Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 253 He Loves Tea

A cold wind carrying the scent of sandalwood wafted towards me.

Everyone held their breath, their eyes fixed on her.

Xue Sui straightened his monk's robe and walked out, as if nothing had happened. He slowly closed the door again before giving a slight nod to the crowd below.

"Greetings, Your Highness Prince Duan and Princess Duan."

Li Huan's gaze swept over her reddened earlobes, his voice as cold as ice.

"Where is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?"

Xue Sui looked at him calmly.

"His Highness the Crown Prince has calmed down after the acupuncture treatment and has fallen asleep."

Have you fallen asleep?
Everyone stared in disbelief, as if they had heard a fairy tale.

Even Lai Fu and Guan Ya were somewhat surprised, their expressions shifting from disbelief to deep sorrow...

With a formidable enemy at hand, how could the Crown Prince possibly sleep soundly?
A shadow crossed Li Huan's face, his knuckles clenching so tightly they almost turned white.

However, Xue Sui remained calm and turned to Lai Fu.

"Your Highness's pulse is weak and feeble. Is it because you are overworking yourself during the day? Or are you having trouble sleeping at night?"

Lai Fu was taken aback for a moment, then quickly bowed and answered with a smug smile.

"Indeed, indeed. His Highness has been troubled by military affairs lately, worrying day and night, and has not slept well for half a month..."

“In that case—” Xue Sui took out a medicine packet from his sleeve and handed it to Lai Fu.

"Take this calming powder with water to improve sleep. The powder can also be put into a sachet and placed under your pillow..."

The familiar scent of medicine wafted into my nostrils.

Li Huan's expression changed.

Isn't this the sleeping sachet that Xue Liu gave to Xue Yuechen to prepare for him?
Lai Fu hurriedly agreed, looking at Xue Sui's calm and composed manner, he really looked like a doctor who was dedicated to saving lives. For a moment, he didn't know whether to be happy for His Highness or to worry for him.

Xue Yuechen noticed Li Huan's displeasure, and stepped forward with her pregnant belly, taking Xue Sui's hand.

"Sixth sister, I miss you so much. You've suffered so much since you left home. Are you doing well in the nunnery now?"

"Thank you for your concern, Princess Duan." Xue Sui frowned slightly as she looked at the weariness in her eyes. "The weather is so cold. Your health is the most important thing. Why don't you go to the guest room to warm up by the fire and warm your hands and feet?"

"My sister is alright... I'm just glad to see you."

Xue Yuechen forced a smile and gestured to the maid to hand over the food box.

"This was specially prepared by my sister; it's all the food you used to love..."

“Princess Duan is too kind.” Xue Sui interrupted, her fingertips lingering on the edge of the food box before taking it back. “Now that you have entered the Buddhist order, it is best to avoid these worldly delicacies.”

She casually handed the food box to Xiao Zhao.

"Take it and share it with Ruyi."

Xiao Zhao bowed and accepted the food box; her fingertips touched the food box, which was still warm.

"Xiao Zhao thanks you, young lady, and thanks you, Your Highness."

Xue Sui clasped his hands together, lowered his eyes, and spoke in a calm and gentle tone.

"Prince Duan, Princess Duan, please come to the guest room for tea..."

Li Huan stared at the tightly closed door, then finally turned around, flicked his sleeves, and strode away.

The three, each with their own ulterior motives, sat down in the guest seats with grim faces.

Jinshu carried the teacup inside and carefully served the tea.

The room is much warmer now.

Xue Yuechen looked up at Xue Sui with a hint of timidity in her eyes and tentatively took Xue Sui's hand.

"Sixth sister, my pregnancy has been unstable lately, and I'd like to stay at the nunnery for a while. The imperial physician says it's quiet here, which will be very beneficial for the fetus..."

"Your Highness looks unwell and certainly needs to rest," Xue Sui said softly. "However, the nunnery is usually austere, and I'm afraid it might be unfair to Your Highness."

Xue Yuechen heard her rejection and her eyes instantly reddened.

"It's alright. With my sister by my side, even simple meals are a joy for me. From now on, we sisters will be inseparable, just like before..."

She looked at Li Huan again, her shoulders slumping slightly, her tone pleading.

"Don't you agree, Your Highness?"

Li Huan sat upright, only giving a soft "hmm," his eyes fixed on Xue Sui.

"Ping An has lost a lot of weight? Is his cough still not cured?"

He softened his voice without realizing it.

"Chen Henian has prepared a new loquat syrup; he will send someone to deliver it another day."

Xue Sui frowned slightly, about to refuse.

The door was pushed open again, and Li Zhao strode in.

"Why bother, Your Majesty? The herbal tea from Shuiyue Nunnery is much better than loquat syrup..."

Perhaps it was because he had slept well, but his complexion was rosy, the dark circles under his eyes had faded somewhat, his brows and eyes still carried the languor of someone who had just woken up, and his handsome jawline exuded vitality...

Even Li Huan couldn't help but secretly admire him; the youthful arrogance and sharp edge of his personality only made him appear more elegant and refined...

Li Zhao was completely oblivious to the awkward silence in the air. He sat down next to Xue Sui and naturally picked up the teacup in front of her and took a sip.

"Good tea."

Xue Sui lowered his head and muttered to himself.

This... is indeed excellent tea!
Li Huan smiled slightly, his fingertips gripping the edge of the teacup tightly.

"Buddhist temples are places of purity. Your Highness, are you not afraid of being impeached by the Censorate for such behavior?"

"Impeachment?" Li Zhao scoffed, lightly tapping the table with his finger. His nonchalant demeanor exuded the majesty of a crown prince.

"Your Majesty, why don't you explain first why your father-in-law's advisors were secretly meeting with an envoy from an enemy country? I've been investigating a case recently and have come across something quite interesting—"

Xue Yuechen nearly dropped the hand warmer, her face showing alarm. Li Zhao watched with satisfaction as the expressions of Prince Duan and his wife changed drastically, then suddenly stood up with a smile.

"After all that exertion, I feel quite hungry. It's cold today, so how about I treat you all to a vegetarian meal?"

Li Huan narrowed his eyes slightly: "How could I refuse Your Highness's kind invitation?"

"Brother, please—"

"Your Highness, please!"
-
Inside the dining hall, a painting titled "Listening to Zen in the Snow" in pine soot ink hangs on the main wall, with a few bamboo branches leaning horizontally in the blank space, exuding a sense of tranquility and Zen.

Li Zhaoduan sat in the main seat, casually fiddling with the food in his bowl.

Xue Sui sat on the last futon, his Zen robe emitting a faint sandalwood scent from the charcoal fire.

"This vegetarian tofu is quite exquisite." Li Zhao picked up a piece of amber-colored vegetarian dish, tasted it, and gestured for Lai Fu to serve it to Xue Sui.

"Try it, and if you like it, I'll have the kitchen prepare some vegetarian meals and send them to the nunnery..."

Li Huan abruptly put down his chopsticks: "Your Highness, this is against etiquette."

The crisp sound of the porcelain bowls colliding startled Xue Yuechen, causing her fingertips to tremble and a few drops of soup to spill from her spoon.

"Your Majesty..."

Li Huan pressed down on Xue Yuechen's trembling hand, and when he looked up, his expression softened with a gentle smile.

"If word gets out that His Highness the Crown Prince has done this, what will the world say about him?"

“Your Majesty is overthinking this.” Li Zhao took a sip of tea, his gaze sweeping over Xue Yuechen’s swollen belly, his smile enigmatic. “With the Princess Consort pregnant, Your Majesty should focus your attention on the eldest son, and not always be eyeing other people’s territory…”

Xue Sui's knuckles turned white as he gripped the bamboo chopsticks.

She was all too familiar with Li Zhao's smile—

Like a lurking wolf king teasing its prey, the calmer the expression, the deeper the malice.

Sure enough, his next sentence was: "I have also heard that Physician Chen of the Prince Duan's residence has been frequently visiting Granny Wang's pharmacy in the dark alley of West Street recently. I wonder if it is to help the Princess Consort with her pregnancy?"

The dining hall suddenly fell into a deathly silence.

Sparks from the charcoal brazier exploded on the blue bricks, scattering a few charred fragments.

Chen Henian was a member of the Imperial Medical Academy and could have gone straight to the Imperial Pharmacy, but he chose to venture into the dark alleys of West Street, which was certainly not just for the sake of ensuring the safety of the fetus.

That must mean there's something else going on...

Xue Yuechen looked at Li Huan with a pale face, but when he didn't refute her, she suddenly started gagging.

Li Huan abruptly stood up, supported Xue Yuechen's swaying body, and sternly questioned Li Zhao.

"What does Your Highness mean by this?!"

"Just a joke." Li Zhao smiled deeply, but his eyes seemed to be frozen.

"Your Majesty seems so concerned; could it be that I have struck a nerve?"

Before Li Huan could refute him, he suddenly turned to look at Xue Sui with a smile, his upturned eyes resembling those of a fox.

"Master Liaochen, tell me, which of these unfulfilled desires in this world has the Buddha ever helped to resolve?"

Xue Sui stared into his icy eyes, her voice as soft as falling snow.

"Buddha saves all sentient beings, but not those who are attached to their own desires."

A sudden gust of wind arose outside the window, whipping up snow and swirling against the window frame.

Li Zhao's smile finally faded, and his gaze swept over Li Huan's tense face, like a deep pool covered with solid ice.

"Buddha has mercy. If my brother has done anything shady, he can repent before the Buddha..."

"The Crown Prince entered the nunnery with murderous intent, and then suspected others of desecrating this pure land?" Li Huan's face darkened, and he cupped his hands in greeting.

"Your Highness's suspicions are too much for me to bear. I shall take my leave!"

After saying that, he turned away.

"Your Highness—" Xue Yuechen cried out softly, when suddenly a sharp pain shot through her abdomen.

Xue Sui leaned over to help her up, but the bamboo chopsticks suddenly fell to the ground.

She bent down to pick it up, but saw Li Zhao shift the sole of his boot and crush the chopsticks.

Then he bent down and held her arm, his fingertips sliding through her robe to her wrist.

"What's the point of eating? Everyone's already stormed off!"

"..."

She looked up and met Li Zhao's dark eyes, which were brimming with laughter.

There was no mockery, only an almost obsessive possessiveness that scalded her heart with a sharp pain.

The Love Silk Gu screamed in his blood, as if in sync with Li Zhao's heartbeat, sweeping over him with a dense, itchy sensation.

She heard her own slightly hoarse voice.

"Your Highness is eloquent and will surely enjoy great fortune in the future."

Li Zhao chuckled softly, moved his boots aside, and lifted her up.

"Xue Ping'an, you really know best how to stab me in the heart."

He gave a half-smile, tapped her bald forehead with his fingertip, then turned and strode away without looking at her again.

The touch was as light as a feather, yet it made Xue Sui's fingertips tremble with anger.

Dogman!

He should be driven away by anger.

Xue Sui suppressed the turbulent agitation caused by the Love Silk Gu, lowered his eyes, and watched the arc of Li Zhao's cloak as it swept across the threshold. His hands felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, and it took him a long time to raise them and put them together.

"Farewell to His Highness the Crown Prince."

Li Zhao: I've turned the tables! May the whole world rejoice... Someone, bring the tickets!

Reader: ? ? ? ? Is this person crazy?!

Xue Sui: Everyone, please have pity on him, he's gone mad!