The little heroine investigates a mysterious case

Chapter 401 The Intricate Attack Case

Suddenly, Jian Qiu's soft laughter rang out in the room. She looked at Gu Zhanghua and Zhao Xuan meaningfully.

"Xi'er's thoughts... even you two complete outsiders could see through them?"

Neither Zhao Xuan nor Gu Zhanghua spoke. Yang Liuming was, after all, their elder. They could ask him questions, but they didn't want to answer Jian Qiu's sarcastic question.

“Jian Qiu, let’s not talk about the past. Xi’er is already…”

Yang Liuming paused for a moment before uttering four words: "May he rest in peace in the earth!"

"I never blamed her! On the contrary, I felt sorry for her!"

Jian Qiu's voice was filled with pride and tolerance.

“My husband is a great hero! Xi’er is just an ordinary woman. Isn’t it normal for her to fall in love with a great hero? Fortunately, she has your portrait to keep her company, so she’s not lonely! It can be said that your affection for her has been reciprocated!”

After Jian Qiu finished speaking, she suddenly burst into laughter.

Zhao Xuan and Gu Zhanghua both felt a chill run down their spines as they listened.

Has Jian Qiu gone mad? Become possessed? Driven insane?

"Master...Master's wife!"

Gu Zhanghua decided to address Jian Qiu by her usual form of address, and gave her a reminder.

"The teacher just said that we should let her rest in peace and not disturb her peaceful sleep..."

Jian Qiu's laughter gradually faded, and then she murmured to herself.

"It's so good that she left so early..."

"I have one last question!"

Li Chongxi's situation is now quite clear; he is merely Yang Liuming's subordinate and admirer.

Zhao Xuan was unwilling to delay any longer regarding Li Chongxi's matter. She looked at Yang Liuming and asked a crucial question.

"Why did you use this Flame Army to kill your own people?!"

This time, Yang Liuming remained silent for a long time. He simply closed his eyes, like an old monk in deep meditation.

Perhaps he was reflecting on his emotional journey over the years, or perhaps he was looking back on the past, trying to figure out how to phrase things to explain what had happened clearly.

Zhao Xuan and Gu Zhanghua waited patiently.

In particular, Zhao Xuan, in order to avenge her master, first endured many years of hardship in Heyan Village and practiced martial arts diligently.

Afterwards, he ventured into the martial world alone, relying on only a clue—a poisoned arrow—and with the help of Guo Da and the others from Jiaoyangyu, he gradually and painstakingly approached the truth.

She and her friends even made a special trip to the remote town of Guze to find the souls of those who died unjustly.

Aiyiduo, Guo'er, Shen Xiaobao, Hu Junfeng, and even Tian Yuan, the former crown prince of Yue, all gave her as much help as possible.

She had waited far too long, and now that she had learned the truth, it was no longer just her obsession, but also the expectation of many, many friends, who were all waiting with her for a real answer.

Therefore, she had the patience to wait for Yang Liuming to speak up himself.

"At that time, I felt as if I had fallen into the demonic path..."

Yang Liuming suddenly opened his eyes slowly, looked up at the roof, as if trying to see through the roof into the endless void.

"I was completely blinded by hatred, and all I could think about was destroying the Yue Kingdom one day! But the Flame Army needed sufficient funds and resources to develop... and that's when..."

Yang Liuming looked away and stared at his outstretched hands.

“I learned from my master that Zhao Xiaoman was my senior sister, but I was so bewitched that I not only didn’t think about acknowledging her, but I also took advantage of this to rob the national caravan that Zhao Xiaoman was escorting and make huge profits.”

Why did the robbers have flame patterns embroidered on their face masks?

Zhao Xuan asked hurriedly.

"In order to confuse the public and keep Zhao Xiaoman in the dark, so that she dared not make any rash moves! I didn't expect her to send Huang Shuo to secretly investigate the Flame Army. I was furious when I found out!"

“So,” Gu Zhanghua said in a deep voice, “Li Chongxi informed you of Qian Bin’s death back then!”

"Yes, it was because of Qian Bin's death that I had to act cautiously and take all precautions to prevent the Flame Army, this secret organization, from being discovered by outsiders and ruining my great revenge!"

Zhao Xuan was heartbroken and looked at Yang Liuming in disbelief.

"Is that why you concealed the existence of the Flame Army from the world and killed your senior sister, my master?!"

Yang Liuming slowly shook his head.

"Not only that..."

"What other reason could there be? My master has never had any grudge against you! She doesn't even know you're her junior brother! For so many years, she has only wanted to protect the caravan! Through wind and rain, she has worked tirelessly without complaint! What did she do to offend you?!"

Zhao Xuan's eyes were filled with sorrow, and every word she uttered was filled with tears.

Outside the window, the wind howled, making the window creak and groan.

Yang Liuming seemed to be drawn by the commotion. He turned his head and looked intently at the window, his voice slightly hoarse.

"At that time, the Xia Kingdom had recovered from years of war. I repeatedly advised His Majesty on the importance of attacking the Yue Kingdom, but your master, relying on his close relationship with His Majesty, actually advocated lifting the isolation policy and opening up trade with the Yue and Song Kingdoms."

At this point, Yang Liuming turned to look at Zhao Xuan and couldn't help but laugh self-deprecatingly.

"And His Majesty was actually persuaded by her, sending His Highness the Crown Prince and Zhao Xiaoman to lead a friendly delegation to Yue! To improve relations with Yue! How could I be willing to accept this? How could I not hate her in my heart?"

"Is this what they mean by 'those who walk different paths cannot make plans together'?!"

Zhao Xuan scoffed coldly, her words laced with sarcasm.

Yang Liuming didn't care. Right now, he just wanted to finish saying what he wanted to say; nothing else mattered.

"And before Zhao Xiaoman went on her mission to Yue, she even met with me privately late at night..."

As Yang Liuming spoke, he became lost in deep memories.

He hadn't thought of Zhao Xiaoman's face for so many years; he thought he had forgotten what she looked like. But at this moment, Zhao Xiaoman's voice, appearance, and smile appeared so clearly before his eyes...

In the study of the Ministry of Personnel's residence.

Zhao Xiaoman sat down in front of him with a cheerful smile, speaking as crisply and directly as ever.

"Lord Yang, my daughter has come to visit so late at night to discuss two matters with you, one official and one private! Let's start with the official matter! If, after arriving in Yue, we confirm that the secret report is true, then Yue does indeed intend to attack our Xia Kingdom!"

Zhao Xiaoman paused, looked at him with hope in her eyes, and spoke with utmost sincerity.

"I also hope that Lord Yang will consider that the people of both countries have finally enjoyed a few years of peace and tranquility, and will not easily threaten His Majesty with war! I hope that we can further communicate with the Yue Kingdom to find a peaceful solution that can be accepted by both countries!"

How did he answer at the time?

Unlike Zhao Xiaoman, he didn't speak his mind directly; instead, he took a roundabout approach.

“Miss Zhao is truly kind-hearted, but the Yue Kingdom will not be easily moved by your kindness. For many years, the Yue Kingdom has repeatedly invaded the Xia Kingdom in the areas of Fengcheng, Fucheng, and Jinyang City. Now Jinyang City is still in the hands of the Yue Kingdom. What peaceful means can we use to avoid war between the two countries and take back Jinyang City?”

How did Zhao Xiaoman respond at the time?

She said, "That's why I earnestly request Lord Yang not to lightly propose war, rather than to avoid war altogether!"

Afterwards, Zhao Xiaoman asked him to persuade the impulsive Qin Shao to truly consider him a close friend.

Yang Liuming snapped out of his thoughts and muttered to himself, "How naive!"