Chapter 23: Everyone is concerned

Xue Xiyang smiled, her voice charming and low, but her words were quite heartless: "Thank you sisters for your concern. Please forget about me, a heartless person. All the absurd things in the past are like a dream. Now I have someone I care about, and I should not associate with you anymore."

"Oh, so now that you've become a candidate for the County Lady's husband, you've turned over a new leaf and turned over a new leaf?" Wan Niang glanced at him sideways, her voice teasing. "But I heard that the Lingling County Lady has quite a few men in her backyard. Mr. Xue is so confident in himself that he's already left us sisters behind. Is he absolutely sure he can get his hands on the moon?"

Xue Xiyang didn't answer, but that voice, the best in Chang'an, was filled with a stirring, tender feeling: "Whether it's true or not, you can just wait and see."

Seeing his confidence, Wan Niang sighed softly, "That's right. In this world of love, who can escape the clutches of a romantic master like you? It seems we sisters can prepare a celebration banquet for Mr. Xue first."

Qian Deng listened from behind the wall, and the scene of their first encounter with him involuntarily reappeared before her eyes. Xue Xiyang was also so confident at that time, betting heavily on himself to be the final winner.

Ling Tianshui glanced at Qian Deng, his face expressionless as usual, and said nothing.

Cui Fufeng also turned his head to look at her, and saw that her drooping brows and eyelashes trembled slightly, covering up all the thoughts in her eyes.

The husband, who was always at ease with everything, couldn't guess her expression, and for the first time in his life, he suddenly felt a sense of insecurity and melancholy in his heart.

Wan Niang's voice came from the other side of the wall: "But Master Xue is too heartless. When I performed a dance at Princess Gao's mansion, Master Xue accompanied me on the pipa. Princess Gao praised my dancing and your pipa playing even more. Master Xue thus made many acquaintances with powerful people and became famous all over the world. Before the imperial examination, he was familiar with the examiners and passed the imperial examination at a young age. Speaking of which, Princess Gao did you a favor, but I heard that Master Xue openly stood against Princess Lingling for her sake and exposed her for framing her..."

Xue Xiyang interrupted her: "I only stand on the side that I believe is right. I don't want to see shameless frame-up tactics."

"Is that really the case? But everyone says that you must be delighted that Princess Gao is dead... You are such a heartless person! You abandoned the princess for the county lady, and we were all worried that she would retaliate against you. But now that she's dead, are you relieved?"

"Nonsense! Princess Gao and I have had no dealings for a long time. Her death was an accident. What does it have to do with me? While I'm not heartbroken, I won't gloat over her misfortune either." Xue Xiyang's voice was chilling, like a sweet, tender rose vine suddenly sprouting poisonous thorns. "You don't have to bother me anymore. If you interfere with my relationship with the county lady, you know what I'll do."

Wan Niang on the opposite side suddenly began to breathe rapidly. After a pause, she hurriedly bowed, lowered her head, and walked away quickly, not daring to stay any longer.

Xue Xiyang didn't even look at her. He walked back to the zither under the pear tree, blew away the petals covering it, and sat quietly for a while.

On the path covered with pear blossoms, a slender figure stretched by the sunlight was reflected.

He slowly raised his eyes and saw Qian Deng standing by the door. The men's clothing she was wearing could not hide her graceful and elegant figure, nor could it hide the thought in her eyes when she looked at him.

Seeing the county lady who came to look for him, Xue Xiyang naturally knew that she must have heard the conversation between him and Wan Niang just now.

The surprise on his face flashed away, and he stood up and walked towards Qiandeng: "County Master, why... are you here?"

Qian Deng nodded to him as a greeting. "I just saw Mr. Xue on the street and came over to ask him about something. Unfortunately, I happened to encounter Mr. Xue and another girl's dispute."

Xue Xiyang glanced at Cui Fufeng and Ling Tianshui beside her. Her slightly upturned peach blossom eyes were covered with a look of grievance, appearing even more watery than usual. "Could it be that even the county lady thinks that I have something to do with Princess Gao's death?"

Seeing him showing such a gentle and pitiful expression in front of the county lady, Cui Fufeng coughed lightly and turned his eyes away.

Qian Deng felt slightly embarrassed and could only say politely, "We were all at Qujiang Lake at the time, not far from where Princess Gao was in trouble. I've already asked several other gentlemen about this. Don't worry, Young Master Xue. It's just routine."

Xue Xiyang was understanding. After hearing her explanation, he immediately said, "Of course. If the county lady got into trouble because of us, wouldn't I be unable to sleep peacefully?"

Ling Tianshui didn't bother to watch him act so coquettishly and artificially in front of the county lady, and interrupted him directly: "According to what that girl just said, you and Princess Gao have not only been in frequent contact before, but she has also recommended you to many dignitaries. Does that mean she has done you a favor?"

"Well, I guess so. But since I'm so talented, wouldn't I be famous even without Princess Gao's support? Besides, who else could hold the position of Grand Music Minister but me? It doesn't really have much to do with her."

He said this with great confidence, and others had to believe him. After all, he was famous all over the world for his skills in music, chess, calligraphy and painting, and especially in music theory, singing and dancing, no one in the dynasty could match him.

"Of course, I was absurd in the past, and I know that the county lady doesn't like it, so I have changed my ways. I hope the county lady can supervise Xiyang more and prevent me from repeating the same mistakes."

Qian Deng didn't know how to respond when Ling Tianshui sneered, "Xue Lecheng's words are ridiculous. Your parents couldn't control your dissolute past. The county lord runs the Changhua Palace, and you're just one of the candidates for a husband. How could they care about you?"

Xue Xiyang did not argue with him, but just smiled bitterly and stared at Qian Deng silently. His aggrieved look was quite pitiful, which inevitably made Qian Deng have another thought in his mind - she is really a vixen, with such enchanting appearance, how many women can resist?

What about Princess Gao? Would she buy into this?

As she pondered, Xue Xiyang softly said, "The County Lady naturally wouldn't mind, but I must explain this to her. Ever since I entered the selection process for her husband, I've cut off all ties with people I shouldn't have. As for Princess Gao's relationship with me, I've already made my decision, and the County Lady naturally knows my feelings."

Qian Deng naturally remembered that when Princess Gao was trying to frame him, it was thanks to him that he made a quick decision. While helping her, he also completely offended Princess Gao.

"Also, a few days ago, the princess was out on the street and happened to see me. She flew into a rage and insulted and scolded me in the street. This matter is known to everyone. Princess Gao and I have completely torn our relationship apart. I am definitely the county lady's person. If the county lady dislikes me, then I have nowhere to go. I will really be a dog without a home..."

Qian Deng knew that he was playing the victim, but after all, he had offended Princess Gao because of himself, so he could only comfort him and asked him about his whereabouts in Qujiang Lake yesterday.

"Yesterday at noon, just as I was about to depart for Qujiang Pond, I suddenly received news that several talented people in the Imperial Music Bureau were arguing over a trivial matter and had asked me to mediate. I hurried to the Pear Garden to see that they were arguing about the performance of the song and dance. This matter involved the entire dance, so I had to review the historical records with them and consult several veteran talented people before I could confirm it.

"Once everyone was convinced, I rushed from the Pear Garden in the northwest corner of Chang'an to the Qujiang Pond in the southeast. It was already 3:00 PM, so I immediately went to the agreed-upon waterside pavilion. It was already decorated, but empty. I casually walked around, and soon everyone returned."

Xue Xiyang explained everything in detail, sounding very believable: "You can verify everything, County Lady. I absolutely do not have the time or possibility to kill Princess Gao."