Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 207 Make Her Hurt

Amidst the wafting fragrance of agarwood...

Seeing the pain in Wen Jia's eyes, Xue Sui had someone take Niu Niu to play in the yard before changing the subject.

"Wenjia, are you aware that the envoy sent by the High Priest was assassinated on his way to the Princess Protector's residence?"

"Someone is deliberately sabotaging things, trying to prevent Xiz and Daliang from making peace..."

Wen Jia clenched the handkerchief between her fingers, her face filled with sorrow.

“When my mother married into Daliang as a princess of Xiz, she also shouldered such a mission. My mother said that my maternal grandfather instructed me before he died that the eagles of Mount Wulan should not always stare at the wheat fields of the Central Plains. Peace between Xiz and Daliang is the blessing of the wolf clan children.”

Xue Sui smiled slightly: "If Ashina insists on starting a war, Xiz will inevitably fall apart... If the High Priest wants to stabilize the situation, he must rely on Daliang. Daliang controls the grain and provisions of Guanhe, and will certainly not miss the opportunity to profit from it. Peace is hard to come by..."

Wen Jia nodded, "It has caused suffering for the people and chaos in the court. Everyone longs for peace and hates war, yet there are people like Ping Le who are stirring things up."

Xue Sui placed the teacup heavily on the table.

"This matter cannot be left like this. I must get justice for Niu Niu."

Wen Jia shook his head with a wry smile: "What's the use of bringing her down without evidence? Besides, His Majesty is openly and secretly protecting her..."

"It's alright. If the law doesn't punish you, Heaven will."

Xue Sui suddenly sneered, "If Ping Le dares to set her sights on the child, then let her taste the bitterness of estrangement between mother and child."

Wen Jia was taken aback.

The rosy light spilled through the window lattice, casting Xue Sui's shadow on the Xiangfei bamboo screen. Slender and taut, his silhouette was sharp as a knife, exuding a fierce power.

When will she be able to return to peace?
At 3:45 AM, at the Lu residence.

The carriage of Princess Ping Le's residence rolled over the bluestone slabs and stopped in front of the hanging flower gate.

Granny Zhou lifted the curtain, a flash of disdain in her eyes—

Compared to the princess's residence, the Lu family mansion was ultimately more modest.

"Please inform Lord Lu that this old servant has been ordered by Princess Ping Le to come and fetch the two young masters back to the manor..."

The butler bowed slightly and smiled apologetically, "Master is receiving guests in his study, so it would be inconvenient to disturb him."

Granny Zhou sneered, flicking her handkerchief with a rustling sound.

"The rules were set at the beginning of the month. Could it be that the Lu family intends to go back on their word?"

The butler repeatedly bowed.

"...Master is truly unable to spare the time, so why don't you go to the corridor for a cup of tea, Granny?"

Granny Zhou took a half step forward, her shoe soles grinding hard against the blue brick floor.

"What exactly is the Lu family up to with all this stalling and obstruction? The two young masters are the flesh and blood of Her Highness the Princess, children born after ten months of pregnancy, children brought forth with half their lives. In this world, how can one's own flesh and blood not see their mother? Even if this matter goes to the Imperial Palace, the Princess will be in the right!"

The butler wiped his sweat repeatedly, "Yes, yes, what the old lady says is true, but..."

But before he could say anything, two children came running and playing under the eaves. The boy was holding a candy cake in his hand, and the girl was tugging at his belt. They chased each other, and their laughter echoed through the corridor.

They were Lu Youan and Princess Ping Le's twins.

"Young master!" Granny Zhou exclaimed with delight, quickly calling out to them.

He waved eagerly.

"Come here, young master, come quickly to this old servant."

Lu Guanchen stopped and looked at his younger sister.

"What are you here for?"

With a forced smile, Granny Zhou said, "Young masters, this old servant has come on the orders of Her Highness the Princess. May this old servant take you two young masters back to the manor to find your mother?"

Lu Guanchen trembled, and the sugar cake in his hand fell to the ground, spilling its honey-like filling...

Tongtong hid behind her brother, her fingertips tightly gripping the hem of her skirt, her face pale.

Granny Zhou's expression changed slightly. "Young master, what's wrong? Don't you miss your mother? The princess prays for you in the Buddhist hall every day. Come back to the manor with me quickly..."

"do not want!"

Lu Guanchen suddenly clenched his small fists and retorted loudly.

“My mother is a bad woman, and you are a lackey of a bad woman! Her knife can cut people, her whip can beat people, she is fiercer than the tigress on the back mountain, we don’t want to see her.”

After the older brother spoke, the younger sister followed suit.

"We don't want to be with bad women. Our wet nurse was driven to her death by her. We won't go back to places where there are monsters..."

"Who taught you to talk such nonsense!" Granny Zhou's eyes widened like copper bells as she rushed forward, startling the girl into screaming. She grabbed her brother's hand and cried in a childish voice.

"Grandfather, Grandmother, help..."

"Save my brother! Save Tongtong! We don't want to go back to the demon's palace..."

Granny Zhou was so angry that her veins bulged. She rolled up her sleeves and was about to chase after him when two servants from the Lu family stepped in front of her and blocked her way.

"presumptuous!"

The steward, steeling himself, cupped his hands in a respectful gesture. "Granny, please don't make things difficult for the children. Although the two young masters are of princess blood, they bear the surname Lu, and their feelings must be considered... Even if this matter were taken to the Emperor, I'm afraid it wouldn't be able to force them..."

The old woman's face changed drastically. "This is outrageous! How dare you go back on your word? When the prince consort went to war, it was Lord Lu who personally promised that the princess could bring the young master back to the manor for a few days in the middle of each month..."

As she spoke, she subconsciously glanced at the vermilion-lacquered and gold-painted carriage behind her.

"Bring out your Lord Lu and give our Princess's residence an explanation!"

The carriage was quiet and silent.

Ping Le clenched the handkerchief tightly, her fingernails almost digging into her palm.

She was confined to her residence and forbidden to leave without imperial decree, but in order to retrieve her child, she disguised herself as a maid and risked everything to sneak out—

Unexpectedly, she heard her own child say such heartbreaking things.

What is more heartbreaking than a husband's betrayal is the resistance from one's own flesh and blood.

How could two such exquisitely beautiful people, with two sweet and lovely mouths, utter such heart-wrenching words?

In a short period of time, they have already refused to return home...

If this continues, will she still recognize her as her biological mother?

"Return to the manor," she instructed the coachman, gritting her teeth.

The wheels rolled over fallen leaves, startling several gray sparrows, but they couldn't dispel the gloom in her eyes.

She made her decision—

They will stop at nothing to get their child back.
-
The chess room in the Lu residence was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood.

Xue Sui and Prime Minister Lu were locked in a fierce battle on the chessboard, their skills locked in a close contest.

Then the steward came through the veranda to report what was happening outside.

After he finished speaking, the parrot under the eaves echoed his words.

"The bad woman is gone, the bad woman is gone—"

Prime Minister Lu stroked his white beard and shook his head, his gaze fixed on the chessboard.

Black has occupied the center point, but White has laid a trap in the corners.

"Consort Xue had good intentions."

Xue Sui rose and stood at attention, taking out a chess manual from his robes and presenting it with both hands. "Lord Lu, please understand. Princess Ping Le is deeply confused and has lost her true nature. The child should not be a pawn, much less be tainted by her mother's malice and implicated in her sins."

Prime Minister Lu looked at the chess score, his eyes brightening slightly.

As the founding prime minister, he was incorruptible throughout his life, living a life of integrity and honesty, with only a passion for chess.

Unexpectedly, the chess manual that they had been searching for was in Xue Sui's hands.

He showed no surprise or eagerness, but instead stroked his beard and chuckled, gently placing a piece on the board with his fingertips.

"The battle between black and white is a contest of wills, and the winner is in the hearts of the people."

"One wrong move and the whole game is lost; one brilliant move and the whole game is won." Xue Sui remained calm and composed, his white piece diagonally cutting off the black piece's escape route.

"Why don't you guess, Master Lu, if a piece that is sacrificed because it is disliked by the player who plays the game, is there any chance of turning the tide?"

The old man raised his eyes, his gaze sharp as a knife: "The struggle for chess pieces is never a struggle for power."

Xue Sui placed another piece, remarking, "The path of chess is ever-changing, but the true skill is revealed in each move."

As the dragon in the game was about to gain momentum, Prime Minister Lu suddenly clapped his hands and laughed loudly, his voice booming: "Brilliant! Everyone says that Consort Xue is good at medicine, but they don't know that you are even better at strategizing."

He beckoned to the steward, "Bring me my treasured copy of 'The Three Strategies of Qingping' and present it to Consort Xue."

The steward responded, and quickly took down an old, yellowed chess manual from the bookshelf, presenting it to Xue Sui with both hands.

The title page has half a withered yellow petal tucked inside, and is covered with annotations handwritten by Prime Minister Lu from back then.

"Consort Xue has a keen eye for seeing through the game."

Xue Sui accepted the gift with both hands, bowed deeply in thanks, and then, looking at the old man's graying temples, gave a solemn deep bow.

"Would the old prime minister be willing to play another game of chess with me?"

"Right on my mind."

Outside the chess room, the autumn wind swirled up scattered gold dust on the ground.
-
The tenth day of the eighth lunar month is the day for the Women's Society's elegant gathering.

Lu Xi hadn't visited in a long time, and today he dressed up especially for the occasion.

In the Fei Hong Xiao Zhu of the Women's Society, the gauze curtains were lifted by the autumn wind, revealing the ladies and wives in the pavilion, their smiles radiant, their clothes adorned with flowers, a scene of exquisite beauty and gentle fragrance.

Lu Xi clutched the newly made Suzhou embroidery handkerchief, glancing at the empty main seat in Feihong Xiaozhu, a cold sneer flashing in her eyes.

Suddenly someone tugged at her sleeve.

Turning around, I saw it was Xiao Qing'er.

“Second Miss Lu, look quickly—” Xiao Qing’er gestured with her chin, pointing down to the corridor.

In the sunlight streaming through the carved window lattices, several elegantly dressed noblewomen were leaning against the balustrade, chatting. Steam rose from their teacups as they huddled together, subtly discussing the recent events at the Eastern Palace. Their faces were flushed and fragrant with perfume, and their laughter was infectious.

"The Crown Prince has been given an important position in the Divine Martial Army, which means he has gained real power."

"His Majesty clearly wants to train him; who knows, one day..."

"Shh—how dare you say such things?"

"I mean, the Crown Prince's Palace hasn't appointed a Crown Princess yet, so who knows which family will receive this immense wealth..."

"I've said long ago that the Crown Prince is valiant, but you all thought I was exaggerating. Last year at the hunting grounds, I saw him galloping on horseback, dressed in full armor, even more imposing than the young generals in storybooks..."

"Oh, Yunniang, are you falling for someone? I heard that you deliberately left your handkerchief on the Crown Prince's usual route at the Dragon Boat Festival banquet..."

The shift in the political landscape at court was subtle and imperceptible, yet these young ladies, born into powerful and influential families, were the closest to the court, or rather, the most concerned with the talented young men in the capital…

As long as one remains in the household, who doesn't hope to marry a good man...

Looking across the world, what man is more illustrious and noble than the Crown Prince?

Previously, Princess Ping Le was powerful, Consort Xiao controlled the harem, and Prince Duan held great power. They were afraid that the Crown Prince would not win the Emperor's favor and would meet a tragic end.

Now that the situation in the Eastern Palace has reversed and the inner quarters are empty, even if Li Zhao is as rumored to be aloof, suspicious, and ruthless, the honor of being the Crown Princess is truly enticing.

"Why are you spacing out, Yunrong?" Xie Weilan waved her fan and walked up to Guo Yunrong, teasing her with a smile.

"I heard your elder brother voluntarily transferred to the Crown Prince's Chamberlain's Office. Is he hoping to take advantage of his proximity to the emperor..."

Everyone laughed.

Guo Yunrong sensed the barb in her words, forced a smile, and raised her wrist to reveal the jade bracelet on her wrist.

"What was on my mind? I was just looking at the bracelet that Her Majesty the Empress bestowed upon me. Look at its clarity, it's much more translucent than usual..."

Xiao Qing'er came side by side with Lu Xi, her tone sour.

"Some people really don't understand. His Highness the Crown Prince is of noble birth and high status. If we're talking about being close to him, besides Miss Lu, no one else is in a position to be close to him."

She hugged Lu Xi tightly.

"Miss Lu's grandfather was His Highness the Crown Prince's mentor. She played in the Eastern Palace when she was a child. Who can compare to the Crown Prince's childhood sweetheart bond?"

Lu Xi's cheeks burned like fire, but he still tried to remain calm.

"Sister Qing, please don't flatter me; it will only hurt the harmony among us sisters..."

"Yunrong," she called softly again, "The Mid-Autumn Festival banquet is approaching, you must make a good impression on the Empress..."

Guo Yunrong's pretty face flushed red as she turned around.

"I'm clumsy with words and don't know how to flatter, how can I compare to Second Miss Lu? Second Miss Lu is the true golden branch and jade leaf of the Grand Tutor's mansion, the words 'Crown Princess' are etched on her forehead. Even if the King of Hell came, he wouldn't dare to remove you, this Buddha, from the threshold of the East Palace..."

“You—” Lu Xi’s face turned red, and he trembled with anger.

"Stop talking! Stop talking..."

Immediately, some people came over to mediate, all with the intention of watching a good show.

Guo Yunrong suddenly stood up, flicked her handkerchief, and stormed off.

Everyone fell silent, their expressions awkward.

Lu Xi wiped his eyes. "I used to see her following Princess Ping Le around timidly, like a spineless yes-man. I never imagined she would be so arrogant..."

The crowd exchanged glances, all sensing a hint of irony.

"Princess Ping Le hasn't visited the Women's Society for a long time, so the venue for this elegant gathering is quite deserted."

After a moment of silence, another sigh escaped the crowd.
-
Guo Yunrong returned to the Duke of Zheng's mansion and hid in her boudoir, crying for half the night.

Lu Xi was also feeling bad. She sat alone in front of the mirror, her eyes reddening, and even makeup couldn't hide the grievances in her eyes.

Unexpectedly, when Madam Lu learned of her embarrassment, she opened the trunk and took out a box of her treasured pearl powder.

"Tomorrow I'll go to the Jiaofang Palace to pay my respects to the Empress..."

Lu Xi looked up in astonishment: "Mother, are you saying that I should curry favor with the Empress and beg for this marriage? That's so shameful, I don't want to do that."

She was the one who refused to marry the Crown Prince in the first place, and she spoke ill of him behind his back. Now, she couldn't bring herself to stoop down and beg for mercy.

"Foolish child," Madam Lu sighed, "who else can speak to the Crown Prince now besides the Empress? If you had seized the opportunity back then, you wouldn't be in such a passive position now."

The osmanthus trees outside the window rustled softly.

Lu Xi clenched the pearl powder tightly, suddenly recalling the day at the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet when the Crown Prince brushed past her without even glancing at her.

She felt a sharp, piercing pain in her heart, as if a thorn had been stuck there...

If only I had known this would happen, why did I have to be so high and mighty in the first place?
Reader: Ping Le, is it in pain?
Ping Le: Come on, be even more ruthless...

Reader: This cockroach is so hard to kill!
Xue Sui: We can't die so easily, what do you all say...?