Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 324 Awakening from Calamity
Xue Sui rolled up her sleeves, revealing a slender yet powerful wrist, and plunged her hands into the water without hesitation.

A moment later, she withdrew her hands, picked up the corner of her wedding dress that was stained with rouge, and scrubbed it very carefully and quickly.

"What are you doing?" Xue Yue'e forgot to cry and exclaimed, "This fabric is extremely sensitive to water and is very precious. Do you think it's like your coarse monk's robes, which you can just rub vigorously? This will ruin my wedding dress."

Xue Yue'e was both angry and anxious.

Xue Yueying, however, pulled the child along to watch the spectacle.

However, the shouting and cursing inside the house stopped abruptly after a short while...

Wherever Xue Sui's finger touched, as if by magic, the stains gradually faded...

The thick rouge was indeed mostly washed away.

The fabric, however, only had slight wrinkles...

Xue Sui picked up the wet piece of fabric and gave the order without changing his expression.

"Take a clean, fine white cotton cloth and absorb the water. Be gentle."

Immediately, someone stepped forward with a piece of snow-white cotton cloth.

Carefully place it on the damp stain and gently press to absorb the water.

Xue Sui watched calmly and composedly, seemingly oblivious to the astonishment and suspicion of those around him.

“There’s still a little red mark left.” Xue Sui wiped his fingers clean, pointed to the petal embroidery pattern that Xue Yueying had applied with rouge, and looked at the embroidery workshop manager, who was standing there dumbfounded.

"Could you please attach a few pearls here?"

The embroiderer seemed to awaken from a dream, nodding repeatedly: "Yes, yes. Sixth Miss, what a wonderful idea... This place already has peony stamens; adorned with pearls, it will appear even more magnificent and elegant..."

"Hmm." Xue Sui said calmly, "We'll just say it's a clever design, meant to bring good luck with the phrase 'perfect match.' We'll have an explanation when the Prince of Wei's residence asks."

She resolved the crisis with just a few words.

Madam Qian breathed a long sigh of relief, patted her chest, and looked at Xue Sui with gratitude and lingering fear.

"Sixth Sister, you're truly a savior from suffering! Thanks to you, otherwise Third Aunt would have been in deep trouble and would have had to bang her head against the wall to apologize..."

After saying this, she turned to the people inside the room and resumed her dignified demeanor as the matriarch of the household.

"Did you hear that? Do as Sixth Miss says! Make sure it's done flawlessly, be careful..."

Xue Yue'e stopped crying, looked at the fabric that still had faint red marks but was no longer glaring, then looked at Xue Sui, her lips moved, but in the end she could only awkwardly say something.

"...Thank you, Sixth Sister. I misunderstood you just now."

Xue Sui nodded slightly, without saying anything more.

She wasn't trying to help her; she just didn't want to put the Qian family in a difficult position.

"What a clever trick, what a scheme," Xue Yueying said with a forced smile. She picked up her son, glared at Xue Sui, and pretended to slap the child's bottom twice.

"Useless thing... I told you not to grab things randomly, I told you not to be naughty... Look, you've caused a huge disaster! I almost skinned you alive..."

The meticulously planned humiliation was effortlessly defused by the dead Xue Liu, who even managed to make Xue Yue'e feel indebted to him.

Xue Yueying grew angrier the more she thought about it, and too lazy to pretend anymore. With a livid face, she hit her son, shoved aside the maid blocking her way, and stormed out without looking back.

Gu Yu, feeling his mother's anger, squirmed and cried again in his arms.

"What are you crying for? Who do you think you are, a person of high status and privilege, yet you've learned to wail with those lowly bastards?"

Xue Yueying's voice when scolding her son was so sharp it was embarrassing.

Xue Sui frowned.

A moment later, the sound of something breaking came from outside.

A maid rushed in, her face pale.

"Third Madam, something terrible has happened! Fourth Miss has suddenly gone into a delusional fit, grabbing Yu-ge'er and wildly hitting and cursing... She's smashed the betrothal gifts His Highness Prince Wei gave to Ninth Miss..."

"What?" Qian's vision went black, and she felt a rush of blood to her head. By the time they arrived, the scene was already a mess.

Scattered on the ground were broken porcelain shards, crushed velvet flowers, a broken gilded candlestick, half a torn red silk "double happiness" character, and a red lacquered food box that had rolled into the corner, its contents of dragon and phoenix wedding cakes crushed to pieces...

It was both glaring and absurd.

Xue Yue'e ran out after them, her mouth twisted with anger. She was held back by two old women who pointed at Xue Yueying and cursed her.

"The betrothal gifts sent by the Prince of Wei's mansion... and you dare to smash them? You damned slut! I'll tear your mouth apart..."

"Me, cheap?" Xue Yueying's voice suddenly rose as if a cat's tail had been stepped on, and she shoved the sobbing Gu Yu in front of everyone.

"I think you're the despicable one! You know perfectly well who Yu-ge'er's biological father is, yet you still eagerly run off to become his second wife and stepmother, just to put us mother and son above you? You climb up by stepping on our dignity, ruining us mother and son, and you're smug about it?"

She acted as if she were insane, spitting almost onto Qian's face.

The two of them exchanged insults and profanities.

Gu Yu cried until his face was red and he almost passed out.

"That's enough, shut up!"

A sharp shout, filled with undeniable anger, suddenly rang out.

Everyone turned around and saw Xue Qingzhi, dressed in official robes, who had just returned from the yamen.

Supported by two maids, Madam Qian, with her back aching, her pregnant belly protruding, was so angry that her chest heaved violently.

“Uncle, you’re back just in time. Look at this, look at this state of affairs! You are the head of the Ministry of Justice, so this family matter is here. You decide for yourself. Anyway, it’s a happy occasion for your eldest son’s family. I’m pregnant and can’t stand this kind of fright and noise. I can’t handle it.”

After she finished speaking, without waiting for Xue Qingzhi's response, she turned around and pulled Xue Sui along.

"Sixth Sister, let's go."

Xue Sui obediently followed her, deliberately ignoring Xue Qingzhi's scrutinizing gaze, and a faint, cold smile curved his lips.

Xue Qingzhi has always spoiled Xue Yueying, but Xue Yue'e is the dignified Princess Consort of Wei, and the Xue family even hopes to use her to curry favor with the Empress Dowager in the palace.

The liveliness of this mansion is indeed much more interesting than the morning bells and evening drums of Shuiyue Nunnery.
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Pear Blossom Courtyard is located in a slightly remote area, yet it has its own unique layout.

The old pear tree in the corner of the yard was in full bloom, its snow-white petals covering the ground like a thin layer of snow...

The table was empty except for a plain white porcelain vase with a few pear blossoms still wet with dew.

Madam Qian accompanied her, and seeing that the room was spotless, she nodded in praise.

"Look how neat and tidy this place is! Unlike those girls, who are always stirring up trouble and causing chaos. Let's see if I'll ever get involved in their family's mess again..."

After saying that, he seemed to realize that Xue Sui was also his brother-in-law's daughter, and he smiled awkwardly.

"If you need anything, just send Jinshu to tell me. Your third uncle said that you are a benefactor to our Xiao Shi and A Yi. The Xue family's ancestors for eight generations should thank you. You must serve them well."

Xue Sui chuckled.

"Thank you for your trouble, Uncle and Aunt. This place is excellent; we have everything we need."

Madam Qian gave a few more instructions on the food and daily life in Pear Fragrance Courtyard. Seeing that Xue Sui looked tired, she was about to leave when a maid came to announce her departure.

"Third Madam, the gatekeeper of the front courtyard has sent word that Her Majesty the Empress has sent a head maid to deliver something to Sixth Miss."

Everyone was stunned and looked at each other in bewilderment.

Madam Qian was even more surprised: "Your Majesty the Empress? Sending something to Sixth Girl?"

Xue Sui's heart stirred slightly, but his expression remained one of restrained calm.

"Third Aunt, please rest here for a while, I'll go take a look."

　It's almost the end of the month! Sisters, if you have any votes, don't forget to cast them for "Ask Jiuqing"! Sending you love!

　　(End of this chapter)