Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 104 Mrs. Ping An
Xue Sui pursed his lips but said nothing.

In a blink of an eye, Li Zhao's face was within reach.

"Why are you silent? What did you say?"

His facial features were sharp, as if carved with a knife. His high nose bridge set off the pair of deep eyes beneath his brow. Although he was smiling slightly, there was an inexplicable hint of evil in his eyes.

Xue Sui: "I said, a stray dog ​​came out of nowhere in the yard, and I kindly prepared some meat to feed it, but it didn't know what was good for it. After eating and drinking, it suddenly pounced on me and bit me. I was not prepared for the moment, and my lips were bitten by it..."

She spoke calmly and seriously.

Li Zhao's face darkened as he heard this.

After hearing one more sentence, his expression became even gloomier and uglier.

"Will Li Huan believe it?"

Xue Sui replied respectfully, "Prince Duan is not as suspicious as the Crown Prince."

"Xue Ping'an!"

Li Zhao stared at her, as if someone had touched his reverse scale.

After a moment, he straightened his robe and sat down beside her.

"I haven't eaten enough..."

His voice was mellow and clear, with a hint of teasing.

Xue Sui keenly heard some danger and profound meaning in that mischievous smile...

The look in Xiao Zhao's eyes when she left appeared in her mind again.

Li Zhao used to not make such jokes.

Is the love thread so powerful?

Xue Sui calmed himself down and took a deep breath silently.

"Your Highness, please leave quickly. Prince Duan is definitely not an ordinary person. He said those words to my face, and he might have doubts in his heart..."

Li Zhao casually picked up a wooden sculpture she had placed next to her pillow and played with it nonchalantly, "I'm afraid he won't get suspicious."

Xue Sui glanced at him.

That wood carving is a kitten.

Xue Sui carved it for fun when she had nothing to do, and she patiently polished it with sandpaper until it was very smooth.

The kitten has a big smile on its face and looks very cute.

In the man's palm, the kitten turned upside down, with a smiling face, against Li Zhao's stern face, just like an innocent life caught in the clutches of a devil...

Xue Sui couldn't help but frown.

"I thought the prince was a prudent man."

Li Zhao's fingers gently stroked the wood carving, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, outlining a faint smile, and he looked straight into Xue Sui's eyes.

"You've made me lose my temper. Are you satisfied?"

Xue Sui's eyelids jumped: "Xue Liu doesn't deserve it."

Seeing how nervous she was, Li Zhao's mouth corners slightly raised.

"Do you really want to follow Li Huan to the Villa?"

Xue Sui: "I have no reason to refuse."

Li Zhao smiled, but there was a hint of coldness in his eyes.

"I'll give you one?"

Xue Sui pretended to be surprised, "Thank you, but it's not necessary."

Li Zhao's eyes fell on her crow-wing eyelashes.

Blinking quickly, guilty conscience.

He snorted coldly.

"Xue Ping'an, you are really capable."

Xue Sui raised his eyes, looked at him calmly, and said, "I have done what Your Highness wishes, using my illness as an excuse to keep my distance from Prince Duan, and I will not get entangled with him in the future. Why don't you abide by the alliance agreement, cooperate with me wholeheartedly, and each get what he needs?"

Li Zhao looked at her determined eyes and asked with a smile: "What do you want me to do?"

Xue Sui turned slightly and fixed his eyes on him.

"Xie Yanzhan, the Minister of the Dali Temple, Guo Pi, the Duke of Zheng, You Zhu, the Minister of the Taichang Temple, Xiao Wenyuan, the Minister of the Central Secretariat, Lü Yuan, the Minister of War, Yuan Qili, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and Zheng Yan, the Minister of the Imperial Court, are these people really unrelated to the Ministry of Revenue corruption case?"

When Li Zhao heard her recite the official titles and names one by one in her cold voice, as if she knew them all by heart, his eyebrows couldn't help but twitch.

It was not because of the arrogance of a weak woman who wanted to take revenge on the three dukes and nine ministers, but because of a kind of inexplicable sadness...

The results of Chen Henian's diagnosis and treatment were only told to Li Huan.

However, the prescriptions he wrote and Xue Sui's medical records eventually fell into Li Zhao's hands.

After examining it, Zhang Huaicheng, the imperial physician of the Eastern Palace, remained silent for a long time before he let out a long sigh.

"This girl has had a difficult life, but she has survived a great disaster, so she will surely have good fortune in the future."

No one is born to endure those sufferings.

How much pain must one endure to suffer such injuries?
If we put ourselves in Li Zhao's shoes, we might also use the same or even more cruel means to retaliate.

But he was not sure that he could survive those dark times like Xue Sui, endure the pain, and then spend ten years to carefully plan, constantly hone himself, and slowly grow into a thoughtful chess player...

A weak woman needs a very strong and tough heart to be able to do this.

Li Zhao lowered his head, not wanting to disappoint her, but had to say it.

"Your Majesty does not want to see that outcome."

The situation in the court is not as turbulent as ordinary people think, but it is not as simple as ordinary people think. The relationship between the three dukes and nine ministers, the court officials, and the nobles is complicated, and most of them have in-laws, so it can be said that one move can affect the whole body.

The emperor was unwilling to dig so deep if it was not necessary.

The Daliang court was dug up and in ruins, with blood all over the place.

Xue Sui was silent.

She understood, so she remained silent.

Li Zhao said: "Wait a little longer."

Xue Sui looked at him and smiled slightly.

"I know what to do."

It was quiet for a long time...

They looked at each other in silence, their gazes as deep as the abyss.

For a long time, Li Zhao looked at the wooden carved kitten in his hand.

"You like cats?"

Xue Sui said calmly: "It's just to kill time when I have nothing to do."

"This smiling cat is really adorable."

Li Zhao stared at her, with a flash of tenderness in his eyes.

He should have met Xue Ping'an when he was nine years old.

But she may have forgotten.

Or maybe, I never remembered this part.

Because at that time, she was like a wounded kitten, dying and almost dead.
-
It was a cold winter day.

Li Zhao was punished by Emperor Chongzhao to go to Puji Temple to reflect on his mistakes.

He was filled with grievance and resentment.

He was punished just because of a small dispute with Pingle.

Besides, why is he always wrong?
He became the crown prince at the age of five.

Two months later, the previous emperor passed away, and he naturally became the crown prince.

Everyone said he was noble, but his father always blamed and ignored him.

The reason is - he is the prince.

To the extent that when Li Zhao was a child, he always believed that "being a crown prince" was the most severe punishment in the world, and the Eastern Palace was the most terrible prison in the world.

On that day, the Zen temple of Puji Temple was covered with thick snow, and the cold wind was as sharp as a knife, causing pain on the face.

There was dead silence all around, as if time had stood still.

He walked alone on the cold path, holding a book in his hand, but his heart was colder than the wind.

Just then, a faint cat's meow came from behind the rockery.

He stopped and walked towards the sound.

No cats.

There was only a thin girl.

She curled up in the gap under the rockery. The gap was very small, with two large rocks outside. Li Zhao didn't know how she got in. Looking at her appearance, she seemed to be trying desperately to get out and call for help, but she was stuck there and had no strength left, unable to move.

Li Zhao was intelligent and precocious since childhood.

In his eyes, many children are ignorant and stupid.

The little girl in front of me must be the same.

I squeezed into this narrow gap and couldn't get out, so I had to endure the cold.

He didn't want to meddle in other people's business, but after taking two steps, he couldn't help but look back.

She is so much like a cat.

A few days ago, Li Zhao just rescued a frozen kitten, just like her now.

Wet all over, breathing weakly from the cold, with a helpless look in his eyes...

Li Zhao has liked cats, dogs and various small animals since he was a child.

This was because, having become the crown prince at the age of five, there were very few people around him who treated him sincerely, and each one was more hypocritical and insincere than the other.

Only in front of these little animals can he express his feelings without any scruples and relieve his loneliness.

This "kitten" made it impossible for him to just turn around and leave.

He walked back and with great effort he finally moved the two huge rocks that were blocking the gap.

The stone was so heavy that he was out of breath and his new fox fur coat was dirty.

After the stone was removed, we found that the "kitten" was not only thinly dressed, but also injured. There were bloodstains and scars all over its feet, legs, arms, and body. It was obviously beaten and pressed behind the rockery...

It turns out that she was not just playing around.

"Who hurt you?" Li Zhao couldn't help but squat down and look at her injuries carefully.

The little girl didn't react at all, her eyes were dull and empty, filled with fear and despair.

Li Zhao took out a clean handkerchief from his arms and tried to wipe and stop the bleeding.

Her body trembled slightly. She did not resist, and was unable to resist.

"You should leave now..."

"Kitty" finally spoke.

The voice was as weak as a mosquito or fly, as if the man had used up all his strength, and as if he was extremely frightened.

"They...will beat you...go away...don't let anyone see you..."

Li Zhao was stunned for a moment, "What's your name? Who are they?"

She didn't respond, her dark purple lips just trembled as she kept repeating it.

"Come on."

Li Zhao really didn't like this feeling.

At that moment, he wanted to make her believe that he had the ability to deal with bad guys, even though he was only nine years old.

"Tell me what you say, and I will help you get revenge and protect you."

She stared at him motionlessly and shook her head.

"No one... no one can protect me... Go away..."

Li Zhao did not move. She was like a cornered kitten, showing her fierce eyes, showing her claws, and spitting at him.

"I told you to stop meddling in other people's business! Go, go..."

She spat on Li Zhao's new clothes...

"Ignorant of good and evil."

He gritted his teeth in anger.

Before leaving, he took off the soiled cloak and threw it on her cold body.

Later, he thought of the new fox fur coat and the little girl who had soiled his clothes, and went to see the rockery...

The wind and snow flattened everything, and she left no trace.

The clothes and blood were gone.

Gradually, he forgot about it.

It was not until Xue Sui broke into Youhuangju and revealed the shocking scar that he remembered the "kitten" who had soiled his clothes and spat at him...
-
"Your Highness?"

"Your Highness, it's late, let's go."

Xue Sui saw Li Zhao staring at the wooden kitten in a daze, wondering what he was thinking about, and could not help but remind him.

"Prince Duan has been on guard against me lately, so we should be careful..."

Li Zhao curled the corners of his lips.

It seems like he likes this sentence very much.

"You and I" are partners fighting side by side.

Prince Duan was their common enemy.

The clear-cut position of friend and foe made the "love Gu" in his body feel very comfortable, as if it had tasted the sweetest bait. It became excited and active in an instant, with a burning light in its eyes.

When he grew up, he understood that the little girl told him to "go away quickly" and forced him to leave not because she was ungrateful, but because she was afraid that he would be implicated and bullied by those people.

The older girl at this moment asked him to "go away quickly", probably out of the same concern.

"Are you afraid that I am no match for Li Huan?"

Xue Sui was stunned, totally unaware of what he was thinking.

"Of course not. The prince is the prince, and his status is respected."

"Hmm?" Li Zhao raised his eyebrows.

The 20-year-old prince was like a handsome and shy boy, with a pair of dark eyes filled with blazing flames...

"Okay, I'll rely on you..."

He lowered his head and looked at her deeply.

The two were so close that they could hear each other's breathing.

For a moment, Xue Sui thought he would do something out of line, or bite her in dissatisfaction like last time...

After all, he has always acted unrestrainedly and would not have any scruples just because he is Li Huan's wife.

But Li Zhao quickly sat up straight, straightened his clothes in an orderly manner, and regained his former coldness and majesty.

"Don't stare at me like that. Just walk away."

The prince is still the prince after all.

In the blink of an eye, he turned back into the almighty and awe-inspiring crown prince.

Xue Sui smiled and said, "Farewell, Your Highness."

The tightly closed window was gently pushed open.

Li Zhao looked at her and said nothing.

A figure flashed by, a gust of cold wind blew in, and then quickly disappeared.

Xue Sui sat there and didn't say anything for a long time.

Xiao Zhao called softly from outside: "Miss, do you need anything?"

Xue Sui: ...

Xiao Zhao, like her, had practiced martial arts since childhood and had sharp ears and eyes. She must have heard the noise in the house.

This question made her feel a little confused.

She put the wooden kitten back next to the pillow, thought about it, and felt that it was inappropriate, so she put it farther away, then responded indifferently with a wooden face.

"No, you should rest early."

Xiao Zhao seemed to be relieved at this.

"Yes."
-
Today is the day when Emperor Chongzhao visits Empress Xie's bedroom once a month.

Inside the Pepper Room, candlelight flickered and light and shadows swayed on the wall, reflecting the most noble couple in the Daliang Dynasty.

Empress Xie undressed the emperor herself and spoke in a roundabout way.

"Zhao'er is getting older, and it's time for him to start a family."

Emperor Chongzhao paused with his raised hands and his eyes were indifferent.

"Why bring this up again?"

Queen Xie felt a tightness in her heart.

Now Li Huan has placed his own people in many important positions in the court. This is clearly the emperor giving him the opportunity to cultivate his own faction and expand his power.

There is only a little bit of love when we meet.

The prince is too distant from the ministers in the court.

Empress Xie hoped that the prince would get married soon, so that he could integrate into the core of the court and get more support. But the emperor's question made her at a loss for words.

"When a son reaches adulthood, it is normal to discuss marriage."

Her voice was gentle but firm, trying to persuade Emperor Chongzhao.

He also knew that the emperor was not incapable of thinking of it, but he just didn't want the prince to get involved in his power too early.

Queen Xie was full of grievances.

But she would not be like Concubine Xiao, who would always show weakness and act pitiful in front of the emperor.

She calmed herself down and continued, "Which parent in the world doesn't worry about their son's marriage? Even ordinary people should make arrangements. Your Majesty is busy with many affairs and has many children, so he may not have the time to take care of them, but I only have one son, Zhao'er... If this matter has been delayed, others will think that I, as a mother, am not doing my best."

Emperor Chongzhao frowned slightly.

He hated it most when Queen Xie said this kind of thing.

What does it mean to have only one son?
Which prince did not respectfully call her "Mother"?
To favor one over the other is contrary to the virtue of the Queen.

As an emperor, he had three harems and six courtyards, and it was natural for him to have many children. How could she be dissatisfied and complain like this?
Emperor Chongzhao said coldly: "As parents, we should respect the wishes of our children. The prince personally submitted a memorial stating that he is still young and wants to concentrate on governing the country and not start a family for the time being. As a father, do I have to force him?"

After that, he paused and said, "Besides, there is no suitable candidate for the Crown Princess right now..."

Empress Xie hurriedly asked, "Didn't Your Majesty also take a fancy to the second daughter of Master Lu's family a few days ago?"

Emperor Chongzhao glanced at Empress Xie with a hint of mockery.

"Miss Lu is close to Pingle, and the Queen doesn't mind?"

Empress Xie said, "What I value is that Master Lu is from a noble family with strict family traditions. As long as she is loyal to the court and Your Majesty, it doesn't matter if a girl is close to anyone. Could it be that in Your Majesty's mind, I am such a petty person?"

Her eyes were cold and her tone was neither humble nor arrogant.

Implicit in his words was the accusation against Concubine Xiao for being narrow-minded.

To a certain extent, Empress Xie is indeed more calm and dignified than Concubine Xiao, and behaves in a dignified and appropriate manner.

Otherwise, the Crown Princess at that time would have been Xiao, not Xie.

Xie was chosen for him personally by the late emperor.

Emperor Chongzhao didn't like Xie for any reason; he disliked her from the first sight.

However, the late emperor was autocratic and would not allow changes to be made once a decision was made.

Thinking about it now, his dislike for Xie might have been mixed with his helplessness as an emperor who was unable to exercise control over his own destiny.

This was a marriage he was forced to accept under irresistible circumstances.

It was forced upon his wife by the late emperor.

Emperor Chongzhao sighed and slowed down his tone.

"Don't worry, Queen. I will slowly select a princess consort who is both virtuous and talented for the Crown Prince. She will be able to assist him in the future, be a model for the country, and protect the country's destiny..."

Queen Xie dug her fingernails into her palms, but there was a gentle smile on her face.

"It's all up to His Majesty."

She knew in her heart that the emperor's words were a reassurance to her.

The implication was that no matter how much he doted on Prince Duan and Princess Pingle, Li Zhao's position as crown prince was as stable as Mount Tai and could not be shaken.

After all, before the death of the late emperor, Li Zhao, who was only five years old, was canonized as "Crown Grandson" by the late emperor and was placed with endless hopes by the late emperor.

Before the late emperor died, he repeatedly warned the current emperor on his sickbed not to change the crown prince, otherwise it would shake the foundation of the country.

Therefore, even if the emperor was partial and dissatisfied with the prince, he had to act like a fair, strict and loving father in the court.

If he wanted to become a benevolent and wise ruler respected by all the people, he could not easily violate the rules set by his ancestors, let alone disregard the last words of the previous emperor.

Before going to bed, the couple didn't speak anymore.

Close relatives and estranged couples.

They usually didn't have much to say to each other, and they were even more speechless at this moment.

Empress Xie carefully waited for the emperor to lie down, then bowed and said:
"Your Majesty, please go to bed early. I have cooked some nourishing soup on the stove, and you can eat it tomorrow when you get up. The fire is not yet hot, so I will go and look after it for a while. In order not to disturb your Majesty's sweet dreams, I will take a rest in the side hall after I finish cooking, and I will not come here again."

This was her excuse to avoid sharing the emperor's bed.

The two of them knew each other very well.

She didn't want to serve, and the emperor didn't want to come.

But in this deep palace, everything has to be done carefully. Even for a most honorable couple like them, they have to behave decently.

Emperor Chongzhao frowned slightly, watched her bow and leave, and suddenly said, "Queen, wait a minute..."

Queen Xie paused, then turned around slowly, still with a smile on her face.

"What other orders does your Majesty have?"

Emperor Chongzhao looked at him and said, "Today, Prince Duan requested an imperial decree for Xiao Xue to be promoted to Madam Ru and given the title 'Ping An'. What does the Queen think of this?"

"Mrs. Peace?"

A barely perceptible emotion flashed across Empress Xie's eyes, but she soon regained her composure.

"What does Concubine Xiao say?"

The emperor must have discussed this matter with Xiao Lingrong first.

The two of them were more like a couple, always discussing things before doing anything, and she, with the title of queen, was only worthy of being informed...

Sure enough, Emperor Chongzhao sighed softly.

"She doesn't have any objections. Lady Xue cured Prince Duan's insomnia that had lasted for many years. This time, he suffered some grievances in the mansion. The imperial concubine has no reason to obstruct..."

Xiao had no reason.

As the queen, does she have any reason to obstruct it?

He has always been the one making decisions regarding the children born to Concubine Xiao.

Could it be that you want me to be the bad guy?

Queen Xie showed a faint smile on her face.

"The sixth Miss Xue is well-educated, gentle and charming. It is natural for Prince Duan to like her. Your Majesty has the final say. I have no objection."

Emperor Chongzhao looked at her and nodded slightly.

"Queen, please go and get busy. I'm going to rest now."

Extra long chapter, two in one.

On New Year's Eve, I wish all readers of "Ask the Nine Ministers" peace and health, no illness or disaster, good luck and abundant wealth! May all your wishes come true, and may the Year of the Snake bring you good luck!
All buffs are fully stacked, Erjin is here to wish everyone a happy new year...

Xue Sui: Happy New Year.

Li Zhao: Bring more joy, more happiness, more good fortune, and more blessings, good luck, and peace!