Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 24 Women's Club

That afternoon, Xue Yueying picked out the best clothes and jewelry from her suitcase, dressed herself up carefully, and left the house for the Pingle Women's Society amid the envy of the Eighth and Ninth Girls.

Making friends with Princess Pingle is something Xue Yueying is proud of.

The people of this dynasty were open-minded and did not restrict women from going out to participate in some social activities. Women's societies were a new type of women's association, mostly established for worshiping Buddha and doing good deeds.

This is not the case with the Women's Society in Pingle.

At first, Concubine Xiao intended to let her form a society to do good deeds, in order to eliminate the influence of the impeachment of the great scholar for the Peacock Feather Robe that consumed the people's money and to restore her reputation.

Later, Pingle gradually realized a unique fun in the Women's Club——

The joy of a man controlling power is the ultimate joy.

Women were not involved in court affairs. Even though the emperor allowed her to set up her own office and appoint officials, even the most favored princess could not have any contact with court affairs.

Pingle has been passionate and unrestrained since she was a child, and she never thought that she was inferior to her brother Li Huan. She was unwilling to be confined to the inner house, so she wanted to do something to impress her father, mother and brother.

The Women's Society just happened to open this door for her.

Which prince or minister doesn’t have a harem?

Starting from the man’s backyard is not only a shortcut, but also a way to cut off the source of the problem at a critical moment.

When Xue Yueying arrived at Pinglefang, most of the members of the Women's Society had arrived.

These are the wives, madams or young ladies of the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers, princes and ministers, but they are also divided into different levels.

Lu Xi, Xie Weilan, Xue Yueying and Xiao Qing'er are the most "favored" ones in front of Pingle, so they can be closer to her.

Xue Yueying put away the gifts she had brought under the guidance of her aunt, walked in respectfully, and saluted Princess Pingle who was reclining on the couch.

Princess Pingle has been favored by the emperor for many years, and her expression has always been lazy and contemptuous, which matches her originally graceful and noble face, as if nothing in the world is worthy of her attention.

Seeing Xue Yueying, she raised her hand as a sign of agreement, and then continued with what she had just said, teasing Lu Xi.

"Your grandfather is really old and confused. The Eastern Palace is in decline and everyone is trying to avoid him, but he actually wants to push you into the fire pit..."

Lu Xi made a bitter face, "Grandfather said that he had carefully taught the prince, and that he had a kind character and great ambitions. He also said that the prince was still young, and that he might have acted a little harshly and rashly, but that he would become more stable when he was a few years older."

Ping Le sighed softly, glanced at her face, and a playful smile appeared on his lips: "Let's not talk about other things. If we only talk about appearance, my prince brother is very handsome. If you become the crown princess, you will really humiliate him."

In Pingle's eyes, everyone present was equally lowly, and it was common for him to make sarcastic remarks about them.

Lu Xi's cheeks were slightly hot, and he bit his lower lip: "My mother also advised me so. But how can a woman marry only based on appearance? The prince hates me, and everyone knows it. The Eastern Palace is like hell to me, and they are not afraid of my short life."

Ping Le said: "To die under the peony flowers, even as a ghost, it would be romantic."

Lu Xi heard the sarcasm and could only smile and flatter.

"How could we be as blessed as the princess, who married the most outstanding prince consort of the dynasty. For the princess's smile, the prince consort was willing to resign from his official position and enter the princess's mansion wholeheartedly. He is considerate and caring, and has a pair of twins, a boy and a girl, who are also smart and well-behaved. That is the envy of others..."

As she spoke, she couldn't help but feel sour.

God is really unfair to people.

Pingle was born in the royal family, doted on by thousands, and enjoyed all kinds of honors since childhood. She also married Lu Youan, the grandson of the former prime minister, the top scholar in the third year of Chongzhao, a famous talent in the Daliang Dynasty, with a graceful figure. Such a fairy-like figure actually resigned from his official position for Princess Shang. After marriage, the couple had a deep love, and their two children grew up to be like people in paintings, with delicate makeup and jade carvings, and were extremely cute...

Pingle was blessed by God throughout his life.

On the other hand, she...

It’s not that Lu Xi didn’t want to be the Crown Princess.

But the situation was unclear, and she was afraid that the prince would not be able to secure his position as crown prince.

Once the Eastern Palace collapses, there will be corpses everywhere.

Her grandfather was the prince's tutor and had a close relationship with the Eastern Palace. If she were to marry the prince again, she would probably die with him in the Eastern Palace, and her life would be ruined.

Lu Xi thought that if she could hold on to Pingle, her family would be able to sit on the fence.

Ping Le smiled and said, "On the first day of March, the Queen held a spring flower-viewing banquet in the Imperial Garden. I heard that she wanted to select a boudoir girl with both virtue and talent to live in the East Palace for the Crown Prince. If you don't want to marry the Crown Prince, I have a way to help you..."

"Thank you, Princess, for planning this for me. I will definitely agree to it."

Lu Xi answered readily, but he felt bitter in his heart.

Her family members did not agree with her.

She was close to Pingle and saw the rise of Prince Duan.

The family is headed by the grandfather, who considers himself a loyal minister assisting the emperor and is willing to serve the prince like a slave.

Ping Le looked at her indifferently, curled his lips and smiled slightly, his eyes were cold, and he had already seen through her thoughts.

But she didn't point it out. Seeing that Xue Yueying hadn't said a word since she entered the room and was frequently distracted, she couldn't help but raise her eyebrows and ask her.

"Ms. Xue Si, why are you mute today?"

Xue Yueying sighed, "Your Highness, you may not know that Xue Liu has returned home recently, causing unrest in the family..."

She told Princess Pingle everything and complained bitterly to her.

After hearing this, Pingle couldn't stop giggling and pointed her finger at her with disdain.

"Idiot, you actually let that bitch Xue Liu control you? Or has my little thing become more powerful after not seeing you for ten years?"

Xue Yueying was annoyed with her, but had to rely on her.

"To be honest, Princess, Xue Liu is really cunning. At this moment, I really don't know what to do."

Princess Pingle looked at Xue Yueying's humble appearance and smiled with her lips raised.

"Isn't the house in turmoil? Then make it as chaotic as possible, even more chaotic."

Xue Yueying frowned slightly: "I don't understand, please explain it to me..." Pingle smiled lightly, like a cat playing with a mouse, and beckoned at her.

"Come, I will show you a clear path..."

Xue Yueying listened carefully, and after a moment, her expression suddenly changed.
-
In the next few days, the sharp-eyed people in the mansion noticed that Fourth Miss Xue had become much more generous.

It is said that she was favored by the princess in the Pingle Women's Association, and Princess Pingle gave her a lot of jewels, silks and satins as her dowry. The red gold head ornaments and mutton-fat white jade were so dazzling that they made the two unmarried girls jealous.

Ruyi came in angrily with tea and snorted heavily.

"With Princess Pingle's support, the fourth young lady has become so powerful that even Qingzhu, that damned girl, is so proud of herself. Just now, when I went to the kitchen to get some coarse flour to make some snacks, they made fun of me in a sarcastic way. I was so angry."

Xue Sui smiled and said, "Xiao Zhao, get me some writing brush and ink."

Xiao Zhao's eyes lit up. The girl really loved writing. Sometimes she would write things that Xiao Zhao couldn't understand. But once the girl started writing and thinking, she might kill someone.

Xue Sui had just sat down for a moment when a servant came to report that the master wanted the Sixth Young Lady to go to the study in the main courtyard.

Xue Qingzhi had just returned from the Shangshu Province, with a gloomy face. Xue Sui knelt down before him and bowed. He sat at his desk and examined her for a long time before letting her stand up and speak.

"I heard that you were the one who gave the princess the idea of ​​admonishing the imperial concubine?"

Xue Sui looked confused, "No. How could I be so clever? I guess I just happened to talk about some old things, all because the princess is so smart."

Xue Qingzhi thought for a moment and nodded slightly, "Originally, the selection of a few concubines by the royal palace was just a small matter. Even if it was another prince or grandson, it would be normal. But the East Palace and the back house are still empty. In contrast, if someone with ulterior motives instigates, Prince Duan will not look good."

Xue Sui didn't know why Xue Qingzhi wanted to tell her about the court's affairs.

But not every father is worthy of being a dad.

It is common to be plotted against by one's own father.

Xue Sui said, "My daughter is terrified. I really don't understand what father is saying. The Crown Prince has just come of age, and he is completely different from the already adult Prince Duan. How can they be compared?"

Xue Qingzhi frowned.

She doesn't understand.

She seemed like she really didn't understand.

Xue Sui paused for a moment, trying not to pretend to be too innocent.

Then she continued, "My daughter heard from others that the Imperial Concubine rewarded my elder sister, and my elder sister was happy and wanted to add more dowry for me. If that's the case, I don't think Your Majesty blames the Imperial Concubine and Prince Duan..."

Xue Qingzhi rubbed his forehead, looking a little anxious: "The emperor's mind is hard to predict. The superiors are often moody and can change the situation in an instant. The honor and disgrace of the Xue family now depends on Prince Duan. You must know the importance of it and must not act recklessly and bring trouble to the family."

Xue Sui sneered in his heart and said in a cold tone, "Father, you are joking. I have a princess elder sister who brings honor to the family, and a legitimate brother who inherits the family business. I am afraid that my daughter, a concubine who will soon become a concubine, will hardly affect the prosperity or decline of the family..."

Xue Qingzhi's face darkened. "How do you talk to your father?"

Xue Sui bowed hastily and said, "Father has no other instructions. I am leaving now."

After saying that, he turned around. Xue Qingzhi was so angry that he couldn't speak for a long time.

Thinking about it again, it seemed that this was the reaction she should have.

Xue Sui also wanted him to think so...

It would be really suspicious if an abandoned girl didn't have any resentment at all.
-
When Xue Sui returned to Lixiang Courtyard, he saw Ruyi standing under the eaves, talking to a slightly plump old woman.

The old woman said, "I saw the third master return home. I heard that he had injured his foot, so I went to the old lady's room..."

Ruyi rolled her eyes.

The maids in Lixiangyuan were all sent by the eldest lady. The young lady had already told them to be careful.

So Ruyi laughed and said, "Why would Zhang Mama need to look for Sixth Miss? Sixth Miss is not a doctor."

The fat woman said, "Sixth Miss hasn't met the Third Master yet? The old lady loves the Third Master the most. Now that the Third Master is injured, it would be a good omen for Sixth Miss to visit him, right?"

Ruyi glanced at her and said, "Mother Zhang is so kind that she is taking care of our Sixth Miss?"

The fat woman nodded and bowed hurriedly, trying to please with a plump face.

"I used to do menial work in the garden and suffered a lot from others. It was only after I started working in Lixiang Courtyard that people started to treat me like a human being. I am grateful and hope that the Sixth Miss will have a great future..."

I thought she was so sincere that I was not moved.

The girl said that when someone wants to harm you, they will show kindness and courtesy in advance.

"Mother Zhang, do your job well and don't get involved in your master's affairs."

Xue Sui led Xiao Zhao in and glanced at the old woman casually, "Thank you, Madam Zhang. Xiao Zhao, please take a look."

He ordered again: "Ruyi, go get the two boxes of medicine I brought back from the Old Mausoleum Swamp, and let's go see Uncle San."

Ruyi was shocked: "Girl, are you really going?"

Xiao Zhao exchanged glances with her, then leaned in close to Xue Sui and whispered, "This woman used to work in the flower room, so she had little contact with Qinglan Courtyard. But I don't think she has good intentions."

Xue Sui couldn't help but smile, "Uncle San is injured, I should go visit him."

Defense is impossible.

It is better to be cautious than to be defensive. Giving others a chance is also giving yourself a chance.

　Dove: Let the storm come even harder. On the vast sea, the wind is rolling up the dark clouds. Between the dark clouds and the sea, the white dove is flying proudly like black lightning...

　　To explain You Dubao's question, why would Xue Yueying, such a smart person, be persuaded by the words of a little maid?

　　In fact, it was not the little girl who persuaded Xue Yueying, but the little girl's words touched her inner thoughts and pleased her. The devil was always in her heart... The little girl praised her, but she did not ask her to instigate Gu Jie to be greedy. For example, the little girl said, your boyfriend works in a bank and counts money every day, which is great, but she did not mean to ask her to embezzle the bank's money. They are two different things.

　　(End of this chapter)