Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 435 A Woman's Scheme

Wen Jia's hand holding the teacup trembled slightly, but she wasn't too surprised.

"With Ping Le's temperament, how could he be content to live in seclusion in Shuozhou?"

She sighed softly again.

"I just didn't expect her to actually dare to come back."

Xue Sui said, "With the Xiao faction fallen, she has lost her backer and will only become more reckless than before..."

Before she could finish speaking, she glanced at Wen Jia.

"After all, she and General Lu were once husband and wife, and the entanglements of their relationship are difficult for outsiders to fully understand..."

Wen Jia's face paled slightly, and her eyes turned dark.

"I understand your idea."

She lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously clenching the handkerchief. "To be honest, I've been feeling uneasy these past few days, as if something is blocking my heart... I initially thought it was because I was tired from all the things that happened before the New Year. But now that you mention it, I'm a little scared..."

Xue Sui nodded: "She probably harbors deep resentment. How could she bear to see General Lu's children enjoying themselves and his new bride by his side? If she really has such intentions, you and the children will probably be the first to suffer. General Lu is busy with official duties and there are bound to be places he cannot take care of. Princess, you need to be extra careful."

Wen Jia broke out in a cold sweat upon thinking about it.

She sat closer and took Xue Sui's hand in hers; her fingertips were icy cold.

"Ping An, dear sister, now that you've come, you must have a plan. Tell me quickly, what should I do?"

Xue Sui smiled.

"There's no need to panic. Let me explain..."

The two touched heads and spoke in hushed tones.

The charcoal stove in the warm room was burning brightly, and when they got excited talking about it, their cheeks even felt a little hot...

After an unknown amount of time, footsteps were heard outside the door.

A steward strode over and spoke respectfully.

"Your Highness, Miss Ping'an, the envoy from Xiz, Lord Alhasan, has arrived at Yiyuan. Aunt Jinshu sent someone to inquire when you will have time to meet with her."

Wen Jia looked at Xue Sui in surprise, her eyelashes trembling slightly.

"Did you summon Hassan?"

Xue Sui nodded and put down his teacup: "The delegation will be returning soon, and there are some things I need to explain to them. Princess, I'll take my leave now. Please take care."

"Take care." Wen Jia stood up to see him off.

As Xue Sui stepped out of the warm pavilion, Hei Shiba immediately abandoned the children who were playing and jogged after her.

Niu Niu followed after him reluctantly, hugged Hei Shiba's neck, and pouted, acting coquettishly.

"Auntie, can I keep Black Eighteen? I want it to play with me."

Xue Sui smiled and patted Niu Niu's head. "Hei Shiba is hard to control, and I'm afraid it will frighten others. I'll bring it to see you again after I'm done with this busy period, okay?"

Niu Niu gave an "oh," a little disappointed, but also nodded understandingly.

"Then Auntie should come quickly..."

Xue Sui made a pinky promise with her, nodded to Wen Jia, and then turned and left.
-
Hassan was already waiting in the flower hall of Yiyuan.

This Xiz envoy was about forty years old, with deep features and a tall, robust build. He was dressed in a brocade robe, a style unique to Xiz nobles, and sat properly. Upon seeing Xue Sui enter, he immediately stood up and bowed with his hand on his chest in accordance with etiquette.

"Hassan has come as summoned. What are your orders, young lady?"

Xue Sui returned the courtesy halfway, gestured for Hassan to sit down, and instructed Jinshu to serve tea.

"Your Excellency, please have a seat. I've heard that the delegation has finalized its return arrangements. When do you plan to leave the capital?"

Al-Hassan laughed and said, "We have been staying in the capital for several months. Seeing that Her Highness the Princess is gradually recovering, we are about to set off after the New Year to return to Chishui City to report back... The young lady summoned me here, but Her Highness the Princess is unwell again..."

Xue Sui gestured for him to drink some hot tea to warm himself up, then smiled and said, "Mother is feeling well. She invited you here today because she has something else to ask of you."

Al-Hassan quickly replied, "Please speak, young lady."

Xue Sui dismissed his attendants, leaving only Jin Shu by his side.

"Does Your Excellency know about the massacre at the Old Mausoleum Marsh thirty years ago?"

Hassan's expression changed slightly, and he immediately sat up straight, his tone becoming serious. "How could I not know? Back then, my Xiz delegation, carrying generous gifts, was attacked by bandits on the way to the capital, and none of them survived. Her Highness the Princess also disappeared without a trace... If it weren't for this, the late king wouldn't have sent troops to the border to help the Emperor of Liang overthrow the previous dynasty..."

"Does Your Excellency know that those who attacked the delegation back then were not mountain bandits or outlaws, but rather high-ranking officials of the Great Liang Dynasty who colluded with border generals to carry out the attack on a premeditated act?"

Xue Sui stared intently at him.

Hassan stood up abruptly, his face ashen: "Is what you're saying true, young lady? So... someone deliberately kidnapped the young Princess Aynur to create a misunderstanding?"

“That’s not quite it.” Xue Sui shook his head, invited him to sit down, and then said, “Back then, my mother secretly left Chishui City without informing the previous dynasty’s court. No one knew her princess status, otherwise they wouldn’t have abandoned her in the wilderness to fend for herself…”

"Young lady, who on earth did this?"

Xue Sui picked up his teacup, took a sip, paused, and continued:
"Back then, Xiao Song secretly raised assassins, disguised them as bandits, and ambushed the Xiz delegation. His aim was twofold: first, to sabotage diplomatic relations between the two countries, divert the previous dynasty's attention to the border, and create tension; second, to frame General Xiao Chong, the Grand General of the State, to arouse the emperor's suspicion and pave the way for his own usurpation… My mother suffered an undeserved calamity. If not for her great fortune, she would probably be a skeleton in a mass grave by now…"

Hassan frowned, his eyes filled with confusion.

"As far as I know, Xiao Song and the former General Xiao Chong are brothers of the same clan. Why would they kill each other and do such a vile and immoral thing?"

Xue Sui spoke calmly, yet with a hint of mockery.

"It was precisely because they were cousins ​​that jealousy arose. Xiao Song's father, Xiao Yuan, and Xiao Chong's father, Xiao Zheng, were biological brothers. Xiao Zheng was the eldest son of the eldest branch, an upright and incorruptible man with numerous military achievements. In order to marry his childhood sweetheart, he resolutely refused the imperial marriage, causing that Princess Zhaoyang—who is now the Grand Princess—Xiao Song's birth mother, to lose face and become a laughing stock..."

"Princess Zhaoyang eventually married Xiao Yuan, but she always harbored resentment... Xiao Yuan was less capable than her cousin, and narrow-minded. After marriage, Princess Zhaoyang, comparing the two, couldn't forget Xiao Zheng and grew increasingly cold and distant towards Xiao Yuan... Xiao Yuan became depressed and died young. Influenced by his father from a young age, Xiao Song held this grudge against Xiao Zheng's lineage..."

Hassan understood the gist of it.

"Later, Xiao Chong inherited his father's career and made great contributions at a young age. He was appointed as the Grand General of the State, and the eldest branch of the Xiao family became more glorious than before. Wouldn't Xiao Song be even more envious?"

“Exactly.” Xue Sui’s voice deepened as he said softly, “Xiao Song coveted Xiao Chong’s prestige and military power, and there was also the resentment accumulated by their fathers, which led to all the subsequent events…”

She gave Jinshu, who was standing to the side, a wink.

Jinshu understood and gently pushed the evidence that Tian Shu had compiled, along with the secret documents that Li Zhao had brought to Shuiyue Nunnery, in front of Hassan.

"Please take a look, Your Excellency. Here are the confessions of the assassins who participated in the ambush of the delegation, as well as correspondence between Xiao Song and the border general..."

Hassan picked up the yellowed files with trembling hands.

On yellowed paper and old ink, every word is stained with blood.

He looked at each item one by one, and the more he looked, the heavier his breathing became...

"What a fine Xiao Song! What a great minister of Liang... If we don't avenge this, how can we face the tragically killed souls of the wolf clan..."

Xue Sui waited until he calmed down before speaking again.

"Although the Xiao family has fallen from power, the truth of this case has not yet come to light. Xiao Song is still clinging to life in prison, trying to escape punishment and save his life. If I cannot seek justice for my mother and those soldiers who died unjustly, how can heaven and earth tolerate me, and how can my conscience be at peace?"

Hassan took a deep breath, his eyes gleaming, and asked, "What does the lady require of me?"

Xue Sui narrowed his eyes slightly, his voice deep and solemn, “Please, Your Excellency, in the name of Xiz, submit a letter to the Emperor of Liang, requesting a reinvestigation of the old case of the princess’s attack, severe punishment of the real culprit, and an explanation to Xiz.”

"This is no problem! Leave it to me..."

Hassan did not hesitate. He struck his chest heavily with his right hand and bowed solemnly. "I will write a letter of state tonight and submit it to the Court of State Ceremonies first thing tomorrow morning, and then pay homage to the Emperor of Great Liang. If the Emperor of Great Liang cannot handle this matter impartially, even though Xiz is small, we are not afraid to fight against Great Liang!"

Xue Sui stood up and returned the greeting solemnly.

"We are deeply grateful to the Envoy. My mother and I will be forever grateful."

“You flatter me, young lady. It is my duty to clear Her Highness’s name. I dare not accept such a great favor.”

Before leaving, Hassan visited Yuki again, inquired about her illness with concern, and then departed indignantly.

Xue Sui had Jinshu escort the person to the gate, brewed another pot of hot tea, sat by the window, gazing at the snowflakes in the courtyard, watching Hei Shiba chase Ling Yu, rolling and thrashing about, a slight smile playing on his lips…

Xiao Zhao quietly stepped forward, intending to drape a cloak over her shoulders, but she waved her hand away.

"Call Lingyu back, don't let Hei Shiba bully it."

Xiao Zhao responded and blew a short whistle.

Lingyu immediately flapped its wings and flew over, landing on Xue Sui's shoulder with two dog hairs in its mouth.

Xue Sui patted its head and said softly, "Thank you for your hard work."

Black Eighteen let out a howl of dissatisfaction.

Yiyuan Garden was filled with joyful laughter.

(End of this chapter)