Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 459 Torment
In Shou'an Hall, Old Madam Cui breathed her last.

She toiled half her life and schemed her whole life, but in the end, she couldn't survive that snowy night.

The cries from inside the courtyard suddenly rose in volume, then gradually subsided, turning into intermittent sobs.

The maids and servants busied themselves wiping the old lady's body, changing her into her burial clothes, and then slowly covering her with a white cloth.

The flickering candlelight illuminated faces filled with sorrow, some genuine, some feigned.

Xue Sui stood in the middle of the crowd. The wasteland of kinship in his heart seemed to have been blown by the cold winter wind, leaving only the usual indifference.

When a person dies, the lamp goes out, and all grudges and debts are settled.

For her, the old grandmother of the Xue family became a symbol imprinted with the past.

"Sixth Miss." Madam Qian called out to her in a hoarse voice, walking over with bruises under her eyes and red, swollen eyes from crying.

“I’ll take care of things here, you don’t need to lift a finger. It’s almost dawn, you should go and rest, look how pale your face is… don’t ruin your health by staying up too late.”

"Thank you for your hard work, Auntie. I'll go right away."

Xue Sui gave a slight curtsy and was about to leave when his heart suddenly skipped a beat!
Without warning, it was as if she had been pierced by a red-hot needle, and the sharp pain instantly gripped her.

She gasped for breath, her fingertips unconsciously gripping the edge of the table beside her.

The burning pain in my chest came on quickly and went away quickly.

It vanished in an instant, leaving only a lingering sense of unease.

This is not a normal heart palpitation.

It felt like the resonance experienced when the Love Curse took effect.

Didn't Senior Sister Yuheng say that the Gu poison had been cured?
Could it be that he was lying to her?
Her expression changed slightly. If the Gu worms had been dormant for so long, why would they suddenly flare up?
unless……

Li Zhao is in trouble.

It must have been his emotional fluctuations or his being in extreme danger that triggered the Gu worms, causing her to sense it.

"Young lady?" Xiao Zhao noticed her unusual expression and quickly stepped forward to support her trembling arm. "Don't be sad. The old lady has lived to this age, so this is a happy passing... Please accept my condolences..."

Madam Qian, her eyes also red, looked over, pressed a handkerchief to her eyes, and said in a hoarse voice.
"Sixth girl, your third aunt knows you're upset, but you have to take care of yourself... There's still a lot to do later, you have to hang in there..."

Xue Sui took a deep breath to suppress the surging blood in his throat. His palms were icy cold, and cold sweat was seeping from his forehead.

"I'm fine." She slowly straightened up, her voice tense. "I'm grateful for your help with the funeral arrangements, Aunt. I'll go rest for a while and come back later."

Ms. Qian assumed that she was just overwhelmed with grief and didn't ask any further questions, nodding repeatedly.

"Go quickly, I'll stay here."

Xiao Zhao followed her out, her eyes filled with worry and unease.

"Girl, if you're really upset, just cry it out. Don't bottle it up inside..."

Before he finished speaking, some noise came from the direction of the mansion gate.

The butler led a few people quickly through the courtyard adorned with white banners.

Leading the group was Tian Shu, dressed in pure white, his aloofness as striking as snow, making him stand out starkly in the gloomy Xue mansion. Behind him, the young apprentice Qing Feng carried a basket that appeared to contain incense, candles, and paper offerings, his expression solemn.

Surprisingly, Jinshu, who should have been in Yiyuan, was also following behind them, walking hurriedly with a solemn expression.

"Dr. Shu..." Xue Sui called out, frowning as she glanced at Jinshu, her unease suddenly growing. "Why have you all come here?"

Tian Shu's gaze was calm as he first bowed slightly towards the direction of the mourning hall, following proper etiquette.

"Upon hearing of the passing of Madam Xue, I have come to offer incense as a token of my condolences."

He gestured for Qingfeng to hand the basket to the Xue family steward. After the steward bowed and accepted it, he quickly walked towards the mourning hall before slowly looking at Xue Sui.

"Something has happened in the palace."

He spoke in a very low voice, so low that only Xue Sui and Xiao Zhao could hear him.

“Miss…” Jinshu stepped forward hurriedly, speaking rapidly, “Guard Yuancang just risked his life to deliver a message that His Highness the Crown Prince has not come out since he was summoned to the Zichen Palace yesterday at Shenshi. Eunuch Laifu and the Eastern Palace guards are both blocked on the outside and cannot get close. Right now, the Zichen Palace is surrounded like an iron barrel, full of His Majesty’s personal guards and that sorcerer’s men…”

She paused, then added hastily.

"What's even more puzzling is that His Majesty actually ordered someone to summon the second young lady of the Xie family from Yuxiu Pavilion to Zichen Palace, and she hasn't come out yet."

"Xie Weilan is in there too?" Xue Sui's eyes instantly turned icy. Jin Shu nodded emphatically, "That's what Guard Yuan said. They suspect that Xuan Jizi may have used some underhanded methods... Your Highness's condition is not good..."

really!

Xue Sui's last shred of hope was completely shattered.

The strange, throbbing pain in my chest finally had an answer.

If the Love Silk Gu in Li Zhao's body is not removed, and he is further aroused by strong drugs, the two will clash, and he will either sink into the sea of ​​lust, or... die from burning heart.

"So cruel!"

She never imagined that Emperor Chongzhao could be so despicable.

Using such despicable means to coerce his own son.

"How long has Xie Weilan been in the Zichen Palace?" Her voice was cold and gloomy.

“It’s been almost…almost an hour. The palace gates are locked, and it won’t be easy for Guard Yuan to get the message out.” Jinshu’s eyes reddened with anxiety. “Miss, what should we do now? Guard Yuan said…the Eastern Palace is currently leaderless, and without His Highness the Crown Prince’s explicit order, no one dares to confront the Zichen Palace head-on. Please, Miss, give me some advice…”

Xue Sui glanced sideways at Tian Shu.

A sharp glint flashed in Tian Shu's cold eyes.

"I know the palace paths well. I'll go with you..."

"Do not."

Xue Sui dug her fingers into her palm, the stinging pain making her even more alert.

"Senior brother, you used the pretext of inquiring about His Majesty's condition to try and get an audience, thus diverting the attention of the Zichen Palace..."

He turned back again and said, "Jinshu, take me to see Yuan Cang immediately."

Tian Shu frowned: "I can't let you go in and risk it all by yourself..."

"You need to stay outside and handle things. Leave everything else to me," Xue Sui said decisively. "If I get trapped, or if bad news gets out, inform Master and immediately evacuate from Shangjing. Solve the immediate crisis first, then plan for the future..."

Tian Shu looked at her expression, remained silent for a moment, and finally nodded heavily: "Be careful in everything. If things cannot be done, prioritize your own safety."

"clear."

Xue Sui suddenly asked again, "Senior Brother, do you have any Tranquilizing Pills on you?"

Tian Shu gave her a deep look, took out a small, dark porcelain bottle from his sleeve, and handed it to her: "Three pills are the limit. Any more, and it may damage your foundation."

Xue Sui nodded, said no more, pulled his cloak tighter around himself, pulled his hat brim down to cover most of his face, and strode out.

The cries from Shou'an Hall gradually faded into the distance, as if becoming a distant backdrop.

Her mind raced, calculating every step, her dark eyes cold and sharp.

The carriage sped through the silent streets, churning through the vast expanse of snow, winding its way towards the ruined garden in the northwest corner of the imperial city—

That area served as a passageway for transporting miscellaneous items and food supplies, so the security was relatively lax.

The carriage stopped some distance away, and a tall man stood there, his face full of anxiety.

It is Yuan Cang.

"Sixth Miss!" Yuan Cang rushed forward upon seeing her, his voice hushed. "His Highness has been inside for too long, and the situation is unclear. Later, Second Miss Xie was also taken inside. The Zichen Palace is under tight security, and our people aren't allowed to get close..."

"I know everything." Xue Sui raised his eyes and looked up at the sky.

"It will be dawn in two more hours."

The long night is unbearable; one wonders how Li Zhao is enduring it...

She looked at Yuan Cang, her tone calm.

"Is there any way I can sneak in?"

Yuan Cang thought for a moment, then quickly said, "In a quarter of an hour, a chamber pot cart will come around from the abandoned garden in the north. The one leading it will be one of our men. You can disguise yourself as a servant accompanying the cart and sneak into the palace. However..." He looked troubled, "...that chamber pot cart is filthy and has a very strong odor..."

Xue Sui said in a deep voice, "Lead the way."

(End of this chapter)