Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 486 Condolences
Xue Sui paused slightly in the hand holding the pastry.

Li Zhao glanced at her without changing his expression and asked:

"Why would someone take their own life out of the blue?"

Laifu glanced back at the eunuch who had brought the message, then lowered his head even further.

"The messenger from the Xue family said... the First Madam's nephew went to the Xue residence yesterday. As soon as he entered, he cried poverty and asked the First Madam to give him money to pay off her debts... Alas, the eldest master of the Xue family is retired at home, and the First Madam's family is embroiled in an old case that they can't get out of trouble. Relatives are avoiding them, the couple is estranged, and she herself is also ill. She couldn't think straight for a moment..."

Xue Sui remained silent.

Li Zhao observed every subtle expression on her face.

"If you don't want to deal with it, I will have the Ministry of Rites handle it according to procedure."

“It is against etiquette.” Xue Sui gently put down the pastries, her face expressionless.

“In name only, she is still my legal mother. I must fulfill the proper etiquette.”

"I'll stay with you." Li Zhao held her slightly cool hand.

"How can that be?" Xue Sui chuckled upon hearing this. "Your Majesty is of noble birth; how can you bow down to offer condolences and be tainted with bad luck? Don't worry, I'll be right back; it won't take too long."

Looking into her calm gaze, Li Zhao finally nodded.

"Have Yuan Cang lead men to follow along, and send word immediately if anything happens."
-
Xue Sui changed into a simple blue dress and no hairpins or jewelry. She rode in a small blue-curtained carriage and quietly led people to the Xue residence.

Even from some distance from the gate, one could already see the white banners hanging on the gate tower.

The red lanterns in front of the gate have been replaced with white ones. As you drive through the side gate, the distinctive aroma of paper money wafts towards you.

A pall of gloom hung over the mansion.

The mourning hall was set up in the main hall.

Xue Yuechen, dressed in mourning clothes, knelt before the coffin and wept softly, her eyes swollen. A-Ning, also dressed in mourning clothes, knelt timidly beside her, her little face full of confusion.

Xue Yuelou and the other Xue sisters also knelt in front of the hall. When they saw Xue Sui, their expressions were complicated, and they did not dare to step forward to speak.

Xue Qingzhi stood alone in the corner, head down, staring at the coffin, lost in thought, completely devoid of the demeanor of his former position as Minister of Justice.

Qian quickly came forward, pressing her handkerchief to her eyes.

"Your Majesty, why did you come in person... It's hot today, and the smell is unpleasant; I didn't want to offend your health..."

After saying that, she turned back to look at the memorial tablet again.

"My sister-in-law is truly blessed. She left so peacefully, and even the Empress herself came to offer her condolences..."

Upon hearing this, Xue Yuechen turned around sharply.

"What do you mean by that, Aunt? My mother died with resentment in her heart, and instead of expressing condolences, you say she was lucky?"

Madam Qian pursed her lips and retorted, "Miss, you've misunderstood, haven't you? I mean... with your departure, sister-in-law is finally free. From now on, she won't be burdened by her family anymore, and her funeral arrangements will be taken care of by the Empress. Isn't that a blessing?"

His words made Xue Yuechen tremble all over.

Everyone was silent.

All eyes, whether open or hidden, in the mourning hall were focused on Xue Sui.

Xue Sui remained silent and slowly walked to the altar.

A palace maid handed over a lit incense stick.

She took it, bowed slightly to the dark memorial tablet, bowed three times, and calmly placed it in the incense burner, without showing the slightest trace of sorrow.

"With the person gone, the light goes out. Please accept my condolences."

Her voice was steady, revealing no emotion.

After saying that, he nodded to Madam Qian and Xue Yuelou, then turned and left.

They hadn't gone far from the mourning hall when Xue Yuechen followed closely behind, rushing to their side in a few strides.

He grabbed her sleeve, his voice hoarse from crying.

"You did it, didn't you? You couldn't tolerate my mother for a long time. You wouldn't even wait for one more Dragon Boat Festival, you had to force her to her death before you were satisfied?"

Her voice wasn't loud, but it was loud enough for those around her to hear.

The maids and servants all lowered their heads, not daring to look at Xue Sui's face.

Xue Sui did not pull his hand away from hers. He lowered his dark eyes and looked at her calmly, with a half-smile on his face.

"My elder sister is overwhelmed with grief and may be confused. I don't understand what you're saying."

"I know my mother's personality best." Xue Yuechen's chest heaved violently, her eyes bloodshot from crying.

“Over the years, no matter how hard or bitter things have been, my mother has never had the thought of committing suicide. She would not kill herself, much less throw herself into a well. She was perfectly fine yesterday, and even said that she would make some light summer clothes for me and Aning when it got warmer... How could she suddenly become so despondent overnight?”

Xue Sui chuckled, "Why don't you ask the First Madam? Or perhaps your maternal cousin?"

"You—Xue Liu, dare you say it wasn't you?"

Xue Yuechen's eyes were frighteningly red, and her tone was so agitated that she was almost out of control.

"In this mansion, in this capital city, only you—you hate her, you hate all of us—you've returned to seek revenge. You were once neglected in the Xue family, unable even to get a full meal, and you harbored resentment... Now that you're an imperial concubine, wielding the power of life and death, you're determined to settle old scores and ensure that we all suffer a terrible death before you're satisfied..."

"Elder sister, watch your words." Xue Sui gently brushed her hand away, her tone turning colder. "If I couldn't tolerate you, would you still be standing here unharmed, talking to me?"

She slightly raised her chin, her gaze cold.

"You know better than anyone what kind of life my mother and I lived in the Xue family. Fu's current predicament may well be retribution for her past actions."

"Yes, you are now the Empress, so naturally whatever you say goes. What do our lives mean to you?" Xue Yuechen burst into tears and wiped her face with her sleeve.

"My mother was only a little harsh on you in the past, and you want to kill her? Xue Liu, what is your heart made of?"

Xue Sui looked at her heartbroken appearance, his eyes filled with silence.

"You reap what you sow. If you really think I drove the First Madam to her death, then hate me. I don't care."

"You keep talking about retribution and cause and effect, but what about me? What did I do wrong?" Xue Yuechen cried, her whole body trembling, her voice shrill and broken.

“I was devoted to Li Huan, bearing him children, managing his household, and preparing his favorite dishes… But what about him? He never cared about me. Even now, imprisoned, the person he thinks about is still you… it’s you, Xue Liu!”

“And I… I was taught from childhood to be virtuous and gentle, to do everything decently, and never to harm anyone… I gave everything, but ended up with my husband imprisoned and my mother dying a violent death… Is this the retribution I deserve?” Her voice was filled with despair and resentment.

It was as if he wanted to shout out all the resentment in his heart.

"I don't understand! Why is this happening? God... what did I do wrong... why am I being punished like this..."

Xue Sui looked at her distraught and out-of-control appearance.

"The path you choose is your own, you can't blame others."

"Enough!" Xue Qingzhi suddenly strode out of the mourning hall, his face ashen, pointing at Xue Sui, "You heartless wretch! No matter how wrong Fu Shi was, she was still your legal mother. Aren't you afraid of being struck by lightning for saying such sarcastic things?"

"Aren't you the one who's more afraid?" Xue Sui looked at him, her eyes filled with cold mockery.

"I am naturally cold-hearted, and I have Lord Xue's blood flowing through my veins. If we talk about ruthlessness and indifference, I have also inherited your true skills."

Xue Qingzhi was so choked by her that his face turned pale and his lips trembled, but he couldn't utter a single word in rebuttal. In the end, he could only flick his sleeve heavily.

"How could my Xue family have raised a daughter like you?"

"Since the father is no father, why should the daughter be a daughter? From now on, our kinship is severed, and we will go our separate ways."

After saying this, Xue Sui turned and left without looking at them again.

Behind them came Xue Yuechen's suppressed sobs and Xue Qingzhi's heavy sighs...

Xue Sui did not stop walking and went straight out of the Xue residence.

As the carriage drove away from that familiar alley, she leaned silently against the carriage wall, closed her eyes, and suddenly felt that what had just happened was like a bizarre and fantastical dream...

Thirteen years ago, she was dragged out of this door, covered in blood...

The so-called father-daughter affection and family blood ties were completely severed.

But why didn't she feel the joy she had imagined?
-
After the Dragon Boat Festival, the sun became even more intense.

The weather was hot and dry, and the cicadas were chirping incessantly, making the days seem to slow down all of a sudden.

Li Zhao was still busy, but he would always make time to have meals with her. No matter how late it was at night, he would stay at Pifang Pavilion. Even if he was very tired, he would hold her in his arms and cherish her for a while.

He was so enamored with her scent that he felt he wanted to meld her into his very bones.

At night, the candlelight in Pifang Pavilion always lingered longer than elsewhere, occasionally punctuated by suppressed soft breaths, all of which were exceptionally clear in the quiet palace night. At dawn, one could always catch a glimpse of the Empress's languid and alluring figure, while His Majesty shone brightly, his eyes revealing utter satisfaction…

Everyone in the palace knew, without tacit agreement, that His Majesty favored this one immensely, his affections never ceasing even for a single night…

Black Eighteen, having failed to find its "suitable match," grew increasingly lazy, spending its days lying at Xue Sui's feet, panting and basking in the cool air, too lazy to even lift its eyes when Ling Yu pecked at its tail.

Xiao Zhao and Guan Ya's marriage was arranged, and the wedding was to be held after the autumn chill sets in. For this purpose, Lady Qian specially sent a formal invitation from outside the palace, offering to help with the dowry arrangements…

Inside and outside the palace, everything went according to my wishes...

Sometimes, when Xue Sui looked at all of this, he would often feel a sense of unreality, as if in a daze.

She never dared to dream of such a comfortable life before.

A few days later, Wenjia came to visit her, and the two agreed to take a walk in the Imperial Garden.

The inner palace of the Great Liang Dynasty is now very quiet.

There was no jealousy or rivalry, no open or covert struggles...

Wenjia looked at the scenery in the garden, holding a round fan and gently waving it.

"Still can't forgive the Xue family?"

Xue Sui chuckled softly as she fiddled with a pot of jasmine under the eaves.

"The Xue family treated me like dirt, and I returned their kindness as a stranger. How can I forgive them? Ha... The wound has scabbed over; it doesn't hurt if you don't touch it, but it won't disappear either."

Wen Jia sighed suddenly: "You have to look forward. Think more about the good things, and your heart will be at peace. If you keep dwelling on past grudges, you won't feel at ease. My mother was like that. She was trapped in the past her whole life, and she died with regrets..."

She paused, then looked at Xue Sui.

“Ping An, you must cherish the present and live happily. Men in this world are always quick to make promises but short-lived in their affections, let alone Your Majesty. Right now, the passion is wonderful, but as time goes by, things will inevitably change…”

“The princess is right.” Xue Sui knew that Wen Jia was worried about her and did not want to refuse her kindness, so she smiled slightly and picked a petal to hand to her.

"Therefore, a woman must have confidence to stand on her own two feet. This confidence is not given by her family or her husband's family, but earned by herself. With a sense of justice in her heart and a clear path in her steps, she will not fear the changes of wind and rain."

Wen Jia was stunned.

Before she met Xue Sui, no one had ever told her these things.

She remained silent for a moment, then smiled faintly.

"No wonder His Majesty treats you like a precious jewel. Ping An, you truly are... an extraordinary woman."

Xue Sui turned to look at her, raising an eyebrow in a teasing tone.

"But you, Princess, are always alone. Don't you ever think about what's best for yourself? I noticed the way Lord Lu looks at you; he seems to have a lot on his mind..."

Wen Jia's expression darkened slightly, and she gave a self-deprecating smile: "Lord Lu is a gentleman. A gentleman knows his place and how to conduct himself; he will not overstep the bounds. As for me, I am all alone, without any ties, which makes me feel quite at ease..."

Xue Sui nodded with a smile, "Such magnanimity, the princess is truly an extraordinary woman."

As the two were talking, Jinshu suddenly rushed in, her face anxious.

"Your Majesty, news has come from Yiyuan... Her mistress is not well..."

Xue Sui's heart sank.

"what happened?"

"She said she fell last night, but there was nothing wrong at the time. This morning, after waking up from a nap... she was like a different person, insisting on going back to Xiz..." Jinshu spoke very quickly.

"The servants couldn't stop them, and the steward told me to come and report to Her Majesty immediately..."

　Li Zhao: Ping An, praise me!

　　Black Eighteen: What are you praising? This dog just wants to gnaw on a big bone!

　　(End of this chapter)