Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 333 The Killing Intent Appears

Xue Sui was summoned to the palace the following afternoon.

Granny Zhou personally led the palanquin to fetch them, remaining silent the entire way.

The atmosphere inside the Jiaofang Palace was also very solemn.

Xue Sui glanced at Empress Xie's expression, greeted her politely, then sat down with bated breath and took her pulse.

"Your Majesty's pulse is weak and shallow, and your heart fire is excessive. I fear you are overthinking things... To avoid disturbing the fetus, you should calm down and absolutely avoid any further exertion..."

The Empress stroked her lower abdomen and gave a bitter smile.

"How can I calm down? Lu Youan rebelled, the Lu family was trapped, His Majesty was furious... and the Crown Prince was pushed into such a dangerous situation... Each and every one of these things hangs like a knife over my heart, making it truly difficult for me to be at ease."

Xue Sui placed the prepared medicine for preventing miscarriage on Empress Xie's desk and said gently, "This humble nun is a layperson and should not presume to discuss state affairs. However, I am an old acquaintance of General Lu. He is an upright man and by no means a treacherous villain. Anyone with discerning eyes can see that someone is trying to create trouble in the Western Frontier to disrupt the court... and is directly targeting the Eastern Palace."

Empress Xie raised her eyes and looked at Xue Sui with a complicated expression.

"You see it all clearly, but His Majesty doesn't? Alas, His Majesty's thoughts... are hard to fathom. The Crown Prince is young and impetuous, too sharp-tongued; I'm afraid he... is an eyesore to his father..."

"The Crown Prince knows what he's doing, Your Majesty need not worry too much and harm your health."

Xue Sui lowered her eyes and softened her voice, "The Emperor's unborn child is a blessing to the nation. If His Majesty is misled by treacherous officials and unjustly kills loyal ministers, what will His Majesty say when the young prince asks about it in the future?"

Empress Xie's heart skipped a beat, realizing there was a hidden meaning in her words.

"You mean, I should find a way to protect the Lu family?"

Xue Sui shook his head, his eyes clear.

"It's not about protecting the Lu family, it's about protecting the Crown Prince."

He added, "Lord Lu is a man of high moral character and great prestige, and General Lu is a pillar of the army among the young and promising. He is also a reliable assistant that His Highness the Crown Prince can rely on in the future. Protecting the Lu family is to protect the Crown Prince's prestige and reputation, and to protect the loyalty of his ministers and generals to the Eastern Palace..."

These words struck a chord with Empress Xie.

Although she was the empress, she knew that the favor and honor of the women in the harem depended entirely on the princes.

If Li Zhao is deposed, the future of her unborn child will also be in jeopardy.

After a moment of contemplation, a resolute glint flashed in her eyes.

“You’re right. But right now… His Majesty is furious. If I were to offer direct advice now, it might backfire and make him suspicious of me, thus making him think I’m protecting the Lu family and the Crown Prince…”

"Your Majesty is truly insightful and far-sighted." Xue Sui smiled slightly.
He looked gently at the anxious Empress Xie.

"This humble nun dares to suggest a roundabout plan that may be worth trying."

Empress Xie's spirits lifted slightly: "Speak quickly—"

"I have heard that Consort Tuya of Hanzhang Palace is a holy maiden personally taught by the Holy Mountain of Ulan. She is knowledgeable about celestial phenomena and adept at interpreting divine pronouncements. She is known for her aloofness and solitude and does not concern herself with court affairs."

Xue Sui slowly told her, "A couple of days ago, I overheard Princess Wenjia mention that the Holy Maiden recently observed the stars and said there were unusual celestial phenomena. Auspicious signs of auspicious stars, such as the Purple Star and the Imperial Star, were faintly visible beside it, their light soft, as if... auspicious omens were about to arrive, protecting the dynasty..."

"Auspicious omens are coming, to protect the dynasty?" Empress Xie frowned in confusion.

Then she saw Xue Sui's smiling gaze fall subtly on her lower abdomen, and suddenly she understood.

"You mean..."

Xue Sui nodded, "Through the words of the Holy Maiden, she asserted that the dragon child in Her Majesty's womb is a divinely bestowed auspicious sign and needs to be nurtured with benevolence and kindness."

"What should I do?" Empress Xie's face showed her nervousness.

Xue Sui said, “Your Majesty need not do anything. Just wait for the right moment to let His Majesty know the good news. Princess Tuya is aloof and has no close relationship with Your Majesty. If His Majesty is somewhat relieved of his worries due to the arrival of the imperial heir, Your Majesty can then ask His Majesty to accumulate merit and do good deeds, and to consolidate the dynasty, temporarily postpone the punishment of the Lu family…”

She paused, her voice becoming even more resolute.

"As for the matter in the Western Frontier, time will tell. What is false will not become true, and what is true will not become false."

A flash of understanding crossed Empress Xie's eyes, which then turned into a soft sigh.

"Miaozhen, you have considered everything so thoroughly for the Crown Prince and for me, yet I..."

Her tone was strained, and she ultimately failed to make herself clear, instead asking her a question.

"Miaozhen, is there anything you want from me?"

Xue Sui took half a step back, clasped his hands together, and adopted a respectful yet distant posture.

“Your Majesty, though I live outside the secular world, I still have a family and a country to serve. All I do is seek to bring the truth to light and clear the names of the loyal and virtuous.”

Empress Xie gazed intently, nodded slowly, and her eyes showed even greater appreciation.

"Although you have no intention of seeking credit, I wish to grant your wish. Miaozhen, what reward do you desire? Speak freely."

She raised her eyes, her gaze open and honest. "If Your Majesty would have mercy, this humble nun has a request. This humble nun wishes to visit Shuangheng Garden and see Consort Xiao."

Empress Xie was taken aback, a hint of inquiry flashing in her eyes.

"Oh? You and her... have a past grudge?"

Xue Sui truthfully recounted, "When I was young, she followed Princess Ping Le and subjected me to much humiliation and bullying. Although time has passed and I have now entered the Buddhist order, my attachment to her remains. I wish to speak a few words with this old friend... from the bottom of my heart."

Just then, Granny Zhou entered quietly and whispered a few words in the Empress's ear. Empress Xie's expression changed slightly. She waved for her to leave before speaking to Xue Sui:
"Do you know that His Majesty just left Shuangheng Garden?"

Xue Sui's eyes flickered slightly.

After Xiao Qing'er was banished to the Cold Palace, she never received any more favor from the emperor.

What brings the Emperor here in person?
Empress Xie speculated, "Judging from the situation, His Majesty is probably questioning the Xiao family about their past affairs in Ping Le or the Xiao family, or perhaps... it's related to the case in the Western Frontier?"

Xue Sui looked directly at Empress Xie and lowered her voice, saying, "This humble nun dares to ask Your Majesty for permission to go to Shuangheng Garden under the guise of taking a pulse and test my skills."

Empress Xie looked into Xue Sui's smiling eyes, recalled her decisiveness in the Baohua Hall, and her determination to protect the Crown Prince, and finally nodded.

"Okay. Be careful."
-
Xue Sui pushed open the gate of Shuangheng Garden.

This place was once the residence of a favored concubine, but now it is only desolate and dilapidated.

Xiao Qing'er, dressed in a faded white dress, sat curled up in the only relatively dry corner of the corridor, staring blankly at the gray sky, her hair haphazardly tied up, numb and lifeless.

Hearing footsteps, she turned her head slowly.

His face was completely bloodless, only his eyes still retained some of their former appearance.

"Who do we have here? It's Master Miaozhen."

When Xiao Qing'er saw Xue Sui, she twitched the corners of her mouth, instantly reverting to her usual sarcastic nature.

"What? Have you come to see if I'm dead yet? Or... do you want to see if my wretched life as a prisoner is enough to vent your anger?"

Xue Sui sat down on the small stool in front of her and took out a pulse pillow from the medicine box.

"This humble nun has come by order of Her Majesty the Empress to examine the beauty's pulse."

"Taking a pulse?" Xiao Qing'er laughed as if she had heard the biggest joke in the world, her shoulders shaking with laughter.

"Xue Liu, put away your fake compassionate face. No matter how down on my luck I, Xiao Qing'er, am, it's none of your business to pity me."

"Then I truly pity you," Xue Sui smiled. "You're about to die, yet you're oblivious to the impending doom."

"Heh." Xiao Qing'er rubbed her messy hair, her arrogant attitude reckless. "Stop trying to fool me with your big talk. Even if I'm trapped in this cold palace, I'm still the emperor's beauty. What right do you, a lowly nun, have to decide my life or death?"

He glanced at her again as he spoke.

"Do you intend to harm me behind my back? Hmph, I doubt you'd dare."

"You're wrong. The family that wants you dead the most is the Xiao family."

Xue Sui smiled slightly, "And I am here to give you a way out."

Xiao Qing'er suddenly fell silent, as if she had been choked, staring at her suspiciously and warily, her eyes burning with venomous resentment.

"A way out? You? Xue Liu, you would be so kind? My father is in prison, my brother is exiled, I fell from the clouds into the mud... all because of you. You're telling me about a way out? Hahaha... crocodile tears... Don't even think about sowing discord."

"Why do you think His Majesty personally visited Frostheng Garden today? Do you really think he came to see you out of old friendship?"

Xue Sui said calmly, "Xiao Qing'er, you are nothing but a pawn. Are you worth my time? Think of the dead Xiao Jing, Xiao Zhengyuan, and the exiled Xiao Yan... You are nothing but pawns who can be sacrificed for the family at any time. They are, and you are even more so."

Xiao Qing'er was stunned, then her face turned deathly pale.

"What do you mean?"

Looking at her terrified expression, Xue Sui slowly said, "The Xiao family is barely able to protect itself. Do you think anyone would care whether you live or die? In fact... they might think that only if you die can some secrets be buried forever? For example... the Yang-enhancing Powder..."

Xiao Qing'er trembled all over, "Xue Liu, you really knew about this!"

"Rather than being someone else's pawn, it's better to find a way to survive for yourself." Xue Sui pulled out his sleeve and took out a small porcelain bottle from his bosom. "This is the antidote. The aphrodisiac is very potent and can easily damage your health. Without the antidote, you will be exhausted and die within half a year."

Xiao Qing'er's pupils contracted slightly, and her fingertips dug fiercely into her palm.

The aphrodisiac powder was the Xiao family's biggest weakness, and Xue Sui knew it perfectly well, yet she didn't reveal it to anyone. It's unclear what her true intentions were...

"Why should I trust you?"

"Because you had no choice." Xue Sui stood up, looking down at her with no pity in his eyes, only a faint smile.

"Believe me, you might still have a glimmer of hope. If you don't believe me..."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the desolate courtyard.

"You can either wait to serve your Xiao family clan loyally, or wait to die from the poison and rot here. This antidote is for your life. Whether it's worth it or not, you can decide for yourself."

After saying that, she didn't linger and turned to leave.

As Xiao Qing'er watched Xue Sui's retreating figure, tears streamed down her face.

"Wait! What...what do you want me to do?"

Xue Sui stopped in his tracks, slowly turned around, his cold face expressionless.

"It's very simple. Take what you said to His Majesty today, reconsider it, and say it again."

　Goodnight, sisters, see you tomorrow.

　　(End of this chapter)