Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 175 Dilemma
The night rain fell in torrents.

Xue Sui paused slightly, stood under the eaves, lowered his eyes to avoid Li Huan's probing gaze, and bowed.

"Greetings, Your Highness..."

Li Huan remained silent.

Raindrops fell from the eaves, splashing fine water droplets on the blue bricks. Xue Sui hesitated for a moment, then quietly clenched her handkerchief under her wide sleeves.

"I was so captivated by the rain that I wanted to take a walk by Yingyue Lake while the rain wasn't too heavy."

Li Huan raised an eyebrow slightly, then took two steps forward, raised his hand to offer a helping hand, and the sandalwood scent from his sleeve mingled with the scent of rain, blending with his warm and steady voice.

"I also enjoy the imagery of rain pattering on banana leaves. Shall we appreciate it together?"

He spoke lightly, his footsteps already stepping onto the half-wet cobblestone path.

"Let's go."

There is no doubt about it.

As Xue Sui watched the pair of black boots with cloud patterns roll through the puddles, he suddenly recalled the day he played chess with Li Huan in Tanqiu Courtyard. Li Huan had the same posture when he played the game—gentle yet assertive, as if he wanted to hold all the variables in the palm of his hand.

She smiled brightly, handed the oil-paper umbrella to Xiao Zhao, and turned back to gesture to Ruyi.

"I'm going to the lakeside with the prince to enjoy the rain. Remember to feed Lingyu."

May you be blessed with good fortune and happiness.

Xue Sui then carefully instructed, "Lingyu loves to eat millet mixed with pine nuts. The millet is in the third celadon jar. Don't get it wrong."

Ruyi bowed her head and withdrew, saying, "This servant understands."
-
At Yingyue Lake, the rain and mist, like a light veil, shrouded the withered lotus leaves in layers, creating a picturesque scene reminiscent of a watercolor painting of faded lotus leaves—serene yet desolate.

Xue Sui kept two steps behind Li Huan, landing behind him.

The servant carried the lantern and held the umbrella steadily, following Li Huan towards the Lotus Fragrance Pavilion by the lake.

Xue Sui slowly caught up.

Li Huan stood with his hands behind his back by the stone railing, looking at the lake surface disturbed by the rain, and talked about what happened in Linde Hall that day.

Xue Sui remained silent, but unexpectedly Li Huan suddenly turned his head to look at him.

"The Crown Prince suffers from a heart ailment, which greatly worries me. Does the Lady have any effective remedy?"

"Your Highness is too kind," Xue Sui said with a gentle smile, her demeanor impeccable. "The Imperial Hospital is full of renowned physicians; how could it be a woman like me to offer guidance? Besides, my specialty is gynecology, and I'm afraid the Crown Prince would be unwilling to..."

Li Huan paused, then turned away and smiled faintly.

"I heard that today in the Cijia Palace, you and the Crown Prince joined forces to attack my mother and Consort Ping Le?"

Xue Sui remained calm.

"The Crown Prince wants to seek justice for the Empress, and I want to seek justice for my aunt. It's just a matter of each getting what they want."

When asked about the targeting of Princess Ping Le, she spoke candidly and without reservation.

"But this matter has put my sister in a difficult position. She's caught between her own family and her husband's family, which puts her in a tough spot."

Li Huan smiled and looked up at her, "The Xue family has been ungrateful to you, abandoning you since childhood, yet you are so protective of them?"

Xue Sui narrowed his eyes slightly and said solemnly, "Filial piety and brotherly love are ordained by Heaven and are human nature."

Then, she brushed the dampness off her sleeve and calmly looked at Li Huan, "Recently, Princess Ruihe has been frequently visiting the Prince's residence. Anyone with eyes can see that she intends to get close to the Prince. I wonder why?"

Li Huan smiled faintly, his tone indifferent.

“The king and the princess were childhood playmates.”

Concise and concise.

Don't want to talk more.

Xue Sui smiled knowingly.

Li Huan gazed at the slender woman in the rain and mist.

"Madam, have you misunderstood something?"

Xue Sui slightly raised his chin, shook his head with a smile.

“I’m just concerned about my sister and brother-in-law. The princess has recently returned to the capital as a widow and is the Empress Dowager’s darling, so she’s been under the spotlight lately. If she gets too close to the Prince Duan’s residence, it might arouse speculation…”

Li Huan: "Do you really think so?"

Xue Sui: "Really?"

Unlike Xue Yuechen's wariness of Princess Ruihe, Xue Sui never believed that Li Huan would be unable to distinguish right from wrong and get entangled with Ruihe at this critical juncture.

Li Huan was not a man troubled by love.

Besides, Rui and an orphan girl are not his help.

Li Huan gazed at her for a moment, then chuckled softly, "Ping An's insight is remarkable, often impressing me." He suddenly leaned closer, lowering his voice, "In your eyes, I can only be your brother-in-law, and cannot have any other identity?"

Xue Sui retorted, "In Your Highness's eyes, am I not just the Princess's sister?"

Li Huan raised an eyebrow slightly, his smile undiminished, but then suddenly changed the subject.

"I sought out Mr. Qiu to inquire about a strange matter."

Xue Sui remained silent, waiting for him to speak first.

After a moment, Li Huan gazed at her and said, "I've heard that there's a kind of 'Heart-Sharing Gu' in the Southern Frontier. Those afflicted with it share life and death, and even emotions and pain. I wonder if Ping An heard of this when she was in the Old Mausoleum Swamp?"

"The Master did not speak of strange phenomena, physical prowess, disorder, or spirits." Xue Sui smiled faintly. "Where in this world would such witchcraft and sorcery come from? Your Highness, do not be deceived by those charlatans..." Li Huan's expression was serious, devoid of any joking tone. "The Crown Prince's illness came on strangely, and Zhang Huaicheng's diagnosis was even more furtive, as if he were guarding against a thief, even secretly seeking out a sorcerer from Miao territory to inquire..."

He paused briefly, then stared intently at Xue Sui.

"Ping An, tell me, has the Crown Prince become addicted to this kind of thing?"

Xue Sui's eyelashes trembled slightly, and he smiled nonchalantly: "Xue Liu lives a secluded life, how could he know about the affairs of the Eastern Palace? However, witchcraft has always been strictly prohibited by the court, so it would be best for Your Highness to keep your distance to avoid bringing trouble upon yourself."

After she finished speaking, she turned around and headed down the steps of the Lotus Fragrance Pavilion.

Unexpectedly, Li Huan grabbed his arm.

"Please wait, Ping An." Li Huan's fingertips felt a burning heat through her sleeve, and his gaze was sharp and unyielding.

Xue Sui looked down at his tightly clenched hand, then looked up and stared directly into his eyes. Just as he was about to ask a question, Emerald's urgent and excited shouts came from not far away.

"Your Highness, Your Highness...Great news!"

Xue Sui took the opportunity to pull his hand back and looked at the jadeite that had rushed over excitedly.

"Aunt, what makes you so happy?"

Jade folded her oil-paper umbrella, took a few steps onto the Lotus Fragrance Pavilion, curtsied to Li Huan, and said with great enthusiasm:

"Your Highness, Madam. Tonight, the Princess suddenly felt unwell and tossed and turned restlessly. I dared not delay and quickly summoned the physician. After examining her, the physician discovered she was pregnant! This is truly a joyous occasion..."

Is it a pregnancy pulse?

Xue Sui's heart skipped a beat, and she glanced at Li Huan without leaving a trace.

I didn't see a trace of joy on his face.

This prince is truly adept at hiding his true feelings; he never reveals a trace of joy or anger.

Xue Sui said softly, "Your Highness, please go and see my sister."

She wanted to send Li Huan away, but Li Huan nodded, put his hands behind his back, and walked ahead, saying in a deep voice, "You come with me."

Xue Sui nodded in agreement, glanced at the rain and mist filling the sky, walked behind Li Huan, side by side with Emerald, and softly asked Xue Yuechen for his reaction.

Li Huan didn't turn around. Listening to her concerned and gentle voice, his fingers unconsciously rubbed together a couple of times, and his brows furrowed deeply.

That Xue Liu!

Hmph, as cunning as a fox.

—

The rain drizzled on and on until the next day, showing no signs of stopping.

At this moment, inside the Shou'an Courtyard of the Xue family mansion, Xue Qingzhi stood with his hands behind his back by the window, watching the rain drip down the window frame with a thoughtful expression.

Grandma Cui looked at his silent expression, clenched her prayer beads tightly, her knuckles turning white.

"The Crown Prince is trying to force the Xue family to make a statement."

Xue Qingzhi frowned, sighed deeply, and nodded slightly.

“Mother, the Xue family is now in a difficult situation. Xiao Jing’s ears were sent to Ruijin Hall in the name of the Ministry of Justice. As the Minister of Justice, I can hardly stay out of it…”

"The Xiao family is ruthless and cruel, poisoning your sister. Xiao Jing deserves his fate!"

Old Mrs. Cui gave a cold laugh, then raised her hand to cover her chest, her expression sorrowful.

"If your sister and that prince were still alive, would my Xue family be in this state?"

Xue Qingzhi's expression was solemn. "Mother, please be careful with your words."

Grandma Cui became emotional and suddenly started coughing violently.

Upon seeing this, Xue Qingzhi hurriedly handed over the ginseng soup.

"Take a breath before you speak."

Grandma Cui shook her head and continued, "Though it's hard to hear, this principle applies everywhere. If that prince who died young had grown up successfully, perhaps the situation in the court would be completely different..."

This time, Xue Qingzhi did not refute.

When Consort Xue was alive, didn't he also have such hopes?
"Since we are on the side of justice, we don't need to be afraid of offending the Xiao family. Otherwise, they might think the Xue family is a pushover that they can easily manipulate."

“Mother…” Xue Qingzhi hesitated, looking troubled.

Old Madam Cui snorted, pushing the ginseng soup away in dissatisfaction, and said, "Tomorrow you will submit a memorial requesting His Majesty to issue an edict to thoroughly investigate the truth behind the wrongful deaths of Consort Shu and the young prince..."

Before he could finish speaking, a voice outside announced that the Chief Secretary of the Prince of Wei's residence was requesting an audience.

Grandma Cui's expression changed drastically: "They came so fast!"

Xue Qingzhi quickly reassured her, "Mother, don't worry, I'll go and meet him right away."

In the side hall, when Wei Wang's chief secretary saw Xue Qingzhi enter, he greeted him with a beaming smile and a bow.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, he got straight to the point.

"Your Excellency, my lord admires your daughter's talent and reputation, and has specially sent me to propose marriage."

Xue Qingzhi frowned. "I wonder which young lady the Chief Secretary is referring to?"

The chief clerk asked, "Is Ninth Miss the only unmarried woman in the Minister's household?"

Xue Qingzhi was greatly alarmed.

After a moment of silence, he cupped his hands in a respectful gesture and smiled, saying, "I need to discuss this matter with my mother. I'll trouble you, Chief Secretary, to return to your residence first and convey my gratitude to the Prince for his kindness..."