"Baozhu? Why are you here?"
The voice of Shen Heqing came. He was holding a wine flask and several cups in his hand, while Shen Danqing beside him was carrying several plates of cold dishes. Both of them were looking at Shen Baozhu in surprise.
Shen Baozhu also didn't expect her eldest and second elder brothers to be here. Fortunately, Brother Mingli had bought a lot of snacks, including those her elder brothers liked!
Shen Danqing pushed all the cold dishes in his hand to Shen Heqing and quickly stepped forward. Seeing Shen Baozhu holding a goose leg bare - handed, he sighed softly. He took out a handkerchief to wrap the goose leg, and then, like a magician, took out a new handkerchief to wipe Shen Baozhu's hands.
As he wiped, he admonished, "This thing gets your hands dirty. Baozhu, remember to use a handkerchief to wrap it next time."
Shen Baozhu nodded obediently, took the goose leg wrapped in the handkerchief, and then held it to General Mu's mouth. "Grandpa, eat meat."
General Mu stared intently at Shen Baozhu. As if waking up from a dream, he said, "Baozhu, you're really Baozhu!"
"Baozhu has grown so big. The last time Grandpa saw you, you couldn't even speak in long sentences. You could only call Grandpa. Now you even know to let Grandpa eat meat. You're really a big girl."
Shen Baozhu also thought she was a big girl. As a big girl, she was magnanimous and wouldn't bother about what Grandpa had done just now.
General Mu was busy eating the goose leg. Shen Danqing was afraid that Shen Baozhu would get her hands dirty, so he took out another handkerchief, waiting to help wipe her hands. Only Shen Heqing, who was holding the wine flask, cups and cold dishes in his arms, noticed the Treasure - Hunting Rat and the Little Phoenix.
Frowning, he asked, "Why are the Treasure - Hunting Rat and the Little Phoenix here? Mother, where are the servants attending you and Baozhu? Did those people just let you and Baozhu enter the palace alone? This is the palace of the Xiangyun Kingdom!"
Princess Jingning was in a good mood when she saw her father and the relics of her mother. She shook her head with a smile. "Thanks to the Little Phoenix, Baozhu and I only took one night to get here from the capital."
"Right, right. It was me who helped." The Little Phoenix flew from Shen Baozhu's shoulder to Shen Danqing and looked very proud.
Dragon King: [The fool can actually recognize the Little Phoenix and the Treasure - Hunting Rat. As expected of the person the idiot admires the most. He really recognized them.]
Although Shen Heqing had gone traveling and studying early on and had never seen the Little Phoenix and the Treasure - Hunting Rat, Shen Baozhu had written a letter to both Shen Heqing and Shen Danqing. In the letter, she had introduced the Little Phoenix and the Treasure - Hunting Rat in detail and even attached a portrait.
Both letters were written by Chen Ruxia, with the same content but different portraits.
The portrait in Shen Danqing's letter was drawn by Chen Ruxia, vividly depicting the expressions of the Little Phoenix and the Treasure - Hunting Rat. The portrait in Shen Heqing's letter was taken on by Yan Mingli on his own initiative.
Facts proved that Yan Mingli not only had no talent for reading but also no talent for painting. The Treasure - Hunting Rat he drew was an odd - looking thing, and the Little Phoenix looked like a moldy stick.
Seeing the portrait, the Little Phoenix was so angry that it spat fire at Yan Mingli and almost set Yan Mingli's hair on fire.
Dragon King: [Cute one, ask how Shen Heqing recognized them.]
Hearing Shen Baozhu's question, both Shen Heqing and Shen Danqing were a bit surprised. Shen Danqing said in astonishment, "Is there also a portrait in Big Brother's letter? Isn't it Baozhu's casual painting?"
Shen Heqing let out a long sigh of relief. "Fortunately, it wasn't Baozhu's painting. I knew Baozhu was highly talented and couldn't draw such an ugly picture."
"Did Yan Mingli draw it? He knows nothing about the four arts. No wonder the painting is so ugly."
Lin Yu: [Big Brother attaches great importance to Baozhu's learning. He must have been really shocked when he saw those two paintings.]
To show off its great abilities, the Little Phoenix spread its wings, grew bigger again, and deliberately lowered its head to rub against Shen Heqing.
With a wave of its wings, it changed back to its original size and stood on Shen Danqing's shoulder, proudly saying, "See? Awesome, right!"
Shen Baozhu was the first to cheer. "Little Phoenix is great. You're the most awesome!"
The Treasure - Hunting Rat also chimed in. "Squeak, squeak, squeak."
Shen Heqing and Shen Danqing had been mentally prepared before, so they could accept it. But General Mu witnessed this supernatural power for the first time and watched the Little Phoenix grow bigger and smaller.
General Mu said in disbelief, "It can grow bigger?"
Shen Baozhu nodded, her tone matter - of - fact. "Yes, yes."
"No, it can grow bigger and smaller and can even talk. Don't you think it's strange, Baozhu?" General Mu repeated.
Far from thinking the Little Phoenix was strange, Shen Baozhu even reproached General Mu. "Grandpa is an adult. You should treat everyone fairly. You can't look down on the Little Phoenix just because it's a little bird."
General Mu looked dazed and a bit confused by Shen Baozhu's words. He was a mortal, while the Little Phoenix was a divine beast with supernatural powers. How could a mortal look down on a divine beast!
But under Shen Baozhu's strong demand, General Mu apologized to the Little Phoenix.
Shen Heqing placed the snacks on the ground and reached out to pick up Shen Baozhu, but she dodged.
Shen Baozhu hugged General Mu tightly. "Baozhu hasn't seen Grandpa for a long time. I want Grandpa to hold me."
"Oh? Baozhu wants Grandpa but not Big Brother?" Shen Heqing pretended to be angry and pinched Shen Baozhu's cheek.
Shen Baozhu thought for a while. She felt she was a bit greedy and wanted both Grandpa and Big Brother.
So she buried her head in General Mu's neck, intending to be an ostrich and refused to answer.
Shen Heqing didn't force Shen Baozhu but talked to Princess Jingning about what had happened during this period, from his traveling and studying, receiving news from Shen Danqing, going to the front line to identify Shen Yunfeng, to Shen Yunfeng's lies.
As they talked, they walked. When Shen Baozhu raised her head again, they were already in the palace of the Xiangyun Kingdom.
Dragon King: [Did the items from the disaster - relief operation back then also appear in the Xiangyun Kingdom? Could it be the long spear?]
Lin Yu: [The long spear of the Martial Commander?]
Dragon King: [It's really the long spear!]
Although Princess Jingning was busy, she knew everything about Shen Baozhu's recent situation. She also knew that Shen Haiyan had taken Shen Baozhu to the Shen family, found some valuable ornaments, and discovered that the ancient family - heirloom book of Li Xingzhi had also appeared in the Shen family.
All the evidence indicated that the Shen family was inseparable from the corruption back then, but some crucial evidence was still missing.
"The long spear wouldn't appear here for no reason. Can we find out some clues?" Princess Jingning asked.
When it came to this matter, Shen Heqing had a headache. He didn't want to ask Shen Yunfeng, so he privately asked around, but with little success. "I asked some people from the Xiangyun Kingdom, but they're very on guard against Dayong. I couldn't find out anything."
Because Princess Xiangyunrou had taken the initiative to help, everyone in the Xiangyun Kingdom was on edge. Even if a fellow countryman asked, they were reluctant to reveal anything.
Princess Jingning stroked the pillow in her hand and had a plan in mind. "If this matter is related to the Shen family, others may not know, but Xiangyunrou must be well - aware of the inside story."
"Danqing, since Xiangyunrou is eager to take you as her son, Mother should always solve problems for her son."
Hearing his name, Shen Danqing was stunned. After understanding what Princess Jingning meant, his expression became strange.
Although he didn't want to have contact with Xiangyunrou, he had to admit that asking Xiangyunrou was the best way.