Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 236 Human Erosion and Profit
At dawn, a light rain was falling over the East Palace, and the glazed tiles were shrouded in a bluish-gray mist.

Guo Yunrong clutched a silk purse embroidered with auspicious cranes and clouds, pacing three times around the white jade steps outside the Chongming Gate of the East Palace, her skirt damp with tiny water droplets.

She stared at the cold bronze animal head on the vermilion gate, her throat tightening, as if a frantic little deer was about to leap out of her chest...

This was the first time she had requested an audience with the Crown Prince on her own.

“Third Miss Guo…” The eunuch on duty strode out, looked her up and down, gave her a proper bow, and spoke in a respectful but distant tone.

"His Highness is currently discussing matters with the Grand Tutor and has no time to receive guests..."

As expected, I was rejected.

Guo Yunrong's hands, hidden in her sleeves, were so tense that she almost snapped the silk thread on her purse.

She wasn't surprised by Li Zhao's attitude.

He should have given up, but thinking of Xue Sui's suffering in prison, he still wanted to try again.

So she mustered her courage, her face turning bright red.

"Please convey this message again, saying that Yunrong has urgent business to discuss with His Highness the Crown Prince, and that her life is in danger..."

"Young lady, please don't make things difficult for me anymore..."

The young eunuch, thinking of the Crown Prince's temper, looked even more troubled than Guo Yunrong.

Guo Yunrong bit her lower lip, her eyes reddening.

"Then, I'll wait outside..."

The eunuch shook his head helplessly and slowly closed the palace door.

The long wait seemed endless...

Finally, the palace doors opened again.

A steady, rhythmic sound of footsteps approached.

Two rows of imperial guards, with long swords at their waists and clad in armor, emerged solemnly from the main gate, their steps perfectly aligned...

Li Zhao strode out of the palace gate, his robes sweeping across the threshold, his cloak billowing like dark clouds. His cold, stern face was as hard as if carved by a knife, exuding a powerful aura that appeared even more sharp on this gloomy, rainy day.

Li Zhao glanced at Guo Yunrong's red nose and frowned slightly.

"what happened?"

The eunuch trembled with fear and stepped forward with his hands clasped in respect.

"Your Highness, Miss Guo insisted on waiting here, and I couldn't stop her..."

Li Zhao's gaze slowly swept over, cold and impatient.

Guo Yunrong hurriedly curtsied, clutching her purse tightly in her hand, not daring to take it out, her voice barely audible...

"Your Highness, I visited the prison yesterday and found that Consort Xue is seriously ill in her cell..."

“Miss Guo has gone to the wrong temple.” Li Zhao interrupted her, casually fiddling with the jade belt at his waist. “The Ministry of Justice will send people to treat the serious criminals imprisoned in jail. At the very least, it’s a matter for the Prince Duan’s family; why should the Crown Prince’s Palace interfere?”

Guo Yunrong felt slighted, and her pretty face instantly turned bright red.

“Your Highness, please allow me to explain. His Highness Prince Duan has been preoccupied with the passing of the Imperial Concubine and has had no time to attend to her needs. However, the dungeon is cold and damp, which is truly unfavorable for Consort Xue’s recovery…”

"Third Miss Guo should worry more about herself."

Li Zhao looked at the carriages and horses waiting at the door, appearing impatient to hear the rest.

With a flick of his cloak, he strode toward the carriage.

A light drizzle slanted down onto Guo Yunrong's eyelashes, and the scent of cedar emanating from her cloak, along with the chill in the air, seeped into her collar, causing Guo Yunrong to shiver involuntarily.

"Your Highness..."

She watched as the Crown Prince stepped onto the carriage bench in his gold-embroidered black boots, and remembered how Xue Sui had coughed so hard in prison yesterday that he could barely breathe. Suddenly, she raised her voice.

"Consort Xue once risked her life to save Consort Wan and Princess Wenjia, and also shielded Your Highness from disaster. She is a person with a great sense of righteousness... Does Your Highness really have the heart to watch her die of illness in prison before she has been convicted?"

The carriage curtain was suddenly lifted.

Li Zhao turned around, his eyes bloodshot, his handsome face as cold as an icicle frozen in a thousand-year-old cold pool, but when he met Guo Yunrong's terrified eyes, he abruptly turned his face away.

"I have never had any personal relationship with the Xue family. What does her life or death have to do with me?"

The carriage sped away, crunching over the bluestone slabs.

The raindrops suddenly grew larger, pattering loudly on the glazed tiles behind us.

Guo Yunrong watched as the imperial procession disappeared into the rain, and her purse fell to the ground with a thud...

Her mother said that when she puts on her wedding dress, she will be the most noble Crown Princess in the world. She will live in harmony with the Crown Prince and enjoy all the glory and wealth in the world.

But now, looking at the raindrops dancing wildly under the leaden sky, she suddenly felt lost and helpless...

For men and women to find love within the imperial family is ultimately a pipe dream...

His Highness the Crown Prince won't even glance at her, so how can we talk about mutual support and respect?
-
The gloomy sky made the atmosphere even more oppressive and gloomy.

As dusk approached, a thin layer of frost accumulated on the bluestone path.

Even before nightfall, the Orchid Tavern in the West Market was already bustling as day.

Amidst the tinkling of Hu Ji's golden bells, Gu Jie gripped the silver teacup in his hand, his peripheral vision occasionally glancing at the shadowy figure of Princess Ping Le behind the gauze curtain.

The room was quiet, except for the shadows on the wall that were shifting uneasily.

Suddenly, a soft knocking was heard on the door knocker.

As Granny Zhou pushed open the door, a gust of wind blew in, causing the candlelight to flicker violently and almost go out, dimming the light and shadows instantly.

"Princess, they've arrived."

Ping Le lightly tapped the sandalwood table with her fingertips, glancing indifferently at Gu Jie.

"Are they truly willing to cooperate with me and produce irrefutable evidence to bring down the Crown Prince?"

Gu Jie lowered his eyes, "Princess, think about it. The court is now issuing a massive manhunt, and they have nowhere to go, hiding here and there. Who is responsible for this? They also hate Li Zhao to the core. As long as the princess intervenes and gives them enough benefits, they will be like fish on a chopping board, completely at the princess's mercy..."

Princess Ping Le unconsciously gripped the armrest of the chair.

With the old scoundrel Lu and Grand Tutor Lu pressing her relentlessly, and accusations against her echoing throughout the court, her situation is becoming increasingly difficult.

With those pieces of evidence, even her father no longer did everything in his power to protect her...

She has to rely on herself!
Once we obtain irrefutable evidence that Li Zhao and Xue Liu were colluding with Jiulingzhao and Xiz, we can turn the tables and reverse the unfavorable situation...

She raised her chin and subtly gave Granny Zhou a wink.

"Please let them in!"

The door hinges made a grating creaking sound.

A strong scent of agarwood mixed with the smell of mutton made her throat dry and her chest feel tight.

A cold wind swept in, and two dark-skinned Siz men strode into the inner room. They wore dark brown, coarse linen robes with diagonal lapels, and wolf-head jade pendants hung from their waists. Their amber eyes reflected the flickering candlelight, making them look just like hungry wolves on the snowy plains.

"Altai, the vanguard officer of the Siz Wolf Guard, greets Your Highness..."

Ping Le lifted her hood and slowly walked out of the tent, gracefully moving to the main seat to sit down. The pearls adorning the collar of her fox fur collar made a crisp sound as they clattered together.

"Have you brought what I requested?"

The leader of the Siz people crossed his arms and gave a slight bow.

"Did the princess bring what we asked for?"

Ping Le gestured to Granny Zhou behind her.

Soon, two servants carried in a long, rectangular wooden box wrapped in black silk and placed it heavily on the ground.

Inside were neatly stacked hundred taels of official silver, its gleaming white light spilling out, with some gold leaves scattered around...

The Sizman was very satisfied and gestured to his men.

The man untied the leather pouch at his waist and poured out a tattered sheepskin scroll that he kept close to his body. Gu Jie bowed and took it, then lowered his head and handed it to Ping Le's desk.

"Princess, please look, these are the blueprints for the Divine Arm Crossbow obtained from the Old Mausoleum Swamp."

On the yellowed parchment scroll, the intricate mechanisms outlined in ink are exquisitely crafted, and a skull symbol from the old mausoleum is stamped in the corner.

Ping Le stroked the seal with his fingertips and let out a cold laugh.

"This fragmented map alone is not enough to exchange for this much gold and silver. If you are not willing to hand over Xue Liu's secret letter and the Crown Prince's edict of treason, this deal cannot be done..."

Altai, a man from the West, bowed his head and pressed his palm heavily against his heart.

"Please rest assured, Princess, Altai swears in the name of the Holy Mountain that as long as you protect us and ensure our safe departure from the capital, we will present you with irrefutable evidence of the Crown Prince's treason..."

Before the words were finished, the sound of tiles breaking suddenly came from outside the window.

"who!"

A flash of cold light flashed.

Several guards broke through the window, drew their swords, and gave chase.

The sounds of weapons clashing came from the eaves.

When Gu Jie rushed to the window, he saw two dark figures darting across the rooftops like hawks.

Ping Le swung the silver cup hard, and the wine dripped down the wooden table in a meandering stream.

"Useless! Can't even catch a petty eavesdropper!"

At that moment, the alarm bells suddenly rang at the Drum Tower in the West Market, and the sound of horses' hooves thundered like a shock.

"Princess!" A guard burst through the door, cold sweat beading on his forehead. "The Imperial Guards have been ordered to seal off the streets, and a large number of Imperial Army soldiers are heading this way..."

Princess Ping Le's expression changed.

She rushed to the window and peered out through the windowpane.

At the end of the long street, a crimson banner fluttered like blood.

It was indeed the Golden Guard.

"Damn it, why the sudden street closures and searches... what are they trying to do..."

If several Siz people were captured on the spot and fell into the hands of the Imperial Guard, it would be bad news.

Gu Jie walked to her side and glanced at Altai anxiously and subtly.

"The princess's carriage was parked in the dark alley of the West Corner Gate. No matter how presumptuous the Imperial Guards were, they wouldn't dare to obstruct the princess's procession..."

Ping Le took off his fox fur cloak, took a deep breath, and calmed down.

"Have the two of them change into guard uniforms and leave with my carriage first. As long as we can't catch them and there's no solid evidence, even if the commander of the Imperial Guards comes, he won't be able to do anything to me."

Gu Jie asked, "Won't the princess be traveling together?"

"Foolish! How can I accompany you and give others cause for criticism? Let's go!"

Several Xiz people nodded, changed their clothes as instructed, disguised themselves as guards, went downstairs and hurriedly followed Princess Ping Le's carriage, slowly leaving through the dark alley of the West Corner Gate.

The carriage shaft was adorned with gilded bronze bells in the shape of phoenixes, and the emblem of Ping Le Palace was engraved on its underside. As the wheels bounced, the bells produced a crisp sound.

Unexpectedly, the road came to a violent halt just as it rolled over the mottled bluestone of Wanshang Street…

A three-edged arrow pierced the carriage curtain and embedded itself in the carriage shaft, its tail feathers entwined with the ribbon—

It is a unique symbol of the Eastern Palace.

Ahead, armored soldiers covered the sky, and a hundred riders with silver spears formed a forest, completely surrounding the carriage...

The commander of the Imperial Guards has arrived, but perhaps he will be powerless against Princess Ping Le...

But the Crown Prince can.
-
"Princess—" The guard burst through the door, blood still trickling from his forehead.

"The Eastern Palace Guards surrounded the Hu Ji Tavern and were searching room by room for Xizi's assassins."

Ping Le's expression changed. Without thinking, she quickly grabbed the blueprint for the Divine Arm Crossbow and was about to throw it into the burning brazier when a dagger flashed past her ear.

That dagger was for Ping Le's self-defense; she usually kept it tucked into the soft leather at her waist.

"Princess, please sit down. The tea hasn't been finished yet, and the wine isn't even warm. Isn't it a bit too hasty to destroy the evidence so quickly?"

A sharp blade pressed against the back of her neck, and the man's voice was as cold as frost.

Ping Le turned around in disbelief, looking at Gu Jie's tense face as usual.

Yesterday he was still whispering "I am willing to go through fire and water for the princess" on her bed, but now his eyes are filled with a chilling coldness.

"What are you doing?" she asked, greatly surprised.

Gu Jie's wrist trembled slightly, but he pressed the blade down even tighter: "Princess, you are well-versed in political intrigue, aren't you the one who understands the value of loyalty?"

"You dog slave!" Ping Le stared at Gu Jie's short blade, which gleamed coldly, his face contorted with rage.

"Last night you swore an oath on the seashore, promising to be my lackey; today you've become the Crown Prince's fangs. What benefits did Li Zhao give you?"

As she spoke, she dug her fingers into Gu Jie's hand, almost breaking his carefully manicured nails.

Crimson beads of blood seeped from between his fingers.

Gu Jie remained expressionless, as if he felt no pain.

“Princess, only when you too become a pawn, enduring the condemnation of thousands and the pain of being betrayed by your own family, will you understand why I did this, and why Xue Liu did this…”

"You greedy, treacherous mad dog, try touching me and see what happens..."

Ping Le pushed him away with all her might.
"His Highness has ordered the arrest of the traitors! No unauthorized personnel are allowed to approach. Anyone who obstructs the arrest will be executed without exception, and anyone who harbors traitors will be punished as an accomplice!"

Suddenly, the sound of boots hitting the ground was heard, like muffled thunder rolling.

The clouds outside the window rolled and swirled like splashed ink, signaling an impending mountain rain.

As the clanging of metal faded, the Right Guard of the Eastern Palace had completely surrounded the courtyard of the Hu Ji Tavern...

Ping Le gritted his teeth, turned around to run away, and heard the sound of black boots treading the stairs from downstairs.

She clutched her skirt and had just climbed onto the windowsill when the door suddenly swung open.

Li Zhao strolled in with his hands behind his back, his long, dark robe flowing down his back, accompanied by a light, carefree laugh.

"Where is Your Highness going? The door is this way—"

The curtains were suddenly lifted by a strong gust of wind.

A blueprint drifted down in the wind and landed right under Li Zhao's foot.

Li Zhao bent down and picked it up. On the yellowed and tattered sheepskin paper was a drawing of the Shenbi Battalion's crossbow, with the distinctive skull symbol of the Old Mausoleum Swamp stamped in the corner.

He chuckled softly.

"Colluding with Xiz and conspiring with the Old Mausoleum Swamp. My elder sister has taken a very risky step. Is she truly arrogant because of her favor with the emperor, daring to defy the world?"

"Li Zhao! You're spouting nonsense!" Ping Le roared angrily.

Li Zhao put away the blueprints, his face darkening, his voice as cold as ice.

"Guards! Take Princess Ping Le to the Imperial Clan Court to await the Emperor's judgment."

Several imperial guards swarmed forward like wolves, gripping her wrists like iron clamps, their movements brutal—

Ping Le struggled angrily, staggering as she turned to look at Gu Jie. She saw him standing beside Li Zhao with his eyes downcast, his face as calm as a dead man, completely ignoring her disheveled state. Suddenly, she felt a metallic taste rise in her throat...

The pain was unbearable.

The warmth of the gentle man who warmed her feet last night still lingers, but this morning it has become a cold shackle to imprison her...

It turns out that there really is no true love within these nine-layered palaces.

This chapter is a two-in-one!

There will be more updates tonight, mwah~