Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 472 Late Night
Before the wedding, the lights in Yiyuan Garden burned until late at night.

The courtyard fell silent.

Xue Sui sat alone by the window, gazing at the full moon on the horizon. The clear, bright moonlight of early spring, like a layer of shattered silver, shone on her serene face, flickering in and out.

Xiao Zhao tiptoed over and draped a soft velvet shawl over her shoulders.

"Girl, rest now. You need to get up early tomorrow to get ready."

Xue Sui turned around, the corners of her mouth curving slightly, but there was little smile in her eyes.

"I understand, I'll sit for a little while longer."

Xiao Zhao hesitated for a moment, but eventually retreated silently to the side to stand guard.

She knew her daughter had something on her mind.

Ever since returning from the Mulberry and Willow Courtyard that day, the young lady has often sat alone, lost in thought. Tomorrow is her wedding day, but her heart is heavier than ever before.

She dared not ask any more questions, hoping that everything would be alright after tomorrow.

Just then, she suddenly heard a soft clatter from the roof, like a night owl darting by.

Immediately afterwards, someone knocked on the window from the outside.

Xiao Zhao looked up alertly, her hand resting on the short blade at her waist.

"It's me." A familiar voice rang out from through the window.

Immediately, a figure dressed in black with dark hair stood quietly outside the window. Who else could it be but Li Zhao?
"Your Highness?" Xiao Zhao exclaimed softly, and quickly looked at Xue Sui.

Xue Sui was also taken aback, and got up to prop up the window.

Under the moonlight, Li Zhao, dressed in black robes and with dark hair, looked travel-worn, clearly having just rushed from the palace.

"Why has Your Highness come?" Xue Sui asked in a low voice. "The Ministry of Rites has repeatedly issued orders that the newlyweds are not allowed to see each other on the eve of their wedding..."

“I wanted to see you, so I came.” Li Zhao’s gaze lingered on her face, as if he couldn’t get enough of looking at her.

"Those old-fashioned rules are none of my business."

Xue Sui felt a warmth in her heart, but she scolded him playfully.

"If the Censorate finds out, they'll accuse His Highness of acting arrogantly and disregarding etiquette, and that will cause another uproar..."

“I act in secrecy, and no one knows me.” Li Zhao chuckled softly, reaching out through the window to stroke her cheek, the warmth of his palm soothing her.

"From tomorrow onwards, you will be my Crown Princess. I tossed and turned all night, longing for dawn so I could take the reins and lead the horse to welcome you into my home..."

Looking at the candlelight in his eyes and her own small shadow, Xue Sui felt the gloom weighing on her heart dissipate somewhat.

She smiled slightly and said softly, "Me too, I always look forward to dawn."

Before I could finish speaking, my heart clenched suddenly.

A subtle, throbbing pain suddenly shot up without warning...

Her face suddenly turned pale, and she instinctively covered her chest, her breath catching in her throat.

"Peace!" Li Zhao's expression changed slightly. He grasped her hand, which was resting on the windowsill, and felt that her palm was icy cold.

"What's wrong? You look so pale."

Xue Suiqiang suppressed the lump in his throat, took a breath, and forced a reassuring smile.

"It's nothing... I probably just haven't rested well these past two days, and I suddenly felt palpitations. I'll be fine after a rest."

Li Zhao didn't believe it. Without hesitation, he climbed through the window, picked her up, and carried her to the bedside. He gently laid her down, tucked her in, and turned to Xiao Zhao, saying, "What are you waiting for? Go and fetch the imperial physician."

"No!" Xue Sui hurriedly grabbed his sleeve, frowning and shaking his head.

"With the wedding imminent, we must not cause any unforeseen complications. If word gets out that His Highness the Crown Prince has summoned the imperial physician to Yiyuan in the dead of night, who knows what kind of nasty rumors will be spread about him."

Li Zhao held her hand tightly, "Your health is more important than anything else. I will handle those rumors myself."

"There's no need for that." Xue Sui shook her head and raised her hand to touch his brow.

His face was wrinkled, a testament to his worry for her.

"Your Highness has come a long way, and with your wedding imminent, how many eyes are on the Crown Prince's Palace? I cannot give others a handle to use against you because of my temporary discomfort, and put Your Highness in a difficult position."

She paused, then said softly but firmly, "I'm really fine."

Li Zhao looked at her silently for a moment, then finally sighed.

"Xue Ping'an, all you ever think about is protecting me. Do you know how much I wish you weren't so sensible?"

"I'll be this sensible, no matter what." Xue Sui smiled slightly, his eyes reflecting the flickering candlelight, which shone brightly.

"Because I know that Your Highness will be a good emperor in the future."

Li Zhaoxin was shocked.

Looking at her pale face and stubborn eyes, a thousand emotions welled up in my chest.

I felt heartache, relief, and a bittersweet feeling that I couldn't quite put my finger on.

"You silly girl, the one I care about is you."

Their eyes met, a thousand words unspoken. Moonlight bathed them, casting long, long shadows, as if they would remain like this forever.

A muffled drumbeat echoed from afar—

It was already past midnight.

Li Zhao frowned: "I have to go back. The wedding is tomorrow, and there are many matters to attend to in the palace. You... must take good care of yourself."

Xue Sui nodded: "Don't worry."

Li Zhao gave her a deep look, then finally climbed out the window and silently disappeared into the night.

Xue Sui gazed in the direction he had left, her eyes lingering there for a long time.

Xiao Zhao then stepped forward and asked with concern, "Miss, are you really alright?"

Xue Sui shook his head, his gaze falling on the flickering candlelight. After a moment of silence, he suddenly looked up.

"Xiao Zhao, what will you do if I am no longer the imperial envoy?"

"Of course I'll follow you, Miss... Wherever you are, Xiao Zhao will be there." Xiao Zhao answered firmly, then looked at her with a puzzled expression.

"Young lady, what exactly did the master say to you that day?"

"It's nothing." Xue Sui lowered his eyes, stood up, and smiled, "Let's rest. We won't be able to sleep for long tonight."
-
That night, Xue Sui slept very restlessly.

The dream was fragmented, filled with bizarre and fantastical scenes.

Sometimes it's her childhood being bullied in the Xue family, sometimes it's the years she spent learning martial arts from three masters in the old mausoleum, and sometimes it's her standing on the road to the underworld covered with spider lilies, watching Li Zhao reach out to her from the other side, but she feels as if she is blocked by an invisible barrier, no matter how much she runs or shouts, she cannot touch him at all...

When I woke up in a cold sweat, it was still pitch black outside the window.

"Miss, it's almost time. You should get up and do your hair."

Ruyi lifted the curtain and entered, her face beaming with undisguised joy, but her voice remained soft and gentle.

"The maid sent from the palace has arrived and is waiting outside."

"...Does the young lady want to sleep a little longer?"

Xue Sui sat up, wrapped in the quilt, feeling dizzy.

The scenes in my dream changed before my eyes like a revolving lantern.

She sat up, rubbed her temples, and realized that her palms were cold and damp.

"I'm not going to sleep anymore, help me up."

Everyone at Yiyuan Garden was already busy.

The red lanterns under the eaves were still lit, and maids carried copper basins filled with hot water, their steps light and quick. Four matrons sent from the palace, dressed in brand-new palace attire, carried neatly folded phoenix coronet and wedding robes, as well as jewelry. As soon as they saw Xue Sui come out, they stepped forward with smiles to greet him, their tone respectful and warm.

"This old servant congratulates the princess."

"Today is the princess's auspicious day. May the princess and His Highness the Crown Prince live in harmony and grow old together."

Xue Sui smiled and thanked them, letting them surround her as she walked to the dressing table.

The bronze mirror was newly made and polished to a shine, reflecting people's images clearly.

She had just sat down when Jinshu rushed in.

"Miss, Master Xue and his wife had their horse startled on the way here. The carriage was badly damaged, the shaft broke, and both of them were injured. They just sent someone to say that they will be here later."

Xue Sui suddenly looked up: "A startled horse? How could a horse be startled out of nowhere?"

"The driver said that the horse was suddenly startled by a wild cat that darted out from the roadside, and lost control, crashing into a stone post by the roadside."

Xue Sui frowned slightly. "Is it serious? Have you called a doctor?"

Jinshu said, "The Third Master twisted his ankle, but fortunately, no bones were broken. The Third Madam was a little frightened and bumped her head, so we've already sent a doctor to take a look."

Ruyi listened from the side, her little face tense.

“Miss, I think this is too coincidental. The Third Master and Third Madam left early to avoid being late, so how did the horse get startled?”

Xue Sui's heart sank.

That's quite a coincidence.

On her wedding day, her beloved third uncle and aunt had an accident.

Today, Madam Qian was to preside over her wedding ceremony, while her third uncle, Xue Qingxiu, was a newly promoted guerrilla general who held military power in the western camp on the outskirts of the capital—it was inevitable that people would have doubts if something happened at this time.

"Miss, should we send someone to investigate?" Jinshu asked.

Xue Sui glanced at her in the mirror, pondered for a moment, and then shook his head.

"No need. Today's wedding concerns the reputation of the Crown Prince, and there can be no mistakes. Everything else can wait."

Jinshu hesitated, but ultimately swallowed her words.

"Yes."

(End of this chapter)