Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 101 Self-inflicted evil

Xiao Zhao and Ruyi were so angry that their eyes were wide open, their faces turned red under the scorching sun, their fists were clenched tightly, and they wanted to rush up to argue with Yuan Qingzhu immediately.

In the Tanqiu Courtyard, the servants that Xue Yuechen had assigned to him were also indignant...

Jinshu held Xiaozhao down and shook his head.

Xue Sui gently smoothed his clothes and looked at the old woman who came forward to arrest the man, his eyes like a cold arrow.

"Step aside!"

In a short period of time, Xue Sui's mind was filled with thoughts as he quickly weighed the pros and cons.

The Self-Torture Scheme - framing Concubine Yuan in an unjust situation may win sympathy, but it is ultimately an act of weakness.

Wait for the opportunity to strike while you are at ease - if she can plan cleverly and let Yuan Qingzhu reveal his true colors in the process of constant struggle, she can then reap the benefits.

Provocation - directly beat the person out. It can relieve the anger for a while, but it is also easy to put yourself in a passive position. The advantage is that it can arouse Yuan Qingzhu's anger. With her arrogant temperament, she will definitely act impulsively and have many flaws. It is easy to find a handle and fight back.

Physical pain?

Mental torture?

Retreat to advance?

To advance in order to defend?

Xue Sui quickly pushed through the crowd and walked onto the bluestone steps above the ground.

"Someone, please get Concubine Yuan out of Tanqiu Courtyard!"

Xiao Zhao responded crisply: "Yes!"

Everyone was stunned, as if they were under a spell, unable to react for a moment.

This is especially true for Yuan Qingzhu.

Her expression froze, and then she pointed at Xue Sui with a sullen face and questioned him angrily.

"Mrs. Xue, do you know what you are talking about?"

Xue Sui raised his chin slightly, looking proud.

"First, the affairs of the palace's harem have always been decided by the princess. I have never heard of a concubine having the right to assist. What the prince hates most is making decisions on one's own, exceeding one's authority, and disrupting the palace's rules and order."

"Secondly, just based on a sachet, you concluded that I had the intention to harm others. Concubine Yuan, are you kidding? You don't have the all-seeing eye or the immortal finger, so how can you say it is an evil object? How can it become an evil object?"

Yuan Qingzhu sneered, "Whether it is an evil thing or not, Your Majesty will make the final decision when he returns to the palace."

Xue Sui's expression was cold, neither angry nor angry, but his voice was like frost on a cold night.

"That was after the prince returned home! Concubine Yuan came in uninvited and searched Tan Qiuyuan wantonly. She had no manners at all - Xiao Zhao!"

Xiao Zhao had been waiting impatiently for a long time. When she heard her master's order and saw that Yuan Qingzhu was still standing there like a wooden stake, she immediately strode forward, reached out and grabbed her arm, and pulled her over with force.

"Please, Concubine..."

Her voice was full of sarcasm, and she secretly exerted strength with her hands, hitting several major acupoints such as Yamen and Fengchi.

Seeing this, the other maids and servants wanted to step forward to help, but when they saw that Yuan Qingzhu was not resisting at all and not even struggling under Xiao Zhao's "support", they did not want to get angry and just followed behind and stepped out of the door silently...

Seeing that the situation was not good, Liu and the maid from Muyueju also took advantage of the chaos to quietly retreat.

Xue Sui caught a glimpse of it out of the corner of his eye, smiled coldly, but did not stop it.

"close the door!"

Only then did Xiao Zhao let go of Yuan Qingzhu, pushed with a little force, and slammed the door of Tan Qiuyuan shut.

"boom--"

There was a loud bang, like thunder, which brought Yuan Qingzhu back to his senses.

"There is an evil spirit. There must be an evil spirit in Tanqiuyuan!"

Just now, when Xiao Zhao restrained her, she felt a strange force spread throughout her body. She felt numb and tingling instantly, and her hands and feet were completely out of control. She was so scared that her mind went blank, as if her soul had been taken away, and she even forgot to call for help.

When she came to her senses, cold sweat broke out on her back.

"Mrs. Xue, what kind of evil magic did you use?"

It was quiet inside and no one paid any attention to her.

Yuan Qingzhu was even more certain that there was a ghost in Tan Qiuyuan.

She didn't dare to break in again. She looked down at the two sachets she was holding tightly in her hands, as if they were a life-saving straw.

"Fortunately, there is evidence. Quick, Lianxin, have Steward Qiu send someone to invite the prince back to the palace..."

The maid Lianxin bowed her head and accepted the order.

At this time, more and more people came from various rooms and courtyards to watch the fun.

There were three layers of people surrounding it inside and outside.

As soon as the matter came out, some people started to whisper.

In the crowd, a plump girl wearing an emerald green cloth skirt was whispering not far behind Yuan Qingzhu.

"If the prince comes back and verifies that the herbs in the sachet are indeed fine, what should we do?"

Another maid continued, "If there is no problem with the sachet, how did the princess persuade the prince to stay overnight?"

The girl in green clothes said, "That's not necessarily true. If Mrs. Xue really did something bad, how could she be so blatant and easily discovered? In my opinion, there is probably nothing wrong with this sachet..."

When Yuan Qingzhu heard this, her heart suddenly tightened.

If there is nothing wrong with the sachet, then it is her own problem.

Not only will Xue be innocent, but Liu will also be punished, and she will also be put in an awkward situation by Xue.

Listening to the discussion, Yuan Qingzhu's heart was pounding.

He gritted his teeth and hardened his heart.

"Call Lianxin back!"

Then, she whispered a few words to the eldest maid Mingxue.

Mingxue understood, nodded slightly, and quickly went downstairs to do the work.
-
Imperial City.

Li Huan had just come out of the court and walked out of Chengtian Gate when he saw Aji, a servant from Qiwu Court, standing nearby, pacing back and forth with his sleeves in his hands, looking anxious.

Li Huan frowned slightly.

Before he could say anything, Aji had already seen him with his sharp eyes and trotted over to him.

"Your Highness!"

Li Huan: "What's the matter?"

Aji bowed and took two steps back.

Li Huan knew from his expression that what he wanted to say could not be heard by others.

He turned around, bowed, and smiled at the adults in official uniforms.

"Master Zhang, Master Xie, I have other important matters in my palace, so I will go ahead."

Several adults bowed their hands repeatedly and performed a respectful salute.

"Your Highness, please help yourself."

"please!"

Li Huan walked aside, and Aji couldn't wait to tell him everything that happened in the mansion.

"Your Majesty, please hurry up, otherwise things will get out of hand."

When Li Huan heard the words "witchcraft", his face changed.

"Prepare the car."

On the east side of Chengtian Gate, Li Zhao came with eunuchs and guards, and looked coldly at Li Huan as he boarded the carriage of Prince Duan's palace.

He sneered silently and asked Guan Ya.

"What did the servant say?" Guan Ya had worked as a spy in the palace in his early years and knew a little about lip reading.

Hearing this, he lowered his head and whispered, "Your Highness, he said that Miss Xue Liu used witchcraft to harm Prince Duan..."

The word "witchcraft" made Li Zhao's face change suddenly.

One love thread Gu is not enough, Xue Ping'an wants to use a second one to control Li Huan?

A strange coldness flashed across Li Zhao's eyes.

This bastard is so ambitious...

It needs to be treated properly!
-
The atmosphere in Prince Duan's Mansion was solemn.

It was clearly midsummer and the heat had not yet dissipated, but it felt as if there were dark clouds overhead and a storm was about to come. The air was stuffy and hot, making it hard to breathe.

Although the sorcery and witchcraft had not yet been determined, it had already spread widely in the mansion and everyone knew about it.

At this moment, the gate of Tanqiuyuan was closed.

Yuan Qingzhu was lying on a bamboo chair under the shade of a tree at the door.

The two maids were fanning themselves desperately, but the summer wind was too hot and there was no coolness at all.

Her cheeks were flushed with heat, and her clothes were soaked with sweat and stuck to her body, but in order to let Li Huan come back and see her doing her best, she still held on and patiently stood outside the gate, fearing that Xue Sui would take the opportunity to escape.

Not only that, because she was controlled by Xiao Zhao just now, she was filled with fear. She didn't need to pretend. She was weak and dazed under the scorching sun, as if she was really possessed by an evil spirit...

Xue Sui was in the room, leisurely enjoying an iced drink, feeling cool and refreshed, as if nothing had happened.

Jinshu couldn't help laughing when she thought of Yuan Qingzhu who was waiting alone under the scorching sun.

"Concubine Yuan wanted the girl to be punished, but she didn't expect that she would fall here and be exposed to the sun..."

Xue Sui raised the corners of his mouth slightly, revealing a faint smile, and said nothing.

"His Royal Highness Prince Duan has arrived!"

Jinshu heard the sound and looked towards the window.

He turned around and said to Xue Sui: "I'm back!"

Xue Sui said: "The show is about to begin."

This Yuan Qingzhu is three years older than Pingle.

Because they are cousins, Pingle and I often played together when we were young.

But Yuan Qingzhu at that time was timid and fearful, following Pingle like a palace maid, and was far from being as arrogant and domineering as she is now.

She had never laid a hand on Xue Sui before.

Originally, Xue Sui had never thought of killing them all.

Unfortunately, bad company breeds bad behavior. Those who are close to Pingle have their minds distorted by power, becoming cruel and unscrupulous.

Well, today, let this concubine Yuan taste the bitter fruit of her own evil deeds.
-
Yuan Qingzhu had already received the report when Li Huan's carriage arrived at the mansion gate.

So, before Li Huan arrived, she was already leaning weakly on the bamboo chair, looking like she was dying and could die at any time.

The crowd gathered around.

Some people pointed and talked in low voices.

Several maids and servants in Shuyu Pavilion were wiping the sweat off her face, crying and calling out for Concubine Yuan in a heart-wrenching manner.

Li Huan took a look from a distance.

He paused slightly, frowned, and a hint of displeasure flashed in his eyes.

When they saw the prince appear, the crowd automatically parted to make way for him.

Li Huan walked through steadily with a stern look on his face.

"How is this going?"

Upon seeing this, the maid of Shuyu Pavilion hurried forward, knelt on the ground with a plop, and cried, "Your Highness, you must make a decision for Concubine Yuan..."

Then, without waiting for Li Huan to say anything, she exaggerates what happened. Her expression and tone are as if she has seen a ghost with her own eyes, and she speaks in a very serious manner.

"When Concubine Yuan heard that someone in the mansion was practicing witchcraft, she was anxious and rushed over to ask for an explanation. Unexpectedly, Lady Xue not only refused to admit her guilt, but also instructed the servants of Tanqiu Court to use witchcraft to control Concubine and beat us all out. Concubine was afraid that they would flee out of fear of crime and slip away in the chaos, so she waited in the scorching sun, waiting for the prince to come back and make the decision."

Li Huan glanced at the closed door of Tan Qiuyuan.

"Someone, knock on the door—"

Before he could finish his words, the door of Tanqiuyuan opened.

Jinshu straightened his back, stepped over the threshold with dignity, walked in front of Li Huan, and bowed respectfully.

"I am Jinshu, the maidservant. Please, Your Majesty, make the decision for our lady."

After saying that, she glanced at Concubine Yuan, her eyes filled with grief and indignation.

"Concubine Yuan turned right into wrong, bullied the weak, and led people to break into Tan Qiu Courtyard, searched through boxes and cabinets, took away the lady's tranquilizing sachet, and falsely accused the lady of poisoning and framing the prince, and wanted to punish the lady. The lady had no choice but to close the door and wait for the prince to come back to administer justice..."

Both sides held different opinions and asked the prince to make the decision.

Li Huan asked, "Where is Mrs. Xue?"

Jinshu lowered his head and replied respectfully:
"The lady was already suffering from the heat, and she was so angry that she fainted..."

Li Huan frowned slightly.

How is it the same as Pingle?
Humph! There are quite a few people who faint easily recently.

Li Huan asked again: "Has the doctor been summoned?"

Jinshu glanced at Yuan Qingzhu, wiped her eyes, and said, "Concubine Yuan is guarding outside the door and won't let us go out. The lady has just entered the mansion and her position is low, so she can't invite a doctor... Fortunately, our lady knows a little about pharmacology, and Tanqiuyuan has also stockpiled a lot of medicinal materials. I found some pills to calm the mind and spirit for the lady to take. But the lady has just woken up and is still very weak. It is inconvenient for her to get up and greet the prince. I hope the prince will forgive me."

These words are very logical and flawless.

Li Huan nodded expressionlessly and looked at Yuan Qingzhu again.

Yuan Qingzhu was breathing rapidly and sweating profusely. He felt extremely uncomfortable even without pretending.

"Your Highness... this little Xue wants your life..."

Li Huan glanced at her.

There was no expression on his face.

"It's too hot, let's go inside first."
-
Yuan Qingzhu was carried in.

I don't know what means she used, but she insisted that she had just been hit by Xiaozhao's evil magic. She even vomited blood in front of Li Huan. The bright red blood dripping onto the ground was particularly eye-catching.

She cried for a while in Tan Qiuyuan, and Xue Yuechen hurried over after hearing the news.

At Zhou Sanniang's house, Xue Yuechen was so frightened when she heard that there was something wrong with the sachet that she didn't have time to sit for a moment. She urged the coachman to speed up.

She knew in her heart that although Li Huan had spent more time in Muyue Residence after obtaining the sachet, if he was infected with witchcraft, not only would Xue Liu be in great trouble, but she, the princess, would also be implicated.

Xue Yuechen rushed to Tanqiuyuan anxiously. Before he could figure out the whole story, he saw the shocking bloodstains on the ground...

Her head buzzed and she almost lost her balance.

Jade followed her and quickly reached out to hold her arm.

"Princess, you have to stand firm at this time."

Xue Yuechen took a deep breath, forced herself to calm down, clutched her handkerchief tightly, walked over steadily, saluted to Li Huan and said, "I greet the prince."

Li Huan looked back at her flushed cheeks.

"Isn't my wife's third-day bath on Wednesday? Why is the princess in such a hurry to come back?"

Before Xue Yuechen could say anything, Yuan Qingzhu started crying, looking extremely distressed.

"Princess! Lady Xue gave you the sachet to seduce you and confuse the prince. She clearly wanted to harm you and then the prince!"

"Concubine Yuan, be careful with your words!" Xue Yuechen's face darkened, and she looked at Yuan Qingzhu coldly, "If there is no evidence, Concubine, don't make random accusations. It is a taboo in the palace and the backyard to make groundless suspicions and malicious slanders!"

"I am not talking nonsense. Just now, that maid restrained me, and everyone saw it. Moreover, I have other evidence." Yuan Qingzhu pointed at the sachets and said loudly:
"We will know if there is any witchcraft or sorcery once we investigate."

The second update will be later~~
It's Chinese New Year, you know what I mean, haha
It's sunny in Chengdu today, how about you? How's the weather this year?