Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 407 Unpredictable
"Your subject pays respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince." Li Shao bowed, performing a meticulous bow to Li Zhao.

The Princess Consort was also respectful, neither appearing humble nor overstepping her bounds, her manners and etiquette were just right.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please rise and make the formalities." Li Zhao rose and gestured for them to sit down, his voice warm and gentle. "Please take a seat. This time, the siege of Black Stone Ferry was lifted entirely thanks to Your Majesty's divine intervention. I will remember this kindness in my heart."

"Your Highness is too kind," Li Shao said calmly, without any hint of arrogance. "Dianzhou borders the western frontier, and the Xiao bandits are causing trouble. If they are gone, we will be left with nothing. I have only done my duty to defend the land and contributed my meager strength. The Battle of Heishi Ferry was entirely due to Your Highness's skillful command, which is the key to stabilizing the situation."

As he spoke, his gaze turned to Xue Sui, who was wearing a veil beside Li Zhao.

"This young lady is..."

Li Zhao naturally took Xue Sui's hand and led her to his side, his voice clear and solemn: "Ping An, quickly greet my eldest brother."

Then he said to Li Shao, "This is my betrothed Crown Princess, Xue Sui Sui."

Xue Shi Sui Sui is a very affectionate way of addressing someone.

Li Shao was slightly taken aback, and then saw Xue Sui bow slightly.

"Xue Sui greets His Highness the Prince and His Highness the Princess."

Wen looked at her gently and nodded in return with a smile.

A fleeting look of surprise crossed Li Shao's eyes, which quickly vanished, leaving only polite small talk.

"I have long heard of Miss Xue's kind heart and unparalleled beauty. Today, having met her, I can confirm that her reputation is well-deserved. Your Highness is truly blessed."

Li Zhao smiled and said, "Your Majesty is too kind. Please take a seat. There are not many delicacies in the army, so I have prepared some simple wine, which is of little importance."

After some polite exchanges, everyone sat down again.

The banquet begins.

The atmosphere was lively with toasts and laughter.

Li Shao was a man of few words, but his responses were polite and he appeared honest and gentle.

Li Zhao spoke with ease and composure, recounting the thrilling moments of several tough battles to the generals, which stirred the crowd to excitement, with some even slapping the table in approval.

The atmosphere was harmonious and warm.

After several rounds of drinks, Xue Sui found an excuse to leave the table and step out of the tent for some fresh air.

The night breeze brushed her face, its chill chilling and refreshing, which cleared her mind considerably.

She waited quietly, and sure enough, a slender figure quietly followed her out in no time.

It was Lu Youan.

"Sixth Miss Xue, it's been a long time. I wonder... how is Princess Wenjia?"

"Not good." Xue Sui turned her face, the moonlight illuminating her silhouette behind the light veil.

"She was worried about General Lu's safety, and couldn't sleep day or night. She also lost a lot of weight..."

Lu Youan remained silent for a moment, a hint of shame appearing on his face. He slowly walked to Xue Sui's side and stopped, gazing at the campfires in the camp. His voice was low and hoarse, carrying a sense of vicissitude from surviving a catastrophe.

"I let her down."

"General Lu, what exactly is the hidden story behind this?"

Lu Youan sighed softly, "The water dungeon of Shaquan Fortress is a place where one is almost certain to die, it is no exaggeration. But... it is also a link in His Highness's plan. I was just a pawn to help His Highness complete the plan to lure the enemy and deceive them."

Xue Sui's heart skipped a beat, and he listened intently to what followed.

Lu Youan continued, “His Majesty is seriously ill, and the Xiao family’s cronies are everywhere in the court and the country, their ambitions are obvious. Your Highness knows that to cure the disease, the festering sore must be opened.”

He paused, then looked at Xue Sui, "Doctor Shu's miraculous healing skills have already stabilized His Majesty's condition. So Your Highness used this opportunity to withdraw from the western campaign, luring the Xiao family into the scheme… Xiao Yan is ambitious, yet stubborn and suspicious. Your Highness used yourself as bait, launching a surprise attack on Yingchoujian, burning their supplies, forcing them into a corner. Their factions in the capital will inevitably be unable to restrain themselves, and taking advantage of His Majesty's serious illness, they will plot a coup… When His Majesty awakens then, the Xiao family's escape route will be cut off…"

Lu Youan's voice was unusually calm.

"As for Prince Xian... my grandfather had shown him kindness in the past, but never intended to repay that kindness. However, with the world in turmoil and the nation in peril, Prince Xian is well aware of the situation. This time, His Highness the Crown Prince... is also giving Prince Xian a choice and a stance. It is both using him as a tool and gathering the strength of the world to jointly punish the traitors... to let the world see who is protecting the people and who is wreaking havoc on the land?"

Xue Sui listened quietly.

The night breeze caressed the light veil covering her face, causing it to flutter endlessly.

Lu Youan's words were like a key, unlocking many secrets that had lingered in her heart for a long time.

Emperor Chongzhao, whom Tian Shu is "doing his best to save," will awaken at a crucial moment. Li Zhao's seemingly risky personal expedition, Xiao Wenyuan's manipulation of Li Huan and Li Yan to launch a palace coup, Empress Dowager Chengqing's instigation, Yu Qianshan's slaying of Ma Kun on the battlefield and taking control of the army...

All the fragments were connected by a clear line at this moment—

By forcing the Xiao family to rebel, they achieved their goal in one battle.

What a grand strategy, what a steady hand.

“The only unexpected thing is Prince Duan.” Lu Youan’s voice lowered, with a hint of a sigh. “With the Crown Prince away from the capital, His Majesty seriously ill, and the Empress Dowager interfering in politics, it was a golden opportunity. I thought that Prince Duan would be unable to restrain himself and would collude with the Xiao family to seize power. Unexpectedly, he remained inactive and escaped a disaster.”

Xue Sui's lips curled slightly.

Thinking of what Li Huan had said to her that day, she couldn't help but smile faintly.

"This man is deep and shrewd, extremely patient, and his schemes are probably even more far-reaching than Xiao Yan's."

Lu Youan nodded: "His Highness the Crown Prince also said that Prince Duan is the real formidable rival and must be guarded against. But I think that Prince Duan has always been patient and low-key, so perhaps he really has no intention of seizing the throne...?"

Xue Sui remained silent.

Li Huan's suppressed ambition, like an undercurrent beneath the ice, will not subside but will only become more turbulent and dangerous.

As they were talking, the curtain behind them was lifted.

Li Zhao appeared at the doorway.

He spotted the two people standing side by side under the moonlight at a glance and strode over.

"What are you talking about?"

His tone was natural, his gaze sweeping between Xue Sui and Lu Youan, his expression calm. Xue Sui, however, slightly pursed her lips, pretending not to notice his emotions.

Lu Youan bowed and said, "I chatted with Miss Xue for a while about the scenery of the Western Frontier. Your Highness, I shall take my leave now."

He tactfully stepped aside, leaving the two of them alone.

Li Zhao walked up to Xue Sui, his tall figure shielding her from the night wind.

"Have you found out everything?"

Their eyes met.

Xue Sui responded softly, looking into his eyes through her veil, her voice tinged with a complex heartache.

"So Your Highness's personal expedition to the Western Frontier, leaving General Lu to guard the capital, was all a pre-planned scheme?"

“Not entirely.” A cold glint flashed in Li Zhao’s eyes. “Getting the Prince Xian to send troops was just an unexpected gain.”

Xue Sui looked at his spirited appearance and sighed softly.

Aren't you afraid I'll worry?

Li Zhao took her hand and gently kissed it. "I was afraid. That's why I had Tian Shu keep an eye on you. I knew as soon as you left the capital."

Xue Sui sneered, "Madman."

Li Zhao understood her unspoken feelings, his eyes filled with warmth. He reached out and gently brushed away the veil that had been blown to her cheek by the wind, his fingertips lingering on her earlobe, and chuckled softly.

"worth."

Two words, spoken with resounding force.

After saying that, he took her slightly cool hand and squeezed it tightly.

"Let's go, the food and drinks are getting cold."

The two returned to the tent hand in hand.

Prince Li Shao raised his cup to Li Zhao, his posture humble yet possessing an air of composure.

"Today, we offer this strong liquor from the army to His Highness the Crown Prince for his strategic brilliance in protecting the western borders and consolidating the foundation of the Great Liang. We also wish that our dynasty will soon quell the rebellion and that the hearts of all under heaven will be with us!"

His words were earnest, and after speaking, his gaze swept over the generals present.

"Gentlemen, please drink this cup together."

"Respect to His Highness the Crown Prince! Respect to His Highness the Prince of Xian! Respect to the Great Liang!"

The generals echoed in unison, their voices resounding above the tent. Even the Princess Consort of Xian raised her wine cup with a smile.

The atmosphere reached its peak.

Li Zhaoyao raised his wine cup and drank it all in one gulp. "After the western frontier is pacified, I will need Your Majesty to put in a lot of effort to strengthen the border defenses and appease the people on the frontier..."

"It's my duty." The wise prince smiled and turned his gaze to Xue Sui. "Sixth Miss Xue looks gentle and quiet, yet she dares to go to dangerous places with His Highness the Crown Prince. That's rare." He raised his wine cup. "On this auspicious occasion, I would also like to offer a toast to the young lady."

Just as Li Zhao was about to respond, he caught a glimpse of Xue Sui picking up a full wine cup, turning his wrist with remarkable ease, and gently pressing it down.

"Please forgive me, Your Majesty." His voice was clear and strong, but his gaze softened instantly as he turned to Xue Sui.

“She is frail and cannot hold her liquor, so I will drink this cup for her.”

After saying that, he picked up her wine glass, tilted his head back, and drank it down.

Then another cup of warm fruit wine was served.

"Please drink this; it's just a small token of my appreciation."

The atmosphere inside the tent froze, becoming subtly tense.

The Crown Prince's undisguised favoritism made everyone think twice.

Princess Wen, the Virtuous Princess, smiled more deeply and glanced at her husband beside her.

Li Shao was slightly taken aback, but readily smiled.

"It was my oversight. Please make yourself at home, Miss Xue."

He tilted his head back and drank the wine in his glass in one gulp, his posture carefree.

Xue Sui felt the gazes coming from all directions, picked up the fruit wine that Li Zhao pushed over, and nodded slightly to the Prince of Chaoxian, taking a small sip.

The sweet taste slid down my throat, and his small gesture quietly soothed my heavy heart...

The feast continues.

Li Zhao discussed with the wise king and his generals the arrangements after the war in the western frontier, including the suppression of rebels, the resettlement of displaced people, and the defense of the border...

Xue Sui sat quietly beside him, like silent water, reflecting the light in his eyes and watching the undercurrents within the tent...

The wise prince, seemingly simple and honest, always spoke with a degree of calculation. Li Zhao responded with composure, his every word laced with wit. Qi Mingyang was carefree and straightforward, his words always sharp and incisive. Lu Youan observed calmly, understanding the whole situation perfectly, leaving no room for error…

The thoughts in this tent are even more complex than those in the inner quarters of the capital.

She was exhausted; the days of travel and her lingering illness had made her eyelids heavy. Li Zhao noticed this and asked her in a low voice.

"Go and rest?"

　Xue Sui: I'm sleepy.

　　Li Zhao: I'll stay up with you while you sleep...

　　Xiao Zhao: You audacious scoundrel, how dare you take advantage of my girl! (Adding another order)

　　(End of this chapter)