Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 220 Victim

When Old Mrs. Cui got angry, the room fell silent.

Xue Yueying pouted and reluctantly stopped.

“What your third aunt said is true.”

The old lady stroked her prayer beads and sighed.

These past two days, she's been so preoccupied with Xue Sui's affairs that she can't eat or sleep, and her temples have turned even whiter.

"A family should be united and supportive of each other. Even if there are any disagreements, they should be discussed behind closed doors. We are a family of high status and wealth; if we all quarrel like fighting cocks, what will people think of us?"

As she spoke, she placed her trembling hand on her knee and slowly pulled out a sandalwood amulet wrapped in yellow cloth from her bosom.

"This is a talisman I obtained at Xiangguo Temple before my marriage. It was blessed by the abbot and is very effective..."

He paused briefly, then surveyed the group of women with their varied expressions.

Finally, their gaze fell upon the Qian family.

“Third brother’s wife, go find the eldest brother and tell him that it’s this old man begging him to come up with a way—even if the law is strict, close relatives should be allowed to see each other. If he refuses, then kowtow for me and beg him to do me a favor…”

Upon hearing this, Madam Qian's expression finally softened, and she hurriedly agreed, "I've got it in mind, I'll definitely take care of it."

The old lady nodded, stroking the mottled Sanskrit on the Buddha amulet, and tears welled up in her cloudy eyes.

"When you see Sixth Sister, give her this and tell her that her grandmother is hoping for her safe return every day. Tell her to take good care of herself and to make sure she can turn misfortune into good fortune and get through this ordeal."
-
The dungeon was chillingly cold, and the smell of mildew mixed with the stench of blood filled the air.

As Qian followed the jailer through the dark and narrow passageway, she heard intermittent coughing coming from the end, each cough like a dull knife cutting into her heart.

Upon seeing Xue Sui curled up in the straw pile, she couldn't help but gasp and rush to the wooden fence.

"My dear sixth sister, what have you suffered? Your face is as white as paper. Has someone mistreated you?"

"Why is Third Aunt here?" Xue Sui smiled and struggled to sit up.

"Don't move, or you'll get hurt!" Madam Qian said, standing outside the wooden fence, as she took out two gold leaves and handed them to the jailer. "Please, sir, bring some hot water."

"Third Madam, you only have the time it takes to drink a cup of tea." The jailer took the money, nodded, and reminded her in a gruff voice.

"We'd better hurry!"

Qian Shi should have, she hurriedly stepped over the threshold, lifted her skirt and squatted down.

Touching Xue Sui's icy wrist and then her burning forehead, tears welled up in her eyes instantly.

"Heaven have mercy, how can you endure the torture in prison? Sixth Girl, you've made yourself sick from all this suffering..."

Xue Sui gently comforted her, "Third Aunt, don't worry, it's just a flare-up of her cough."

Ms. Qian choked up again.

Just then, the jailer brought hot water, and she quickly shut her mouth.

After the jailer had gone far away, he gripped Xue Sui's hand tightly again and asked in a low voice, "Sixth Sister, tell Third Aunt the truth, what exactly happened to Consort Xiao...?"

Xue Sui tilted his head slightly, looking around warily, and then coughed lightly twice.

Madam Qian understood, knowing that someone was eavesdropping. She immediately told the maid to open the food box, and with trembling hands, she lifted the cotton pad to reveal the food inside, deliberately raising her voice.

“This dungeon smells musty, but hot food can at least help to put away the musty smell… Your third aunt brought you lotus leaf chicken, crab roe tofu, and your favorite osmanthus sugar steamed chestnut flour cake… Eat more.”

After saying that, she leaned close to Xue Sui's ear and whispered, "Your third uncle has been asking around for help for you, his lips are almost worn out from talking so much, but he has been turned away at every turn... If it weren't for the old lady's great kindness today, and her strict order to your father to make an exception, how could your third aunt have seen you... Sixth sister, you have been wronged..."

Xue Sui shook his head slightly, a smile playing on his lips.

"I'm fine, this little grievance is nothing."

Qian's eyes instantly welled up with tears. She grasped her hand and said, "Your third uncle said you have a way to save yourself—Sixth Sister, tell your third aunt what we can do?"

Xue Sui shook his head resolutely.

"Do nothing. The best course of action is to remain silent and let them think I have no other options."

Ms. Qian seemed to understand, nodding and then shaking her head, tears welling up in her eyes, her voice choked with emotion.

"Seeing you suffer like this, my heart is breaking. I have to do something for you..."

Xue Sui pulled his prison clothes tighter around himself, a gentle smile appearing on his pale face.

"Then I'll trouble you, Third Aunt, to tell Jinshu that as the weather gets colder, remember to move the pigeon coop from the porch to the warm room. Remember to open the windows for ventilation and don't let the charcoal smoke bother it."

Madam Qian nodded with tears in her eyes, "It's just a small matter, Third Aunt, please don't worry."
-
On the day of Consort Xiao's funeral, ten miles of white silk were laid out on Zhuque Street.

Paper money fluttered like snowflakes as a coffin made of nanmu wood, carried by sixty-four people, slowly passed along the imperial road.

Li Huan, dressed in plain clothes, walked alongside the coffin, his robes billowing in the north wind, resembling a banner summoning the soul.

Ping Le followed behind the coffin, her eyes red and swollen from crying, and she uttered sobs like broken strings.

Doors and windows were closed on the streets, and the whole world was filled with mournful music.

Wen Jia stood in front of the window of the Misty Rain Pavilion, holding Niu Niu in her arms. She was dressed in plain clothes and her hair was as black as ink.

She watched the funeral procession, which snaked past like a white serpent, her face expressionless.

The little girl gripped her hand, her grip tightening slightly.

"Mother, Aunt Ping Le is crying so sadly..."

Wen Jia's expression hardened as she stared intently at Ping Le's pale, pained face behind the coffin, pressing Niu Niu's little face against her chest. "Don't look."

"Mother, why..."

"She wasn't crying for her mother; she was clearly crying for her lost support."

Niu Niu didn't understand and looked up at her.

Wenjia clenched the handkerchief in her hand until her fingertips turned white.

"Dongxu, take Niu Niu back to the manor first..."
-
Lu Mansion.

The white banners in front of the door were soaked by the autumn rain, and the large character "奠" (meaning "offering sacrifice") looked like tear stains under the rain.

Despite the recent death in the household, all was quiet.

As the funeral music for Consort Xiao's funeral began, Madam Lu bit her lower lip, collapsed onto the coffin, and pounded on it while weeping.

“My son, you have clearly been wronged. Your mother cannot save you, so I will go with you…”

The maidservant held her back tightly.

"Madam, you mustn't! The young lady left in a hurry; if you were to harm yourself as well..."

As Madam Lu watched the paper money drifting from across the street, fluttering overhead, she suddenly lost control, hugging the coffin and weeping uncontrollably.

“My son died unjustly and tragically, yet the court only allowed a simple coffin and a frugal funeral, not even a few white lanterns. What a heartless world this is! Where is justice?”

"Madam..." The maid tightly gripped her sleeve, pleading with tears in her eyes, "Master said that Miss has committed a serious offense, and His Majesty's gracious permission for her burial is already a great honor. If this causes any more trouble, I'm afraid even the old general will be in a difficult position..."

Just then, the sound of a carriage came from the rain.

Madam Lu looked up and saw a blue-lacquered carriage slowly approaching, rolling over a puddle.

The carriage curtain was lifted slightly, revealing half of a pale face...

"Please accept my condolences, Madam."

Wen Jia's voice was low and deep, as if it were soaked in autumn dew.

Madam Lu's pupils contracted slightly, and she asked through sobs, "Did the princess come to see the Lu family make a fool of themselves?"

Wen Jia gently touched the white flower at her temple, her voice sounding particularly cold amidst the sound of rain.

"Madam, you've misunderstood. I've come to offer my condolences for your daughter."

Madam Lu trembled slightly, her eyes filled with wariness: "This humble woman was unaware that the princess and my Xi'er had any connection?"

Wen Jia pursed her lips slightly, "I feel sorry for Miss Lu—she has been gentle and kind her whole life, never even touching a blade, yet she was used as a weapon, becoming a victim of conspiracy and power struggles. And the one who actually poisoned her is still at large..."

Madam Lu suddenly looked up, staggered forward, and grabbed the carriage curtain.

"What does the princess know? How did my Xi'er die?"

Wen Jia looked at her bloodshot eyes with pity. "Before the Mid-Autumn Festival, your daughter returned from Princess Ping Le's residence. Was she absent-minded? Was that agarwood bracelet on her wrist a gift from Princess Ping Le?"

Madam Lu's fingertips trembled, as if she had realized something.

"The princess means..."

“I didn’t say anything.” Wen Jia suddenly pulled the curtain from her hand, her tone slightly cool, with a sigh.

"I just don't want the Grand Tutor to have his lifelong reputation ruined by his granddaughter's wrongful conviction, and to end up with a tragic end where his integrity is tarnished..."

The curtain fell with a thud.

The carriage rumbled and rolled away through the puddles.

As Madam Lu watched the gray figure disappear into the rain, she staggered back a few steps, feeling utterly exhausted, and hatred ignited in her eyes.
-
Xue Sui has been in prison for seven days.

The autumn rain was incessant, and the damp straw prickled my back painfully. The leftovers brought by the jailers were already cold.

She had a high fever, her lips were dry and cracked, and she was fluctuating between chills and burning heat...

I haven't been sick in a long time.

She felt somewhat drowsy and confused.

In a daze, someone poured bitter medicine into her mouth, causing a burning pain in her throat. The cold fragrance of pine and cypress mixed with the smell of rust pierced her nostrils, suddenly reminding her of a snowy night under the artificial hill of Puji Temple.

"Li Zhao..."

She opened her eyes in a daze, instinctively grabbing the other person's sleeve, only to feel a warmth on her hand.

"The dungeon is cold and damp, why are you dressed so scantily?"

The man's voice was low and husky as it brushed past her ear.

In the flickering firelight, she saw large patches of medicine stains on his black brocade robe. His handsome face was half-lit and half-shadowed by the oil lamp, revealing his sharp brows and the still-red corners of his eyes.

Xue Sui swallowed the medicine, then suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

"Your Highness, you shouldn't have come..."

Li Zhao gripped her wrist, his burning palm covering her forehead. He suddenly chuckled, a near-mad obsession surging in his eyes.

"I still prefer you calling me by my name."

Has it been windy where you are?
The wind in Chengdu tonight was absolutely incredible, howling past...