Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 202 Undercurrents at the Family Banquet
On the day of the family banquet, the vermilion gates of the Prince Duan's mansion were wide open.

The banquet was held in Xiefang Garden, where red carpets were laid from the bridgehead to the waterside pavilion along the winding corridor, and lanterns on both sides reflected on the lake surface like shimmering gold.

The corridors of Tanqiu Courtyard were also covered with red silk, creating a festive atmosphere.

The head maid, accompanied by several maids and two embroiderers, hurried through the hanging flower gate, carrying a jade screen embroidered with gold thread and a brocade auspicious robe, causing the young maids to crane their necks to look.

"Be careful!" The head maid held the edge of the jade screen. "This is a treasure bestowed by the Imperial Concubine. We can't afford to make the slightest mistake... Our concubine relies on it to make herself look good in front of all the nobles in the capital!"

Ruyi was feeding the pigeons by the window when she heard the stewardess's shrill voice, and her little face immediately fell.

"These shallow-minded people, do they really think our girls care about these dead things? And that they want to use them to make themselves look good? Humph! Their faces are made up with cosmetics, but our girls' faces are honed by swords. What's with the airs? They're like clay statues of Vajra—good to look at but useless."

Jinshu glared at her, "Shh, don't talk nonsense."

Ruyi stuck out her tongue and was about to turn her head to speak when she saw Xiao Zhao push the door open and come in.

“Miss! That Princess Ruihe is here again.” She put the book on the table and turned to tuck a newly picked ten-foot-long beaded curtain into Xue Sui’s hair.

The two looked at each other.

Xue Sui dismissed everyone in the room, leaving only her and Jinshu.

Xiao Zhao then lowered her voice, "Miss, Princess Ruihe stayed at Princess Pingle's residence last night..."

Jinshu frowned. "The two have become quite close recently. Miss, you should be careful. The visitor is not friendly."

"Then let's go and meet them."

Xue Sui looked at himself in the bronze mirror.

The red marks on her collarbone were cleverly concealed by rouge, leaving only a faint pink hue, like the hazy and precious glow of a sunset spreading in the glaze of celadon.

"You're so beautiful, young lady," Xiao Zhao said sincerely. "When I saw this flower blooming so beautifully, I was reminded of you."

Xue Sui smiled and gently touched the ten-foot-long beaded curtain that Xiao Zhao had tied up.

Before the words had even finished, the stewardess had already entered the courtyard and repeatedly offered her congratulations.

Xue Sui and Jin Shu exchanged a glance, then Xue Sui slowly rose and gently brushed the dark patterns on his sleeve.

"Let's go."
-
Xiefang Garden.

Princess Ruihe was led to the guest seats in the east wing, where she discovered the seat in the main seat that was covered with gold brocade.

She was slightly taken aback, and wished she could wring the handkerchief to pieces—

Li Huan actually placed Xue Sui's seat to his right, almost placing her next to the princess.

Zhang, who was also a concubine, was ranked on the lower left.

She sat down dejectedly.

The maidservant hurriedly came up to serve tea.

To avoid controversy, there weren't many guests present today, but everyone who was supposed to come did.

Ruihe frowned: "Why haven't your princess and Consort Xue arrived yet?"

The maid said, "The concubine is the main character today, so she should dress up nicely. Our princess is considerate and has gone to fetch her."

Xue Liu has such a grand air about him, requiring the Princess to personally greet him.

"It's not like a bride is getting married, why are you putting on airs..."

The girl pretended not to hear.

Xue Sui, who had just arrived at Xiefang Garden, seemed to have heard something and glanced over.

A slight sneer played on her lips as she gracefully entered the hall, her embroidered cloud-patterned dress trailing behind her, her steps light and her demeanor elegant.

The two sisters' wide sleeves overlapped, resembling twin lotus flowers.

One is as graceful as a peony that could topple a kingdom, the other as noble as a white crane standing in the snow.

Ruihe's smile froze on his face. He lowered his head and drank tea to cover it up.

"I respectfully wish His Highness the Crown Prince, His Highness Prince Duan, His Highness Prince Wei, and His Highness Prince Chun good health."

Li Huan and Li Zhao were chatting happily when they heard the noise and both looked over.

"Princess, please excuse me."

"Consort Xue, you may rise."

Xue Yuechen nodded, gently stroking her lower abdomen, and returned to her seat.

Xue Sui gently supported her forearm until she was seated, then turned and sat down to Li Huan's right.

Today, with the Crown Prince in the audience, although Li Huan is the host, the Crown Prince is still the most respected. Therefore, the seating arrangement is quite ingenious: the Crown Prince sits in the center facing south, Li Huan sits slightly below him on his left, and Xue Sui sits on Li Huan's right, at an angle to the Crown Prince's seat.

On one side is Li Zhao, and on the other is Li Huan. Although they are of different ranks, they are in a delicate balance, like three stars aligned.

Prince Wei, Li Yan, Prince Chun, Li Qian, a group of imperial relatives, and the princes' families were all seated according to their rank, chatting and laughing, creating a peaceful atmosphere.

Grandma Cui and Xue Qingzhi also brought several of their children and grandchildren to offer their congratulations. They were very warm and friendly in their conversation.

Ruihe felt something was off.

The garden was bustling with activity, filled with the clinking of glasses and the exchange of toasts, but no one paid her any attention.

It was as if she were the only outsider.

"Consort Xue looks radiant today." Li Yan swirled his wine cup, his gaze lingering on Xue Sui's adorned bosom, a smile playing on his lips. "Consort Xue is indeed beautiful; Second Brother is truly blessed."

The polite, insincere words weren't particularly offensive, but Xue Sui sensed a frivolous glint in his eyes.

In the Prince Duan's villa, Xue Sui was also one of the witnesses who saw him and Xue Yueying "committing adultery".

Xue Sui guessed that he didn't have a good impression of her, so she couldn't help but smile and glance at the seats on the east and west sides.

Perhaps to avoid embarrassment, Xue Yueying did not attend the banquet.

She smiled gently, "Thank you for your praise, Your Highness."

Li Yan stroked the rim of his cup, a malicious smile playing on his lips.

"Simply saying thank you isn't enough."

He raised his glass, gesturing for her to finish it.

"Today is the joyous occasion of the concubine's wedding. Let us drink to our hearts' content. This cup is for the concubine. May you and the second prince live in harmony and have a son soon."

He immediately started urging her to drink, and even said things like "a harmonious marriage" and "may you have a son soon" in front of the princess. It was clear that he had ulterior motives and wanted to see her make a fool of herself at the banquet.

Xue Sui's fingertips touched the rim of the cup, and he noticed the complex and restrained gaze above him, like a dark ray of light. His throat tightened slightly.

After calming himself down, he smiled slightly, raised his glass, covered his face with his sleeve, and then quietly poured the wine into a hidden pocket in his sleeve.

Li Yan: "Good drinking capacity, this second glass..."

“Third Imperial Brother!” Li Zhao suddenly interrupted.

A cold glance, laced with mockery yet carrying an indescribable sense of oppression—arrogant and intimidating.

"Your second brother's banquet for relatives has become your playground for running wild. You're having a good time, but what about your second brother?"

Li Yan gave an awkward smile, somewhat embarrassed.

Li Huan remained calm and glanced indifferently at Li Yan.

"Your Highness is right. Third Brother should be more self-disciplined and not lose his sense of propriety."

Li Yan quickly clasped his hands in apology, "It was my fault for speaking carelessly. I had drunk too much and talked nonsense. I hope my second brother will forgive me."

After saying that, he poured himself another full cup and drank it all in one gulp.

"Punish yourself with a cup. Consort Xue, calm down."

The atmosphere immediately became somewhat tense.

"Come, sister, have some food." Xue Yuechen smiled and changed the subject. With a flick of her crimson wide sleeves, she personally served Xue Sui a plate of crystal crab meat and had a maid bring it to her table.

"Seasonal river delicacies are at their most succulent and delicious, so don't miss out on this delicacy."

Having gained a way out, Li Yan took the opportunity to lower his head and eat his food.

Xue Sui took a bite, then turned to the absent-minded Consort Zhang and said with a light smile, "Sister Zhang, have you tried it? It's even more refreshing than yesterday's crab roe tofu."

Consort Zhang was pale, clearly still reeling from the shock of her brother's conviction.

"My sister is so thoughtful..."

She clutched the handkerchief, took a small sip, and forced a smile.

"The sauce is very flavorful and truly delicious."

Princess Ruihe's heart sank, and the jade bracelet on her wrist suddenly hit the edge of the table, making a clear sound.

She stared at the phoenix hairpin with a pearl in its beak in Xue Sui's hair, a forced smile on her face.

"I'd heard that the inner quarters of Prince Duan's residence were harmonious, and seeing it today, I can confirm it's true—"

Everyone looked at her.

Only then did they notice a princess sitting in the corner.

Since returning to the capital, Princess Ruihe has kept a low profile, speaking and acting cautiously. Everyone says that she is frail and sickly, which makes her very pitiful.

Looking at it now, however, his words are sharp and somewhat aggressive.

They have no sense of propriety.

The guests all looked embarrassed, their eyes darting between Ruihe and the women of the royal family.

"Your Highness is too kind. The harmony within the Prince Duan's residence is entirely due to His Highness's skillful management of the household."

Attributing credit to her husband demonstrates the virtues of a virtuous wife.

After Xue Yue finished speaking calmly, she added a cup of red date and ginger tea to Ruihe's cup and gestured for Emerald to bring it over herself.

"Princess, please have some hot drinks. The autumn wind is chilly today; please don't catch a cold."

She wiped the water stains from her lips with a handkerchief, then smiled and served drinks and food to the guests, displaying a gentle and generous demeanor as a head of the household, so proper that no one could find fault with her.

Xue Sui smiled faintly, "Sister, the princess has a lot of liver fire. She should have some cooling sweet soup to cool down her heart fire."

Madam Zhang also looked at Ruihe and smiled in agreement, "Princess, Consort Xue is well-versed in the ways of health preservation. Her words always make some sense. You might as well drink more lotus seed and lily soup; it will definitely be beneficial."

Xue Yuechen smiled and said, "It was I who didn't think it through. Someone, bring the princess a bowl of lotus seed and lily soup..."

Li Huan breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing this.

"I am very pleased that you sisters live in harmony."