Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 17 Double Ring Strategy

Xiao Zhao followed and looked for a while, then returned to Lixiangyuan.

Ruyi was still sorting the boxes and baskets sent by Xiu Gu, and she kept chattering.

"Look, look...what kind of junk is this?"

"The eldest lady is obviously bullying our Sixth Miss. She uses the leftovers from the ladies and wives in the mansion. Either the material is too thin, or the color is too dark, or the pattern is outdated, or it was dug out from the bottom of some box and smells musty..."

"These rouge and perfume creams, this, this, this, they have all clumped together. Even the maids and old women would despise them when they see them. Can you still put them on the girl's face?"

Xue Sui washed his hands carefully.

again and again.

Xiao Zhao looked at her expression, thinking of You Sanlang who was killed in Youhuangju, and the inexplicably frightening Crown Prince Li Zhao, and scolded Ruyi: "Say less. Don't upset the girl."

Xue Sui turned around and wiped his hands with a handkerchief.

"Take all these down and divide them up."

Ruyi opened her eyes wide, "Ah? The maids divided it?"

Xue Sui hummed, as if he was tired: "If you don't want it, you can just burn it."

Ruyi looked down on it just now, but when she heard it, she agreed and smiled as she asked someone to carry the things down.

After everyone had gone out, Xue Sui took out the picture album from the secret compartment of the box, half lowered his head, and looked a little absent-minded.

Xiao Zhao approached and lowered her voice, "Miss, Xiu-gu stayed in the Liuli Pavilion for less than a quarter of an hour. As soon as she left, Qingzhu, the eldest maid of the fourth Miss Xue, left the mansion through the back corner door..."

Xue Sui happened to turn to the page about You Zhimu.

She tore it off gently and lit it.

Sparks appeared in her eyes and gradually turned into gray.

She said, "Since someone is so impatient, let's make it happen."

Xue Sui washed and changed his clothes again.

This quilted skirt bought from the market is thick and warm, with a layer of playful white rabbit fur on the collar and cuffs. The long skirt flowing on the ground makes her look more lively. Ruyi came in and combed her hair into a high bun, and then pinned it with a jade animal and gold flower hairpin. She looked both cool and beautiful.

Xue Sui looked at the person in the bronze mirror and said, "Change your hairstyle."

Ruyi said, "Girl, this is beautiful, and looks really handsome."

Xue Sui smiled slightly, "Go to Shou'an Temple to express your gratitude, and be humble."
-
In the Shou'an Courtyard in the east, Xue Yuechen was talking to the old lady when a maid came in to report.

"Princess, the Sixth Miss is here. She said she bought a lot of things outside and came to kowtow to the old ancestor."

Xue Yuechen put down the tea bowl, glanced at the old lady, frowned, and didn't want to see her.

Old Madam Cui knew everything in her heart and smiled, "Xue Liu has really become unrecognizable. I guess she is not to your liking anymore. But since you want to respect her, you will have to get along with her sooner or later. It is better to train her now so that she can be more useful when she enters the palace in the future..."

The old lady sided with her granddaughter, and every word she said came from the bottom of her heart.

Xue Yuechen felt very ashamed, "To be honest with you, Grandmother, I am worried and don't know if what I did is right or not. Recently, the prince has been worried about the case of You Taichang's family and has never set foot in the backyard. At this critical moment, I dare not mention the matter of the new person entering the mansion to him. I am afraid that he will not be pleased if I rashly bring my sixth sister into the mansion..."

Old Mrs. Cui took a sip of tea and glanced at her.

I know what she is worried about, not that the prince doesn't like her, but that he likes her too much. She is also worried that a few concubines will come in and cause unrest in the harem.

But the cunning old lady didn't say anything and just went along with what she said.

"That case is still unsolved?"

Xue Yuechen shook his head. "Last night I went to the study to bring soup to the prince, and I overheard that You Sanlang, who had fallen and couldn't walk, had disappeared for no reason. Don't you think it's strange? The prince said that the case was more complicated and involved some old people from the previous dynasty..."

"An old person from the previous dynasty." Old Mrs. Cui murmured to herself.

Xue Yuechen was young and didn't know a lot of things, but the old lady had lived through that era. She clearly remembered the scene of thousands of troops rushing into the imperial city, corpses everywhere, blood flowing like a river, and the rumor that 200,000 soldiers were killed in pits...

The old lady felt disgusted and frowned unconsciously.

Seeing Xue Yuechen looking at him, he smiled and held her hand.

"You don't need to worry about the affairs of the court for the prince. The master has his own world. If you take care of the harem for him, you will be a virtuous wife."

Xue Yuechen's cheeks flushed slightly, "Granddaughter understands."

The old lady asked: "Do you still remember Taoist Lingxu who came to our house the year our sixth sister was born?" Xue Yuechen nodded.

The old lady said, "Master Lingxu said at that time that you are the reincarnation of the lucky star of eight fortunes, and she is the reincarnation of the disaster star of seven evils. You will have great fortunes and supreme honors in the future. There is a world of difference between you and her..."

She patted the back of Xue Yuechen's hand.

"Once we have the prince's child, this hurdle will be over. I'm just borrowing your pregnancy, Princess Duan, you need to look at the long term..."

Xue Yuechen's eyes turned red.

"Grandma is right. Sixth sister has been waiting outside for a while. Let her in."
-
After Xue Sui came to Shou'an Courtyard, he sent Xiao Zhao to find Jinshu. Qingzhu sneaked out of the house, she must be up to something, so we have to be more cautious.

She brought Ruyi in herself, greeted the old lady and Xue Yuechen respectively, and thanked them again.

Xue Yuechen and the old lady were also polite, asking her about her experiences in the market today, what she bought, where she bought it, and whether she liked it.

They chatted about bits and pieces for a while, each with their own agenda, but they were actually having a great time.

Old Madam Cui said, "You sisters will live in the same house for most of your lives, so don't be estranged..."

Xue Sui said: "I will do my best for the princess."

She always called Xue Yuechen "Princess" and was very respectful.

Xue Yuechen couldn't detect any other emotions from her face, so he wanted to test her out a bit, so he complained to Old Lady Cui in front of Xue Sui about Concubine Xiao's plan to take five concubines into the mansion.

Old Madam Cui said, "Sixth sister, look at your elder sister, she has suffered a lot for your lifelong event. When new people come into the mansion and there are more concubines in the back house, there will inevitably be trouble. You have to bear more for your elder sister."

Xue Yuechen sighed, "Why did the ancestor say this? Don't scare Sixth Sister."

Xue Sui listened to their voices and smiled subtly, "Princess, don't bother yourself with such trivial matters. If you don't want new people to come into your house, it's easy to handle."

Xue Yuechen looked at her, "Sister, do you have any idea?"

Xue Sui said: "I am not familiar with the affairs of the imperial court, but I have seen a lot in the old mausoleum. Even an ordinary ghost market merchant will not allow his subordinates to collude with customers who buy and sell stolen goods in private. Once the subordinates and customers get along well, they will not do their job properly, and they may even work together to defraud the boss..."

Old Mrs. Cui glanced at Xue Yuechen.

Xue Yuechen's eyes lit up, "Can you please be more careful?"

Xue Sui said: "Your Highness, you have accepted several ministers' daughters at once for your Highness. Aren't you afraid of causing trouble for your Highness? Your Highness can persuade her. It's for your Highness's good anyway. Your Highness will certainly listen..."

Xue Yuechen was a lady from a wealthy family. She learned how to be a good wife and take care of her husband and children, but this matter is not difficult to understand.

Concubine Xiao wants to provide more assistance to the prince, but what about the emperor?

If the prince's party, or some short-sighted censor, reported to the emperor that Prince Duan was forming a clique for personal gain, wouldn't that bring disaster to the prince?

Whether or not the case was reported to the emperor is another matter, but this reason was enough to convince Concubine Xiao not to add more people to the royal palace.

Not only did Concubine Xiao not blame her for being jealous, she also praised her for being filial and virtuous.

Of course, this is not a profound truth, nor is it a cunning scheme. She doesn't even think that this is Xue Liu's cleverness, she just happened to think of it.

"Sixth sister is very clever. Here, try on this bracelet and see if you like it."

Xue Yuechen became more and more convinced of Master Jingkong's words.

This sixth sister is here to ward off disaster for her.

Xue Sui gently stroked the jade bracelet on his wrist that carried Xue Yuechen's body temperature, feeling very complicated.

She didn't care whether Prince Duan had five concubines or ten concubines, she just wanted Xue Yuechen to follow her path.

She didn't care what the result of Xue Yuechen's persuasion to Concubine Xiao would be. As long as Concubine Xiao accepted the "gifts" from those ministers, even if she returned their daughters, with Li Zhao's censors fanning the flames, suspicion and doubt would be planted in the emperor's heart.

One plan, two hits.

This was her first time reaching out to the imperial court. This road was full of thorns, dangers and challenges, but it was also a hurdle she had to overcome on her road to revenge...

Because she couldn't forget that voice.

"Princess Pingle is the most beloved and precious thing of His Majesty. You are such a worthless person, and you still want to struggle? If you don't want to die, then just endure it, you lowly fool!"

What if I don’t love you anymore?

What if the emperor can’t protect her?
　Li Zhao: My teeth are itching since today, but is there anyone nagging me?
　　Dear readers: This male protagonist is not good enough, should he be killed?

　　(End of this chapter)