Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 193 Whirlpool
Xue Sui slept too soundly last night and got up too late. After finishing her dressing and having breakfast, she chatted with Xue Ji for a while before going to Shou'an Courtyard refreshed to pay her respects to the old lady.

Inside Shou'an Courtyard, Old Mrs. Cui was holding sandalwood prayer beads, basking in the autumn sun in the warm pavilion.

Madam Fu and Madam Qian sat on either side. Xue Jiu, Yue'e, wrung her handkerchief, looking listless. Xue Ba, Yueman, placed a few candied fruits on a porcelain dish, her eyes revealing impatience…

The maids stood with their heads bowed beside the screen, barely breathing...

Scattered embroidery threads and double happiness patterns are laid out on the table.

Perhaps because there were too many people, the originally spacious warm room felt somewhat cramped and crowded...

"Sixth Miss has arrived just in time." Old Madam Cui smiled, wrinkles appearing at the corners of her eyes, as she saw Xue Sui curtsy and greet her.

She gestured for Xue Sui to come closer, her face full of affection, "Take a look at your eighth sister's wedding dress. The embroiderers spent half a month working on the design. Isn't it festive?"

Xue Yueman's wedding date was set for the day after the winter solstice. The time was a bit tight, and the Xue family was making preparations hastily and was somewhat overwhelmed. However, the Zheng family simply gave a symbolic explanation that "it is not appropriate for a concubine's son to be extravagant when he marries," thus politely dismissing the Xue family's doubts.

Everyone knew that the Duke of Zheng's family was not satisfied with this marriage.

The First Madam, Madam Fu, did not manage the household, and the Third Madam was in charge of the household, but she was not the mistress of the Eighth Miss, so it was difficult for her to manage everything properly.

Grandma Cui felt like she had swallowed a fly, and she lost all interest in arranging the wedding.

The entire Xue family treated this wedding with great perfunctoriness...

Xue Sui picked up the embroidery pattern and couldn't help but smile.

"The stitches are fine and the colors are bright. Eighth Sister will surely look elegant and beautiful in it."

Xue Yueman frowned, glanced at the twin lotus embroidery on her wedding dress, and bit her lip.

When her eldest sister got married, the house was filled with nobility; when her second sister got married, the house was adorned with jewels; when her third sister got married, the floor was covered in brocade; and when her fourth sister got married, the spectacle was even more magnificent. Each of them was more grand than the last, while she seemed to be an unwanted daughter...

Her eyes welled up with tears, and she twisted her handkerchief.

"Sixth Sister is teasing me again. I'm just a concubine's daughter, I'm not destined for such a life, I'm just picking up the leftovers of others. How can I compare to Sixth Sister's magnificent wedding procession back then..."

Everyone knows that the only true legitimate daughter of the main branch is Xue Yuechen, and the others are all illegitimate daughters. When Xue Liu went to the Duan Prince's mansion, she was extremely humble. Where did the "ten-mile red bridal procession" come from?
Isn't this ironic?

Xue Yuelou tapped her teacup lightly, and scolded her in dissatisfaction, "What are you saying, Eighth Sister? This marriage was originally arranged by you begging the elders, and now you're blaming others?"

Xue Yue retorted, "You're just talking without understanding the situation. Your married daughter has returned home after a divorce, what's there to be so smug about..."

"you--"

Xue Sui pressed down on Xue Yuelou's arm as she tried to rise, and said with a faint smile, "The Duke of Zheng is a high-ranking official, and Guo Silang is an exceptionally talented and handsome man. Eighth Sister should be proud to marry into such a family; Second Sister, you shouldn't be envious..."

The two women sang in unison, which angered Xue Yueman so much that her face turned red. She tugged at Xue Yue'e, wanting her to speak up for her.

Xue Yue'e lowered her head, pretending not to see.

She is currently overwhelmed with problems.

The child Xue Yueying bore for the Prince of Wei was like a thorn in the side for Ninth Sister, especially since the Prince of Wei had several children, and being a stepmother was no easy task...

Especially after the last time she was inexplicably "hanged," the person who harmed her remains unknown. No amount of explanation could clarify the situation, and there are even rumors that she had someone else in her heart, which is why she refused to marry by committing suicide...

In all honesty, she wanted to be the Princess Consort of Wei more than anyone else, so why would she seek death?

"Ninth Sister, Eighth Sister is calling you!"

Xue Sui's ambiguous laughter startled Xue Yue'e, causing her eyes to widen in surprise.

She looked up abruptly, and seeing Xue Sui's gentle smile, it felt as if a chill had been poured over her head...

When he opened his mouth again, he suddenly started to stutter...

"Sixth Sister is right. The Duke of Zheng's family is of illustrious lineage, and Eighth Sister has married a wonderful husband. Their lives are sure to be smooth sailing..."

Xue Yueman trembled with anger, "Ninth Sister!"

“Ninth Sister is a very honest person,” Xue Sui interrupted before Eighth Sister could finish speaking, and smiled lightly. “It just so happens that the Prince recently bestowed upon me a set of filigree jewelry. I will send someone to deliver it to Ninth Sister to enhance her makeup another day.”

A faint blush rose on Xue Yue'e's pale face.

Instead of feeling surprised, I felt inexplicably afraid.

"Thank you, Sixth Sister..."

Xue Yueman was so angry she wanted to grind her teeth.

Xue Liu's two-faced nature is clearly an attempt to establish her authority and show everyone that those who obey her will prosper, and those who oppose her will perish...

This is outrageous! When did it become the place of an abandoned daughter to boss people around in the Xue family?
"Mother..." Xue Yueman had just called out to Madam Fu when a message came from outside.

"The master is back!"

A thrush fluttered its wings under the eaves, startling a fallen leaf.

Xue Qingzhi stepped into the courtyard, his face solemn as if covered with a layer of frost, as he stepped on a carpet of golden ginkgo leaves.

"What's wrong with him today?" Old Mrs. Cui asked, noticing her son's pale face. She tapped her prayer beads lightly on the small table.

Xue Qingzhi clasped his hands in greeting and sat down on the wooden chair with intertwined branches.

"At today's court assembly, it was learned that King Xizi has personally led 100,000 iron cavalry to deploy at Chishui Pass. His Highness the Crown Prince requested permission to lead the expedition, which has enraged the Emperor..."

Old Mrs. Cui gently swirled her teacup. "How can the Crown Prince's daughter, of such noble birth, lightly venture into dangerous places?"

“Indeed…” Xue Qingzhi picked up the teacup presented by the maid, his brows furrowed.

"His Majesty reprimanded the Crown Prince on the spot, saying he was being ridiculous. Lu You'an, however, signed a military pledge to repel the enemy and find the imperial grandson, earning the Emperor's approval and the praise of the entire court..."

He suddenly looked at Xue Sui, his gaze intense, "Today His Majesty inquired about Prince Duan, and I learned that the prince claimed to be ill at home. You should also go back to the manor to visit him..."

This is a way of kicking people out.

Xue Sui was refilling the old lady's tea when she heard the sound. She looked up, smiled, and asked a question instead of answering.

"Did Father not get anything out of the Siz spy he caught the night before last?"

Xue Qingzhi was startled, and his brows furrowed even deeper.

"Women in the inner quarters, do not ask questions indiscriminately."

"Father is confused." Xue Sui calmly put down the teapot, turned around and curtsied. "The Xue family is already in a very good position. Are you still going to cover for the Zhang family?"

Her voice was cold and sharp, like an ice pick piercing to the bone.

"Protecting oneself is the most important thing right now."

Xue Qingzhi stared at her sharply.

If he hadn't watched her grow up to be eight years old, he would have even suspected that his exceptionally courageous daughter had truly been switched at birth...

Why does Xue Liu have such keen intuition?
The night before last, the Ministry of Justice did find evidence that Zhang Huaiyi was colluding with the Xizi caravan, but that person was the brother of Prince Duan's concubine, and was Prince Duan's man...

At present, Prince Duan is claiming illness, while the Crown Prince is requesting to lead troops. The Emperor is suspicious and distrustful, and clearly does not want the Crown Prince to hold military power.

The emperor's mind is hard to fathom. Presenting Zhang Huaiyi's incriminating evidence at this moment is tantamount to putting the Xue family in a precarious position, pleasing neither side...

He looked at the chrysanthemums on the windowsill, wilted by the autumn sun, and shook his head reluctantly.

"Sixth girl, your father has his own reasons, so don't say anything more..." Before Old Madam Cui finished speaking, Xue Sui had already stood up and bowed to Xue Qingzhi, her long sleeves flowing like clouds, the hem lightly sweeping the ground.

“Grandmother is right, I have been rude.” Xue Sui personally picked up the water jug ​​and went to Xue Qingzhi to refill his water. “I am just worried that if Father keeps the evidence hidden for too long, it will not only lose its value but also become a burden…”

The steam rising from the teacup hit Xue Qingzhi's face and condensed into a misty haze on the window paper.

Xue Qingzhi looked up and stared directly at Xue Sui, his heart suddenly beating faster.

"The Ministry of Justice has its own procedures for handling cases. Choosing the wrong side is a hundred times more dangerous than doing the wrong job. You are just a woman, you should not presume to discuss state affairs."

Grandma Cui quickly smoothed things over: "Sixth Miss is just worried about home. Your father has just returned home, let him rest for a while..."

Xue Sui seemed not to hear what Old Madam Cui said, nor did he pay attention to the various expressions on the faces of the women in the room. He lowered his eyes and chuckled softly.

"How long do you think Prince Duan can protect the Xue family?"

Xue Qingzhi's hand trembled. Gazing into his daughter's unfathomable eyes, he vaguely recalled the Taoist Master Lingxu, who had already ascended to immortality...

Could it be that this sixth young lady truly possesses some kind of supernatural power?
He had never doubted that Prince Duan would lose to the Crown Prince.

Since learning the truth about Consort Xue's wrongful death, and witnessing the changing political landscape in the court, things that were once certain have now become shrouded in mystery...

The Crown Prince and Prince Duan are vying for power in the court. Who will take the lead and who will be the true leader is still uncertain, and the outcome is unpredictable.

A sudden autumn breeze swept through the window, causing the bamboo curtain to rustle loudly.

Xue Qingzhi pondered for a moment, then suddenly stood up.

"I'm going to take a walk around the Prince Duan's residence."