The little heroine investigates a mysterious case

Chapter 336 A single spark can start a prairie fire

Liyang City.

The northern suburbs of the city.

A carriage was parked by the roadside. Wu Yulan and Qin Chuyun stood beside the carriage, anxiously looking towards the city gate.

"Young lady, why haven't my sister and brother-in-law arrived yet? Could they have gone through another city gate?"

Wu Yulan also hesitated.

"No way? Going to the North Border through the North Gate should be the right thing to do."

As the two hesitated, a troop of cavalry suddenly galloped out of the city gate, their banners fluttering, and the black seal script character "Xia" on the bright red flags was very eye-catching.

Immediately afterwards, one carriage after another arrived.

Gu Zhanghua, Zhao Xuan, Xiao Yixian, Hao Xiong, and Shi Shu rode together in a carriage, with carriages loaded with crossbows and various herbs following behind them.

Apart from Shi Shu, the other four had been busy all night and were now feeling drowsy.

A year ago, everyone went to Guze Town to investigate a case. Later, they went to the Yue Kingdom Palace to pay homage to the Yue Emperor. For various reasons, Shishu did not accompany them.

Finally, this time Shi Shu could protect Gu Zhanghua. He was so excited that he couldn't express it. He lifted the carriage curtain and looked longingly at the passing scenery.

Two small black dots ahead gradually grew larger.

Shi Shu looked at the little black dot turning into two women with a puzzled expression, and couldn't help but mutter to herself.

"Those two people ahead, they look like Madam Qin and Miss Qin."

"What, Mrs. Qin or Miss Qin?"

Gu Zhanghua rested his head on Zhao Xuan's shoulder and yawned.

"General Qin Shao's wife and Miss Qin..."

Before Shi Shu could finish speaking, Qin Chuyun, standing by the roadside, was already waving and cheering at the carriage that had arrived in front of him.

"Sister! Brother-in-law! My mother and I are waiting for you here! Are you in the car?"

Zhao Xuan, who was dozing, suddenly opened her eyes when she heard the shout.

"Stop! Stop the car! It's Yun'er's voice!"

Gu Zhanghua immediately instructed Shi Shu.

"Shishu! Immediately tell General Zhou that the caravan will stop for a while, as the Princess and I wish to see some old friends!"

"Yes!"

Shi Shu immediately jumped off the carriage and ran towards the front of the convoy.

The carriage stopped, and Gu Zhanghua and Zhao Xuan got off together.

Qin Chuyun, like a swallow returning to its mother's embrace, immediately threw herself into Zhao Xuan's arms.

"elder sister!"

Zhao Xuan hugged Qin Chuyun and looked at Wu Yulan beside her, overjoyed.

"Aunt Lan! Yun'er! Why are you waiting here?"

Wu Yulan smiled like a loving mother, her eyes fixed on Zhao Xuan's face, unable to get enough of looking at her, her voice concerned and gentle.

“It’s been over a month since I last saw you, and you’ve lost weight! I knew you were busy, so I didn’t want to bother you. But His Majesty and his ministers personally saw us off today, so it wasn’t appropriate for my daughter and me to be there. We’ll wait here!”

As she spoke, Wu Yulan curtsied to Gu Zhanghua.

"Your Majesty is well!"

Gu Zhanghua offered a slight gesture of support and said with a smile.

"Madam, please don't be so polite. You are Sister Xuan's aunt, so you can just call me Xiao Wu from now on. There's no need for so much formality."

Wu Yulan smiled and nodded at Gu Zhanghua, then turned to look at Qin Chuyun.

"Yun'er, go and get the bundle from the carriage."

Qin Chuyun responded cheerfully, left Zhao Xuan's embrace, jumped onto the carriage next to her, and soon returned carrying two bundles.

"Here you go, young lady!"

Wu Yulan picked up one of the bundles and handed it to Zhao Xuan.

"These are the new clothes I made for the general these past few days. After visiting Green Valley last time, he went straight back to the military camp... Could you please take these clothes to him for me?"

Wu Yulan's tone carried a hint of resentment.

Zhao Xuan quickly took the bundle.

"Aunt Lan, don't worry, I will personally hand it over to Uncle Qin!"

Wu Yulan then took a slightly smaller bundle from Qin Chuyun's hand and handed it to Zhao Xuan, who felt its angular shape.

"Aunt Lan, what's in here?"

Wu Yulan reached out and gently tucked a stray hair behind Zhao Xuan's ear, then took out a handkerchief and gently wiped away a thin layer of sweat from Zhao Xuan's forehead.

"The box is full of your favorite pastries from when you were little! I remember His Highness Prince Xian loved them too! I made a little of each kind; take them with you on the road!"

Zhao Xuan hugged her bundle tightly and teased Gu Zhanghua, "Mine, mine, all mine! You're not allowed to steal any!"

Upon seeing this, Wu Yulan couldn't help but playfully tap Zhao Xuan's forehead.

"Young Miss! I didn't make too much because it's hot. You can't eat alone like you did when you were little! When you come back from the Northern Border, I'll make as much as you want. You have to be considerate of His Highness! Do you hear me?"

"Hahaha!"

Zhao Xuan threw her head back and burst into laughter.

Wu Yulan's words immediately reminded her of when she was a child, during a class at the palace school, she secretly ate a piece of jujube paste cake and was almost discovered by Yang Liuming.

To protect her from being punished by Teacher Yang, Xiao Wu snatched the jujube cake from her hand and stuffed it into his own mouth, making Yang Liuming mistakenly believe that Xiao Wu was stealing food in class.

But Zhao Xuan thought that Xiao Wu had snatched the food from her mouth, and in a fit of anger, she punched him, giving Xiao Wu a black eye.

This caused Consort Shu to come to the palace to demand an explanation. In the end, the master gave Consort Shu an Ice Crystal Jade Flower, which finally calmed the consort's anger.

After laughing, Zhao Xuan felt a little sad. Time had passed and her master had been gone for many years. Now, besides the few people involved, only Wu Yulan still remembered those things from back then.

Zhao Xuan concealed the sadness in her heart and smiled, winking at Wu Yulan.

"Aunt Lan, the way you're saying it sounds like a mother-in-law looking at her son-in-law and liking him more and more the more she looks at him?"

"Nonsense! You child, you wouldn't dare say such presumptuous things in front of the Prince!"

Wu Yulan smiled apologetically at Gu Zhanghua.

Although she was the general's wife, she was neither Zhao Xuan's biological mother nor Zhao Xiaoman, and there was a legal and hierarchical relationship between her and Gu Zhanghua.

Gu Zhanghua waved his hand dismissively.

"It's not an exaggeration. Although Aunt Zhao and Sister Xuan were teacher and student, they were closer than mother and daughter. Now that Aunt Zhao is gone, you and Aunt Zhao are as close as sisters. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call her your mother-in-law!"

Gu Zhanghua looked at Zhao Xuan with affection as he spoke, and then said to Wu Yulan.

"I ate a lot of your pastries when I was a child. I'm grateful for your kindness, so I'm bowing to you!"

To make Zhao Xuan happy, Gu Zhanghua showed great respect to Wu Yulan, lowering himself to an extreme degree and bowing deeply to her.

"You flatter me! You are too kind, Your Highness!"

Wu Yulan quickly stepped aside, refusing Gu Zhanghua's greeting.

Wu Yulan looked at Zhao Xuan with great reluctance and gently hugged her.

"I won't say much more in terms of advice. I'm sure His Majesty and Consort Shu have already said enough these past few days. The children are growing up and should go out and explore more... especially since you all bear important responsibilities!"

Wu Yulan released Zhao Xuan and gently stroked Zhao Xuan's cheek, her voice choked with emotion.

"I will burn incense and pray to Buddha at home to bless you both, young lady. You and the prince must return safely."

"Don't worry, Aunt Lan, I've got it!"

Qin Chuyun watched with envy and couldn't help but say coquettishly:

"Little sister, I've grown up now, and I want to go out and explore like my sister and brother-in-law! I really envy them!"

Wu Yulan immediately put on a serious face.

"Have you finished embroidering the handkerchief I asked you to embroider today? A lady of a respectable family should act like one!"

Upon hearing this, Qin Chuyun immediately wilted.

"A lady from a respectable family, always a lady from a respectable family. Isn't my sister a lady from a respectable family? What a double standard..."

Qin Chuyun muttered to himself.

"Huh? What did you say?"

Seeing that Wu Yulan looked unwell, Zhao Xuan quickly reached out and pinched Qin Chuyun's cheek, trying to smooth things over and act as a peacemaker.

"After my sister and brother-in-law got married, they could take care of each other and dared to go out and explore together. When Yun'er gets married, we'll take you and your husband out to explore together!"

"Do we have to get married first? That's so troublesome..."

Qin Chuyun pouted, her little face scrunched up like a bun.

Wu Yulan was amused by Qin Chuyun's appearance and tapped her forehead.

"Look at you, acting strangely! What's so difficult about getting married? I'll find you a few good families to choose from!"

Qin Chuyun shuddered in fright and hid behind Zhao Xuan.

"I don't want to get married, I just want to go out and have fun!"

"Settle down first, then build your career, don't you understand?"

Gu Zhanghua also jokingly teased Qin Chuyun in a serious manner.

"Sister, is that really true?"

Qin Chuyun opened her beautiful phoenix eyes and asked Zhao Xuan for confirmation.

"I guess so... However, I hope that Yun'er can do what she likes in the future, so that she will have no regrets in this life."

Zhao Xuan never expected that their seemingly insignificant jokes would leave a deep mark on Qin Chuyun's heart, leading Qin Chuyun to embark on a different path in life.

A single spark can start a prairie fire, let alone the human heart.