Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 161: No Rebellion

When we walked out of Qingfeng Pavilion, the carriage was already waiting there.

Li Huan moved aside and gently helped Xue Sui into the car, then he lifted the curtain and got in, sitting opposite her.

"There is still a way to be safe."

Xue Sui said: "It's just matchmaking. It's hard to say whether it will work or not. Your Highness, don't have too high expectations..."

Li Huan sighed softly: "I hope it works."

Xue Sui said: "The prince's filial piety is truly touching."

Li Huan looked at her deeply and sighed softly: "The situation in the court has been tense recently, and the prince is pressing me step by step. I have to make plans for myself. My father values ​​filial piety and respects my grandmother, so I cannot be negligent..."

He spoke with all his heart, not treating her as an outsider at all.

Xue Sui listened quietly without saying a word, but Li Huan suddenly leaned over and said, "There is something I have kept in my heart for a long time. I hope Ping An can help me understand it."

"Your Majesty, please speak."

"Is there any dispute between Ping An and the prince?"

Xue Sui remained calm and said, "Why do you say that, Your Highness?"

Li Huan stared at him and smiled meaningfully, "The prince and I are brothers. We grew up together and understand each other best. The way the prince looks at Ping An is very different..."

Xue Sui was slightly startled, as if he had just realized it, "Your Majesty really has sharp eyes."

She looked at Li Huan calmly, neither humble nor arrogant, her voice as calm as a clear spring, "Last time at the Hundred Flowers Banquet, Princess Pingle falsely accused me of having an affair with the Crown Prince. It was completely false, but once the rumor spread, I guess the Crown Prince hated me for ruining his reputation, so he treated me like a formidable enemy when he saw me. I was also quite uncomfortable seeing the Crown Prince..."

Li Huan smiled slightly and said, "Then from now on, avoid it if you can."

Xue Sui nodded seriously: "I know that the prince and the crown prince are not on good terms. Since I have entered the Prince Duan's mansion, I must share the prince's worries and must not cause trouble for my elder sister."

Li Huan looked at her approvingly.

"The princess is truly blessed to have a sister like you."

Xue Sui climbed up the pole and looked at his eyes which were as bright as stars and full of expectations.

"Xue Liu is the princess's sister, and also the prince's sister. Brother-in-law, please allow me to pay my respects..."

She bowed properly.

Li Huan did not expect her thoughts to jump so much. He felt it was a little weird, but facing that bright and warm smile, he did not know how to refute it for a moment.
-
On the top of the Zhaixing Tower, diagonally across the street from Qingfeng Pavilion.

Li Zhao leaned lazily against the window, stroking a white jade ring with his fingertips.

The sound of horse hooves could be heard as they came from Qingfeng Pavilion.

He lowered his eyes and looked -

The carriage with a green curtain and a canopy rolled slowly across the bluestone street.

Li Huan lifted the curtain and glanced outside, and Xue Sui's wrist was sticking out from his sleeve.

She was seen leaning forward slightly with a smile on her face, as if she was whispering something to Li Huan.

In Li Zhao's field of vision, he could just see her snow-white forehead when she lowered her head, and when Li Huan helped her up, the soft cuffs of his sleeves swung across her waist.

With just one glance, he lowered the curtain, closing off everything that could be seen.

"Ah!"

Li Zhao's Adam's apple rolled slightly and he took the teacup handed to him by Lai Fu. Before he could take a sip of the tea, a fine crack appeared on the edge of the cup.

Lai Fu shuddered with fear.

The prince said nothing.

But it was as if he had said thousands of vicious curses that were unbearable to hear, which made him terrified.
-
As the carriage entered Prince Duan's Mansion, Xue Yuechen came forward to greet them from afar, bowing in a dignified manner.

"Your Highness - Sixth Sister, you are finally back."

"Greetings, Princess!" Xue Sui returned the greeting respectfully.

Li Huan said nothing, nodded to Xue Yuechen, and considerately held Xue Liu's elbow three inches away, leading her out of the carriage.

Xue Yuechen's heart choked, and he couldn't help feeling a little sour.

After being married for many years, the prince had never taken her out to play alone. Even the most favored concubine Yuan had never been so favored. However, Xue Liu became the only woman who made him break the convention...

These days, people in the palace are saying that the prince loves Madam Ping'an, and some people even came to congratulate her.

Xue Yuechen didn't know what she was happy about, but since everyone was happy, she had to be happy too and treat it as a happy event.

"Your Highness." Xue Yuechen eased the bitterness, bowed slightly, and smiled gently: "Just now, Princess Rui and sent someone to deliver a letter, saying that they will visit the mansion tomorrow."

Li Huan's fingertips tightened.

"understood."

Xue Yuechen sighed softly, "I heard that Princess Ruihe's husband died of illness in Longyou. She is now a widow, and this time she returned to Beijing to celebrate the Queen Mother's birthday. The Queen Mother took pity on the princess and allowed her to return to Beijing to live permanently..."

Li Huan's eyes narrowed slightly.

Xue Yuechen smiled again and said, "When Princess Ruihe was still in the boudoir, she was close to the prince. Now that she has returned to her hometown, the first thing she did was to visit us. This is really a rare favor."

Li Huan was silent for a moment: "Tomorrow the king has official business and will not be in the palace. I will trouble the princess to entertain you..."

As he spoke, he put his hands behind his back and walked away quickly...

There was an inexplicable sense of low pressure in the air.

Xue Yuechen's face stiffened slightly. She quietly clenched her handkerchief and stared at his departing back.

"Did I say something wrong? Why does the prince look unhappy?"

Xue Sui pretended not to notice, "Is there?" "Of course not."

He was smiling when he came in just now, but his face darkened and he left in anger. Xue Yuechen was full of confusion and felt very aggrieved.

"I said I would rest at home, but now I have official business to attend to..."

Xue Sui smiled gently, "Even if I'm upset, it's not because of my elder sister..."

"What's that for?" Xue Yuechen was puzzled.

Xue Sui stepped forward and took her wrist, smiling slightly, "I heard that Minister Xiao was seriously injured in prison. After all, he is your uncle, so I can't help but worry about him..."

Xue Yuechen was worried in his heart.

If you were worried about Xiao Jing, shouldn't you have expressed it earlier?
Why did the change only occur after she mentioned Princess Ruihe?
-
After noon, Guo Yunrong brought her maid to visit the mansion.

Compared with her previous gloom and dejection, there was a hint of joy on her face.

"Mrs. Ping'an, I really want to borrow your good words this time..."

Xue Sui asked with a smile: "What's wrong?"

Guo Yunrong said happily: "My grandfather was released from the Ministry of Justice and returned home this morning."

Xue Sui said: "Congratulations."

Guo Yunrong changed the subject and sighed with a hint of regret.

"Unfortunately, he was fined and dismissed from his post, ordered to retire and return home, and will never be employed again."

In other words, he could avoid the death penalty, but he could not escape punishment of living punishment, and his official career was completely ruined.

Guo Yunrong curled his lips and said, "It's also the ancestors' miracle. This year is the 70th birthday of the Queen Mother. His Majesty has issued a decree to grant amnesty to the whole country. Otherwise, my grandfather would not have been able to leave the Ministry of Justice prison..."

Xue Sui smiled calmly.

In fact, we should thank Luo Huan for confessing and returning all the embezzled money. He was also not implicated in Xiao Jing's escape case, otherwise he would not have been so easily lenient...

Of course, another reason is that Li Zhao listened to the advice and did not do things too much - the crown prince is not yet the king, and even if he is the king, he has to weigh the pros and cons.

Li Huan was right about one thing. If he could win people's hearts and make many friends, his path in the court would be wider.

Guo Yunrong had some tea and snacks at Tanqiuyuan before leaving.

"Madam Ping'an, if you have time, please come to visit me."

Xue Sui looked at this pure-hearted girl and nodded with a smile.

"Will do."

"I'll wait for you!" Guo Yunrong blinked at her heartlessly and got on the carriage reluctantly.

Xue Sui waved his hands thoughtfully and suddenly thought of Li Zhao.

If he could have such a kind-hearted woman as his crown princess, it would be appropriate.
-
As the sun was setting, Wen Jia sent someone to bring a message, informing her that the secret medicine scripture she had prepared for the Queen Mother's birthday had been embroidered, and she wanted to ask Xue Sui to take a look.

Xue Sui informed Xue Yuechen and led Xiao Zhao out.

This time, they met at the Yanyu Tower on Zhuque Street.

After leaving the mansion, Xue Sui walked around the city with a calm look on his face. Wen Jia also did not hide himself, but ordered tea and waited in the Misty Rain Tower.

When Xue Sui came in, she greeted him warmly.

"Ping An, come and see."

A beautifully crafted and delicately embroidered "Secret Medicine Sutra" unfolds before your eyes, with exquisite needlework, meticulous detail and ingenuity.

The two of them put their heads together and admired it carefully for a long time.

Xue Sui sincerely admired, "This medical atlas is very ingenious. The Queen Mother will definitely be delighted when she sees it. I wonder how I can praise the princess..."

Wen Jia looked at her and said, "I put so much effort into this just to make grandma happy. Thanks to Madam Ping An for her advice... Otherwise, I'm afraid my birthday gift this year would be laughed at again."

Xue Sui smiled slightly and said, "Princess, you have received the Queen Mother's commendation, but don't forget what you promised me."

Wen Jia quickly responded: "Of course, I will keep my promise."

The two chatted happily.

After a while, there was a slight noise outside the window.

Xue Sui gestured to Xiao Zhao.

Xiao Zhao approached quietly, observed for a moment and then came back.

"Girl, he's gone."

Xue Sui nodded slightly, held Wen Jia's hand, and said distressedly: "Princess, you have taken so much trouble on this matter. Look at your white and tender hands, they are now covered with calluses."

Wen Jia smiled shyly, retracted her hands, and rubbed them awkwardly. "My mother's health has improved in recent days. She was afraid that I couldn't handle it alone, so she came to help. And Dong Xu, her needlework is also quite good. This is not just my credit..."

Xue Sui smiled and shook her head. "It's not easy to complete this two-meter-long embroidery in such a short time, even if three people work together..."

Wen Jia showed a resolute look on his face, his eyes firm, "For my grandmother's birthday, I will naturally do my best!"

Her voice was soft and delicate, but she spoke with such finality that it seemed as if she could drive hatred into people's bones.

Xue Sui hesitated for a moment, then suddenly asked, "There is one thing I would like to ask the princess."

Wen Jia responded readily, "We are close friends, so feel free to talk if you have anything to say."

Xue Sui asked, "Does Princess Ruihe, who married far away in Longyou, have any secret connection with Prince Duan?"

Muah, good night~