Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 315 The Crown Prince's Wrath

Li Zhao smiled.

His cold gaze swept over Xue Sui, who stood quietly to the side, before locking onto Li Huan, whose face was grim beside the chessboard. He strode in, his absolute disdain and undisguised killing intent piercing the other man's eyes.

"Is it because you think my chess skills are not good enough for my elder brother?"

Each word was spoken slowly and deliberately, like a hammer striking the ground.

"Your subject dares not," Li Huan said, barely suppressing his anger.

He gestured with his eyes to the guards outside the door.

Xiang Yang slowly lowered his hand from the sword at his waist, his eyes warily fixed on Guan Ya, who was following closely behind the Crown Prince.

Guan Ya stood there expressionless, his hand on his sword.

Their eyes met, sparks flew.
-
The door closed again.

The room was completely silent.

Li Zhao didn't even glance at the chess piece that had rolled to the ground. He strode over it and walked toward Xue Sui, who stood silently in the center of the storm.

His gaze met in the void, and the chill that had enveloped him vanished, his phoenix eyes brightening.

"have eaten?"

These questions are completely unrelated.

Xue Sui was slightly taken aback.

She pursed her lips, which were bleeding from her injury, and answered truthfully.

"Ate."

"Where did you eat?" Li Zhao pressed.

"The Prince's residence," Xue Sui replied briefly.

"What did you eat?" he asked, as if he absolutely had to get to the bottom of it.

“…Vegetarian meal.” Xue Sui looked at the Crown Prince who had stormed in with overwhelming force, personally breaking the “disdain” act he had created on the Imperial Street that day, yet was still fixated on these trivial details, and was speechless for a moment.

Li Zhao nodded, seemingly satisfied with the answer.

His gaze swept over the chessboard, finally settling on Xue Sui's face, his tone filled with almost unbearable doting.

"Do you still want to play chess?"

Xue Sui: "..."

Li Huan, unable to contain himself any longer, was about to speak when he said, "Your Highness..."

"I've eaten, and I don't want to play chess anymore. Then come with me." Li Zhao seemed not to hear Li Huan's voice, his gaze focused on Xue Sui, a warm smile curving his lips.

"I've come to take you home."

Family?
The single word, seemingly light, carried an undeniable declaration of ownership, striking Li Huan's face and crashing into Xue Sui's unsuspecting heart.

Xue Sui's hand, hanging at his side, twitched almost imperceptibly.

"Your Highness, this humble nun has urgent business to attend to..."

"Let's go." Li Zhao reached out and grabbed her.

"I will take care of your matter."

Seeing his arrogance, Li Huan suddenly took a step forward.

"His Highness the Crown Prince seems to have gone mad!"

He took a deep breath before continuing, "This is the Duan Prince's residence. Whether Xue Liu lives or dies, stays or leaves, is none of His Highness's business."

Li Zhao not only did not back down, but also took a step forward.

It was almost touching Li Huan's nose.

A fierce collision occurred within an invisible aura.

"If it's not my turn, then it's yours?" Li Zhao's thin lips curled slightly, his eyes were like bottomless pools of cold water, and his tone was icy and cruel.

"Your Majesty seems to have forgotten that Ping An cut her hair and became a nun because of you. She hates you."

Li Huan's breath hitched, and his face instantly turned extremely pale.

Li Zhao continued, "Under the whole heaven, all land belongs to the king. On the shores of the earth, all people are subjects of the king. Is the Prince Duan's residence not part of the Great Liang Dynasty?"

His words were like metal and stone, striking a chord in people's hearts.

"Ping An is a nun from Shuiyue Nunnery. She was ordered by the imperial court to enter the palace to pray for the royal family. Now that the prayers are complete, it is only right that I—on behalf of my father, the Emperor—send her home safely. This is a national ceremony and also the Emperor's will. What is Your Highness Duan's intention in detaining a Buddhist disciple who has rendered meritorious service in praying for the royal family? Is it to defy the imperial decree, or... to rebel?"

The words "treason" struck like a thunderbolt.

Li Huan was visibly shaken upon hearing this.

This hat is too big and too heavy; it could crush any prince.

Li Zhao brazenly detained him.

"Your Highness, please do not make false accusations."

Li Huanqiang suppressed the lump in his throat and calmly retorted.

"Master Miaozhen is the Princess's own sister and Aning's aunt. The sisters met and chatted about family matters. How can this be considered detention? His Highness the Crown Prince broke into the Prince's residence without distinguishing right from wrong and slandered the Prince. Isn't this contempt for the law?"

"Ordinary things?" Li Zhao thought he had heard the biggest joke in the world.

"To discuss family matters, it is necessary to dismiss the Princess and leave only the nun? To discuss family matters, it is necessary for His Highness Prince Duan to threaten him with his life? This is truly absurd!"

Li Huan was rendered speechless.

That embarrassment was a hundred times worse than being publicly humiliated...

Xue Yuechen was anxiously trying to soothe her daughter in the outer room when she heard the heated argument coming from the inner room, which terrified her.

"Your Highness, Your Highness..."

She held Ah Ning tightly in her arms and forced herself to step inside.

"His Majesty is still alive, a member of the imperial family, why should we do this? We beg Your Highnesses... to consider His Majesty's health and the proper conduct."

Xue Yuechen's voice was gentle and pleasant.

That's enough to instantly sober up someone who's burning with anger.

Above them was the emperor.

No one can act lawlessly under the emperor's nose.

"Your Highnesses," Xue Sui gently touched the wound on her wrist, clasped her hands together, and bowed to Li Zhao and Li Huan respectively. "The troubles of the mortal world are all illusory to this humble nun. Today I have troubled the Prince's residence only to ask Your Highness for an explanation: when will the innocent disciples of Shuiyue Nunnery who were arrested be returned? As for the rest..."

Her gaze swept calmly over Li Huan's ashen face and Li Zhao's unfathomable eyes, her voice utterly indifferent.

“This humble nun has neither the will nor the ability to participate. The pure land of Buddhism is where this humble nun belongs. I humbly request Your Highnesses to grant my request.”

Her voice, as clear as shattered jade, broke the awkward silence.

These words, seemingly humble and yielding, actually lightly deflected the coercion and enticement directed at Li Huan, as well as Li Zhao's ambiguous "I'll take you home."

She is Miaozhen, a nun at Shuiyue Nunnery.

This is the most sober severing of ties with Li Huan.

This was also the most helpless way to protect Li Zhao.

Li Zhao's gaze fell heavily on her, scrutinizing her intently.

"Alright." He spoke, his voice regaining its coldness. "Since I said I would take you back, I will ensure your safe return to Shuiyue Nunnery."

He turned slightly to the side, no longer glancing at Li Huan, lifted his robe and strode forward, his black cloak drawing a clean arc as he cleared the path to the door, his posture exuding undeniable power.

"Walk."

Without hesitation, Xue Sui lowered his eyes and took firm steps toward the open door.

"Xue Liu," Li Huan called softly from behind her.

The voice was calm, yet filled with a chilling undercurrent.

"Do you think you can rest easy by following him...?"

Before he could finish speaking, Li Zhao's icy gaze blocked his way.

“Your Highness, before dawn tomorrow, I want to see everyone from Shuiyue Nunnery appear before Ping An unharmed. Otherwise, I won’t hesitate to…clean house for you.”

As the last word fell, the undisguised killing intent made the entire Tingyuxuan seem to freeze.

Li Huan smiled but did not say a word.

But watching Xue Sui's figure disappear into the cold wind, an extreme sense of defeat and overwhelming anger surged and raged violently in his chest...

It almost destroyed all the composure he had painstakingly maintained over the years...

"Peace. I will play this game with you to the very end."

Xue Yuechen listened intently, her heart pounding.

She held the weeping Ah Ning tightly, looking at her husband with a pale face.

The same helplessness and despair seeped into my bones...

She once thought that marrying into the royal family would guarantee her a life of honor and glory. Only now does she realize that behind all that splendor lies nothing but a mirage…
-
The vermilion gates of the Prince's mansion were left far behind...

Like a huge, cold prison door.

Xue Sui walked ahead alone, the biting cold clearing her groggy mind somewhat.

"Your Highness, this is enough. This humble nun will return to her nunnery on her own. I will take my leave now." She stopped and turned to face Li Zhao, who was a few steps away, and bowed deeply.

Li Zhao remained silent and did not stop it.

Just looked at her quietly.

Xue Sui held his breath, wrapped his robe tighter around himself, and strode away.

In front of the Prince's Mansion was a long, empty, and desolate street. The bluestone pavement on both sides was covered in white, reflecting the cold gray light of the sky, making it look even more bleak.

She walked alone to the corner of the long street, and saw a carriage silently drive away...

It slowly came to a stop in front of me.

"Control——"

Beside the carriage, Guan Ya stood like an iron statue, expressionless, his hand on his sword.

"Please, Master Miaozhen, board the carriage. His Highness has instructed that you be escorted back to Shuiyue Nunnery."

Xue Sui turned around.

The cold wind howled along the long street, stinging people's cheeks.

Without Li Zhao, there was no one there.

The two black horses pulling the cart snorted impatiently, exhaling puffs of white steam.

She composed herself and politely declined, saying, "Guard Guan, Your Highness's kindness is appreciated. Shuiyue Nunnery is not far; I can walk there myself..."

"Get in." A steady, powerful voice came from inside the car.

It was devoid of warmth, as concise as a military order.

Before Xue Sui could respond, the carriage curtain was gently lifted by a large, well-defined hand, revealing half of a handsome face with distinct features.

"Are you being so long-winded that I have to come down and carry you myself?"

Xue Sui had no doubt that if he said it, he would do it.

She said no more and slowly stepped onto the horse stool.

Unexpectedly, the blood loss from her wounds overwhelmed her weakened body, and a gust of cold wind caused dizziness, making her sway uncontrollably...

"Be careful." Li Zhao steadily supported her arm.

The iron-like touch, transmitted through the monk's robe, carried a masculine warmth and an irresistible power, causing her heart to skip a beat for no apparent reason.

"Afraid of me?" Li Zhao switched hands and slowly gripped her uninjured wrist.

Xue Sui looked up at him.

"I'm afraid His Highness will die too soon."

"Crazy woman." Li Zhao laughed.

Xue Sui exchanged a glance with him, "Likewise."

　Li Zhao: Today, I am the lone commander!

　　Xue Sui: Bah!

　　Reader: ...Pah!

　　Li Huan: Bah!

　　Erjin: Stop spitting, everyone! Hurry up and ask for votes!
　　(End of this chapter)