The little heroine investigates a mysterious case

After finishing breakfast, Gu Zhanghua said goodbye and left with Shishu.

On the way to the study, Gu Zhanghua saw that there was no one around and asked the secretary quietly:

"Don't you think this is too much of a coincidence? The heroine saved me and Tian Shiliu, and in the end, she insisted on pairing us together? I injured myself to repay her kindness, and Tian Shiliu had a poisonous oath she swore since childhood? She took the initiative to cover up for me and told people that she was the one who stabbed me?"

Shishu touched his head and said, "Is this what it means that there is no coincidence in the world?"

Gu Zhanghua pondered: "No, after thinking about it... I feel that the heroine seems to know everything about the marriage between the two countries. She is very familiar with me and Tian Shiliu..."

"Your Highness, are you saying... that the female knight had planned this all along, deliberately setting up a trap to save you and the princess, and then deliberately pair you two up?"

Gu Zhanghua shook his head: "It doesn't make sense. If that's the case, what's the heroine's purpose?"

"I wonder... could the lady of the house gain anything from pairing you with the princess?"

Gu Zhanghua thought about it over and over for a long time, but couldn't figure out the deeper meaning of the heroine's action. Instead, he blamed himself for being too suspicious. Maybe it was just a coincidence and fate had arranged it this way.

After lunch the next day, Gu Zhanghua and Zhao Xuan were ready to go. Zhao Xuan asked Chunlan and Qiuju to stay in the mansion, but actually assigned them new tasks.

Chunlan came back last night and had already found out about Qing'e's situation. Zhao Xuan decided to immediately start implementing the next plan to subdue Qing'e, so there are still many things to prepare in advance.

Zhao Xuan only brought Qing'e with her, and Gu Zhanghua was still only accompanied by the secretary. The four of them set off with great enthusiasm and headed for the Zhenwang Palace.

At the same time, the ladies of the Zhen Palace were actively preparing for war.

Even Gu Jingfeng didn't know that the ladies weren't just competing in talent this time. They had been brooding over one thing: their prince coveted the beauty of Princess Tian Shiliu of Yue State and insisted on marrying her, nearly making her a real princess! It almost caused them all to fall out of favor!

But the prince was their only support in this life. They could not beat or scold him, nor could they even complain to him, so they focused all their resentment on Tian Shiliu alone.

Knowing that the prince was going to invite the virtuous prince and his wife to visit his mansion, everyone finally waited for the opportunity and worked together to discuss secretly, agreeing that everyone would use some tricks to make Tian Shiliu embarrassed in public!

After much inquiry, the ladies knew all too well that Tian Shiliu was just a pretty face with a rotten core. If they could just use their best abilities, they could bring Tian Shiliu down to earth and put her to shame! Let the prince see what a mistake he had made!

Zhao Xuan never expected that when she visited the Zhen Wang Mansion, she would encounter a Hongmen Banquet set against her!

At the gate of Prince Zhen’s Mansion, as soon as Prince Xian’s carriage stopped, Gu Jingfeng, who had come out of the mansion to greet them personally, ran over.

When Zhao Xuan got off the carriage and stood there, Gu Jingfeng was stunned!

Last time, when she dressed up as a palace maid, only the upper half of her face and a pair of eyes were visible. Now, with her entire face exposed, she looks even better! She's as elegant as a lotus emerging from water! And as dazzling as a sword unsheathed! These two contradictory qualities in this younger sister surprisingly don't conflict at all; instead, they complement each other, adding to her charm!

Gu Zhanghua bumped into Gu Jingfeng and whispered a reminder: "Third brother, pay attention to your image! This is your sister-in-law!"

Gu Jingfeng finally came to his senses and hurriedly welcomed the two to the back garden.

The ladies were already fully prepared. Some were tuning their zither strings, some were waving their sleeves, some were spreading drawing paper on their desks, some were humming soft tunes, and some were skillfully brewing tea...

Zhao Xuan had never seen so many beauties gathered together. It was like a hundred flowers suddenly blooming in front of her eyes, making her feel dazzled.

After greeting each other and introducing themselves, the Third Lady's tea was ready. She first served tea to King Zhen and King Xian, then she walked over to Zhao Xuan with the tea tray and invited her to drink tea.

Zhao Xuan took the teacup but before she drank it, she could smell the fragrance. She subconsciously drank it in one gulp and handed the empty teacup to the third lady, who smiled.

"Why is Princess Xian drinking tea like a cow? It's fine to drink wine like this, but drinking tea like this is a disgrace to my fine tea! This is Baihao Jinzhen, which costs ten taels of silver per tael..."

Zhao Xuan wiped her mouth hastily, a little embarrassed: "Sorry, it's mainly because it's too delicious!"

The Third Lady was very surprised: "Princess, have you never tasted this tea in Yue Kingdom? This is your Yue Kingdom's specialty. As a princess of Yue Kingdom, you should know that this tea should be smelled and tasted three times to appreciate its wonderfulness!"

Zhao Xuan thought that Tian Shiliu had lived in difficult circumstances since childhood, so how could she have tasted this tea? The Third Madam must not know about it, so she answered truthfully: "I really haven't tasted it before. This is my first time drinking it. I'm sorry to bother you."

The Third Lady said nothing more, but just gave the True King a meaningful look, then she returned to her seat, poured a cup, and indeed sniffed it three times and tasted it four times, with extremely graceful movements before she slowly tasted the cup, which made Zhao Xuan very tired.

Then the Fifth Lady danced to liven up the atmosphere. Her dancing was so graceful, like a goddess descending from heaven, that everyone couldn't help but cheer. After the Fifth Lady finished her dance, she walked over to Zhao Xuan with light lotus steps. In a soft and charming voice, she asked, "Would your Majesty do me the honor of dancing with me?"

Zhao Xuan still told the truth: "I can't dance..."

"What?!" The Fifth Lady was surprised. "This is the Flowing Cloud Dance that my daughter learned yesterday, specially to welcome Princess Houxian. It's a dance that even ordinary people in Yue Kingdom dance during every festival! And the princess doesn't know it? Not at all? Just a few dances to stretch her muscles will be good! What do you think, sisters?"

The ladies immediately echoed her words and all looked at Zhao Xuan expectantly. Even Gu Jingfeng and Gu Zhanghua applauded Zhao Xuan to encourage her.

Only then did Zhao Xuan realize that Madam Wu's move was malicious! From what she said, if she didn't dance, she would be worse than the ordinary people of Yue State. If she did dance, she would be making a fool of herself in public. She could easily dance with a sword, but she could even trip herself upside down with this kind of dancing!

Zhao Xuan refused directly: "I really can't!"

"Then I won't force you."

Zhao Xuan heaved a sigh of relief when she saw that the Fifth Madam didn't seem to be in any trouble and turned away.

Next, the Eighth and Twelfth Ladies collaborated, one playing the piano and the other singing, their coordination seamless. The piano played melodiously, the singing was gentle, and the song was called "Fisherman's Boat Song." Listening to it, it made one feel as if they were actually there, on a small boat in the river, rowing with the fishermen at dusk...

Zhao Xuan couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Gu Jingfeng truly had a lot of leisure time. The ladies in this mansion could form a theatrical troupe. If Gu Jingfeng were to lead them on tour, they'd surely make a ton of money! It would be much more impressive than the hard labor and labor of the people in Jiaoyang Valley working away from home!

Zhao Xuan was just thinking to herself when she saw the Eighth Lady and the Twelfth Lady finish their song and then walk towards her in a charming and charming manner amid the applause of the crowd. She immediately became a little nervous and thought, could it be that this song is something that all the people of Yue can sing?

The Eighth Lady then said, "Yue State has many rivers and lakes. This 'Fisherman's Song' is a song often sung by Yue fishermen while they go fishing. The tune is beautiful and everyone sings it. It is said that even at banquets in the palace, musicians play and sing it to show the Yue royal family's closeness to the people. I wonder if Princess has ever heard it?"

Zhao Xuan's heart finally settled down when she heard this. Just don't let her sing. She'd heard it before, of course! She nodded hurriedly, "I've heard it! I just heard it! Didn't you two just finish singing?! It's so beautiful!"

As soon as Zhao Xuan finished speaking, she heard everyone burst into laughter. She then realized that she had exposed her cowardice, but it was too late to undo what had happened, and she felt a little sad.

These ladies' talents might not be top-notch, but they had indeed all been cultivated through years of hard work. But what about her? Ever since the tragic change she had endured at the age of six, she had diligently practiced martial arts, regardless of the seasons. But aside from martial arts, she knew nothing of the other skills that every girl should master.

While the girls were learning needlework, she was practicing martial arts; while the girls were learning poetry and songs, she was practicing martial arts; while the girls were learning to play musical instruments and sing, she was practicing martial arts; while the girls were learning to play the piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, she was still practicing martial arts!

Thinking of this, Zhao Xuan suddenly felt that she was useless except for her martial arts skills! Now, not only did she make a fool of herself in public, but she also embarrassed Gu Zhanghua. A feeling of inferiority arose spontaneously.

Gu Jingfeng's mood at this moment could be said to be as good as it could be.

Apart from being a bit more beautiful than his wives, the virtuous princess is nothing but a loser! It was a lucky coincidence that he almost married her. It seems that his decision to go with the flow and help his fifth brother was absolutely the right one!

Gu Zhanghua watched Zhao Xuan sitting there, lost in thought, a look of shame and inferiority on her face. He felt a surge of pity for her. He thought, given her background, even if she was gifted, it would have been difficult for her to survive peacefully without anyone to teach her and the environment to learn on her own. Were these ladies determined to embarrass the princess? Did they really not take him, the virtuous king, seriously?