Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 408 Jingbo Garden

Xue Sui moved his stiff back and softly hummed in agreement.

Li Zhao put down his wine cup and tapped his palm lightly on the table, making a very slight sound, signaling Guan Ya to come closer.

"Your Highness?" Guan Ya bowed.

"The young lady is not feeling well, please take her downstairs to rest."

Guan Ya bowed and accepted the order.

Seeing this, the wise prince immediately said, “The camp is poorly furnished, mostly used by soldiers, which is inconvenient for the women. I’m afraid Miss Xue Liu wouldn’t be used to it either. I have a villa outside Yongding City, only ten miles from here. It’s quiet and elegant, and has all the necessities. If Your Highness doesn’t mind, why don’t you invite Miss Xue Liu to come with my wife? It’s quieter than the camp, and my wife can keep Miss Xue Liu company and chat with her to relieve her boredom.”

The Princess Consort beside him nodded with a smile, her gaze gently falling on Xue Sui.

"The garden isn't large, but it's clean and tidy. Miss Xue, why don't you come with me? That way I can show you some hospitality."

Xue Sui looked at Li Zhao through the gauze curtain and saw him nod almost imperceptibly before rising and curtsying to the Prince Xian and his wife.

"In that case, I will be troubling Your Highness and Your Highness."

"Sixth Miss Xue, you're too kind." Madam Wen smiled gently, rose from her seat, and personally came over to take Xue Sui's hand. "The nights in the Western Frontier are cold and the dew is heavy. The desolate roads are deserted. With Sixth Miss Xue by my side, it will be less lonely."

"Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty and Your Highness." Li Zhao glanced at Xue Sui, then winked at Guan Ya, "Escort the Princess and the young lady over there."
-
Once seated in the carriage, Xue Sui's tense nerves relaxed slightly.

A heater was burning inside the car, dispelling the chill of Xisai.

Princess Wen, the Virtuous Princess, spoke softly and gently, recounting everyday matters.

"That garden was originally built in the early years of this dynasty by a retired scholar named Jingbo, meaning 'a tranquil mind like still water.' After the prince took over, he didn't make any major changes, only slightly repairing the buildings and adding a few plants..."

Xue Sui listened quietly, occasionally responding with a soft smile.

Along the way, Wen told many stories about the local customs and culture of Yunnan. He talked about how to pick mushrooms in the mountains, how the chieftains of different ethnic groups interacted, and how the people in the border areas spent the winter. These were just some of the little details about life.

Xue Sui's brows and eyes gradually relaxed.

This virtuous princess appears gentle and compliant, yet she possesses profound wisdom; no wonder she was able to help the virtuous prince establish a stable foothold in Dianzhou.
-
The villa was not far from the main camp, and the carriage arrived quickly.

Just as Princess Xian had said, the garden was not large, and even somewhat old. The two vermilion wooden doors were slightly mottled. The plaque bearing the inscription "Jingbo Garden" had also faded, revealing a touch of ancient charm.

Passing the screen wall, you can see a row of simple and elegant rooms, with lanterns hanging under the eaves. The warm yellow light reflects the white snow on the corners of the eaves, making it exceptionally quiet and beautiful.

Servants were already waiting with lanterns. When they saw their master arrive, they hurriedly stepped forward to take his luggage, bowed and greeted him, showing perfect manners.

Madam Wen was even more considerate and thoughtful, speaking softly and gently, "Miss, you must be tired from your journey. Please come inside and warm up. This garden is small and there aren't many servants, so please don't be offended if there's anything I haven't done well."

"Your Highness has gone to great lengths to arrange this; it is already very kind of you. Xue Sui is extremely grateful." Xue Sui followed her inside.

The room was bright and clean, and the furnishings, though not brand new, were simple and elegant. Most importantly, the copper brazier was burning brightly, and a faint incense scent filled the air, creating a comfortable and peaceful atmosphere…

"The prince has been in Dianzhou for more than ten years, and he likes to collect old objects like these. He says that seeing them makes him feel at ease." "Simplicity reveals true quality, which is rare indeed," Xue Sui said with a slight smile.

Princess Xian personally poured a cup of hot tea and handed it to Xue Sui. As she watched the steam rise over Xue Sui's face, she showed a hint of admiration. "Speaking of which, young lady, your courage and loyalty in traveling thousands of miles to the battlefield are truly admirable. This place is freezing cold and dangerous, even an ordinary man would think twice... If it were me, I would never dare to do it."

Xue Sui paused slightly as he unfastened his cloak, then looked up at Wen Shi.

"Your Highness is too kind. Dianzhou is a strategically important border region with a complex situation. It is truly remarkable that Your Highness has been able to accompany the Prince in safeguarding this area and ensuring the people's well-being. Xue Sui's actions are really not worth mentioning."

Wen sighed softly, a hint of melancholy in his smile.

"The young lady is a perceptive person. To be honest, when the Prince first arrived in Dianzhou, his foundation was weak. He was suspected by the court above, surrounded by local chieftains below, and eyed by neighboring states... He also walked on thin ice, daring not to slack off in the slightest. Training troops, establishing military farms, pacifying various tribes... the effort he put into all of these tasks was unimaginable to others. He often worked late into the night and got up again before dawn. In just a few years, his temples were already streaked with white..."

Her gentle tone painted a vivid picture of Li Shao's hardships and struggles in Yunnan, far from the center of power.

"Your Highness has it tough," Xue Sui said sincerely.

"Yes." Madam Wen nodded, her eyes filled with a wife's heartache for her husband.

"Outsiders only say that the Prince Xian is dull and doesn't flaunt his romantic nature like the nobles in the capital. But the fact that this land of Dianzhou has such real stability is exactly what the Prince desires. The Prince is truly happy to be able to do his part for His Highness the Crown Prince this time."

She touched on the point briefly, expressing Li Shao's contentment with remaining on the frontier.

Then she smiled gently at Xue Sui and said, "Look at me, I've been so busy rambling on that I've kept you from resting. Please get settled quickly, and we can talk again tomorrow when you have some free time. This garden is simple, so if you feel cold at night, just tell the maids to add some charcoal."

"Thank you, Your Highness, this is far too thoughtful." Xue Sui bowed and thanked her.

"No need to be so polite, Miss, please rest well." The princess smiled and said considerately, "I'll leave two maids outside to be at your service. If there's anything you need, just let me know."

Xue Sui nodded in agreement, saw her to the door, and watched her head towards the main courtyard before turning back into the house.

The room was warm and cozy, filled with calming incense. Xue Sui quickly washed up, changed into soft nightgown, and lay down in the warm, fragrant, and soft brocade quilt, her body relaxing almost instantly.

"Finally, I can get a good night's sleep," she sighed.

"Miss, would you like to leave the light on?" Xiao Zhao asked softly.

"No need, you're exhausted too, go and rest." Xue Sui said with her eyes closed, "This garden is quiet, with the Prince Xian's guards and Guan Ya watching over it, I don't think anything will happen..."

Although Xiao Zhao had practiced martial arts since childhood and was physically stronger than others, she was still just a young girl. The journey was full of hardships and fears, and she had indeed suffered a lot.

She responded with a "yes," blew out the candle, and quietly retreated, closing the door behind her.

Darkness and warmth enveloped them, the bedding carried a faint scent of soapberry, and the occasional rustling of wind through dry branches drifted in from outside the window. Unlike the bustling metropolis of the capital, the winter nights in the western borderlands were so quiet that one could almost hear the falling snow.

Xue Sui was so tired that her head barely touched the pillow before she drifted off to sleep, her breathing gradually becoming long and even...

(End of this chapter)