Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 36 Meeting in the Car
Xue Sui did not refuse Xue Yuechen's arrangement.

Even though she thought it was ridiculous.

A man's favor has never been based on whether he likes to eat that bite of cloud cake, nor on whether the woman is "dignified and dignified" or "seductive and charming".

How could His Royal Highness Prince Duan, who is devoted to the court, care about the trivial matters in the rear house?
Or maybe Xue Yuechen paid too much attention to details and was obsessed with controlling the man's heart, but instead she trapped herself in this narrow space and locked her heart.

Before leaving the house, she saw the palace guards escorting Taoist Lingxu and his two disciples towards Huixian Hall, and she smiled gently.

Feicui looked at the strange smile and couldn't help but speak:
"What is Sixth Miss laughing at?"

Xue Sui's lips curled up slightly, and he replied calmly: "I have never seen such a scene before, it looks strange."

Feicui glanced at her and snorted softly, but she didn't say the word "country roe deer" out loud.
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The main street of Yongxingfang is bustling with people coming and going, and the noise is endless. The hawking and chatting are intertwined among the vermilion pavilions and emerald green trees, like a pot of boiling hot porridge.

Turning another alley, you can see the famous Treasure Pavilion.

Xue Sui brought Xiao Zhao, Ruyi and Feicui with them. The four of them walked along the street. The stall owners selling groceries greeted passers-by with smiles on their faces. No one noticed the carriage parked quietly on the side.

The body of the carriage was as black as ink.

The carriage curtains are made of thick green brocade with a dense texture.

It blocks out the light and also blocks out the people inside.

Xue Sui walked over with his head down, just like last time.

At this moment, a powerful chant suddenly sounded from behind.

"I am determined to live forever, so why don't you come and meet me, old friend?"

It was Guan Ya's voice.

Mixed in with the noisy voices, it went straight into Xue Sui's ears.

Others might not understand, but Xue Sui’s heart was pounding.

This is on the street!

In broad daylight, in front of everyone. Could it be that Li Zhao was crazy?

Are they willing to expose each other's secrets in front of the servants of Prince Duan's Mansion?
She didn't believe he dared.

Xue Sui subconsciously took two quick steps forward and suddenly heard a low bird song.

The familiar and clear sound of birds chirping came from behind the curtain, of varying lengths, with the kind of impatience that comes from being angered.

Xue Sui's face changed immediately, and he wished he could twist Li Zhao's head off.

She sent Lingyu to deliver a letter to Yaoguang in the morning, so why did it fall into Li Zhao's hands?
"Oh, that bird's call is so strange..." Feicui said as she was about to turn around to look, but Guan Ya had already opened the curtain.

In a hurry, Xue Sui reached out his hand to touch his hair, seemingly casually tidying it up, but in fact he raised his hand and threw it away without leaving any trace. The mule carrying goods not far away was suddenly frightened, neighed, and ran forward wildly.

Xue Sui and Xiao Zhao looked at each other, then swiftly pulled Ruyi away and barely avoided the attack.

The mule just ran straight into Emerald.

"Ouch!" Jade was caught off guard and fell to the ground with a scream.

Xiao Zhao quickly stepped forward to support her, scolded the innocent mule, and asked with concern:

"Aunt Jade, are you okay?"

Jade gritted her teeth, her face full of pain, but she found it difficult to straighten up.

"I, my waist... my waist is sprained..."

Xue Sui said, "Ruyi, help Aunt Feicui to the Ji'an Hall in front to see a doctor. Don't hurt your bones or delay Aunt's recovery."

Jade was startled, a look of hesitation on her face.

"How can we do that? We haven't finished what the master asked us to do..."

Xue Sui smiled softly and said to comfort her gently, "Don't worry, auntie. I can still handle this little thing well. If you miss the important matter, I will explain it to the princess when I return."

Feicui was very reluctant to let anyone help her, but her body was in so much pain that she needed someone to support her even when she walked. There was no other way, so she had to reluctantly let Ruyi support her and move away step by step.

Xue Sui then walked back to the alley calmly and looked at the parked carriage.

"What do you think, old friend?"

Li Zhao watched her series of reactions and seemed extremely pleased, letting out a low laugh from behind the curtain.

"Come up."

The voice was gentle and smiling.

But when the corner of the curtain was opened, the pair of eyes hidden in the darkness were as cold as ice, as if they could freeze a person in an instant.

People were coming and going on the street, but no one knew that this was the carriage from the Eastern Palace, and Xue Sui did not want to cause trouble.

She got into the car without saying a word, bowed slightly, and sat down without being invited.

The interior of the car is spacious, covered with a thick brocade quilt, and furnished with exquisite tea sets and incense burners. The air is filled with the faint scent of incense, as if it came from a fairyland, so luxurious that it seems unlike anything on earth.

Xue Sui looked straight at Li Zhao, his eyes as calm as water.

"Your Highness, please speak frankly if you have anything to say."

Li Zhao smiled and asked, "Is this chess piece of mine useful?"

The tone was as if they were talking about something insignificant, relaxed and casual.

Xue Sui understood, however, that there was an abyss in front of her.

If you are not careful, you will be shattered into pieces.

"Your Highness, why do you have to belittle yourself? You are the chess player and I am the chess piece. Or, as the crown prince, are you really going to go back on your word?"

The smile on Li Zhao's face suddenly faded.

Instead, there was a pair of unfathomable black eyes, as deep as the abyss.

"That day, Miss Xue Liu came to me with her own will, but I did not agree."

Xue Sui's mouth corners turned up, and his smile widened a little.

"That's strange. Since Your Highness didn't agree, why did you cooperate with me in the Qionglou case, kill You Zhimu, attack Laojun Mountain, eliminate banditry, secretly support Hongfu Casino, and even suppress Xue Qingzhi and impeach Prince Duan?"

Li Zhao: "I want to see how you can become stronger."

Just like picking up a sharp knife out of curiosity, fiddling with it and finding that the blade is too sharp and might accidentally hurt your hand, is it time to throw it away? Xue Sui's eyes were fixed on Li Zhao's handsome face, and a faint smile appeared on his lips: "But I am not a kite in your Highness's hand. You can let it go if you want, and you can take it back if you want..."

Li Zhao: "So, I can't control you anymore?"

Xue Sui was stunned: "If Your Highness wants to think so, I can't do anything about it."

Those few short words were as hard as a wall.

Li Zhao pressed his brows and sneered angrily.

"Ms. Xue Liu, you are so brave!"

Xue Sui had no intention of offending him, so he relaxed his expression, bowed slightly, and said respectfully, "Your Highness, please calm down. Xue Liu has no intention of offending you. From the beginning to the end, I have always been loyal to your Highness and have always followed your lead."

"To follow my lead, do you want to be Li Huan's concubine, concubine, or side concubine? Or do you want to wait to become the Princess of Duan? Or even the Queen, the mother of the country?"

Xue Sui was stunned.

Then he laughed.

"Your Highness is very unreasonable."

She smiled slightly and looked at Li Zhao steadily.

"I'm helping you. Xue Liu is in the same group with His Highness."

Li Zhao looked coldly: "I have not yet fallen to the point where I need to rely on a woman."

Xue Sui corrected him: "It's not relying on, it's cooperating."

Li Zhao: "Ms. Xue Liu, what do you want?"

Xue Sui never concealed his desire for revenge. After a moment's thought, he replied in all seriousness, "Your Highness knows why I returned to the capital. Prince Duan is closer to Princess Pingle, and can also make Princess Pingle suffer more. As for what I want..."

She hesitated for a moment, then continued, "I want to use my own hands to set things right, cleanse the filth of this world, and bring peace and prosperity to the people. Will Your Highness laugh at me for saying this?"

Li Zhao's mouth twitched.

Sure enough, he laughed.

Unfortunately, it was a sneer.

"Ms. Xue Liu, there are some things that you don't need to say explicitly."

Xue Sui sighed faintly, "Your Highness, Xue Liu doesn't understand."

Li Zhao smiled, his wolf-like eyes looked down unscrupulously and fell on her blinking eyelashes. He had no sympathy for her and every word was cold.

"Li Huan is your chess piece, isn't I?"

Xue Sui looked back at him and smiled casually.

"When chess is at a dangerous point, it is best to use it well. Xue Liu has never wavered. Whether he is a chess piece or a chess player, why should Your Highness distinguish too clearly?"

She thought Li Zhao suspected that she was playing two-faced and trying to profit from it. Although this was true, it was not the time to turn against Li Zhao yet, so she pretended to defend herself.

Li Zhao actually smiled after hearing this.

"He used Master Jingkong's words to quietly control Princess Duan. He then fabricated the bizarre deaths of You Zhimu and the wet nurse, and cleverly arranged to obtain a legitimate identity for himself when he returned to the capital. He took every step carefully, alienated, divided, and provoked conflicts. He also arranged for Xue Qingxiu to fake his death, causing everyone in the Xue Mansion to lose their composure and rush to expose their weaknesses..."

"When the time is right, Xue Qingxiu 'comes back to life' and cleverly exposes the eldest lady's scheme of colluding with Taoist priests to elevate her biological daughter in front of Prince Duan, clearing his name ten years ago. He uses the Laojun Mountain case to elevate the third wife and suppress the first wife, alienating Prince Duan and the Xue family, and taking advantage of the situation to win over the old lady. He completely reshapes the Xue mansion, plays with the precarious Princess Duan, and manipulates the forces of all parties. This layout and planning can be called flawless..."

He looked at Xue Sui and spoke slowly. His tone was neither hurried nor slow, but it was like a heavy hammer, revealing a sense of oppression that could not be ignored.

"This method, Miss Xue Liu, really opened my eyes."

Xue Sui placed his hands flat on his knees, sitting upright with a calm expression.

"Your Highness is no less capable than me. He not only manipulates people's hearts, but also pigeons, forcing them to submit."

She responded without blushing or breathing heavily. She was not afraid at all.

Li Zhao asked calmly, "The Xue Mansion and Prince Duan's Mansion are stepping stones, so what is the Eastern Palace? How can Miss Xue Liu's wolfish ambitions stop? One day, this imperial city, the Li family's world, what will it be to you?"

He is the prince.

He is the crown prince of the Li Dynasty.

What is being protected is the interests of the Li family.

In this respect, he is no different from Prince Duan and Prince Pingle.

Li Zhao could allow her to cause trouble for Prince Duan's party under his nose, but he would not allow her to harm the Li Dynasty and cause trouble for himself.

Once he becomes fearful, he will definitely strike first.

"No." Xue Sui's heart was as clear as a mirror. He smiled and said clearly:

"I told Your Highness before I returned to the capital that I was only seeking revenge. With Xue Liu here, it will only benefit the Crown Prince, not harm him. If the Crown Prince is worried, just wait and see."

Li Zhao took Lingyu from the shelf next to him and teased it a bit.

"I like this bird."

Xue Sui: "I won't send you off."

Li Zhao was stunned and laughed out of anger.

This Xue Liuji has the ability to provoke his anger.

He hooked his finger lightly, and Lingyu stood on the slender jade-like finger and handed it to Xue Sui.

"But since it was a lie, I cut the pigeon apart and made soup from it."

　Dear readers, this book will be published tomorrow. I still remember the flag I made when I first started writing that I would write more and save more drafts. However, things did not go as planned. In the past half month, life has played a joke on me. First, I was diagnosed with other diseases. Before I could calm down, I suddenly suffered from deafness, which ruined Erjin's draft box. I have been treated, treated, and treated until today. I don't know how long it will take to recover...

　　I really want to pull out a miracle doctor from a novel and bring people back to health with his magic hands...

　　The advantage of this disease is that it is not fatal, and you can stop wasting time watching videos and focus on studying and reading. The disadvantage is that it is difficult to cure, it is easy to relapse, and you cannot hear any sound (including keyboard tapping), which is harsh and uncomfortable accompanied by tinnitus. So now I like to type on my phone, which inevitably affects my speed...

　　But don't worry about me. Writing itself is not a burden, but a dream. I have many stories to share with you. A creator who has experienced all kinds of life may have a deeper understanding and carve out better words. Without frost and cold, you don't know the fragrance of plum blossoms. Whether good or bad, it is a gift from fate. It's just that when I occasionally recall my health, I can't help but sigh.

　　I thought it was normal at that time, but when I looked back my hair had turned gray.

　　Dear readers, please take care of your body and love yourself.

　　Finally, I sincerely thank you for sharing this journey of "Ask the Nine Lords" with me. For me, it is so extraordinary. It's a long way to go, let's continue...

　　(End of this chapter)