Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 189 Burning Love

A light drizzle was falling in the backyard of Tianshui Inn.

Xue Sui, wrapped in a dark blue cloak, walked through the damp moss and turned the corridor, finally stopping at a doorway with blue tiles and white walls.

The octagonal eaves lamp under the corridor reflected on her fair face, making her appear extremely cold and aloof.

"Boom-thump-thump-"

Three long and two short.

The door creaked open halfway amidst the sound of rain.

High Priest Amenlah's face was hidden in the shadows, his brows furrowed, yet the crimson in his eyes remained undisguised.

"Please come in, young lady."

He stepped aside to let Xue Sui into the inner room.

The room was filled with the pungent aroma of strong liquor.

Alimu and the two Xiz servants, who were kneeling to the side, bowed and quietly withdrew.

Amonrah invited her to sit down. "Did you bring Princess Seine's jade pendant with you, young lady?"

Xue Sui nodded and sat down, gently pushing the jade pendant to the center of the table.

Just as Amonrah reached out to take it, she pressed the jade pendant down with her palm.

“This is Princess Wenjia’s keepsake. The High Priest may view it, but may not take it away.”

After saying that, a faint smile appeared on her lips, she released her hand, and made an elegant "please" gesture.

“The Goldfinch of Siz shouldn’t have been trapped in the golden cage of the capital.” Amonrach’s hands trembled as he picked up the jade pendant broken in two, his voice choked with emotion.

"Princess Sena...did she leave any instructions before she passed away...?"

"Before the princess died, she thought of the jujube flowers in Chishui City, but she did not have time to leave a single word."

Xue Sui's voice was soft, like falling snowflakes, yet it carried an undeniable firmness.

"The real culprit who murdered Princess Sena was none other than King Ashina of Xiz."

Sparks flew from the charcoal brazier, their flickering light reflecting the pain on Amonlah's face.
He seemed to have aged ten years in an instant.

“Young lady, you are very clever and have seen through my predicament. You also know the great risks I have taken to enter Daliang this time. But the internal strife of Xiz should be resolved by us, the descendants of the wolf clan. Although I have a grudge against Ashina, I will not be easily manipulated by you and become a pawn for others to deal with him.”

“Princess Sena died because of the High Priest.” Xue Sui looked at him, his words concise and powerful.

"If the High Priest hadn't suddenly arrived in the capital and helped Princess Wenjia rescue Consort Wan, none of this would have happened."

Amonlah was jolted, as if struck by a heavy hammer.

He couldn't understand why a petite and young girl would have such resolute courage.

Meeting his gaze, Xue Sui continued, "King Xiz isn't afraid of Princess Sena, but of you, High Priest. He fears you'll use Princess Sena's name to forge an alliance with Daliang, then unite with the old Xiz clans to overthrow his throne. That's why he's so ruthless, killing her and taking Niu Niu away as a form of blackmail..."

Amonrah gave a bitter smile, his aged face flickering in the candlelight: "You say all this simply to use my blade to behead King Siz. If Princess Sena knew this from beyond the grave, would she thank you or hate you?"

"Whether they hate me or thank me, it doesn't matter."

Xue Sui smiled dismissively.

"Since I promised Princess Wenjia that I would avenge Consort Wan and find Niu Niu, I will definitely keep my promise."

"What a sharp tongue!" Amonrah raised an eyebrow, a complex look flashing in his eyes. "Don't you know that the Xiz assassins are everywhere in the capital, infiltrating every nook and cranny, and each one is fearless and extremely difficult to deal with?"

“I’m not easy to deal with either,” Xue Sui said.

Amonlah threw his head back and laughed loudly, his voice desolate and helpless.

"Is what you've done this time not solely for Princess Wenjia?"

Xue Sui nodded slightly, his gaze distant, as if he could see through the layers of walls to that unreachable place.

"For the sake of all people, for justice and fairness, and for Princess Seine's unfulfilled dream of returning home..."

With that, she flicked her sleeve, and a blank sheet of paper quietly slipped out.

On the note, densely packed in tiny characters, it read:

"Ashina ordered his assassins to set fire to the West Market, attempting to disrupt the livelihood of the people of Liang."

Amonrah narrowed his eyes slightly: "Young lady, what exactly do you want me to do?"

Xue Sui did not tell Amonlah his entire plan, only giving him two brief words.

"Defeat the enemy."

Those who defeat the enemy sweep away foreign aggression, restore order to the world, and bring peace back to the land.

Ammonrah's clenched fist revealed bulging veins on the back of his hand. "Aren't you afraid I'll betray you and send a message to Ashina? After all, we Xiz people are all descendants of the wolf clan, connected by blood..."

“The High Priest has dedicated his life to seeking peace for Xiz and will certainly not allow the people of Xiz to become victims of Ashina’s ambition.”

Xue Sui slowly rose, tied his cloak, and glanced at the dim yellow light of the lanterns swaying outside the window, a faint smile appearing on his lips.

"You will not disappoint the spirit of the old King Sidzi in heaven."
-
After bidding farewell to Amonlah, Xue Sui boarded the carriage to return home. The wheels bounced along the cobblestone road, and she suddenly felt a surge in her chest, as if a raging storm was raging inside her. She quickly dug her fingertips into her palms to barely calm herself down.

Xiao Zhao looked at her pale face and her forehead covered in cold sweat, and was filled with worry.

"Young lady, are you feeling unwell?"

Xue Sui shook his head, forcing himself to say, "Let's talk about it back at the manor. Let's hurry..."

The day Xue Sui returned from Puji Temple, he went back to the Xue residence.

Xue Ji was ill, and Old Madam Cui was also in poor spirits. She found this excuse to stay, and Li Huan pretended not to know and did not send anyone to urge her.

Upon returning to Pear Fragrance Courtyard, Xue Sui summoned Jinshu, pressed his throbbing temples, and asked her in a deep voice.

"Has there been any news from Senior Sister Yuheng?"

These past two days, she felt her blood and qi were unstable, and suspected it was a backlash from the love affair, so she asked Jinshu to find Yuheng.

Jinshu nodded, hurriedly supporting her feverish back, clutching a prescription in her hand.

"Yes. I received a reply from Miss Yuheng and prepared the medicine according to her prescription. I had just finished brewing it when you returned, Miss..."

Xue Sui unfolded the prescription.

On the plain paper was a handwriting familiar to Yuheng.

"The threads of passion burn, desire ignites. This remedy can alleviate the poison. I'll come to visit you again once I'm done with my work. Don't worry."

"Where is Senior Sister?" Xue Sui stared at the ink spreading on the prescription, her fingertips trembling slightly.

Jinshu shook her head and replied truthfully, "This servant does not know."

Xue Sui frowned thoughtfully, "Did Senior Sister say what she's been busy with?"

Jinshu lowered her head. "No, I just said I was busy."

Xue Sui gently stroked the corner of the paper with his fingertips, then suddenly sighed softly, "Senior Sister Yuheng is deliberately avoiding me."

She wasn't guessing; her tone was certain.

She went to Jiuling Marsh at the age of eight, where she met Yuheng for ten years and lived and ate with him for eight years.

If there wasn't something he was hiding from her, he wouldn't deliberately avoid her, much less use "being busy" as an excuse.

"Bring the medicine up," Xue Sui ordered.

"Yes," Jinshu replied.

The aroma of medicine wafted around my nose, and it was still a little hot.

Xue Sui gently blew on the rim of the bowl, and just as he picked up the spoon, he suddenly heard a slight sound of tiles breaking in his ear.

Her heart tightened instantly, and she instinctively grabbed the hidden arrow in her sleeve.

A moment later, Tian Shu leaned against the door frame, his posture upright, and the Ling Qiong Xiao in his hand emitted a cold light.

"Senior brother?"

Xue Sui's hand, which was stirring the medicine, suddenly stopped, slightly startled.

"How did you come?"

"I've received word that King Xiz intends to use Princess Sena's death as a pretext to send troops to Daliang. To support King Xiz's military action, Xiz's assassins will become even more rampant in Shangjing, committing murder, arson, attacks on officials, and creating chaos..."

Tian Shu approached and touched the scalding hot medicine bowl.

"Where does Ping An feel unwell?"

“Senior brother.” Xue Sui did not answer his question, but suddenly let go, and the medicine spoon fell into the porcelain bowl with a clear sound. “Master once said that the chess game in the Old Mausoleum Swamp will not be resolved for a hundred years.”

She looked up and gazed into Tian Shu's silent eyes.

"But I can't wait any longer."

"What do you intend to do?" Tian Shu asked.

Three days later, when the Xiz caravan was crossing the Yongding River—

Xue Sui gently pushed the celadon bowl, and the tea stains on the stone table resembled a winding river.

"I want this batch of goods to turn into yellow sand."

According to intelligence from the Old Mausoleum, that caravan of Siz was meticulously planned by the King of Siz and carried a large amount of gunpowder into the city.

The Heavenly Pivot's Lingqiong Xiao (a type of flute) touched a spot on the water stain.

"The river patrol inspector is one of Prince Duan's men—"

He lowered his voice and added, "The elder brother of Zhang, a concubine of Prince Duan's mansion."

“So, this time it will be Consort Zhang’s turn to take action.” Xue Sui smiled, picked up the medicine bowl, stirred it a few times, and drank it all in one gulp.

Immediately afterwards, in front of Tian Shu, she picked up a brush, dipped it in ink, wrote a secret letter, carefully folded it, and handed it to Xiao Zhao.

"Send him to the Crown Prince's Palace immediately."