Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 502 The Grand Finale (Part 4)

Li Zhao accepted the letter.

The handwriting on the letter was neat.

Your Majesty, please consider:
I am deeply grateful to Your Majesty for your thoughtful arrangements in welcoming me back to the capital. However, having grown up in the Jianghu (江湖, the martial arts world), I am still free-spirited and have unresolved matters to attend to, making it difficult for me to settle comfortably in the palace for the time being.

As for the marriage alliance, although it concerns the national dignity, Dulan is innocent and trapped in the deep palace, which is a great pity. I earnestly request Your Majesty to handle it properly and grant her a free and happy marriage.

Xue Sui bowed.

The few lines of text contained no complaints or grievances, but were calm and peaceful, as if they were talking about someone else's affairs.

Li Zhao gripped the blank sheet of paper tightly, his knuckles turning white...

He had planned it all out: by letting her return in place of Princess Dulan, he would both save face for the Xiz royal family and satisfy his own selfish desires, thus keeping her by his side from then on...

Little did she know, she saw through everything...

Following his overall plan, he made proper arrangements for Dulan, and then, amidst the cheers of the people, calmly walked out of his sight.

"Your Majesty, this medicine..." Xiao Zhao held the sandalwood box above her head with both hands, her voice tight, "Her Majesty heard that Your Majesty's health was not good, so she personally prepared this medicine to nourish your body and replenish your energy, and instructed Your Majesty to take it on time and take care of your health."

Li Zhao took the wooden box.

The cold, sharp edges of the box pressed against my palm, like a dull knife cutting into my heart.

The cheers from below the city gate were still surging, the sounds of ceremonial music filled the air, and the whole street was eagerly awaiting the arrival of the new concubine...

Only Li Zhao felt that the hustle and bustle was a joke, vague and distant, and had nothing to do with him.

she left.

Is it that she really just wants to go back to the old mausoleum to have some peace and quiet, or... is she completely disappointed in him and never wants to return to this golden cage again?

“How dare she slip away right under my nose…” He unconsciously ran his fingertips across the box. “She’s certainly living the high life.”

The voice was so soft it was almost inaudible, with a hint of a sob that even he himself didn't realize.

"And what about me?"

He raised his head, looked up at the vast and boundless天地 (heaven and earth), and asked softly, "What should I do then?"

The surroundings were deathly silent.

No one dared to respond.

The servants, sensing the danger, lowered their heads and held their breath very softly…

Only Laifu slightly raised his eyes, secretly glancing at the emperor's tense jaw, his palms sweating profusely.

"Your Majesty! Your health is of utmost importance... The Empress left some medicine; she is ultimately thinking of you..."

Li Zhao closed his eyes and clutched the wooden box tightly in his hand, as if it were the only piece of driftwood.

"I will go find her."
-
Three days later, the secret guards sent by Li Zhao to track Xue Sui reported back one after another that they had not found any trace of Xue Sui.

Li Zhao sat in the Pifang Pavilion, listening to the guards' explanations and excuses, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the table.

"Useless." He muttered under his breath, it was unclear whether he was cursing the guards or himself.

No one can see through his thoughts.

No one would know what it feels like for an emperor to possess the entire country and hold the power of life and death, yet be unable to keep someone he wants to keep.

That night, Li Zhao changed into civilian clothes and personally led his guards out of the capital, chasing them all the way to the border of the Old Mausoleum Marsh.

At the foot of Yunlu Mountain, the stone tablet inscribed with "Forbidden Land" stands in the dim twilight, its surface covered with moss, looking eerie and terrifying.

Li Zhao placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, his fingertips repeatedly rubbing the scabbard, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down.

He knew that with just a single command, his guards could storm the forbidden area, not only find her, but even raze the old mausoleum to the ground...

This forbidden area was one that his grandfather had never set foot in.

His father, the emperor, did not have it either.

Now it's his turn...

A long wind, carrying the mountain mist, brushed against my face, bringing with it the chill of the grass and trees.

Li Zhao stared at the words on the stele for a long time, and finally turned his horse around...

"Go back to Beijing."

He missed her terribly. But she knew even better that, given her personality, if she truly didn't want to go back, even if he barged in, it would only backfire...
-
The atmosphere in the palace grew more and more somber each day.

Laifu hasn't slept for three days.

Tonight, His Majesty summoned the servants who had returned with the Empress and questioned them one by one.

Listen to their stories about the Queen's experiences in Xiz.

She was interested in everything from how she turned the tide at the Wolf God Altar to how she fought alongside Tian Shu to slay the water beast, from how the Xiz people revered her as Princess Wulan to how she didn't shed a single tear while carrying her deceased mother's coffin, and even trivial matters like Xue Sui teaching Angge to write the Liang script and getting her fingers pricked by thorns while picking jujubes in the old palace...

Li Zhao asked very detailed questions.

They listened attentively.

It was as if he wanted to fill in the gaps in his memory little by little from other people's words about the days when Xue Sui was not by his side.

Sometimes, when he heard something funny, a hint of a smile would appear in his eyes. But that smile never lasted long before it vanished again.

Laifu sighed quietly. If the Empress knew that His Majesty had tormented her like this, would she soften her heart and come back?
"All of you may leave." It was past midnight, and Li Zhao was finally exhausted. He waved everyone away, tried to get up by leaning on the table, but his legs went numb from sitting for so long, and he stumbled.

"Your Majesty, be careful!"

Laifu hurriedly stepped forward to help him up, only to find that the arms under the dragon robe were so thin they were rough to the touch, and that he was much thinner than before.

Laifu felt heartbroken seeing this.

His Majesty was once such a handsome and dashing man, everyone who saw him praised his dragon-like bearing and phoenix-like charm, unmatched by anyone. Now, even his voice is hoarse from years of hard work, he looks exactly like a lovesick fool tormented by unrequited love...

His nose stung with tears, and he couldn't help but offer his advice:
"Your Majesty, if the Empress were to return and see you like this, how distressed she would be."

Li Zhao waved his hand without replying, only gazing at the orchid on the windowsill.

Everything here is exactly as it was before. Her usual teacup, the book she hadn't finished reading—he hadn't moved a thing. Everything was exactly as she used to like it, but the familiarity of the hall only made the emptiness of the room feel even greater.

"Where's the medicine?" he suddenly asked, his voice as soft as a sigh.

"It's being prepared in the small kitchen. This servant will send someone to fetch it right away." Laifu quickly replied, then hesitated and added, "Your Majesty, should we have Physician Zhang take another look? This medicine..."

“No need,” Li Zhao interrupted him, his gaze fixed on the cup of tea. “When have I ever not listened to what she said?”

Lai Fu agreed, bowed, and withdrew.

Seeing this, Mei Ruhui, who was waiting nearby, stepped forward and asked in a low voice about the aftermath of Princess Xiz's disappearance.

"Your Majesty, this matter must be addressed... to avoid gossip and loss of face."

Li Zhao chuckled to himself, staring at him for a long time before slowly speaking.

"Do everything according to her wishes. Whom she wants to please, what she wants to do, I will grant her request..."
-
Time flies very fast.

Xue Sui left the capital quietly more than a month ago.

News from the outside world came in intermittently...

With King Ang firmly seated on the throne, Prince Moril took charge of military affairs, and High Priest Amonrach retreated to the background. The Siz gradually restored its former order...

Everything in the Liang Palace was as usual, except that the Emperor's mind was unpredictable.

The "Princess Ulidulan," who had traveled a great distance, was not welcomed into the palace as expected. The emperor simply ordered her to be properly accommodated at the royal post station and treated as a distinguished guest. The official statement was that His Majesty was unwell and arrangements would be made after his recovery.

But less than a month later, news spread that the princess had fallen seriously ill.

The imperial physicians' treatment was ineffective, and she eventually passed away.

The Liang court handled Princess Dulan's funeral properly and then sent envoys with generous gifts to Xizi to express their apologies.

Both countries were reasonable and did not break their alliance because of this. Instead, they paid more attention to border stability, and trade routes became more frequent, without any discord arising.

What truly disrupted the capital was the rumor that the emperor was seriously ill.

At first, they only said that he was overworked and needed to rest.

Later, as rumors intensified, it was even said that His Majesty had been depressed and seriously ill since Consort Xue left the palace, and that he often skipped the morning court sessions.

These messages reached Xue Sui's ears in Jiuling Marsh without missing a single word.

During these days, she diligently fulfilled her duties as a disciple in the old mausoleum, sweeping the tomb and paying respects to her master, serving her second and third masters, taking care of their daily needs, serving them medicine in the morning and inquiring about their well-being in the evening, and at the same time, patiently navigating the relationships among her fellow disciples.

Most of the time, everyone gets along peacefully.

They maintained a subtle, superficial calm, without tacit agreement.

Even Yuheng, who harbored resentment towards her, no longer mentioned the cause of her master's death or the talk of cleaning up the sect. She simply avoided her completely, not even bothering to give her a second glance...

They all knew why she came back, and she knew they knew why she came back...

However, the conflict of more than 30 years is like a rope with a knot that is tightly bound between the old imperial tombs and the court. To untie the old grudges, one must be patient and cannot rush it.

Xue Sui immersed himself in the daily life of the old mausoleum, trying to use this familiar tranquility to suppress the subtle unease in his heart.

At first, she didn't believe it when she heard that Li Zhao was seriously ill.

That man is a cunning schemer; I wonder what wicked scheme he's plotting this time.

She wouldn't fall for it. Before the love curse was eradicated, she would rather he hate her, resent her, or simply erase her from his life without a care in the world, or welcome someone new and live a life with no connection to her, than have him lose his life due to the backlash of the love curse.

But the rumors intensified, and the more she heard them, the more uneasy she became.

Especially lately, her body has been feeling extremely unwell. The inexplicable anxiety in her chest occasionally transforms into a subtle palpitation and nausea, not intense, but lingering, like an invisible thread, one end tied to her, the other connected to the capital...

It seemed to be hinting that Li Zhao might be facing danger, and also to be reminding her of her unresolved fate.

That day, she finally couldn't hold back any longer and summoned Jinshu.

"Send a trusted confidant to the capital to find out Li Zhao's true situation."

Just as Jinshu accepted the order, Ruyi's hurried footsteps came from outside the courtyard.

Before the person even entered the room, the voice came in first.

"Miss! Miss... Ling Yufei has returned!"

Xue Sui's heart tightened.

Lingyu was the one she left in Shangjing, and she stayed with Xiao Zhao.

From the day Li Zhao took the Forget-Me-Not herb, Xiao Zhao kept reporting news to her intermittently, without interruption.

(End of this chapter)