of her, had become the general's wife, and she was a little happy for Aunt Lan.

"Qin Shao killed my grandfather, and I'll have to settle this account with him sooner or later!"

"This matter cannot be entirely blamed on Qin Shao. I also made careful inquiries shortly after the incident. Someone did report Lord Zhao for smuggling under their real name. At that time, the old prime minister had died unexpectedly, and the emperor was in a coma. It was a chaotic situation! Qin Shao was forced to order the siege of the Zhao Mansion. He didn't expect Lord Zhao to be so stubborn that he didn't even care about his life. If he had been patient, maybe he could have made a defense after the emperor woke up."

"Then Qin Shao is also closely related to my grandfather's death!"

Guo Da asked: "What are you going to do next?"

Zhao Xuan wrapped up the poisoned broken arrowhead.

"This is the only clue we have now. Qin Shao is a member of the military. I want to start with Qin Shao to find a breakthrough. Have you recognized Aunt Lan?"

Guo Da shook his head.

"Xiao Man and you are still wanted. As Xiao Man's former subordinate and good friend, I don't want to reveal my identity unless it's absolutely necessary. Besides, I can't tell what Yu Lan is thinking right now. People always change... But Qin Shao has a daughter named Qin Chuyun, who should be two or three years younger than you. She was born to him and his first wife. After his first wife died, she was raised by Yu Lan. That girl often comes to my shop to buy cakes. She is very well-behaved and sensible. We might as well start with her."

"Cakes? When I was little, Auntie Lan's cakes were my favorite... I really miss those carefree days..."

Guo Da looked at Zhao Xuan with heartache.

"My child, you have suffered a lot over the years."

Zhao Xuan looked at Huang Shuo who had fallen asleep and lowered her voice: "If my father hadn't taken care of me all these years, I would have died a long time ago."

When Zhao Xuan said this, she straightened her back, her eyes regained their determination, and she took a deep breath.

"Let's not talk about the past, Uncle Guo. I still have a troubling matter. Because of the Evil-Slaying Blade, I have offended the Tiandao League. The Tiandao League has issued a hunting order. My previous residence, Jiaoyang Valley, is no longer safe. So I plan to work as a pastry chef here. On the one hand, I can avoid being hunted by the Tiandao League, and on the other hand, I can use this opportunity to get closer to Qin Chuyun."

Guo Da smiled and said, "That's easy. I'll do as you say!"

Jiaoyang Valley.

As soon as Xiao Yixian came back, she was dragged into a thatched hut by Hao Xiong. Hao Xiong pointed at a dying patient on the bed with scars all over his face and a ginseng slice in his mouth.

"It's her!"

The Little Medical Fairy looked serious.

"Get out! Call Chunlan in!"

It was not until the sky was slightly bright and the sunlight gradually shone through the gaps in the clouds that Hao Xiong, who was sleeping outside the thatched hut, slowly opened his eyes.

He shielded his eyes from the sunlight with his hands, and just as he stood up, he saw the Little Doctor Fairy finally walk out of the thatched hut and stand with her hands on the wall.

"How's that girl?"

Before Xiao Yixiang could answer, Chunlai, who followed out, looked at Hao Xiong with some dissatisfaction.

"I don't know whether you are being too careless or too attentive! Xiao Yixian just came back and has been busy all night without sleeping. Why don't you let Xiao Yixian rest first? You are really concerned about that girl!"

"It doesn't matter!"

The Medical Immortal's face was pale and haggard, but he said with a smile.

"Luckily, I rushed back last night, and she's saved her life, but... she'll just have to lie like this for the rest of her life..."

Chunlan said to Hao Xiong, "I'll help Xiao Yixian to rest. You go in and take a look. She's awake, but don't let her talk too much."

In the thatched hut, the girl lay quietly on the bed, and Hao Xiong walked to the bedside quietly.

He sat on the edge of the bed and looked at the girl, choking with sobs: "You are finally alive... I was scared to death... I thought..."

"It was... you... who saved me... I remember..."

"Don't talk, don't talk. You need to rest now. Are you hungry? Are you thirsty? I'll make you some porridge..."

Before Hao Xiong could stand up, the girl gently pulled his sleeve. Her voice was still weak but clear.

"My name is Xiangcao... Since I was young, my parents sold me to the Qi Mansion in Border Town as a maid. A few days ago, I was humiliated by the master... and the lady... the lady accused me of seducing the master!"

As Vanilla said this, tears slowly rolled down from the corners of her eyes.

"She slashed my face with a dagger and ordered my men to beat me to death... and then threw me into a mass grave..."

Hao Xiong held Xiangcao's hand and couldn't help crying.

"Hurry... stop talking! From now on, this is your home. We are all your family! No one will bully you anymore!"

"Brother...can I call you brother..."

"Yes, of course! I already had a younger sister, but she died of starvation while fleeing the famine... From now on, you are my sister, my real sister!"

Vanilla smiled happily at Hao Xiong.

"That's great... People say that those who survive a great disaster will have good fortune in the future... I have a brother..."

Hao Xiong gently stroked Vanilla's hair.

"You'll have an older sister in the future, the head of our Jiaoyang Valley! She's a righteous woman with exceptional martial arts skills, but her name is a bit... a bit cowardly. She's called Daylily! Isn't that ridiculous?"