The little heroine investigates a mysterious case

Chapter 397 A Good Man's Ambition Lies in the Four Directions

“Who says I’m not worried? I had a difficult childbirth, and my mother’s health has never been good since I was born. Otherwise, I might have had a younger brother or sister… My father…”

With a slight sigh, Yang Zilan continued:

“My father is the busiest man in the Great Xia Kingdom, even busier than His Majesty! I can’t even remember the last time he took a break... He’s also been having frequent headaches lately. Does he think I don’t know? I just know that persuasion is useless against my father! So I’ll just keep quiet!”

Gu Zhanghua listened patiently throughout.

After a pause, Yang Zilan poured her heart out to Gu Zhanghua:

"I am my parents' only child. As the saying goes, 'While parents are alive, one should not travel far.' There is also an old saying: 'The tree desires stillness, but the wind will not cease; the child desires to care for his parents, but they are no longer there.' What has passed and cannot be retrieved is time; what has gone and cannot be seen again is one's parents..."

"You've really impressed me! You've got a lot to say! I always thought you were just a tough guy, but I didn't expect you to have some knowledge."

Gu Zhanghua sensed that Yang Zilan was in a bad mood and teased her with a smile.

"After all, I am my father's son, and I've been exposed to this kind of knowledge all along, so I'm not too bad! Of course, compared to your learning, I'm still a little bit lacking!"

Yang Zilan smiled at Gu Zhanghua.

"Therefore, one should fulfill one's filial duties as early as possible, lest one regret it after one's parents have passed away. The years that have passed cannot be turned back, and one can never see one's departed loved ones again... Logically speaking, I should not have gone to Fengcheng, which is so far away. His Majesty did not intend for me to guard the city at that time. It was I who asked for it myself."

Gu Zhanghua was unaware of this matter. He had always assumed that it was a deliberate arrangement by his father, after all, Yang Zilan had made great contributions by assisting his second brother, Gu Jiancheng, in guarding Fengcheng.

"Why did you do this? Actually, being a member of the Imperial Guard stationed at the palace or the city defense force, guarding Liyang City wouldn't be bad."

Yang Zilan pouted helplessly.

"Every day I hear my father nagging me, 'A good man should have ambitions beyond his hometown, and should make achievements as early as possible, and always put the affairs of the country first... Do you think I can just coast along in the Imperial Guard or the city defense army? I was born with talents that will surely be put to use, and I'm not destined to live a life of ease!'"

"So you want to leave home as soon as possible to avoid your dad nagging you all the time?"

Gu Zhanghua said with a smile.

"You know that's not what I meant. I'd love to listen to him nag every day, but I know my dad better. He'd rather I go to Fengcheng and guard the country's gate!"

Yang Zilan turned to look at Gu Zhanghua, a hint of disappointment in her eyes.

"Look at him just now, did he seem a little reluctant to part with me?"

?

The Prime Minister's residence, the living room.

Jian Qiu was still wiping away tears. Yang Liuming patted his wife's shoulder to comfort her. He was about to say something when he couldn't help but turn his head away and quietly wipe his own eyes.

Zhao Xuan sat opposite the couple, watching this scene, wanting to say something comforting, but felt it would be of no use.

But if she didn't say anything, she felt she was being too cold and heartless.

"Teacher Yang, Madam Yang, the Yue Kingdom has just suffered a military defeat, ceding territory and paying reparations. It has been severely weakened and will not cause any trouble for at least a year or two. You two can rest assured..."

As she spoke, Zhao Xuan herself couldn't continue. What she meant was that it would be fine for a year or two, but what about after that? What if the Yue Kingdom once again besieged the city with a large army? Wouldn't Yang Zilan have to go to the battlefield again?

Zhao Xuan reached out and patted her mouth.

"I'm not good at saying comforting words, but Zilan is a lucky man. Who knows, he might take a fancy to some young, beautiful, virtuous girl in Fengcheng and bring you back a grandson!"

After saying that, Zhao Xuan regretted it. Had she been confused by Ying Yang's marriage lately? Everyone said that marriage was arranged by parents and matchmakers, so what did it mean to bring home a grandson?

Unexpectedly, Yang Liuming and Jian Qiu were amused by Zhao Xuan's words.

"Xuan'er, thank you for your kind words. As long as Zilan is happy, I, as her mother, have no objections!"

Jian Qiu first expressed her opinion with a smile.

"As long as the girl is willing, it is said that a general in the field may not obey the emperor's orders. As long as the two can live a good life together, it is not impossible for them to get engaged in private."

Yang Liuming stroked his beard and said in a serious tone.

"hehe!"

Zhao Xuan secretly stuck out her tongue. Fortunately, Teacher Yang and his wife didn't blame her for speaking out of turn.

Zhao Xuan accompanied Yang Liuming and Jian Qiu for a while, drinking tea and chatting. The couple gradually emerged from their reluctance to part with their son on his long journey.

Just then, Gu Zhanghua also returned after seeing Yang Zilan off.

The couple didn't ask Yang Zilan what she talked about with Gu Zhanghua before they parted, and Gu Zhanghua only said one thing to the couple.

"Zilan said that after he left, he asked me and Sister Xuan to come to his mansion from time to time to visit him and fulfill our filial duties."

"This child, his mother and I are not even seventy or eighty years old yet, what filial piety are we doing! We're just causing you both trouble for no reason!"

Yang Liuming was being hypocritical; his son was filial, which warmed his heart, and he couldn't help but smile.

Getting back to the main point, Gu Zhanghua looked at Yang Liuming, his expression gradually becoming serious.

"Teacher Yang, we are here today because we have a very important matter to discuss with you."

Yang Liuming nodded upon hearing this.

"His Majesty has already told me that you came to see me because there are new leads in the case of the attack on the mission years ago?"

"That's right. After my sister Xuan and I investigated from various sources, this matter is closely related to the Fuze Relief Home!"

Seeing that the three were about to discuss serious matters, Jian Qiu quickly got up to leave.

"You two chat, I'll go take care of other things..."

But Yang Liuming spoke to Jian Qiu with a gentle expression:

"Go and prepare some tea and pastries, and bring them to the study later. We'll help the children with their questions together."

Jian Qiu gave Yang Liuming a deep look before turning and leaving.

"Come on, children, let's go to the study to talk in detail."

Yang Liuming led Gu Zhanghua and Zhao Xuan to the study.

After they took their seats, Gu Zhanghua told Yang Liuming in detail about the information he had found regarding the Fuze Relief Home.

As Gu Zhanghua recounted the story, Yang Liuming nodded approvingly from time to time.

During Gu Zhanghua's slight pause, he would also say something appropriate:

"The direction is correct."

"You have worked hard."

Or: "The analysis is correct, it seems so."

Finally, Gu Zhanghua said that the Liyang branch was highly suspicious and handed the list of orphans to Yang Liuming.

Yang Liuming took the list and looked at it carefully.

Gu Zhanghua added:

"Teacher, later we went to the main hospital in Jing'an Prefecture to find Dean Li Chongxi. We thought that since she had served as the dean of the Liyang branch from its establishment until its closure, she should know about this matter. But unexpectedly, when we asked her, she suddenly took advantage of our inattention and committed suicide by poisoning herself..."

Yang Liuming suddenly raised his head to look at Gu Zhanghua, a trace of sorrow flashing in his eyes, and blurted out.

"What? Xi'er...she's dead?"

Zhao Xuan jumped up from her chair, looking at Yang Liuming with a shocked expression.

"Teacher! Why do you address Li Chongxi so affectionately? Could it be? Could it be that you two are old acquaintances?"