The little heroine investigates a mysterious case

Gu Zhanghua sat up straight, thought for a moment, then leaned closer to Zhao Xuan and whispered, "I'm going to tell you something from the bottom of my heart today. Don't worry, if I get the chance in the future, I'll definitely send you back to your homeland. I won't let you stay alone in an empty room for too long, and I won't let you waste your youth here with me!"

Zhao Xuan's head buzzed when she heard this! What the hell?! Sending her back to her homeland?! Gu Zhanghua had come up with this idea! Wouldn't that just be torturing her to death? She was a fake princess! Even if few people in Yue knew her, she had lived in the palace for so many years, so she must have a few old acquaintances, right? If Gu Zhanghua dared to do this, she would definitely run away!

But at this moment, Zhao Xuan could only force out a smile and look at Gu Zhanghua with gratitude.

"Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty!"

"No thanks, no thanks! Helping others achieve their goals is what a gentleman does! I wonder if Princess knows the heroine's surname and name, and which sect she controls in the martial arts world?"

Zhao Xuan smiled bitterly in her heart. Could she say that the heroine's name was Huang Huacai and that she was in charge of Jiaoyang Valley? She certainly couldn't say it. If she did, it would scare Gu Zhanghua to death.

"This... I didn't ask, and the heroine didn't say."

Gu Zhanghua immediately thought of Zhao Xuan and said, "Then repaying your kindness will be a hassle in the future... But don't worry, the heroine might come to me again, and I'll ask for you then. After all, you are still my nominal princess, and we can't let the heroine look down on the virtuous king and his wife!"

Zhao Xuan's heart leaped at the thought. So, there was such a possibility. As a female knight herself, couldn't she ask Gu Zhanghua to repay the princess's kindness and do her another favor? She had a brilliant mind!

When Zhao Xuan thought of this, she felt very happy!

At this time, Qing'e walked in quickly and announced, "Your Highness and Princess, this is an invitation from the Royal Palace."

Gu Zhanghua reached out to take the invitation, opened it and smiled as he read it.

"Third brother's spider-like handwriting has remained unchanged since he was a child. No one can imitate it. It is truly unique in Xia Country! One of a kind!"

Zhao Xuan laughed and said, "Are you praising him? Or insulting him?"

Gu Zhanghua continued, "Moreover, most people can't understand it. Only people like me and my second brother who are very familiar with him can roughly guess a little."

Gu Zhanghua handed the invitation to Zhao Xuan. Zhao Xuan took a look at it and was immediately overjoyed. It turned out that there were handwritings in the world that were uglier than hers. Her favorability towards Gu Jingfeng immediately increased.

"I really don't understand! What did the real king write on the invitation?"

"The gist of it is, because of my health concerns, everyone left the wedding without a proper feast. Tomorrow afternoon, he's hosting a banquet in the back garden of his mansion, and he invites you and me to come!"

Shishu immediately looked at Gu Zhanghua eagerly.

"Your Highness, the cuisine at the Zhen Palace is truly unique in Xia Country. We also have fine wines and many, many beautiful women!"

"You're right! The last time I went was before the wedding, but I had something on my mind and didn't enjoy it to the fullest. Now that everything is settled, we can finally celebrate. I wonder what performances Third Brother's wives have prepared. I'm really looking forward to it!"

The secretary became interested: "I know! I know! It must be a hundred flowers blooming in all colors. In the past, whenever His Royal Highness the True King entertained guests at home, it was a good opportunity for the ladies to make His Royal Highness proud. The servants would secretly keep a record of which lady received the most compliments from the guests. That lady would definitely be the one to sleep with him that night. To put it bluntly, it was a small talent show!"

Gu Zhanghua nodded: "That's right! I'm actually more optimistic about Madam Eight's zither skills! She's truly a combination of talent and beauty!"

The secretary objected: "Madam, painting with both hands at the same time is unparalleled in the world!"

Zhao Xuan listened from the side, growing increasingly angry. She hadn't realized these master and servant were the same kind! They were just going out for a meal, but they were treating it like a brothel. Did they think they were selecting the most beautiful woman?

Zhao Xuan coughed hard twice, and Gu Zhanghua and Shishu stopped talking and looked at Zhao Xuan in confusion.

Gu Zhanghua asked with concern, "Princess, is your cough coming back? Do you want to ask the imperial physician to take a look?"

"Yes! I made a mistake! I can't attend the banquet tomorrow!"

"That's such a shame, Qing'e. Go to the palace now and ask Dr. Gao to come and tell him that the princess is feeling unwell."

"I don't need any doctor!"

"Then...what do you need? I'll have my servants take care of it."

Zhao Xuan then confidently placed her hands on her hips and said, "If I'm not going, neither are you! The Xian Wang Consort is already ill, and yet the Xian Wang is still taking his servant to the Zhen Wang Palace to eat, drink and have fun. If this gets out, how do you write the word 'Xian' in your name? Tell me about it!"

The secretary looked at Zhao Xuan, who was full of energy, with a rosy face and a strong stamina. She blinked and asked, "Princess, you look much stronger than the prince. You don't look sick at all..."

"If I say I'm sick, I'm sick!"

Qing'e, standing by, couldn't help but laugh, "Your Majesty, the princess is jealous. You and the secretary just kept praising the ladies of the Zhen Palace. It was a bit too much!"

Zhao Xuan and Gu Zhanghua were both startled when they heard this. They glanced at each other and then quickly looked away.

Zhao Xuan muttered, "I... I'm not jealous..."

Qing'e's words woke Gu Zhanghua up. He heard Zhao Xuan deny it, but her eyes looked a little guilty, which meant she admitted that she was jealous!

When Gu Zhanghua thought about it, he was actually a little surprised, but immediately became very distressed.

It's only been a few days since they got married, and he's already serious about Tian Shiliu? But all these years, he's been obsessed with Sister Xuan. Is he so easily disenchanted with the past? A shift in affections? Unfaithfulness? These are traits he's always despised most in men. Third Brother is his biological brother, and he can't afford to comment on his private life. He's always been understanding and tolerant, but not necessarily agreeable...

Hmm? Gu Zhanghua thought again, could it be that after spending so much time with his third brother, he had picked up his bad habits?

Gu Zhanghua's mind was in a mess and he stood there without saying a word.

After hearing Qing'e's advice, Zhao Xuan's frustration turned into sourness. She didn't know what to do next, so she didn't say anything.

Qing'e looked left and right, then chuckled again.

"One is perfectly healthy, yet insists on pretending to be ill. The other has always been chaste, yet disdains explanations. Princess, if we talk about the most virtuous and indifferent person in Xia Country, it's our virtuous king. He and the real king are two completely different extremes! The prince said that the wife of the real king is both talented and beautiful, but he was just giving a fair comment from an admiring perspective, with absolutely no other intentions! I think the prince and princess should attend the banquet together tomorrow! Princess, you should also admire him and see if what he said is true. What do you think?"

Qing'e winked at Gu Zhanghua as she spoke.

Gu Zhanghua then said, "That's right! Qing'e is right! Shi Liu, come with me. It would be boring if I went alone!"

Zhao Xuan also wanted to quickly use this opportunity to ease the awkwardness, so she said, "Then... I'll just do it reluctantly!"

Qing'e smiled and called out to the door, "Breakfast is served!"

Qing'e's advice made Zhao Xuan involuntarily feel more favorable towards her and less wary of her.

Zhao Xuan thought that once Chunlan had thoroughly understood Qing'e's background, she would have to find a way to make Qing'e her own as soon as possible, only then would her mission be accomplished.