Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 355 Belated Regret
Xue Yueying looked at her, barely breathing.

They seemed unwilling to believe that she would actually come to their rescue.

Xue Sui ignored her thoughts, sat down wearily, and had Jinshu call in Xue Yueying's personal maid. Pointing to the prepared medicine powder and ice water gauze on the table, he gave them instructions in a deep voice.

"Mix this powder with ice water, soak gauze in it, and apply it to her neck, arms, chest, and other burning areas. Change the dressing every half hour. Be careful to avoid the wounds. When changing the dressing, apply a thin layer of this ointment and make sure she doesn't scratch it."

Qingzhu and Qinghong solemnly agreed.

"Thank you so much for saving me, Sixth Miss. I will take good care of you..."

Xue Sui did not answer, but stood up blankly and walked to the window.

Looking up, I saw that it was already dusk.

The lingering afterglow of the setting sun weighed heavily on the eaves and brackets.

The courtyard is deep and quiet; you can hear the rustling of leaves in the wind.

She turned and glanced at Jinshu.

"Pack your things. Let's go."

"Sixth Sister—" A hoarse and weak voice came from the bed.

Xue Sui paused, turned his head, and looked coldly.

Xue Yueying struggled to open her eyes, tears streaming down her face and soaking her temples.

It's unclear whether it was a sudden pang of conscience or a profound awakening after a brush with death.

At this moment, she shed her usual harshness, her eyes filled with the fear and pain of surviving a catastrophe, and... a trace of indescribable regret and cowardice.

"Thank you...for...for...for...saving...me...without...holding any grudges..."

Xue Sui looked at her in silence.

From childhood to adulthood, all her fourth sister ever brought her was malice and bullying.

The days of confrontation flashed before my eyes like a revolving lantern, lingering and inextricably intertwined...

She will not forgive, and there is no sisterly affection between them.

Saving her was merely a choice made after weighing the pros and cons.

Xue Yueying seemed to understand her silence. She closed her eyes, tears streaming down her face, her voice barely a whisper, "I... in this life... have been competitive... vain... always wanting to be superior to others... but unexpectedly... in the end... I've ended up like this... retribution... it must be... Heaven... has eyes..."

Every word she spoke seemed to come from the utmost effort.

Endless sorrow.

These days, she's given up on herself, getting scorned and mocked wherever she goes. She pretends not to care, but she's actually quite unhappy.

"It's been so long since anyone... has been kind to me... Sixth Sister... I never expected it to be you... It was you..."

"Rest well," Xue Sui said calmly.

"Only those who survive tonight will be considered alive."

"I will never forget the kindness that saved my life..." Xue Yueying said weakly, her voice choked with sobs, "Sixth sister... I'm so sorry, it's all my fault..."

It is said that one can only achieve enlightenment after experiencing life and death.

Xue Sui didn't know if she had realized something.

But she knew it was too late.

"You don't need to thank me. Good luck to you."

Having said that, he didn't linger and turned to walk towards the door.

The door opened, then gently closed behind her.

To isolate the pain, bloodshed, and complexities of human nature within a room.
-
When Xue Sui and his three companions left the quiet room, Xue Yuechen was standing under the corridor, talking to a stewardess.

Gu Jie was stopped outside the second gate, and his agitated cursing could be faintly heard, but he was coldly turned away by the guards of the Prince's Mansion.

Upon seeing Xue Sui emerge, Xue Yuechen immediately went to greet her and asked with concern, "Sixth Sister, how are you?"

Xue Sui's brows showed a hint of weariness, but his eyes remained calm.

"It's stable for now. Whether it can make it through tonight depends on fate. I've already entrusted the follow-up care to Madam Gu's maid. There's nothing more I can do for now."

Her tone was flat, carrying a sense of detachment as if it were none of her business.

Xue Yuechen sighed, her heart filled with mixed emotions. "Today... it's all thanks to you. You don't look well; you must be exhausted. Go back and rest early."

Xue Sui nodded, said no more, and walked straight outside with the maid.

After passing through the second gate, he briefly exchanged a glance with Gu Jie before quickly leaving.

The carriage was already waiting at the side gate of the Prince's Mansion.

Just as Xue Sui was about to step into the carriage, a cold voice rang out from behind him.

"Master Miaozhen has left already?"

Xue Sui turned around.

Li Yan, supported by a servant, stood in the shadow of the steps. His face was pale and sinister in the afterglow of the setting sun, and his eyes were full of resentment.

"Does Your Highness have any further instructions?" Xue Sui asked.

Li Yan took a step forward, a metallic taste rising in his throat.

"You've turned my palace upside down, shouldn't you give me an explanation?"

Xue Sui looked at Li Yan quietly.

The loose Zen robe fluttered slightly, exuding an unapproachable serenity.

"Does Your Highness not know better than this humble nun? This humble nun happened to be there and did her best to save lives, causing Your Highness worry..."

She was neither humble nor arrogant, and went straight to the point.

After saying this, she bowed and said, "If Your Highness has no further instructions, this humble nun will take her leave."

Li Yan's face turned ashen, and he was about to explode when a rapid yet steady sound of horses' hooves approached from afar, sweeping across the main street of the mansion like a sudden storm...

The leader pulled on the reins, and the horse reared up, letting out a long neigh.

The man on horseback was dressed in a tight-fitting outfit, with a long sword at his waist, and a cold and stern face.

It was Guan Ya, the Crown Prince's personal guard.

Behind him followed two palace guards dressed similarly, each with a grim expression. Guan Ya's gaze swept quickly over Xue Sui, and only after confirming that she was unharmed did his tense face relax. He then dismounted and bowed to Li Yan, his voice not loud, but carrying a heavy sense of authority.

"This humble servant, Guan Ya, has been ordered by His Highness the Crown Prince to escort Master Miaozhen into the palace to inquire after the Empress's health and well-being..."

Li Yan's face turned extremely ugly.

The Crown Prince's guards came personally to fetch him, invoking the Empress's name...

No matter how unwilling he was, he would never dare to stop it at this moment.

"...Since it is the Empress Dowager who has summoned me, I dare not delay. Master Miaozhen, please. I... will not see you off any further."

Xue Sui looked at his expression, which resembled that of someone who had swallowed a fly, nodded slightly, and remained calm.

"Thank you for your understanding, Your Highness. This humble nun will take her leave now."

After saying that, she didn't look at him again, bent down and entered the carriage.

Guan Ya cupped his hands in greeting to Li Yan on the steps, gave a wink to the two guards, turned his horse around, and personally escorted Xue Sui's carriage away from the streets of the Prince's Mansion...

After driving some distance, Guan Ya rode his horse closer to the carriage.

"Master Miaozhen has been frightened." He whispered, "His Highness was worried and specially sent me here..."

"Thank you for your help, Guard Guan. Her Majesty the Empress did not summon me, did she?"

Guan Ya was slightly taken aback upon hearing that clear and resolute voice, but then answered calmly.

"Your Majesty is in good health. His Highness the Crown Prince received intelligence about unusual activity at the Prince of Wei's residence and, concerned for Master's safety, specially ordered me to come and meet you."

Xue Sui gave a soft "hmm".

"Please thank Your Highness for your concern. Please have Guard Guan escort me to the Xue residence."

Guan Ya and his companion exchanged a glance and replied, "Yes."

The carriage rumbled along, passing through the gradually rising lights of the imperial city.

Inside the carriage, Xue Sui closed his eyes wearily and leaned against the carriage wall.

Jinshu carefully wiped the cold sweat from her forehead.

"Miss, the identity of the person in the shadows is still unknown, but his methods are so ruthless. I'm afraid that if one plan fails, he will come up with another."

Today's round was a close call, but Xue Yueying's serious injury weighed heavily on her heart, making her see more clearly the fangs lurking in the shadows—how ruthless they were!

"From now on, we need to be more careful in our actions."

Jinshu lowered her eyes and replied, "This servant will immediately send a message to Tian Shu Sect to find out the whole story as soon as possible."
-
At midnight, the silver moon hangs high in the sky.

In the west wing of the Prince of Wei's mansion, dense sycamore trees shaded the eaves, their branches intertwined, allowing only a few slivers of pale moonlight to filter through.

Xue Yueying's eyelids felt like they were weighed down with lead. She tossed and turned in a nightmare amidst a severe headache, her body writhing from the heat. She finally woke up, drenched in sweat, and opened her eyes to find Gu Jie beside her.

"You...why are you here?"

Her voice was hoarse and broken, like a broken gong.

Gu Jie looked at the face covered with bloodstains and rashes, almost unrecognizable, and a fleeting, barely concealed fear flashed in his eyes.

“I am your husband. How could I not come when you are in trouble?”

As husband and wife, everyone knows it, inside and outside the home.

Xue Yueying noticed the unusual tone in his voice and struggled to sit up, but she couldn't move. She could only move her eyes with difficulty and look around.

"Green bamboo? What about green and red?"

"Where is my child? Where is Yu-ge'er?"

Gu Jie calmly told her, "Princess Wei was afraid he would disturb your recovery, so she took him to her courtyard to be cared for by a wet nurse. You can rest assured. After all, he is Prince Wei's child, so she wouldn't mistreat him and give others cause for criticism."

He deliberately emphasized the phrase "the offspring of the King of Wei".

Xue Yueying ignored the sarcasm in his words.

All that is known is that Xue Yue'e would never take good care of her child...

"You...you go quickly...bring the child to me, I'm worried."

Gu Jie frowned: "I'm here to look after you, not to watch the children. Just focus on getting better."

Xue Yueying said sharply, "I don't want your... fake kindness, I want my child... Brother Yu..."

Gu Jie sneered, looking at Xue Yueying's disheveled appearance, and suddenly leaned closer.

"Now that things have come to this, do you think you still have a choice? Don't pretend to be kind; are you really going to be heartless?"

Xue Yueying was intimidated by his gaze, and a hint of unease flashed in her eyes.

"What do you mean by that? What... what are you going to do?"

Gu Jie placed his hands on the edge of the bed, lowered his head, and lowered his voice to a whisper, "Madam, living like this is too painful for you, and too much of a hindrance. I've come... to see you off..."

Xue Yueying trembled violently, as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over her head, instantly sobering her up considerably.

"Gu Jie..."

"Why are you wasting your breath talking to her?" A charming yet chilling female voice rang out from behind the screen.

The venomous tone, so familiar…

Xue Yueying suddenly turned her head to look.

A figure wearing a dark gray veiled hat slowly emerged, her figure graceful and her steps light. She leaned intimately and naturally against Gu Jie's side, one hand painted with bright red nail polish gently encircling Gu Jie's waist, her eyes twinkling with a smile.

"Could it be that Gu Lang still has feelings for her?"

Xue Yueying shuddered and cried out in terror.

"You, it's you... Princess Ping Le?"

　Xue Sui: Boxed lunch...

　　Li Zhao: Who's eating?

　　Xue Sui: Or... Your Highness?

　　Li Zhao: As long as it's cooked by Ping An, I'm happy to accept it.

　　(End of this chapter)