The little heroine investigates a mysterious case

Zhao Cheng said solemnly, "Yesterday, based on intelligence, I sent people to conduct a surprise inspection of Tianguang Market. Surprisingly, they confiscated a large number of Yue specialties, including porcelain, tea, and silk. After questioning the merchants in detail, they all gave various explanations, but they all flatly denied any private dealings with Yue merchants!"

Gu Li leaned forward solemnly: "How could this happen?"

Zhao Cheng replied, "I suspect it's because during the Chen Dynasty, the state was busy with the construction of imperial mausoleums and palaces, which led many merchants to engage in trade with Yue and Song. Now that our country has been implementing a closed-door policy for many years, some of those former merchants have changed careers, some are running small businesses, and some are vying to become imperial merchants and cooperate with our Ministry of Revenue. However, they are a minority after all. It's inevitable that some are eager for quick success and instant benefits and take risks to make huge profits, colluding with Yue merchants to engage in smuggling."

Gu Li pondered deeply, "I understand what your Excellency Zhao is worried about. You hope I can issue an order to open the country to trade. However, the Rongdi tribe in the north is restless, and the Yue Kingdom in the south is also in constant conflict with our country on the border. As you know, a month ago, someone emerged in Yancheng claiming to be the grandson of the Emperor of Chen. He is raising an army and seeking to establish his own country under the banner of destroying Xia and restoring Chen. This is very troublesome. Therefore, I believe that now is not a good time to open the country to trade. Let's wait a little longer."

Yang Liuming stepped out and said, "Your Majesty, don't worry. Qin Shao has been stationed in the northern border for many years. Yancheng is an important town in the north. Since Your Majesty has ordered Qin Shao to go and quell the rebellion, he will surely be victorious!"

All the ministers agreed and praised Qin Shao's bravery, except for the Imperial Censor Ma Baoguo, who remained silent.

Gu Li looked at the ministers and asked, "Is the old prime minister's illness still not healed?"

Ma Baoguo stepped out and said, "Your Majesty, I visited Prime Minister Wen yesterday. He just had a slight cold. I advised him to rest for a few more days to prevent a relapse."

"My dear minister, you have done well. After all, the old Prime Minister is nearly seventy years old. After the court is dismissed, I will take the Crown Prince to visit him."

After the court was dismissed, Zhao Cheng, worried about his daughter's return home, urged the coachman to hurry back to the mansion. As soon as he got off the carriage, he saw Zhao Xuan, who had been waiting at the door of the Zhao mansion, rushing towards him like a fly, shouting, "Grandpa! Grandpa!"

Zhao Cheng leaned down, and Zhao Xuan put her arms around Zhao Cheng's neck and kissed him on the face. Then Zhao Cheng picked up Zhao Xuan.

Zhao Xuan took out a piece of sweet-scented osmanthus cake wrapped in paper from her pocket and stuffed it into Zhao Cheng's mouth: "Xuan Xuan specially saved this for Grandpa. This is the last piece today!"

Zhao Xiaoman, who was standing aside and looking at the grandfather and grandson with a smile, suddenly felt so angry that her teeth itched.

"You're such an ungrateful little bastard. You refused to give Master any food no matter what. But you changed your ways the moment you saw Grandpa?"

Zhao Cheng laughed and said, "This is called a relationship between generations apart!"

Zhao Xuan argued confidently, "Master is an adult, and Grandpa is an old man. Didn't Master always tell me to respect the elderly and love the young? I'm just following Master's advice."

Zhao Xiaoman was almost choked to death, but Zhao Cheng couldn't stop laughing.

The three of them came to the study. As soon as Zhao Cheng sat down with Zhao Xuan in his arms, Zhao Xuan jumped off Zhao Cheng's legs, ran towards Zhao Xiaoman, and stretched out her hand to signal Zhao Xiaoman to hold her.

"Xuan'er has gained weight recently. Grandpa gets tired holding her all the time. It's better for Master to hold her."

Zhao Xiaoman refused to hug him and said, "Master will get tired too."

"Master, where are you tired? Xuan'er, give Master a massage!"

After that, he began to beat Zhao Xiaoman's legs with his little fists, looked up at Zhao Xiaoman seriously, and asked, "Are you tired here?"

Zhao Xiaoman stroked Zhao Xuan's hair with relief and smiled: "Yes, Xuan'er is no longer tired after a few hits."

Zhao Xiaoman said this as she picked up Zhao Xuan and placed her on her lap.

Zhao Cheng looked at the master and disciple with satisfaction, twirling his beard and smiling.

Zhao Xiaoman said, "Dad, I'll be frank. I came to you to discuss something important. I plan to close the Wuwei Escort Agency after I find out who is behind the Flame Organization."

Zhao Cheng was shocked: "Why?"

When Zhao Xuan saw the two adults talking, she stopped playing and listened carefully, as if she understood.

Zhao Xiaoman sighed. "For so many years, nothing major has happened on the trade route. A few groups of refugees and bandits are nothing to worry about. But this time, the Flame Organization is quite powerful. Ever since the caravan was robbed last time, I've suspected that someone is jealous of our Zhao family, who has been controlling the only trade route between Xia and Yue for so many years. They have long been planning to attack us. We have worked so hard to run the caravan, but we have no way to express our suffering and are even criticized..."

Zhao Cheng remained silent.

Zhao Xiaoman was a little anxious: "Dad! Look at the current situation. Qin Shao, who was a great hero in the past, is now the General Protector of the Nation and also serves as the Minister of War, in charge of the country's military power. You are an important minister of the country, holding the national financial power, and I am the chief escort of the Wuwei Escort Agency. My most important task is to control the country's only trade route. You and Qin Shao are friends regardless of age. I heard that there are rumors that if either of you stomps your feet, the country of Xia will be shaken!"

"Bullshit!" Zhao Cheng stood up angrily. "It's all the villains' fault! No matter what others say, my Zhao family and Qin Shao are loyal to the Xia Kingdom, and this heart is known to the sun and the moon! Besides, Your Majesty fought side by side with Qin Shao in the past, and they were as close as brothers. As long as Your Majesty doesn't listen to the slander, my Zhao family and Qin Shao will be fine!"

"Dad! But most of your subordinates are from the Zhao family, and the caravan is managed by the direct descendants of the Zhao family. I'm afraid..."

"What can I do? I don't trust anyone else. Zhao Ji..." Zhao Cheng's eyes suddenly blurred with tears when he mentioned Zhao Ji's name. "When nothing happened, everyone thought my Zhao family would seek personal gain. But when something happened, who showed any sympathy to my family?"

Zhao Xiaoman looked at her father's gray hair and felt sad.

"Dad, why don't you wait until you're done with your current affairs and bid farewell to His Majesty and return home? We can take our clansmen and Xuan'er back home. Then you can grow flowers, go fishing, and reminisce with relatives and friends. You won't have to be busy all day, and the three of us can spend time with each other."

"I do, but you don't know that at the court this morning, His Majesty rejected my father's proposal to open trade, feeling that the time was not right yet."

Zhao Xiaoman was very sure: "It's only a matter of time! People's lives are getting better and better. With extra money in hand, they want to buy some good things. If the current situation remains, incidents like Tianguangji will only become more and more frequent."

Zhao Chengdao said, "If you have the chance, please speak to His Majesty privately. His Majesty trusts you more than me, the Minister of Revenue. If you hadn't persuaded your father to do his utmost to help the rebels raise food and fodder, the Xia Kingdom might not be what it is today."

Seeing Zhao Xuan sleeping with her head tilted in her arms, Zhao Xiaoman said calmly, "These are all old things. I was also instructed by my master."

"Hasn't contacted old man Xuanji yet?"

Zhao Xiaoman shook her head, looking worried. "No, ever since the last incident, I've left marks in obvious places in major cities of Xia Country, as agreed with Master. They're marks that only Master and I understand. If Master saw them, he'd know I had something urgent to ask him, but Master hasn't shown up yet."

"Don't worry too much. Elder Xuanji likes to travel around. He may have left Xia Country a long time ago."

Night gradually enveloped the city of Liyang, and the golden plaque of the Zhao Mansion also dimmed in the night. Zhao Cheng said goodbye to Zhao Xiaoman at the door, and Zhao You hurried to get the horse.

Zhao Xiaoman looked at her father's increasingly thin face and said softly, "My mother has been gone for so many years, have you ever thought about..."

"You still have time to take care of me? Take care of yourself first. You are already 25 years old, an old girl. Qin Shao has mentioned this to me several times. Can't you just relax and stop being so stubborn?"

Zhao Xiaoman looked at Zhao Xuan in her arms, her heart filled with tenderness, and said, "I've already made it clear to him that I don't care. Having Xuan'er in my life is enough."

"Xuan'er won't be with you forever. She will get married in the future."

Zhao Xiaoman smiled: "I am really looking forward to seeing which unlucky guy will marry our Xuan'er."

Zhao Xuan, who was sleeping soundly, suddenly muttered in a daze:

"Xiao Wu said he would marry me, let me eat and sleep every day, and let me play with all his toys..."

Zhao Xiaoman and Zhao Chengdu burst out laughing.

Zhao Xiaoman whispered to her father, "If that's the case, Xiao Aiyue will be so mad she'll die!"

Zhao Cheng reached out and poked Zhao Xiaoman on the forehead.

"What are you talking about? I'm the Concubine Shu!"