Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 429 Scenery
Li Zhao did not go straight into the imperial city, but instead ordered the carriage to first detour to the street corner where the Xue residence was located and stop there.

Xue Sui donned a cloak and a hood, and under Li Zhao's calm gaze, was helped down from the carriage by Xiao Zhao, heading towards the tightly closed gates of the Xue residence.

"Peace," Li Zhao suddenly called to her.

Xue Sui turned around.

He lifted the carriage curtain, and snowflakes landed on his eyebrows and eyelashes, like hidden starlight.

"The sachet." He looked at her, his gaze focused and smiling. "I'll be waiting."

Xue Sui was slightly taken aback, then smiled and nodded gently at him before turning around and knocking on the door knocker.

The door creaked open a crack, revealing the surprised face of the old gatekeeper.

"Sixth Miss? Sixth Miss is back."

"Quickly go and inform the old lady, Third Madam, that Sixth Miss has returned."

Xue Sui stepped over the high threshold and disappeared behind the door.

Li Zhao lowered the carriage curtain and closed his eyes slightly.

"Go back to the palace."
-
The carriage rumbled to life, heading towards that cold imperial city.

The East Palace remained desolate and unchanged. The palace lanterns under the corridor swayed incessantly in the wind. The snow on the ground was swept clean, yet it exuded an inescapable sense of bleakness.

Li Zhao stood at the foot of the steps, looking up at the falling snowflakes. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened them again, all the weariness and warmth had vanished, leaving only a bottomless stillness.

He waved away the palace servants who came forward to attend to him and went into his study alone.

Mei Ruhui and several officials from the Eastern Palace were already waiting inside. When they saw him enter, they all bowed in greeting.

The desk was piled high with reports that had accumulated since he left the capital. Major national events, court intrigues, people's livelihoods and the economy... every single one of them was here, carrying a heavy weight.

"Your Highness, you must be tired from your journey." Mei Ruhui stepped forward, his tone respectful.

Li Zhao nodded, sat down, and did not immediately look at the report, but instead looked at the snowflakes falling outside the window.

"How is the situation in the palace?"

"His Majesty still summons ministers daily, but his energy has diminished considerably. He appears weary after only half an hour of reviewing memorials... Doctor Shu went to take his pulse every other day, and the day before yesterday, he was summoned by the Empress Dowager for questioning. He did not look well when he came out. Her Majesty the Empress is far pregnant and her body is much heavier than before. She rarely goes to the Zichen Palace. Currently, it is Consort Zhen who is frequently attending to His Majesty..."

He paused, then cautiously observed the Crown Prince's expression.

"When Empress Dowager Chengqing learned of His Highness's return to the capital... she summoned the imperial physicians several times, saying it was a recurrence of his headache, and exempted him from paying respects to the emperor at the palace. But our people saw that the head eunuch in the Empress Dowager's palace frequently visited His Highness Prince Wei at the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs..."

Li Zhao listened quietly without saying a word.

After a long pause, he finally asked, "Where is Prince Duan?"

“Since leaving the capital, His Highness Prince Duan has kept a low profile. Apart from going to the palace to pay his respects to His Majesty and the Empress Dowager as usual, he has been reading and painting in his residence, and occasionally playing chess and drinking tea with his guests and advisors. There has been no unusual activity.”

"He's patient," Li Zhao scoffed lightly, then said calmly, "Keep a close eye on him. I don't believe he can just sit quietly and live a peaceful life in the Prince's mansion."

"Yes." Mei Ruhui bowed, hesitated for a moment, then looked up and asked, "Your Highness must be tired from your journey. Shall we serve a meal first...?"

“No need.” Li Zhao interrupted him, looking up at Lai Fu.

"Prepare water. After I bathe and change, I will go to visit my father."

“But Your Highness’s health…” Mei Ruhui looked worried.

Li Zhao waved his hand, "Caring for someone who is ill is the true mark of filial piety."

Mei Ruhui understood somewhat and respectfully agreed.

Lai Fu immediately lowered his head: "I'll go prepare it right away."
-
The wind and snow were pounding against the windowpanes.

A new storm is brewing.

At this moment, however, the Xue residence presents a completely different scene.

Xue Sui's sudden return caught the Xue family off guard, leaving them both surprised and suspicious.

Madam Fu, the first wife, was the first to receive the news. She was called out by the old lady with an uneasy expression, and her face turned pale.

Madam Cui, Third Madam Qian, and Xue Yuelou were genuinely overjoyed and practically ran to the entrance of the hall, supported by their maids.

“My sixth daughter…” Old Mrs. Cui grabbed Xue Sui’s hand. “You scared your grandmother to death! You dared to go to such a dangerous place as the Western Frontier. If anything had happened to you, how could your grandmother live on…”

As she spoke, she choked up and began wiping away tears.

Xue Yuelou quickly helped her up and handed her a handkerchief to wipe away her tears.

Madam Qian also rushed forward, greeting her, "Sixth Miss has returned safely; the Old Madam should be happy. Come, come, let Third Aunt take a look. Has she lost weight? Is she feeling unwell? I heard it's terribly cold over there; has she caught a chill?"

She spoke with a smile, but her eyes kept glancing anxiously behind Xue Sui.

Xue Sui helped the old lady into the house and said gently, "Thank you for your concern, Grandmother and Third Aunt. I am fine."

Unable to contain herself, Madam Qian grabbed Xue Sui's hand and asked, "Where is your third uncle? Why didn't he come back with you?"

Xue Sui smiled slightly and took out a letter from his sleeve.

"My third uncle is currently on orders to handle military affairs in the western frontier and will not be able to return to the capital to report for duty until later. He is worried about his family and wrote a letter back to let them know he is safe."

Then she looked at the old lady and said with a smile, "Third Uncle has made great contributions this time. His Highness the Crown Prince has promoted him to the rank of Lieutenant General. The official document of the imperial court's reward will be issued soon."

Upon hearing this, Madam Cui was so delighted that she began chanting Buddhist mantras.

"Thank God! Our Xue family has finally produced another general!"

Everyone offered their congratulations, but only Madam Fu's smile was forced. After exchanging a few words, Xue Sui rose to take his leave.

"Having been away from Beijing for so long, I am truly missing my mother, so I am returning to Yiyuan."

She addressed Xue Ji as "mother" without any hesitation. Madam Fu's lips twitched, but she didn't dare to say anything.

It seemed that everyone then realized that she was no longer the Xue Liu who had to read other people's faces.

Her birth mother was the rightful Grand Princess of Xiz, a woman of noble status. Yiyuan was a property bestowed by the Crown Prince, even more prestigious than the Xue family mansion...

They and the Xue family were already two separate families.

Grandma Cui felt a pang of sadness, but asked with a smile, "It's time to go back and see. How is your mother?"

Xue Sui said, "Yiyuan sent a message earlier saying that I have recovered greatly. Thank you for your concern, Grandmother."

Qian gave him a wink from the side.

The old lady smiled awkwardly and said apologetically, "In the past, in the manor... alas, I have always been sorry to you and your mother. Especially when your mother first entered the manor, it was all because this old woman was confused... Now that you have established yourselves outside and are living a stable and peaceful life, your grandmother is happy for you. When you have time, come back and visit often. This is, after all, your home."

Xue Sui nodded.

Just then, a faint, hesitant voice came from outside the door.

"Sixth Sister..."

Xue Sui looked up and saw that it was Xue Yue'e, the ninth daughter who had married into the Wei Prince's mansion as his second wife.

She stood outside the threshold, her face pale, her eyes timid and evasive, showing no trace of the pride of the Prince's principal wife.

Xue Sui's gaze lingered on her for a moment, then he said calmly:
"Princess Consort of Wei, it's been a long time."

Facing the cold gazes of the crowd, Xue Yue'e lowered her voice even further.

"I didn't know Sixth Sister had returned. I... I came to pay my respects to Grandmother, but I didn't expect to run into you, Sister..."

Old Madam Cui's face darkened slightly. She glanced at Xue Yue'e and quickly smiled at Xue Sui, saying, "Your ninth sister was also thinking of you. Knowing you were coming back, she came especially for you."

Xue Sui hummed in agreement, looking over with a half-smile, "I've heard that His Highness Prince Wei has been rather uneasy lately. I imagine Ninth Sister must be feeling rather lonely in the Prince's residence?"

It's more than just "not very comfortable"!

The Prince of Wei was implicated in the Xiao family palace coup and was imprisoned by the emperor in the Imperial Clan Court, where he has not been released to this day.

A flicker of panic and humiliation flashed in Xue Yue'e's eyes, but she quickly lowered them again, twisting her handkerchief between her fingers as she sat down awkwardly to one side.

"The Prince is currently imprisoned in the Imperial Clan Court and is very anxious, always hoping for an opportunity to plead with His Majesty for mercy... I also hope that Sixth Sister can put in a good word for our Prince before His Highness the Crown Prince..."

Her voice grew softer and softer until it was almost inaudible.

Qian curled her lip, clearly looking down on her appearance.

When she married into the Prince of Wei's mansion as a princess, how glamorous and flamboyant she was, never giving anyone a friendly look.
Unexpectedly, the Prince of Wei was so incompetent that he dared to secretly mobilize the imperial guards, participate in the palace coup, and was caught red-handed by the newly awakened Emperor Chongzhao...

At first, it was thought that he was only temporarily frustrated and would soon be able to get out of trouble. But seeing that His Majesty was seriously ill and the Crown Prince's power was growing stronger day by day, even the Empress Dowager was powerless to reverse the situation. It seemed that the Wei Prince's mansion was about to fall into complete ruin.

She was having a hard time, so she reluctantly went back to her parents' home to find a solution.

But how could she possibly have the nerve to try and get close to the King of Wei after how he had treated Xue Sui?

Xue Sui took everything in, a cold smile playing on his lips.

This Miss Xue must have had a very difficult time, which is why she lowered herself to show goodwill to her half-sister, whom she used to despise.

Just right.

She needs eyes and ears, placed where they should be.

Xue Sui sighed softly, his tone indifferent.

“We’re all family, so there’s no need for such formalities. If you have time, Ninth Sister, you might as well come to Yi Garden for a visit. It’s quiet there, and no one will gossip. If you’re feeling down, we sisters can chat.”

Xue Yue'e's eyes suddenly lit up, as if she had grasped a lifeline. Her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she just nodded heavily, her voice choked with emotion.

"Thank you, Sixth Sister. I... I will come to bother you often."

Seeing the sisters getting along well, Madam Fu's expression immediately became quite interesting.

Xue Sui lowered his eyes, concealing a hint of sarcasm in them, and rose to take his leave.

Xiao Zhao was already waiting outside. When she saw her come out, she quickly handed her a hand warmer.

"Girl, it's windy outside, warm your hands quickly..."

Xue Sui took the hand warmer and looked up at the gray sky.

The wind and snow intensified...

This game of chess, full of fierce battles and intrigue, is about to come to an end.

　See you tomorrow.

　　Li Zhao: I haven't had a chance to show my abilities yet...

　　Xue Sui: What are you trying to show?

　　Li Zhao: Breaking a large stone on his chest.

　　(End of this chapter)