Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 257 A Crossroads
The snow that had fallen all night finally stopped around noon.

As dawn broke over the distant mountains, sunlight pierced through the clouds. Crystalline icicles clung to the eaves of Shuiyue Temple, refracting the early sun into shimmering fragments of light.

A sunny winter day is the perfect time to sweep snow and brew tea.

Xue Sui, wrapped in a worn-out gray cloak, stood under the eaves, watching Xiao Zhao tiptoe and use a bamboo pole to knock the snow off the green tiles.

As the bamboo pole rose and fell, snowflakes, like shattered jade, fell in a soft patter, making a crackling sound.

Inside the window, Lingyu and the gray pigeon that Xue Sui had temporarily named "Snowball" huddled around the earthenware bowl, cooing and pecking at the snow mixed with crushed millet.

She was mesmerized.

"Ruyi, look!" Xiao Zhao suddenly exclaimed, pulling out a frozen section of a black snake from somewhere, swaying in her palm like a black jade whip.

Ruyi was sweeping snow under the eaves when she was so frightened that she jumped up and down and hid behind the stone mortar with her broom.

"Girl, save me! Girl, please save Ruyi..."

Xue Sui turned around: "..."

Xiao Zhao proudly shook the snake by its tail, her nose turning bright red from the cold.

"We can make snake soup now! The pheasant I found in the mountain valley the other day is still hidden away! Pair it with winter bamboo shoots for a dragon and phoenix stew, guaranteed to be so delicious it'll make your eyebrows fall off..."

Xue Sui couldn't help but chuckle: "Last time, it was already impolite of the nun to see you poaching pheasants. This time, you've even gone so far as to hunt hibernating snakes..."

She took the snake from Xiao Zhao and touched it with her fingertips.

"It's still alive, let's release it into the back mountain."

Xiao Zhao hissed and looked at Ruyi with a worried expression.

"The young lady hasn't been in the nunnery for long, but she seems to have truly become a nun in seclusion, refusing to even touch meat... Strange!"

Ruyi rubbed her frozen hands and nodded emphatically.

Xiao Zhao sighed when she saw her half-understanding expression.

How could Ruyi know that her daughter was once a ruthless character who grew up in the blood and fire, tearing apart jackals with her bare hands and chewing snake meat raw... It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call her a jade-faced Yama. She really wasn't used to this sudden vegetarianism, chanting Buddhist scriptures and observing the rules of celibacy!
Xue Sui pretended not to hear their murmurs and turned to release the animals into the wild on the back mountain.

As soon as I reached the courtyard gate, I caught a glimpse of Jinshu hurrying over with a medicine basket in her arms.

She paused slightly as Jinshu approached.

"Has the eldest son sent a message?"

"Young lady has a good eye." Jinshu lowered her voice and took out a sealed kraft paper letter from her sleeve.

"The eldest son said this is intelligence from the Western Frontier—a blizzard has blocked the mountains outside Chishui Pass, and Ashina's light cavalry has intercepted the supply route three times. General Lu is so anxious that he has blisters on his lips. It seems the Crown Prince is going to have to face a tough challenge..."

Xue Sui stroked the small golden skull from the old mausoleum, which was secretly engraved on the corner of the letter, without saying a word.

"I understand, my lord. I will report any new developments later."

The thin mist was silent.

The wooden bridge leading to the back mountain was covered in white frost.

She walked slowly through the snow, thinking to herself, "This must be the purpose of vegetarianism and chanting scriptures."
-
Outside the mountain gate, horses' hooves shattered the snow layer covered with ice flowers.

Several female servants escorted a blue-curtained carriage, which stopped in front of the stone steps of the nunnery.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and Guo Yunrong, wrapped in a silver fox fur cloak, leaned out. Her personal maid, Chun Tao, quickly helped her up.

She gracefully walked up the steps, the hair ornament in her hair trembling slightly in the snow, giving the simple mountain gate a touch of opulence.

Xue Yuechen had already wrapped himself in a cloak and was waiting under the eaves of the Zen temple.

"In this freezing weather, the county princess braved the snow to come; such sincerity is truly rare."

Guo Yunrong looked up and saw Xue Yuechen walking over with a smile, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.

"Long time no see, Your Highness, how are you?"

Guo Yunrong bowed respectfully, her eyes crinkling with a smile. "Yunrong has come today for two reasons. First, to pray to Buddha for an early end to the war, for peace on the borders, and for all the people to have a safe winter. Second... I wanted to see Sister Xue."

After saying that, he glanced at Xue Yuechen's high, protruding belly.

"The princess's appearance during this pregnancy is auspicious; she will surely give birth to a blessed little prince."

Seeing the warmth in Guo Yunrong's eyes, Xue Yuechen smiled gently, took her hand, and led her inside.

"Sister Yunrong, your tongue is getting more and more eloquent. I heard you were coming, so I had the kitchen prepare ginger soup and vegetarian food early on. Come inside and warm up, we can eat and talk." Guo Yunrong lowered her eyes, gently withdrew her hand, and glanced casually toward the meditation room.

"Sister Xue, are you settling in well in the nunnery? With the Princess taking care of you, you must be feeling much more comfortable and cheerful, right?"

Xue Yuechen looked at her innocent face, which was almost foolish, and sighed softly.

"Sister Yunrong is so kind..."

Although she was granted the title of county princess and appeared to be enjoying great success, she ultimately suffered the annulment of her engagement and the loss of her beloved. How could she not feel wronged and heartbroken?
Even so, she still thought about Xue Sui...

Upon hearing this, Xue Yuechen's heart was filled with turmoil.

She thought of Li Huan, her husband with whom she was only superficially married.

She thought of Xue Sui again, the woman whom Li Zhao and Li Huan fought tooth and nail to protect.

The scene of two men facing each other and making vows in the plum grove was like a thorn stuck in her heart, causing her to feel a mix of emotions.

Seeing her frowning, Guo Yunrong softly inquired:

"Is something troubling your mind, Your Highness?"

Xue Yue pondered for a moment, then decided that she could no longer keep this straightforward girl in the dark.

"Sister Yunrong, there are some things I think you should know..."

Guo Yunrong is simply kind-hearted, not foolish.

She blinked. "What exactly does the Princess want to say to Yunrong?"

Xue Yue said in a low voice, "Before His Highness the Crown Prince went to the Western Frontier, he braved the rain and traveled a hundred miles to Shuiyue Nunnery to bid farewell to Sixth Sister. That night, the two of them were reluctant to part..."

Guo Yunrong suddenly looked up, her face ashen.

"So...it was her?"

Rumors are circulating that His Highness the Crown Prince is having an affair with a nun at the Shuiyue Nunnery, and that he is morally corrupt.

However, no name was mentioned, and it was unknown which nun it was.

She came today to find out the inside story and verify the rumors so she could give up on them...

Unexpectedly, her love rival turned out to be an old friend!

The snow and wind swept through the mountain gate, making the bronze bells in the main hall jingle.

She seemed frozen in place until the abbess of the nunnery came to greet her, at which point she snapped out of her daze.

"I am deeply grateful for the presence of Princess Minghui. I have failed to greet you properly."

Guo Yunrong warmed the engraved hand warmer in her palm and curtsied.

“Yunrong has been abrupt and has come without warning, disturbing the nun’s meditation.”

She smiled again and said, "The other day I went to the palace to accompany Her Majesty the Empress in copying scriptures. I heard that the plum blossom fermented rice at Shuiyue Nunnery is excellent, so I came here to ask for a bowl to warm myself up..."

After saying that, he turned to the side and winked at the maid.

The maidservant quickly presented a rosewood box with gold lacquer.

Inside is a complete set of Yue ware celadon teaware, with a glaze as blue as the sky and as clear as a mirror, and a delicate and translucent body.

"This is just a small gift; I hope you won't find it offensive, Master."

A hint of surprise flashed in the old nun's eyes as she clasped her hands together, her fingers intertwined with her prayer beads.

"The arrival of the county magistrate has already made my humble abode shine with honor; there is no need for such extravagance..."

"These mundane items are nothing but a small token of my appreciation, a little oil added to the Buddha's offering. Please, Master, do not refuse..."

It's never wrong to be overly polite; even monks find it hard to refuse such exquisite gifts.

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Guo Yunrong followed the nun and Xue Yuechen, her lotus-like steps light and graceful, into the warm pavilion of the guest hall. She took off her fur coat and handed it to a maid, revealing a moon-white brocade jacket and skirt. Just as she was about to sit down, she suddenly stood up again.

As if she had thought of something, she glanced at Xue Yuechen and asked the nun.

"I wonder if Master Liaochen is here?"

(End of this chapter)