Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 195 Wisdom and Strategy
After having lunch at Pear Fragrance Courtyard, Xue Sui was chatting with Xue Ji when Jin Shu strode in and whispered a few words in her ear.

"Well done!"

Xue Sui immediately got up, told Xue Ji to rest well, and then took Xiao Zhao out the door.

Just as she passed through the ceremonial gate, she saw Xue Qingzhi returning from outside with a deep frown and a solemn expression, his hands behind his back, blocking her way.

"Where are you going to run wild again?"

The Sidzi assassins are rampant, and women in all households are forbidden from going out.

"You're not getting any younger, yet you're becoming increasingly unruly. Look at you, where is the demeanor of a member of a royal household?"

I like what I like no matter how I look at it.

What I dislike is that even taking a breath is an eyesore.

Xue Sui stood quietly, smiling faintly, without saying a word.

Xue Qingzhi scolded her for a couple of minutes, but looking at her serene smile, he suddenly felt a pang of guilt, and his cheeks burned.

He couldn't explain why, they were all his daughters, all well-behaved and obedient. But this sixth daughter often gave him an inexplicable sense of oppression, making him very uncomfortable.

He waved his hand, too lazy to beat around the bush anymore.

"His Highness is ill. As the lady of the Prince's mansion, you should know what's important. Why don't you hurry back to attend to him..."

Xue Sui was at a loss for how to make an excuse, but upon hearing this, he hurriedly agreed.

“Father’s words are wise. I will now return home.”

She curtsied, straightened her back, and walked away gracefully.

As Xue Qingzhi watched his daughter's figure recede into the distance on the bluestone path, he suddenly realized that she was just like a rootless duckweed, seemingly drifting with the current, with no one to rely on, yet she was a river and sea of ​​her own, her depths unfathomable...
-
Xue Sui did not return directly to the Prince's Palace, but instead went to meet Wen Jia.

The carriage sped along and soon arrived at the residence of Princess Huguo.

This is a new residence bestowed upon Li Fuyin by the emperor after she was granted the title of Princess Protector of the Nation.

At this moment, white banners fluttered in the mansion, the corridors were all in mourning, and benzoin incense burned in the bronze censer, giving off a somewhat somber atmosphere. Servants and stewardesses came and went, all dressed in mourning clothes.

Wen Jia, dressed in mourning clothes and without any jewelry, came to greet us at the hanging flower gate.

"Ping An, you've finally arrived."

The two held hands, their fingertips both icy cold.

Wen Jia led her into the warm pavilion, where Yao Guang had already brewed fresh tea. Amidst the rising steam, he was leisurely and content.

"Thirteen of these plans are ingenious, each step linked to the next!"

Xue Sui bowed slightly and smiled, "It's all thanks to my senior brother's great help."

Wen Jia gently helped her up by the arm and invited her to sit down. He personally poured her a cup and spoke with a worried tone, “I heard that they have captured Hakemu, the leader of the Xiz Death Squad. But that Ashina is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, capable of poisoning even his own brothers. How could he possibly care about the life of his great-nephew, Hakemu?”

Xue Sui fiddled with the teacup, a faint smile on her face.

"He can do without the man, but he can't do without the gunpowder... A hundred barrels of gunpowder plus his own nephew in exchange for an innocent child, that's a very good deal..."

Having said that, she turned and gazed intently at Yaoguang, asking her question.

"Have all the gunpowder been properly stored during the transfer?"

Yao Guang nodded calmly, "Don't worry, I'm always meticulous in my work."

Xue Sui smiled, "Then we'll proceed according to plan. Send a message to Ashina, return Niu Niu, and recall all the assassins lurking in the capital. We can also return the Hakemu and the gunpowder..."

Yao Guang: "The Xizi people are cunning and suspicious. We need to come up with a more comprehensive plan."

Xue Sui said, "First, spread the word that the Crown Prince's intercepted goods contained a secret letter, confirming that King Xiz murdered his father and usurped the throne, an act of treason... Once public opinion boils over, with the Great Liang sending troops to fight from the outside and the old party of Amenglahe rising up from the inside, the people of Chishui City will be in a state of panic, and Ashina will have no other way out..."

"The Crown Prince?" Wen Jia asked, somewhat surprised.

Yao Guang also glanced at her.

"You mean, to make this deal with Ashina in the name of the Crown Prince?"

Xue Sui said calmly, "The old mausoleum is hidden in the shadows; there's no need to risk getting involved in its murky waters. Now everyone in the capital knows that it was the Crown Prince who led the Six Guards of the Eastern Palace to besiege the Xizi assassins at the Yongding River and captured their leader, Hakemu. The immense merit of rescuing the imperial grandson should naturally be attributed to the Crown Prince. It's reasonable and justifiable, and it won't arouse any suspicion..."

Yao Guang nodded, agreeing with what she said, yet also feeling that something was amiss...

Wenjia gently twisted the handkerchief, her expression anxious and uneasy.

"I'm afraid Ashina might do something desperate and harm Niu Niu..."

Xue Sui could not guarantee that everything would be foolproof.

But seeing the tears welling up in Wenjia's eyes, she could only offer her comfort.

"Ashina is a smart man. If he wants to keep his throne, he won't shoot himself in the foot. Harming Niu Niu won't do him any good. Niu Niu is just a child..."

Wenjia nodded nervously.

Xue Sui understood Wen Jia's feelings, offered a few words of comfort, and then turned to ask Yao Guang.

"What has Senior Sister Yuheng been doing lately?"

Yao Guang smiled and replied, "Senior Sister Yuheng sent a message a few days ago saying that she went to Qishan to gather herbs..."

"Is that so?" Xue Sui asked thoughtfully.

Could it be that she misunderstood, and that Senior Sister Yuheng wasn't deliberately avoiding her...?

Seeing that her expression was strange, Yao Guang couldn't help but scrutinize her.

"Thirteen, why are you in such a hurry to find Senior Sister Yuheng? Could it be that..."

"I just have a small matter to ask you about," Xue Sui said casually, without telling Yao Guang and Wen Jia about the subtle changes in his body recently.

She took the medicine given to her by her senior sister Yuheng for a few days, but as she said in her letter, it could control the symptoms but not completely detoxify her, leaving her feeling helpless as if it was only treating the symptoms and not the root cause.

"Senior brother, I have to return to the Duan Prince's residence today. If you have any news about Senior Sister Yuheng, please remember to let me know."

Yao Guang bowed and responded.

Wenjia put down his teacup, stepped forward, and held her hand tightly.

"Peace be assured, but be careful in all things."

Xue Sui smiled and nodded, "Take care, everyone."

The two said their goodbyes with reluctance.

No sooner had Xue Sui left than Dong Xu came to report.

"Princess, Young Master Lu requests an audience..."

Wen Jia's eyes flickered slightly as she looked up at the setting sun that had painted the sky.

"Please ask him to wait in the front courtyard flower hall for a moment."
-
The setting sun is like blood.

Wen Jia stood at the end of the veranda, bathed in the setting sun, her figure slender.

The sound of armor clashing came from afar.

Lu Youan, clad in silver armor, came against the sunlight, his armor gleaming with a cold, hard light in the setting sun.

This was the first time Wenjia had seen him in military uniform.

For a long time, he was remembered as a frail scholar, the top scholar in the imperial examination, and a prince consort living in the shadow of Princess Ping Le. As a result, many people forgot that Lu You'an was both literate and martial, well-versed in military strategy, and originally had lofty ambitions...

"This humble general greets the princess."

Lu Youan was tall and handsome, but he couldn't hide the longing and reluctance in his eyes.

"General Conquering the West, there's no need for such formalities." Wen Jia raised his hand, addressing him with the newly bestowed title, which sounded somewhat unfamiliar and awkward.

"I wonder what business the general has with me?"

Lu Youan bowed deeply, gazing at her with eyes overflowing with affection: "This humble general has come to bid farewell to Your Highness. I am going to Chishui Pass..."

He paused, his throat slightly hoarse. Wen Jia looked at him quietly, without saying a word.

"On this journey to Chishui Pass, I will give it my all." Lu Youan took a deep breath, stroking the sword at his waist, and lowered his voice, "Your Highness, please rest assured, I will bring Niu Niu back safe and sound, even if it costs me my life..."

Wen Jia felt a warmth in her heart.

This man was loyal and devoted, a trustworthy person to whom one could entrust oneself. However, considering their awkward social statuses and the impossibility of spending their lives together, he couldn't help but feel somewhat saddened.

"This journey is fraught with danger, General Lu, please take good care of yourself. I am in the capital, waiting for your safe return."

Lu Youan's throat tightened.

Despite the overwhelming emotions, I couldn't bring myself to express them.

Suddenly, he recalled Princess Wenjia's wedding day. Her bright red wedding dress swept across the snow, and the tassels of her red veil swayed before his eyes. As he watched her board the bridal sedan chair, his throat tightened with emotion, but he ultimately did not utter a word to stop her...

Who would have thought that in the blink of an eye, everything has changed.

Lu Youan bowed his head and clasped his hands, his gaze falling on the tassel of his sword.

"This humble general will certainly not fail in his mission."

He bowed solemnly once more, swallowing back a thousand words, leaving only two.

"Farewell!"

Wen Jia's eyes reddened. "General, take care on your journey. Please forgive me for not seeing you off further."

"Princess, take care." Lu Youan's voice was low as his gaze swept over the sandalwood bracelet on Wen Jia's wrist—it was left behind by Consort Wan Zhao, and a pang of pain shot through his heart.

Suddenly, he turned around and took two steps, grabbing her icy hand tightly. He nervously stuffed a jade pendant, which was damp with sweat, into Wenjia's hand, the temperature in his palm as hot as burning charcoal.

“Princess, wait for my return after I have rendered meritorious service. If… if I do not return, this will remain for you as a keepsake…”

After he finished speaking, he smiled with relief, as if a heavy weight had been lifted from his heart for a long time—the jade pendant that his grandmother had left for her granddaughter-in-law had finally been given away after many years.

But he was also very uneasy, afraid that Wen Jia would refuse, so he withdrew his hand and turned around in a panic, walking away quickly and hurriedly.

By the time Wen Jia came to her senses, his figure had already disappeared from her sight.

"treasure……"

Wen Jia's eyes glistened with tears as she murmured something and turned away, not letting Dong Xu see the mist of tears welling up in her eyes. She simply smiled gently with her lips pursed.

"Go back to the house."

The winter sequence should be.

In a fleeting glance, I saw the princess carefully wrapping the red string of the jade pendant around her wrist. The jade was a vibrant, lustrous green, and looked beautiful, as if it had always been there.
-
Princess House.

Upon receiving news of Lu Youan's departure for war, and hearing that he had visited Wen Jia and presented her with the jade pendant that held his affections, Ping Le was consumed by jealousy and smashed her teacup to the ground...

"What a shameless couple! They have absolutely no sense of decency!"

The maid stood by, head bowed and sleeves tucked in, not daring to say a word.

Ping Le suddenly turned her head coldly, "Go to the Lu residence immediately and tell the Prince Consort that I want to see the children. Before the expedition, you must send both children back to my residence, otherwise, don't blame me for being ruthless..."

The girl hesitated.

Ping Le's eyebrows stood up straight, and her dark eyes seemed to hold a venomous hatred.

"You little devil, hurry up and get out of here..."

The girl's shoulders tensed from the scolding; she lowered her head, wiped away her tears, and retreated.

The coral bead curtain behind me rustled softly.

Gu Jie slowly entered, his figure tall and slender, like a pine tree covered in snow, exuding a handsome air.

"Why must the princess be so angry?"

Ping Le turned her head, looked at him coldly, and snapped at him.

"Why did you only arrive now?"

Gu Jie smiled apologetically as he watched Ping Le's skirt brush against the brocade carpet. He added two spoonfuls of osmanthus honey to the tea, his gaze darkening slightly, and his voice softening a bit more.

"The Xue family is getting married, and my mother went to Baocui Lane to buy wedding gifts. She asked me to accompany her, but I can't get away for a while..."

"A congratulatory gift?" Ping Le raised an eyebrow.

Thinking of that impetuous illegitimate daughter from the Xue family, who was to marry into the Zheng State Duke's mansion and be paired with that good-for-nothing Guo Zhaoxuan, she chuckled with amusement.

"By the way, how long has it been since Guo Zhaohuai last showed up?"

Since Xue Liu returned to the capital, Ping Le has been repeatedly confined to her home, and the gatherings of the Women's Society have almost come to a standstill. Her childhood friends, who used to be close, have all taken on their own jobs and have gradually drifted apart, no longer surrounding Ping Le as before.

He said, "Brother Guo has now taken up a post in the Ministry of War, and with the Xiz invasion and the border in dire straits, he must be very busy with official duties and unable to spare the time..."

"Hmph, just an excuse." Ping Le snorted coldly.

"I think he's just a treacherous opportunist. He thinks I'm easy to bully now that I've lost power, and he wants to distance himself from me..."

She took two steps closer and raised an eyebrow at Gu Jie.

"I've thought about it carefully these past few days, and I'm slowly coming to understand. It was my fault before."

Gu Jie's pupils contracted slightly. "What makes you say that, Princess?"

“The mistake was underestimating Xue Liu, and also underestimating that widow Wen Jia…” Ping Le narrowed his eyes, raised his chin and looked at Gu Jie. A finger covered in nail polish lightly traced across his neck, and his eyes gleamed with an eerie red.

"Fortunately, there's plenty of time. No rush, I'll play with them slowly, and this time I'll plan carefully..."

Gu Jie felt a slight chill as she touched his skin, and couldn't help but shiver. Before him was a delicate and beautiful face, yet it resembled a monstrous demon with fangs, revealing its gleaming white teeth…

Before he could speak, Ping Le's eerie smile was suddenly reflected in the bronze mirror.

Her fingertips traced Gu Jie's Adam's apple, her voice low and cold, "To be honest, that good-for-nothing Guo Zhaohuai isn't entirely useless..."

The sound of boiling water suddenly arose on the stove.

Gu Jie took a half step back, his palms slightly sweaty.

"What does Your Highness intend to do?"

Ping Le smiled faintly: "The most poisonous bait is the human heart. Xue Liu used this trick. Why don't I turn the tables on him and give him a taste of his own medicine?"
-
Inside the Prince Duan's mansion, the Lanzhi Courtyard was deserted.

Just as Zhang pushed the medicine bowl aside, she coughed twice, covering her lips with a handkerchief, and the maid Cuizhi lifted the curtain and came in, quickly curtsying.

"Your Highness, it was sent by someone from the Master..."

Consort Zhang unfolded the letter, held her breath, and read a few lines intently, her fingertips trembling uncontrollably.

The letter was written in messy, illegible handwriting, but it clearly stated: "At the crack of dawn, the Crown Prince sent men to surround the Zhang residence... Please ask Prince Duan to intervene and rescue your brother..."

"Has he gone mad...? He actually dared to collude with the Siz!"

Consort Zhang gripped the letter tightly, her fingernails almost digging into her flesh.

She had long known that her brother was greedy for money, but she never expected that this fool would dare to collude with foreign enemies. If the Crown Prince were to be convicted, not only would the entire Zhang family be wiped out, but she, as a concubine of the Prince's mansion, would also be executed along with them...

Zhang pushed aside the maidservant who was serving her, and without even bothering to put on her outer robe, she staggered and ran towards the main room of the Prince's mansion.

It was at this moment that Xue Sui stepped through the gates of the Prince Duan's mansion.

Since "Prince Duan is unwell," she, as Lady Ping'an, naturally cannot neglect her duties.

Xiao Zhao, Ruyi, Jinshu, and the others, carrying medicine boxes, hurried back to the mansion, surrounding Xue Sui.

The gatekeeper said that the princess was attending to the prince in his room. Without hesitation, Xue Sui walked through the corridor and went straight to the main courtyard where Li Huan lived.

Even before they reached the outside room, they could hear Zhang's sobbing.

"Your Highness, for my sake, please save my brother..."

Two chapters combined, goodnight~
Sisters, please point out any bugs and leave comments. Thank you, muah!