Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 457 The Last Meeting

The lights of Yiyuan Garden cast a hazy orange-yellow glow in the snowy night.

Xue Sui sat by the window, stroking the jade plaque that Empress Xie had once bestowed upon her, her fingertips icy cold.

Lingyu perched quietly on the wooden frame, tilting her head to preen her feathers. Black Eighteen lay at her feet, its ears twitching occasionally, alertly listening to the wind outside the window…

A pot of plum wine was warming on a small red clay stove, its aroma wafting out faintly, yet no one poured it for them.

She is waiting.

Waiting for a message, or for someone.

But even as night deepened, the direction of the palace remained silent.

There were no carrier pigeons from the Eastern Palace, no sign of that person, and not a single word came.

She got up and ordered the car to be prepared.

“Miss, it’s so late, and it’s snowing. The palace gates are already locked. Going there now would be a wasted trip.” Jinshu brought in a bowl of hot ginger soup and saw Xue Sui wearing her white fox fur cloak, which she had worn when she went out. She couldn’t help but feel anxious.

"I have repeatedly instructed the spies to report any news immediately. Please wait a little longer, Miss?"

Xue Sui took the ginger soup, placed it on the small table beside him, and looked out at the snowy scenery. "I'll go take a look."

Jinshu and Xiaozhao exchanged a glance, seeing the determination in her eyes, and could only reply, "Yes."

The carriage rolled through the snow-covered streets and arrived at the palace gate. The imperial guards stood motionless, their cold, hard faces illuminated by the firelight, creating a somber atmosphere.

She handed over the jade pendant.

After inspecting the documents, the leading general bowed with difficulty and said, "Miss, the palace gates are already locked. Without His Majesty's special decree or the Crown Prince's order, this humble general dares not let you pass."

"Even the Empress's jade token won't do?" Xue Sui asked, his tone flat.

The general had met her a few times before and had been quite polite to her.

"This... there are strict orders from above, and I'm afraid I'm powerless to do anything about it. Please understand."

Xue Sui silently put away the jade token, said no more, and turned to get into the carriage.

"Go back first."

The carriage turned back to Yiyuan Garden, and just as it turned into the alley leading to the gate, it was suddenly stopped by someone.

The coachman reined in his horse, and an old woman tumbled and scrambled off the ground, rushing to Xue Sui's carriage, her voice filled with sobs and urgency.

"Sixth Miss, Sixth Miss... We've finally waited for you. The Old Madam... the Old Madam is probably not going to make it. Master said that you must hurry back to see her one last time..."

Xue Sui lifted the carriage curtain and, by the light of the street lanterns, saw that the old woman was Granny Zhang from Shou'an Hall. His heart skipped a beat.

Old Mrs. Cui is quite old, and her health has been fluctuating in recent years. It's not the first time she's been said to have returned to take care of her, but this is the first time she's said it's her last time seeing her.

"Has the doctor examined you?" she asked.

Granny Zhang wiped away her tears and nodded: "I've seen him! Doctor Sun said... said it'll only take a day or two..."

Xue Sui remained silent for a moment, then instructed the coachman: "Change course and go to the Xue residence."

He then said to Jinshu, "Go back to Yiyuan and keep watch. Report back immediately if there is any news."

Jinshu solemnly replied, "This servant understands."
-
The lights in the Xue mansion were dazzling, stretching from the main gate all the way to the inner courtyard.

The servants hurried back and forth carrying lanterns, their steps hurried, their faces filled with fear and unease.

The scene inside the mansion was vastly different from when Xue Sui returned to the mansion years ago.

The blue bricks paving the floor were loose, the paint on the pillars was mottled, and a musty smell filled the air, making it hard to breathe.

Xue Sui stepped straight into Old Madam Cui's Shou'an Hall.

The room was packed with people.

The smell of medicine mixed with low sobs wafted towards us.

The First Madam, Madam Fu, sat on a chair at the foot of the bed, her eyes lowered and silent, her face ashen. The Second Madam, Madam Liu, who was always timid, was leaning on the Third Madam, Madam Qian's shoulder, sobbing softly.

Xue Qingzhi stood at the head of the bed, while Xue Qingxiu sat on the edge of the bed with a frown. Xue Yuelou, Xue Yue'e, Xue Yueman, and others were all there, and even Xue Yuechen, who hadn't shown his face in a long time, was there. He was sitting on an embroidered stool next to Madam Fu, holding A Ning and gently wiping away tears with a handkerchief.

Grandma Cui lay on the hospital bed, her face ashen, her eyes tightly closed, her breathing so weak it was almost inaudible; she was on her deathbed.

Doctor Sun stood aside, packing his medicine box. When he saw Xue Sui come in, he simply shook his head and said in a low voice, "The pulse has weakened. Prepare for the worst."

All eyes were on her, their expressions complex and difficult to decipher.

With tears in her eyes, Madam Qian stepped forward. "Sixth girl, you're finally back... The old lady has been in a daze these past few days, and when she's awake, she keeps talking about you..."

Xue Yueman pursed her lips, turned her head away, and muttered softly, "...She's showing off."

Xue Yue'e then stood up, her tone deliberately warm and ingratiating.

"It's good that Sixth Sister is here. Grandmother loves you the most. Seeing you will surely put her at ease and help her recover..."

Xue Sui walked to the bedside, bent down, and checked the old lady's pulse.

The pulse beneath my fingertips was weak and feeble, like a shrimp swimming or an insect slithering, light and without any strength to slow down.

This time, it was truly a case of running out of fuel.

“Grandmother, I’m back,” she whispered.

Grandma Cui's eyelids twitched a few times, and then she opened her eyes.

His cloudy gaze laboriously swept across the faces of everyone in the room before finally landing on Xue Sui. Suddenly, he tremblingly raised his hand and grabbed her wrist.

"Sixth...Sixth girl..."

She made a phlegm-like sound in her throat, as if she might faint at any moment, and her fingers clenched tighter and tighter.

"...The Xue family...will...depend on you in the future...you..."

Before he could finish speaking, he gasped for breath again, his eyes fixed on Xue Sui, filled with unfulfilled entrustment.

"Don't let... the Xue family... fall into ruin..."

Xue Sui looked at her quietly, without speaking or struggling.

This old lady dedicated her entire life to planning for the Xue family, and even in her final moments, her heart was still set on the continuation of her descendants. Her dying wish was not out of affection for her, but rather to have her shoulder the burdens of the Xue family.

At this moment, Xue Yuechen led A Ning over.

Wearing a plain-colored jacket, her eyes red and swollen from crying, A-Ning looked timidly at Xue Sui and whispered, "Great-grandmother..."

Xue Yuechen's face showed even more grief, and tears slid down her cheeks. Her voice was not loud, but it was enough for everyone in the inner room to hear.

"Grandmother, don't worry, with Sixth Sister looking after the Xue family in the future, they will definitely not squander the family fortune left by our ancestors..."

As she spoke, she gently nudged Aning.

"A-Ning, quickly kowtow to your sixth aunt. From now on, my daughter and I... as well as the entire Xue family, will all depend on your sixth aunt's care..."

These words sound polite, but upon closer inspection, they are full of subtle barbs.

It not only points out that Xue Sui's status is different now, having climbed the social ladder by marrying into the Eastern Palace, but also subtly mocks her for her past estrangement from the Xue family, which is why she had to ask her ailing grandmother to do this favor on her deathbed.

The room fell silent instantly.

Xue Sui slowly withdrew her hand from the old lady's grasp, tucked the blanket around her, and then looked up at Xue Yuechen.

They were having a great time as sisters just a while ago, but suddenly they've started causing trouble again.

Did this person suffer some injustice at Li Huan's hands?

"Elder sister is joking. Aning is the legitimate daughter of the Prince Duan's mansion. She is loved and raised by the Prince and elder sister. Why would she need me to take care of her?"

Her tone was flat, like a silent slap across Xue Yuechen's face—a reminder to her, and to everyone in the room, that her honor and disgrace depended on the Duan Prince's Mansion, and that Xue Sui was no longer the concubine's daughter who needed to depend on others.

"As for the rest of the Xue family... Ha, my father and uncles are all alive, and there are people to uphold the family's authority. When did it become my turn, a concubine's daughter who has been away from the manor for so long, to make decisions?"

(End of this chapter)