Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 334 Biological Mother
A light drizzle continued incessantly.

Just as Xue Sui stepped out of the palace, Princess Wenjia, lifting her skirt, hurried along the long palace path...

Dongxu called out anxiously from behind, but she seemed not to hear him at all.

Lu Youan has rebelled...

This news came like a bolt from the blue.

She doesn't believe it!
How could the top-ranking general who stood proudly in the Golden Hall and fought bloody battles on the border, the man she once cherished so dearly, possibly rebel?

Raindrops fell from the upturned eaves. She was covered in sweat, her clothes soaked through. Disoriented, she ran to the front of the Zichen Palace and knelt heavily on the cold white marble slab.

"Wenjia requests an audience with his father, the Emperor."

The heavy palace doors were tightly shut, and only Wang Chengxi, holding an umbrella, hurriedly ran down the steps with a troubled expression.

“Princess, please go back. His Majesty is in a bad mood and won’t see anyone. If you do this, you’ll only hurt yourself.”

"Father..."

“Eunuch Wang.” Wen Jia raised her head, rain and tears mingling and sliding down her face, her eyes unusually stubborn.

"Please convey my message. I want to see the Emperor—General Lu is an upright man, utterly loyal and righteous, and would never plot a rebellion… This matter must be a frame-up by treacherous officials. I beg the Emperor to investigate thoroughly, rescind the decree, and pardon the Lu family… to restore the innocence of this loyal official. Father—"

There was no response from inside the hall, only the mournful sound of wind and rain.

Wenjia's heart sank deeper and deeper into an icy abyss.

She knew she had never been her father's favorite daughter. Her father wouldn't be easily swayed by her pleas…

But she couldn't care less...

The urge to save people was like vines, tightening ever more.

She had to do something for Lu Youan and the Lu family...

Therefore, before entering the palace, she secretly sent Niu Niu to Shuiyue Nunnery and entrusted her to Abbess Huiming...

Even if I were to be shattered to pieces at this moment, I would not be afraid.

"Your son's life was saved by General Lu. If Your Majesty does not believe in the Lu family's loyalty, your son will prove it with his blood today..."

She abruptly pulled out a plain silver hairpin from her temple, clenched it tightly in her palm, then raised her head and, without hesitation, pressed the tip of the hairpin against her vulnerable throat.

"If he dies unjustly, I will not live on alone..."

Wen Jia's voice was shrill, carrying a heart-wrenching resolve, piercing through the palace doors...

Emperor Chongzhao heard this clearly, and his anger intensified.

“They’re really starting a rebellion. A princess dares to interfere with the court. Wang Chengxi, bring her in…”

The heavy palace doors creaked open slowly.

Princess Wenjia prostrated herself and crawled into the palace.

He kowtowed three times to the emperor before raising his bleeding forehead to meet Emperor Chongzhao's terrifyingly gloomy gaze.

"Father, I beg you to have mercy..."

Emperor Chongzhao stared at the daughter of His Majesty Dan, who had threatened to kill herself, his eyes filled with boundless rage and the tyranny of being disobeyed.

"Do you...think that I...dare not take your life?"

Wen Jia looked up at him.

The hairpin pierced the skin, and blood trickled down the fair neck, spreading a glaring red stain on the plain white collar of the inner garment.

"Your subject dares not. Your subject only begs Your Majesty... to give General Lu a chance to explain himself, and to give the Lu family a way out..."

Wen Jia sobbed uncontrollably, “The Lu family is full of loyal martyrs. The old general’s three sons and two brothers all died on the battlefield… General Lu… was also praised by Father Emperor as a pillar of the nation. Father Emperor, are you… are you going to watch the tragedy of the old mausoleum repeat itself on loyal and virtuous people?”

Emperor Chongzhao closed his eyes, feeling a splitting headache.

Old Mausoleum Marsh... again, Old Mausoleum Marsh.

The name was like the sharpest poisonous thorn, piercing his heart.

"Fine, if you want to die, I will grant your wish."

Emperor Chongzhao closed his eyes, as if he had aged ten years in an instant, and his voice trembled slightly.

"Princess Wenjia... has behaved inappropriately and offended the Emperor. Considering our father-daughter relationship, I... will grant her leniency. From this day forward, she will be confined to her residence for self-reflection... without my decree... she shall not leave."

His voice paused, carrying a deep weariness.

"If you dare to speak recklessly again, you shall be given a white silk ribbon."

Upon hearing this, Wen Jia's silver hairpin slipped from her hand and fell to the ground.

Tears flowed.
-
"Click..."

A soft whirring sound of a machine turning was heard.

Deep within the old mausoleum, a thick stone slab silently slid inward, revealing a dark opening just wide enough for one person to pass through.

A chilling, stale wind swept in, carrying with it a musty, cold atmosphere.

Tian Shu glanced at him and frowned: "Master..."

"Go in." Jing Shan nodded expressionlessly.

Tian Shu nodded and slipped inside.

The room was small and empty.

On the central stone platform, a simple and dark iron object rests quietly.

The ironware was only rusted on the surface; the inside was unusually smooth and felt cold and prickly to the touch.

Jing Shan said, "Open it."

Tian Shu responded, held his breath, and pried open the lid of the ironware. As the edge of the lid rubbed against the metal, dust fell down in a fine rustling sound.

There were no traps or toxic fumes.

Inside was a yellowed, blood-stained silk scroll.

It was left by General Xiao Chong, who died tragically in the old mausoleum marsh. The handwriting was messy, carrying the trembling and urgency of someone on the verge of death.

"I have spent my life on the battlefield, and I have no regrets before Heaven and Earth, except for the 200,000 comrades under my command!"

"Treacherous officials have framed me; the emperor's heart is unfathomable. He has lured me into his trap, cutting off my path of return!"

"My blood may flow, my name may be stained, but this blood debt can never be erased!"

"When I saw this book, my personal guards and I had already gone to the Yellow Springs..."

"My cousin Xiao Song, outwardly loyal and obedient, harbored treacherous intentions. To flatter the imperial power, he betrayed and framed others, orchestrating a shocking murder plot, all of which he carried out... This hatred and resentment, even if the waters of the three rivers and four seas were poured out, could not be washed away... I hope that future generations can avenge the two hundred thousand wronged souls in the imperial tombs, punish the traitors, and quell the chaos of the government..."

Weeping blood every word.

Every sentence was an accusation.

Tian Shu held the blood-written book, which seemed to still be warm, with tears glistening in his eyes.

Jing Shan looked at him, her fingers slightly clenched.

He appeared calm, but his body trembled slightly with excitement. "We have clung to life, hiding our identities, just to protect you as you grow up, to wait for you to master your skills and avenge this blood feud with your own hands—now, the time has come..."

“Master.” Tian Shu raised his head, his eyes burning with determination, as if he were facing death.

"This disciple humbly requests permission to travel to the Western Frontier to contact former subordinates. Firstly, to seize an opportunity to rescue General Lu and gather irrefutable evidence of the Xiao family's treason. Secondly, to investigate the backgrounds of Xiao Yan, Prince Duan, and the Longxi Army, and follow the clues to eradicate the old traitor Xiao Song's henchmen in the Western Frontier..."

Jing Shan remained silent for a moment.

The dim light illuminated her deeply lined face.

His eyes held a quiet forbearance born of hardship...

"Go. Do not act impulsively, and do not easily reveal your identity as an old tomb. Your safety is paramount..."

Tian Shu solemnly kowtowed: "Disciple will obey Master's command."

After saying that, he hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"Master. I recently investigated Amonlah and Princess Tuya and learned some secrets about the Xiz royal court... It is said that the old Xiz king had a beloved daughter named Ainur, who mysteriously disappeared after accompanying the Xiz delegation to the capital to pay tribute, and has not been heard from since. Her age and characteristics... match Xue Ji very well. I boldly guess that Xue Ji may be Princess Ainur of Xiz back then. That is... Thirteen's biological mother?"

He spoke cautiously.

I thought the master would be very shocked.

Unexpectedly, Jing Shan only glanced at him indifferently before turning her back to him.

"Since she doesn't mention Thirteen's past, we shouldn't delve into it further, lest we distract her."

The shadows of the candlelight, intertwined in Jing Shan's eyes, resembled the raging flames of revenge.

"The moment of life and death has arrived, my child. Will the grievances of the two hundred thousand souls lost in the Old Mausoleum Swamp ever see the light of day again? Will this world be set right? Success or failure hinges on this moment..."

Tian Shu bowed deeply once again.

"Disciple...will certainly not fail Master's orders."

The stone gate slowly closed, sealing away the past once more.

But a fierce struggle concerning the fate of the world has only just begun.
-
As night deepened in the capital city, the night grew darker.

As soon as the rain stopped, Li Zhao quietly left the East Palace and rode his horse to Youhuang Residence.

This secluded villa was a sanctuary where he could find some respite.

As he walked through the bamboo path and stepped into the study, a dark figure flashed in after him.

"Your Highness."

"Speak." Li Zhao took off his slightly damp cloak.

Night Owl silently approached, bowed, and whispered, "Master Miaozhen came out of the palace at the end of Shenshi (3-5 PM), looking perfectly normal. She went back to the Xue residence and then quietly came to Youhuang Residence. She is currently waiting at Lanyue Terrace. Should I go and summon her?"

Li Zhao paused slightly in his hand as he held the teacup.

As he turned around, a hint of tenderness flashed in his eyes, and his exhaustion seemed to melt away with his words.

"No need to alarm her, I will go find her."

The Moon-Viewing Terrace is located at the highest point of the Youhuang Residence; it is a high platform built of stone.

A few hazy stars dotted the night sky after the rain.

A slender figure stood by the railing on the west side of the high platform, gazing calmly at the distant capital city shrouded in scattered lights. Her Zen robe fluttered slightly in the wind, making her figure appear even more solitary and aloof.

Li Zhao gestured for Guan Ya and the others to stay, then walked alone up the slippery stone steps to the high platform.

He stopped only when he reached Xue Sui's back.

"looking at what?"

"A scene of bustling prosperity, yet desolate and bleak."

Li Zhao chuckled softly, his gaze fixed on her calm face.

"Did something happen in the palace that you came here today?"

Xue Sui turned around, her eyes clear and bright: "Your Majesty is well, Your Highness need not worry."

After a moment, she looked up at the northwest horizon, her brows furrowing slightly.

"But the waters of the Western Frontier are more murky and deeper than we anticipated... Xiao Yan dared to detain Lu You'an and frame the commander-in-chief of the Western Expedition for treason; there's definitely more than just Xiao Song standing behind him..."

Li Zhao stepped forward and stood beside her.

He also gazed at the distant, dimly lit Starfire City, his profile appearing cold and resolute in the dim light.

"Li Huan has endured for many years, but finally could not hold back and extended his reach from the court to the border... Ha, I could hardly wait for him to make his move."

Xue Sui looked up and asked softly, "Your Highness already had a plan?"

Li Zhao's lips curled slightly upwards, exuding confidence and indifference.

"Since you're determined to reveal your true colors, then I'll repay you in kind, and make sure he suffers eternal damnation..."

The unfinished meaning and chilling killing intent were palpable.

(End of this chapter)