Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 176 Interweaving
After the rain, the sun finally pierced through the clouds.

Xue Sui prepared a carriage and, in the bright sunshine, arrived at the Xue residence with a cheerful expression.

The carriage had just arrived at Qianmen Zhengjie when it saw the Chief Secretary of the Prince of Wei coming out of the mansion.

She paused slightly, then stepped lightly into the mansion and went straight to Shou'an Courtyard. Upon seeing the old lady, she didn't even have time to bow before smiling and announcing the good news.

"Grandmother, the Princess is pregnant!"

Xue Yuechen had been childless for many years, a matter that weighed heavily on the hearts of the entire Xue family. Now that her eldest granddaughter was pregnant, Old Madam Cui was so excited that her eyes reddened, and she almost burst into tears.

"It's truly a blessing from heaven! The Xue family is overjoyed!"

She pulled Xue Sui aside, asking her all sorts of questions, and repeatedly praised her for her great fortune, saying that she was the lucky star the Xue family had found, blessed by the heavens, and bringing good luck to Xue Yuechen.

Joy filled the air throughout the entire Shouan Temple.

Xue Sui hesitated for a moment, then said, "When I came over just now, I saw people from the Prince of Wei's residence. I wonder what they were doing here?"

Grandma Cui hesitated for a moment before saying, "It's because of your good-for-nothing ninth sister."

With a sigh, she recounted the story of the King of Wei's marriage proposal.

"Sixth daughter, in your opinion, what is the Prince of Wei thinking? It wasn't enough that he ruined the Fourth Prince, now he's planning to marry the Ninth Prince?"

Xue Sui smiled slightly, gazing at the flower branches swaying in the wind outside the window, a surge of emotions welling up inside him.

"This is probably not what the King of Wei intended..."

Old Mrs. Cui was a shrewd and insightful person, and she was startled upon hearing the sound.

"The only one who can persuade the King of Wei is the Empress Dowager... Could it be...?"

“It’s the Grand Princess, it’s the Xiao family,” Xue Sui said with certainty.

"They're trying to silence the Xue family by offering them favors, in order to cover up the truth about my aunt being poisoned..."

Grandma Cui's expression changed slightly, but she didn't seem surprised.

Xue Sui keenly noticed the change in her emotions.

"Grandmother, what are your plans?"

Old Mrs. Cui said, "Your father is an official in the court, and he is always hesitant and afraid of offending anyone. Besides, he has always wanted to marry into the Wei Prince's family, and now that the Wei Prince has taken the initiative to show goodwill, he is probably more than happy to do so. Alas, I am also filled with resentment! Your aunt died so tragically. Just thinking about her cries before her death makes me want to tear Xiao Shi apart with my own hands..."

After a long while, Old Mrs. Cui sighed again.

"After all, the Xue family cannot be decided by me alone. Your father must consider the overall situation of the Xue family..."

Xue Sui understood the meaning behind her words and smiled slightly.

"What does Ninth Sister mean?"

"Her?" Old Mrs. Cui snorted softly.

She looked down on that granddaughter.

"She used to envy your eldest sister and often grumbled about it behind her back. As a concubine's daughter, if she were lucky enough to enter the Prince's mansion as a second wife, that would be a blessing earned over several lifetimes. What else could she possibly want?"

As soon as he said it, perhaps remembering that Xue Sui was also born into a concubine's family, he felt a little embarrassed and quickly patted her hand.

“You are different from Ninth Sister. She is simple-minded and impulsive. If she had half of your intelligence and understanding, I wouldn’t have to worry about her so much.”

Xue Sui smiled thoughtfully.

Xue Yue'e was more than incapable of being picky; she probably wouldn't even care about the shameful fact that Xue Yueying had given birth to Li Yan's illegitimate child, and would happily go on to become his second wife...

After a moment's thought, she deliberately reminded him.

"Grandmother, His Majesty is in his prime, and the situation at court is unclear. The Xue family must not choose the wrong side."

Grandma Cui understood the hidden meaning in her words.

With a slight twitch of her eyes, she sighed heavily, "I only hope that your eldest sister's womb will be fertile and that she will give birth to a legitimate son in one pregnancy, thus securing Prince Duan's position. If so, our Xue family's efforts will not have been in vain."

She was gambling that as long as Xue Yuechen gave birth to the Prince of Duan's legitimate son, the Xue family could wholeheartedly support the Prince of Duan and plan for a prosperous future.

Xue Sui smiled but remained silent.

The rise and fall, glory and disgrace in the imperial court are ever-changing.

Let alone bearing one legitimate son for Prince Duan, even two or three wouldn't guarantee that Xue Yuechen's son would inherit the throne after Prince Duan ascends the throne...
-
Xishan Imperial Palace.

Consort Wan leaned against the bamboo couch of the Xiangfei Temple, coughing incessantly.

"After this rain, the cicadas stopped chirping."

Wen Jia placed the medicine bowl on the low table, a hint of reluctance flashing in her eyes.

"Mother, drink your medicine while it's hot."

Consort Wan looked at her daughter tenderly, holding the medicine bowl as she slowly sat up. "You, don't force yourself to do everything. If you have any difficulties, keep them from your mother. Swallow your bitterness alone..."

Wenjia smiled and shook her head, "Mother, your daughter is not suffering..."

Consort Wan couldn't help but let out a bitter smile.

"The embroidery manual that Ping Le stole took you three months of hard work..."

"Mother, have you ever heard of the saying 'the darkest place is under the lamp'?" Wenjia smiled and stroked the tassels on the Xiangfei bamboo screen, holding them in her palm, where they rustled.

"That medicine manual isn't so easy to steal..."

Before the incident, she had already discussed it with Xue Liu. When embroidering the sutra, they used Yusi brocade obtained from the Imperial Clothing Bureau and even left hidden stitch marks in the sutra...

"The medicine manual is in the Empress Dowager's hands. Sooner or later she will discover the clues... When that happens, it will be my daughter's day to shine."

As Consort Wan listened to her detailed explanation, she was so shocked that she almost dropped the medicine bowl.

"What did you say? You deliberately let Ping Le take it?"

Wen Jia gazed into the distance, smiled confidently, and sat down, gently patting her back.

"Sixth Miss is exceptionally intelligent; listening to her is sure to be right. Mother, just focus on recovering and don't let Sixth Miss's efforts go to waste..."

Consort Wan stared blankly at her daughter, noticing a clear look in her eyes.

Wenjia today is very different from what she used to be...
-
As the sunlight painted the carved window frames of the imperial palace red, the carriages of Cixi Palace were already parked outside.

Princess Wenjia, receive the imperial decree—

Wen Jia knelt on the blue brick floor, listening to the Empress Dowager's words of praise, her heart unmoved. Only when the title of "Princess Protector of the Nation" was bestowed upon her did she kowtow to express her gratitude.

"Congratulations, Your Highness."

The female official approached with a smile and said, "The Empress Dowager has been admiring Ye Sheng's painting for a long time. Considering the princess's filial piety, she has issued an imperial decree to bestow honors upon her and summoned the princess to the Cining Palace for a talk." The carriage to pick her up had already arrived, and she could not refuse.

Wen Jia smiled slightly and gave a graceful bow.

"Wen Jia should also go to the Cixi Palace to express his gratitude. However, Consort Wan is unwell, and I must finish serving her her medicine before I can go. Please go ahead, I will follow shortly."

The female official who delivered the imperial decree sat for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, then left happily with the reward money. The servants in the palace were all delighted for Wen Jia, while Consort Wan was filled with worry.

"The Empress Dowager's sudden bestowal of grace is a matter of whether it is a blessing or a curse."

Wen Jia calmly half-embraced Consort Wan, smiling quietly.

“Mother, don’t worry. Your daughter has won the Empress Dowager’s favor, so you’ll have someone to back you up from now on. This is a good thing.”

This is a good thing for Wenjia.

But for Consort Xiao and Consort Ping Le in Ruijin Palace, it was like a bolt from the blue.

"Absurd! The Princess Protector of the Nation? What right does she have, what right does she have to..."

Ping Le was so angry that she smashed the medicine bowl on the ground. Amidst the ear-piercing sound of shattering porcelain, tears streamed down her face, and her body felt as if all her bones had been pulled out...

"I want to go back to the palace." She grabbed Consort Xiao's sleeve and cried, "Mother, please tell Father that I want to go back to the Princess's residence. I don't want to stay in the palace for another moment..."

Consort Xiao was furious and bitter because she thought her daughter was useless.

"Are you foolish! If Father doesn't issue a decree, he's protecting you. You still have Father's pity in the palace; if you leave, aren't you just asking for trouble?"

Ping Le tugged at her clothes and shook her head bitterly, "It's so hard for me to get through this. There isn't a single handsome young man in the palace. How am I supposed to recover..."

Consort Xiao's expression changed drastically. She raised her hand and slapped him across the face, shouting angrily in a low voice.

"You are crazy!"

Ping Le covered her burning cheeks, laughing until tears streamed down her face.

"Yes, I'm crazy! But so what? What do those idle words matter compared to my life?"

She couldn't see Gu Jie in this palace.

Unable to see Gu Jie, the poison of her unrequited love clung to her like vines, relentlessly pursuing her. Now, hearing of Wen Jia's promotion to Princess Protector of the Nation, she felt as if she were being gnawed by poisonous ants, her burning body feeling as if it might burst open at any moment…

"Mother, I beg you..."

Overwhelmed with grief, she slowly knelt down.

Consort Xiao looked at her tear-streaked face and squatted down as well.

"What terrible things have I done..." She took out a handkerchief and wiped Ping Le's cheeks, but the more she wiped, the more tears she shed.

Then, weeping, she pulled Ping Le into her arms and cried loudly.

"We've prayed to the Bodhisattvas and the gods, so why has this calamity befallen us?"

Ping Le muttered to himself.

"It's Xue Liu! Mother, I now believe Xue Si's words. That Xue Liu... is the one who has come back to take revenge on us..."
-
Inside the secluded bamboo grove, the air is thick with the scent of water.

Li Zhao slowly rose from the bath, water droplets like beads from a broken string sliding freely down his strong, full chest and disappearing into his lean, slender waistline...

He stood tall, like a sword drawn from its sheath.

Laifu glanced at it hastily, then hurriedly stepped forward with the soft towel in his hand.

"Your Highness, Zhang Huaicheng is waiting outside. He said he has drafted a new prescription, which might be worth a try..."

"I won't use it!" The morning light pierced through the window lattice, illuminating the scarlet in Li Zhao's eyes.

Since the Love Curse has already been planted, why is there a need for an antidote?

He walked barefoot to the sandalwood clothes rack, tore off a dry robe that smelled of soap, hurriedly put it on, and strode to the study.

He picked up his pen and began to write at his desk.

He suddenly stopped, crumpled the paper into a ball, turned around and threw it into the brazier, coldly watching the flames devour the ink...

Laifu was completely bewildered and so shocked that he couldn't close his mouth.

Last night, His Highness returned from drinking at Linde Palace and hasn't slept a wink. The love potion is making him restless and uneasy; he paces back and forth, unable to calm his mind. So he quietly left the palace and sent a message to Lady Ping'an—

Unexpectedly, after waiting and waiting at Youhuang Residence, they did not receive a visit from Madam Ping'an, but instead received a message hastily delivered by Ruyi.

The girl didn't explain clearly, she just wrote one line.

"The master and the prince have gone to enjoy the rain."

Li Zhao tore up the letter, closed his eyes, remained silent for a long time, and calmly ordered the palace servants to prepare water for his bath.

Including the one just now, he has taken five medicinal baths from last night until noon today, and his skin is almost wrinkled from all the soaking...

But the anger seemed to have not subsided.

"Your Highness..."

Lai Fu was so startled when he saw Li Zhao suddenly put down his pen and leave that he quickly put down the teacup he had just brewed, picked up the corner of his robe, and followed him out.

"Sir, please slow down and watch your step..."

Li Zhao went straight to the backyard.

In that corner, bathed in dappled sunlight, lies the love flower that Xue Sui planted with his own hands.

Now, it has already sprouted.

Two thin, tender leaves timidly peeked out, trembling and fragile as if they would perish at the slightest touch.

Li Zhao squatted down and slowly poured a ladle of water.

"I'll kill her, okay?"

He whispered to the void, looking completely nonchalant.

"But if I kill her, what will I do then?"

How can I soothe this persistent, nagging love...?

If you're going to take someone's life, you should take someone else's first!
Thank you, Fans, for your romantic and poetic writing. Thank you to all the readers for your tickets, donations, and subscriptions. I am deeply grateful!

Li Zhao: So, why is it always the one who is being abused?

Reader: Nobody loves you.

Xue Sui: Tsk!