Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 464 Protecting the Traitor
Emperor Chongzhao's face darkened as he looked at the large crowd. He pointed at Li Zhao in anger, his voice trembling.

"Rebellion! Rebellion! You unfilial son, are you going to force the emperor to abdicate and kill your father for this vixen?"

"Your subject dares not," Li Zhao replied, his hand holding the sword as steady as a rock, his voice deep and cold.

"It's just that there are treacherous and wicked people around Father Emperor who are deceiving His Majesty. Your son cannot stand by and watch Father Emperor be used by these treacherous people and make a grave mistake."

Xuanji Zi was stunned for a moment, then sneered.

"Your Highness, you are willing to fight against His Majesty to protect a murderer. Aren't you afraid of being criticized by the people and being branded as disloyal and unfilial?"

"Dissent from the world?" Li Zhao raised an eyebrow. "Daoist, why don't you tell us what good deeds you and Xie Weilan have done before talking about the world?"

Emperor Chongzhao felt a pang of fear, coughed, and his face turned bright red.

"You unfilial son, stop trying to confuse the issue. The evidence against this witch for murder is irrefutable..."

"His Majesty……"

Xue Sui gently pushed Li Zhao's arm away and stepped forward.

“I am not called a witch, nor a poisonous woman. I have a name. Your Majesty may call me Xue Sui, or you may call me Princess Mayila.”

There was silence in the hall for a moment.

Yes, she was a princess personally appointed by the King of Xizi, with a noble status, no longer the Xue family's illegitimate daughter who could be disposed of at will.

Xue Sui pursed his lips slightly, his gaze sweeping over Xie Weilan's corpse.

"Second Miss Xie colluded with the evil Taoist Xuanjizi, secretly hiding potent drugs in the incense of Zichen Palace. This not only harmed the Emperor's health but also intended to manipulate His Highness the Crown Prince. Her intentions are despicable, and she deserves to die."

She raised her hand and pointed directly at Xuanjizi, whose expression had changed drastically.

"If Your Majesty does not believe me, a simple search will prove it."

Li Zhao immediately replied, "Yuan Cang, search!"

"Yes!" Yuan Cang responded and stepped forward. Without any hesitation, under Xuan Jizi's shocked and angry gaze, he searched Xie Weilan's cold bosom and found the secret letter and a small porcelain bottle, which he then presented with both hands.

Upon hearing the news, Physician Liu rushed over, also feeling extremely apprehensive. He scraped out the remaining incense ash from the incense burner, carefully examined it, and compared it repeatedly.

A moment later, the imperial physician knelt down, his face pale, and reported back.

"Your Majesty, there are indeed traces of poison in this incense ash..."

"This substance is extremely potent; it can cloud the mind, incite lust, and severely deplete one's vital energy afterward..."

Emperor Chongzhao's face was extremely ugly.

The ministers looked at each other, their brows furrowed, shocked and puzzled.

Xuanji Zi flicked his whisk and hurriedly cried out, "Your Majesty, this humble Taoist has never had any private dealings with Miss Xie, much less given her these things... Your Majesty, please be wise, this must be a witch framing someone after committing murder to escape punishment..."

Xue Sui raised an eyebrow and retorted, "If you didn't do it, then why was His Highness the Crown Prince poisoned? Are you trying to say that His Majesty instructed you to use such despicable means to harm the Crown Prince and force a court lady into adultery?"

This question was earth-shattering.

Everyone in the hall paled.

Emperor Chongzhao was the same; he even held his breath.

Even if he were confused, he would know that he absolutely could not admit to this crime.

Once confirmed, his reputation as a wise ruler, painstakingly built up over half a lifetime, will be completely destroyed.

"Nonsense..." Emperor Chongzhao clutched his chest, staring intently at Xue Sui. "How could I do such a morally reprehensible thing..."

Seeing this, Xuanjizi steeled himself and stepped forward, bowing deeply and saying, "Your Majesty is wise! This humble Taoist is utterly loyal to Your Majesty and has no disloyal intentions... This matter is undoubtedly a frame-up by the demoness... I beg Your Majesty to do justice for this humble Taoist..."

Xue Sui sneered, "Then may I ask who it was that suggested Miss Xie be chosen as the Crown Princess and enter the palace to learn etiquette, Master?"

Xuanjizi was speechless.

Xue Sui asked again, "And who was it that brought Miss Xie from Yuxiu Pavilion to Zichen Palace?"

Xuanjizi coldly retorted, "Then I dare ask Miss Xue, why did you appear in the Zichen Palace in the dead of night?"

"Me?" Xue Sui's lips curled up. "Naturally, I'm here for a secret rendezvous with His Highness the Crown Prince."

Her calm tone left Xuanjizi speechless for a moment.

If you're shameless, you'll have no weaknesses.

Xue Sui smiled dismissively and moved closer to Xuanji Zi.

"Miss Xie should have been learning etiquette at Yuxiu Pavilion, but she inexplicably appeared in the inner palace of Zichen Palace late at night. The records of her comings and goings to and from the palace and the guards on duty can all testify to this. If it wasn't arranged by you, the immortal master who is deeply trusted by His Majesty, who else could have done it? If it wasn't you, who else could it be?"

Her gaze swept meaningfully over Emperor Chongzhao.

Everyone was as silent as a cicada.

The only person who can arrange everything in the Zichen Palace is either Xuanjizi or the Emperor.

Would the emperor accept this dirty water? Of course not.

Emperor Chongzhao felt a chill and immediately tried to distance himself from the situation.

"Master Xuanji, could it really be you who has done such a despicable thing behind my back?"

Xuanjizi was struck dumb.

He wanted to defend himself, but dared not implicate the emperor.

Only by protecting the emperor can he protect himself. He has no choice but to become the scapegoat, whether he wants to or not.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. Miss Xie is deeply in love with His Highness the Crown Prince and begged me to come and see him. I was momentarily confused and, in an attempt to please her, my good intentions led to a bad outcome. But I swear to Heaven that I have never conspired with Miss Xie, nor do I know what kind of potent drugs she has used..."

"Shut up! I have treated you well, yet you deceive me like this?" Emperor Chongzhao interrupted him sharply, fearing he might say something cryptic. "Guards! Seize Xuanji Daoist. I want to interrogate him personally—"

Xue Sui's lips curled up almost imperceptibly.

Was the personal interrogation a pretext for secretly releasing the person?
She gave the emperor no chance to catch his breath.

"Your Majesty, Xuanjizi murdered the Crown Prince and deceived the Emperor. How can we allow him to live any longer? I beg Your Majesty to immediately punish him according to the law to appease the people."

Lu Jing stepped forward, his voice heavy with rebuke, "The Zichen Palace is His Majesty's sleeping quarters, yet such a disgraceful incident has occurred. If the true culprit is not severely punished, it will truly damage the imperial dignity and unsettle the hearts of the court and the people..."

Censor Zhou Zhengping stepped forward, his voice impassioned, “If we tolerate this traitor today, more villains will follow suit tomorrow. I beg Your Majesty to execute Xuanjizi immediately as a warning to others.”

Immediately afterward, others echoed this sentiment.

"How dare you!" Emperor Chongzhao roared in fury.

This is the immortal master he relied on to prolong his life; how can he be killed so easily?

Looking at the mockery hidden in Xue Sui's lips, he felt his blood surging, a metallic taste rising in his throat, and he almost lost his balance.

"How I... I act is none of your business."

Having said that, he pointed at Xue Sui again, his finger trembling, "Even if the Xie family is guilty... you trespassed into the palace, brandished weapons and knives in the Zichen Hall, and murdered the Crown Princess... that is also a capital offense!"

He gave a stern order, signaling to his guards.

"Take down the Xue family as well. If they resist, kill them without mercy."

The Imperial Guards approached again.

The Eastern Palace guards refused to yield an inch, their blades clashing.

Just then, an even louder commotion suddenly arose outside the hall.

Immediately afterwards, a guard rushed into the hall and knelt down to report urgently.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened—outside Chengtian Gate… countless people have gathered. They claim to be the relatives and descendants of the 200,000 soldiers who died unjustly in the Old Mausoleum Marsh, holding a letter written in blood, demanding that Your Majesty announce the injustice of the Old Mausoleum Marsh, issue an edict to repent, and restore the innocence of the unjustly killed."

"What?" Emperor Chongzhao was shocked and staggered, but was supported by Wang Chengxi.

Li Zhao's heart skipped a beat, and he subconsciously looked at Xue Sui.

She stood amidst the flashing swords, her back straight, her expression calm, as if enveloped in a cold yet resolute light.

She was completely different from how shy and awkward she had been in his arms just moments before.

It turns out she had already planned everything.

He managed to kill people in the palace and arrange petitions without missing a beat, and even slept with the crown prince along the way.

They gave Emperor Chongzhao neither a chance to catch his breath nor any room for him to think or delay.

Kill two birds with one stone.

Oh no, he's a eagle. He's also an eagle.
-
Outside Chengtianmen Gate, the crowds stretched as far as the eye could see.

The people were dressed in all sorts of different clothes: there were coachmen, cooks, messengers, embroiderers, blacksmiths, peddlers... there were elderly people with white hair, young people supporting their mothers, women holding infants, and even half-grown children.

They held up the blood-written letter aloft, their eyes filled with grief and indignation yet resolute determination.

The fierce wind and snow swept across their faces, but no one flinched.

“My father died in the Old Mausoleum Marsh, and his remains have never been recovered. Your Majesty—please open your eyes and take a look.”

“My brother was only seventeen that year… He was supposed to go to war, so how did he become a rebel?”

"Two hundred thousand heroic souls, wronged and buried in the earth, will never rest in peace—"

"The Xiao family has already been executed. How long will Your Majesty continue to delay?"

"Restore my grandfather's innocence and comfort the souls of the martyrs."

"Your Majesty, please issue an edict to repent and clear your name!"

The cries and shouts, initially scattered, gradually gathered into a tide, mingling with the wind and snow, crashing against the vermilion palace walls wave after wave.

Officials on their way to court were blocked at the street corner by their sedan chairs and horses, unable to move forward or backward.

Groups of imperial guards stood in front, brandishing halberds and shouting orders, yet they dared not actually lay a hand on the unarmed civilians.

The people's voices grew louder and louder, and could even be faintly heard inside the palace walls—

Inside the Zichen Hall.

Upon hearing the shouts outside the palace, Emperor Chongzhao staggered back two steps, his face ashen.

He looked at the Crown Prince standing with his sword, then at Xue Sui, his lips trembling. He had never felt so disheveled and powerless in his entire life.

"Was this all premeditated? You conspired to scheme against me... Crown Prince, do you want the whole world to laugh at me, to laugh at the Li imperial family?"

Li Zhao's face was ashen.

“Father, the will of the people cannot be deceived, and the principles of Heaven cannot be defied. The case of the Old Mausoleum must be settled.”

　Li Zhao: I've been sculpted.

　　Xue Sui: ...Nonsense, that's completely untrue, you scoundrel Li!
　　(End of this chapter)