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

"The journey is long, how about I play chess with Xiaoxue?" Xiao Zhan suggested.

"Okay, what about the bet?" Jiang Xue asked.

"Xiaoxue can have anything she wants."

"Can you really get what you want?"

"Except my life, everything else is under my control. Even if I don't have it, I will try my best to find it for Xiaoxue." Xiao Zhan replied.

Jiang Xue remembered that she had said something similar before, but she didn't expect that he would remember it so well.

"Then I want the moon."

"As long as Xiaoxue wins this game, the moon will not be a problem." Xiao Zhan responded with a smile.

So, the two set up the chess game in the carriage. Jiang Xue was used to making bold moves, while Xiao Zhan responded cautiously.

But this time, she soon found herself trapped in his encirclement and unable to resist. It turned out that Xiao Zhan had been deliberately letting her go all these years, and only today did he truly show his chess skills.

"I lost. What do you want?" Jiang Xue put down the chess piece and admitted defeat.

Xiao Zhan took out a box from his arms: "Xiaoxue lost the game of chess, but got a gift."

Jiang Xue took it curiously: "If you lose, you will get a gift. What a wonderful thing! What's in the box?"

"Hasn't Xiaoxue always wanted Jiang Ju'an's special snake repellent powder? I got some specially for you."

Jiang Xue accepted the gift: "It's fine as long as the thought is there. There are many snakes and insects in southern Xinjiang, so this powder should be very useful."

“You’re not going alone, we’re going together.”

Jiang Xue glanced at him lightly and said calmly, "Xiao Zhan, I think it's better for you to stay in the capital."

"I have met Ming Zheng, the Third Prince of Southern Xinjiang, several times, so following you to Southern Xinjiang may be able to help."

Xiao Zhan explained. Jiang Xue understood that what he said made sense, and she no longer insisted on her own ideas. After all, she was not as good as Xiao Zhan in reasoning.

"But snake repellent powder alone is not enough."

Xiao Zhan continued, "There are not only many snakes and insects in Southern Xinjiang, but also miasma and poisonous insects. I have asked Jiang Ju'an to prepare a batch of medicinal powders and pills that can resist these dangers."

"I heard that Jiang Ju'an has a free and easy personality. He made a big fuss in the mansion in order to learn medicine. I didn't expect him to be so obedient to you."

Jiang Xue asked curiously.

Xiao Zhan smiled and said, "Everyone has their own aspirations. He likes to study medicine and I helped him achieve his goal, so it's not surprising that he responds to my requests now."

Jiang Xue nodded: "I see, it seems that he lives a much freer life than I thought."

"Xiaoxue, when do you plan to leave for southern Xinjiang?" Xiao Zhan asked.

"The trip to Tianhe took up a lot of time. A few days ago, I received a letter from the young emperor, saying that General Lan Feng of Qian Kingdom was about to hold a wedding and invited us to go back to attend his wedding.

After we return to Beijing, it will be not long before General Lan Feng’s wedding, and I want to wait until the wedding is over before setting off.” She said.

Xiao Zhan felt uncomfortable when he heard about General Lan Feng of Qian Kingdom, but he did not show it on the surface.

He knew that Lan Feng was Jiang Xue's childhood sweetheart, but because Jiang Xue left Qian Kingdom for various reasons and went to Beiling, where she eventually met and got to know Xiao Zhan, Lan Feng left sadly and has since been stationed at the border to defend his country.

And now, he is finally going to start a family, which is a good thing for Jiang Xue and Xiao Zhan.

“It’s a wise choice.”

Xiao Zhan agreed: "You should indeed attend his wedding."

On the way back, Xiao Zhan got on Jiang Xue's carriage as usual.

Jiang Ju'an couldn't help but take a few more glances, and Fu Dong always glared at Jiang Ju'an as if giving a warning.

In comparison, Jiang Ju'an felt that Jiang Xue was much gentler than Fu Dong.

Xiao Zhan noticed the changes in Jiang Xue - she used to like to tease him occasionally, but now she was more silent and immersed in her own thoughts.

The two sat quietly in the carriage, each thinking about their own things. Xiao Zhan found that he actually missed the time they had interacted in the past.

They planned to return by water, so they stopped in Jiang'an again.

As soon as the waiter at the inn saw them get off the car, he immediately came forward to greet them with a smile on his face: "Sir, Madam, you are back again."

The waiter asked attentively, "Sir, Madam, are you still staying in the same room as last time?"

"Yes, prepare two more rooms." Jiang Xue replied.

After a tiring journey, everyone had a good rest in the inn that night.

The next day, everyone changed boats to continue their journey. Jiang Xue stayed in the room all day, while Jiang Ju'an dragged Xiao Zhan to play chess. Although his chess skills were not high, he lost several times.

And every time something was lost, Xiao Zhan would secretly send it to Jiang Xue.

Fu Dong looked at the gifts and couldn't help but say, "Your Highness, the Prime Minister is really getting better and better to you.

"Fudong, I think I may have made a mistake."

"Princess, why do you say that?"

"Perhaps, I shouldn't have involved Xiao Zhan in these matters of our Qian Nation because of my impulse."

Jiang Xue sighed softly.

Fu Dong knew in his heart that the problems between the princess and Xiao Zhan went far beyond the court rules.

They also face the life crisis of the Feng brothers of Qian State, the pressure from the Queen Mother and the attitude of Madam Feng. These obstacles seem insurmountable.

A few days later, the capital city received a piece of news:

Princess Yunchu of the Eastern Prime Minister State came to visit at the invitation of the Queen Mother. According to rumors, this princess was extremely beautiful, gentle, and especially good at playing the zither. It was said that her zither skills were second to none.

This time she accepted the invitation from Queen Mother Feng Ziqing of Qian State, whose intention was obviously directed at Xiao Zhan.

Thinking of this, Jiang Xue smiled and thought that if Princess Yunchu was really as outstanding as the rumors said, then she was indeed worthy of Xiao Zhan.

So, she said to Fu Dong, "Tell Xiao Zhan that I'm tired and don't want to go with him to the palace to see the Queen Mother. Let him report on my behalf."

She knew that Feng Ziqing must have a lot to say to her brother, so she might as well go back home and rest first.

Xiao Zhan went to Zhaode Hall alone. Facing the questions raised by Queen Mother Qian, he explained:

"Your Highness has been ill in Tianhe and has not yet fully recovered. She is even more exhausted after the tiring journey, so she will return to the Princess's Mansion to recuperate first."

Hearing this, the Queen Mother seemed somewhat dissatisfied, thinking that Jiang Xue was deliberately avoiding her, and expressed strong dissatisfaction with her, even saying some harsh words.

But Xiao Zhan immediately stopped the empress dowager's remarks, saying that such words were inappropriate.

Feng Ziqing also agreed: "Maybe she has planted spies in the palace, who can say for sure?

A powerful woman like her might break into the palace and threaten us one day."

He was dissatisfied with Jiang Xue's regency and felt that she had too much power.

Xiao Zhan tried to calm the Queen Mother and advised her to relax.

However, the Queen Mother mentioned that the late Emperor gave the Tiger Tally of the Three Armies to Jiang Xue, and left behind an imperial edict that she could not let go.

"Imperial decree? What imperial decree?"

Xiao Zhan asked curiously, recalling that Jiang Xue had mentioned this matter in Tianhe, and realized that there might be an important secret hidden in it.