Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 369 The One I Want to Marry
Xue Sui's carriage sped along and stopped in front of the Xue residence.

The news came suddenly, saying only that Yukihime had suddenly fallen ill and was in grave danger.

She rushed over with Xiao Zhao, and the inexplicable unease in her heart intensified the moment she stepped into the courtyard.

It's too quiet.

It was so quiet that I could hear my own heart pounding like a drum.

The air was filled with the smell of medicine and... a faint, sweet, fishy odor.

She practically kicked the door open.

The sight before her eyes instantly chilled her to the bone—

Yukihime was curled up on the couch, her body convulsing in pain. Her already pale face turned a horrifying bluish-purple, and thick, dark red blood clung to the corners of her mouth. Her clothes and the bed were a mess. Her eyes, which had once been filled with tenderness and timidity, were now open and empty, without a trace of light.

"Mother!" Xue Sui rushed to the bedside and grabbed Xue Ji's cold wrist.

Yukihime's unfocused gaze seemed to be drawn by this call.

Miraculously, a faint smile appeared on his ashen face.

She slowly reached out to touch her daughter's face.

"Sixth, Sixth Sister, you've finally come..."

His voice was broken beyond recognition, and he looked as if he had been pulled out of a pool of blood. Every word he uttered was accompanied by a violent rattling sound of phlegm.

"Mother... Mother thought... she would never... see you again..."

As the last word fell, her body stiffened abruptly, and her grip on Xue Sui's hand suddenly loosened...

"Mother—" Xue Sui cried out.

I always thought my heart was as hard as iron, and that I had long since become indifferent to the bonds of family.

But at this moment, witnessing her birth mother die a gruesome death before her eyes, the excruciating pain was so intense that it instantly shattered the fortress she thought she had built...

The bond of blood ties is something that cannot be broken or severed by human beings.

"Xiao Zhao, fetch my golden needles... and the antidote powder in the red porcelain bottle. Quickly—"

Seeing Xue Ji's miserable state, Xiao Zhao frantically searched for Xue Sui's medicine box and presented it to her with both hands.

Xue Sui quickly poured out a few brown pills, pried open Xue Ji's mouth, and forced them into her mouth.

Yuki clenched her teeth, her body convulsing involuntarily, and in the struggle, she scratched her fingers.

Ignoring everything else, she poured some warm water down her throat, then held her breath and focused her mind, picking up the silver needle and precisely inserting it into the major acupoints on Xue Ji's chest, such as Tanzhong, Juque, and Shenfeng.

After a few needles, Yukihime's violent spasms subsided slightly, and the rattling in her throat also weakened. However, her breathing remained weak, and she trembled like a candle in the wind.

"Girl, your hand..." Xiao Zhao suddenly exclaimed.

Xue Sui followed her gaze and glanced at her fingers.

The area where Yukihime bit him turned bluish-purple, and there was a strange, numbing sensation.

She frowned. "What a potent poison! Not only does it take effect immediately upon ingestion, but it can also harm through the blood and mucous membranes... Xiao Zhao, step back! Cover your mouth and nose..."

Xiao Zhao's face turned pale instantly, and she was so anxious that she almost cried.

"Girl! Then...then you've stained yourself with blood, doesn't that mean..."

Xue Sui did not answer. He tore off a clean strip of cloth, wrapped it haphazardly around his injured finger, and calmly took the antidote.

Xiao Zhao's lips trembled as she said, "Miss, don't move her, don't touch her yet... I'm going to find the eldest son. When he arrives, he'll surely have a solution..."

"It's too late. Saving lives is the priority—" she answered calmly.

But Xiao Zhao noticed that the girl's forehead was covered in a fine layer of cold sweat, and her breathing was more rapid than before.

"I'm not leaving. If I have to die, I'll die with this girl."

Xiao Zhao, her hands trembling, soaked a handkerchief and futilely tried to wipe the sweat from Xue Sui's face...

Cold sweat trickled down his chin, and he couldn't wipe it away no matter what he did.

"Pfft!" Xue Sui felt a sweet taste in her throat, and a streak of bright red blood mixed with Xue Ji's black blood splattered onto her plain-colored sleeve, a shocking sight.

Xiao Zhao's tears finally broke free, "Miss..."

"Sixth... Sister..." Xue Ji seemed to sense something, and her bloodshot eyes widened suddenly.

"Don't worry about Mother... Don't worry about her... Go... Live well... Live on."

She mustered her last strength and managed to squeeze out a few words.

His head lolled to the side, and he fainted.

"Xiao Zhao." Xue Suiqiang suppressed his surging blood and qi, his voice trembling due to weakness.

"The needles can only temporarily seal the wound; they can't protect the root cause... Go... Go find the eldest son immediately... Be quick..."

If Tian Shu cannot arrive in time, Xue Ji will surely die.

She herself... probably won't last much longer.

"Yes! Girl, hold on!" Xiao Zhao cried out in tears, but knew that crying out now would be useless.

"wait for me--"

Xiao Zhao wiped her eyes with her sleeve and rushed out the door like an arrow.

Xue Sui grabbed the edge of the couch, feeling as if stars were flashing before her eyes. The dizziness grew stronger and stronger. Her arms gave way, and her body slumped against the foot of the couch, her forehead resting on the edge of the bed, breathing rapidly...

Just then, out of the corner of my eye, I inadvertently caught a glimpse of a dark purple hem of clothing behind the beaded curtain leading to the side room, which flashed by and disappeared in a flash.

It was so fast it felt like an illusion.

Xue Sui's gaze suddenly froze.

A chill ran up from the soles of my feet, accompanied by a heart-wrenching pain.

Is it the Fu family?
Or Xue Qingzhi?
The thought had barely formed when an overwhelming wave of dizziness washed over me.

Her vision went black, and she clenched her fists tightly, almost fainting...
-
The sudden and dramatic change alarmed the entire Xue family.

The steward, servants, and other servants from various households who had rushed over upon hearing the news crowded together at the courtyard gate, peering in and whispering amongst themselves.

Everyone's face was filled with shock and bewilderment.

But no one can say for sure what exactly happened.

Upon hearing the news, Xue Yuelou rushed to the scene, but stumbled on the threshold as soon as he stepped into the courtyard. He had to hold onto a pillar to steady himself.

"What happened? Why is there so much blood? Sixth Sister... Where is the doctor? Why didn't they call a doctor?"

"Oh dear, what's going on? I've been supporting you all all this time, but you're all useless when it really matters." Madam Qian, heavily pregnant, rushed over with the help of her maid. Upon seeing the scene, she gasped in shock and anger, pointing her finger at the servants and berating them.

"Are they all dead? Quick! Go and fetch the best doctors in the city, no matter how much money it costs..."

Xue Yuelou was startled. "Dr. Shu, we need to see Dr. Shu."

People were filled with fear and chaos.

While holding her back, Mrs. Qian was so anxious that she cursed and spit on people's faces.

"Nobody knows where Doctor Shu lives... I've seen through it all! The only capable person in this household is Sixth Sister. When it really comes down to saving lives, they're all useless..."

The people inside looked at each other, but no one dared to say a word.

The maids brought over basins of water and cloths, but they were so flustered they didn't know what to do with their hands and feet...

At the entrance to the courtyard, Fu stood motionless, quietly waiting for time to pass.

Xue Qingzhi walked back and forth in the main hall with his hands behind his back.

I don't know how much time passed while I waited...

"Dr. Shu has arrived."

A hurried voice pierced through the noise, like heavenly music.

Tian Shu's face was stern, his brows tightly furrowed. Led by Xiao Zhao, he parted the crowd like a whirlwind and walked heavily through the courtyard...

"Dr. Shu! Quick! The girl..." Xiao Zhao sobbed uncontrollably, "...has fainted..."

Tian Shu nodded hastily and then slipped into the room.

The strong stench of blood assaulted his nostrils, setting off alarm bells in his mind. He quickly glanced at Xue Ji, whose face was bluish-purple, then strode over to Xue Sui's side. He bent down, picked up the girl who had collapsed by the bed, and placed her on the soft couch beside him. He examined the wounds on her lips, eyelids, and fingertips, and then checked her pulse.

The pulse was weak, irregular, and had a sluggish quality.

"poisoned."

He uttered a few words in a low voice, devoid of any warmth, his gaze sweeping coldly over the crowd.

"Bring me strong liquor and a basin of boiling water."

Madam Qian clutched her stomach and exclaimed in alarm, “Heavens above… this… in this deep inner courtyard of the mansion, who would dare to poison someone? Is this an attempt to wipe out the entire family…” Tian Shu took out the silver needles and medicine bottle he carried from his medicine box and bent down to perform the treatment.

The crowd was filled with fear and began to whisper among themselves...

"His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived!"

A loud announcement, carrying an invisible pressure, abruptly silenced all the noise, discussion, and cries...

The heavy door was flung open with a bang.

A tall, slender figure, seemingly carrying the chill of late autumn and an aura of killing intent, strode in.

Li Zhao arrived from the palace on horseback after receiving an urgent report from his scouts. His robes were dusty, his jade belt was tightly fastened at his waist, and his sword swayed slightly with each step, making a soft rustling sound.

"Greetings, Your Highness..."

Xue Qingzhi and Madam Fu led the entire household to kneel down.

Li Zhao didn't even glance at the kneeling crowd. He raised his hand to indicate that they should dispense with the formalities and continued walking towards the inner courtyard without stopping, completely ignoring the kneeling and panic around him.

The air was so stagnant that you could hear a pin drop.

Immediately afterwards, Guan Ya and Yuan Cang, along with dozens of Xuanjia guards from the Eastern Palace, stormed into the Xue residence like wolves and tigers. Although their swords were not drawn, their uniform, heavy footsteps and the cold light emanating from their armor instantly surrounded the courtyard, filling the air with a chilling atmosphere.

Li Zhao was not only the crown prince.

He was still the crown prince who oversaw all the affairs of the state.

They held the power of life and death, and had absolute authority.

A chilling aura spread out, pressing down on everyone in the mansion, making them all pale and frozen in place, afraid to even breathe, filled with unease.

Li Zhao walks extremely fast.

His cloak billowed behind him, emphasizing his lean and muscular physique, and his imposing presence was like a mountain collapsing.

Wherever it passed, the air seemed to freeze.

"Your Highness... Your Highness the Crown Prince..." Xue Qingzhi squeezed forward from the crowd and hurriedly bowed.

"I wonder what brings Your Highness, the Crown Prince, to this humble abode..."

Li Zhao didn't even glance at him. His gaze passed through the crowd, over the open door, and landed on the slender figure with blood at the corner of his mouth, barely breathing...

A chilling killing intent instantly filled his eyes.

"How is everything?"

He was asking about Tian Shu, who was bending down to save him.

Tian Shu looked up, his gaze meeting his in the air, his expression solemn.

"Your Highness, Lady Xue has been poisoned and is in critical condition... Sixth Miss, in an attempt to save her mother, was accidentally exposed to the poison, which entered her body and spread rapidly. Fortunately, she is well-versed in pharmacology and promptly took an antidote, and then used silver needles to seal acupoints to prevent the spread of the poison, thus saving her life..."

Li Zhao's pupils suddenly contracted, and his aura of ferocity surged.

He turned his head sharply, his gaze sweeping over the trembling Xue family members as if carrying the weight of a thousand pounds.

"Where did this poison come from?"

The crowd looked at each other, too intimidated to utter a sound.

"Don't know?" Li Zhao sneered, his voice chilling to the bone.

"No one in the Xue household knows about this?"

His gaze slowly swept over the Xue family members who were filled with panic.

"Do you want me to drag them down one by one and interrogate them in detail?"

Xue Sui's consciousness was almost blurred, as if he were in the cold, deep sea.

Her vision went black, and intense pain tore at her nerves.

My vision was blurred, and all I could see was the swaying hem of her clothes. My gaze inadvertently met those unfathomable eyes, which were churning with a terrifying storm.

"Your Highness..." Her lips moved silently.

"Don't be afraid," Li Zhao's voice was low and gentle, "I'm here."

Xue Sui wanted to say something, but no sound came out, and her eyelids closed weakly again.

"Peaceful?" The air pressure around Li Zhao suddenly dropped.

"Investigate!" The single word struck like a heavy hammer into everyone's hearts.

"We must dig three feet into the ground to find the source of the poison!"

Guan Ya immediately clasped his hands in response, "Your subordinate obeys."

"Search!"

The command was concise and ruthless.

The palace guards, like wolves and tigers, rushed into the Xue residence in an instant, ransacking the place, overturning tables, and kicking down doors...

Dust flew everywhere, and chaos erupted throughout the Xue mansion.

A moment later, Tian Shu, holding the last silver needle, steadily withdrew it from the acupoint on Xue Sui's wrist, his forehead covered in beads of sweat.

"How is it?" Li Zhao's voice was tense.

Tian Shu said, "We've barely managed to stay afloat! This poison is extremely dangerous and potent, penetrating to the bone and marrow. I, a commoner, am still unable to discern its origins. The most urgent task now is to determine the source of the poison and treat it accordingly, only then will there be any hope of eradicating the remaining toxins..."

He paused, then looked at Xue Ji, "As for Lady Xue... her situation is even more critical, her breath hanging by a thread. Whether she can survive this ordeal is truly unpredictable..."

"Does Your Excellency know Zhang Huaicheng, the physician of the Crown Prince's Palace? He is also skilled in this art. There are also the head of the Imperial Medical Academy and several chief physicians who are at your disposal. Would Your Excellency be willing to come and consult with them?"

Tian Shu nodded. "That's exactly what I was thinking."

Li Zhao said no more.

He bent down, his movements more cautious than ever before, yet with an undeniable force. He slipped his arms behind her neck and under her knees, and with a slight effort, lifted her up in his arms.

Her body was as light as a feather.

Li Zhao narrowed his eyes, and a chilling aura condensed around him.

He slowly turned around, holding the person in his arms, his gaze sweeping over everyone like a branding iron, finally settling heavily on Xue Qingzhi's pale face.

"Minister Xue..."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the person in his arms.

"I want to marry your sixth daughter."

The voice wasn't loud, but it was like a thunderclap from the heavens, clearly striking everyone's heart.

Xue Qingzhi looked up abruptly, his eyes filled with disbelief and horror.

Madam Fu was so shocked she almost collapsed to the ground...

Only Madam Qian and the second daughter, Xue Yuelou, exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with joy.

"I'm making this clear today..." Li Zhao, carrying the person, walked straight up to him, looking down at him with a voice as sharp as ice, his killing intent barely concealed, "If anything happens to Xue Ping'an, your entire household will pay with their lives."

The entire courtyard was deathly silent.

Everyone felt as if they had fallen into an ice cave, their bodies chilled to the bone.

"Your Highness..." Xue Qingzhi prostrated himself on the ground in a panic, his voice trembling uncontrollably, "I'm innocent...I...I really didn't know..."

Li Zhao seemed not to notice his reaction.

He held Xue Sui in his arms, then turned and walked outside.

Xue Sui, nestled in his arms, unconsciously furrowed his brow, his pale, cold face burying itself even deeper into the firm, warm embrace.

The setting sun, like blood, cast long, overlapping shadows of the two people.

As Xue Qingzhi watched the figure disappear through the doorway, exuding boundless power, his legs went weak, and all his strength seemed to be drained away in an instant.

Guan Ya stepped forward and gave the order in a deep voice.

"Carefully move Lady Xue out and take her with you. Hold her steady!"

He then turned to Tian Shu, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "Dr. Shu, please—"

Tian Shu nodded, his cold gaze sweeping over the panicked Xue family members. He picked up his medicine chest and followed Li Zhao.

　This chapter combines two parts.

　　It's not very long...

　　Li Zhao: I'm so anxious! Can't it be a little longer? Who are you trying to scare?

　　Xue Sui: ...Let me test you.

　　(End of this chapter)