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

She gently stroked the pistol hidden in her sleeve, thinking of An Yun's absolute trust in her.

Besides, An Yun had told her that many soldiers were not familiar with this new weapon.

"Xiaoxue, the trump card you are talking about refers to..." Jiang Chen asked with a frown.

Jiang Xue nodded, turned her eyes to the gradually clear figure at the door, and smiled: "Yes, it's him."

Everyone followed her gaze and saw Cao Ling standing there with a pale face, his eyes full of dissatisfaction with Jiang Xue.

"The Third Young Master is really punctual."

In the flower hall, Jiang Xue motioned Cao Ling to take a seat, but Cao Ling stood still like a stone and said coldly, "I'm only here to get the antidote."

Jiang Xue had planted snake venom in his body before, and if he didn't come to get the antidote on time, he would have no control at all. He should have come yesterday, but he was delayed because Cao Yuan attacked Cao Zhiqing. Last night, the snake venom took effect and the pain was so severe that he almost died.

"This bottle is the antidote." Jiang Xue held up a small bottle and shook it in front of Cao Ling. "Take one pill every day, and the snake venom in your body will be completely gone in ten days."

Upon hearing this, Cao Ling's eyes flashed with a glimmer of hope, but when he saw the meaningful smile on Jiang Xue's face, he immediately became alert. He knew that Jiang Xue never made a loss in business, and she must have some ulterior motive.

"What do you want me to do?" Cao Ling tried to suppress the urge to snatch the medicine bottle and asked calmly. He knew that with two masters, Xiao Zhan and Si Ruochen, present, he would only suffer if he tried to snatch it.

"Mr. Cao is really smart." Jiang Xue put the bottle on the table and tapped it lightly, saying, "I heard that your Cao family will be responsible for transporting the official salt?"

Huyin City did not have its own salt mines, and all salt was transported in from other places by special personnel appointed by the court. As an important conservative family, the lucrative task of transporting official salt was always in the hands of the Cao family.

Now it was the critical moment of transportation, and every time they were escorted, there would be troops escorting them. If they could blend into these troops and leave the city, it would be an excellent cover for them.

"Are you planning to use the official salt escort team to escape?" Cao Ling quickly guessed her intention and was surprised that Jiang Xue knew even such details clearly.

"That's right." Jiang Xue replied, "We are not greedy for cheap things, we just hope you can help us join the escort team."

"Is that so!" Looking at the small bottle on the table, Cao Ling struggled internally. Is it worth it to trade his life for the safety of several people?

With that bottle of antidote, Cao Ling will be able to get rid of the torment of snake venom, and Zhiqing will not have to worry about his health day and night.

"Can this antidote really cure my snake venom?"

Cao Ling raised his eyebrows slightly. He had to make sure that the antidote was indeed effective.

"Could it be that Third Master Cao suspects that I would poison you?" Jiang Xue understood that Cao Ling did not completely trust her.

She poured out a pill, tilted her head back and swallowed it: "Does this make you feel more at ease?"

Seeing Jiang Xue taking the medicine herself, Cao Ling's vigilance eased a little. He walked forward and wanted to take the medicine, but was stopped by Jiang Xue.

"Don't worry, Third Master Cao. I can only give you one today."

She spread out her palm, on which was a pill. "I'm sorry, because of our past, I have to hold back. This pill can temporarily suppress the toxicity. Once we leave Huyin City safely, I will give you the whole bottle of antidote."

"By incorporating you into the garrison troops, our Cao family is taking a huge risk. If you are exposed, not only will your lives be in danger, but we will also be implicated. Isn't such a risk enough to exchange for a bottle of antidote?" Cao Ling asked back.

"As you said, once exposed, not only your life but also the entire Cao family may be ruined. Therefore, for the safety of the family, you must also ensure that we are not discovered." Jiang Xue felt like a bad person, using threats to achieve her goals.

"Humph! Since this deal doesn't benefit me at all, why should I agree to it?"

Cao Ling snorted coldly, snatched the pill and prepared to leave. At least this medicine can keep him going for a while, maybe he can find other ways to detoxify.

"Mr. Cao San, please listen to me. If the snake venom in your body is not removed quickly, you will die within this month." Jiang Xue said in a flat tone.

Her words made Cao Ling stop in his tracks. When he turned around, the shock in his eyes was obvious.

"The medicine you took just now can only alleviate some of the pain at best."

Jiang Xue supported herself on the armrest with her elbows, stroking the smooth medicine bottle with her left thumb: "Cao Zhiqing's status in the Cao family is not high, right? Cao Yuan wanted to kick her out yesterday. I think you didn't come to get the antidote in order to protect her. If you're gone, her life in the Cao family will only be more difficult."

When Cao Zhiqing was mentioned, Cao Ling suddenly lost the strength to resist. His clenched fists slowly loosened and his head drooped.

"I'll deal with it as soon as possible." The expression on his face was hidden in the shadows, but Jiang Xue could feel his unwillingness.

"Why are you sitting here alone?"

The night is falling, the moonlight is bright and the stars are sparse.

Jiang Xue sat alone in the courtyard, looking up at the sky with a frown on her face, as if she was troubled by something.

Xiao Zhan brought a cloak and gently placed it on her thin shoulders.

He frowned when he touched her cold fingers, then pulled her into his lap and hugged her gently from behind.

The feeling of being surrounded by warmth made her relax, and she found the most comfortable position as usual, resting her head on his shoulder, her breath filled with the familiar ambergris.

"My attitude towards Cao Ling today made me feel like I've become the kind of person I once hated." There was a hint of self-blame in her voice.

In order to achieve her goal, she had to resort to tough measures, and that aggressive look reminded her of Jun Li in the past.

She sighed, a bitter smile flashed across her beautiful face, and then she buried her face in Xiao Zhan's arms, seeking comfort.

Sensing her self-loathing, Xiao Zhan hugged her as if comforting a child, and gently stroked her back with one hand.

"This is a situation that forces us to do this. We have no choice. Even if you don't do this, I might use the same method to deal with others." He was referring to Mo Chenjun.

There are countless enemies in front of them who want to kill them.

Sometimes you have to make hard choices in order to survive.

If we don't do this, we will have to force our way in, which is too costly.

Although they are all lives, at the critical moment of life and death, he will prioritize protecting his own people.

Therefore, he did not think Jiang Xue was wrong. Extraordinary times require extraordinary measures.

Besides, Cao Ling was hostile to them in the first place, so it was only natural for him to leave.

With her lover's understanding and company, Jiang Xue gradually calmed down. She slowly raised her hands, wrapped them around Xiao Zhan's neck, and their foreheads touched.