Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 32: Flowers Bloom
When drinking buddies get together, it is always lively.

The two chatted and drank a pot of wine leisurely.

Xue Sui thought about Li Zhao's cold and distant eyes and frowned from time to time. Li Zhao was a cruel and bloodthirsty wolf. He wanted to kill her the first time they met. Now that he smelled a little blood, he would bite her to the death. She had to be on guard.

Seeing that she was uneasy, Yaoguang patted his warm body and signaled to his followers.

"Suyang, take out the "Zhaohui Tie" and show it to Shisan Niang to see if there is any information that Shisan Niang can use. She can also use any hidden informants who can be useful."

The Swamp Collection Post is a summary of intelligence from the old mausoleum swamp, similar to the Jinzouyuan reporting important events from various places to the emperor. It is densely filled with intelligence clues collected from all parties.

Su Yang responded, opened the secret compartment of the fruit box on the table, carefully took out a note from it, and spread it flat on the table.

"This is the invitation to the capital, which was specially compiled by Mr. Dalang for you."

Yaoguang glared at him in dissatisfaction.

"Didn't I contribute anything?"

Su Yang quickly smiled and replied, "Yes, Mr. Qi has also considered it carefully and put a lot of thought into it."

Xue Sui smiled, opened the letter and looked at it for a moment, frowned slightly, and then relaxed after a moment.

"So, Prince Duan also believes that Hongfu Casino is a secret business of the Eastern Palace?"

Yaoguang nodded, "No mistakes at all."

Xue Sui raised his eyebrows slightly, "This Li Zhao is quite capable."

Yaoguang smiled and said, "Everyone says that Prince Duan is smart and can plan everything clearly, but few people know that Li Zhao's schemes against his brother were even more ruthless and powerful."

Xue Sui raised his lips slightly, read the letter, put it away and handed it to Su Yang, without saying much, he just said: "It's getting late, I should go too, thank you for the wine, senior brother."

As she spoke, she pushed a heavy purse steadily in front of Yaoguang.

Yaoguang's expression changed: "What does this mean?"

It's just the cost of a meal, of course you don't need to take so much.

Xue Sui said calmly, "I am no longer an imperial envoy, so I will follow the rules of the old Ling Marsh."

Information about the Old Mausoleum Swamp will be charged.

There is no distinction between high and low, and each item has a different price.

Yaoguang didn't like her being so distant. Although he knew that she did this so that one day he could get Jiuling Swamp out of the trouble she had caused, he still frowned and became angry.

"Did Thirteenth Sister forget the oath she took as a disciple?"

At that time, the brothers and sisters swore in front of their teacher that although they were not brothers, they were as close as brothers, supporting each other in times of trouble and sharing life and death.

How could Xue Sui forget?
The day when there were suddenly so many more relatives is still vivid in my mind.

She couldn't help but smile.

"There will always be a day when I will have to trouble my senior brothers and sisters, so please be considerate and take your time."
-
When we came out of the Yanyu Tower, we saw a bustling scene outside.

The streets are bustling with people coming and going. Many vendors are selling flowers with baskets. The colorful flowers are vying for beauty, which is very beautiful.

Xue Sui walked slowly and looked around casually.

Xiao Zhao's eyes sparkled, and she couldn't help but be curious, "I often hear people say that there is a grand flower-fighting event in the spring in Shangjing, but I don't know how this flower-fighting is done?"

Her voice was quite loud, and the old woman selling flowers next to her had sharp ears. She seemed to have caught a business opportunity, and she came over hurriedly with a smile on her face.

"This flower contest is really lively! No matter if they are princes, nobles, ladies or girls from wealthy families, they will all bring out the flowers they have carefully raised at home to compare whose flowers are more beautiful and rarer. There are so many different kinds of flowers."

"This year, all the queens in the palace will hold spring banquets to compete for flowers."

After the old woman finished speaking, she hurriedly raised the basket with an earnest look on her face.

"The three girls have such beautiful colors, why don't you buy a few to wear?"

Xue Sui's eyes fell on her basket, which contained forsythia, wild apricot, peony, peach, camellia, and peony flowers, each one more beautiful than the other.

The corners of her mouth rose slightly, motioning Xiao Zhao to take out the money.

“Buy them all.”

Xiao Zhao responded crisply and reached out to take out the money.

"Auntie, can you please calculate how much it is in total?"

The old woman smiled so much that the wrinkles on her face were smoothed out. "It's ninety cents in total. Miss, give me one hundred cents, and I'll give you the basket as well!"

Xiao Zhao counted the copper coins, gave her ten more, took the flower basket back, and gestured happily to show the girl which flower would look best on her.

Ruyi was watching from the side, very anxious.

"Miss, it's not appropriate to buy flowers now!" The third master in the mansion just passed away. If you buy these flowers back, won't you be scolded?
Xue Sui smiled but did not answer.

Xiao Zhao didn't care: "Why do you care whether they are happy or not? As long as the girl is happy, that's all!"
-
Shou'an Courtyard of Xue Mansion.

The second girl, the eighth girl, and the ninth girl all came to accompany Old Mrs. Cui.

The old lady was listless and didn't want to talk. The girls were afraid of her majesty and didn't dare to say much. They just stayed with her foolishly, and the atmosphere was particularly depressing.

It was sunset when Xue Sui came over to pay his respects, and the old lady smiled, which was rare.

"Sixth girl, come, sit here with grandma."

She patted the cushion beside her and was stunned for a moment when she saw Xue Sui holding the flower basket in his arms.

"What is Sixth Girl doing?"

Before Xue Sui responded, Xue Yue'e, who had been holding it in for a long time, stood up from the stool and finally found a way to vent her anger.

"Sixth sister, you have such a cruel heart. As soon as Third Uncle left, you couldn't wait to act like a foxy woman. Are you rushing to enjoy the good life in the palace?"

This was said in a sharp and mean way.

Old Mrs. Cui also frowned.

Xue Yueman also grumbled when she saw this, "That's right, Sixth Sister really doesn't know the rules. The family still has to hold a funeral, and everyone is grieving for Third Uncle, but she is dressing up for herself? If you don't know, you might think Third Uncle has passed away, how happy she is..."

Xue Yue'e became even angrier when she saw that she didn't move her eyebrows or eyes.

"Grandma, look at her, she's so rude to me."

Xue Yueman also said: "Grandmother will punish her severely this time!"

The two of them were talking to each other, but the second girl, Xue Yuelou, frowned and remained silent, her eyes revealing her worry for Xue Sui.

Xue Sui walked over calmly, as if he was completely unaware of committing a taboo. Under everyone's gazes, he slowly bent down, took out a beautiful peony from the basket and put it on the old lady's hair.

"This is the wizard's signal."

The old lady was startled, held her hand, and asked in a low voice:
"What did the wizard say? Where is your uncle's soul? Does he have any unfulfilled wishes?"

Xue Sui said: "The wizard said that he couldn't find the soul of Third Uncle, but only saw a flower..."

The old lady was so frightened that her face turned pale. "Then the third son's soul has been scattered to pieces, right?"

Xue Sui shook his head: "The wizard didn't say that. He just said something that my granddaughter couldn't understand, something like flowers withering brings disaster, flowers blooming brings life. He also said that seeing flowers is a good omen... My granddaughter thought that since it is a good omen, maybe the blessing of my third uncle lies in these flowers. I might as well buy some flowers and bring them back to bring more blessings to everyone."

"good omen?"

Before the old lady had time to think about it, Xue Qingzhi came back to pay her respects.

Old Mrs. Cui asked the maid to wait for a seat for the master and serve more tea.

The eighth and ninth girls looked on and rushed to complain to their father, but were stopped by the old lady's stern look. They were so angry that they gasped and pouted.

Why does grandma favor Xue Liu?
Why should she?
Xue Qingzhi also saw the basket of flowers, frowned, and was about to speak when the old lady asked him.

"Still no news? What did Jingzhao Prefecture say? When can we bring the third child home?"

Xue Qingzhi glanced at Xue Sui and said softly, "It's not that quick to solve a case. Mother, take care of yourself. Sooner or later, the truth will come out."

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Cui became unhappy.

"If your son hadn't died, you wouldn't be in a hurry."

She raised her voice and could no longer hold back her tears, which rolled down her face. She wiped her tears with a handkerchief as she spoke.

"The third son is all alone in Jingzhao Prefecture. Your Fu, as a clan wife, did not arrange for the funeral of her brother-in-law, but went back to her parents' home alone. You did nothing about it. This joke will be shown to everyone in the capital... When you get to your father's coffin, I wonder how you, an unfilial son, will explain yourself..."

It was a cold day, but Xue Qingzhi made Mrs. Cui sweat all over her back.

How could he bear the sin of being unfilial?
Xue Qingzhi frowned and kept begging his mother for mercy.

"I will do my best to take care of my third brother. Today, I have sent a letter to Jiangzhou, asking my second brother to bring the children back to Beijing to attend the funeral. The Ministry of Justice and Jingzhao Prefecture are also keeping a close eye on the case and are investigating it strictly..."

"Investigate it thoroughly, investigate it thoroughly. You have been investigating for so long but still have no definite information. You are clearly trying to fool an old woman like me!"

Xue Qingzhi understood his mother's grief over the loss of her son, and said hurriedly, "Two major cases have occurred in succession. People in the capital are in a panic these days. His Royal Highness Prince Duan is also anxious and is handling the case personally. I think there will be news soon..."

Old Mrs. Cui had a gloomy face and was about to scold him, so a maid came in to pass on the message.

"Master, Taoist Lingxu came to ask for an audience. He said that he has figured out the cause of the third master's death, and the real murderer is in our house..."

Xue Qingzhi frowned and stood up after thinking carefully.

"Mother, take a rest. Let the son go and take a look."

　See you tomorrow, babies~
　　(End of this chapter)