Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 243 Tasting
Xue Sui slept very soundly.

When I slowly woke up again, I felt weak all over, as if my muscles and bones had been removed and rebuilt, and every joint was sore and weak.

The light inside Hanzhang Hall was soft, the bronze sparrow lamps were burning, and a warm yellow glow fell on the couch, the air filled with a sweet fragrance...

She slightly raised her eyes, and the rain outside the window dripped down the eaves, splashing tiny water droplets on the window frame, like shattered pearls.

The rain hasn't stopped yet—

She sat up and was taken aback to find that her prison clothes had been changed into clean nightgowns.

"What time is it outside?"

Xiao Zhao, who was dozing off nearby, rushed over to her when she woke up.

"Girl, you're finally awake! You scared Xiao Zhao to death!"

Xue Sui raised his hand and gently stroked Xiao Zhao's head before slowly looking at the figure sitting quietly with tears streaming down her face in front of the screen.

"The princess has arrived too."

Wen Jia looked at the white hair that covered the embroidered pillow and couldn't help but turn her face away, secretly wiping away her tears. She forced a smile and gestured for Dong Xu to bring over the ginseng soup she had prepared. She personally tested the temperature and then fed it to Xue Sui spoonful by spoonful.

“My aunt brought it from Xiz, saying it’s the Holy Mountain Snow Ginseng, which is the best for replenishing qi and blood.”

Xue Sui's eyelashes trembled slightly.

The metallic taste of blood lingered in my throat, yet the medicinal soup tasted exceptionally sweet.

"Thank you for your trouble, Princess."

Wen Jia helped her sit up and stuffed a pillow into her mouth. The sight of the snow-white silk covering her shoulders stung her eyes, and her eyes immediately welled up with tears.

Why would you take this step and gamble with your life?

Xue Sui drank the medicine from her hand, the rising steam casting a thin mist over his eyes and brows, his smile tinged with a hint of cunning.

"Princess, do I look like a gambler?"

Wenjia's eyes filled with tears, and she scolded him playfully.

"Still laughing! Look at the state you've created for yourself, and you still manage to laugh..."

Xue Sui lowered her eyes to look at her hands, which were pale and slender, as if they had lost their former vitality.

The ordeal in prison these past few days has truly been agonizing and debilitating.

"Xiao Zhao, bring me a mirror."

Xiao Zhao responded and went over, carefully handing the bronze mirror to her.

Xue Sui raised his eyes.

The full head of white hair reflected in the bronze mirror looked like snow that had fallen overnight; the ends of the hair were dry and brittle, tangled together in the breeze.

This was the first time she had ever examined her own appearance so closely since leaving the old mausoleum.

I forced a smile at myself in the mirror, and my mind felt much clearer than before.

"These white hairs are quite distinctive."

Wenjia held the handkerchief and wiped the corner of her lips, then blew on the medicine bowl repeatedly.

"If I were you, I would have fled far away long ago and never returned to this place of trouble..."

His words seemed to be damp with moisture, heavy and stuck in his throat, making his laughter sound worse than crying.

Xue Sui couldn't bear the subtle pitifulness in her eyes, so he leaned back against the headboard and gently comforted her.

"The world is vast, and everywhere is a place of right and wrong. I love stirring up this muddy water and catching a couple of fish along the way. It's much better than just staring blankly from the shore..."

Helpless, Wenjia picked up the medicine bowl and pushed it forward half an inch in a fit of pique.

"I can't argue with you! Hurry up and drink it all while it's hot, get well soon. My little girl has been nagging me to come see you every day these days, I've been lying to her that you went to the mountains to cultivate immortality. If you don't get better soon, I don't know how I'll keep up with this little devil..."

"Then let's just become a true immortal and appoint her as a little fairy child in the mortal realm..."

Xue Sui smiled faintly and replied, his gaze sweeping over the candied plums displayed on the small table—

I don't want to see him here.

She lowered her eyes, picked up a pea, and put it in her mouth, the sweet and sour taste exploding on her tongue.

"good to eat."

With a soft sigh, he felt quite content.

She couldn't describe the feeling of "rebirth," as if she had been transformed. Everything seemed fresh and new, and even breathing felt exhilarating.

"Hanzhang Hall is indeed different from other places. This bowl is as smooth as mutton-fat jade, and the grape vines on the side of the bowl look as if they were rubbings..."

Wen Jia stared blankly at her white hair hanging down, her eyebrows curved, and her expression leisurely. Suddenly, she realized that this person truly did not care about life and death.

She bit her lower lip, hesitated for a moment, and finally spoke.

"Does Ping An know that Prince Duan has submitted a memorial of apology, resigning from all his posts and requesting to guard the imperial mausoleum? This has caused a great uproar in the court... This time, Prince Duan has risked half his life for you..."

Xue Sui was taken aback.

A faint ripple appeared in her eyes, contrasting with the subtle smile on her lips.

"You really think he did it for me?"

"Isn't that right?" Wen Jia's throat tightened.

Thinking of Prince Duan's usual aloofness and indifference, she suddenly found herself unable to continue speaking.

Xue Sui lowered his head and took a sip of the medicinal soup. "He might have felt a little bit of remorse in his heart, even if he was just putting on an act. It's just a pity—he wasn't entirely trying to save me, but rather using me as a knife to cut open his own chest for the world to see—to see how he endured humiliation and hardship, to see how he put righteousness before family..."

Her voice was colder than the autumn rain outside the window.

Wen Jia was greatly shocked and was momentarily stunned. Xue Sui gently stirred the ginseng soup with a silver spoon.

The steam from the medicine bowl blurred her face, revealing only a faint, cold smile.

"At this critical juncture, the struggle for the throne resembles the desperate fight of a cornered beast. Ping Le's guilt is irrefutable; it's a dead end. If he doesn't bring Ping Le into the picture, he'll be implicated in the conspiracy and have no chance of redemption. Now, in my name, I can both portray loyalty and filial piety, and also win over deep affection..."

Xiao Zhao frowned, her face full of confusion, "Miss, this servant doesn't understand..."

Xue Sui put down the soup bowl, reached out to brush his white hair aside, and smiled faintly.

"It's better not to know."

Knowing too much means experiencing less of the joy and true feelings in this world.

Li Huan was a master of strategy, treating everyone in the world as a pawn; how could he possibly have any genuine feelings for anyone?
If he were to simply push Ping Le away this time, it would seem cold-hearted and ruthless.

For the sake of justice and what one loves, that is loyalty and righteousness.

What he wanted the emperor and all the officials to see was his act of putting righteousness above family ties and upholding justice...

However, she also took advantage of this, using Li Huan to completely nail Ping Le to the pillar of shame...

Xiao Zhao leaned closer and lowered her voice, "What about His Highness the Crown Prince? Surely he's sincere?"

Xue Sui picked up a glistening, translucent honey-preserved plum and examined it for a long time…

He lowered his eyes silently, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Send a message to Aunt Jinshu, asking her to find Senior Sister Yuheng as soon as possible..."

Before the words were finished, the sound of tinkling ornaments could be heard outside the door.

Princess Tuya, dressed in a long, snow-white gown with velvet trim, entered gracefully with two maids.

Her face was still veiled, revealing only a pair of bright, sparkling eyes. The silver bell on her wrist swayed with her movements, making a melodious sound, like a spring stream splashing against pebbles.

"Consort Xue has woken up?"

Xue Sui, supporting Xiao Zhao's arm, slowly rose and bowed to her.

"Your Highness, I requested permission from the Emperor yesterday, and from now on, Xue Liu is free. I am deeply grateful for Your Highness's kindness in taking me in."

A knowing smile flickered in Tuya's eyes.

He then gestured to the maid to bring over a sandalwood brocade box and place it there.

"These are prayer texts that I personally copied. They can calm inner demons and ward off evil spirits. Miss Xue, you might want to read them in your spare time..."

"Thank you, Princess, for speaking well of me to His Majesty that day."

Xue Sui looked up and met Tuya's gaze.

The candlelight flickered with tiny golden rays in her eyes; her white hair fell loosely, obscuring her expression.

Tuya's eyes held a mixture of inquiry and pity.

After a long pause, he smiled gently, "Sixth Miss Xue is exceptionally intelligent, so why would she need others to speak well of her? His Majesty's decision to keep you in Hanzhang Palace to recuperate must be because he believes you are innocent."

"Your Highness is too kind." Xue Sui raised her eyes and was also sizing up Tuya.

"That day in Qinghui Palace, Second Miss Lu falsely accused me of poisoning her. It was the princess who, unafraid of right and wrong, stepped forward to testify... Although I could not see the princess's true face, I knew she must be a meticulous and virtuous woman..."

Tuya's pupils darkened slightly.

"Women understand the hardships of other women best. The wind of the desert, the moon of Chang'an, all the women in this world are destined to suffer."

The atmosphere inside the hall instantly froze.

The wisps of agarwood curling from the incense burner seem to whisper a silent lament.

Tuya suddenly smiled and said, "Alright, just focus on getting better. If you need anything, just let me know, and I'll have someone bring it to you."

Xue Sui expressed his gratitude once more, but that's another story.

Only after Tuya left did Xiao Zhao dare to breathe a sigh of relief.

"Miss, Princess Tuya seems so kind, why do I feel a little nervous around her?"

Wen Jia watched the slender figure disappear into the rain and nodded.

"Not to mention you, I'm just as scared."

Xue Sui said softly, "In the deep palace, hypocrisy is most common. A good person doesn't necessarily have to have a saintly face."

Xiao Zhao's eyes widened: "You mean, young lady..."

"Xiao Zhao." Xue Sui interrupted Xiao Zhao, his gaze falling on the sky outside the window.

"Go and ask Physician Wang for some calming medicine. I've been having nightmares all night..."

Xiao Zhao responded and quickly went out.

Only then did she turn her head and look directly at Wen Jia.

"Princess, I would like to ask you for a favor."

Wen Jia was stunned. "What's going on that you're hiding from Xiao Zhao?"

Xue Sui smiled slightly, picked up the bronze mirror and turned it in front of the candlelight, her fingertips twirling her snow-white hair.

"Three thousand strands of hair are better cut off cleanly. Xiao Zhao is too soft-hearted to do it and wishes to ask the princess to lend her a sharp knife..."

Wen Jia's throat bobbed slightly as his gaze fell on the scar on her collarbone.

There are some things Xiao Zhao doesn't understand, but she might.

This isn't cutting away the threads of trouble, but rather the attachments to the past, the shackles of predicament...