Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 434 Interests and Disadvantages
The Marquis of Jingyuan's residence.

Due to the heavy snowfall over the past few days, the mansion was quieter than usual.

Madam Chun sat on the heated kang doing needlework, while the third daughter, Gu Ruoyi, who had returned to her parents' home yesterday, sat beside her.

She was seven months pregnant, her belly was high and protruding, her complexion was rosy, and her eyes were full of peace and contentment.

Upon hearing the gatekeeper's report that Xue Sui had come to visit, Madam Chun hurriedly put down her work and smiled as she told someone to invite him in quickly.

Gu Ruoyi also seemed very happy. She quickly washed her hands, supported her waist, and accompanied her mother to greet them.

"With such heavy snow, why did you come, Sixth Miss? It's cold and the roads are slippery. Why didn't you send someone to let us know beforehand so we could come and pick you up?" Madam Chun personally stepped forward and took Xue Sui's arm, showing a natural concern.

Gu Ruoyi also smiled sweetly, appearing very affectionate.

"Sister Xue, it's been so long! Come inside and warm up..."

Xue Sui smiled and said, "I was passing by and thought that I hadn't seen Aunt Chun for a long time, so I came to bother you with a cup of hot tea."

She instructed Xiao Zhao and Ruyi to hand over the boxes of pastries they had brought to the maids of the Marquis's residence.

After saying that, his gaze fell on Gu Ruoyi's protruding belly, and his smile became even more genuine.

"Miss Gu looks radiant. Judging by the days, it must be about seven months along, right? Is her body feeling alright?"

"Thank you for your concern, Sister. I'm doing well." Gu Ruoyi lowered her head shyly, gently touching her belly, her happiness overflowing.

She married Zhao Hong, the eldest son of Zhao Hanwen, a PhD from the Guangwen Academy. Although it was a marriage of convenience, Zhao Hong was studious, gentle, and his parents-in-law were reasonable, resulting in a harmonious family life.

At the beginning of this year, Zhao Hong passed the provincial examination and became the top scholar, making the young couple even happier.

Who could have predicted that this marriage, which Xue Yueman once scorned, would now become a stable and fulfilling relationship that she could never hope to achieve?

The group chatted and laughed as they entered the warm pavilion, where maids busily served them hot tea and snacks.

Xue Sui took off his cloak and handed it to Ruyi. His gaze swept over the unfinished little rabbit hat on the kang table, and he smiled gently.

"Is Aunt Chun preparing clothes for her little grandson?"

Gu Ruoyi smiled sweetly, rubbing her belly, "My mother just can't sit still. She makes so much in the sewing room, but she still insists on doing these things herself."

“Things made by hand are naturally different,” Xue Sui said with a smile.

“She wouldn’t know any of this…” Madam Chun gave her daughter a reproachful look, but her eyes were full of affection. She then turned to Xue Sui and sighed, “My daughter is so lucky. Her husband is considerate, and her in-laws are kind… Alas, it’s just a pity about Wu Lang…”

The conversation then naturally turned to Gu Jie.

Compared to her sensible daughter, Madam Chun was more worried about her good-for-nothing son.

Although the Marquis was keeping him in check and his brothers often tried to persuade him, Gu Jie became increasingly dejected and depressed.

After Xue Yueying passed away, her illegitimate child with Li Yan remained in the Prince of Wei's residence under the guise of being "raised by his aunt".

Gu Jie is single again.

Lady Chun was worried about his marriage and asked someone to introduce him to several girls of similar social standing, hoping to find him a second wife. However, he refused to marry her. He spent his days either burying himself in official duties or drinking and mingling with a few unsuccessful scholars and literati, living a dissolute life and his reputation was getting worse and worse.

Looking at Xue Sui, she couldn't help but recall the past.

And so, as always, there was a sigh and regret.

"I don't know what possessed Wulang, he ruined such a good marriage. If only he had listened to me and married Liu Niang..."

"Mother—" Gu Ruoyi quietly tugged at her mother's sleeve, reminding her, "Let's not talk about these old, trivial matters. It's just making things difficult for Sister Xue for no reason..."

Madam Chun snapped out of her daze, a slight embarrassment on her face, and quickly said, "Look at me, I'm really getting senile, saying all this trivial stuff. Sixth Miss, please don't hold it against me..."

Xue Sui, holding a cup of hot tea, shook his head and said with a gentle smile, "I understand Aunt Chun's love for her son. It's just that Young Master Gu is young and promising, and his worries haven't been resolved yet. You don't need to worry too much..."

Madam Chun nodded and sighed, then went on and on about Gu Jie's recent situation.

Xue Sui listened patiently without interrupting, only occasionally nodding and smiling to comfort her.

After chatting for a while, we had some tea and snacks.

Suddenly, the curtain outside the door was lifted, and a blast of cold air, mixed with the smell of alcohol, rushed in.

Several people heard the news and left.

Gu Jie's official robe was slightly wrinkled, his cheeks were slightly red from the wind and snow, his eyes were dark and his gaze was unusually dark.

Upon seeing Xue Sui present, he was visibly taken aback, then bowed respectfully, saying, "I was unaware that Mother had guests here; my apologies. Sixth Miss, it's been a long time..."

Xue Sui looked up at him.

In just six months, Gu Jie had become so thin and frail; his former dashing and debonair demeanor was completely gone. His face was so somber that he looked less like a human being than before…

"Young Master Gu looks a little tired today. Have you been busy with official duties lately?" she asked casually, offering polite greetings without any hesitation.

Gu Jie felt inexplicably guilty and subconsciously avoided her probing gaze. "...I had a couple of drinks with my colleagues after work today. I hope you'll forgive my rudeness."

Xue Sui observed his expression, smiled knowingly, and slowly sipped her tea, seemingly mentioning it casually.

"When I came to the Marquis's residence just now, I passed through the stone-paved alley in the west city and saw a figure that looked seven or eight parts similar to Young Master Gu... So it turns out I was just seeing things."

Gu Jie clenched his fists tightly.

He raised his eyes and stared at Xue Sui.

Xue Sui smiled and glanced at him, then said nothing more, only to Madam Chun, "It's getting late, Aunt Chun, Sister Gu, I should take my leave."

Madam Chun hurriedly rose to detain her, "Sixth Miss, have you had dinner before you leave? The kitchen prepared fresh venison today, and Fifth Brother is also back now, so you young people can chat for a while..."

Xue Sui politely declined and gestured for Xiao Zhao to drape a cloak over her shoulders.

Gu Jie stood there, his eyes downcast, his fingers unconsciously curling up.

Lady Chun escorted her to the second gate. Just as Xue Sui was about to board the carriage, Gu Jie suddenly rushed up and grabbed the carriage shaft without regard for etiquette, his voice urgent.

"Sixth Miss, please wait—"

Xue Sui smiled and asked calmly through the carriage window, "Does Fifth Young Master Gu have anything else to say?"

Gu Jie's lips moved as if a thousand words were stuck in his chest. He struggled for a long time while looking into her clear eyes, but could only manage a hesitant tentative sentence.

"Do you... know something?"

Xue Sui did not answer directly, but instead asked a question with a smile.

"what?"

"she……"

"who is she?"

“You know that,” Gu Jie said with a slight inhale, his eyes lowered in a helpless tone, “She secretly returned to the capital, found me, and used my weaknesses to blackmail me…”

Xue Sui smiled coldly and looked at Lady Chun, who looked worried in the distance, his voice very soft.

"Young Master Gu, you've read more books than I have. You should understand the implications, shouldn't you? Some paths, once taken, cannot be turned back. Even if you don't think of yourself, you should at least think of your mother and your sister..."

Gu Jie's face paled, his fingers turned white from the force, and his voice became even lower and hoarse: "I understand. It's just... I have my reasons. Some debts, some grudges, I have to settle myself..."

Xue Sui said calmly, "There are many ways to end things. The stupidest way is to sacrifice yourself and everything you care about to fill a bottomless pit."

After saying that, she gave Gu Jie a meaningful look.

"Now that I have said this, young master, please consider it."

Gu Jie released his grip, staggered back a step, and said in a voice so low it was almost inaudible, "...Thank you for your guidance, Sixth Miss. I... know what to do now."

"The snow is getting heavy, let's go back." Xue Sui slowly lowered the carriage curtain, his voice calm and even.

"I'll be waiting for your good news at Yiyuan... Take care."
-
The carriage slowly started moving and soon drove away from the Jingyuan Marquis's residence.

Xue Sui leaned against the carriage wall, closing his eyes slightly to rest.

Xiao Zhao whispered, "Miss, do you think Fifth Young Master Gu... understood what you meant? Judging from his expression, I'm afraid he'll be used by Princess Ping Le again..."

Xue Sui's lips curled into a smile. "He's a smart man. As long as he's clear-headed enough, he'll know what to choose. Besides, his hatred for Ping Le is no less than mine..."

Xiao Zhao frowned: "But Princess Ping Le is so insane, if Fifth Young Master Gu gets entangled with her, he might not get away with it..."

Xue Sui opened her eyes and smiled faintly: "The crazier she is, the more flaws she reveals. Judging from her risky infiltration of the Duan Prince's mansion to instigate Li Huan, there aren't many paths she can take left. Now that the Xiao Party's foundation has been destroyed and its followers have scattered, Gu Jie has become one of the few people she can grasp right now... That's fine. It's good that she likes to walk into the trap."

Upon returning to Yiyuan Garden, Xue Sui went straight to the study.

Jinshu prepared warm ginseng soup, placed it on the table, and quietly added charcoal to the fire...

"Did your trip go smoothly, young lady?"

Xue Sui nodded, held the ginseng soup in his palm, and asked her softly.

"Did the Crown Prince reply after I left?"

Jinshu shook her head, glanced at the increasingly gloomy sky outside the window, and whispered, "But the eldest son just sent word that His Highness the Crown Prince didn't look well after he came out of the Zichen Palace this morning to pay his respects."

"Oh?" Xue Sui's gaze narrowed slightly.

"I've heard that this time, it was Prime Minister Lu who, together with several censors, remonstrated with the Emperor to the death, demanding the immediate execution of Xiao Song and... the extermination of his entire clan... It seems they have angered His Majesty..."

Taking advantage of the Crown Prince's rising popularity, it would certainly be a good thing to eradicate the Xiao family completely in one fell swoop...

However, this frequent pressure on the seriously ill Emperor Chongzhao was tantamount to forcing him to abdicate in the emperor's mind.

The rain is coming and the wind is all over the building.

She lowered her head and took a small sip, then gave instructions to Jinshu.

"Prepare the visiting cards. I will be visiting Princess Wenjia tomorrow... Also, ask Seventh Prince to come over when he has time."

She put down her teacup, her voice soft yet steady.

"After fishing for so long, it's time to haul in the net."

"Yes," Jinshu replied solemnly.
-
The next day it was sunny.

At Princess Wenjia's residence, servants are sweeping up the remaining snow.

The gatekeeper saw the carriage from Yiyuan Garden in the distance and hurriedly came down the steps to greet it, smiling and bowing.

"Sixth Miss Xue, you've finally arrived! The princess has been waiting for you all morning."

The carriage curtain was lifted, and Xue Sui bent down to get out, followed by the imposing Black Eighteen.

As soon as I entered the second gate, I heard Niu Niu's clear laughter coming from the courtyard.

Xue Sui looked up and saw the little girl wearing a festive plum blossom jacket, with her hair in two buns, standing on tiptoe to look at the birdcage under the eaves.

Lu Guanchen and Lu Tongtong were playing under the corridor, each holding a wooden sword and exchanging blows.

Wenjia sat by the window, doing needlework, glancing at the child from time to time, a gentle smile on her lips, sunlight falling on her temples, soft and serene.

"Auntie!" Niu Niu, with her sharp eyes, spotted Xue Sui first and immediately ran over.

Fearing she might fall, Xue Sui quickly stepped forward, squatted down, and caught her.

Before she could speak, Niu Niu giggled and jumped into her arms.

"Auntie, why did you take so long to come... Niu Niu has been missing you for so long."

The little girl had a sweet tongue and a soft, sweet voice. She leaned against him with a soft body, making Xue Sui's back itch and his heart melt.

Before she could speak, Niu Niu spotted Hei Shiba who had followed her, and her eyes lit up immediately.

"Auntie, is this a big dog?"

She wasn't shy at all; she stretched out her little hands, red from the cold, to touch Black Eighteen.

Black Eighteen took two steps back warily, letting out a low growl...

"Good boy. Don't bully the cute little girl..." Xue Sui gently patted its head, and Black Eighteen obediently lowered its head, humming with a wronged expression, letting the little girl curiously stroke its thick fur.

"Its name is Black Eighteen, and it's a mastiff brought from Xinjiang."

Guan Chen and Tong Tong also ran over carrying wooden swords.

"This dog is so majestic! I've never seen one like it before..." Guan Chen, looking like a young boy, tilted his head and asked earnestly, "It's so majestic! Can I pet it?"

"I want a puppy, I want to pet it too!" Tongtong was eager to try.

Neither of the two children resembled Ping Le in their features; they looked more like their father, their eyes filled with childlike purity, clean and bright, and utterly endearing.

Xue Sui smiled and gave instructions to Xiao Zhao and Ruyi.

“Keep an eye on those black 18s, don’t let them hurt the children. Take them to play for a while.”

Xiao Zhao agreed, and Ruyi immediately took out the dried meat she had brought for Hei Shiba, called the dog, and left.

The three children ran after them, and the yard was filled with laughter.

After observing for a moment, Xue Sui was greeted with a smile by Wen Jia and welcomed into the warm pavilion.

"Don't spoil them too much..." Wen Jia poured her a cup of hot tea and handed it to her, her tone affectionate. "These little rascals are getting more and more unruly. Especially Niu Niu, she's been talking about going to Yiyuan to see you every day these past few days, it's driving me crazy."

Xue Sui took the teacup, his gaze lingered on Wen Jia's face for a moment, and he smiled slightly.

"After General Lu returned, the princess looked even better, which shows that people are in high spirits when they are happy."

Wen Jia's ears burned slightly, and she whispered, "Thank goodness. I can finally get a good night's sleep."

She paused, her tone softening slightly.

"General Lu... is extremely attentive to the children, and Niu Niu is also willing to be close to him. But Guan Chen and Tong Tong would rather stay here with me and keep Niu Niu company than go back to the Lu family. General Lu is helpless, and I... am happy to have some fun."

Xue Sui slightly curved his lips, his smile growing even wider.

This is clearly Lu Youan using the child as a cover to secretly maintain his relationship with Wen Jia...

She listened quietly, without revealing their ulterior motives.

It wasn't until Wenjia mentioned that she was going to take the children to Puji Temple to offer incense and fulfill their vows, thanking the Bodhisattva for protecting Lu Youan and bringing him back safely, that she looked up and earnestly gave her instructions.

"The year is drawing to a close, and the outside world is full of all sorts of people. If the princess goes out, she must take plenty of help, and the children must be accompanied by someone..."

Wen Jia was slightly taken aback. "But... is something wrong?"

Xue Sui smiled and said, "In extraordinary times, it's always good to be cautious."

Wen Jia, a woman who had weathered many storms, immediately sensed something unusual in Xue Sui's words.

She put down her teacup, her expression becoming more serious: "Ping An, you didn't come all this way just to chat with me about these mundane things, did you?"

Xue Sui remained silent for a moment, the steam from the teacup reflecting her emotions, her voice soft yet clear.

“Wen Jia. Ping Le has already secretly returned to the capital and has been hiding in the city.”

　Today's two chapters are combined into one, so it's a bit short. Please forgive me, and thank you in advance!

　　(End of this chapter)