Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 15 Suspicion
After leaving Hongfu Casino, Li Zhao threw the bag of silver and money in his hand to Eunuch Lai Fu.

"Take it and divide it."

Lai Fu and the others looked at each other. His round faces were covered with white wrinkles from smiling. If they were not on the street, he would have knelt down and kowtowed to the prince.

People outside said that the prince was mean and ungrateful, and that his heart was not pure and kind, but they didn't know how comfortable it was to work under the prince. If there was anything he was not satisfied with, it was that no matter how much money he made, he, a father-in-law, didn't have much to spend.

Several guards were also delighted.

"I didn't know before that I had this unique skill..."

"Of course, what can't we win?"

Li Zhao's eyes were full of coldness and he got on the carriage with an indifferent expression.

Everyone looked at each other and didn't dare to say anything more.

I came to Hongfu Casino today not to win these few silver coins. Instead, the casino treated guests with hospitality and ignored their provocations, so that no one could find fault with them and there was no reason to investigate further and ruin your highness's plan.

Lai Fu had just put away the silver and money when a scout came quickly and approached the carriage to report.

"Sir, I didn't find anything else. I only saw that the distinguished guest that Minister Xue had just brought back also entered the Hongfu Casino..."

Li Zhao: "Did you see it clearly?"

The scout bowed his head and saluted: "It's absolutely true."

Li Zhao groaned, "Idiot."

The scout was stunned for a moment, not knowing whether His Highness was talking about him or the man in the gambling house.

Lai Fu said, "It's strange. The girl came to Youhuangju to seek shelter from our master. But after we helped her get rid of her anger, she didn't come to thank us. It's as if nothing happened. How can this be possible?"

Li Zhao pretended not to hear and pulled down the heavy curtain.

"Go back to the palace."

Even without Xue Sui's reminder, Li Zhao would have made full preparations for the winter-relief party that day.

Because it was a flattery meeting organized by officials in the capital for the "Twenty-eight Memorials on Reforming Criminal Law in the Thirteenth Year of Chongzhao" presented by Prince Duan, and it was led by the flatterer Prince Wei Li Yan. The prince's refusal to go was exactly what they wanted.

Is Li Zhao the kind of person who would allow others to be happy?

The Crown Prince was assassinated during the Xiaohan Festival. He denounced Xue Qingzhi in the morning court. At first glance, it seemed that he was poking at Prince Duan's spine, but in fact he was using the assassination to scold the man on the throne for being unworthy of being his biological father.

Li Zhao did not think that he was venting her anger, nor did he want to demand a reward for her kindness.

But she left Youhuangju and never showed up again. Her sudden appearance at Hongfu Casino today aroused suspicion.

"If she is not the mastermind behind the scenes, then she is an accomplice. This woman should not be underestimated." The scout continued, "There are many hidden masters and talented people in the Old Mausoleum Swamp. It's a pity that most of them are hard to find. I heard that Prince Duan wanted to be courteous and humble, like Zhuge Kongming did when he visited the thatched cottage three times to ask the corpse guard to come out of the mountain. It's a pity that due to the strict order of the late emperor, the Old Mausoleum Swamp is a forbidden area, and he can't disobey..."

Li Zhao did not respond, as if it had nothing to do with him.

The scout took a look at the prince's face and said, "Prince Duan has been troubled by the case of You Taichang's family recently..."

Lai Fu snorted, "You Sanlang is uneducated and has no skills. He only fights cocks and walks birds. He has countless enemies in the capital. It would be better if he died. He is such a troublemaker."

The scout said, "Isn't it to share His Majesty's worries? That person has always been a good person."

After a pause, he said cautiously, "If the East Palace finds the murderer first, His Majesty will definitely look at the Crown Prince differently..."

"Stop!" Li Zhao suddenly said.

The scout and Eunuch Lai Fu were both shocked.

Just as the carriage drove away from Hongfu Casino, it saw a little beggar crossing the street. If it had gone any faster, it would have knocked the person away.

The driver shouted "Yue" and stopped the horse.

Li Zhao opened the curtain and saw a slender figure appearing at the back door of Hongfu Casino.

The woman did not look around furtively, but walked out openly and went to the clothing store across the street...

Li Zhao frowned and listened to the little beggar's childish voice:

"Someone asked me to take a message to a noble man. Big brother, here is the letter!"

The little beggar stuffed the letter to Guan Ya and ran away happily.

The eunuch checked the letter and handed it over respectfully, "Master..."

Li Zhao calmly gestured, "Open it. Read it."

Lai Gonggong agreed, opened the letter and read: "Last time, the nobleman poisoned and murdered me, and this time he went to the gambling house to harass me. Since you are interested, why don't you meet me openly in my other courtyard?"

Li Zhao: "Stop reading!" He reached out and snatched the letter from his father-in-law's hand, and found that there was nothing else to say at the end.

Lai Gonggong was embarrassed and said, "I deserve to die... I have finished reading, little bastard."

Li Zhao remained silent.

Lai Gonggong smiled flatteringly again: "This Miss Xue Liu is really bold. She can see the crown prince whenever she wants? It's ridiculous!"

Li Zhao told the driver, "Go to Youhuangju."

Lai Gonggong's drooping face was pulled up again at a speed visible to the naked eye, and he smiled and said, "Yes."
-
Xue Sui used the silver given by Old Lady Cui to buy a lot of food and clothing. He sent Ruyi and Aunt Jinshu back home, and then took Xiao Zhao to Youhuangju.

She didn't go through the main entrance, but chose the corner door on the west side.

The father-in-law was waiting for her there, "Miss, please come in."

Xue Sui nodded and strode over the threshold.

The eunuch closed the door and felt sorry for the girl. He thought it was necessary to teach the girl some etiquette when meeting the prince. How could one be so high-handed when asking someone to do something for him? The girl had a pitiful life experience. If she was killed by the prince with a knife, it would be really unfair.

Before he could figure out how to start talking, he saw several servants bringing tea and fruits to Qionghua Hall.

Obviously, the prince had no intention of killing anyone.

Lai Fu led the people into the inner room and smiled politely.

"Young lady, please sit down for a while. His Highness will be here soon."

Xue Sui smiled slightly and said nothing more.

I thought to myself that Li Zhao was a very troublesome person.

It's just a few words, why go through so much trouble?
Do I need to take a bath, change clothes, burn incense and purify the room...

As soon as she thought of this, she smelled a strange fragrance. It was not the scent of orchid, nor the scent of plum, but it was elegant and distant, like a thread of heavenly fragrance floating beyond the clouds, and it smelled very good.

"What do you want to see me for?"

When Xue Sui heard the voice, he glanced sideways and met Li Zhao's eyes, their eyes met.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was wearing a moon-white brocade robe, a jacket with a gold-threaded cloud pattern, a jade belt and a gold-hooked vest around his waist, his hair was neatly tied up, fixed only with a mutton-fat jade hairpin, and his hair was slightly damp, as if he had really just taken a bath and changed his clothes...

The windows were not closed and there was a breeze blowing, so I didn't feel cold, but the fragrance was more pleasant.

Xue Sui stood up and saluted, "Your Highness."

Li Zhaosan walked slowly to the main seat, lifted his robe and sat down, with his left hand lazily raised.

"Go ahead."

Everyone thought Xue Sui came to thank the prince. With the prince's support, it would be wrong not to be grateful. Unexpectedly, she bowed slightly, saluted, and asked:
"If the Crown Prince wants to impeach Xue Qingzhi, he can just ask an imperial censor to do it. Why does he have to do it himself?"

Li Zhao's posture was lazy and his eyelids were raised, revealing his arrogance.

"It's more satisfying to scold me myself."

Xue Sui smiled and said, "Other people's scolding sounds more pleasing to His Majesty."

Li Zhao's eyes suddenly turned cold and he stared at her without saying a word.

"I'm sorry!" Xue Sui had no intention of mocking him for not being favored, because she herself was the same.

She just wanted to tell him that it was more cost-effective to do more with less than to vent his anger. Twenty-year-old Li Zhao might not understand the dark side of human nature better than eighteen-year-old her. Some lessons were learned with blood and tears.

Xue Sui smiled slightly, "There is another opportunity now. If Your Highness handles it properly, you can turn the situation around in one fell swoop and deal a heavy blow to Prince Duan's party..."

Li Zhao's expression was emotionless. "What opportunity?"

Xue Sui asked, "Your Highness, have you heard that several princes and ministers in the capital want to present their unmarried daughters to Prince Duan?"

Li Zhao curled his lips: "My brother is very lucky."

Xue Sui stared at him and smiled softly, "Your Highness the Crown Prince has reached adulthood, and apart from Empress Xie who is anxious to arrange a marriage for Your Highness, no one else is enthusiastic. And Prince Duan has been married for many years, with wives and concubines, but because he has no children, the entire court is worried about him. Your Highness, why do you think this is the case?"

Li Zhao's eyes fell on her and he laughed angrily, "Why, do you have a suitable candidate for the Crown Princess?"

　Xue Sui: Did Xiao Zhao kill anyone today?

　　Xiao Zhao: You're not going to kill them here, are you? This order is a bit difficult.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)