Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 353 Old Grudges and New Hatreds

Chaos reigned in the waterside pavilion.

Yu Ge'er's cries were like knives stabbing into people's ears. Xue Yueying curled up on the ground, her body convulsing like a leaf, cold sweat streaming down her face. Her brocade shirt was crumpled into a ball, and the collar was torn open by herself, revealing an abnormal skin color underneath.

"It's so hot...it's so itchy...it's killing me..."

"Just kill me……"

She let out broken hisses from her throat and scratched her neck uncontrollably.

In just a few strokes, several bright red bloodstains appeared on her fair skin.

"Hold her down! Quickly, hold her hands down—"

Xue Yuechen remained relatively calm and sternly directed the nearest old woman.

"Pry her mouth open, so she doesn't bite her tongue."

Two burly maids pounced on her and grabbed Xue Yueying's flailing arms tightly.

But she was incredibly strong, and she managed to make the two old women stumble and fall to the ground.

The cups and saucers on the table fell to the ground with a clatter, spilling juice all over the floor.

Xue Yue'e was so frightened that she retreated to the inside, protected by her personal maid. Her complexion was not much better than Xue Yueying's, and her lips trembled incessantly.

"Where is the royal physician? Where did he go? Why hasn't he come yet..."

At this point, she suddenly remembered something and looked at Xue Sui in a panic.

"Sixth Sister, aren't you skilled in medicine? Please take a look, what's wrong with Fourth Sister... Has she been possessed by some evil spirit?"

A word to awaken the dreamer.

In the chaos, all eyes fell on Xue Sui.

Even Xue Yueying, who was pinned to the ground, turned her unfocused pupils toward her.

Xue Sui remained seated without moving, not even her eyelashes trembled.

"This humble nun is not a deity and dares not make any rash judgments. If I act rashly and something goes wrong, I fear I will not be able to bear the consequences."

Upon hearing this, Xue Yue'e seemed to have found an outlet for her emotions, and her tone was filled with an undeniable certainty, "Sixth Sister doesn't want to treat Fourth Sister... Could it be that she's feeling guilty? Just now, your maid deliberately overturned the incense burner, what was she trying to cover up?"

She paused, then covered her mouth with her fan, her eyes wide with terror.

"Could it be... that you poisoned him?!"

"Your Highness, please be careful with your words." Xue Sui's voice was low, like an icy spring, instantly silencing the noise.

"This humble nun possesses nothing of value, only a few pills of herbal concoction she prepared herself. What is there to be ashamed of? As for the maid accidentally knocking over the incense burner..."

Her gaze swept over Xue Yuechen.

"As my elder sister just said, slippery ground is unavoidable in this heat. But the princess keeps accusing me of poisoning her. I wonder... does she suspect the incense is poisonous? Or is there poison in the food?"

Xue Yue'e was speechless.

How would she know what kind of poison it was?

She used it simply because Li Yan gave it to her, treating it merely as an object to show off.

Now, faced with Xue Sui's retort, her cheeks flushed slightly. "You're making excuses. You're the only one here who understands these crooked methods... who else could it be but you?"

Xue Yue'e's voice trembled with nervousness, and her finger pointing at Xue Sui was shaking.

Unexpectedly, the two sword-wielding guards at the entrance moved at the sound.

With his hand on the hilt of his sword, he strode quickly toward Xue Sui.

"Please, Master Miaozhen, step aside for further questioning..."

"Who dares?" Xue Yuechen slammed her hand on the table and stood up abruptly.

"The matter is not yet clear, how dare you be so insolent! Princess Wei was frightened and spoke recklessly, have you all lost your minds too? Get out!"

The guards exchanged a glance and then looked at Xue Yue'e.

Xue Yue'e felt she was losing face and was about to forcefully order the arrest of the person regardless of the consequences when a stewardess trotted over and respectfully reported.

"Your Highness, the Prince... the Prince has arrived!"

The air inside the waterside pavilion instantly froze.

Li Yan was helped in by a burly young servant.

As he walked, his legs and feet were noticeably limping, indicating that his injuries had not yet healed, but he kept his back straight, trying his best to maintain the dignity of a nobleman.

"What's all the noise about?"

His eyes were sinister. He first glared at Xue Sui, then his gaze fell on Xue Yueying, who was struggling in pain, and his brows furrowed.

"When did my royal palace become a marketplace?"

"Your Highness! You've finally arrived..." Xue Yue'e was afraid that Li Yan would misunderstand her as having secretly harmed Xue Yueying out of jealousy and hatred. Upon seeing him, she curtsied and, choking back tears, accused him: "Fourth Sister... she suddenly fell ill for some reason... I suspect... I suspect someone has poisoned her..."

As she spoke, her eyes involuntarily glanced at Xue Sui, as if looking for someone to take the fall.

Li Yan frowned, his hands behind his back.

"Master Miaozhen, you have quite the skills. You come and go as you please in my palace, stirring up trouble all the time."

His tone was chilling, and every word was tinged with personal resentment.

Xue Sui bowed with her palms together, expressionless. "Your Highness is too kind. This humble nun was invited by the Princess. Unexpectedly, a sudden change occurred, and the Princess, in her fright, misunderstood. The most urgent matter is to save lives."

"Save someone?" Li Yan scoffed. "Isn't Master Miaozhen an expert in pharmacology and able to identify hundreds of herbs? Tell me, what kind of poison has Madam Gu been poisoned by? Hmm?"

This practically pointed the finger directly at Xue Sui as the one who had been poisoned. "Your Highness," Xue Yuechen spoke again, his tone grave, "the most urgent matter is indeed saving lives. Why not let the royal physician examine him first?"

Prince Duan was very powerful.

Li Yan also had to give Princess Duan some face.

He was silent.

The old physician, carrying a medicine box, rushed over, sweating profusely. He waited outside the pavilion, and only when he heard the commotion did he cautiously step forward, kneeling beside Xue Yueying. With trembling hands, he took her pulse and examined her eyelids.

Everyone watched intently.

In a short time, her neck was scratched until it was bloody and raw, and the skin covered with red rashes looked like it had been gnawed by poisonous insects. The young ladies were so frightened that they gasped and covered their faces with handkerchiefs, unable to bear the sight.

"How is it?" Li Yan asked impatiently.

The physician knelt on the ground, his voice low and deep.

"Your Highness... Young Madam Gu's pulse is strong and rapid, her skin is burning hot, she is short of breath and delirious, and she is also convulsing... I'm afraid... I'm afraid she has been poisoned by heat toxins! And this toxin... this toxin seems to be able to stir up the blood and qi, causing people to become agitated and self-harm... If it cannot be suppressed, I'm afraid... I'm afraid her life will be in danger..."

"Heat poison?" Li Yan's eyes sharpened.

He glanced at the physician but remained silent.

Of course he knows the truth.

This was originally a trap he instructed his confidants to devise for Xue Sui, using Xue Yue'e's hand.

That pot of white lotus was carefully cultivated by Ping Le.

This substance is harmless on its own, but when it comes into contact with specially prepared spices, it transforms into a deadly poison, causing the body to feel as if it is burning inside, causing blood and qi to flow backward, leading to a grotesque and frenzied self-harm until the body dies in agony...

When someone investigated afterward, it was found to be just a coincidence, and had nothing to do with the Prince's Mansion.

But despite all his calculations, he didn't anticipate that Xue Sui would give up his seat to Xue Yueying.

That stupid woman really dared to take it!

ruined his plans...

Li Yan felt extremely resentful. Looking at Xue Yueying struggling on the ground, he felt she was an absolute eyesore.

It would be better if he died; if he didn't die, then he would become proof that he was alive.

"What are you standing there for? Hurry up and help!" Li Yan shouted sternly, urging the physician.

The physician looked troubled, bowed his head and clasped his hands in apology, "Your Highness... this poison is extremely potent, and I... I am of limited knowledge and skills, and I am truly helpless."

His gaze involuntarily drifted towards Xue Sui.

Master Miaozhen's medical skills are renowned among the elites of the capital; she can even treat the Empress, so how could she not be skilled?

Xue Yuechen's gaze also fell on Xue Sui.

"Sixth sister... this is a matter of life and death."

Xue Sui hesitated for a moment, then met her gaze, his eyes calm.

"Your Highness, this humble nun can only do her best; life, death, fortune, and misfortune are all in the hands of fate. However, administering acupuncture and medicine at close range is not possible here..."

She glanced around the waterside pavilion, where everyone was filled with unease, and continued, "It is filthy and chaotic, making it difficult to find peace and quiet, which is not conducive to the rescue. Moreover, the source of the poison is still unknown, so this humble nun must carefully examine the remaining substances."

She paused, then looked at the pot of white lotus, her gaze meaningful.

"For example, this pot of flowers that Mrs. Gu loves so much."

Li Yan's pupils contracted slightly.

Xue Yue'e, however, grasped at this lifeline and exclaimed repeatedly, "Yes! Yes! Investigate! We must find out the truth... Your Highness, quickly find a quiet room for your sixth sister to receive treatment, and also have someone send the flowers and incense ash for testing..."

She wanted to absolve herself of all responsibility and didn't care about others.

Li Yan was so angry that his face turned blue, but he couldn't retaliate.

With everyone watching and Xue Yuechen present, forcibly stopping the rescue would be tantamount to admitting one's guilt.

He clenched his fist slightly and gave the order.

"Do as the Princess says. Find a quiet room and let Master Miaozhen do as she pleases. You must... save Young Madam Gu."

The last few words were spoken through gritted teeth.

His sinister gaze was fixed on Xue Sui.

Xue Sui acted as if he hadn't seen them, only nodding slightly to Jinshu and Xiao Zhao.

"Help Madam Gu to the quiet room. Ruyi, go to the carriage and fetch my medicine box."

"Yes."
-
Northwest corner of the Prince's Mansion.

In the abandoned side room and small courtyard.

The gate was tightly shut, overgrown with weeds, and piled with broken furniture and dusty clutter, emitting a musty, stale smell.

The room inside was dimly lit.

A woman dressed in coarse cloth stood with her back to the door, irritably pulling off her gray veiled hat and muttering curses at a black-clad man standing with his hands at his sides in the corner.

"Useless! A bunch of useless trash! Such a good opportunity wasted. Why did that idiot Xue Yueying even come? Are all the people Li Yan is raising pigs?"

The man in black stirred, his voice low and respectful.

"Princess, please calm your anger. The incident happened suddenly, and your subordinates were unable to react in time. Also, no one expected Xue Liu to be so vigilant..."

"Calm down? Xue Liu didn't die a horrible death from poisoning, how can you expect me to calm down?"

(End of this chapter)