Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 295 A Deep Sea of ​​Suspicion
The following day, in the study of the Eastern Palace.

As night deepened, the incense ash on the bronze incense burner accumulated to a depth of half an inch.

Li Zhao dismissed his attendants, leaving only Mei Ruhui by his side.

On the table lay Guo Pi's secret letter, as well as several anonymous whistleblower letters sorted out from the whistleblower box.

"Your Highness." Mei Ruhui stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said in a low voice, "Ma Yuankui died from his serious injuries. Before he died, he testified that Princess Ping Le colluded with Xiao Song to tamper with military pay documents... This is his testimony, which was recorded and signed by his confidant."

Li Zhao took the testimony and scanned the fingerprints on the blood-written letter.

“These—”

He ran his fingertips over the creases of the paper, his voice calm and cold, carrying an undeniable authority.

"Including the evidence of crimes uncovered by the Six Palace Guards, compile and transcribe it all. I will personally present it to the Emperor at the morning court tomorrow."

“Your Highness, Guo Pi’s secret letter mentions the involvement of the old mausoleum marshland and even alludes to the present…” Mei Ruhui looked troubled.

"If Your Highness makes a move now, I'm afraid it will enrage His Majesty and cause him to consider changing the heir again..."

"At this point, there is no turning back."

Li Zhao raised his eyes, the candlelight making his eyes appear like a deep pool.

"Father has long suspected me. At the beginning of the year, under the pretext of investigating and reforming the system, he dismissed officials under the Crown Prince and reassigned the generals of the three battalions in the capital region. Recently, he allowed Prince Duan to interfere in the Ministry of Justice and transferred the Left and Right Imperial Guards under the pretext of garrison duty... All of these are aimed at weakening my power. Even if I dismiss my staff and stay at home, my position as Crown Prince will sooner or later be usurped by him through Prince Duan..."

His tone grew increasingly harsh, like metal striking the ground.

Mei Ruhui took a deep breath.

"Yes, sir! I will certainly carry it out!"

“Furthermore—” Li Zhao slowly turned around, gazing at the deep night outside the window, and added:
"Send people to keep a close eye on the Lu residence and Shuiyue Nunnery. Since the people of Ping Le dared to target the Lu family's children, they won't let it go easily. As for Miss Xue... make sure she's well watched over, lest something unexpected happens."

"Yes!"
-
Shuiyuean.

East Wing Meditation Room.

Ruyi rushed in from outside, her face pale and her breathing rapid and uneasy.

"Young lady, something terrible has happened! Someone from the Xue residence has come and says that the old lady has suddenly fallen unconscious, and they need you to return to the residence immediately to check on her..."

Xue Sui's heart sank.

"understood."

She put down her teacup, her voice still steady, but she stood up a little faster.

"Prepare the carriage; let's go to the Xue residence."
-
The Xue residence was in complete chaos.

Grandma Cui lay on the bed, the strong smell of medicine mixed with incense almost solidifying in the air.

A physician with white hair and beard was discussing something in a low voice with Xue Qingzhi.

Madam Qian, Madam Fu, Xue Yuelou, and other women of the Xue family all stayed by the bedside, their eyes red and swollen from crying, their faces filled with fear.

Upon seeing Xue Sui enter in a black robe, the women's gazes became complicated.

Only the Qian family, as if seeing a savior, immediately rushed forward.

"Sixth Sister, you've finally arrived..."

She grabbed Xue Sui's hand, her voice hoarse with sobs.

"The imperial physician said that the old lady is suffering from a sudden attack of internal heat, causing phlegm to cloud her mind, and coupled with her advanced age and frailty, she has been susceptible to wind-evil entering her body. I'm afraid... I'm afraid it's very dangerous..."

Ever since Xue Qingzhi resigned from his official post to avoid trouble, and Xue Qinglian died a violent death in his residence without any explanation, the Xue family has been filled with too much anxiety and unease...

Madam Qian rambled on, recounting the oppressive atmosphere in the mansion and the rumors circulating outside to Xue Liu.

Xue Sui did not speak, but sat down on the edge of the couch.

She examined the old woman's complexion and pupils, then gently placed her hand on the withered white wrist and focused on taking her pulse.

"The pulse is deep, thready, slippery, and hesitant, which is indeed a sign of phlegm and blood stasis obstructing the meridians and a weakened heart pulse..."

She asked, "Was there anything unusual before the old lady fainted? What did she say? Who did she see?"

Madam Qian wiped away her tears: "She was fine at breakfast, chanting sutras in the Buddhist hall. Later, the steward brought in a note, saying it was from the Empress Dowager in the palace, a routine inquiry about the Xue family's recent situation and inquiries about the child Fourth Sister was raising... After the old lady read it, her expression changed, but she didn't say anything, only sighed and said, 'The tree desires stillness, but the wind will not cease.' And then... and then..."

She didn't dare say explicitly that the old lady collapsed shortly after reading the post, but the meaning was clear.

With the situation in the court so tense, the Xue family, as relatives by marriage to Prince Duan and the maternal family of Prince Duan's wife, were already on edge.

The old lady was filled with anxiety; any slight disturbance could be the last straw that broke the camel's back.

“I have read Grandmother’s prescription. I will decoct and take it according to the prescription given by the imperial physician first.”

Xue Sui stood up and said calmly, "Third Aunt had someone record the old lady's diet over the past few days, and I will send someone to invite Doctor Shu right away. The old lady's medicine was quite effective..."

Mr. Qian readily agreed.

Xue Qingzhi escorted the imperial physician to the outer room, turned around the curtain and saw her. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but finally frowned.

“If you truly care about your grandmother, move back as soon as possible, pay your respects morning and evening, and serve her medicine. This will allow you to fulfill your filial duty.”

"As a son, shouldn't Master Xue be serving him at his bedside and fulfilling his filial duty?"

"You..." Xue Qingzhi was speechless after being choked by her.

Seeing her step aside and leave resolutely.

Xue Qingzhi was so angry that his face turned ashen, but he had no choice but to endure it.

Xue Sui ignored him and, after leaving Shou'an Hall, immediately instructed Jinshu to invite his senior brother to Sangliu Courtyard for a chat.

Before she even left the house, Xiao Zhao hurriedly returned.

"Miss, I went to deliver some snacks to Princess Wenjia and found that the Five Cities Garrison has sealed off the streets. People outside are whispering and gossiping..."
-
Prince Duan's Mansion, Tingyu Pavilion.

The heavy brocade curtains shut out the noise from the outside world.

Li Huan stood with his hands behind his back by the window, watching the banana leaves in the courtyard sway helplessly in the strong wind...

In the daytime imperial palace, Li Zhao's aggressive presentation of evidence, the emperor's ambiguous and suspicious gaze, and the ubiquitous, venomous boxes of whistleblower reports...

Each item weighed heavily on his heart like a boulder.

It made it difficult for him to relax even for a moment.

Two people were seated at the lower end of the guest seats.

On the left is Liu Yin, a middle-aged scholar with a long beard and a thin face, dressed in a blue robe; on the right is a gaunt old man with sharp eyes, dressed in a Taoist robe… The two are none other than Liu Yin, Li Huan’s most trusted retainer, and the Taoist Qingyangzi.

Qingyangzi was skilled in astronomy and divination, and was also proficient in unorthodox and unorthodox practices.
At this moment, he was roasting several ancient tortoise shells by the charcoal brazier, his voice carrying a deliberately mysterious tone.

"This humble Taoist priest did not sleep a wink last night. I saw that the Emperor Star in the Purple Palace was dim and seemed to be flickering, while Venus in the west shone brightly, its light as red as blood, encroaching upon the central palace and directly attacking the Emperor's throne. This is... the Purple Palace falls and Venus rises, signifying war and slaughter, an ominous sign! It will harm the son and bring ruin to the ruler and father..."

Li Huan turned around abruptly, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.

"Is this true?"

"The celestial signs are clear; how dare this humble Taoist speak presumptuously?"

Qingyangzi stroked his beard, looking confident and composed.

"In my humble opinion, this omen is a sign that the Crown Prince... is arrogant and cruel, relying on his military achievements. This is a warning from Heaven."

Li Huan paused in his movement of turning the jade thumb ring.

Liu Yin had already taken over the conversation.

"Recently, I've heard some rumors circulating in the streets and alleys, and a children's rhyme has been quietly spreading, saying something like—'The water in the old mausoleum is as red as blood, and the golden seal of the Eastern Palace has fallen into dust...'"

Qingyangzi nodded, "The Crown Prince is domineering and arrogant; he is using military achievements to create momentum for his usurpation..."

Li Huan rebuked him, "Don't talk nonsense."

Liu Yin paused, then bowed deeply. "Your Highness, the will of Heaven has been revealed. At this critical moment for the nation, Your Highness should follow the will of Heaven and the people, share the burden of the emperor and father, and rid the world of this scourge."

Before he could finish speaking, the sharp glint in his eyes pointed the way—to use celestial phenomena to depose the heir apparent.

Li Huan paced back and forth a few steps, then shook his head.

"Father is always wise and sagacious. If we rush things, it will only make him suspect that I framed the Crown Prince. This would not only harm the harmony of the realm but also damage our brotherly relationship..."

"Your Highness is benevolent, I understand. But the Crown Prince is immoral and will surely be abandoned by Heaven..."

Liu Yin and Qingyangzi exchanged a glance and spoke in unison.

"This is the will of Heaven, not something man-made."

Li Huan pondered for a moment, then slowly sat down, rubbing his throbbing temples, his brows furrowed with struggle and helplessness.

When he looked up again, his dark eyes showed a resolute decision.

"Then let us follow the will of Heaven."

The two advisors were slightly pleased and bowed in unison.

Li Huan waved his hand and changed the subject.

"Any progress in the investigation of Xue Liu and the Old Mausoleum Swamp?"

Liu Yin shook his head slightly: "It's strange, we've been investigating for months, but it's still stalled. However—"

His eyes flickered slightly.

"From the old palace archives and scattered files, some clues were found... Back then, when Emperor Taizu raised his army, General Xiao Chong, the Grand General of the State, had an elite personal guard specializing in surprise attacks. Before Xiao Chong's main force was wiped out, they were ordered to escort supplies away from the camp, and happened to be outside the heart of the Old Mausoleum Marsh. Subsequently, Xiao Chong's entire army was annihilated, and this personal guard was never heard from again..."

He paused, lowering his voice.

"I dare to speculate that the remnants of the Old Mausoleum Swamp are connected to this elite imperial guard. The Sixth Miss Xue's obsession with investigating the Old Mausoleum Swamp's past is not merely about personal revenge; it's likely about seizing power and overturning the injustices of the Old Mausoleum Swamp. And His Highness the Crown Prince's all-out support for her... is certainly not as simple as just eliminating corruption. Her heart is wicked, Your Highness!"

Qingyangzi nodded in agreement.

"Xue Liu, that woman, is truly a source of trouble. What Master Lingxu said back then, now seems to have come true in every way. She is the root cause of the 'appearance of Venus' and the chaos that engulfed the court..."

Li Huan's heart sank slightly.

Xue Suiruo was a descendant of the generals who died in the Battle of Jiuling Marsh...

Li Zhao's relentless efforts, even at the cost of directly confronting his father, were truly courting death.

The battle for the crown prince position has tipped in the balance...

"To be so crazy for a woman, the Crown Prince is truly foolish..."

He sighed deeply, then rose and slapped the table.

Unbeknownst to them, a slender figure stood frozen outside the Tingyu Pavilion, her face deathly pale, the ginseng soup she held almost spilling...

"Who?" Li Huan's alert shout came from inside the pavilion in an instant!

Xue Yuechen was so frightened that her hand trembled, and the tray, along with the bowl of carefully prepared ginseng soup, crashed to the ground with a loud bang.

Scalding hot soup and porcelain shards splashed everywhere.

Li Huan strode out, opened the door, glanced indifferently at the guards on night duty, and looked at Xue Yuechen with an unreadable expression.

"What brings the Princess here so late at night?"

Xue Yuechen felt a chill run from the soles of her feet to the top of her head, and her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would burst out of her chest...

"Your Highness, I heard you haven't rested yet, so I wanted to bring you some soup..."

Li Huan lowered his eyes: "There's no need to send the soup. You may leave now."

Xue Yuechen curtsied, took a few steps outside, and then turned back.

"I received news today that my maternal grandmother has fallen ill and is having difficulty taking medicine. My sisters have all returned home to take care of her. I also wish to go back home early tomorrow to visit her..."

"That is only right, Your Highness, please do as you please."

Li Huan tapped his fingers lightly on the jade belt at his waist and nodded gently.

The door closed silently again.

Xue Yuechen felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar.

What should she do?
Li Huan was her husband, but he never trusted her and would never protect her with all his might in a life-or-death situation.

The Xue family was her support, but they were already in dire straits, their future uncertain.

If Xue Liu is indeed a remnant of the old generals of the Old Mausoleum Swamp, will it implicate his maternal clan and lead to accusations of being accomplices in the rebellion...?

If this is true, how will Li Huan treat himself after his maternal family has lost power?
She regretted listening to Master Jingkong's advice and letting Xue Liu return to the capital to acknowledge his ancestors, thus inviting a wolf into her house...

　Li Zhao: Dear readers, there are not many opportunities to perform. I have done my best. Is there any support?

　　Xue Sui: ...Give each of them a slap, Your Highness.

　　(End of this chapter)