Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 381 Crisis is Opportunity
The rain didn't stop until the early morning of the following day.

In the Chongwen Hall of the Eastern Palace, candles burned all night.

Li Zhao stood before the map, his jade belt undone, his collar slightly open, revealing his strong, slender collarbone... Even with his shoulders and back ramrod straight, the bloodshot eyes could not hide the hard work he had put in all night.

"Your Highness..."

Yu Qianshan strode into the hall, bowed and clasped his hands in greeting, his voice hoarse and anxious from the early morning.

"This humble general has just received intelligence that Zhao Chengzong, the deputy general of Ningyuan, has led 20,000 light cavalry to reinforce Dingfeng Pass, but has set up camp ten miles outside the pass, remaining inactive and refusing to enter the pass to deploy defenses..."

Li Zhao's fingertips suddenly stopped: "He dares to disobey orders?"

Yu Qianshan said, "Deputy General Zhao submitted a memorial saying that the food supplies are insufficient and it may be difficult to defend against the enemy..."

Li Zhao asked, "Where is Lü Yuan? What did he do?"

Yu Qianshan looked troubled and said in a deep voice, "Lord Lü claims to be ill and refuses to come out, saying that his old injury has relapsed and he is closing his doors to visitors. The various departments of the Ministry of War are also passing the buck to each other, and the troop mobilization document sent yesterday has not been returned yet."

Li Zhao sneered, "What illness are you taking care of? Just wait to see me make a fool of myself."

Just then, Mei Ruhui hurried in, holding a scroll of documents in his hands, and bowed.

"Your Highness, Xie Yanzhan, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, He Qifeng, the Minister of Rites, and Tian Huaitong, the Vice Minister of Revenue, along with three censors, have jointly submitted a memorial."

"Oh?" Li Zhao raised an eyebrow.

Mei Ruhui presented the memorial with both hands.

Li Zhao accepted it.

The memorial was sharp in every word. It began by pointing out that Xue Sui was of lowly status and had deep ties to the old imperial tombs. If she were to be made Crown Princess, it would shake the foundation of the country and draw criticism from the people. The memorial requested that the Crown Prince rescind his decision and at the same time pardon Prime Minister Xiao Song from prison to quell public anger, stabilize the court and the country, and save the Great Liang from war.

Finally, they even went so far as to say:

"If the Crown Prince insists on going his own way, I fear it will demoralize the soldiers, delay military operations, and by then it will be too late to regret it..."

"Is this an attempt to blackmail me?" Li Zhao threw the memorial on the table. "That old fox Xie Yanzhan, who used to pretend to be aloof, is now jumping out to pledge his loyalty before Xiao Yan's army has even arrived? Or does he think Zhou Zhengping's blood can frighten me?"

Mei Ruhui was sweating profusely and whispered, "Your Highness, it's not just Lord Xie. Just now, a scout urgently reported that the Empress Dowager has summoned the elders of the imperial clan to the Cining Hall for a meeting, saying that she wants to retrieve the imperial genealogy from the ancestral temple to renegotiate the succession..."

"Discuss the Crown Prince?" Li Zhao's eyes darkened, and the pressure around him plummeted to freezing point.

"Guan Ya!"

"Your subordinate is here!" Guan Ya knelt on one knee.

"Gather the Left Guards and immediately surround the Imperial Ancestral Temple. Tell them: The Imperial Ancestral Temple has been in disrepair for many years and needs to be heavily guarded and repaired to prevent any unforeseen events. Without my decree, no one is allowed to enter. Violators will be..." Li Zhao paused, each word seemingly carrying the scent of blood.

"Treat them as traitors, exterminate their entire family, and leave no one alive!"

Mei Ruhui was so shocked that his face turned pale, and he hesitated to speak.

Guan Ya remained expressionless, bowed, and replied, "I will take care of it immediately."

"Wait a minute." Li Zhao called out to him, his gaze sweeping over the pile of reports on the table. "Do you have any news about General Lu?"

Guan Ya shook his head. "The three towns of the Western Frontier have all fallen into Xiao Yan's hands. The blockade is tight. The last message that came back said he was still imprisoned in Shaquan Fort..."

Li Zhao pinched the bridge of his nose, his voice lowering.

"Send more men and investigate again."

"Here!"
-
Princess Wenjia's villa was located outside Yanxing Gate in Shangjing.

The rain has stopped today, and the wind is blowing through the bamboo curtains, bringing a chill of late autumn.

Xue Sui sat by the window, holding a thread-bound book and reading it carefully.

When Jinshu returned from outside, she saw that her daughter was engrossed in reading and couldn't help but advise her, "Miss, you've been reading all morning. Aren't you afraid of hurting your eyes?"

Xue Sui raised his eyes and smiled calmly, "I'm just idling around anyway. But you, running around so early in the morning, what news have you found out?"

Jinshu brought over a plate of freshly steamed chestnut cake, speaking in a low voice.

"Young lady, Xiao Yan's rebel army has breached the gateway to Longyou and is approaching Dingfeng Pass... The vanguard camp... is less than three hundred li from Yong'an City..."

She lowered her voice, "The disciples inside the sect received news from the capital's military camp that Ma Kun, the commander of the capital's defense, declared that unless His Highness rescinds his decree to establish a concubine, he will not send troops."

Xue Sui raised his eyes, his gaze clear and deep: "How is the Crown Prince doing?"

"Last night, His Highness summoned officials from the Privy Council and the Ministry of War for a meeting, which lasted until 1-3 AM." Jinshu handed over a note and whispered, "Lord Zhou from the Censorate has woken up. My eldest son said that the old man is stubborn and, although he is out of danger, he refuses to eat or drink and is determined to die..."

After reading it, Xue Sui held the note close to the candlelight and lit it, then suddenly burst into laughter: "It's quite lively here..."

"You can still laugh, young lady?" Jinshu raised an eyebrow.

"Don't worry, Zhou Zhengping isn't reckless; he just wants to force Li Zhao to accept his death..." Xue Sui turned and smiled. "Reply to your senior brother that if Zhou Zhengping wants to die, let him die. Just don't treat him anymore. His temper will improve, and he'll start eating again."

Jinshu nodded, her tone slightly anxious, "Ma Kun holds military power, and he's determined not to send reinforcements. I'm afraid Dingfeng Pass won't last more than a few days..."

Xue Sui said calmly, "The Crown Prince is not someone who doesn't know what's important. When the time comes, he will make a decision."

No sooner had he finished speaking than there was a soft knock on the door.

Xiao Zhao lifted the curtain and came in, her face showing a strange expression.

“Young lady, Princess Wenjia has arrived, and she has brought someone with her... It’s that Hu merchant from Xiz... Master Alimu.”

Jinshu was taken aback: "How did he find his way here?"

Xue Sui wiped his hands: "He is my guest. Jinshu, go and invite him to the east wing and prepare some hot tea and snacks."

Jinshu glanced at Xiao Zhao, somewhat puzzled.

“Alim is Xiz’s man. If the young lady is having a secret rendezvous with him now, it will likely give others cause for gossip…”

"Anyway, people will talk," Xue Sui said calmly. "Go ahead, I know what I'm doing."

Jinshu nodded and went down as instructed.

When Xue Sui got up and went out, there were already footsteps outside the courtyard.

Princess Wenjia, wearing a plain-colored cloak, led Niu Niu in. When she saw Xue Sui coming out to greet her, her eyes immediately reddened.

"The breeze is cool after the rain, what are you doing out here?"

She quickly stepped forward, took Xue Sui's hand, and frowned slightly. "You're not fully recovered yet, so you shouldn't be exposed to this cold. If the Crown Prince knew you were so exhausted, he might tear down this courtyard of mine."

"I'm fine. Princess, you don't need to worry." Xue Sui pressed down on the back of her hand, a faint smile appearing on his lips, and led her and Niu Niu into the inner room, giving instructions to Ruyi.

"Quickly bring some hot tea, and some snacks for Niu Niu..."

Ruyi smiled and agreed, then turned to do it.

Wen Jia looked at her pale face, his expression changing slightly. "Ping An, have you heard any news of General Lu these days?"

"Not yet." Xue Sui paused, raising his eyebrows slightly. "When you went to the Lu family, did you inquire with Elder Lu about it...?"

“The old general is unwell, and everyone in the household is worried about General Lu. I shouldn’t ask too much, lest I add to the sorrow.” Wen Jia’s eyes reddened slightly, and she clenched her handkerchief tightly. She said in a deep voice, “These past two days, news of the approaching rebel army has been spreading like wildfire, with all sorts of rumors circulating… Some even say… that General Lu has already been beheaded by Xiao Yan as a sacrifice to the flag…”

Xue Sui's fingertips trembled slightly as he patted her.

Wen Jia lowered her head, her voice suddenly choked with emotion, "I refuse to believe it. He promised me he would come back safely... and he promised Niu Niu he would bring back the little wooden horse for her... He wouldn't break his promise..." "Good people are always protected by heaven," Xue Sui comforted gently, "Princess, take care of yourself and wait patiently; that is the greatest support you can give General Lu..."

"The palace and the outside world are in complete chaos, how can I possibly have peace of mind?" Wen Jia shook her head, her voice low, and said, "There was a huge commotion in the court today. Those people are insisting that the Crown Prince rescind his decree to make you a concubine, otherwise they will refuse to send troops to quell the rebellion..."

Xue Sui chuckled, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"Using the country and its people to force the emperor to abdicate? Aren't they afraid of disappointing the ailing emperor?"

Wen Jia frowned and said, "I heard that those people made some harsh remarks in private. If the Crown Prince insists on refusing, they will just stand by and watch Xiao Yan invade the capital..."

Xue Sui was silent for a moment, then said, "The affairs of the court are beyond our control, and there's no use in rushing them. We can only wait and see how things unfold. However, the reason I asked you to bring Lord Alimu here today is because there's an urgent matter..."

Her tone was solemn.

Wen Jia nodded slightly.

"Then you go talk to Alimu, I'll excuse myself..."

“The princess is not an outsider.” Xue Sui pressed her hand down. “This matter involves a wide range of people. With the princess present, she can serve as a witness.”

Witness what?
Wen Jia looked at her blankly.

"It's up to you."
-
In the east wing, Alimu was pacing back and forth with his hands behind his back. When he saw Xue Sui enter, he quickly turned around and bowed, his slightly foreign accent carrying a hint of doubt.

"Greetings, Princess. Greetings, Miss Xue. May I ask what brings you here, Miss Xue?"

Xue Sui nodded in return.

"Master Alimu, please have a seat. I am honored to invite you here today because I have important matters to discuss."

After saying that, she looked at Jinshu and Xiaozhao, who were standing under the curtain.

"You can take Niu Niu outside to play. Without my permission, no one is allowed to approach the warm pavilion."

"Yes." The two responded solemnly and quietly withdrew.

Only Xue Sui, Wen Jia, and Alimu remained in the room.

Xue Sui picked up the warm teacup, took a sip, looked at Alimu, and went straight to the point:
"Master Alimu, I have two important matters to discuss with you today, despite my presumption. First, the situation in the capital is unstable, and there is a fear of great chaos... I mentioned to you last time that I needed to borrow your country's Wolf Guard, and it seems that this is imminent..."

Alimu glanced at Wenjia, then without hesitation placed his right hand on his chest, "The Xiz Wolf Guards are at your beck and call. When does the young lady need someone?"

"Wait for my message."

"Of course, of course." Alimu smiled, stroked his beard, and squinted as he asked her, "What is the second matter?"

Xue Sui put down his teacup, looked at Alimu seriously, pondered for a moment, and then said, "There's been some progress on the person you've been asking me to find."

Alimu shuddered, his voice trembling with tension.

"Has the young lady found Princess Ayinur?"

Xue Sui did not answer directly.

She quietly observed his excited expression and slowly began to speak.

"If Princess Xiz, who has been stranded in Daliang and whose fate is unknown, still has descendants... what changes will occur in the Xiz royal court, in the relations between the two countries, and in the matters you are plotting?"

Alimu's eyes sharpened, and his tone became extremely serious as he said, "To be honest, Princess Ayinur is the only child of the late King and the late Grand Consort. The Grand Consort passed away shortly after giving birth, and the late King cherished the princess dearly when he was alive... If the princess has any descendants, they will be the most noble bloodline of the Xiz royal family... We, the entire Xiz clan, will do everything in our power to protect them..."

After he finished speaking, he stared intently at Xue Sui.

"What you're saying, young lady... could it be...?"

Xue Sui's fingers, which were resting on his knees, curled slightly. He slowly leaned back in his chair, raised his eyebrows, and smiled faintly.

"Master Alimu, why don't you take a closer look at my eyebrows and eyes? Do they bear even a trace of... the spirit of the Xiz royal family?"
-
For several days.

Urgent reports from Dingfeng Pass arrived in the capital like snowflakes.

The defending general fought bravely and died for his country. The reinforcements failed to provide adequate assistance, and the remaining troops retreated to Yongding City.

Xiao Yan's army breached Dingfeng Pass and advanced directly towards the Wei River outside Yongding City...

The Wei River is the second line of defense protecting the capital, and its terrain is treacherous.

If the defense line collapses, the rebels will cross the Wei River and seize Yongding City. The passes along the way will surely surrender without a fight...

By then, the capital will be indefensible.

The situation at the front was critical, but reinforcements were slow to arrive, and the morale of the soldiers was low.

When the news reached the capital, people were filled with anxiety.

Wealthy families began moving their assets out of the city, while ordinary people, young and old, fled to the mountains to escape the disaster.

The streets were deserted, and merchants kept their shops closed.

The prices of rice, cloth, and salt in the markets rose three times a day, and black market trading was rampant.

The pressure on the Crown Prince to govern suddenly increased dramatically.

Every day, officials knelt outside the Zichen Palace, pressuring Li Zhao to retract his decree to establish a concubine and release the imprisoned Prime Minister Xiao in order to resolve the crisis of the war.

The Cixi Palace was also stirring up trouble, continuing to put pressure on the Crown Prince.

Having just recovered from his injuries, Prince Wei, Li Yan, was no longer as idle and carefree as before, spending his days playing with cats and dogs. With the support of the Empress Dowager, he curbed his behavior and stepped out from behind the scenes to the public eye...

The Empress Dowager's ambition to use this opportunity to depose Li Zhao and support Prince Wei, Li Yan, is blatantly obvious...

Deep within the palace, undercurrents surged.

Princess Ping Le and Prince Duan, Li Huan, remained completely silent, which was rather eerie...

At 3:45 AM, in the Chongwen Hall.

Li Zhao sat on the throne as regent, his face ashen.

Below the steps, civil and military officials stood in rows, the atmosphere tense and ready to fight.

Minister of Revenue Zhou Chongli stepped forward and bowed, his expression anxious. He said, “The rebel army has already crossed Dingfeng Pass… At their current pace, the main force will reach the Wei River in five days at the latest. If the defenses are lost, the heartland of the capital region will be flat as a plain, and within three months they will be at the gates of Shangjing… Your Highness, the troops in each garrison are stretched thin, and the morale of the guards at the passes is wavering. We urgently need reinforcements…”

"Strong reinforcements?" Before he could finish speaking, a majestic voice came from outside the hall, carrying an undeniable power, each word piercing to the heart.

"The Crown Prince refuses to issue an edict to execute the evil spirits and quell public anger... This chills the hearts of loyal ministers and generals; who will still be willing to risk their lives for the Eastern Palace?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Empress Dowager Chengqing, supported by Consort Cui, slowly entered.

Behind him followed Li Yan, the Prince of Wei, whose face was solemn.

The procession was magnificent and imposing.

Li Zhao squinted slightly as he looked up, a cold smile playing on his lips.

"Keep talking!"

　That's all for today, two chapters combined. Let me organize the outline briefly...

　　Mwah! Thank you so much!

　　(End of this chapter)