Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 493 Twin Blossoms
Taking advantage of a young boy's innocence and kindness was not Xue Sui's original intention. But at present, it was the quickest and least likely method to arouse Turgutai's suspicion.

She knew this journey was fraught with danger.

But what she didn't know was that, far away in the capital, Li Zhao was standing before a half-open window, gazing at the last rays of the setting sun, clutching the plain note she had left behind, his knuckles turning slightly white—

Black Eighteen lay listlessly at his feet, its tail drooping. It seemed to sense something was amiss and was unusually well-behaved.

Lai Fu stood with his hands at his sides, even his breathing was slow and gentle.

"Still no news from Guan Ya?" Li Zhao's voice finally broke the silence, so calm that no emotion could be discerned.

"Your Majesty, not yet." Lai Fu lowered his head even further, not daring to look at the dark expression on the emperor's young and handsome face.

"The checkpoints over there in Xiz are very strict. The guards and their party are disguised as a merchant caravan, so they need to be careful. It seems... it will take some more time."

Li Zhao remained silent.

The setting sun cast its long shadow on the smooth, golden brick ground, making it appear lonely and desolate.

The four characters "Do not think of me, do not search for me" on the plain paper were almost faded from his touch...

In the Pifang Pavilion, the comforting fragrance of orchids was gone; the desk was empty, and no one would quietly massage his shoulders when he was weary from reviewing memorials. When he woke in the dead of night, there was no longer that warm, soft body in his arms to gently complain about his cold hands and feet…

How can we not recite it?

How could we not search for it?

When he first learned of her departure, his overwhelming rage nearly destroyed his reason; he wished he could immediately send someone to bring her back and lock her up by his side.

But the anger was eventually replaced by a deeper worry.

That was Xue Ping'an; he had known all along.

Once she makes a decision, she never looks back.

She must have had a compelling reason for taking this step.

And she probably calculated that the people and the nation on his shoulders no longer allowed him to abandon everything to pursue her as he had done in the past.

She had planned everything perfectly, but she never considered how much he would miss her and how much he would suffer.

"Send another secret decree to the Wise Prince..."

Li Zhao turned around abruptly, his eyes bloodshot, but his tone was extremely calm.

"Have him immediately select a group of spies familiar with Xiz to infiltrate Xiz as soon as possible, meet with Guan Ya, and obey his orders."

Lai Fu quickly agreed, "This old servant obeys."

Li Zhao paused, his Adam's apple bobbing, his voice becoming low and hoarse.

"Tell them to protect the Empress secretly, and not to show themselves unless absolutely necessary. And above all, they must not... displease the Empress."

Lai Fu sighed heavily in his heart.

They had to protect the Empress, but they were also afraid that she would be unhappy if she found out.

Your Majesty is putting yourself on the fire, waiting endlessly, like being boiled in oil.
-
The next morning, the sky was just beginning to lighten.

Sure enough, Ang appeared on time at the back gate of the old palace, leading a black horse, waiting with excitement and nervousness.

Xue Sui changed into a neat set of Hu clothing, instructed Ruyi and Jinshu to take good care of their mother, and then, accompanied by two wolf guards and carrying a bag containing water and medicine, headed towards the holy mountain under the guidance of Angge.

As soon as Xue Sui stepped out of the Chishui city gate, he realized that someone was following him.

She pretended not to know and chatted casually with Ang.

Ang was also a young man with a simple and straightforward mind. He treated it as an adventure to play secretly behind the adults' backs, and he was excited all the way.

“I know a shortcut that can bypass the guards. Auntie, I'll take you there…”

The mountain road was rugged, and it became increasingly difficult to travel the deeper one went.

After walking for about an hour, the group finally arrived at Wolf Creek Valley, which Ang had mentioned. However, looking around, they saw nothing but ordinary wildflowers and weeds; there were no blue peacock flowers, let alone any deer.

Anger got anxious, jumped off his horse, and desperately started rummaging through the grass.

"What's going on? They were here last time I came, over here and over there... They were so beautiful."

He urgently asked the accompanying guards to testify.

"Tell me quickly, did you see it?"

The guards nodded earnestly.

Xue Sui looked around thoughtfully, "Perhaps it's not the right time, or perhaps we've come at the wrong time and everyone has already taken advantage of us..."

Ang's little face fell, full of frustration. "What should we do?"

“Angge,” Xue Sui said, “Auntie wants to go further in and take a look. Maybe with luck, she can find one or two... However, it’s dangerous inside, so I can’t take you in, lest we be discovered by General Balu’s men…”

She stopped at the right moment to observe his reaction.

Sure enough, Ang was stirred by his youthful sense of righteousness.

“Okay, let’s split up.” Ang nodded and lowered his voice. “I’ll go search the ravine over there and lure away the people following us. Aunt, be careful.”

Xue Sui felt a slight tremor in his heart.

This young boy is extraordinary.

He wasn't naive; he knew someone was secretly following her, yet he still chose to help her.

Xue Sui showed no emotion on his face, but nodded solemnly.

"Alright, take your aunt's guards with you... If your aunt doesn't return in a quarter of an hour, you shall all return to Chishui City together..."

“I know my limits.” Ang nodded vigorously, feeling a heavy responsibility on his shoulders. “Aunt, remember, the area beyond this point is the forbidden zone of the Holy Mountain. You must never go near it…”

"Auntie has remembered." Xue Sui nodded, watching the young man mount his horse and lead the guards in another direction, silently reciting the words to herself.

Auntie owes you one time, and I will make it up to you in the future.
-
Once Angge's figure disappeared into the valley, Xue Sui confirmed that the tail had been lured away, and then followed the guidance of the sheepskin map to walk deeper into the valley.

The road ahead is rugged and difficult to discern, overgrown with thorns.

She walked for an unknown amount of time before finally seeing the narrow entrance hidden by overgrown weeds. The wolf head mark on the stone wall was covered in moss and could only be seen with careful observation.

"This is it." Xue Sui took a deep breath, drew his curved sword from his waist, and slashed through the thorns to walk in.

"Safety."

A clear, cold, and familiar voice sounded from behind.

"Don't go any further in."

Xue Sui turned around abruptly and saw Tian Shu standing quietly under an ancient tree not far away.

His white robes were stained with grass clippings and dew, and he looked travel-worn. His handsome face remained as aloof as ever, and his jaw was taut. It was unclear how long he had been following her.

As expected, he is the senior brother.

It goes unnoticed by gods and ghosts.

Xue Sui raised her eyebrows slightly and smiled gently.

"Why is Senior Brother here?"

"I've always been with you."

Tian Shu slowly approached, his gaze falling on her face with a complex expression.

"Give up, stop taking risks."

"Why should I give up?" Xue Sui gripped the hilt of his sword, staring at him with a half-smile. "You went to great lengths to lure me here, wasn't it all so I could find the Forget-Me-Not Grass? Now that it's so close, why are you telling me to turn back? Senior Brother, what tricks are you playing?"

Tian Shu smiled bitterly.

“I led you here because only you can get the map and find this place. But I… don’t want you to be in danger.”

Xue Sui curled his lips into a smile, his gaze icy.

"So, my senior brother lied to me again?"

"Ping An, it's your senior brother who has wronged you." Tian Shu was full of remorse.

"It doesn't matter." Xue Sui sneered. "This isn't the first time I've been used as a pawn by my senior brother, and I don't mind being used as a tool again."

After she finished speaking, she stopped looking at Tian Shu, turned around and resolutely cleaved through the thorns, slowly probing into the canyon step by step.

The canyon was deep and secluded; after walking several hundred steps, the canyon suddenly opened up ahead—

The scenery before me was extraordinary.

A deep pool of water gurgled with a chilling aura. A few peculiar plants grew alone by the pool. Their leaves were as translucent as ice silk, and at the top of each plant were two closely nestled flower buds, one pink and one white, swaying gently in the breeze.

"Is this the Forget-Me-Not Grass?" Xue Sui's heart raced. He strode forward, about to reach out and pluck it, but then suddenly stopped and turned to look at Tian Shu.

"Senior Brother, are you hiding something from me? This herb is called Forget-Worry, so why can it be used to cure poison?"

Tian Shu closed his eyes, as if making a decision, and slowly spoke:
"According to ancient records, the Forget-Me-Not Grass was planted by the Holy Maiden who founded the Kingdom of Xiz. It is extremely cold in nature and can only bloom when nourished by the water of the sacrificial pool. Its flowers grow in pairs, one forgetting worries and the other... severing love."

(End of this chapter)