Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 231: Planning
Empress Dowager Chengqing was able to emerge victorious from the treacherous palace intrigues of the late emperor's reign, a feat that set her apart from ordinary women.

Her summons of Wang Bo'an at this time was by no means unfounded.

What if they wanted to poison Xue Sui?
With just a few tricks, someone could die silently in prison, without anyone knowing. Then, a pretext could be found to make it seem like the person committed suicide out of fear of punishment. In that case, the unsolved case of poisoning Consort Xiao and Lu Xi would be left unsolved...

This outcome both preserves the royal family's reputation and silences public criticism...

No one will delve into the truth.

By then, even if Xue Sui had a thousand grievances, no one would pursue the truth anymore.

Thinking of this, Li Zhao suddenly spoke, his voice as cold as a frozen river in the twelfth lunar month.

"Change your clothes and prepare the carriage; I must go to the Zichen Palace to meet the Emperor."

Mei Ruhui was taken aback: "Your Highness, are we meeting the Emperor at this moment...?"

"Father is forcing me to choose by bestowing this marriage." Li Zhao turned around, his fingertips brushing against the marriage certificate spread out on the table. Suddenly, he sneered, a flash of ferocity crossing his eyes.

"Since that's the case, I'll go along with his wishes and agree to this marriage—"

"Your Highness is right to think that way." Mei Ruhui nodded slightly and echoed in a low voice, "The power of the Duke of Zheng's mansion can indeed be relied upon."

Li Zhao suddenly turned his head, "How could I sit idly by and wait to die?"

Mei Ruhui was startled.

Li Zhao fell silent upon learning of the arranged marriage, locking himself in his study to analyze the situation.

The calm in his eyes as he suddenly agreed to the marriage was even more terrifying than when he was angry.

There is a deathly stillness before a storm, a ruthless gamble.

"I cannot wait seven days."

Mei Ruhui's heart trembled violently, and he suddenly realized something: "Your Highness means..."

“Night Owl…” Li Zhao suddenly spoke up, “Go investigate Chen Gui, the deputy prison warden of the Northern Office of the Ministry of Justice. I remember that his new concubine last month is the niece of the head maid of the Duke of Zheng’s mansion.”

He then looked at Mei Ruhui, his voice as light as a feather falling on the snow, "Go find an exquisite human skin mask, and find a female prisoner in the autumn execution who has a similar figure to her."

Mei Ruhui was so frightened that his heart trembled violently.

"Your Highness, are you perhaps... planning a prison break?"
-
Inside the palace walls, new candles were lit on the bronze sparrow candlestick in the Jiaofang Palace.

Empress Xie carefully combed her hair in front of the mirror. As the comb brushed against the ends of her hair, she suddenly stopped and stared blankly at the bronze mirror.

In the middle of her black hair, there was a conspicuous silver thread.

She even has gray hair now...

"Your Highness, the Duchess of Zheng has submitted a letter of thanks." Aunt Yu entered carrying a vermilion lacquered tray, the gold-flecked paper still carrying the delicate fragrance of magnolia blossoms.

"They say they are grateful for the Emperor's kindness, and the Guo family will certainly live up to expectations and serve the court with utmost loyalty..."

Empress Xie raised her hand, pulled out the white hair, and placed it on the dressing table.

"This marriage arrangement for the Crown Prince has ultimately put him in a difficult position. I only hope that he can understand my good intentions as a mother..."

"Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince just went to the Zichen Palace to pay his respects, and Princess Tuya was dancing..." Aunt Yu said, her voice filled with worry as she put a jade hairpin into the Empress's hair.

"I heard from the palace eunuch that His Highness the Crown Prince waited for a full incense stick's time before being summoned by His Majesty."

Empress Xie sneered at the bronze mirror.

"Change your clothes. I'll go take a look too..."

Inside the Zichen Palace, candlelight slanted through the carved lattice windows, casting dappled shadows on Emperor Chongzhao's desk.

"Does Your Highness know why I am in such a hurry to arrange a marriage for you?"

“Your Majesty.” Li Zhao curtsied, deliberately lowering his voice, which sounded more youthful and bashful. “Your Majesty understands your good intentions. Miss Guo is virtuous and kind, and the Duke of Zheng’s family is a pillar of the nation. This marriage is a blessing for the country and the royal family.”

Emperor Chongzhao looked up and saw the shadow cast by his son's drooping eyelashes beneath his eyes, as if hiding countless worries. Still young, his reluctance was written all over his face.

But this restrained demeanor is just like my own back then.

He suddenly sneered: "A stroke of good fortune? I think you're afraid I'll use Xue's head to force you to submit, aren't you?"

The air inside the hall suddenly became condensed.

Li Zhao felt a pang of anxiety, but maintained a respectful expression on his face.

"Father, what makes you say that? Your son has no feelings for Lady Xue..."

"Enough!" Emperor Chongzhao slammed his hand on the table, causing the wolf-hair brush on the brush holder to fall. "The truth of Consort Xiao's case has not yet been uncovered, and you're already in a hurry to snatch her away from Prince Duan. Now you've suddenly agreed to the marriage. Don't think I don't know what you're up to..."

"Sons should marry when they grow up, and daughters should marry when they grow up. What other thoughts could they possibly have?"

Before he finished speaking, the sound of light footsteps came from outside the hall.

Empress Xie, dressed in a peony-patterned ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), entered with a gentle smile, bringing with her an autumn breeze carrying the fragrance of osmanthus.

A young palace maid followed behind, carrying a gilded lacquer tray. In the celadon bowl on the tray floated round, plump glutinous rice balls filled with osmanthus-scented rice wine...

"Your Majesty, please calm down."

She personally held the small bowl containing the glutinous rice balls and pushed it in front of Emperor Chongzhao.

"The Crown Prince is young and impetuous, and his actions are inevitably hasty. He used to always act on impulse, but now that he understands the importance of things, His Majesty is not happy about it?"

The question left Emperor Chongzhao speechless, and he could only lower his head and pick up the dumplings. The sound of the porcelain spoon stirring was exceptionally clear in the silence.

Emperor Chongzhao scooped up a spoonful and waited a long time before bringing it to his mouth.

The amber-colored soup blurred his tense face, and when he spoke again, his tone suddenly softened.

"The Empress understands my taste best. The sweet fermented rice balls have remained the same smooth and soft texture all these years."

Empress Xie smiled and said, "I heard that military reports from the Western Frontier have arrived in the capital. I guess it must be good news, so I specially prepared a midnight snack..."

As she spoke, she ladled out another bowl and handed it to Li Zhao.

The rising steam, carrying the fragrance of osmanthus, slowly permeated the tense atmosphere inside the hall.

Emperor Chongzhao glanced at it.
"Lu You'an sent a messenger with news of victory: the Liang army has recovered a hundred li of lost territory, captured over two thousand prisoners, and forced the enemy to flee in disarray overnight..."

Empress Xie smiled slightly, "He is indeed a brave and skilled warrior, courageous and resourceful. It was truly a waste of his talents for him to be the consort of Ping Le..."

The porcelain spoon struck the rim of the bowl, making a crisp sound.

Emperor Chongzhao suddenly slammed the bowl down.

"Marriage is a major life event; how can one easily calculate the pros and cons?"

After saying that, he glared at Li Zhao with displeasure.

"Since you've agreed to the marriage, you must show sincerity. Yesterday, when Duke Zheng denounced the Ministry of Revenue for embezzling military funds in court, he didn't even give Prime Minister Xiao any face. A sharp blade can hold up half the sky for you, but it can also become a guillotine hanging over your head; the slightest mistake..."

He paused meaningfully, then said, "That would be a fatal disaster."

Li Zhao: "Your subject understands."

Empress Xie gazed at her son's tall figure, her fingers unconsciously twisting her handkerchief, her eyes swirling with tenderness and helplessness.

Ultimately, this marriage was a transaction involving weighing the pros and cons.

The most helpless thing in the world is knowing that it is like drinking poison to quench thirst, yet still having to drink this cup of poison with a smile.

"Go and make preparations properly, so as not to worry your mother," Emperor Chongzhao added.

"Your subject obeys the decree." Li Zhao lowered his eyes, concealing his emotions, his back ramrod straight.

By the time we left the hall, dusk had fallen.

A flock of gray sparrows flew over the glazed tiles, and he couldn't help but think of the damp and musty environment of the Ministry of Justice prison.

How did Xue Ping'an endure the long, dark night in that gloomy dungeon where there was no sunlight?
A bitter taste rose in his throat.

"wait for me……"
-
In the dead of night, with the north wind howling, the Ministry of Justice prison was deathly silent.

Using the dim light filtering through the gaps in the wooden fence, Xue Sui and Xiao Zhao played a game of chess on the ground, using grass stalks as pieces, to pass the time.

The time spent finding joy amidst hardship wasn't as unbearable as Li Zhao had imagined...

Suddenly, from the end of the passageway, came Qian's deliberately raised voice.

"Sir, this aged Shaoxing wine paired with braised pork knuckle is the perfect way to warm the body and stomach. I've prepared it especially for you. Please do me the honor of trying some..."

Jinshu, standing beside her, cleverly slipped a piece of silver into the jailer's hand.

The jailer weighed it in his hand twice, then beamed with delight.
"Hurry up! Don't miss the watchman's shift..."

"Yes, yes, yes...definitely!"

Qian rushed to the wooden fence with the food box in her hand. After the jailer unlocked the fence, she rushed in and hugged Xue Sui’s thin body tightly, her whole body trembling uncontrollably.

"Sixth Sister, you've suffered so much... Are you feeling any better? Are you still coughing?"

Jinshu silently placed the bundle on the ground, her heart sinking as if doused with cold water.

Xue Sui gently patted Qian Shi and smiled reassuringly.

"Don't worry, Auntie, I'm fine."

Only then did Madam Qian secretly wipe away her tears, and with trembling hands, she opened the food box, scooped up a bowl of smooth porridge, and said, "Try it quickly. This is yam and millet porridge that your third aunt specially cooked with an old hen. It's good for replenishing qi and blood, and it's not greasy at all. Your body is very weak, so this is just right for you."

Xue Sui took a sip from Qian Shi's hand.

His eyes were fixed on the lotus leaf pastries sprinkled with icing sugar in the food box.

Mrs. Qian quickly handed it over again, coaxing it like a child, "Eat less of this, be careful it's too sweet..."

Xue Sui took a big, satisfying bite, the crispy crust falling onto the front of his prison uniform.

She licked her lips contentedly, then chuckled softly, "Third Aunt's cooking is truly masterful. It's so flaky and sweet, it's even more authentic than the imperial kitchen..."

"At a time like this, you're still teasing me..." Madam Qian scolded, her eyes filled with deep worry.

Xue Sui smiled and comforted her for a few moments, then looked at Jinshu.

Upon seeing this, Jinshu made a gesture with reddened eyes.

Madam Qian immediately understood and hurriedly covered her mouth with her handkerchief, saying, "Tell me quickly, I'll go and make arrangements with the jailers outside."

She then led her maid, picked up the bamboo basket, and went out.

Qian was always quick-witted and tactful, extremely adept at handling social situations, and a very capable person.

Jinshu glanced back with relief before lowering her voice, "Miss, two more bodies have been found in the moat..."