Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 360 Private Affairs
In July, the sky is high and the clouds are light.

Xue Sui visited Xue Ji at the Xue family every few days, but never encountered Xue Qingzhi again.

Since Xue Yueying's passing, he seemed to deliberately avoid the inner courtyard, rarely even appearing at family banquets. When Xue Ji mentioned him, her expression always carried a hint of flattery and bewilderment, which Xue Sui noticed, making his uneasy premonition grow stronger.

As Qian's belly grew larger, her movements became increasingly slow and inconvenient, yet she remained full of energy.

As she calculated her due date, whenever she saw Xue Sui, she would complain with a bitter face: "Your third uncle's job is so bad, he's practically living in the camp. Is the Xiz delegation trying to establish itself in Liang? During the defense patrols around the capital, we don't see a soul all day long. At this rate, the baby won't even see its father after it's born..."

Xue Sui occasionally saw Madam Fu, but she would merely glance at him with an indifferent air, brushing past him without even exchanging a polite word.

When the Xue sisters met, they no longer displayed their usual sharp wit and confrontation.

The peaceful tranquility is also a chilling sense of alienation.

The news from Tian Shu in the western frontier still caused great anxiety.

Lu Youan remains in custody, and Xiao Yan has yet to take any further action, neither conducting a public trial nor escorting him back to the capital, as if waiting for something. Meanwhile, there is no new information from Alimu's side, and Ayinur, whom they have been secretly searching for, has also vanished without a trace.
-
On July 18th, Duke Guo Pi of Zheng died of illness in his residence.

When the news reached the Zichen Palace, Emperor Chongzhao dispatched officials to offer sacrifices as a sign of mourning and honor.

The Guo family's decline was irreversible. Although the funeral was conducted according to custom, it could not conceal the family's desolation. The number of guests who came to pay their respects was sparse, a far cry from the once-prosperous family.

As relatives of the Duke's mansion by marriage, the entire Xue family went to pay their respects. Xue Yueman, dressed in mourning, knelt before the coffin, her once arrogant eyes now only showing numb sorrow.

The vast Zheng State Duke's mansion, with its fluttering white banners, exuded a desolate and melancholic atmosphere.

When Xue Sui heard that Guo Yunrong had fainted from crying before the coffin, he asked Jinshu to prepare some calming and nourishing medicinal herbs to bring to her.

Afterwards, Guo Yunrong sent a short letter through someone.

In the letter, she wrote only a few words, expressing her gratitude and saying that everything was fine and not to worry.

Xue Sui understood.

Given Guo San's temperament, after this upheaval in her family, she probably won't be able to get along with him again.

The affection of the past has turned to dust.

Princess Wenjia, on the other hand, often brought Niu Niu to visit her in her spare time.

Every time she came, the conversation inevitably turned to Lu Youan. She would always have red eyes and say with unusual firmness that even if she died, she would not believe that Lu Youan would rebel.

Her words weighed heavily on Xue Sui's heart like a stone.

The case of Lu Youan is by no means an isolated one.

This is a grand game of chess that affects not only the imperial court but also the harem.

She understood Wenjia's thoughts, but couldn't give her a definite promise.
-
After entering July, Li Zhao became increasingly busy, and Xue Sui did not see him for a while.

The messengers coming and going were Lingyu and Xuetuan, a pair of pigeon messengers.

In his letters, Li Zhao would write amusing sentences such as "Today His Highness the Crown Prince practiced swordsmanship for half an hour, his robes soaked with sweat" and "The Love Silk Flower in Youhuang Residence has blossomed; His Highness said that if Master Miaozhen were here, she would definitely like it." These sentences often elicited snickers from Xiao Zhao and Ruyi.

Xue Sui remained calm and simply put the letter away.

In the stillness of the night, I would sometimes pick up my pen and write a few lines, only mentioning food and daily life, never speaking of longing.
-
In mid-July, it rained for several days in a row in the capital, and the weather suddenly became much cooler.

Suddenly, the golden osmanthus in the Jiaofang Palace burst into bloom with tiny petals.

When Xue Sui entered the palace, Empress Xie was sitting by the window flipping through account books.

Aunt Yu squatted beside her, spreading out stacks of brocade, crimson, sapphire, dark purple, light blue, lotus root... shimmering with delicate light in the morning glow.

The room was filled with a faint fruity fragrance, mixed with the delicate aroma of osmanthus, making it exceptionally pleasant.

Empress Xie raised her eyes, put down the account book, and beckoned to Xue Sui.

"Miaozhen, you've come at the perfect time. Please take a look at these fabrics for me."

Xue Sui curtsied, his gaze falling on the brocades.

"Is Your Highness choosing fabric for the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet?"

Empress Xie nodded, her eyes showing a hint of weariness, but her tone was unusually sincere.

"The Empress Dowager has always loved excitement and valued prestige. In previous years, her birthday banquets were incredibly lavish and grand. This year, however, there is unrest in the west, and His Majesty has said that we should be more frugal. But this task has fallen into my hands. If we are to be too slow or sloppy... The Empress Dowager may not say anything, but she will inevitably be unhappy."

Xue Sui smiled slightly, took a few steps forward, and examined it carefully.

She didn't try to flatter her; instead, she offered sincere advice.

"This sapphire blue brocade with its subtle patterned gold thread is cleverly concealed. It looks simple at first glance, but its beauty is revealed upon closer inspection. It is neither ostentatious nor lacking in elegance, which is just right for Your Majesty's status. As for the Empress Dowager, we might as well choose that crimson brocade with gold embroidery. The red is just right, and the gold embroidery is also dense. It is both solemn and noble, and it is also in line with the joy of a birthday celebration. I think the Empress Dowager will like it."

"Hmm, good taste." Empress Xie glanced at her, her expression softening slightly. She patted her lower abdomen, gesturing for Aunt Yu to put away the brocade, and then turned the conversation to herself, "These past few days, this little one has been getting increasingly restless. I haven't been sleeping well at night, and my appetite is poor. I've been craving something refreshing, but I can't help but vomit as soon as I put anything in my mouth..."

Xue Sui stepped forward and carefully took the Empress's pulse. After a moment, he said gently, "Your pulse is steady and strong, indicating that the fetus is healthy. At this stage of pregnancy, the rising fetal energy can disturb the spleen and stomach, making you prone to nausea... If Your Majesty worries too much, it will only harm your health. Why not relax and eat on time? That should help."

Empress Xie nodded silently.

Initially, she was reluctant to let the Crown Prince's insistence cause her to ruin her relationship with him, so she had to suppress her resentment and turn a blind eye.

As they spent more time together, she also felt that this girl was calm, intelligent, and insightful, and always had a reassuring quality about her.

Especially these days, with the court and the harem in turmoil, she was already suffering from her pregnancy, and the emperor was unwell and his thoughts were unpredictable. In the Jiaofang Palace, her every move was being watched, making her even more tormented than usual...

When Xue Sui came to take my pulse and told me some interesting stories from the streets outside the palace, it helped to alleviate some of the dullness.

"Miaozhen, you are very thoughtful. Take a look at this prescription."

Several sheets of paper were spread out on the small rosewood table; they were written by the imperial physicians of the palace.

Xue Sui picked up the prescription and examined it closely. Then she heard Empress Xie say, "His Majesty has been coughing badly at night lately, and he is often short of breath and tired during the day. He has taken a lot of medicine, but he is not getting better. I am worried about him, but I don't want to ask too many questions. Take a look at the prescription written by the imperial physician. Is there anything wrong with it?"

"Autumn dryness injures the lungs, and Your Majesty's health is weak. This prescription is relatively mild."

Xue Sui put down the prescription and said carefully, "His Majesty mistakenly ingested the aphrodisiac, which damaged his vital energy and foundation. I'm afraid he won't recover for a while... The imperial physicians have done their best. These prescriptions can alleviate the symptoms, but they can't cure the root cause."

Empress Xie gazed at her simple profile and suddenly smiled: "You're quite honest. Unlike those old fogies in the Imperial Hospital, who say one thing and leave another unsaid, afraid of getting involved in the slightest thing. They're always spouting the same old platitudes like 'His Majesty is a true dragon emperor, blessed by Heaven'..."

Xue Sui lowered her eyes: "This humble nun dares not speak presumptuously."

Empress Xie's smile deepened, carrying a rare hint of ease.

"Yu Nu, bring two bowls of almond milk...you should try some too. It's finely ground in the small kitchen with a stone mill, and it's warmed with milk and a little cliff honey in a double boiler. It's especially good for nourishing the lungs and the body."

Aunt Yu responded and left, quickly bringing back two cups of almond milk and placing them on the table.

It has a sweet aroma.

In front of Empress Xie, Xue Sui maintained just the right amount of respect and distance.

She lowered her eyes, accepted the gift, and thanked it softly, taking only a small sip.

Just as a spoonful of sweet soup entered her mouth, she heard a report that His Highness the Crown Prince had come to pay his respects.

Empress Xie glanced at Xue Sui, the smile in her eyes fading slightly. "Let him in."

With a soft rustling of the beaded curtain, Li Zhao walked in with steady steps.

"It's quite lively here, Mother."

Dressed in a casual outfit with arrow-sleeved sleeves, his hair was neatly tied up, as if he had just returned from the training ground. A thin layer of sweat clung to his forehead, which made him appear even more upright and spirited.

His gaze swept quickly over Xue Sui, then turned to the seated Empress and bowed.

"Greetings to the Queen Mother."

"I was just thinking about you, and here you are." Empress Xie put down her silver spoon, a warm smile on her lips. "Please sit down. The list of birthday gifts submitted by the Xiz delegation this year is so complicated, it fills three large volumes. It gives me a headache just looking at it. Please keep an eye on it and have someone keep a close eye on it, so they don't take advantage of the situation..."

Li Zhao naturally sat down next to Xue Sui, took another bowl of almond milk from Aunt Yu, and stirred it with a small silver spoon.

"Your Majesty, please rest assured. Your subject has ordered the Court of State Ceremonies and the Court of Colonial Affairs to conduct a joint inventory and verify each item. We will not allow them to take advantage of any loopholes."

Empress Xie nodded, but the worry between her brows remained.

"With the Empress Dowager's birthday approaching, there are many people and eyes in and out of the palace. You must be careful and handle everything carefully so as not to give anyone anything to talk about."

Li Zhao picked up the almond milk, took a sip, and replied vaguely, "Your subject understands."

Xue Sui knew in his heart that he did not want his mother to worry too much about this, and he did not reveal to the Empress any of the shocking things happening in the court and outside the palace.

The two chatted casually, with Li Zhao asking about trivial matters related to herbal medicine and diet. Empress Xie answered a few questions before feeling drowsy.

"I'm a little tired, you can go about your business."

She waved her hand and instructed Aunt Yu, "After Master Miaozhen prepares the medicine, have Granny Zhou wrap it carefully and send it out of the palace. Don't neglect it. I'm going to the inner palace to rest for a while."

Li Zhao and Xue Sui both stood up and bowed.

"Your subject takes his leave. Your Majesty, please rest well."

"Congratulations, my dear wife."

(End of this chapter)