Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 212 Black and White
The carriage rolled over the bluestone slabs, the rumbling sound carrying with it Lu Xi's trepidation.

The maid Xiangyu lifted a corner of the carriage curtain, revealing the imposing lintel of Princess Ping Le's residence. The gilded lion-shaped ornament was faintly visible in the morning mist, resembling a ferocious beast that would devour people.

"Miss, do you really want to go in?" the maid Biyu asked softly.

Lu Xi stroked the bracelet that Ping Le had given him as a gift to his wrist.

It felt heavy, like a shackle, pressing down on my wrist and causing pain.

“If Ping Le wanted to crush me, it would only take a word. Now that I've put on such an expensive bracelet, how could I possibly take it off?”

When the gatekeeper led them through the second gate, Granny Zhou was already waiting there, her old face beaming with a smile.

"The princess is waiting for Miss Lu at Pillow Cloud Pavilion. Please come with me..."

The door to the Pillow Cloud Pavilion was ajar.

The morning dew on the newly painted door knocker had not yet dried completely.

Granny Zhou curtsied and said, "Second Miss, please go inside. This old servant will wait outside."

After saying that, he glanced at her and gestured for the two maids, Xiangyu and Biyu, to stay and wait where they were.

As the autumn wind blew through the corridor, Lu Xi took a breath, stepped onto the blue brick floor, and pushed open the door to enter.

"Princess?"

There was no one in the room. She nervously turned around the screen and suddenly saw a man in a blue robe standing in front of her. His face was red and his sleeves were embroidered with half a sprig of ink orchid, which was very elegant.

It was Su Jin, the third-ranked scholar in the tenth year of the Chongzhao reign.

“Second Miss Lu.” Su Jin looked at her with a half-smile, her eyes concealing a deeper meaning.

Startled, Lu Xi staggered backward, his lower back hitting the door frame and going numb with pain.

"What brings Young Master Su here?"

"Wasn't it Miss Lu who invited me here?"

Su Jin pulled a piece of floral stationery from her sleeve. The ink, still wet, read, "As the sun moves, the flower shadows shift; let us meet by the eastern sunset." The words stung Lu Xi's eyes.

She had never had any contact with Su Jin, so why would she write such a letter?

Ping Le forbade her from coveting the position of Crown Princess and had long been trying to arrange a marriage between her and Su Jin. It is likely that her recent behavior has angered the princess, hence this treacherous scheme...

Seeing her flustered, Su Jin smiled and stepped forward.

"I've long heard that the Grand Tutor's daughter is both beautiful and talented, and seeing her today, I can confirm that her reputation is well-deserved..."

"How dare you!" Lu Xi was terrified. His blood boiled and he almost instinctively tried to run out, but the door was locked from the outside.

She shook herself a few times, but the maid didn't respond. She then turned around stiffly, her back pressed tightly against the door, her eyes filled with fear as she looked at Su Jin.

"Why is Miss Lu hiding?"

Su Jin seized her wrist, his hot breath brushing against her ear:

"Didn't we agree that you would marry me?"

A sweet, cloying fragrance filled the air. Looking at the strange, burning intensity in Su Jin's eyes, Lu Xi felt a tightness in his throat…

"Young Master Su, please have some self-respect!"

Lu Xi turned his head, trying to dodge, but was trapped between the door panel and the man's chest.

She had never been alone with a man like this before, and her fingertips were trembling, while the tips of her ears were redder than burning coals.

"Miss Lu is so afraid of me, could it be that she already has feelings for me? If I had known you were so delicate, I should have paid you a visit sooner..."

Su Jin chuckled, grabbed her, and pulled her into his arms.

"Ah, help..." Lu Xi struggled desperately, her collar torn, her hairpins askew, and her hair falling down in disarray...

In a panic, the door lock slammed open.

Ping Le arrived in a grand procession with a large group of servants, their laughter and chatter filling the air.

"What a loving couple!" Ping Le said, looking at Lu Xi's disheveled and miserable appearance, her voice like a poisoned silver needle.

"I had no idea that Miss Lu and Scholar Su were so compatible."

She helped Granny Zhou walk slowly closer, her pomegranate-red skirt sweeping across the threshold. Everyone who passed by lowered their heads by half a head, and even their breathing became extremely soft.

Lu Xi felt a chill run down his spine. He realized it was a trap, but he was helpless.

"Princess, save me! Su Jin... he broke in and tried to smear my innocence... I beg you, Princess, to do justice for me!"

She knelt before him, tears streaming down her face, but dared not speak ill of Ping Le.

Ping Le chuckled lightly and waved his hand.

"All of you, leave. Remember, keep your mouths shut. If even one person spreads rumors that the Grand Tutor's daughter is having an affair with the third-ranked scholar, I will not let them off lightly..."

"Yes."

Everyone held their breath and withdrew.

Xiangyu and Biyu were also dragged away by the rough old women.

Ping Le bent down, picked up the pearl hairpin that she had just dropped, and played with it with a half-smile.

"What does the princess want me to do?" Lu Xi heard his own voice tremble.

“Not bad, seems like someone from the Women’s Quarters. Not stupid either.” Ping Le chuckled and glanced at her, her nail polished with henna tracing across her pale cheek.

"As long as you behave, I will not only not hurt you, but I will also grant your wishes..."

She leaned close to Lu Xi's ear and whispered.

"Don't you want to be the Crown Princess? After it's all settled, how about I personally act as your matchmaker?"

Lu Xi's expression changed, "Princess..."

Ping Le chuckled lightly, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue.

"Miss Lu probably doesn't want today's secret meeting to cause a city-wide uproar and bring shame to the entire Lu family, does she?"

Lu Xi shook his head frantically, tears streaming down his face. "No one will believe that I didn't have a secret meeting with Young Master Su."

Ping Le gave a sneer, "If a girl ruins her reputation, how can she dream of becoming the Crown Princess? How could Li Zhao possibly be interested in a disgraced slut like her?"
-
When Lu Xi returned to the Lu residence, the sun was already high in the sky.

She dismissed everyone and sat alone in front of her dressing table, gazing at her pale face in the mirror, the bracelet on her wrist gleaming with a cold light.

Ping Le's words echoed in his ears like a heavy hammer: "The Lu family's reputation, and your dignity for the rest of your life, all depend on your courage this time..."

Ping Le's scheme was both vicious and ruthless: to kill Empress Xie and frame Xue Sui, killing two birds with one stone. After hearing it, she couldn't help but tremble all over... Before her lay an abyss.

Behind them was a cliff...

The alluring illusion of becoming the Crown Princess, the jeopardy of the Lu family's reputation, and the nightmare of her honor being ruined—all these weighed heavily on her, making it hard for her to breathe…

"Miss, it's time for your meal," Biyu's voice came from outside the door.

Lu Xi slammed the makeup box shut, her fingertips trembling. "Come in."

Biyu pushed open the door and entered, glancing at the makeup box, hesitating to speak.

"Young lady, please have some porridge first."

Lu Xi shook his head, let out a sob, and slumped down on the embroidered stool, weeping bitterly.
-
In a side room of the Lu residence, Biyu stared blankly at the paper window.

"What are you thinking about?" Xiangyu pushed the door open and came in. Seeing her holding a handkerchief and lost in thought, she teased, "Are you thinking about the young master at the blacksmith's shop?"

Biyu hurriedly hid the handkerchief under her pillow, her ears burning: "Sister is making fun of me again!"

After saying that, he hesitated and looked at Xiangyu, "Sister, today is his birthday, I want to go out and see him."

Xiangyu chuckled, "Aren't you going yet? Don't keep them waiting until the spark goes out... I'll keep an eye on the young lady for you, don't worry..."

Biyu blushed and ran downstairs.
-
In the blacksmith's shop in the west of the city, sparks flew onto Ah Hu's dark arms. He swung the hammer, his arm muscles taut, sweat trickling down his neck...

"Brother Hu." Biyu jogged over and stood outside the threshold.

Ah Hu immersed the newly quenched ironware into cold water. As white steam rose, he wiped the sweat from his forehead and picked up a warm oil paper package from the furnace ash.

"Here you go." Ah Hu grinned. "Liu Mazi's braised pork knuckle from East Street, still warm."

Biyu shook her head: "My young lady has been restless these past two days, how can I eat..."

Before she could finish speaking, her stomach growled, making her ears turn bright red with embarrassment.

Ah Hu chuckled twice and stuffed the oil paper package into her hand.

"You need to eat well to have the energy to work..." He then lowered his voice, "Why are you in such a hurry to come over? Is there something unusual happening at the Lu residence?"

With a slight tremor of her jade-like hand, the sauce smeared onto her sleeve.

She hurriedly pulled out a handkerchief and stuffed the things she had brought out into Ah Hu's sweaty palm.

Princess Ping Le wanted to use someone else to do her dirty work.

Ah Hu took it, stuffed it into his pocket, and placed a newly forged dagger into her palm.

"For the girl to use for self-defense."

Biyu blushed.

The sound of hammering echoed from the blacksmith's shop. Ah Hu's bronze back glistened with sweat, while Bi Yu, clutching a dagger, turned and ran out the door, her face flushed with embarrassment.

The firelight in the blacksmith's shop illuminated Ah Hu's figure as he swung his hammer again...
-
Before the morning mist had dissipated, the gardenias in the back courtyard of Prince Duan's mansion had all withered and curled at the edges due to the autumn frost.

Xue Sui leaned against the veranda, scattered some fish food, and watched the koi carp leap out of the water.

"girl……"

Jinshu came over with a tea tray, curtsied, and spoke in a respectful but hurried tone.

"The eldest son invites you."

Xue Sui stood up without saying a word.

The autumn wind swept across the lake, creating tiny ripples.

She gazed at the Nine-Bend Bridge in the distance, recalling Wen Jia's haggard appearance when he came to the mansion the day before.

"Prepare some calming medicine. I need to go to the Princess's residence myself." Xue Sui stood up, her skirt sweeping across the stone bench, and gave the order loudly.

"Oh, and bring that box of candied plums too, Niu Niu loves them."

When Xue Sui stepped into the Sangliu Courtyard, Tian Shu was setting up a chess game in the pharmacy.

A flute with a celestial finial sits on the table, and the room is filled with the fragrance of herbs.

He wore a moon-white robe, his dark hair was loosely tied up, and a white jade hairpin was inserted diagonally. His brows and eyes revealed a cold and aloofness, like a carefree immortal who was free from worldly strife, handsome and otherworldly.

"Li Huan has been keeping a close eye on us lately. Is there any sign of trouble?"

"Don't worry. That guy is too suspicious, so I'm being extra careful." Xue Sui sat down lightly and naturally picked up the snacks on the table to eat.

"Ping An, have you understood Lu Gong's chess score?"

Tian Shu pointed to the sandalwood chessboard by the window and invited her to play chess.

The sandalwood chessboard was infused with the fragrance of medicine.

Xue Sui glanced at Tian Shu's expression, raised an eyebrow slyly, and sat down with a sigh.

"Nothing can be hidden from my senior brother."

She tapped the chessboard with a white piece, saying, "Lord Lu was the founding prime minister, and his students were all over the country. Even after retiring for many years, he still had a deep foundation. What is most commendable is that Lord Lu could distinguish right from wrong, and he preferred to remain poor rather than associate with treacherous officials."

"Unfortunately, this game of chess is never just about black and white." Tian Shu placed the black piece at the third position, then suddenly looked up at her, a deep meaning flashing in his eyes.

If there is a distinction between black and white in the world, then what is the Old Mausoleum?
Gray.

Gray can also represent justice...

Xue Sui tapped the chessboard lightly with his fingertip. "Senior brother, you didn't call me here today just to teach me chess, did you?"

Tian Shu's expression was solemn. "In the third volume of 'The Three Strategies of Qingping,' the topic is about leveraging power—peace and the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet were opportunities to do just that."

The river breeze swept past the willow tips and poured in through the window.

After hearing the news that Tian Shu had obtained from the blacksmith's shop, Xue Sui straightened his clothes, paused in his hand holding the white chess piece, and then the piece fell to the ground with a thud.

"Ping Le is digging its own grave."

A deadly threat suddenly appeared on the chessboard.

“In this game, Jiulingzhao is willing to be a pawn that crosses the river.” Tian Shu’s fingertips caressed the patterns on the chessboard, his eyes as cold as if they were tempered iron.

"Master is truly going to drag the Old Mausoleum Swamp into this, shattering the peace that has lasted for so many years..."

It was clear that she still had doubts.

Tian Shu said solemnly, "A game of chess made up of two hundred thousand bones should not trap the players, but rather allow them to break free and be reborn."