Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 336 Miracle
The following afternoon, the rain stopped and the sky cleared, with thousands of golden rays pouring down.

The old plum tree in the east wing of Shuiyue Nunnery was washed clean and its leaves were lush and green, reflecting the sun as if it were bathed in Buddha's light.

As soon as Xue Sui stepped into the Zen temple, he saw Jin Shu leading Niu Niu, her face solemn as she came to greet him.

“Miss, Dongxu, Princess Wenjia’s maid, has arrived.”

Xue Sui's gaze swept over them.

Dongxu's clothes were half-wet, her hair was disheveled, and there were mud spots on the hem of her skirt. She looked somewhat haggard, but her eyes were frighteningly bright.

A pang of worry shot through her heart. "Is Her Highness the Princess alright?"

When Dongxu saw her, his eyes suddenly reddened.

"Master Miaozhen..."

After speaking, he curtsied and couldn't help but kneel down.

"Please, Master, help my princess!"

Ignoring the stares of those around her, she retreated to a corner, her hands trembling as she forcefully tore open the seams of her inner lining. From the warm lining, she pulled out a tightly wrapped object, then turned back, held it high above her head, and presented it to Xue Sui.

"This was sent by the princess through her maid, who said that it must be delivered to Master Miaozhen. Here is also a letter in the princess's own handwriting... Please take a look, Master."

Xue Sui gestured for Jin Shu to help Dong Xu up, while she herself took the package and the plain paper still warm from his body.

The moment his fingertips touched the hard, cold wolf bone talisman, his heart sank.

Unfolding the letter, every word and sentence that catches the eye is resolute.

"My dear friend Ping An, this talisman may be of some use: The General has been wronged, the Lu family is in peril, and Wen Jia is powerless. The new King of Xiz, Turgutai, was supported by the High Priest. If you still remember our past friendship, you may be able to borrow his strength to resolve the perilous situation at the border. Wen Jia is imprisoned and entrusts his life to this talisman. Success or failure, honor or disgrace, life or death, I have no regrets."

Xue Sui's pupils contracted almost imperceptibly.

Wen Jia is truly willing to throw away her princess status for Lu You'an.

“Princess, she…” Xue Sui’s eyes were full of complicated emotions as he looked at Dong Xu.

Just as I was about to say something, I suddenly noticed the bewildered and clueless Niu Niu standing to the side...

Niu Niu opened her big, dark eyes and looked up at them, looking innocent and adorable.

Xue Sui swallowed the rest of his words.

"The princess has done very well. Please tell Miss Dongxu that I have accepted the gifts. Please take good care of yourself and rest well. There may still be a chance to turn things around regarding General Lu's matter."

Winter brings a sense of relief.

Although she did not make any explicit promises, she carried a compelling power.

Dong Xu's tense body suddenly relaxed, and tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Yes. This servant, on behalf of the princess, kowtows to express our deepest gratitude to Master Miaozhen..."

She kowtowed again, saying, "This servant will now return to report."

"Xiao Zhao," Xue Sui called out, "Take Miss Dongxu downstairs, change her into clean clothes, give her some hot soup and rice, and then carefully escort her back to her residence."

Xiao Zhao stepped forward and helped the nearly exhausted Dong Xu to his feet.

"Sister Dongxu, please come with me."

After they left, Xue Sui carefully folded the letter and put it, along with the heavy wolf bone talisman that exuded an exotic and wild aura, into a specially made hidden pouch in her sleeve.

The movements were steady, without the slightest ripple.

"Ruyi, take Niu Niu to the kitchen and ask Junior Sister Jingxin for some freshly steamed yam cakes. Also, cook her a bowl of hot milk and egg custard. The child is growing, she can't go hungry..."

"Yes! I understand." Ruyi responded crisply, her face beaming with joy. She squatted down and held out her hand to Niu Niu, "Niu Niu, come with your sister Ruyi to eat some sweet cakes, okay?"

Niu Niu glanced timidly at Xue Sui, and only after seeing her nod did she reach out her little hand and obediently let Ruyi lead her away.

The Zen temple has returned to silence.

Several sparrows flew up from among the old plum leaves, chirping loudly.

Xue Sui then turned to Jinshu, who had been waiting quietly by his side, and whispered his instructions.

"Go down the mountain immediately and find Seventh Prince. Tell him that I need several pieces of flawless, high-quality jade, as well as the strongest natural magnet... preferably the size of a goose egg."

Jinshu's expression hardened: "When does the young lady need it?" Xue Sui replied, "Quickly. It must be delivered to Youhuang Residence before dawn tomorrow. Just tell him I'll be waiting for him there. The sooner the better!"

"Yes, Miss." Seeing her solemn expression, Jinshu knew the matter was of great importance and dared not delay in the slightest. She curtsied and turned to leave quickly.
-
into the night.

Dusk spread silently through the eaves and corridors.

Inside Hanzhang Hall, palace lanterns flickered on and off...

Tuya wore a simple, wide-sleeved white robe, her face veiled, but her eyes, which were visible, were deep and serene, as if untouched by the mortal world.

"Tonight at midnight, when the moon is high in the sky and the purple aura is at its strongest, it is the time of interaction when the handle of the Big Dipper points to the Gen position, which is the perfect time to communicate with the gods, change the course of the stars, and calibrate the celestial chart..."

She walked barefoot on the polished gold brick floor, the silver bells wrapped around her ankles making a clear, ethereal sound with each step.

"If you miss the celestial event, you'll have to wait another twelve years to readjust the astrolabe's scale..."

"Pity……"

Before she could finish speaking, the maid Anar quietly approached her, carrying a sandalwood box, and whispered:

"Princess, the foreign merchants from the West Market have sent over some new tea."

Tuya slowly turned around.

He glanced at the nebula diagram on the box lid and gestured for the others to leave.

Anar had been by her side since childhood and was the person she trusted most in the capital.

Only after the door closed did she open the wooden box. "Please see, Princess. This was sent by Master Miaozhen; she said it's a great gift for you..."

The sandalwood box was lined with a layer of soft velvet, upon which rested several crystal-clear jade beads, their color as pure as snow, as if they contained flowing ice flakes and nebulae. Under the candlelight, they refracted a hazy, cold color, transforming into flowing light as the viewer turned…

"This object is born in extremely cold places; it is as clear as water and as hard as jade. It can gather light and reflect its brilliance, revealing the hidden radiance of the Big Dipper and connecting with the spiritual energy of the Purple Palace... Miaozhen was able to find such a rare treasure..."

Her voice was ethereal, and her eyes couldn't hide her joy.

Water jade is believed to possess miraculous powers such as prolonging life, communicating with the divine, and protecting the body. It is often used in the refining of elixirs, the creation of magical objects, and the invocation of celestial power...

These few jade stones are rare and precious finds.

"Does Master Miaozhen have any other instructions?"

Tuya asked softly, placing the water jade in her palm as if it were a priceless treasure.

Anar lowered her head, unfolded a silk handkerchief from her sleeve, and handed it to Tuya.

"The messenger only said that the princess should, at the beginning of midnight, when the moonlight is at its brightest, use this water jade as a guide to hang prayer flags and recite the holy mountain's blessing mantra at the Wangshu Pavilion outside the Hanzhang Palace. The more noise... the better."

Tuya gently stroked the crystal that shimmered with cold light in the box. After a moment's thought, she embedded the water jade into the groove of the star chart. The corners of her lips, hidden behind the gauze curtain, seemed to curve into a slight smile.

"Understood, go and fetch the black iron talisman nails."
-
That night, it was midnight.

After the third watch gong sounded, the night sky was clear and bright.

A full moon, not quite full yet, hung high in the sky, its gentle light shining down...

The inner palace seemed to be asleep, silent and still.

"Look! Over at Hanzhang Hall... what's that light?"

A sudden cry of surprise pierced the night sky—

Almost instantly, the silence of the palace was shattered.

"What's glowing? Is the Hanzhang Palace on fire?"

"No, no... Good heavens! It's not a fire, it's a celestial fire!"

"Look at that fire... it's white! It's cold! It's burning in the sky!"

"A miracle! A miracle has occurred..."

"A sacred fire descends from the heavens, protecting our Great Liang!"

The exclamations were initially sporadic, but soon they merged into a chorus.

The sound of running echoed from all directions, waking countless palace servants and eunuchs from their sleep. They rushed out of their duty rooms, their clothes disheveled, staring dumbfounded in the direction of Hanzhang Hall, their faces filled with horror and awe.

(End of this chapter)