Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 453 No Loss, No Debt
Inside the Sangliu Courtyard, the window lattice was half open.

Yao Guang leaned against the window, looking at Tian Shu's aloof and solitary figure, and couldn't help but click her tongue.

"Our thirteenth daughter is about to start cooking and preparing to become the Crown Prince's consort, while our eldest brother can still sit calmly at his desk studying medical books. His composure is truly unmatched by others..."

Tian Shu didn't even raise his head, holding a medical book in his hand, his expression as indifferent as a deep pool of water.

Seeing this, Yao Guang simply moved to the chair opposite him and sat down, leaning forward with his elbows on the edge of the table.

"Senior Brother, tell me, does this count as... um... painstakingly nurtured, only to have the flower bloom elsewhere?"

Tian Shu raised his eyes and glanced at him coldly: "Watch your words."

"How did I lose my temper?" Yao Guang said nonchalantly, grabbing a piece of pastry from the plate and stuffing it into her mouth, mumbling:
"If you had taken the initiative back then, the Crown Prince wouldn't have stood a chance. Now look at you, waiting and waiting, and you've ended up all alone..."

Tian Shu slowly closed the medical book and said calmly, "Ping An grew up by my side since she was little. We are like siblings. I should be happy for her that she has found a good man to whom she can truly entrust herself and is living a peaceful and happy life."

"Do you really think that way?" Yao Guang raised an eyebrow. "Or are you just forcing yourself to believe it?"

Tian Shu remained silent, his gaze returning to the book.

Yao Guang, having been rebuffed, awkwardly touched his nose and changed the subject: "Ahem... On another note, Master hates the Li family, especially the Emperor in the palace. Master might not agree to this marriage."

Tian Shu paused as he turned the pages.

How could he not know?
From the very beginning, the sect used Li Zhao more than it trusted him.

Now that the carefully groomed thirteenth princess is to be married into the royal family, her master's approval will be anything but easy.

His eyelashes were lowered, and his voice was completely emotionless, "Master ultimately loves her. Just don't get involved in this matter..."

"Senior Brother, Junior Sister should have been yours..."

"Shut up." Tian Shu's eyes turned icy, and his tone suddenly became cold.

Seeing that he didn't want to continue the topic, Yao Guang felt sorry for him and couldn't bear it, but she swallowed the rest of her words and could only shake her head and sigh.

"If you ask me, Senior Brother should really learn a bit of Li Zhao's shamelessness..."

Tian Shu raised his eyes: "You're quite shameless. Has Yu Heng even glanced at you?"

Yao Guang was speechless.

At this moment, disciple Qingfeng strode in and presented a secret letter.

"Young Master, a secret letter from the Old Mausoleum..."

Tian Shu took it, pushed aside the sealing wax pattern with his fingertips, opened it, took out the rolled-up paper strip inside, and slowly unfolded it.

Yao Guang stopped joking and asked in a low voice, "What did Master say?"

Tian Shu stared at the handwriting on the note, pondering for a long time.

"The head master is going to the capital in person."

"What?" Yao Guang hissed, quite surprised.

"Master has always refused to leave the Old Mausoleum Swamp, why would he suddenly want to go to the capital..."

Tian Shu remained silent, simply holding the paper close to the candlelight and watching it slowly turn to ashes.

Seeing this, Yao Guang's expression also turned serious, and he nodded to himself.

“Hate. Yes, only enough hatred could urge my master to step into this place of trouble again.”
-
The situation in Beijing was quietly brewing amidst the seemingly peaceful atmosphere of the New Year.

Two days later, Xue Sui sent a letter and made a special trip to visit Wen Jia.

Wen Jia now lives alone in the Princess's residence with her daughter. Since the Tonghua Gate incident, Guan Chen and Tong Tong have been brought back to the Lu residence. Lu You'an is busy with military affairs and only brings the children to visit when he has time, and they get along quite well.

When Xue Sui arrived, Wen Jia was sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed) teaching Niu Niu to recognize characters.

Niu Niu has grown another year older, and she looks even more adorable. Her little body nestles obediently in her mother's arms, and her tender white fingers point to the words on the pages of the book, reading them in her sweet, childlike voice.

"Women admire chastity, men emulate talent and virtue. Admit your mistakes and correct them; never forget your abilities..."

Sunlight streamed down on the mother and daughter, creating a warm and peaceful atmosphere.

Xue Sui gently lifted the curtain and stepped in, smiling as she asked, "How has the princess been lately?"

“Auntie is here…” Niu Niu saw her first, immediately raised her little face, climbed down from the kang (a heated brick bed), and stretched out her little hand to her.

Wen Jia put down her book, smiled, and stood up to greet her, "It's good that you're here. There's no need to bring anything every time. It makes us seem so distant."

Her complexion had improved considerably; the lingering melancholy in her eyes had faded, replaced by a calm and gentle demeanor that came after weathering many storms. Xue Sui handed the box of pastries she had brought to a maid beside her, bent down to hug Niu Niu, and weighed the pastries in her hands.

"Niu Niu seems to have gained some weight again."

Niu Niu hugged her neck, her voice soft and sweet.

"Auntie, where's Black Eighteen? Did you bring Black Eighteen with you...?"

"He's here, he's here. He's running around in the yard, we didn't let him in so he wouldn't get the house dirty..."

Xue Sui smiled and patted Niu Niu's little face, then turned to Ru Yi and instructed, "Go, take the girl to play with Black Eighteen. Be careful, don't let it run too far..."

Upon hearing this, Niu Niu immediately slid off her arms, grabbed Ruyi's hand, and ran out happily.

Before long, the clear, innocent laughter of children could be heard from the courtyard.
-
The room fell silent.

Xue Sui chatted with Wen Jia for a while, then asked, seemingly unintentionally.

"Is the princess getting used to such peaceful days?"

Wen Jia personally refilled her tea, a faint smile playing on her lips: "There's nothing I'm not used to. Life is simple, I don't have to pretend to be respectable, and Niu Niu is sensible too. I'm already very content."

She paused, caught a glimpse of the inquiry in Xue Sui's eyes, and sighed softly.

"When I married into the Fan family, I was given the title of princess, but it felt like I was living on someone else's stage. I had no say in my own actions, which was exhausting and distressing. Now that I'm in charge, although it's a bit quiet, I feel at peace."

Xue Sui picked up his teacup and took a small sip.

“I think General Lu is an upright person, kind and caring, and treats Niu Niu like his own daughter. If you can rekindle your relationship, your lives as mother and daughter will be more secure in the future.”

After Lu Youan returned to Beijing, he took good care of Wen Jia and her daughter, often bringing them interesting trinkets or sending them fresh clothes and food, his intentions were obvious.

Xue Sui thought that with Ping Le gone and Lu You'an back, the biggest obstacle between them was gone, and the rest would be a natural progression.

Unexpectedly, Wen Jia remained silent for a moment, then revealed a faint, wistful smile.

“General Lu is an excellent person, how could I not know that? It’s just… what’s done is done. Some paths, once taken, have no reason to turn back. From now on… he is Niu Niu’s Uncle Lu, and I am Guan Chen and Tong Tong’s aunt. We get along like family and friends, without any regrets or resentment, which is already an extraordinary blessing from God.”

She spoke calmly, but Xue Sui sensed a resolute determination in her voice.

"You don't want to marry him?"

Wen Jia gently shook her head.

"Is it because General Lu hasn't proposed marriage yet?"

Wen Jia shook her head again, her voice lower.

He mentioned it, but I declined.

"Why?" Xue Sui asked, puzzled.

Wen Jia looked at her and suddenly felt that Xue Sui was acting strangely today...

She used to rarely pry into other people's private affairs, and she was even less inclined to talk about matters of love between men and women, always appearing indifferent and detached.

What happened today?
Wen Jia gently set down her teacup, smiling with relief. "I've already been married once, and I have Niu Niu with me. I don't want to go back into a deep, secluded mansion, living at the mercy of others. General Lu comes from a prominent family with many rules. Although the old lady is kind, she ultimately cares about her reputation. If I were to marry into that family, there would inevitably be gossip—"

“General Lu won’t care about these things,” Xue Sui said.

“He may not care, but I can’t be so selfish.” Wen Jia smiled. “I don’t mind suffering some grievances, but what about Niu Niu? What about the Lu family? Won’t they have to be pointed at and gossiped about because of me?”

Lu Youan is an upright and honest gentleman, but the past hurts and estrangement, the passage of time, and the change in status have made it extremely difficult for them to mend their broken relationship.

Wenjia is no longer the weak princess who needed to rely on her husband and struggled to survive in the inner courtyard of the mansion.

She wants to choose a path that is lonelier but also more autonomous.

"It's already perfect as it is now. I'm taking care of Niu Niu and living a peaceful life. He's taking care of his family. We're both doing well, and that's enough. Why burden him, burden the child, and make ourselves uncomfortable?"

Xue Sui sighed inwardly and said no more, only saying, "If the princess thinks it's good, then it's the best."

Leaving Princess Wenjia's residence, Xue Sui felt somewhat conflicted.

She admired Wen Jia's clarity of mind and courage. As long as Wen Jia herself did not feel regret, others did not need to rush to pity her.

Do not force, do not depend on, do not lose or owe.

Perhaps this is the best way for loving couples to get along...

(End of this chapter)