Cao Zhang returned to the mansion with a heavy heart, got off his horse in front of the gate, threw the reins to his servant, and walked into the mansion with his head lowered.
"Sir, Mr. Xiahou and Miss Xiahou have just arrived..." The servant hurriedly reported to Cao Zhang.
Cao Zhang was thinking about the problem and waved his hand to the servant. The servant looked at his frown and didn't dare to say any more and closed his mouth.
Cao Zhang walked slowly towards the gate. Before he entered, he heard Xiahou Ba's excited voice coming from the yard: "Brother Meng Qi, are all these ten horses really for me?"
"That's natural. Ziwen and I carefully selected this for you. He said this was the bet he lost to you and must be honored." Then Ma Chao's voice also sounded in the courtyard.
"Great, great. Brother Meng Qi, tell me quickly how to choose this horse, and I will learn from you." Xiahou Ba shouted excitedly.
"Come on, come over and see. When choosing a horse, you first have to look at the coat color. Horses without mottled colors mean they have pure bloodlines and have innate advantages..." Ma Chao started to explain and introduce.
Hearing the conversation between the two, Cao Zhang's originally depressed mood instantly improved a lot.
He knew that his army had returned to Xudu, and it was Ma Chao who brought their carefully selected good horses to Xiahou Ba.
Cao Zhang strolled into the courtyard and saw Ma Chao and Xiahou Ba standing beside the ten good horses in the courtyard, having a heated discussion.
Ma Chao's eyes sparkled with excitement as he danced and explained the qualities and characteristics of the horses.
Xiahou Ba followed him, listening intoxicatedly, nodding in agreement from time to time.
Seeing them discussing the horse issue so immersedly, Cao Zhang couldn't help but smile.
Such a harmonious atmosphere is what he has always longed to see. His generals support each other, respect each other, and work hard for a common goal. This is the most gratifying thing for him.
"Brother Ziwen!" Cao Zhang was thinking when he heard a greeting.
He looked intently, but he saw Ma Yunlu and Xia Houjuan standing in the corridor next to them. Both of their faces were filled with smiles. Xia Houjuan was waving hello to him excitedly.
Cao Zhang nodded with a smile and walked up to the two of them: "Juan'er, Yunlu, do you already know each other?"
"Yes, my eldest brother and I have been here for a while. Brother Zhongquan introduced sister Juan'er to me, and we got along very well." Ma Yunlu responded to Cao Zhang with a hearty smile.
"Sister Yunlu told me a lot of interesting stories about Yongliang, which was very interesting. She also promised me that she would take me to play there if she had the opportunity in the future." Xia Houjuan was also immersed in the stories told by Ma Yunlu , seemed very excited.
"Okay, the scenery in Yongliang is indeed beautiful. It is completely different from the Central Plains. You should go and take a closer look when you have the chance." Cao Zhang agreed with Xia Houjuan. He felt very happy when he saw the two girls getting along so harmoniously. Rejoiced.
"Ziwen, you are back. These ten horses are so good. I like them so much." Xiahou Ba greeted Cao Zhang excitedly when he saw him coming back.
Cao Zhang looked at Xiahou Ba and said with a smile: "Brother Meng Qi personally picked it for you, how about it? This is a good horse. You must perform well in the future and strive to go to the battlefield again next time and make more military exploits!"
"That's necessary, don't worry!" Xiahou Ba agreed with a smile.
Ma Chao walked up to Cao Zhang and reported to him: "Ziwen, the troops have been led by Gong Ming and have returned to their base. Yan Ming and Ling Ming have both stayed in the military camp. Mr. Yuan Zhi has been away from home for a long time. He misses his mother and goes home first. Go visit and let me take a leave of absence for him.”
Cao Zhang nodded understandingly: "Yuan Zhixiao should be allowed to visit his mother first. Let's go inside and chat."
Ma Yunlu had been observing Cao Zhang since he entered the mansion and noticed that he was in a low mood, so he asked with concern: "Brother Ziwen, you seem to be in a bad mood. Have you not thought of a solution to the problem yet?"
Cao Zhang turned to look at Xiahou Ba and complained to him angrily: "Zhong Quan, was it you who told this with such a big mouth again?"
"Oh, Brother Meng Qi and Yun Lu are not outsiders. We will all be relatives from now on. It won't be a problem if I tell them..." Xiahou Ba muttered in explanation.
Xia Houjuan heard the hidden meaning in Xia Houba's words and was a little embarrassed, avoiding Ma Yunlu's eyes.
"Yes, brother Ziwen and brother Zhongquan were also worried about you, so they told us what happened. Tell us what the situation is like, and we can also help you come up with ideas." Ma Yunlu's attention was completely lost. On Cao Zhang, he continued to ask questions.
Cao Zhang knew that Ma Yunlu was very smart. At that time, he could think of water escape from Chang'an, and now it might be able to help him develop ideas, so he did not hide it and went to Xun Yu for advice. Finally, he told him the tips he gave him.
"Xun Lingjun's words are unpredictable and profound. I've thought about it all the way, but I still haven't figured out what he meant." Cao Zhang said helplessly in the end.
Ma Chao, Xia Houba and Xia Hojuan were all confused after listening to Cao Zhang's story. Obviously they couldn't figure out what Xun Yu's reminder meant.
Ma Yunlu frowned and thought for a moment, then asked: "Brother Ziwen, I want to know, what is the evidence of the report we have now?"
Xiahou Ba said for Cao Zhang: "It was a letter written by Li Jue to Dong Cheng. The letter mentioned that someone had provided him with the military information of our army at that time."
Ma Yunlu clapped his hands and said with a smile: "Then the matter is simple. Since Li Jue said that someone provided him with military information, then we will find a way to find the letter providing military information. Don't we know who wrote it?"
Xiahou Ba shook his head: "What's the use of finding it? Since someone wants to frame Dong Cheng, the letter must have been written in Dong Cheng's identity!"
After hearing Ma Yunlu's words, Cao Zhang suddenly woke up and said excitedly: "No, Yunlu is right. Finding the letter can prove who is collaborating with the enemy! He can pretend to be Dong Cheng, but the handwriting of the writer, We can still identify it!”
He is a forensic scientist and knows some simple methods of identifying handwriting. He believes that as long as he can get the letter, he should be able to find a way to confirm it.
What's more, Cao Pi would definitely not hire someone to write such a confidential letter. Even if he deliberately imitated Dong Cheng's handwriting, based on Cao Cao, Cao Zhi's and their own understanding of his handwriting, it would not be difficult to determine whether it was written by him.
As long as it can be confirmed that the person who wrote the letter is Cao Pi, then he can be convicted!
Ma Yunlu once again found a way to solve a problem that Cao Zhang could not solve in an understatement. Cao Zhang was so excited that he opened his hands excitedly and was about to kiss and hug him again in celebration: "Yunlu, you really It’s great…”
However, when he saw Xia Houjuan standing next to Ma Yunlu, he suddenly realized that this was inappropriate, and hurriedly turned his outstretched hands to punch the air vigorously to resolve the embarrassment.
Ma Yunlu looked at Cao Zhang, but he had already guessed his original intention. He looked at him and then at Xia Houjuan with a smirk.
Cao Zhang smiled sheepishly and avoided her gaze.
Xia Houjuan was simple by nature and didn't understand the riddle between the two. He just smiled happily and excitedly for Cao Zhang.
"Zhongquan, go find Li Huan and Li Ying immediately, invite them here, and tell them that I need their help with something important!" Cao Zhang gave instructions to Xiahou Ba.
Xiahou Ba took the order and quickly went to the two's residence, and soon invited them to Cao Zhang's residence.
Cao Zhang got straight to the point, explained his intention directly to them, and asked them if they knew the letter from "Dong Cheng" to Li Jue.
"Replying to the young master, this letter is indeed there. Li Jue collected it himself at that time, but we don't know whether it was destroyed or not. Even if it is preserved, it should be placed in his room in the Chang'an Marshal's Mansion. Here." Li Ying said to Cao Zhang after listening.
"It's just that after many battles, we are really not sure whether we can still find it now." Li Huan added.
"It doesn't matter, just make sure you have this letter!" Cao Zhang didn't pay too much attention. After thanking the two, he personally sent them out of the mansion.
"Zhong Quan, your good horse can be put to use now. You rush to Chang'an now to find that letter!" Cao Zhang saw the two of them off and immediately turned back to give instructions to Xiahou Ba.
Then, he turned to Xia Houjuan and said, "Juan'er, didn't you just say that you were fascinated by the scenery in the northwest? Then this time Zhongquan goes to look for clues, you go with her, and you can take a good look at the scenery over there. landscape."
Xia Houjuan was stunned after hearing Cao Zhang's words, and then understood his intention. He knew that Cao Zhang had heard her just say that he was fascinated by the northwest region, so he immediately arranged a trip for her and Ma Yunlu.
Xia Houjuan was very pleased that Cao Zhang loved her so much and took care of her. The only regret was that she knew that Cao Zhang would definitely not be able to accompany her on this trip.
Ma Yunlu immediately answered: "Okay, then I'll go with Juan'er. I was anxious to follow the army back. I didn't get to visit many places around Chang'an. I'll make up for it by going this time."
"Okay, I will feel more at ease if you are with Juan'er." Cao Zhang smiled happily.
Xia Houjuan felt much better when he heard that Ma Yunlu was accompanying him, and a smile appeared on his face.
Xiahou Ba asked worriedly: "Can I find this letter this way? What if I can't find it? Isn't that a waste of time?!"
Cao Zhang looked at Xia Houba and smiled: "Then you must search carefully and conscientiously. It is best to find every place in Chang'an Marshal's Mansion, so that Juan'er and Yunlu will have time to visit It’s a great time to have fun around Chang’an.”
Xiahou Ba looked at Cao Zhang in confusion, obviously not understanding what Cao Zhang meant by looking for a letter but not in a hurry.
However, Ma Yunlu already understood and understood that Cao Zhang was deliberately delaying time and detaining Cao Pi for as long as possible.
She said to Cao Zhang: "Brother Ziwen, don't worry, we will help Brother Zhong Quan search very carefully and we will never let go of any clues."
Seeing how smart and considerate Ma Yunlu was, Cao Zhang looked at her with a knowing smile...
Ma Yunlu looked at Cao Zhang and showed a happy smile...
…
Cao Xiu's residence.
He was sitting in his study, with several military books and tactics in front of him, which he was studying carefully.
Cao Zhen hurriedly entered from the outside and stared at Cao Xiu in front of him.
Cao Xiu looked up at Cao Zhen and continued to look down at his military book calmly.
Cao Zhen saw Cao Xiu getting anxious, rushed forward, grabbed the military book from his hand, and threw it to the ground: "I'll show you!"
Cao Xiu raised his head and glared at Cao Zhen dissatisfied: "Zidan, why are you crazy?!"
"Zihuan is now locked up in the cell of the school affairs office. Ziwen has been back for several days. He has not been interrogated or investigated. He has been locked up like this. You are still in the mood to read here. If you don't want to think of a solution, what should you do? Save Zihuan?!" Cao Zhen angrily accused Cao Xiu.
"Save? Guan Zihuan was Sikong's idea. If he doesn't let go, who can save him?" Cao Xiu responded helplessly to Cao Zhen.
"Then we just do nothing and watch Zihuan suffer in prison?" Cao Zhen shouted unwillingly.
Cao Xiu stood up helplessly and comforted Cao Zhen: "Zi Dan, I know you are worried about Zi Huan. But in the current situation, we just can't move. If we don't move, we won't make mistakes, and they won't be able to catch any new clues. "
"Dong Ji has committed suicide as planned. As long as Shi A doesn't let go, they won't be able to get any evidence to accuse Zi Huan, and they won't be able to convict Zi Huan. We don't need to worry too much."
Cao Zhen calmed down a little after listening to Cao Xiu's words, but he still said worriedly: "But the question is, if Ziwen can't find evidence, will Zihuan be locked up forever?"
Cao Xiu said confidently: "How is it possible? Don't say that we don't agree, Zijian can't agree. Do you think Yang Xiu suggested to Sikong that there is no purpose in letting Ziwen hear the case? What he wants is to provoke Ziwen and Zihuan Contradiction, so that Zijian can profit from it."
"Zihuan has been imprisoned for a long time, which will not do any good to Zijian. How could Yang Xiu not take action?"
"What's more, do you think Sikong will be willing to let Zihuan stay in the cell all the time? No matter how much he doesn't like Zihuan, he is still his son, and he is the eldest son. If he keeps being locked up without any evidence, Sikong's face looks good. ?"
"So we don't have to worry. Someone will naturally urge Ziwen to investigate the case. As long as he can't find evidence, Zihuan will have to be released sooner or later. Only then will our drama be considered a success!" Cao Xiu analyzed the situation. , built up confidence for Cao Zhen.
After Cao Zhen listened to Cao Xiu's analysis, although he was still worried about Cao Pi, he really had no better way at the moment, so he could only nod helplessly...
