Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 254 Changes and Changes
The morning bell of Shuiyue Temple echoed deeply.

In the misty haze, Xue Yuechen gripped the bamboo handrail tightly, hunching over and dry heaving.

Her swollen pregnant belly made her lower back ache, and stray hairs clung to her cheeks, soaked with cold sweat. She vomited until her face turned deathly pale...

"Your Highness, would you like some more perilla drink to cleanse your body of impurities?" Emerald carefully stepped forward, holding a small white porcelain cup, and gently stroked her back with a handkerchief.

The perilla drink in the bowl glistened with a crystal-clear luster.

The ginseng soup that the kitchen had prepared was also placed on the table, already completely cold.

Xue Yuechen had no appetite. She glanced at him and then turned her head away in disgust, pushing away the porcelain cup. Her gaze fell on the gray-clad figure sweeping snow in the courtyard.

The mountain wind lifted a corner of Xue Suichan's hood, revealing newly grown stubble covered in white frost...

Unaware of her surroundings, she used a bamboo broom to pile the snow under the old plum tree.

"Sixth Sister seems quite carefree." Xue Yuechen stroked her high, protruding belly, listening to the rustling sound of the bamboo broom scraping across the bluestone slabs, and sighed softly.

"Although she said she had become a nun to cultivate herself, her complexion was much rosier than when she was at the Prince Duan's residence. Unlike me, my back aches so much it feels like it's about to break, I can barely turn over, I can't sleep at night, I live like a useless person..."

Jade followed her gaze, and Xue Sui looked up at that moment.

Their eyes met, and Xue Sui clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, his indifference colder than falling snow.

Jade glanced around, her voice hushed, "The rumors outside the nunnery have spread throughout the entire capital. Sixth Miss, on the other hand, seems completely unaffected. Her heart is truly made of stone..."

Xue Yuechen wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, hesitated for a moment, picked up the cooled ginseng soup, took a sip, and then frowned and put it down.

"What do those gossipers say in private?"

Emerald pursed her lips and whispered, "Your Highness, the old woman who delivered the dishes to the kitchen today said that everyone in the capital is saying... saying that His Highness the Crown Prince frequently visits the Water Moon Nunnery and is... is having very close relationships with the nuns there, which is improper..."

Xue Yuechen's fingertips suddenly stiffened.

Li Zhao's actions in the meditation room that day would inevitably attract rumors sooner or later.

She just hadn't expected the news to spread so quickly—

"Secretly meeting with a nun" and "lacking in moral character"—each and every one of these things is enough to ruin the reputation of a crown prince.

"Those gossips are quite unbearable. They say things like, 'In the meditation room, instead of chanting the Prajna Sutra, in the brocade tent, one sings poems of love and lust'—and that the Crown Prince has lost his virtue, and that Miss Guo is the apple of the Duke of Zheng's eye, and that he probably doesn't want his granddaughter to suffer such an injustice, so this marriage may have to fall through..."

Xue Yuechen smiled faintly.

"It's just a show orchestrated by someone with ulterior motives. Take it with a grain of salt. For wealthy and powerful families, every marriage of their children is calculated. What's more important than profit than face?"

Jade sighed, "Women in the world have no say in their marriages. Even the Princess was forced to accept the label of a lucky star, which caused her so much trouble..."

"What did you say?" Xue Yuechen suddenly clenched her handkerchief, interrupting her sharply.

"Your Highness—" Emerald realized she had misspoke and knelt down with a thud.

"This servant deserves to die, please punish me, Your Highness..."

Xue Yuechen's eyes instantly reddened, but she grabbed the beaded string on the table and smashed it to the ground.

"Auntie, you're reopening old wounds..."

The sandalwood beads rolled around haphazardly, the jade kept kowtowing and begging for forgiveness, and Xue Yuechen's eyes were red as she silently shed tears.

"What's wrong with the Princess?"

Xue Sui put down the broom, stepped through the snow and approached the meditation room, then lifted the curtain and came in.

Her gaze fell upon the scattered beads on the ground. She bent down to pick them up, her eyes fixed on Xue Yuechen with a cold expression.

"If Your Highness is troubled, you may go for a walk in the corridor. You must not get angry..."

He paused, then raised his voice.

"The fetus can hear the mother's resentment."

These words struck Xue Yuechen like a needle.

The tears that had been welling up in her eyes fell even more heavily—

"If Your Highness had been more considerate of me, things wouldn't have come to this." Pregnant women are naturally sensitive, and Xue Yuechen, thinking of Li Huan's aloofness and indifference, pressed her palm against her lower abdomen and choked up.

"The imperial physician said this pregnancy is unstable, and I'm worried about it all the time. I'm even terrified in my dreams, afraid that I'll open my eyes and the baby will stop moving..."

Xue Sui didn't reply, but simply reached out and placed his hand on her wrist, his fingertips touching her disordered pulse.

"The princess needs to rest quietly. By quiet, I mean calming the mind and focusing the spirit, and reducing thoughts and worries. The more anxious she is, the more it will harm the fetus."

After saying that, she withdrew her hand and looked at Xue Yuechen's swollen eyelids.

"If you keep things bottled up inside, it's not good for your child."

Xue Yuechen turned her face away, gazing at the falling snow outside the window, unable to suppress her true feelings—

In her opinion, Xue Liu was talking without understanding the pain; since the fire hadn't touched her feet, of course she didn't feel the torment and discomfort...

She was carrying the eldest son whom Prince Duan had placed high hopes on, and the hope for bringing glory to the Xue family and maintaining its honor. With such a heavy burden on her, how could she truly find peace of mind and not think about those upsetting things?
The two remained silent, and the atmosphere became tense for a moment.

Xue Yuechen sighed softly, her eyes dimming.

"I'm tired, please make yourself at home."

Xue Sui nodded slightly, bowed, and left.

Snowflakes fluttered down, turning the bamboo fence of Shuiyue Nunnery into a pure white expanse.

After Xue Sui finished copying a volume of the Diamond Sutra, she stretched her numb legs, twisted her neck to get up, and yawned. She then heard the little nun whispering outside the door, mentioning words like "Eastern Palace," "Crown Prince," and "Master Liaochen." She immediately slowed her movements—

Just then, the sound of familiar boots came from outside the meditation room.

Li Zhao lifted the curtain and entered, his black cloak covered in ice crystals, followed by Lai Fu, who bowed his head and remained silent.

Seeing Xue Sui sitting upright at the table with a deep gaze, he walked straight up to her.

"What are you thinking about?" He reached out and brushed away the non-existent snowflakes from her shoulder, his fingertips touching the sharp shoulder blades beneath her robe, and his brows furrowed involuntarily.

"What's wrong? Has someone been neglecting you?"

Xue Sui raised his eyes and looked directly into his eyes: "The whole city is in turmoil, yet Your Highness remains calm."

"Otherwise what? Do you expect me to act like a street child, crying and wailing?" Li Zhao said with a smile.

Xue Sui lowered her eyes to avoid his gaze, her heart churning.

Although the events of that day took place in Shuiyue Nunnery, they were actually kept extremely secret.

Apart from the confidants of the Crown Prince and the Prince Duan's residence, there were no other people who knew the truth.

Once these people are silenced, they will not utter a single word to the outside world.

Li Huan values ​​his status and reputation above all else, so why would he expose his own shortcomings?
She asked coldly, "These rampant rumors are extremely suspicious. Does Your Highness know who spread them?"

Li Zhao casually picked up the scripture she had copied, looked at the sentence "All phenomena are illusory," and his lips curled up slightly as he looked at her with a half-smile.

"What do you say?"

Xue Sui was startled and suddenly looked up to stare at him.

"It's you?"

Li Zhao casually took off his cloak and handed it to Laifu, then sat down by the charcoal brazier next to the wooden table, looking quite nonchalant.

"Besides me, who would spread such rumors?"

He paused, his eyes darkening as he looked up. "If I want to annul the engagement, I must give the Duke of Zheng's mansion a way out and some dignity."

Why must Your Highness tarnish your reputation?

"I do not value reputation."

She frowned and said coldly, "How could the Third Miss Guo be so innocent?"

"Feeling sorry for her?" Li Zhao suddenly grabbed her wrist and pulled her to the edge of the bed.

"Why not show some compassion for me? Am I not innocent? Do you think the Duke of Zheng is someone to be trifled with? This marriage is nothing more than an exchange of interests, like chess pieces on a board, with no regard for feelings or emotions. Xue Ping'an, examine your conscience..."

He reached out to touch her conscience.

Xue Sui was startled and took a half step back, quickly raising his hand to block, his cheeks slightly burning.

Perhaps due to her unsteady breathing, her voice trembled slightly.

"Do you know that this will ruin your reputation?"

"Reputation?" Li Zhao scoffed, setting down the scroll. He grasped her hand, his voice tightening. "What I want is you, not those empty honors..."

His fingertips were burning hot, and he used force as if he wanted to scald her hand.

"Xue Ping'an, aren't you happy for me?"

Looking at the unwavering stubbornness in his eyes, and recalling his autocratic and domineering nature, Xue Sui realized that he had already planned everything—for which he was willing to destroy himself.

"If you are disliked by His Majesty because of this matter and lose your position as heir apparent, wouldn't all your previous efforts be in vain?"

She tried to persuade him in a low voice, but she couldn't break free from his grasp.

"If the position of Crown Prince has to be exchanged for you, then I don't care." Li Zhao lowered his head and kissed her fingertips. "Alright, I know you're worried about that Miss Guo. Don't worry, I'll take care of things at the Duke of Zheng's mansion. I won't let her be humiliated."

Xue Sui thought he was utterly insane and was speechless.

"How could His Majesty and the Empress tolerate such behavior?"

“Of course I need to be taught a lesson.” He curled his lips into a smile, but there was no mirth in his eyes. “They denounced me, saying that I had let my personal feelings ruin the royal decorum and acted without any sense of propriety…”

He grabbed Xue Sui's hand.

“I have never shown the slightest restraint in front of you.”

"..."

Instead of being ashamed, you are proud of it?

Xue Sui frowned and withdrew his hand. "Speak! Are you plotting against me?"

"Why would I scheme against a monk who has renounced worldly life?"

Seeing her furrowed brows and tense, guarded expression, he smiled gently and took her hand in a conciliatory manner.

"I'm not angry anymore. I did scheme a little... It was just to clear away obstacles and prevent others from having any more illusions about you..."

She's really vengeful.

Xue Sui stared intently at him, wondering what kind of madness Li Zhao would exhibit next...

Five days later, she finally had Jinshu inquire about the shocking news from the capital.

Crown Prince Li Zhao pleaded before the Emperor that he and Miss Guo were "incompatible in temperament and might harm the beautiful woman," and earnestly requested that the Emperor rescind the decree.

Emperor Chongzhao was furious.

He forced him to kneel before the imperial steps and personally whipped his shoulders and back as punishment...

With each lash, he would ask, "Do you know your mistake...?"

Li Zhao knelt on the cold gold bricks of the Zichen Palace, enduring twenty-eight lashes without uttering a sound.

Empress Xie rushed over upon hearing the news, threw herself before the emperor, and pleaded tearfully, fearing that the emperor might beat him to death in a fit of rage.

But this stubborn donkey stood with its back ramrod straight, not even blinking an eye, and not uttering a single sound of pain.

Emperor Chongzhao, exhausted from beating his back until it was soaked in blood, finally threw down the whip and softened his heart...

No one knows what the father and son talked about for two hours in the warm pavilion of the Zichen Palace that day. All that is known is that when the Grand Eunuch Wang Chengxi came out with the imperial edict, there was an additional decree of favor added to the letter of annulment approved by the emperor.

Later that evening, Empress Xie personally visited the Duke of Zheng's residence, bringing chests of rare treasures to apologize. She explained that the Crown Prince was "young and reckless, and had wronged Miss Guo." She also issued an edict to bestow upon Guo Yunrong the title of "Princess Minghui" and to recognize her as Empress Xie's goddaughter.

The entire Zheng family was filled with trepidation and went out to receive the imperial decree.

Guo Yunrong, however, was crying her eyes out and hid behind the screen, refusing to show herself.

Empress Xie patted the Duchess's hand, her expression wistful.

"It is because I have failed to raise my son properly that I have caused the royal family to lose face and has also burdened Yunrong."

"Yunrong is a girl I watched grow up. She is gentle, kind, and of pure character. I would never bear to see her suffer even the slightest grievance..."

"I have come to your door today to formally recognize my kinship with His Majesty. His Majesty specifically instructed me to recognize Yunrong as my goddaughter. I will personally oversee her marriage and find her a good husband with a respectable family background and noble character."

The Duchess, choking back tears, curtsied...

Despite their displeasure, they had no choice but to accept the imperial edict with profuse thanks.

This move not only preserved the Guo family girl's reputation but also gave the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion face.

In the long run, not marrying into the Crown Prince's palace avoids taking sides and becoming a target of attacks from Prince Duan's faction, while also avoiding offending the Crown Prince's palace. This allows them to please both sides and is not necessarily a bad thing.

As for Guo Yunrong, with the status of a county princess and the empress's goddaughter, she has a prominent reputation among the noble ladies in the capital. Everyone is envious of her, so who would dare to gossip or ridicule her situation?

However, after this battle, the Crown Prince's reputation was completely ruined.

The streets and alleys were abuzz with gossip, saying that the Crown Prince had disregarded moral principles by having an affair with a young nun at the Shuiyue Nunnery, which was a moral failing and led to the Duke of Zheng's family rejecting his marriage proposal. Some even went so far as to dredge up his past with the concubine of the Prince of Duan, creating obscene stories that were then sung in taverns and teahouses.

The following morning, Xue Sui was wiping the bronze mirror that Tian Shu had personally polished when Hui Ming's young apprentice hurried through the corridor to announce her arrival.

"Liao Chen, a distinguished guest has arrived."

Xue Sui's eyelids twitched slightly, and he gave instructions to Jinshu.

"Please come in quickly!"

Xue Sui waited anxiously for a moment before seeing Yuheng and Tianshu enter the meditation room together.

She suddenly stood up and rushed forward, her breathing becoming erratic.

"Senior sister, you've finally come to see me—"

Yuheng smiled gently, the golden snake hairpin in her hair trembling slightly with each step.

She placed the black iron medicine box heavily on the table, pinched Xue Sui's chin and examined her closely: "The storms of the Old Mausoleum Swamp failed to bury you, but you've grown into a bald nun in the capital?"

"Senior sister is still so sharp-tongued."

Xue Sui offered tea with a smile, but she slapped it away with her hand.

"Don't give me that." Yuheng opened his medicine chest and pulled out a glass bottle.

Inside the bottle, blood-red worms writhed menacingly.

"Have you thought this through? Once the curse is lifted, he will no longer be under your control, and all the schemes you painstakingly laid out will be in vain. You've gone to great lengths to make His Highness the Crown Prince so infatuated with you; isn't it a pity to give up now? Besides—"

She paused, then lightly scratched the bottle with her fingernail, raising the corner of her eye to glance at her sideways.

"These Gu worms don't taste very good?"

Xue Sui frowned slightly. "Why did you use Gu worms to scare me, Senior Sister?"

"I'm just watching the show." Yuheng smiled seductively. "Thirteen, the storm has only just begun. The more muddy the waters, the better. Why not stand aside and wait for all the forces to fight it out until they're battered and bruised? That would be the most interesting thing to do."

"All I want is the antidote for the Love Silk Curse."

Yuheng placed the porcelain bottle into Xue Sui's hand, her eyes and brows beneath the veil remaining completely expressionless.

"The rules of the Old Mausoleum Swamp are based on exchanging goods for money. If you want to cure his curse, you must pay the price."

Xue Sui grasped the porcelain bottle, its surface icy to the touch: "What is the price?"

Yuheng chuckled softly, his fingertips tracing the ice flowers on the window frame: "Feed the Gu with your heart's blood for three days, and take a cup of blood every night at midnight, which will shorten your lifespan by ten years."

The meditation room fell silent for a moment.

Tian Shu seemed to want to say something but then stopped.

Outside the window, snow fell softly on the old plum trees. Xue Sui gazed at the churning crimson liquid in the bottle, recalling the resolute light in Li Zhao's eyes, and the way his back stood straight as a pine tree as he knelt in the Zichen Palace to receive the whipping punishment...

Each fragment is like a red-hot needle, piercing into the bone marrow.

The Buddhist prayer beads on her wrist felt like a branding iron, burning her skin with a painful sensation...

Yet it paled in comparison to the burning pain of emotions surging in my heart.

"I am willing."
-
East Palace.

Li Zhao stroked the letter Ling Yu had sent from Shuiyue Nunnery, his dark eyes as deep as a cold pool.

The gilded dragon lamp cast a deep, inky shadow on his brow bone, while Laifu knelt beside him, trembling with fear.

"Third Miss Guo... no, Princess Minghui broke the jade ruyi bestowed upon her by the emperor, and fell ill that very night, causing a huge commotion. Even the Duchess couldn't calm her down..."

"They'll stop when they've had enough."

Li Zhao rubbed his temples. "The Duke of Zheng's mansion wants to maintain appearances, so I will give them all the respect they deserve. That's all I can do."

After saying this, he stood up, lit the letter on the candlelight, slightly curled the corners of his lips, and slowly turned around.

"Prepare the horses, let's go to Shuiyue Nunnery."

Lai Fu mumbled something and hurriedly grabbed a black fox fur cloak, then stumbled and followed him out.

　Two chapters combined...

　　Li Zhao: I want one too, the two-in-one!
　　Reader: I'm disgusted!

　　(End of this chapter)