Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 103 Coming at night
Xue Sui tugged at the quilt that had slipped off his body, looking as if he was afraid of the cold. He lightly twisted the corner of the quilt with his fingertips. He looked nervous, and his voice was as soft and weak as a mosquito or fly.

"That day I ate too much noodle soup and accidentally got scalded..."

Ruyi was standing beside the bed. Upon hearing this, she knelt down in front of Li Huan.

"I deserve to die! I put the boiling hot noodles in front of you without even testing the temperature..."

Li Huan lowered his head slightly, and there was a hint of a faint smile in his deep eyes.

He is not one to show his emotions easily.

But Xue Yuechen keenly noticed that he was very unhappy at the moment.

Her heart skipped a beat and she asked with a gentle smile, "Your Highness, what did Doctor Chen tell you? How is my sister's condition?"

Li Huan smiled and said, "There is nothing else to do. Just take good care of yourself."

Xue Yuechen sighed slightly.

"I thought that my sixth sister would get along well with the other sisters and serve the prince wholeheartedly after she entered the palace. But who would have thought that even though she did not fight or compete, she was still harassed by Concubine Yuan..."

She also has some thoughts.

It seems that he feels sorry for Xue Suiming, but actually he has something else to say.

She knew in her heart that Yuan Qingzhu was targeting her as the princess.

After all, Xue Sui was just a young lady and could not cause any trouble. What she wanted to tell Li Huan was that Yuan Qingzhu's behavior was nothing more than coveting the position of princess.

Xue Yuechen lowered her head slightly, with tears in her eyes, and looked so pitiful. She was such a stunning beauty, who wouldn't feel pity for her?

Li Huan restrained the coldness in his eyes, and when he looked at her again, he had a gentle and generous smile on his face: "Don't worry, Princess. I will handle it impartially and give her justice."

Xue Yuechen showed gratitude on her face, walked forward with red eyes and bowed gracefully.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for making the decision for my sister and me!"

Li Huan gently held her arm and said with a smile, "Why do you have to be so polite to me, Princess?"

This is exactly what Xue Yuechen wanted.

She lowered her head and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, and said softly: "Sixth sister is pitiful. She has been living among the people for ten years and suffered a lot. She thought she would be able to live a carefree life from now on, but she didn't expect to be wronged and wronged as soon as she entered the mansion..."

Li Huan looked at Xue Sui deeply.

A teenage girl was seriously injured to the point that her lungs were damaged and even pregnancy might hurt her vitality. What kind of hardships had she gone through?

And how much of the inside story does his princess know?

Li Huan didn't ask much, just spoke softly.

"The weather has been hot recently. In two days, I will take you to a villa outside the city to escape the heat and relax."

He glanced at Xue Sui again, "Don't you like to use flowers in your dishes? There are many exotic flowers and plants in the garden, you can have fun with them."

Xue Sui smiled weakly, as if he was too weak to talk.

Xue Yuechen also laughed...

But there is a place deep in my heart that seems like a corner of the snow has collapsed and quietly fallen.

The person who likes to use flowers in cooking seems to be talking about her, but in fact it is not her.

She said that she learned the new dishes she prepared at Muyueju from Xue Liu, but wasn’t the idea still from Xue Liu?

In the ten years since their marriage, Li Huan has been very busy. He can't be said to be cold, but he has never been warm either. He has never taken the initiative to take her or any of the women in the backyard out to relax.

To say that he is heartless is not entirely true.

Because he has always been like this, without favoritism.

But now, Xue Liu has won his special regard before he even sleeps with him...

How could this not make her feel sad?
There are different types of likes.

Just like the flowers in the garden, they all bloom so beautifully, but not every one of them can win his heart...

At this time, Chengfu was outside seeking a meeting.

Li Huanxuan asked him to come in. Chengfu saw that the prince had no intention of stopping him, so he bowed and said:
"Your Highness, we found the brush and ink used to draw talismans in the Shuyu Pavilion, and the ashes of burnt talisman paper in the incense burner. And, and..."

Li Huan asked: "What else?"

Cheng Fu lowered his head and whispered, "In the sandalwood box in Concubine Yuan's bedroom, a secret compartment was found, which contained the Magic Heart Grass."

Chen Henian once said that Huanxincao is extremely rare.

If there is no intention to harm others, ordinary people will not have it at all.

Li Huan immediately turned away and had Yuan Qingzhu brought to the main hall for interrogation.

When Yuan Qingzhu got the news, he collapsed completely.

Two maids supported her and rushed over. Li Huan was already sitting in the hall, looking like he was going to interrogate her severely.

Yuan Qingzhu's face turned pale, his legs went limp, and he fell to his knees with a plop.

"Your Highness, I really don't know what the Illusion Heart Grass is. I have never even heard of it, let alone using it to harm others... Please, Your Highness, please understand!"

Li Huan asked: "What about the unburned talisman ashes in the incense burner?"

Yuan Qingzhu was speechless for a moment.

She looked up at Li Huan, tears welling up in her eyes and falling down.

Li Huan had a stern look, without a trace of pity on his face.

"You still won't tell the truth?"

Yuan Qingzhu bit her lower lip and cried, "I have been in the palace for ten years. I also gave birth to your eldest daughter Xici. I have been serving you wholeheartedly. How could I do something as treasonous as cursing you..."

Li Huan said coldly: "It seems that you still refuse to tell the truth!"

Although his voice was light, it was chilling and frightening.

"Chengfu, take Concubine Yuan away. Tomorrow, the King will inform His Majesty and deprive her of her position as concubine. She will be demoted to a commoner and sentenced to three years of training in Jingci Temple to atone for her sins."

Yuan Qingzhu's expression froze and his tears flowed even harder.

"My Lord, after so many years, do you really not care about the relationship between husband and wife?"

Li Huan said: "This prince and the princess are husband and wife."

Yuan Qingzhu felt as if struck by lightning. He stared at Li Huan's cold eyes. In his wide-open eyes, there was disbelief, as well as unwillingness, resentment, sadness and despair.

She always thought that Xue Yuechen was the obstacle between her and Li Huan. If it weren't for Xue Yuechen, she and Li Huan would have become real husband and wife.

As a concubine, she always regarded herself as Li Huan's wife.

She never thought that in Li Huan's heart, she was just an insignificant person, no different from a concubine.

"My Lord, you have such a cruel heart."

"Zhu'er has been with you for ten years, but you don't care about our old relationship at all. Your Majesty, don't you care about me or our daughter?"

Li Huan had a blank expression on his face.

"Yuan Shi, you brought this upon yourself, who can save you?"

The words were soft.

His expression was not cold either.

But it was like a sharp knife, piercing my heart.

Yuan Qingzhu collapsed to the ground, crying sadly.

"Go ahead and punish me if you want. I instructed the maid Mingxue to draw the spell, and I specifically told her not to look like the prince in the slightest. I have never thought of harming the prince..."

Li Huan asked: "What do you think of my horoscope?"

Yuan Qingzhu was speechless.

If he wanted to frame Xue Liu, he had to drag Xue Yuechen into the water. How could he do that without writing a bad word about Li Huan?
That's it.

The winner is the king and the loser is the bandit.

Just like when she was crowned as a concubine, she lost.

Yuan Qingzhu touched the ground with his forehead.

His voice was hoarse and dry, his shoulders were shaking, and he looked quite disheartened.

"I was foolish and deceived the prince. I am willing to accept the punishment."

—

Yuan Qingzhu was the daughter of Yuan Qili, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. Li Huan could not treat her as casually as a servant out of consideration for his reputation.

Their daughter, Li Xici, who had just turned six years old, hurried over when she heard the news, knelt outside the door, and pleaded for her biological mother.

Li Huan was silent for a long time, then sighed. "Let's go to Jingci Temple."

He did not really take any ruthless action, but just followed his previous words and let Yuan Qingzhu go to Jingci Temple to practice for three years to atone for his sins.

As for the matter of stripping Yuan of her title of concubine, it was not mentioned again.

Li Xici knelt down to thank his father for his grace and asked to go to the Buddhist temple with his biological mother to pray for his father.

Li Huan agreed.

Yuan Qingzhu cried bitterly in Shuyu Pavilion.

She was still Yuan's concubine, and she still had maids, nannies, servants and coachmen to serve her, and she could still wear fine clothes and eat delicious food.

But three years are enough to change a lot. For Yuan Qingzhu, who fell in love with Li Huan at the age of sixteen, these things that he had since birth were never important or precious.

What she wanted - Li Huan's love and compassion - was no longer available to her.

In this way, everything outside of her body lost its value to her.
-
The next morning, before daybreak, the palace's carriage carrying Yuan Qingzhu and Li Xici left Shangjing.

Yuan Qingzhu did not meet anyone, nor did he go to bid farewell to Li Huan and his mistress Xue Yuechen.

She had committed a serious mistake and had done something as horrific as witchcraft and curse, and she was afraid that her family would be implicated and she would become the laughing stock of the noble ladies in the capital. Li Huan did not punish her more severely because he was considering the face of his daughter and her father, so he did not dare to cause any more trouble.

As soon as she left, Tanqiuyuan became quiet.

Xue Yuechen sent a lot of nourishing things, and Li Huan also ordered Chen Henian to come and check Xue Sui's pulse every day...

This made Xue Sui feel somewhat passive.

That day, she took the medicine in advance, which triggered the symptoms and caused her internal breathing to become disordered.

As for the old illnesses that Chen Henian diagnosed, they were indeed the root causes of her illness since childhood, and they were not false. In front of an experienced old doctor like Chen Henian, it was easy for her to diagnose the clues.

Of course, this is also what Xue Sui wanted him to tell Li Huan.

For her, it's killing two birds with one stone.

~
"Girl, it's time to take the medicine."

Jinshu walked in with medicine and saw Xue Sui sitting in front of the bed, holding an embroidered picture of flowers and birds. She hurried forward, snatched the embroidery away, and scolded him.

"The girl is really restless. Do you still want this body and eyes?"

Xue Sui's eyes were lazy and he had a playful smile on his face.

"Aunt knows how I got this disease."

Jinshu sat down on the stool in front of her bed, picked up the bowl of medicine, blew on it gently, and then handed it to her mouth with a spoon.

Xue Sui tilted his head, "I don't want to eat anymore."

Jinshu said, "This is not Doctor Chen's medicine, it is the prescription that Dalangjun prescribed for you."

Xue Sui's eyes showed warmth for a moment, but he still resisted the bowl of black medicine.

"My mouth tastes bitter. Everything tastes astringent and has no flavor at all."

Jinshu smiled and said, "Then I will go make some sweet and sour drinks to cool you down, and some candied fruits to help you relieve your bitterness."

Xue Sui smiled.

In the past at the Xue Mansion, Jinshu would only come to see her when he had to convey news, and the two of them did not have the opportunity to spend every day together like this.

Now that they are together every day, she finds that Jin Shu is truly a reassuring and warm person.

She is considerate to every detail, and thinks about everything carefully.

"Aunt, you don't have to work so hard in the future. I don't want to tire you out."

Jinshu smiled and said, "It's not a big deal. As long as the young lady is healthy, I will be happy."

The summer weather is sultry. Even when night falls, the heat has not yet dissipated. The starlight and moonlight shine through the clouds, casting a clear light.

After dinner, Xue Sui asked Ruyi and Xiaozhao to support him as he took a walk in the garden of Tanqiuyuan.

There is a flat corner of grass in the yard, dotted with small flowers.

The flowers swayed gently in the breeze, attracting two butterflies to dance in the night light.

Xue Sui followed the direction of the butterfly with his eyes, his smile slowly faded, he was stunned for a moment, staggered, and almost fell.

Xiao Zhao was quick-witted and quickly supported Xue Sui.

She looked at the smooth blue bricks on the ground and couldn't help wondering.

"Girl, what did you kick?"

Xue Sui smiled slightly, "My legs are a little weak, help me go back and lie down."

As soon as they stepped over the threshold, Xue Sui let go of her hand.

"You and Ruyi have worked hard these past few days. Go to bed early and don't have to keep watch."

Ruyi was overjoyed and agreed without thinking too much.

Xiao Zhao looked at her deeply and closed the door silently.

For some reason, even though Xiao Zhao had walked away, Xue Sui still felt like a thorn in her back when she looked back, burning her cheeks.

In the past, she never avoided Xiao Zhao in anything.

I haven't done anything wrong, so why do you feel so guilty?
Just as I was thinking about it, the window creaked slightly.

A tall figure came in through the window like a gust of wind, tapped the window sill with his toes, and landed silently on the ground with his clothes fluttering...

Then he closed the window with his backhand.

Done in one go, neatly and calmly.

If not Crown Prince Li Zhao, who else could it be?

As soon as he entered the room, it suddenly seemed cramped.

Xue Sui frowned slightly and looked coldly at the handsome young man. He walked over with steady steps and sat casually on the armchair in front of her couch, bringing a faint breeze, just like a host returning home after a long absence, free and uninhibited, without any restraint or courtesy.

"I heard that you fainted from anger, so I came to visit you."

Xue Sui said: "In order to fulfill the agreement with the prince, I have to do this."

The corners of Li Zhao's mouth slightly raised, as if he was smiling.

"In that case, it's my fault, isn't it?"

Xue Sui avoided answering and only asked: "I wonder what important matter has come to you late at night, Your Highness?"

Li Zhao glanced at her and said, "Gu Jie is out of prison."

The Jingyuan Marquis' Mansion made up for the deficit, and His Majesty, mindful of his ancestors' meritorious service, gave Gu Jie a lighter sentence. However, he was dismissed from his position in the Ministry of Finance, and from then on he had to stay at home unemployed with no hope of a career in officialdom.

Xue Sui was not very surprised. He looked calm and lowered his eyes indifferently.

"Marquis Jingyuan and Madam Chun spent all their wealth, but they did a good deed and saved their son."

Li Zhao smiled.

He raised his eyes to look at her and suddenly asked, "Did you cast a love poison on Prince Duan?"

Xue Sui raised his eyebrows and asked him, "Prince, do you think that the love thread Gu is so easy to obtain? It is very valuable."

Li Zhao chuckled.

"After the morning court session today, in the Imperial Study, Prince Duan asked for leave from His Majesty, saying that the recent heat was unbearable and many of the family members in the palace were feeling unwell. He wanted to take you and Princess Duan to the villa in the suburbs to relax..."

Xue Sui looked calm, "His concubine has caused me to this point, I think he is making up for his guilt."

Li Zhao: "Prince Duan also asked His Majesty to confer you the title of Madam Ru."

After saying this, he glanced at her sideways and raised his eyebrows slightly.

"I think you will get the good news tomorrow morning. Congratulations, Xue Ping'an."

His expression was expressionless and it was hard to tell whether he was happy or angry.

Xue Sui was secretly shocked.

What was Li Huan thinking when he asked for leave from the emperor in front of Li Zhao and described his actions in such detail?
conspiracy?

Or do you want to take this opportunity to prove something?
Xue Sui subconsciously touched the corner of his mouth, "That day he asked me why my lip was injured?"

Li Zhao leaned slightly closer and looked at her with burning eyes.

"How do you answer? Lonely?"

I will only update one chapter today. This chapter has more than 4000 words. It can be considered a two-in-one chapter~

It's Chinese New Year, there are a lot of people and things to do at home, please understand! Muah ~ Love you guys ~