Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 474 The Red Makeup Plan
When Li Zhao rushed to the Zichen Palace, a medicinal smell mixed with a faint smell of blood wafted into his nostrils.

His heart sank. He waved his hand to dismiss the guards behind him and walked alone into the inner palace.

Emperor Chongzhao lay on the couch, breathing lightly. The palace was empty and eerily silent.

"Father?" He slowly stepped forward, took Chongzhao Emperor's shoulder, and his sharp gaze swept around the surroundings.

"My father is unwell, why is there no one attending to him? Where is Wang Chengxi?"

Emperor Chongzhao opened his eyes, a weak smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"I...sent him away...that old man is so noisy, he annoys me..."

Li Zhao's eyes suddenly turned cold.

Normally, the imperial city is heavily guarded and patrolled, making it difficult even for a bird to enter or leave freely.

But today is different. The Crown Prince is celebrating a happy occasion, and a grand banquet is being held in front of the palace. Relatives and officials are all gathered, and the crowd is large. In order to make it easier to welcome guests, the palace guards will inevitably be a little lax.

If we are to take action, this is the best time...

Li Zhao asked, "Did Father kill Wang Chengxi? Or did he send a secret edict to your good son Li Huan, intending to seize the throne during my wedding?"

Emperor Chongzhao was stunned for a moment, then let out a bitter laugh, which ripped through his lungs, and he coughed incessantly.

“You unfilial son…you are very clever…but unfortunately, you ultimately succumbed to the word 'love'…If it weren’t for the joyous occasion of the Crown Prince’s death, I wouldn’t have been…so confident…”

No wonder I haven't received any news from Wang Chengxi.

Li Zhao narrowed his eyes slightly and sneered.

"How could Father Emperor know that I would surely fail?"

"Because you have fallen in love... Once you fall in love, you have a weakness... and you will bring about your own destruction..." After Emperor Chongzhao finished speaking, seeing that he was still calm and composed, he was breathing even more heavily, his chest heaving violently, as if he was about to pass out at any moment.

Li Zhao bent down, picked up the warm water from the table and handed it to him, but was pushed away.

"Snapped--"

The porcelain bowl shattered instantly upon hitting the gold brick.

Just like this father-son relationship that has long been broken.

"No need for any more pretense..." Emperor Chongzhao's eyes were cloudy, but his tone carried a strange sense of satisfaction. "I... have already sent out the edict to depose the crown prince... The crown prince... cannot become the rightful emperor of Liang... Even if he gains the throne, he will be a treacherous usurper... You must hate me to the core..."

Li Zhao looked at the broken porcelain and water stains on the ground and suddenly chuckled softly.

"Father is delirious and talking nonsense. Your son will summon the imperial physician immediately."

"You're the fool..." The emperor's voice suddenly rose, filled with long-suppressed resentment, as he sternly rebuked him, but then weakened due to exhaustion, turning into panting.

"Your Highness, if you kneel down now to admit your mistakes and relinquish power, it's not too late... I can spare your life out of consideration for our father-son relationship... and grant you a life of wealth and leisure as a prince..."

Before he could finish speaking, shouts of battle suddenly came from outside, growing clearer as they approached.

A guard, covered in blood, rushed in and urgently reported.

"Your Highness! Prince Duan has suddenly led the Right Wing Guard to Xuande Gate, claiming to be on imperial orders to rescue you, and is heading towards Zichen Hall!"

Li Zhao suddenly sat up straight. "They really came."

He turned his head and looked at the emperor, who was barely breathing on the bed, a cold sneer curling at the corner of his lips.

“Father, you ultimately… still chose this path.”

"I am the emperor!" Emperor Chongzhao roared with all his might, his lips trembling. "This empire... I can give it to whomever I want... You are insidious and cunning, you have deceived the emperor and disgraced your father, you are not worthy to be emperor at all..."

"Very well." Li Zhao's tone was icy. "Father, just watch and see how your most valued son is utterly defeated."

He turned and strode out, the hem of his wedding robe brushing against the threshold, drawing a sharp arc.

"Order Qi Mingyang and Yu Qianshan—close the palace gates and trap them like turtles in a jar. Anyone who trespasses into the palace will be killed without exception!"
-
Inside Yiyuan Garden, red candles burned brightly.

The process of dressing up was more complicated than Xue Sui had imagined.

Xue Sui sat upright in front of the mirror, letting several nannies and maids do as they pleased.

Her face was powdered, her lips rouged, her eyebrows painted with ink, and her dark hair was styled in a high bun, adorned with a heavy pearl crown and hairpins. Her bright red wedding dress was made of cloud brocade from Jiangnan, embroidered with phoenixes in gold thread and adorned with lustrous pearls, so magnificent that it was almost blinding.

"Your Highness is truly the most beautiful bride this old servant has ever seen," Zhang Mama said with a smile as she placed the phoenix crown on her head.

"When the eldest princess got married, her wedding dress wasn't this bright and beautiful. The princess looks even more beautiful than a fairy in a painting when she wears this."

Xue Sui looked at herself in the mirror and could hardly recognize herself...

Could that woman with affectionate eyes and a face like a peach blossom really be Xue Liu, who crawled out of the mountains of corpses and seas of blood in the Old Mausoleum Swamp?

The phoenix crown was heavy, and the wedding dress was intricate, making it hard for her to breathe. A subtle unease in her heart was silently growing...

None of Tian Shu, Yao Guang, or Yu Heng came today, and there has been no reply to the letter Jin Shu sent to Sang Liu Yuan.

The master is unwilling to grant the request, and it's unclear what he will do next...

She sat quietly, her palms resting on her knees, which were icy cold.

"Young lady, have some tea to calm your mind." Ruyi brought over a white porcelain teacup, her face full of smiles: "This is freshly warmed jujube tea, it tastes sweet and brings good luck."

Xue Sui took the teacup, but didn't bring it to her lips. Instead, she turned to ask her a question.

"What time is it?"

Ruyi glanced at the sun outside the window and said, "Miss, it's almost 9 AM. The wedding procession should arrive in another hour."

The little girls nearby covered their mouths and laughed when they heard this.

The nanny also said that the bride was anxious and couldn't wait to see His Highness.

The room was noisy and filled with joy—

Until an unusual commotion arose outside.

A young maid rushed in and whispered in Zhang Mama's ear.

The old woman's smile froze on her face, her eyes becoming unfocused. "What happened?" Xue Sui keenly sensed the change in atmosphere and turned to ask.

The old nanny forced a smile, her eyes darting around: "It's nothing, nothing. It's just that those two little brats outside are being naughty and making a fuss. Princess, please wait patiently. The wedding procession from the East Palace will be here soon."

How could Xue Sui possibly believe that?

She got up and walked to the window, where she saw several palace servants outside looking anxious and whispering to each other, clearly indicating that it was not just a simple argument.

Sure enough, Guan Ya appeared in the courtyard in a short while.

He recuperated for a long time after his injury and has not been seen in public for a long time.

Xiao Zhao was very excited to see him; her eyes lit up, and she went to greet him.

"Brother Guan!"

Guan Ya, however, had a solemn expression and a long sword at his waist. He strode over, nodded to her, and then bowed respectfully at the foot of the steps.

"Princess, His Highness has sent me to deliver a message that there is an urgent matter in the palace, and the wedding ceremony may have to be postponed. Please wait patiently, Princess."

What could be more urgent than getting married?
Xue Sui said, "Guard Guan, I want to hear the truth."

Guan Ya looked up, his gaze meeting hers for a moment before quickly lowering it again. He lowered his voice and said, "His Majesty suddenly fell critically ill this morning, and Your Highness has to go to the Zichen Palace first. I'm sure it will take some time..."

Emperor Chongzhao is critically ill at this critical juncture?

Xue Sui's mind raced, and he pressed for an answer: "What else did Your Highness say?"

Guan Ya gave her a complicated look, his Adam's apple bobbing as he stammered.

"Your Highness... allow me to lead my personal guards to stay at Yiyuan to assist and protect the princess, ensuring her safety."

After listening, Xue Sui understood.

She gestured for her attendants to step back, leaving only Guan Ya and Xiao Zhao.

"There are no outsiders here, Guard Guan, you can tell the truth now..."

Under her cool gaze, Guan Ya slowly broke out in a thin layer of sweat on his forehead. Finally, he gritted his teeth and told the truth.

"Reporting to Your Highness... Prince Duan seized the opportunity to launch an attack, under the pretext of rescuing the Emperor, and led the Right Guard into the palace. His Highness has already blocked the news and is mobilizing troops to deal with the situation. The situation in the palace is currently unclear. I am under orders to protect Your Highness even at the cost of my life..."

After Guan Ya finished speaking, he took out a black token from his pocket and presented it with both hands.

“Princess, this is His Highness the Crown Prince’s token. He said he will definitely come to marry you. Please trust him. But if… if he cannot come, please take this token and leave the capital with me immediately for Xiz. Never come back.”

Xue Sui took the heavy token, his fingertips tracing the cool lines on it, and suddenly smiled softly, "I trust him."

She knew full well that the situation in the palace was extremely dangerous.

But now is not the time to ask for details.

After a moment's thought, he turned around, took out the wolf bone talisman from the bottom of the makeup box, and handed it to Guan Ya.

"Guard Guan, take this to the Chief Envoy of Xiz, Al-Hassan, and have him muster the Wolf Guards and wait at the old spot on the west side of the Imperial City."

Guan Ya looked up in shock: "Princess, this... I was ordered by His Highness to protect the young lady..."

“Your Highness told you to listen to me, didn’t you?” Xue Sui interrupted him, his tone calm but unquestionable. “The Wolf Guards are fierce and brave, a formidable force that can lend Your Highness a helping hand.”

Xiao Zhao immediately stepped forward and said urgently, "Brother Guan, you should go quickly. Our young lady would never abandon His Highness the Crown Prince...and escape alone."

Guan Ya looked at Xue Sui's calm and composed face, then at Xiao Zhao's resolute expression, and finally nodded, accepting the wolf bone talisman. He clasped his hands in a fist salute and said:

"Your subordinate obeys! Princess... please take care!"

After saying that, he turned and walked away quickly.

Xue Sui sat back down in front of the mirror, tidied his sideburns, and looked as composed as if he were going to an ordinary banquet.

"Xiao Zhao, bring me my sword."

The spring sunlight streamed through the window and bathed her in its golden glow, giving her wedding dress a golden edge.

Her tone was calm yet powerful, as if she were not flustered at all.

"You mustn't, young lady!" Xiao Zhao exclaimed. "Today is a joyous occasion; how can we resort to violence..."

Xue Sui, however, had already stood up and stood in front of the mirror, her gaze firm and her beauty beyond compare.

"Wearing wedding attire and wielding a sword, wouldn't that be a beautiful story?"

She smiled slightly, deftly removed the heavy and gorgeous phoenix crown, gently placed it on the dressing table, and looked at the blooming spring flowers in the courtyard.

"He's risking his life, how can I sit comfortably at my dressing table..."

"Yes." Xiao Zhao turned and rushed to the inside, bringing out the long sword that had been put away during the wedding.

Xue Sui took the longsword, his fingertips brushing against the cold scabbard, and suddenly with a clang, he drew the sword.

The gleaming sword light reflected off her radiant face. Dressed in red, she stood holding her sword, like a phoenix rising from the ashes.

"Go and call Zhang Mama in to touch up my makeup."

Soon, Zhang Mama and several palace maids entered tremblingly. When they saw Xue Sui standing with a sword in hand, they turned pale with fright.

"girl……"

"The princess?"

"What...what's going on?"

Everyone was at a loss.

Xue Sui calmly sheathed his sword and placed it horizontally on his knees. His voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.

"If he doesn't come to marry me when the time comes, I will marry him instead."

(End of this chapter)