The little heroine investigates a mysterious case

Chapter 330: Embarking on a New Journey

Looking into Gu Zhanghua's burning gaze and recalling what Gu Zhanghua had just said, Gu Li felt a surge of pride and joy!

Who hasn't been young?

Who hasn't been passionate at some point?

If it weren't for the fact that he, as the emperor of a nation, had to stay in Liyang City, he would have long since rushed to the northern border to fight alongside his good brother Qin Shao! Or he would have gone to the southern border to fight alongside his son!

Xiao Aiyue had always grown up in the inner palace. When she married him, it was already the second year of Xuanhe. The world was at peace. How could she understand his military career of fighting, blowing horns, drawing bows, and charging into battle?

Gu Li looked at Gu Zhanghua with satisfaction. This most gentle and refined son of his still possessed the same courage as him, as fierce as a tiger!

Gu Li waved his hand and cheered repeatedly.

"Good! Good! Xiao Wu speaks well! I will give you a chance to serve your country. This time, you will go to war in my place!"

Together with you and your friends, let's help Uncle Qin pacify the southern border! This time, let's completely subdue the Rongdi tribes! Let them never dare to covet the territory of our Xia Kingdom again!

Hearing his father's encouraging words, Gu Zhanghua looked at Zhao Xuan excitedly, and Zhao Xuan nodded approvingly at Gu Zhanghua.

The four of them bowed to Gu Li in unison.

"Thank you, Father (Your Majesty), for granting my request!"

With tears in her eyes, Xiao Aiyue stared blankly at the four excited young people in front of her, and finally turned to look at Gu Li, who was even more excited than the children.

"Your Majesty! Are you treating me like I don't exist? My son and daughter-in-law are going to such a dangerous place. What if something happens to them... Can't you give me some face and discuss it with me before agreeing?"

Gu Li slapped his forehead, realizing he had forgotten about his beloved concubine in his excitement!

Sending his son to the front lines on his own initiative, completely against his beloved concubine's wishes, was indeed a poor decision. Moreover, his beloved concubine immediately becomes sensitive, delicate, and paranoid when it comes to their son.

Gu Li looked at Xiao Aiyue's tears streaming down her face with an awkward smile, and panicked for a moment.

"My dear concubine! Don't cry! It's bad luck! The children have all grown up, and we, as their elders, should learn to let go!"

"I had already let go, but who knew he would go to places that were more dangerous than the last!"

Xiao Aiyue raised her hand and placed it on her chest, gesturing to indicate a height.

"My mental fortitude has just reached this level!" Xiao Aiyue raised her hand above her head. "His danger level will immediately rise to this level!"

Gu Zhanghua secretly pulled Zhao Xuan back towards the door, then gestured with his chin towards the other two, meaning "Let's go!"

Gu Zhanghua was already used to this situation. The best course of action was to flee and leave his mother alone with his father to comfort her.

Then, Xiao Aiyue began to wail and cry.

"He didn't climb the steps one by one; he was like a rocket, aiming straight for the heavens!"

Zhao Xuan couldn't help but burst out laughing, when she heard Xiao Aiyue loudly question her.

"Where are you all going? Aren't you going to have dinner?"

Without saying a word, Gu Zhanghua grabbed Zhao Xuan and ran out of Qilan Palace, his mother's complaining voice still faintly echoing behind them.

"That's too much! Didn't you even have a meal with your mother before leaving?"

Gu Zhanghua took the lead and ran even faster. He needed to rally his troops and didn't want to listen to his mother's nagging, which was dragging him down.

Once he returns from the North, he'll have plenty of time to have a proper meal with his mother.

Seeing the four people disappear into the distance, Gu Li grasped Xiao Aiyue's hand, intending to comfort her gently, but then saw Xiao Aiyue raise her hand and wipe her face, as if she had become a different person.

Sadness, anger, and resentment were all gone, and there wasn't a single tear in her eyes. She simply smiled at Gu Li and sighed softly.

Gu Li was a little dumbfounded; his beloved concubine's attitude changed too quickly.

"You agreed so readily just now, aren't you afraid..."

Xiao Aiyue asked Gu Li quietly.

"Afraid! How could I not be afraid?" Gu Li gave a wry smile. "But Xiao Wu is a boy, and we as parents can't hold him back."

Gu Li paused, a proud smile appearing on his face.

"Xiao Wu is a real man! He knows to put the country first! Besides, Xuan'er and the others are all going to the Northern Border. Can you stop them or can I? But what's wrong with you?"

Gu Li scrutinized Xiao Aiyue's face.

"You were just crying your eyes out, and suddenly you've had a change of heart?"

“I was just testing Xiao Wu’s resolve. Usually, when I cry, he’ll hesitate and then comfort me. But look at him just now, he’s starting to look down on his mother!”

Xiao Aiyue slammed her hand on the table, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

"Besides, you're right, we parents can't hold our children back. So, we can only try our best to support them. Wasn't that what you did when they went to Yue last time?"

After a moment of contemplation, Xiao Aiyue grasped Gu Li's hand with complete trust.

“Your Majesty, the children are all grown up, and I cannot stagnate either. I still worry, but I have learned to let go. Besides, you are my source of confidence. Have you already thought about how to protect the children?”

There's no such thing as a foolproof plan. The second and fifth sons are going to the battlefield. If anything happens to them, isn't there still the third son? And the grandchildren?

The third son has been secluded in the mansion studying medical books for several months now. It seems he's doing well this time and has the potential to achieve great things later in life!

He said that his own son could never be a spoiled brat; with proper upbringing, he would surely be able to shoulder great responsibilities!

Gu Li's mind was in turmoil. He had already lost one son, and he was more worried about the safety of his two sons than Xiao Aiyue was. But as princes, his sons had their own responsibilities to bear!

As an emperor, he could not afford to be sentimental.

But Gu Li dared not reveal his true feelings at this moment; he simply patted Xiao Aiyue's hand gently.

"On the surface, Qin Shao is protecting me, but secretly I will have Yang Liuming dispatch his bodyguards to stay by my side at all times. This is the last line of defense..."

Gu Li leaned in and whispered in Xiao Aiyue's ear. As Xiao Aiyue listened, the last trace of worry on her face gradually disappeared.

?

Before the four of them could even watch the flowing water, they returned to the Prince Xian's residence together. Chunlan assumed they would have dinner in the palace, so she didn't leave any food for them.

With summer approaching, Zhao Xuan suggested moving the dining table to the yard outside the kitchen.

Zhao Xuan personally kneaded and rolled the dough in one go, while Chunlan had already helped mix a pot of sesame sauce.

Gu Zhanghua and Xiao Yixian picked and washed the vegetables, while Hao Xiong was in charge of chopping them. They quickly plated the vegetables, which included shredded cucumber, shredded radish, and shredded cabbage.

The four of them sat around the table. Zhao Xuan brought out four bowls of cold noodles that had already been blanched, mixed with sesame sauce and topped with vegetables, and slurped them down with great relish.

A gentle summer evening breeze caressed them, the chirping of cicadas filled their ears, and the sunset bathed the four of them in a honey-colored glow.

This is the calm before the storm.

The four friends, determined to protect this peace, are about to head to the North.

Just as Zhao Xuan began eating her second bowl of cold noodles, Guan Liushui finally rushed back to the Prince Xian's residence.

Although they had a quick dinner with Gu Jiancheng and the others in the palace, the sight of the slightly chilled cold noodles still made their mouths water.

Guan Liushui patiently stirred the cold noodles with two pairs of chopsticks before using one pair of chopsticks to pick up the sesame sauce noodles and put them in his mouth.

Zhao Xuan patted her round belly, enjoying the sesame paste residue on her lips as she rolled it into her mouth, and said to Guan Liushui with pride and satisfaction.

"Brother Shui, the four of us are about to join the convoy delivering crossbows and head to the northern border!"

Guan Liushui stopped slurping his noodles abruptly and looked at the four people in front of him with a puzzled expression.

"The four of you? What are you going to the North for?"