Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 188 Dark Prison
When Li Zhao waded through the puddles back to Youhuang Residence, Lai Fu was holding a bowl of medicine, looking at the empty house, pacing anxiously.

Caught off guard by his master's sudden entrance, he was so startled that the medicine in his hand spilled out.

"Your Highness!" Lai Fu hurriedly put down the medicine bowl, knelt down to pay his respects, and his gaze fell on Li Zhao's blood-stained outer robe.

"Your shoulder is bleeding again?"

"It's alright." Li Zhao tore open his blood-soaked outer robe, revealing the winding bloodstains on his arm.

Laifu then realized that it wasn't bleeding from a scabbed-over old wound, but a new one, with drops of blood trickling down his arm and dripping onto the blue bricks...

"My goodness, how did you get injured again..." Lai Fu was in a panic, like an ant on a hot pan. He was about to go find Zhang Huaicheng for a consultation when Li Zhao coldly stopped him.

"Keep quiet!"

Lai Fu choked on his words, watching helplessly as his Highness pulled a plain white handkerchief to press against his wound. He immediately understood what was going on—it must be related to that Lady Ping An.

A perfectly healthy person went out with her, got injured, and came back injured.

This woman... is she poisonous?

Looking at His Highness's frail figure, Laifu bowed and couldn't help but mutter, "Ever since His Highness met Lady Ping'an, his injuries and illnesses have never stopped... He's either taking medicine or getting treatment..."

"Shut up!" Li Zhao said coldly, his brows furrowing slightly in pain. "Why aren't you getting the medicine box?"

"Yes!" Lai Fu hurriedly fetched the medicine box, knelt at Li Zhao's feet, his hands trembling slightly as he carefully unbuttoned Li Zhao's undergarment.

When Laifu saw the arrow wound that had almost pierced through his arm, he felt a pang of heartache, his eyes reddened, and tears almost rolled down his cheeks.

"Sir, does it hurt a lot?"

Li Zhao closed his eyes and endured the excruciating pain as it spread throughout his body.

"If you dare to utter a single word, I will take your head."

It wasn't that he didn't trust Zhang Huaicheng, but rather that Li Huan was too meticulous, able to uncover even such secret information as the Love Silk Gu, so he had to be on guard.

The fewer people who know, the less risk there is.

"I understand." Laifu held the medicine bottle, hesitated for a moment, and then mustered his courage to suggest, "How about... we call Lady Ping'an to treat His Highness's wounds?"

Li Zhao opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the blood-stained clothes, a hint of coldness flashing involuntarily in his eyes.

"No need." He took the medicine bottle, carefully sprinkled the wound medicine onto it, and then calmly wrapped it with layers of gauze...

"She is probably in a terrible predicament right now, unable to take care of herself—my royal brother has never been easy to deal with."

Before he could finish speaking, a crow cried out outside the window, startling a twig from a cold branch.

The sound of rain pattering down, mixed with the bitter smell of wound medicine, spread throughout the hall.

Li Zhao waved his hand, signaling Lai Fu to step back, then leaned back on the soft couch and whispered into the shadows.

"Come in."

The slender figure of Night Owl emerged from the shadows through a hidden door and knelt on one knee.

"Your Highness, please take a look."

He was holding a confidential letter in his hands.

Li Zhao unfolded the secret letter with a calm expression and was surprised to see the totem of Xiz.

"King Siz killed his father to seize the throne, slaughtered the royal family, and purged the old officials, intending to eliminate any future threats."

A line of text stood out starkly in the candlelight.

Li Zhao glanced at him; his unbound long hair fell over his shoulders, and the candlelight cast a deep shadow on his pale face.

"Report everything, big or small, about the Xiz merchant caravans that have been coming and going in and out of the capital recently, as well as the activities of the princess's residence."

Night Owl cupped his hands and said in a deep voice, "Your subordinate obeys!"
-
The tragic news of Consort Wan's sudden death at the temporary palace reached the Zichen Palace on the same day.

Emperor Chongzhao was furious and summoned the Minister of Rites that very night, ordering him to arrange the funeral for Consort Zhaoyi.

The next morning at court, the emperor sighed again in front of everyone, his voice filled with sorrow:
"Consort Zhao is gentle, kind, respectful, frugal, and virtuous, and I have been so regretful that I have allowed this pearl to be obscured for more than ten years!"

On the surface, the emperor expressed his deep sorrow and issued an edict posthumously conferring the title of Consort Yi upon Wan Zhaoyi, and ordered the Court of Imperial Sacrifices to hold a mourning ceremony with the rites due to an imperial consort, showing great favor to her.

Secretly, he dispatched dozens of imperial guards under the pretext of protecting Princess Wenjia and searching for the missing Niu Niu, to investigate whether Wenjia was connected with Xiz...

The political situation in the imperial court suddenly changed.

A few days later, Censor Zhou Zhongping took the lead in launching an attack, pointing the finger at Prince Duan for dereliction of duty.

"During the time when His Highness Prince Duan was in charge of the general affairs of the capital, murder cases occurred frequently. The Xiz assassins ran rampant in the city, killing and robbing as if they were in an empty land. His Highness Prince Duan did nothing and has truly failed the Emperor's grace!"

When someone impeached him, Prince Duan's faction immediately argued that Censor Zhou was using this as an excuse to confuse the public and was trying to promote the Crown Prince and disrupt the court.

The Crown Prince's faction was not to be outdone, implying that Princess Ping Le had too close ties with the Xiz merchant caravan, and alluding to Prince Duan Li Huan and the Xiao clan's involvement, thus allowing Xiz's influence to infiltrate the capital.

They argued heatedly in the imperial court, their faces flushed red.

Emperor Chongzhao smashed his teacup: "I'm not dead yet!"

Minister of Justice Xue Qingzhi seized the opportunity and offered his advice: "In my opinion, the poisoning case at Xishan Palace and the assassination of Fu Qingsong at Puji Temple are closely related and should be investigated together."

Emperor Chongzhao immediately ordered the Ministry of Justice to take the lead, in conjunction with the Court of Judicial Review and the Censorate, to investigate the case...

Xue Qingzhi bowed and accepted the order.

After the court session, the emperor flew into a rage in his bedchamber, berating all the court officials before secretly ordering his trusted eunuch Cao Jinzhong to investigate the royal relatives who had dealings with the Xiz merchant caravan.

On the same day, an imperial edict was issued to behead a captured Xiz assassin and hang his body in the West Market to demonstrate imperial power and quell public opinion.
-
Three days later, Xue Sui went to the Jingyuan Marquis's residence to visit Lady Chun.

Madam Chun, clutching the jade thumb ring that Gu Jie often wore, stood under the hanging flower gate of the Jingyuan Marquis's residence. Her eyes reddened when she saw her.

"Wulang hasn't returned home for several days, and his father and I are so worried we're almost at our wits' end..."

Xue Sui's expression changed.

Before she could even speak, Xue Yueying's shrill cries came from inside the room.

"Don't you know what kind of person your precious son is? He's been gone for so long, he's probably off fooling around with some vixen!"

She dared not openly rebuke Princess Ping Le, so she could only resort to indirect criticism, wailing and lamenting Gu Jie's faults.

Lady Chun's expression changed drastically, and she awkwardly ushered Xue Sui into the flower hall.

After serving the tea, she dismissed everyone around her, and then, unable to hold back her tears, she choked up.

"I don't know what sins I committed in my past life to end up with such a jinx. She probably wishes Wulang would die out there so she could remarry the Prince of Wei..."

Xue Sui glanced casually at the furtive figure behind the curtain, a slight smirk playing on her lips. She picked up her teacup and took a leisurely sip.

"Aunt Chun, don't worry, she's not destined for that."

Xue Yueying, behind the curtain, gave a cold laugh, her tone sarcastic.

"Even if I am incompetent, I know that a woman should be dignified and virtuous. Unlike some people, who show their faces in public all day long, going to other people's homes to flaunt their virtues, they have no shame..."

Xue Sui remained calm and said coldly, "I have a bad temper. If I hear you utter another sound, that bastard child who can't see the light of day will never be allowed to bear the surname Li again. I, Xue Liu, always keep my word." Silence fell instantly behind the curtain.

Xue Yueying clenched her hands silently, as if a thousand-pound boulder was pressing on her chest.

This Xue Liu...

How could she manipulate people's hearts like that?

The moment he opened his mouth, he had her Achilles' heel.

Why is she becoming increasingly afraid of this abandoned daughter who was raised outside the family?

“Aunt Chun, please don’t worry.” Xue Sui held Madam Chun’s hand and comforted her gently. “Your son’s matter is not so simple. In my opinion, Marquis Jingyuan might as well go to the palace to meet the Emperor and beg him to grant mercy and order the Prefect of the Capital to search for him throughout the city. Perhaps there is still a glimmer of hope.”

Upon hearing this, Madam Chun turned pale with fright. "You mean, Wu Lang's life is in danger?"

Xue Sui: "There is something fishy about this matter; we must not take it lightly."

A perfectly healthy person doesn't just disappear into thin air.

She mobilized all her spies and informants in the old mausoleum, but still couldn't find Gu Jie's whereabouts, and she began to have doubts.

However, she could not directly confront Princess Ping Le, while the Marquis of Jingyuan's family had the right to do so and was in the right.
-
After leaving the Marquis of Jingyuan's residence, Xue Sui went to the Sangliu Courtyard of Tian Shu.

The courtyard gate was ajar, and the mulberry and willow trees swayed in the breeze.

Xue Sui stepped inside and saw Tian Shu already waiting under the eaves, his expression solemn.

"Those who made the move at the Xishan Palace were the men of King Ashina of Xizi."

Over the years, the Old Mausoleum Swamp maintained private trade relations with some Xiz merchant caravans and also planted some spies. Although it took a lot of effort, they finally got some definite information.

Tian Shu led Xue Sui into the inner room, sat her down, and then handed her the secret letter, saying, "Niu Niu is also in their hands right now..."

Xue Sui's aura tightened.

"What a cruel heart! How could he lay a hand on his own sister and niece!"

“If Princess Wenjia had not gone to Puji Temple that day, she probably would not have escaped her fate either,” Tian Shu continued.

Xue Sui stared at his solemn face, slightly lost in thought.

"Is King Xiz trying to eliminate any future troubles by cutting off the root of the problem?"

Tian Shu nodded and said calmly, "This is why the Xiz assassins poisoned Consort Wan..."

During the coup in the royal court, Ashina killed the old king and ascended the throne of Xiz. His ascension to the throne was illegitimate, and he was uneasy and constantly purged the court.

This time, the powerful High Priest Amongrah disguised himself and infiltrated the capital of Daliang. He not only secretly met with Consort Wan, but also plotted against Princess Ping Le, which undoubtedly made Ashina feel even more uneasy.

Consort Wan is the princess of Xiz, and Princess Sena, who is favored by the old king.

If the High Priest intends to join forces with Consort Wan, establish good relations with Daliang, and then work together from within and without to overthrow Ashina and install a new king, it will certainly make Ashina wary and even give rise to murderous intent...

Xue Sui's heart pounded, and after a moment of contemplation, he said to Tian Shu:

"Senior brother, please send someone to the Tianshui Inn to deliver a message to Alimu, saying that I wish to meet the High Priest."

Tian Shu nodded slightly.

Looking at the woman before him, he seemed to see again the decisive and resolute imperial envoy of yesteryear.

Xue Sui accepted the imperial edict token again and agreed to the task at the Old Mausoleum Marsh, but he did not actually exercise the power of the imperial edict, nor did he directly issue orders to the Seven Gates of the Big Dipper.

But Tian Shu knew that from this moment on, the flames of revenge in the Old Mausoleum Swamp would be ignited completely, and those who had committed the atrocities would ultimately pay a heavy price...
-
Large raindrops, like sharp arrows, fiercely cleaved through the night.

In a hidden dungeon on the west side of the princess's residence, a nauseating stench permeated the air.

Gu Jie hung his head, his hands were suspended high by iron chains. As the chains swayed, the smell of rust mixed with the stench of carrion rats filled his nostrils, and he choked up, letting out a muffled and desperate groan.

Ping Le, dressed in black and holding a red-hot branding iron, slowly approached, the mandalas embroidered in gold thread on her skirt sweeping across the damp ground.

Why would even you betray me?

The despair of death seemed to seep into his very bones, making Gu Jie's hair stand on end.

He forced a smile, a bitter one.

"I truly do not understand what Your Highness is saying..."

"Feigning ignorance?" Princess Ping Le laughed in fury, half her face reddened by the branding iron, her eyes particularly ferocious. "I ordered you to poison Fu Qingsong at Puji Temple, how did you carry it out?"

"Your Highness is wise."

The firelight illuminated Gu Jie's blood-stained and exhausted face.

"I was ordered to rush to Puji Temple... but unexpectedly, I ran into Prince Duan's Right Guard searching for Xizi assassins. The temple was heavily guarded, and I couldn't find an opportunity to make a move..."

"Lying!" Ping Le suddenly raised his chin and pressed the branding iron hard against Gu Jie's chest. The red color on the branding iron seemed to scorch the air.

"Fu Qingsong did not die at your hands; the murderer is someone else—do you think I'm a fool?"

Gu Jie trembled, his eyes bloodshot.

"So the princess sent me to Puji Temple to poison people, just to test me..."

"You dare to ask me a question?" Princess Ping Le sneered, her eyes seemingly spitting fire. "Last time in Xuanzheng Hall, the Xiz merchants defected halfway through, and I couldn't understand why. Now it seems that it was you, the traitor, who was behind it all!"

Gu Jie gave a bitter smile and said helplessly, "If the princess believes I have betrayed her, why have you kept me alive until now?"

Ping Le's lips curled into a sneer as she stared intently at Gu Jie.

"Do you think that I have no one else to rely on if I leave you?"

Gu Jie's eyelids trembled slightly, his lips were purplish-black, and every word seemed to be laced with the sweet smell of blood, "When I was young, the princess ordered me to brand Xue Liu's body with a red-hot iron, and I followed her without hesitation, serving her faithfully without complaint. How much more so now that we are intimate, like fish and water..."

"Shut up!"

Princess Ping Le roared angrily, the branding iron in her hand stopped in mid-air, her eyes narrowed, her gaze as cold as frost.

"You're nothing but my dog. What talk of marital bliss or intimate physical contact? You're not worthy of it!"

Gu Jie's heavy breathing exuded a broken and sorrowful aura.

“Princess, Gu Jie’s life has long been yours. If you want it, then take it.”

Having said that, he resolutely closed his eyes, adopting an expression of unyielding defiance.

But his slightly trembling body betrayed the cowardice and fear deep in his heart.

He's gambling.

He dared not gamble that Princess Ping Le still harbored a shred of genuine affection and pity for him.

He could only hope that Princess Ping Le's love poison hadn't been cured, so that he might still have some use for her. He gambled that she didn't have any solid evidence to prove his betrayal, and perhaps she would show mercy...

See you tomorrow!