Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 371 Waiter at the bedside

Inside the inner sanctuary, the noise was kept out.

Li Zhao sat by the couch, his gaze fixed intently on Xue Sui's face, as if trying to etch every bit of her frailty into his eyes.

The flickering candlelight cast a pale light on her face, making her lips appear even grayish-white.

Laifu tiptoed over, brought over a cup of hot tea, and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, would you like some tea?"

Li Zhao raised his hand to stop him from speaking.

"Bring some warm water and a clean, soft towel..."

Lai Fu glanced at the person on the couch, sighed inwardly, and quickly replied, "Yes, Your Highness."

Warm water was served.

Li Zhaoxian tested the temperature with the back of his hand before scooping up a little with a small silver spoon and carefully bringing it close to Xue Sui's lips, trying to pry open her tightly closed teeth...

She didn't react at all, her jaw clenched.

Water stains slid down the chapped corners of his lips, soaking the pillow.

Li Zhao frowned deeply, picked up a soft silk handkerchief, and gently wiped away the water stains...

My fingertips accidentally touched her cold cheek, and I suddenly paused—

Her small, lifeless face was as cold as lifeless jade.

That touch was so fragile it was heartbreaking.

Li Zhao's hand, hidden beneath his robe sleeve, involuntarily tightened, his knuckles stiffening slightly.

"Ping An, Xue Ping An..."

He called out softly, his voice hoarse, only he could hear it.

How resilient must a person be to survive one hardship after another, such as being abandoned by their biological father, being stabbed by their family, being bullied in childhood, being betrayed by their sisters, being poisoned and having their hair turn white prematurely, and still living so tenaciously, even living with clarity and strength, becoming the most unique sight in this world?
A violent, churning energy surged within his chest...

Then he slowly suppressed it.

"Your Highness..."

The palace door opened softly, and Guan Ya walked very lightly, his face solemn.

"How is it?" Li Zhao did not turn around, his gaze remaining fixed on Xue Sui's face.

The candlelight flickered, and his face remained calm and composed, showing no emotion whatsoever.

Guan Ya glanced at him discreetly, then cupped his hands and answered meticulously.

"Your Highness, Lord Fan led the Right Guard to strictly control the Xue residence inside and out, and searched the ground three feet deep, but found no residual poison or obvious source of poison... The entire Xue family denied everything, claiming they knew nothing about it."

Li Zhao sneered, a flash of malice in his eyes.

"So you claim to know nothing. Then lock him up and let him think things through..."

Guan Ya was speechless.

Li Zhao suddenly turned around, "What's the difficulty?"

Guan Ya lowered his head and said, "Minister Xue was so frightened that he fainted after His Highness left... He was carried back to the inner courtyard by servants and a doctor was summoned to treat him. Madam Fu has been by his bedside ever since the incident, personally serving him medicine..."

"Hmph, he certainly knows how to pick his timing..."

Guan Ya's voice was even lower: "The most... troublesome one is the Third Madam, Qian. She was frightened, and her fetal movements are abnormal. The midwife diagnosed that she might have a premature birth. The maids and servants in the courtyard are in chaos. Someone has already been sent on horseback to the capital's military camp to invite Master Xue back to the mansion..."

Li Zhao frowned almost imperceptibly.

Although Qian was reckless and noisy, she was not inherently bad, and this matter should have nothing to do with her.

"Where is the Prince Duan's residence?"

Guan Ya immediately reported back.

"The gates of the mansion are tightly closed, and nothing unusual has been observed."

"No abnormalities detected?" Li Zhao repeated, a faint, cold smile playing on his lips.

"The biggest abnormality is the lack of anything unusual... He's quite composed..."

Before the words were finished, a very faint moan came from the bed.

The voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz, yet it instantly captivated Li Zhao's attention...

He turned around abruptly—and saw Xue Sui's long eyelashes flutter slightly, like the wings of a startled butterfly, struggling against the darkness.

After much effort, they finally managed to create a small opening.

"Peace..." Li Zhao called out softly in surprise, leaning closer to her and lowering his voice so as not to disturb her.

"How are you feeling? Are you feeling any better?"

Xue Sui's vision was initially unfocused and blank, as if a thick layer of mist covered his eyes, causing him to drift back and forth between unfamiliar houses and swaying figures.

After a while, his gaze finally settled on Li Zhao's face.

"Your Highness..." she murmured, her lips moving slightly.

Consciousness surged through my mind like a cold tide...

Yukihime's purplish-blue face, the fleeting glimpse of her clothes behind the beaded curtain, the heavy and pungent smell of blood... fragments of memory, sharp and jagged, pierced her chaotic mind.

"Cough cough...cough..."

Her body tensed up instinctively, and a metallic taste rose in her throat.

Laifu quickly stepped forward and handed over the spittoon.

Li Zhaoshun took it, leaned close to Xue Sui, and gently stroked her back.

"Don't rush, take your time."

Xue Sui nestled in his arms, coughing violently.

Each cough felt like a tug at his internal organs, causing excruciating pain. After a long while, he finally vomited several mouthfuls of thick, black blood, which fell into the snow-white spittoon—a horrifying sight.

"Your Highness..."

After spitting out that mouthful, she felt as if all her strength had been drained away, and she collapsed, her forehead soaked with cold sweat.

"How is my mother?"

"The imperial physicians are doing their best to treat him; he'll be fine. Don't worry."

Li Zhaowen steadily supported her, and at the same time picked up the warm water next to him and brought it to her lips.

"Rinse your mouth—then drink some water to moisten your throat."

Xue Sui obediently rinsed her mouth, then sipped the warm water from his arm.

The water flowed down his throat, making his lungs feel as if they were being scorched by fire... yet it was also like a timely rain after a long drought, temporarily suppressing the nauseating stench of blood...

"Slow down." Li Zhao's gaze was fixed on her.

After a few sips of water, Xue Sui seemed to regain some strength. He looked around and asked in a hoarse voice, "Your Highness, this is... the Eastern Palace?"

Li Zhao nodded.

Xue Sui frowned slightly, staring at Li Zhao's tense and hard jaw, a feeling he couldn't quite describe welling up inside him.

"This move... is far too excessive."

Li Zhao scoffed, "My place is still cleaner than the Xue residence."

Xue Sui twitched the corner of his mouth. "Your Highness... How can a person like me, an outsider, linger in the solemn Eastern Palace?"

A single, seemingly casual remark plunges into an absurd predicament, and also into oneself.

Li Zhao's eyes darkened, and he lowered his voice even further, "Ping An, you don't trust me?"

Xue Sui looked up and saw her own disheveled reflection in those bloodshot eyes. The weak smile on her lips slowly faded.

"By bringing me into the Eastern Palace, Your Highness has placed yourself...in the eye of the storm...giving others a handle against you, the consequences of which...are unimaginable..."

"I will bear all the consequences myself," Li Zhao said calmly, his words icy cold.

"Is Your Highness truly telling the truth?" Xue Sui sighed softly.

"I never speak in jest," Li Zhao replied resolutely.

Xue Sui closed his eyes, his right hand unconsciously twitched as if trying to grab something, but he was too weak to lift it.

Li Zhao turned his hand over, and his warm palm instantly covered her slender hand completely, holding it tightly.

"I am here." He said softly, his voice slow and firm. "No one can hurt you anymore."

(End of this chapter)