Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 20 Getting Close
"You all stand down!"

Family disgrace should not be made public. Xue Qingzhi could not get angry in public, so he waved his hand and watched the servants and maids disperse, leaving only the Xue family members, and then pointed at Fu Jinghui.

"Fu, you must immediately send this evil creature back to the Marquis' Mansion, and ask the Marquis of Yongding how he raised his son!"

Fu Jinghui's face turned pale, and he knelt on his knees, "Aunt, save me."

He already had a family and married the second daughter of General Huaihua. His father-in-law and several uncles all served in the army and had hot tempers. If they made a big deal out of it, it would be a disaster.

Fu's face darkened, "If you don't explain clearly, no one can save you."

Don't be fooled by Prince Duan's gentle nature, that's just for show. There's no way a simple prince can be raised in that imperial city. If this matter gets to his ears, will he wear the green hat?
"Tell me, who ordered this?"

Fu wanted to find a scapegoat, but Fu Jinghui didn't understand. He was so scared that he confessed directly, "Aunt, you sent me a message saying that my cousin Yuechen returned home and invited me to come and have a chat. You also said... go to the end of the stable and leave the door open for me. Tell me not to disturb others and go straight to Bitong Courtyard to find my cousin..."

"Ridiculous!" Fu was so angry that her heart was burning with anger.

This nephew is a complete idiot.

"When did I send the message? Where is the message?"

"Aunt, you said that we should burn it after reading it, and not leave any evidence behind..."

Fu was so angry that she almost fainted. She said in hatred, "How could my brother give birth to such an idiot like you? You are a son of a marquisate, and you went to my aunt's house. Even if you were seen by the night watchman, you would have gone out openly. But you had to sneak around and hide, and let people catch you as a thief. Who are you trying to embarrass?"

Fu Jinghui lowered his head: "Aunt, I, I was also panicked for a moment..."

What is panic? It's just a guilty conscience.

He thought he was having a secret meeting with Xue Yuechen, but when he was discovered, he panicked and ran away.

Fu glared at him, then looked at Xue Qingzhi's dark face, and rarely spoke in a humble manner.

"Master, there must be something fishy about this matter. Jinghui is young and ignorant, and I'm afraid he has been plotted against..."

Although Xue Qingzhi was unhappy, he didn't believe that Fu would do such a foolish thing. He snorted coldly and said, "Your good nephew! If you ruin the reputation of the princess, I will never forgive you."

Fu felt guilty and said softly, "I am the eldest sister's biological mother, how could I harm her? It must be some damned person who is secretly doing this..."

He added, "All those who came tonight are from the mansion. Go back and tell them to keep their mouths shut. I hope nothing will be spread. If anyone asks, just say Jinghui came at dusk, drank a few more cups at night, and took the wrong road."

Xue Qingzhi felt a headache after hearing this and said impatiently: "Who would believe this? I think your nephew has bad intentions..."

Having said that, he looked at Xue Yuechen and hummed softly.

"From now on, he is not allowed to set foot in Xue Mansion again!"

"You!" Fu threw her sleeves and got angry. "Master, do you want to sever this relationship and become enemies with the Yongding Marquis's Mansion?"

Thinking about the situation in the court, Xue Qingzhi's expression improved slightly.

"Forget it. You can do whatever you want. If any slanderous words are spread, I will never forgive this evildoer."

Xue Qingzhi snorted coldly and walked away.

Fu's chest was heaving with anger. Nanny Liu hurried forward to support her and whispered a few words to her.

Fu's face changed, and she glared at Xue Yueying who was standing beside her. She then asked Fu Jinghui grimly, "Tell me again, where did you come from?"

Fu Jinghui said: "The back corner door next to the stable..."

"Is there really a letter?"

Fu Jinghui felt very wronged, "Aunt, it's absolutely true."

He turned back to look at Xue Yuechen: "Cousin, I am really wronged..."

Xue Yuechen said coldly: "You should call me Princess Duan, that's more appropriate."

Fu Jinghui's face flushed. His childhood sweetheart cousin was now of a different status. He was embarrassed and slowly lowered his head, "Princess Duan."

Xue Yuechen stood on the steps and looked at him.

I wonder how I could have fallen in love with such a man and almost married him?
She was proud by nature, so she didn't say another word. She turned inside, then took Xue Sui's hand and took a deep breath.

"Sixth sister, if you hadn't arrived in time tonight, my reputation would have been ruined..."

Li Huan knew about her and Fu Jinghui's affairs. He didn't say anything, but for many years, he had been neither cold nor warm. To put it nicely, he treated her with respect, but to put it bluntly, he never really took her to heart.

The relationship between the couple is already weak, and now their reputations are damaged. How can they gain a foothold in Prince Duan's Mansion?

She was still frightened.

Once again, it is confirmed that Master Jingkong has boundless magical powers.

Xue Liu, indeed, could protect her from disaster.

"Sixth sister, you have helped me a lot. I will not treat you unfairly in the future."

Xue Sui said softly: "Princess, you have also helped me a lot. You and I are sisters, and we should be of the same blood."

Xue Yuechen didn't understand what she meant by "very busy", she just thought she was trying to get close to him, and said with a smile: "You are really my lucky star, you protect me and keep me safe. From now on, I will call you Ping An, okay?"

Xue Sui lowered his eyebrows and said: "As the princess likes."

Xue Yuechen was very pleased with Xue Liu at this moment. She smiled and sent Xue Sui out of Bitong Courtyard. As if she was afraid that no one would see her, she brought a few maids with her, lit up the lanterns brightly, and said many words of concern to her in a loud voice.

Thus, everyone in the mansion knew that Sixth Miss Xue was favored by Princess Duan.

The sisterly love is much deeper than that of other half brothers and sisters.
-
In Lixiang Courtyard, Ruyi laughed so hard that she fell forward and backward, her body shaking. "Madam has lost face this time, and I don't know who she will take it out on. No one dares to say this, but I don't know what will happen behind people's backs."

Xue Ji frowned slightly and sighed, "The princess has always been kind, but how can the prince of Yongding Marquis's mansion still have evil intentions after so many years?"

Xue Sui didn't know whether Fu Jinghui had really given up his evil intentions or not.

But the letter inviting him to come to her house was delivered by her.

Before Xue Yuechen married into Prince Duan's mansion, she had some flirtations with him, but after the marriage, she avoided Fu Jinghui.

But the more this person couldn't get it, the more itchy he felt. After receiving the letter, Fu Jinghui came over. He was so confident in Xue Yuechen's feelings for him that he didn't even suspect that someone was playing tricks on him.

As Xiao Zhao made Xue Sui's bed, she laughed quietly, "You are still better than me, young lady."

Xue Sui gave her a meaningful look and said, "This is just the beginning."

Xiao Zhao said, "Young lady, why don't you take this opportunity to kill those clowns and save yourself the trouble."

There seemed to be a flicker of fire in her eyes.

Ruyi brought a copper basin and washed Xue Sui's hands. She smiled and said, "Young lady's hands are white, soft, beautiful and clean. Don't let them get dirty."

Upon hearing this, Xue Sui looked at Xiao Zhao and smiled.

"Hands should not be dirty, this is the right thing to do."

Xiao Zhao groaned, pouted and muttered, "It's so unfair to let them get away with such a good deal."

Xue Sui saw that she was thinking about killing, killing, killing, and couldn't help but smile, "The fun is just about to begin, why are you in such a hurry?"

The eldest lady will not give up after this setback.

Miss Xue Si, you will inevitably suffer some punishment.
-
Fu sent Fu Jinghui away in the middle of the night without alerting outsiders.

But the next day the news spread throughout the Xue Mansion, with people exaggerating it in a way that was not appropriate. However, everyone in the mansion covered their mouths and dared not speak out loudly.

Xue Yuechen tried to remain calm, but he felt like he was being fried in oil.

I went back to my parents' home to have a couple of days of leisure, but I ended up smelling like a fish.

Xue Yuechen had no words to describe his pain. He was not nice to anyone except Xue Sui.

He got up early in the morning with bruises under his eyes. He did not even skip breakfast and went back home with his maids and servants.

The entire Xue family came to the mansion to see them off.

The spring chill has not yet dissipated, the cold wind cuts at the face wantonly, and the chill penetrates into the bones.

Fu felt sad and tried to explain several times, but was blocked by Xue Yuechen.

"Father, mother, please take care of yourself."

Fu held her hand and said, "Big sister, mother loves you the most and will never harm you... You must take good care of yourself. If there is anything, send someone to tell me and mother will take care of it."

Xue Yuechen responded softly: "My daughter understands."

She looked up at her brothers and sisters standing behind her parents and nodded slightly, "You should serve your elders well and observe etiquette to manage the household."

Everyone responded in unison: "Yes."

Xue Yuechen turned his gaze to Xue Sui and gave her instructions alone.

"If anyone dares to bully you in the future, just report to Prince Duan's Mansion. I will back you up!"

Xue Sui knelt and saluted, "Thank you, Princess!"

Everyone in the Xue Mansion had different expressions and their own thoughts.

Xue Qingzhi stroked his long beard and just as he called out "Big Sister", Xue Yuechen turned around indifferently, as if she had not heard him, and got into the carriage of the palace with the help of the maid.

She blamed her mother for not disciplining her nephew, but she hated her father even more for bringing so many people to "catch the thief" with such fanfare last night, which made her lose face.

Even if her sixth sister was in her room, she could prove her innocence. But when Fu Jinghui showed up, people in the mansion couldn't help but laugh at her in private. She couldn't get over this awkward situation.

Mrs. Fu had a hard time expressing her feelings, so she walked to the carriage and said a few words of comfort.

Xue Yuechen then looked at her straight in the eye, "Mother, please don't treat my sixth sister badly. The prince values ​​rules, the mansion should be prepared early, and don't lose etiquette."

It is the Xue family's wish to give birth to offspring for the prince, and it also shows the magnanimity of his wife.

Fu sighed and wanted to give a few more instructions, but Xue Yuechen didn't want to hear it.

She glanced at Xue Sui, who was looking down in the crowd, and told the driver to set off.

When the carriage drove away, the handkerchief in Fu's hand was almost twisted into a lump.

With red eyes, she said to Aunt Liu, "My eldest daughter came out of my belly, and I know her personality best. My daughter, who has never been angry with me before, has become hostile to me this time."

Madam Liu advised, "Madam, please be at ease. How can a mother and daughter hold a grudge overnight? In a few days, when the princess's anger has subsided, she will understand Madam's painstaking efforts. Who in this world would care more about her than Madam?"

Fu suddenly thought of something and gritted his teeth.

"Go, call the fourth young lady to my room. I want to interrogate her carefully today."

　Xue Sui: Hey, you melon eaters, melon seeds, peanuts, and popcorn. They’re delicious and free. Would you like some?
　　
　
(End of this chapter)