Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 261 Spring News
The sky over the capital seemed to have cleared up completely.

The ice and snow on the street have melted away, and the warm sun makes the glazed tiles glitter like gold.

However, the clear sunshine did not extend to the Prince Duan's residence.

After returning from Shuiyue Nunnery, Xue Yuechen stayed indoors all day long. The huge Yingyue Residence was eerily quiet, with only the wet nurse moving around quietly and the occasional baby crying adding a little life.

Li Huan stood under the eaves of Yingyue Residence, his brows furrowed as he listened to the faint sobbing coming from inside.

Since giving birth to her daughter, Xue Yuechen has become a different person. Her former gentleness and virtue have vanished, replaced by endless self-torment and suspicion. Whenever she sees him, she speaks harshly and scolds him at the slightest provocation.

Li Huan knew she was obsessed with having a legitimate son, and he also knew the thorn in her heart that she couldn't remove...

"Your Highness." Emerald came out carrying a bowl of medicine. Seeing him standing there, she was startled and hurriedly curtsied. "The Princess Consort just took her medicine and rested. She was just saying that Your Highness is busy with official duties and shouldn't worry about things here..."

Li Huan glanced at the dark brown medicinal liquid and waved for her to leave.

Pushing open the door, the smell of medicine mixed with the fragrance of frankincense wafted towards me, heavy and lingering...

The air was mixed together, creating an indescribable sense of stagnation and oppression.

Xue Yuechen lay on her side on the brocade couch, facing inwards, with her back to him, holding a brocade pillow in her arms, her shoulders trembling slightly, as if she were crying silently.

"Still feeling down?" Li Huan walked over, his voice tinged with weariness.

Xue Yuechen didn't turn around, but hugged the pillow tighter: "Your Highness, have you come to give me some instructions?"

Li Huan watched her retreating figure and remained silent for a moment.

"In five days, Aning will be a month old."

He paused for a moment before continuing, "I have already arranged a full-moon celebration. All the nobles and dignitaries in the capital will be there to bring good fortune to Aning..."

He gave his daughter, who was born on a snowy night, a nickname, Aning, meaning peace and tranquility, and hoped that she would have a peaceful life.

Xue Yuechen disliked the word "peace and tranquility".

But once Li Huan made up his mind, she was powerless to change anything.

Hearing the sound, she slowly turned around, her eyes filled with undisguised sorrow.

"She's just a little girl, why hold a full moon celebration for her? Does Your Highness want to announce to the world that Princess Duan can't give birth to a son and can only rely on a little girl to make a show of things?"

Li Huan frowned: "A-Ning is your daughter, and also my flesh and blood. Why must the Princess be so cold-hearted?"

"How could I be harsh? I was merely stating the truth." Xue Yuechen gave a faint, mocking smile, her fingertips tracing the folds of the brocade quilt. "Has Your Highness forgotten that what the Prince Duan's residence needs is a legitimate son, a legitimate son who can continue the royal bloodline..."

"Enough!" Li Huan suddenly raised his voice, "A'Ning is my eldest daughter, and this full moon celebration must not only be held, but it must be held in a grand and glorious manner!"

Looking at the unwavering determination in his eyes, Xue Yuechen felt as if her heart were frozen in a deep pool.

"Your Highness can decide for yourself. In any case, I have no say in these matters, much less the authority to make decisions for the Prince Duan's residence."

Li Huan remained silent for a long time before slowly saying, "Your Highness, please relax... don't overthink things."

"Am I overthinking things?" Xue Yuechen suddenly sat up, wrapped in the quilt, her eyes filled with obsession and pain. She gave him a shrill smile, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Does Your Highness think I'm foolish? Although Sixth Sister has entered the nunnery, has Your Highness truly let go of her? Without Sixth Sister managing things in the manor, will Your Highness still grace Yingyue Residence with your presence? Perhaps what Your Highness most desires is for Sixth Sister to return to secular life and continue your family line?"

"Your Highness!" Li Huan shouted sternly, "Stop spouting nonsense!"

Xue Yuechen chuckled softly, tears streaming down her face.

It must be because Xue Sui personally delivered the child and snatched her back from the brink of death that Li Huan held such a heavy place in his heart.

The care shown to her far exceeded that shown to her as the principal wife...

"So be it." She stroked her pale face, her smile tinged with despair and brokenness. "If Your Highness wishes to proceed, then proceed. Just don't let people laugh at the Duan Prince's Mansion for having no hope of having a legitimate son and having to rely on a daughter to save face!"

Looking at her pained face, Li Huan felt a surge of irritation and turned to leave.

Disturbed and confused, he wandered aimlessly along the winding corridor, and unknowingly ended up outside Tanqiu Courtyard.

Standing under the eaves, gazing at the fading sunset, he recalled Xue Sui's calm and composed demeanor despite his full head of white hair.

Both women faced life-or-death situations, so why was she able to remain so resilient and calm, while Xue Yuechen harbored so much resentment?
Five days later, the Prince Duan's mansion was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers to hold a full moon banquet for his eldest daughter, Aning.

High-ranking officials and dignitaries from the capital came to offer their congratulations. The banquet was filled with toasts and laughter, but the atmosphere behind the scenes was somewhat subtle.

Everyone knows that Prince Duan and his wife are eager for a son. Now they are holding a grand banquet for their daughter, which seems glamorous and respectable, but only they know the true feelings behind it.

Li Huan held his daughter, accepting everyone's congratulations, his face weary but forcing a smile.

Xue Yue sat in the main seat, her makeup exquisite, but there was no trace of joy between her brows.

As she gazed at the tenderness in Li Huan's eyes as he bent down to tease their daughter, the bitterness in her heart intensified.

The prince was so tender, but he never showed even a hint of it to her.

Halfway through the banquet, a palace eunuch hurriedly entered the palace.

"Your Highness, someone from the palace has arrived. His Majesty summons you to the palace immediately!"

"Did you say what important matter it is?" Li Huan frowned slightly.

"Your Highness, the eunuch who delivered the decree only said that it concerns a case of corruption in military supplies and a snow disaster in the western frontier. His Majesty wants you to come to the imperial court immediately for a meeting."

Li Huan's expression turned solemn.

That corruption case involved a wide range of people. After Xue Qinglian escorted the grain transport commissioner to the capital, he interrogated him day and night for half a month, and he confessed to the involvement of several nobles in the capital...

Just then, trouble broke out again in the western frontier, the war became intense, the army faced a food shortage crisis, and then suddenly encountered a once-in-a-century snow disaster...

The emperor summoned him urgently; it seems there's been another unexpected turn of events...

"Ready your horse!"

Li Huan had the wet nurse take the child away and then hurriedly left.

From beginning to end, he didn't say a single word to Xue Yuechen.

As Xue Yuechen watched his departing figure, she suddenly covered her face and ran out, bursting into tears in the late spring garden.

A subtle fragrance wafts from beneath the rose trellis.

But the fragrance filling the courtyard could not dispel the resentment that permeated her heart...

Meanwhile, at the Shuiyue Nunnery, Xue Sui sat by the window, absentmindedly copying scriptures.

Every now and then, she would look up and see Lingyu and Xuetuan preening each other's feathers in the warm sunlight under the eaves, a faint smile on her lips, her expression extremely languid.

The plum blossoms have fallen, heralding the approach of spring. The sky over the capital still seems shrouded in gloom, and it's unclear when it will truly clear up.

"Miss, have you finished copying all the scriptures today?" Ruyi came in carrying a pine tray, the lotus seed soup in the bowl still steaming.

She was becoming more and more efficient. As she spoke, she placed the soup bowl on Xue Sui's table, then brushed away the fallen leaves on the window frame and fed and cleaned the two pigeons.

Xue Sui glanced at the still-wet ink on the Xuan paper, put down the wolf-hair brush, and noticed faint ink marks on his fingertips.

She got up and walked to the copper basin, then immersed her hands in it and carefully washed them.

“Miss, let me help you…” Ruyi quickly stepped forward to wash her hands.

The warm water carried a faint scent of soapberry, mixed with the lingering smoke from the stove. Xue Sui looked up at Ruyi and saw fine beads of sweat on her nose, and couldn't help but chuckle.

"Going to the kitchen to help with cooking again?"

Ruyi stuck out her tongue, her cheeks slightly flushed: "Sister Xiaozhao said that Miss used to love braised pork with tender bamboo shoots the most. Yesterday, the kitchen got some new spring bamboo shoots, so Ruyi wanted to make a vegetarian pork and bamboo shoot dish for Miss to try..."

During her time in the nunnery, Xiao Zhao took care of everything, and she was always able to eat some meat. There was no shortage of stewed soup and meat. Whenever she ate and drank heartily, Xiao Zhao would feel sorry for the girl's austere practice.

Xue Sui knew they were greedy, so she turned a blind eye, only instructing them not to let the nuns in the nunnery find out.

"You've gone to such a kind thought. Let me try it."

She picked up a silver spoon and scooped a spoonful of lotus seed soup, then used wooden chopsticks to pick up a piece of tender bamboo shoot that Ruyi had carefully prepared.

The white bamboo shoots are fresh, smooth, and flavorful, while the vegetarian meat made from gluten is chewy and delicious, and the sauce makes it even more fragrant...

Her eyes crinkled slightly as she smiled sincerely and praised him.

"Crispy and tender, even more flavorful than what the head chef in the vegetarian kitchen makes. Ruyi's skills are becoming more and more refined..."

Ruyi couldn't help but beam with joy upon hearing this.

"If the girl likes to eat, that's good. In the future, Ruyi will think of some new dishes that will surely be to the girl's liking."

The more people praised her, the more enthusiastic she became. Encouraged, she would often think of different ways to cook for Xue Sui, and naturally, Xue Sui himself benefited from it.

Xiao Zhao, a highly skilled martial artist, stayed by his side constantly to protect him. Ruyi, an excellent cook, meticulously cared for his meals. Jinshu, a thoughtful and meticulous woman, managed all affairs, arranging everything, big and small, with perfect order...

She felt that her time in the nunnery was truly comfortable...

As the master and servant were talking, a soft knock came from outside the door.

Jinshu lifted the curtain and entered, holding a gilded lacquer box in her hands, her expression smiling.

"Miss, Princess Minghui has sent someone to deliver something again."

Xue Sui raised his eyebrows slightly and smiled as he asked her to bring it over. Upon opening it, he saw that it was a set of mutton-fat jade dressing utensils, complete with a comb, a mirror, and tiny pearls inlaid on the edges. It was clear at a glance that it was very valuable.

There was a plain piece of paper at the bottom of the box, with Guo Yunrong's handwriting being very delicate.

"My fourth brother's wedding is approaching, and I am very busy with other matters. I have not had the time to visit the nunnery for a long time. I have prepared a small gift for you, and I hope you will accept it. I bow my head."

After Xue Sui read the letter, Ruyi and Xiao Zhao began to count the jade ornaments.

This Miss Guo is truly generous.

The two little girls watched with envy, clicking their tongues in quiet amazement.

"How is she doing lately?" Xue Sui put down the plain paper and ran her fingertips along the cool jade comb.

Jinshu said in a low voice, "According to news from the capital, since the county princess was granted the title of Minghui County Princess, the Empress has frequently summoned her to the palace to keep her company. In private, she has also been busy looking for suitable husbands for her. I heard that she has already looked at almost all the eligible young men in the capital..."

"Does the county princess have someone she prefers?"

Jinshu shook her head, "This maid doesn't know. The county princess doesn't seem to care much about the marriage, only saying that the time isn't right yet. As for the Duke of Zheng's mansion..."

She hesitated, then glanced at Ruyi and Xiaozhao, gesturing for them to leave.

She lowered her voice only after the door closed gently.

"Guo Silang and Xue Ba Guniang's wedding is at the end of the month. The Xue family has already sent a wedding invitation to the nunnery, asking if the young lady would like to return to the mansion to attend the ceremony..."

After saying this, seeing that Xue Sui remained silent, he continued to report in a low voice.

"Recently, rice prices in Beijing have soared. The corruption case involving military supplies has affected the canal transport system. In addition, roads in western Xinjiang are frozen, and there has been a snow disaster. The army's food supplies are running low, and the people are panic-buying. Grain merchants are taking the opportunity to drive up prices, causing widespread discontent and rumors among the people..."

"The second son of Duke Guo Pi of Zheng, who served as Minister of Agriculture and was in charge of the granaries, was embezzling funds. This time, the grain envoy escorted back to the capital by Master Xue implicated him..."

As Xue Sui listened to her recount the chaos in the capital, he gently stroked his prayer beads without changing his expression.

"I always trust my senior brother to handle things."

Jinshu said, "The deeper the Duke of Zheng's mansion gets involved, the harder it will be for them to extricate themselves unscathed."

She took a deep breath as she spoke.

"It's a pity about Miss Guo. She was a bright and straightforward girl, but she had to bear the stigma and be dragged down by her family because of her father and brothers' actions."

Xue Sui remained silent for a moment, then pushed the lacquer box aside.

"Put it away and send it back to the Duke of Zheng's residence. In the future, if Princess Minghui sends anything, politely refuse it."

Jinshu replied, and withdrew, clutching the lacquer box.

As Ruyi watched her retreating figure, she entered the room and asked Xue Sui, puzzled.

“Young lady, these are all fine things, clearly carefully selected by Princess Minghui. Why did you refuse the princess and hurt her feelings…”

"What use are these worldly things to a Buddhist sanctuary?"

Xue Sui said calmly, turning his gaze to the window.

The bamboo grove behind the temple rustled in the spring breeze, and a few sparrows perched on the plum tree branches, chirping away.

Guo Yunrong is a rare and wonderful girl.

But the blood feud cannot go unavenged.

After ten years of painstaking planning, we cannot give up now...

She will get back what Guo Zhaohuai owes her.

She will also pursue and recover all the ill-gotten gains amassed by the Duke of Zheng's mansion on behalf of the common people...

As the three masters of the Old Mausoleum said, they acted on behalf of Heaven!
Hopefully, by then, Guo Yunrong will have found a good husband and will no longer be implicated by her family...

　See you tomorrow!
　　(End of this chapter)