Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 361 When the Moon Gradually Rises
Xue Sui went to the side hall to prepare medicine as usual.

The Empress was very cautious about this pregnancy, and she would carefully inspect all the medicinal herbs before she would use them.

Xue Sui sat on a plain brocade stool, intently examining and weighing the medicinal herbs, unaware of Li Zhao's sudden approach until his warm breath touched the back of her ear.

"That bowl of almond milk was sweet, but it was nowhere near as fragrant as the one Ping An cooked himself."

Xue Sui was startled and turned around to glare at him.

"This is the Jiaofang Palace, Your Highness, please be careful with your words."

“I am telling the truth.” Li Zhao’s voice was very low, with a hint of mockery.

"It's cooked with peace of mind, and it tastes like peace of mind."

Xue Sui's face flushed and his heart pounded.

"If Your Highness continues to act recklessly, I will ask Her Majesty the Empress to judge the matter."

Seeing her trying to appear calm but with her eyes sparkling, Li Zhao's heart melted.

He stopped joking, stepped back slightly, and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "There's been a breakthrough in Lu Youan's case. The spies the Crown Prince has planted over there have reported back that Xiao Yan has acquired a new batch of ironware, which was transferred from the capital to Longyou..."

When serious matters were mentioned, Xue Sui's expression turned serious.

"Gu Jie?"

“Exactly.” Li Zhao’s lips curled into a cold smile. “Once we get our hands on the ironware, Xiao Song will definitely use Lu Youan’s case to relentlessly attack the Crown Prince’s palace and be eager to make trouble. I might as well play dumb and use the excuse of Father’s cough to bring up the matter of the aphrodisiac powder and investigate it thoroughly… When Xiao Song is cornered, he will definitely do something rash…”

His slender fingers tucked together in mid-air, as if grasping an invisible thread.

“At that time, follow the clues... just when they think they have succeeded, uproot their henchmen and leave no one alive.”

"Your Highness's plan is brilliant." A hint of admiration flashed in Xue Sui's eyes, but his voice remained calm and gentle. "Once we have the evidence, we'll reveal it to the public at the opportune moment... With irrefutable evidence, let's see how they try to deny it..."

Li Zhao gazed at the gleam in her eyes, then suddenly reached out and gently brushed away the bits of medicine from her shoulder.

"I had the Imperial Observatory check, and the 28th of July, the Empress Dowager's birthday, is an auspicious day for praying for blessings and receiving good fortune."

Xue Sui understood immediately, and a barely perceptible smile curved his lips. "In that case, the Empress Dowager's birthday this year is indeed quite timely."

“Not only is it timely…” Li Zhao leaned forward, his voice carrying a hint of seductive whisper, “July 28th is also auspicious for marriage.”

"What? Does Your Highness want to get married?" Xue Sui raised an eyebrow.

"Hmm. Will you marry her?" Li Zhao's gaze fell on her slightly pursed lips, his dark eyes filled with an irrepressible smile.

"..." Xue Sui glanced at him sideways, "I won't marry him."

"Why?"

"We don't have enough money for the betrothal gifts."

"Xue Ping'an," Li Zhao deliberately put on a stern face, "what am I to you, really?"

The sound of palace servants' footsteps came from afar. Xue Sui suddenly pushed him away, her cheeks flushed.

"If Your Highness continues to be so sarcastic, I'll donate you as incense money."

Li Zhao's lips curled slightly as he watched her hurriedly get up. Suddenly, he pulled a brocade pouch from his sleeve: "This is for you."

Inside the bag was a round, luminous pearl, its pale, warm white color resembling crushed moonlight.

"That night at the Moon-Viewing Terrace, you said you liked the moonlight."

Li Zhao's voice lowered, carrying a solemn gentleness, "I searched for a long time before finally obtaining this one. Its condition is acceptable; though it cannot compare to the bright moon in the sky, it is still good to place it by my pillow for quiet reading at night."

His gaze was fixed on her face.

Their eyes met, and Xue Sui's heart skipped a beat.

"Your Highness, this item is too precious for Xue Liu to accept..."

Just as Xue Sui was about to decline, he heard familiar footsteps outside.

The two quickly created distance between them.

Granny Zhou was a sensible person, and she raised her voice from a distance.

"Master Miaozhen, have the medicinal herbs been prepared?"

Xue Sui clutched the luminous pearl tightly into his sleeve, as if the heat traveled all the way to his heart.

She took a deep breath to calm her racing heart before turning around to greet Granny Zhou.

"It's all ready, thank you for your help, Granny."

Li Zhao chuckled lightly, lifted the curtain, and left.

Granny Zhou stepped aside and waited until Li Zhaoqi's tall figure disappeared from sight before she stepped forward.

Those eyes, which had seen the vicissitudes of life, lingered on Xue Sui's face for a moment, then smiled seemingly unintentionally.

"Your Highness's complexion has improved lately, and you seem much more energetic. It seems Master Miaozhen's medicine is quite nourishing..."

Xue Sui suddenly felt a surge of malice and gave a vague smile.

"Granny, you may not know, but His Highness suffers from a hidden ailment and often comes to visit Her Highness to ask me for medicine..."

Granny Zhou let out a surprised "hmm," and seemed to be thinking, "At this age, when one is full of vigor, it's easy to deplete one's energy..."

Xue Sui: "???"

Seeing that Xue Sui didn't respond, Granny Zhou thought she had guessed correctly, so she suddenly leaned closer to her and lowered her voice even further.

"If I may be so bold, I've heard that His Majesty and the Empress are planning to arrange a marriage for His Highness on the Empress Dowager's birthday. All the eligible young ladies in the capital are eagerly anticipating this great fortune..."

Xue Sui froze almost imperceptibly.

The brocade pouch in her sleeve seemed to be slightly warm.

She didn't know whether Granny Zhou was reminding her to recognize her place and not harbor any unrealistic thoughts because they had become acquainted over time, or whether she was acting on the Empress's orders to deliberately warn her and make her back down.

She simply lowered her eyes and smiled faintly.

"Your Highness possesses the bearing of a dragon and the grace of a phoenix, and is naturally blessed by the imperial family."

Having said that, he said no more and followed Granny Zhou outside.
-
Since their meeting at Jiaofang Palace, Xue Sui had remained quietly at the Xue residence, tending to the ailing Xue Ji while awaiting news from Li Zhao. July 24th was just three days away from the Empress Dowager's birthday.

Just as Xue Sui emerged from the Jiaofang Palace after taking the Empress's pulse, a familiar-looking eunuch from the Eastern Palace quietly approached and whispered:

"The one at Shuangheng Garden is not doing well. Your Highness requests that you... go there immediately."

Xue Sui felt a chill run down his spine.

It seems Li Zhaobu's net is closing very quickly.

When the news of the complete elimination of Yang-enhancing powder reached Xiao Song's ears, he couldn't contain himself any longer...

Of course, at this moment, Xiao Qing'er probably believed her words even more, believing that the backlash from the Yang-enhancing Powder was frantically devouring her life force—her lifespan was coming to an end.

Xue Suiqiang suppressed her turbulent emotions, kept a straight face, and smiled at Zhou Mama behind her, saying, "Please trouble Mama to inform Your Highness that this humble nun will accompany this eunuch to Shuangheng Garden to visit the seriously ill Consort Xiao, and will return to the manor on her own later."

The young eunuch cleverly chimed in.

"Yes, yes, yes, Granny will be lenient."

Granny Zhou gave Xue Sui a deep look, nodded, and chuckled awkwardly.

"Master, please go ahead. This old servant will inform Your Highness."
-
Frosty Garden.

The palace gardens in the northwesternmost corner of the imperial city.

It was desolate and cold; the door hinges were badly rusted and made a jarring sound when pushed open.

Xiao Qing'er sat on the cold stone steps, hugging her knees.

Overgrown with weeds, the autumn wind rustled, and sunlight filtered through the sparse branches, falling on her and turning her once beautiful face pale and withered.

She was so thin she was unrecognizable; the oversized old palace dress hung loosely on her body, like a moving clothes hanger.

"Xue Liu".

Hearing the door open, Xiao Qing'er looked up, her bloodshot eyes staring blankly at the person, empty and desperate.

"You finally came."

Xue Sui stopped about ten feet away from her.

"What is it that you are in such a hurry, Miss Xiao?"

“You’re right. The Xiao family… has abandoned me.” Xiao Qing’er picked up a dry twig and unconsciously scribbled on the dusty ground. Her voice was dry, and it was hard to tell whether she was crying or laughing.

"I asked someone... I asked someone to pass a message to my mother, just asking for a little antidote, even if... even if it could ease the pain... even if it could let me sleep peacefully... but my dear brother... haha, he sent someone to tell me..."

She laughed so hard her whole body trembled, but the tears flowed even more fiercely.

He said... "Rest in peace. Those who knew what was good for them should have ended it long ago. Why did you choose to live on, bringing shame upon your family..."

"Xue Liu, did you hear that? He told me to die... My dear brother, he told his own sister to die... When we were little, I saved my monthly allowance to buy him his favorite snacks and took the blame for our father..."

Xue Sui watched her break down in tears.

"You only realize the Xiao family's cold-heartedness today?"

She slowly squatted down in front of Xiao Qing'er, her gaze level with hers.

"So you've thought it through? You want a way out?"

Xiao Qing'er raised her tear-filled eyes, her voice trembling uncontrollably, "I'm not reconciled... As human beings, we all want to live, why am I the one who has to die?"

Xue Sui nodded. "Then let's show our sincerity."

Looking at her indifferent expression, Xiao Qing'er felt as if all her strength had been drained away, and she collapsed. "That medicine... was mixed into His Majesty's ginseng soup... The amount was small each time, but over time, it accumulated without anyone noticing... To avoid arousing His Majesty's suspicion, I would always take a small sip whenever the soup was served..."

Xue Sui asked, "Where did the medicine come from?"

“My mother brought her in under the pretense of visiting me in the palace. It was also my mother who instructed me to do it.” Xiao Qing’er was panting heavily, speaking very quickly, as if she wanted to pour out all her sins.

"After Consort Xiao's death, the Xiao family was very worried... They said that Prince Duan's power was growing stronger, his mind was deep, and he was difficult to control. The Xiao family dared not place all their hopes on him alone... But around that time, His Majesty favored that Hu woman, and his favor with the emperor plummeted... So they forced me to win His Majesty's heart and conceive a royal child..."

She looked up at Xue Sui, a strange smile playing on her lips.

"If Your Majesty... if something were to happen to Your Majesty, and the Crown Prince's position is not yet secure, the court would surely be in turmoil... At that time, the Xiao family could unite with their old factions and support the young prince to ascend the throne..."

Xue Sui listened quietly, then suddenly chuckled softly.

"wishful thinking."

Xiao Qing'er was overcome with tears, and the light in her eyes gradually faded, leaving only a deathly gray.

"As a daughter of the Xiao family, I had no choice... I never had a choice..."

She muttered to herself, then suddenly grabbed Xue Sui's hand, her palm burning hot with a strong will to survive.

"I'll tell you everything I know... Xue Liu, please... I know you have a way... I'm still young, I don't want to die... I don't want to die in this cold palace..."

Xue Sui let her hold his hand, his gaze calm.

“Write down your confession, and I will do my best to help you.”

She took out the small porcelain bottle she had shown her last time from her sleeve.

"Here's the antidote. It can relieve the effects of the poison and reduce the pain."

After saying this, he instructed the young eunuch to bring up the writing brush and ink he had brought, which were then spread out on a worn-out small table.

"Write down everything you just said. The time when the drug was administered, the palace servants involved, the source and hiding place of the drug, and the specific statements Xiao Song made about plotting to enthrone the emperor..."

Xiao Qing'er was taken aback, looking at her with a conflicted expression.

Xue Sui's tone was calm, yet left no room for argument.

"A written agreement, signed and sealed, serves as proof. Otherwise, how can I gain people's trust? To save you, I also need power strong enough to shake Xiao Song's resolve..."

　Li Zhao: Thank you all for your support. I have ordered ten carts of almond milk to be prepared and sent by the Six Palaces and Six Departments to distribute them to you.

　　Xue Sui: Your Highness, please reconsider. Ten cartloads of butyric acid for a reader to read backwards—I fear you cannot bear the consequences…

　　(End of this chapter)