Forced to be a third person: I turned around and left the palace to marry a villain

It was still the same hidden private room from last time, and the layout was exactly the same.

"Your Highness, Miss Zhong Qing is back today. Would you like to ask her to sing a song for you two?" When the shopkeeper asked, he deliberately glanced at Jiang Xue, fearing that she would be unhappy.

Jiang Xue was sipping warm sake and eating the food with gusto, and she obviously didn't mind the suggestion at all.

Seeing her focusing on the food, Xiao Zhan couldn't help but laugh and nodded to the shopkeeper. Zhong Qing had been away for so long, so she must have brought back some valuable information.

The steward received the order and quickly brought in a seductively dressed woman. The woman held a guqin in her hand, and her fingers were as smooth as green onions, delicate and round, which made people feel comfortable just by looking at them.

A small face, slightly raised eyes, and a willow-shaped waist that sways gently, are unique in their charm. Such a woman is probably the favorite of many men.

Jiang Xue couldn't help but glance at Xiao Zhan, only to see that he was smiling, and that smile seemed to have a different meaning. It seems that our Prince Gong is also interested in this girl?

This made Jiang Xue wonder what kind of charm this woman had. She put down her chopsticks and looked at Zhong Qing intently.

"Your Highness, Princess Princess." Zhong Qing had already received the news from the steward on the way, so he was not surprised at all about Jiang Xue.

"This is the top performer in Tingfeng Tower," Xiao Zhan introduced to Jiang Xue.

"Jiang Xue politely returned the greeting, which surprised Zhong Qing. Usually, those noble ladies would look down on people like them, and even if they didn't say it, their eyes and behavior would reveal contempt.

But this Princess Changle was different. She didn't have the slightest air of being superior. Instead, she returned the gift so formally that Zhong Qing was both surprised and moved.

"What Your Highness likes is indeed extraordinary." Zhong Qing said to Xiao Zhan with a smile.

Xiao Zhan smiled but said nothing. Zhong Qing's evaluation of Jiang Xue made him feel inexplicably proud.

"Zhong Qing, I haven't heard you play the piano for a long time. Today, the Queen Mother has granted marriage to Changle and me. Why don't you play a piece of music as a gift to me?"

"Yes, sir." Zhong Qing frowned, smiled and lightly plucked the strings of the zither. Suddenly, melodious music flowed out from her fingertips.

The strings dance lightly, and the melody is leisurely, like a stream of water, going straight into the heart.

"The guqin is played lightly, and the strings whisper in the wind; the notes jump, and the song gathers in the wine glass; suddenly waking up from a dream, the flowers are like a dream, floating like duckweed."

Jiang Xue's heart surged as she listened to the piano music, and inspiration suddenly struck her. She recited verses that matched perfectly with the piano music she loved. There was poetry in the music and emotion in the poetry, which made others feel a sense of connection with her.

Her affectionate fingers trembled subtly on the strings. After all these years, she finally met a soulmate who understood her music!

Xiao Zhan listened attentively, savoring the song and poem carefully, and praised Jiang Xue's talent. He was secretly delighted, as if he had picked up a priceless treasure.

The song ended, the lingering sound lingered. Jiang Xue and Zhong Qing smiled at each other, their smiles as bright as spring flowers.

"Congratulations, Your Highness, on having such a beautiful woman by your side." Zhong Qing's sincere blessing made Xiao Zhan's heart warm. That's right, his princess was indeed a rare and wonderful woman in the world!

"Zhong Qing, your piano skills are getting better and better." Xiao Zhan put down his wine glass and praised sincerely.

"Thank you for the compliment, Your Highness. It is all thanks to Your Highness that I can feel this way today." Although Zhong Qing was a man of outstanding talent and few people appreciated him, Jiang Xue made her appreciate him unexpectedly.

Few people understand music, and it is even harder to find a soulmate. Meeting Jiang Xue today seems to be destined. She is as lonely and cold as a winter plum, but she remains noble in a romantic place. Ordinary people think she is aloof and difficult to get close to, but only Xiao Zhan understands her inner world.

The appearance of Jiang Xue made Zhong Qing feel that they had met too late. "Changle is sorry for showing off. I hope Miss Zhong Qing will forgive me." Jiang Xue smiled and looked at Zhong Qing carefully. This courtesan was not only beautiful, but also had a unique temperament that transcended the world.

Such temperament is not possessed by ordinary people. It seems that there must be an extraordinary story behind the love.

"Zhong Qing, have you discovered anything during this period?" After enjoying the music and the delicious food, it was time to get down to business. Xiao Zhan put away his smile and asked Zhong Qing seriously.

Seeing that Xiao Zhan had no intention of sending her away, Jiang Xue sat down calmly and waited for Zhong Qing's answer.

Zhong Qing replied, "Your Highness, my men have been keeping an eye on the abandoned crown prince of Huai State for some time and discovered that he is very close to the Minister of Rites Zhao Lianting."

Jiang Xue continued, "Zhao Lianting is the Minister of Rites, and he is responsible for receiving foreign guests. It's not surprising that he is so close to me."

Xiao Zhan agreed: "Changle is right."

Zhong Qing added: "But after further investigation, I found that Wang Changqing, who was arrested for writing an article to slander the Marquis of Zhenbei, was also in the Zhao Mansion."

This news made Xiao Zhan and Jiang Xue's faces change slightly. Wasn't Wang Changqing already imprisoned in the Dali Temple? How could he have gone to the Zhao Mansion?

"If Wang Changqing is really in Zhao's mansion, and the Dali Temple did not guard him strictly, and the prisoner's escape was reported, the Dali Temple would definitely be punished." Jiang Xue looked at Xiao Zhan.

Zhong Qing continued, "Also, Zhao Lianting once asked Lord Ye for a scholar named Lin Wenxing, saying that he would tell Wang Changqing's whereabouts if he handed over the scholar."

"Zhao Lianting's move may be to exchange Wang Changqing for Lin Wenxing. There must be some unknown secrets between him and Lin Wenxing. If Lord Ye is willing to exchange Lin Wenxing, the Dali Temple's troubles will be solved." Jiang Xue analyzed.

"If only it were that simple." Zhong Qing smiled bitterly, "The problem is that Lord Ye is unwilling to let go of Lin Wenxing."

"Mr. Ye loves talents. Lin Wenxing is talented, so Mr. Ye naturally values ​​him. Zhao Lianting is cunning and resourceful. Mr. Ye is probably afraid that he will harm Lin Wenxing, so he has been reluctant to agree."

Xiao Zhan and Ye Rongxiu were close friends, and when he was young, he learned a lot from Ye. It could be said that Ye was half his master. Therefore, he knew Ye's temper very well.

"Zhao Lianting... Lin Wenxing... one is a high-ranking official, the other is a scholar. They seem to have nothing to do with each other. Why did Zhao Lianting suddenly want to find Lin Wenxing?"

Jiang Xue was puzzled by this.

"Why not just ask the person involved?" Xiao Zhan thought about it. He realized that he couldn't figure out the reason by just sitting here and guessing. If he wanted to know the truth, he had to find out.

He looked down at Jiang Xue, stretched out his hand, and silently asked her if she wanted to go with him.

The warm big hand made Jiang Xue feel at ease, and before she could react, his body had already taken the lead.

She gently placed her soft hand into Xiao Zhan's and smiled brightly at him: "Okay."

Zhong Qing looked at the two people looking at each other in tacit understanding, and envied them in his heart. Such a well-matched couple is really enviable.

The radiance they exude makes people want to get closer.

"Zhong Qing, keep watching the abandoned crown prince of Huai State. Tell me immediately if there is any movement."

Before leaving, Xiao Zhan left a few instructions, then took Jiang Xue's hand and left the bustling Tingfeng Tower.