Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 500: The Grand Finale (Part Two)

Three days later, the special envoy from Daliang led a delegation to Chishui City.

Xiz received them with the highest honors, with the new King Ang, Prince Moril, High Priest Amonlah, and a host of tribal nobles personally coming out to greet them.

The sun was strong in Chishui City, but the streets were busier than usual.

The gravel on the road was gathered to the side of the street, and newly dyed colorful cloths were hung outside the shops, creating a festive atmosphere.

As the Princess of Ulan, bestowed by Xiz, Xue Sui naturally had to attend.

She wore a royal robe of the Siz family, with a wolf bone belt around her waist, and stood beside Ang, her posture upright and neither humble nor arrogant.

"Princess, Lord Lu has arrived."

Hearing the sound, Xue Sui looked up and saw the entourage of the envoys who had come from afar slowly approaching.

The leading man was imposing and dignified, dressed in the official robes of the Great Liang Dynasty. He looked travel-worn, with a scholarly air about him but not weak. This was Lu You'an.

The ladies of Siz blushed slightly.

This handsome young man looks quite different from the men of Siz...

Lu Youan dismounted and bowed, then cupped his hands to the group of nobles from Xiz. His gaze swept over everyone, finally landing on Xue Sui. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, and he bowed again.

"Your Majesty, I am here to attend the alliance meeting on His Majesty's orders."

Xue Sui nodded in return: "Lord Lu must be tired from your journey. The royal court has prepared a simple banquet to welcome you back."

Lu Youan bowed in thanks, and seeing her calm expression, he said nothing more and turned to exchange pleasantries with Angge and Moirile.

In the following days, they discussed matters related to the alliance.

The tribal chief of Xiz sat around a wooden table, drinking milk wine. He said that the caravans took a long, circuitous route through the mountains and hoped that Daliang would loosen restrictions and grant them more convenience on the trade route. Daliang, on the other hand, said that there were bandits on the shorter route, and they were afraid of harming people. They hoped that Xiz could help guard against the tribes in the western frontier and prevent them from harassing the border.

Both sides went back and forth, each holding their own grounds.

Xue Sui sat to the side, waiting for them to finish arguing before occasionally speaking up. His words were measured yet always hit the nail on the head. He protected Xiz's interests without offending Daliang, making both sides feel his sincerity.

Two weeks later, the Chishui Alliance was officially signed.

A wooden platform was built by the Chishui River, and a new felt mat was laid on it.

The guards of honor from both countries stood solemnly, offering sacrifices and swearing an oath of allegiance by drinking blood according to ancient rites, and paying homage to Heaven and Earth.

Lu Youan and Prince Morile each held a short dagger, cut their fingertips, dripped blood into wine bowls, and drank together.

The surrounding attendants raised their arms and cheered loudly, and the colorful banners fluttered in the wind, creating a festive atmosphere.

however……

The joy of the grand ceremony did not last long, as something happened at the Old Palace that very night.

Yukihime ultimately couldn't make it through, and peacefully closed her eyes the day after the alliance was signed.

On her deathbed, she was exceptionally clear-headed, holding Xue Sui's hand tightly and giving him repeated instructions.

"Sixth Sister, your mother is going to see your maternal grandparents. You... must take good care of yourself, don't be like your mother... don't wrong yourself..."

“Go back to the capital, go back to your husband…”

"Your mother knows that you miss him..."

Xue Sui knelt before the bed, kowtowing repeatedly.

Xiao Zhao, Ruyi, and Jinshu wiped away tears, and even the guards had red eyes.

Xue Sui brought Xue Ji back to Xiz to fulfill her last wish.

Unexpectedly, he was the one who personally saw her off at the end of her life.

This woman, who had spent half her life mentally challenged and suffered countless hardships, finally found liberation at the end of her life and reunited with her parents at the foot of Mount Ulan.

Princess Yuki's funeral was conducted according to the rites for a princess.

Xue Sui, dressed in white mourning clothes, personally carried his mother's coffin.

From the old palace to the royal tomb, the people of Xiz along the way spontaneously knelt by the roadside, chanting that the wolf god would bless the princess to rest in peace...

The people may not know the princess's past, but they respect her royal blood and the peace she brought to the Siz.
-
After Yukihime left, the old palace fell silent.

Aside from visiting Tian Shu, Xue Sui spent his time in the house sorting through his mother's old belongings.

She put all the items—the half-woven felt, the embroidered sachet, the newly brewed herbal ointment, and the silver bracelet her mother used to wear—into a wooden box.

Now that the alliance is in place, the Liang delegation should return home.

Lu Youan chose an auspicious day for his trip and then came to the old palace to ask for permission...

The old palace courtyard was deserted.

Xue Sui, dressed in plain white mourning clothes, was sitting at a stone table brewing tea.

The tea grinder was brought from the capital; it was carved from bluestone. Her tea-brewing technique was also very skillful and pleasing to the eye.

“His Majesty is very concerned about the Empress.” Lu Youan sat on the stone bench in front of her and carefully spoke, “Before leaving, His Majesty specifically instructed me to make sure that the Empress was well.”

Xue Sui pushed a cup of tea in front of him, a smile playing on her lips.

"I am grateful for Lord Lu's concern. His Majesty is responsible for the fate of the nation and is busy with countless affairs of state. There is no need for him to worry about me."

"Princess Ulidulan's visit to the capital..." Lu Youan coughed lightly and probed, "is for the purpose of consolidating the alliance. In His Majesty's heart, the Empress is always the most important person."

The mint leaves in Xue Sui's hand fell onto the stone table. She slowly gathered the fragments together, her voice neither hurried nor slow.

"Lord Lu, you are overthinking it. It is only natural for the emperor to take concubines. It is also the duty of concubines to share the burden of the country. I have been away from the palace for a long time, and it is a good thing that His Majesty has someone to take care of me."

Lu Youan was speechless for a moment.

The Xue Sui he knew was intelligent and perceptive, with an inherent arrogance, and was by no means someone who would easily back down.

Hearing that the emperor wanted Princess Narciz, his calm reaction was rather perplexing...

Either she has no feelings for His Majesty, or she simply doesn't want to return to the capital.

“Your Majesty, Princess Ulidulan’s carriage and ceremonial arrangements are all in place, and the guards are even more stringent. To ensure everything goes smoothly, may Your Majesty… condescend to accompany the princess back to the capital?” Xue Sui lowered her eyes, her face misty with tears. “Lord Lu has considered everything carefully. However, my mother has just passed away, and I must remain in Xizi to observe mourning. It is inconvenient for me to leave immediately. Lord Lu, you should escort Princess Ulidulan to the capital first, lest you miss the auspicious day.”

Her words were impeccable and proper, yet cold and devoid of any emotion.

Lu Youan had a headache.

The task assigned by His Majesty is proving difficult to handle.

How could he bring the Empress back to the capital in a dignified manner without offending her?

We need to consider this carefully.
-
After seeing Lu Youan off, Xue Sui turned around when a sudden wave of nausea surged up her throat. She quickly grabbed the door frame and clutched her chest, dry heaving.

Ruyi quickly handed her warm water and gently patted her back: "Your Highness, you've been like this for the past few days. Why don't you go and see the eldest son?"

Xue Sui took the water glass, rinsed his mouth, suppressed the discomfort in his throat, and said in a softer voice, "It's okay, I know my own body."

She instinctively touched her chest, where there was nothing obviously wrong, but the recent symptoms made her increasingly uneasy.

The news brought by Guan Ya and Lu Youan that Li Zhaolong was unwell weighed heavily on her heart, making it even more difficult for her to choose between the two forget-me-nots.
-
Before she knew it, the day arrived for Princess Ulidulan to set off.

The ceremonial guards, dowry, and wedding procession were all ready, awaiting only the auspicious day.

On the eve of the ceremony, Xue Sui sat alone under the lamp, gazing absently at two forget-me-not plants, when he suddenly heard footsteps outside the door.

She picked up the dagger from the table, walked to the door, and saw a figure rushing towards her.

She is Princess Ulidulan, who is about to be married.

The girl had shed her fine clothes and was now wearing a faded riding outfit. Her hair was disheveled and her face was covered in sand. Behind her followed a tall, strong, and handsome young man with calloused hands, clearly someone who practiced martial arts regularly.

"Aunt!" Dulan rushed over and grabbed Xue Sui's hand, her palms were sweaty, her body was trembling slightly, but her strength was astonishing.

"Please, help me, I don't want to get married!"

Xue Sui frowned and glanced at the young man.

"Let's talk inside."

The two followed Xue Sui into the inner room, where Du Lan was still trembling slightly.

After they were seated, Xue Sui took two porcelain bowls, poured out some cool tea from the earthenware pot, and handed them over.

"Go ahead."

“Aunt, I don’t want to go to Daliang…” Princess Dulan held her teacup, glanced at the young man, and said in a tearful voice, “I already have someone I love. He is Huo Muli, a warrior in the tribe. We grew up together and have already pledged our lives to each other… Aunt, please help us.”

"This matter concerns the alliance between our two countries, and is of utmost importance," Xue Sui calmly stated the facts. "If you simply leave, how will Xiz explain this to the Great Liang? How will your father, brothers, and relatives face themselves?"

“I know…I know it’s selfish…” Dulan said, tears streaming down her face.

"But if I go, I'll only wither and die in that deep palace. I don't want to, I'm not willing to accept that..."

Xue Sui turned his head to look at the young man named Huo Muli.

"what do you think?"

Huo Muli was a little nervous, but his young heart was pounding with excitement...

"I want to marry Dulan."

He straightened his back, placed his right hand on his chest, and made a firm vow.

"Homuli swore an oath to Mount Ulan and the Wolf God that he would be loyal to Princess Dulan for the rest of his life. If the princess grants my wish, I will take Dulan away from Chishui City to the southern grasslands... to raise enough cattle and sheep, and set up a warm tent. I will never let her suffer any injustice. If this violates the Wolf God's commandments and I am punished by the tribe, I will bear the consequences alone..."

After saying this, he knelt down heavily.

"Please, Your Highness, grant my request!"

Dulan also knelt down, crying, her voice choked with sobs, her shoulders trembling violently, and tears streaming down her face.

"Aunt, if I marry into Daliang, I will die..."

Xue Sui looked at her young and beautiful face and remained silent.

Women who marry into political alliances will eventually disappear within the deep curtains of the palace.

The light in Dulan's eyes reminded her of Sena, Tuya, her mother, and herself, who never wanted to accept her fate.

Allowing a couple in love to be together and breaking up a marriage purely for mutual benefit might cause a brief uproar. But for Li Zhao, taking a concubine was for the purpose of maintaining stability; whether there was one more or one less Dulan, or even if she was Dulan, made no difference to him.

However, eloping is not a good idea.

Those who betray their tribe and elope to live a life of wandering and hardship never end well.

After a long pause, she finally spoke, "How do you want me to help?"

Hope ignited in Dulan's eyes as she said urgently, "Aunt, I've heard that you are the woman most valued by the Emperor of Liang. If you ride with me to the capital, and after the caravan leaves Chishui City and crosses the northern valley, and the Xiz wedding procession returns, I will secretly leave with Huo Muli..."

Xue Sui narrowed his dark eyes slightly. "Oh?"

Dulan looked at her teasing eyes and lowered her head. "Da Liang only said that it would marry Princess Xizi, but did not say which one. My aunt is not only a princess, but also the noble Princess Wulan... In this way... it will neither break the contract nor implicate my father and brothers."

Xue Sui chuckled softly.

The candlelight cast interplay of light and shadow on her face, making her expression inscrutable.

"You mean, you want me to ride in your wedding car to cover your escape with Huo Muli, and then... I'll go back to the capital alone and explain to the Emperor of Liang?"

“Aunt…” Dulan’s tears welled up in her eyes again. She kowtowed heavily to her, looking both ashamed and nervous.

"Dulan has gone too far and put you in a difficult position... but we really have no other choice..."

Huo Muli also kowtowed.

"I will never forget Your Highness's great kindness!"

Xue Sui remained silent for a moment, then helped them up.

"Okay, I'll help you."

(End of this chapter)