Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 440 Snow-Covered City Tower
Ping Le released Tong Tong's grip, retied the veil behind her ear, and spoke with a mocking tone.

"What? Gu Wulang can be soft-hearted too? Can't stand seeing children cry? Or does hearing a child cry remind you of that shameless slut Xue Yueying and her bastard child, making you feel uncomfortable?"

Her words became increasingly sharp and sarcastic, each one hitting a nerve.

Gu Jie frowned almost imperceptibly as he slowly walked in.

He carried a food box in his hand, wore a worn-out blue robe, and carried the chill of the outside air. A layer of snow fell on his shoulders. In a daze, he even had a bit of the handsome and elegant demeanor of a former nobleman's son.

"The crying was too loud and attracted the attention of the neighbors, which was very bad for the princess."

Gu Jie looked at the sobbing Tongtong, "The child is still young and can't be easily frightened. If she cries herself sick, what will the princess use to... restrain Lu Youan?"

Ping Le snorted and walked back to the dressing table in annoyance.

"That little slut only has eyes for that bitch Wen Jia. I gave birth to her and raised her, and now she's treated like an outsider. She's a heartless ingrate..."

She cursed through gritted teeth, then looked at her grotesque reflection in the mirror and suddenly burst into laughter.

"But it's alright, it will be over soon. The 20th of the twelfth lunar month... is an auspicious day. Everyone will set off together, and the journey to the underworld will be lively and bustling, so no one will be alone."

Gu Jie placed the bowl of porridge on the table, walked to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), and tried to pat Tongtong's head, but the child flinched away in fear, as if he were some kind of monster.

His hand froze in mid-air.

He paused, then slowly withdrew his gaze, his face expressionless.

"The princess's letter has been delivered to the Princess Protector's residence. The whole city is in an uproar; the Jingzhao Prefecture, the Five Cities Garrison, and even the Capital Garrison are secretly searching. Martial law has been declared throughout the capital. Lu You'an is frantic with worry; he will definitely arrive in person in three days..."

“Of course he’ll come.” Ping Le sneered, picking up the crimson gold phoenix hairpin from the dressing table and forcefully shoving it into her hair. “I want him to come, I want him to see with his own eyes that that vile woman die in disgrace before his very eyes. I want him to know what the consequences are for betraying me, Li Yushu…”

Gu Jie was silent for a moment, then said, "Princess, this is a really risky move. On the day of the execution, Tonghua Gate will definitely be heavily guarded, with a net spread wide... Even if we successfully get to the city wall and achieve our goal, how will we escape?"

"Escape?" Ping Le seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world. She turned around, her veil slipping down to reveal a horrifying scar. "Do you think I still want to live?"

She walked step by step toward Gu Jie, her eyes empty and crazed, her voice filled with a hysterical despair.

“I have nothing left, what’s the point of living? My honor, my status, my husband, my children, my looks… even the last person who was willing to help me, you…”

She reached out, her icy fingertips tracing Gu Jie's cheek, a strange mix of longing and scrutiny in her gaze.

"Gu Lang, you despise me too, don't you?"

Gu Jie stiffened, lowered his eyes, and avoided her gaze.

"I don't dare."

Ping Le chuckled softly, a laugh both shrill and sorrowful. "You dare not now because I hold something on you, and you have no choice but to comply. In truth, you've long wished for my death, so you could be free... go back to being the fifth young master of the Marquis's mansion, marry a respectable wife, and live a peaceful life..."

Gu Jie suddenly looked up, his eyes swirling with emotion.

"Princess... Your subject..."

"Don't worry, I won't drag you down with me..." Ping Le withdrew his hand, his tone suddenly becoming calm. "Three days from now, you just need to help me reach Tonghua Gate smoothly, and then... then you can leave on your own."

Gu Jie looked at her, thinking of his parents and his sister who was about to give birth. He slowly clenched his hands in his sleeves, his Adam's apple bobbed, and he whispered.

"Your subject... will accompany the princess."

"No matter what, I will accompany the princess on her final journey."

Ping Le stared at him for a long time, then suddenly chuckled, slowly stepped forward, put her arm around his waist, and leaned against him.

"Gu Lang speaks so eloquently... Well then, let's see how things unfold when the time comes."
-
On the 20th of the twelfth lunar month, the wind and snow became even more fierce. Snowflakes pelted the face, stinging it, and the cold seemed to seep into the bones.

Today is the day Xiao Song is to be executed by slow slicing.

The entire capital city was immersed in a strange excitement and commotion from midnight onwards.

The Tonghua Gate was heavily guarded by soldiers, and the crowds of people who had come after hearing the news were so dense that they could not move. Around the execution ground, people whispered among themselves.

The supervising officials were Chancellor Lu Jing, Minister of Justice Xue Qingzhi, and Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review Chen Lian…

The three men sat solemnly on the execution platform.

Crown Prince Li Zhao did not go in person, but only sent Yu Qianshan to lead the Eastern Palace Guards, who were stationed at the execution ground, city tower, and canal wharf, ready to deal with any unforeseen circumstances...

Around 7 a.m., a prison van, escorted by soldiers, slowly approached.

The once all-powerful and illustrious Prime Minister Xiao, dressed in a thin prison uniform, his hair gray and disheveled, head bowed, eyes vacant, leaned against the wooden railing, like a piece of rotten wood whose soul had been taken away.

Xiao Song had been in power for many years, but his corruption, abuse of power, and suppression of dissidents had long been a source of resentment among the people. Occasionally, there would be low murmurs among the crowd, but these were quickly drowned out.

"This world may be unfair, but if your heart is completely black, you'll fall sooner or later..."

"When he was ransacking other people's homes and watching them being executed, he probably never imagined he would end up like this, did he?"

"Not at all wronged, he deserves it!"

"No matter how high one's official rank, if one forgets one's duty, one will eventually have to pay the price."

A torrent of insults, scorn, and gossip followed.

He seemed to hear nothing, staring blankly at the gray sky.

Lingchi (death by a thousand cuts) was the most extreme form of execution. It is said that the executioner would make 3,600 cuts before stopping when the person died.

The process was long and brutal.

Most of the people present had never seen such torture before, especially since the one being tortured was Xiao Song, who had once held a very high position in the government. A strange atmosphere, both oppressive and exciting, permeated the area around the execution ground...
-
Xue Sui stood alone on the city tower of Tonghua Gate, wearing a white velvet cloak trimmed with snow fox fur, the hood covering most of his face. Snowflakes covered his shoulders, and his clothes fluttered in the cold wind.

"Look! There are people on the city wall!"

"That attire...is she from the palace?"

"Good heavens, it's Princess Wenjia!"

"What are you going up to the city wall at this time?"

The crowd stirred, craning their necks to look and tiptoeing forward.

Xue Sui stood silently behind the crenellations, his gaze calmly sweeping over the dark mass of people below the city gate, and past the execution platform...

The execution platform was a full two zhang high, surrounded by a three-chi wide wooden railing. The cold wind swirled the flying snow, which crashed against the black cloth on the railing like a funeral banner summoning souls...

Xiao Song was forced to kneel on the execution platform with his hands tied behind his back. His hair was disheveled, and his face was full of wrinkles. He had long lost his former imposing manner.

He closed his eyes, seemingly awaiting death, or perhaps recalling past glories.

"quiet!"

The executioner's voice was loud and clear.

"I am here by imperial decree to oversee the execution of the traitor Xiao Song and to read aloud his charges—"

The crowd's chatter ceased, and all eyes turned to the execution platform.

Lu Youan, accompanied by his personal guards, stood tensely in the crowd, occasionally glancing up at the city gate, his fists clenched tightly.

In a private room of a teahouse not far from the execution ground, Li Zhao sat by the window.

This vantage point offers a perfect view of both the city gate tower and the execution ground...

The steam from the tea beside him had dissipated, but he didn't touch it.

Yuan Cang, dressed in a tight-fitting outfit, entered with his hand on his waist sword and reported in a low voice.

"Your Highness, the city walls are securely guarded. The Eastern Palace's secret guards are already positioned on both sides of the walls, and the archers are in position. We are awaiting the signal."

Li Zhao gave a soft "hmm," his knuckles unconsciously tapping his knees. His face was ashen, his gaze fixed on the city gate, never wavering.

Yuan Cang added, "But it's already this late... and there's still no sign of the deposed princess or her followers."

"Stay calm," Li Zhao said. "Since she has agreed to meet at noon, she will definitely show up."

Yuan Cang hesitated for a moment, but finally asked, "Sixth Miss Xue, you're going to the appointment alone without any weapons. Isn't that too risky?"

Li Zhao chuckled softly upon hearing this, his tone remaining calm and resolute, as if he had already weighed the matter a thousand times in his mind.

"She knows what she's doing. She's sticking to the original plan."

He paused, then issued the order again.

"Her safety is the top priority."

Yuan Cang's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately cupped his hands in greeting.

"Yes! I understand..."
-
Noon is approaching.

On the execution ground, the wind and snow howled, making one's heart tighten.

The executioner had begun sharpening his knife, and the sharpening sound could be faintly heard.

A stir ran through the crowd, and an invisible tension spread.

Just then, several figures appeared on the narrow staircase on the other side of the city gate...

Ping Le was dressed exceptionally formally today, her eye-catching bright red palace dress embroidered with intertwined gold patterns, her elaborate and towering hair bun adorned with pearls and jade, and her face covered with a thin layer of bright red veil, as if she were still the arrogant and domineering Princess Ping Le of the past.

She straightened her back as much as possible, deliberately slowed her pace, and made herself appear graceful and dignified. In a strange and oppressive atmosphere, she tightly gripped Tongtong's wrist and almost dragged the child up the city wall step by step.

"It's Princess Ping Le—"

Those with sharp eyes downstairs had already recognized him.

The commotion erupted like water being poured into a frying pan, instantly spreading throughout Tonghua Gate.

Ping Le ignored him, dragged Tong Tong straight up to the city wall, and looked at the figure of "Wen Jia" not far away. Her voice rose sharply, piercing through the wind and snow.

"Li Zhao, Xue Liu, Lu Youan... all of you get out here and watch me..."

　Li Zhao: Sisters, do you have confidence in our safety? If so, please vote...

　　Xue Sui: ...Your tea has gone cold.

　　Li Zhao: It's okay, as long as I'm not cold.

　　(End of this chapter)