Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 192 Please leave
Xue Sui remained calm, as if he knew nothing of the turmoil outside.

"What is it that Second Sister is talking about?"

Xue Yuelou leaned over and said softly, "Just now I went to Shou'an Courtyard to pay my respects to my grandmother. I heard that the Ministry of Justice arrested two Xiz spies who had infiltrated the capital last night. My grandmother was so angry that she smashed her teacup."

Xue Sui was slightly taken aback: "Why is Grandmother so angry about capturing Xiz spies?"

"Sigh, they're afraid of retaliating against the Xiz people. Grandmother scolded Mother, saying that at this critical juncture, she still went back to her parents' home to show off, as if she wanted everyone to know that Father was the Minister of Justice and was investigating the Xiz assassination case..."

Xue Sui frowned slightly, but showed no surprise on her face. "The Xiz people are ruthless, and Grandmother's concerns are not without reason."

Upon hearing this, Xue Yuelou nodded and said, "Grandmother gave the order a few days ago that, except for shopping, the women of the household are not allowed to leave the mansion. All valuable gold, silver and jade artifacts in the mansion must be collected and locked in the storeroom."

Xue Sui picked up a silk flower he was sewing and smiled faintly.

“This capital city is not peaceful. One minute there’s a fire, the next there’s a murder. Father works in the Ministry of Justice, so it’s inevitable that he’ll be resented by some people. It’s only right that the family is careful.”

Xue Yuelou sighed, still feeling lingering fear.

"I vaguely heard that the residence of Consort Zhang, the wife of Prince Duan, was broken into by thieves yesterday, and many valuables were stolen. Those two Xiz spies were the ones Father captured at the Zhang residence..."

Xue Sui chuckled and said, "There's nothing of value in Pear Fragrance Courtyard, so there's no need to worry about thieves eyeing it."

"It's better to be careful!" Xue Yuelou lowered her voice, wiped her cheek with a handkerchief, and leaned closer to her, saying, "These days, you must not run around outside recklessly. A young lady should not act rashly."

Xue Yuelou still vividly remembered the time he schemed against Yao Wei at Yanyu Tower.

She knew that her sixth sister was no ordinary person and was afraid that she would get involved in trouble and danger.

Xue Sui smiled, winked at her, and did not refute.

White smoke bubbled up from the stove, making the mint water even more bitter.

The courtyard was quiet for a moment.

With a smile, Xue Sui pinned the silk flowers she had made to Xue Ji's temple.

"Come and see, don't you look several years younger?"

Upon seeing this, everyone laughed and praised him.

The tense atmosphere instantly vanished without a trace.

Xiao Zhao continued to dry the osmanthus flowers, while Ruyi took out some candied fruit from the storage box to coax Ming Ge'er. Several maids knelt on the bamboo mat, carefully sorting the osmanthus flowers and daisies. Even the sparrows on the eaves fluttered their wings happily.

Xue Yuelou only took his leave when the evening drum sounded.

As the night fog gradually enveloped the area, the sound of flapping wings suddenly came from outside the window.

A carrier pigeon landed lightly on the desk.

Xue Sui gently held it in her hands and removed the letter tube from the anklet.

This is intelligence that Tian Shu intercepted from the Xiz caravan.

"Ashina has already sent troops to Chishui Pass, intending to coordinate with the assassins in the capital. The high priest is contacting the old followers of Xiz, plotting to launch a coup to purge the court of corrupt officials and enthrone the second son of the King of Xiz, Turgutai."

It was obvious that internal strife in the Siz was imminent.

Both Daliang and Xiz will be preoccupied with their own problems. Whether they fight or not, it presents an excellent opportunity for the Old Mausoleum to make strategic moves…

As the player wielding the chess pieces, one must make precise moves to achieve their goal.

Xue Sui threw the strip of cloth into the brazier, watching the flames slowly devour the words, his dark eyes deepening slightly.

"To put on a good show, you have to set up a good stage first."

Xiao Zhao walked in carrying a bowl of medicine. Seeing the dark circles under her eyes, she couldn't help but advise:
"Young lady, you've stayed up for two nights in a row. You need to take care of yourself..."

"So many people in the picture album are still alive and well. The two hundred thousand wronged souls of the Old Mausoleum are still waiting for me to seek justice for them. What do what I've done amount to?"

The unsung heroes of the old marshland—the cooks, the grooms, the embroiderers…—were all as insignificant as she was, yet they persevered, using their lives as bait to weave a vast net, thread by thread…

The trap has been set; how can she afford to be careless?
Xiao Zhao understood her predicament, her fingers tightened subtly, and her eyes reddened.

"Young lady, please drink your medicine..."

Xue Sui glanced down at the dark brown medicine, took it, and drank it all in one gulp.

Bitterness spreads on the tip of the tongue.

She turned to the side, gazing at her pale face in the bronze mirror, and vaguely recalled Tian Shu's words from that day.

"If the credit for defeating the enemy is given to Li Zhao, will he then clear the name of the old imperial tombs?"
-
The next day at dawn.

In the Lanzhi Courtyard of the Prince Duan's Mansion, candlelight flickered.

Consort Zhang pursed her lips in front of the mirror, raised the snail-shell ink in her hand, and was suddenly horrified to find a large dark purple red mark on her neck.

"Green branches! Green branches!"

She frantically called out the maid's name.

Green Branch hurriedly approached, startling the copper basin in her hand so much that it nearly fell to the ground.

"Consort... what happened to your body...?"

"Quick, go get a doctor..."

Before she could finish speaking, Consort Zhang suddenly clutched her chest, her breath coming in short gasps as tears streamed down her face.
"No, go and fetch the Prince! Quickly, fetch the Prince..."
-
"Urgent report from the border—"

"Urgent report from the border—" The sound of the water clock broke the deathly silence in the hall.

The Xuanzheng Hall was bathed in an iron-gray morning light.

The messenger's urgent and high-pitched voice struck my heart like a heavy hammer.

"Your Majesty, an urgent report from the border! Scouts have discovered that King Xizi is personally leading 100,000 iron cavalry towards Chishui Pass..."

Emperor Chongzhao was furious and slammed the report onto his desk.

"What a fine Ashina! He killed my concubines, kidnapped my imperial grandson, and now he dares to send a large army to invade our borders..."

The courtiers below were completely silent.

The Minister of War's back was already soaked with cold sweat.

Emperor Chongzhao's gaze swept across the hall, and after a moment he frowned, asking in a cold voice:
Where is Prince Duan?

The Imperial Secretary straightened his court robes and respectfully stepped forward to pay his respects.

"Your Majesty, His Royal Highness Prince Duan has not come to court today due to illness..."

Li Huan was diligent and rarely missed court meetings.

Emperor Chongzhao's expression grew increasingly solemn, his brows furrowing into a deep frown.

"Father!" Li Zhao suddenly knelt down at the foot of the steps, his words ringing out clearly.

"Your subject is willing to go to Chishui Pass and fight to the death against the Xiz Iron Cavalry to uphold the prestige of our Great Liang."

He kowtowed heavily, his forehead touching the cold, hard white marble.

"Within three months, your son will surely take Ashina's head and hang it on the city gate!"

"Nonsense!" Emperor Chongzhao was not pleased by his volunteering; instead, he glared at him angrily, his face turning ashen.

"You think war is child's play? In three months, you couldn't even wipe out the bandits in the mountains!"

Li Zhao raised his head and looked directly at the imperial carriage.

A streak of blood crossed his vision, and a metallic taste rose in his throat.

"Your subject is not afraid of death, and is willing to die to prove his loyalty and share the burdens of Your Majesty..."

The imperial court erupted in an uproar.

Some praised the crown prince for his bravery and decisiveness.

Some people shook their heads secretly, their faces showing worry.

Xie Yanzhan quickly stepped forward, bowed deeply, and said, "Your Highness, this is unacceptable! The Crown Prince is the heir apparent, his fate tied to the fate of the nation; he must not take such a risk lightly..."

Emperor Chongzhao narrowed his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the faces of his ministers like that of a hawk.

"My esteemed ministers, who is capable of shouldering this heavy responsibility, leading the elite troops of our Great Liang to repel the invading enemy?"

"Your subject, Lu Youan, is willing to sign a military pledge!"

A resolute shout broke the silence of the inner hall.

Lu Youan knelt on the carved dragon bricks outside the Xuanzheng Hall, his hands clasped together and raised high above his head, his cheeks slightly flushed.

"If I cannot find the imperial grandson and defeat Xiz, I will commit suicide to atone for my sins."

After saying this, he kowtowed heavily, his forehead hitting the ground with a dull thud.

"Your Majesty, please grant me permission. I will do my utmost to live up to Your Majesty's expectations."
-
Meanwhile, a group of disguised caravans from Xiz were slowly making their way towards the bridgehead over the Yongding River under the rising sun.

The caravan leader, Hakmu, lifted the tarpaulin, revealing the spice on the surface.

A gentle breeze wafted by, carrying a delightful fragrance.

No one knew that beneath the spices lay a hundred barrels of gunpowder, tightly wrapped in oilcloth—more than enough to destroy the western market of Daliang.

Last time, the burning of 70% of the grain at Yongfeng Granary caused a critical shortage of supplies for the Liang army, throwing the court and the people into chaos. King Xizi was extremely pleased with this. However, since then, all the granaries have been heavily guarded, and they have had no further opportunity to attack...

However, with the opening of trade markets in Daliang, merchants flocked to the East and West Markets, and foreign merchants from various countries came and went in an endless stream, so they could come and go as they pleased without attracting attention.

Therefore, they bribed Zhang Huaiyi, the river inspector, with a large sum of money, preparing to pull off a big heist, stir up a storm, disrupt the stability of Daliang, and support the iron cavalry of the Xiz royal court...

A servant wiped his forehead and said with a smile, "The Yongding River is just ahead. After crossing the Yongding River, go straight along Anyuan Street and you will reach the West Market!"

Upon hearing this, Hakmu nodded slightly.

The carriage rolled over the protruding stones, its wheels making a creaking sound.

The attendant approached with a smile and handed over a water pouch.

"Chief, would you like a sip of mare's milk wine to warm yourself up?"

Hakmu reached out and took it, and just as he tilted his head back to gulp it down, his expression suddenly changed—

A group of heavily armored and armed imperial guards of the Great Liang Dynasty marched in formation, their banners bearing the python patterns of the Eastern Palace's iron cavalry.

Li Zhao: Ping An entrusted me with an important task, and I am... nervous and a little shy.

Xue Sui: Bah! You shameless bastard...