Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 37: Dissension

In Shou'an Courtyard, people were making tea and chatting, and it was lively and cheerful. The old lady was happy, and everyone became active.

The charcoal fire was burning brightly, the aroma of tea was wafting in the air, maids were walking around, the girls were sitting around together, chatting with each other, and occasionally bursting into laughter.

Xue Yuechen couldn't laugh.

After reluctantly sitting with the old lady for a while, she grabbed Xue Yue'e and pulled her aside to ask her questions in private.

"Ninth sister, tell me the truth, how did mother and father become estranged?"

Since the old lady didn't say anything, Xue Yue'e didn't want to say anything.

She looked away and hesitated, which made Xue Yuechen very unhappy.

"Is your mouth blocked?"

Xue Yue'e pursed her lips, glanced back at the laughing crowd, and said aggrievedly: "It's all the fault of Sixth Sister! I don't know what she did. That night, my father went to Qinglan Courtyard, and Fourth Sister was suddenly confined to her house. My mother must have been unhappy and went back to her parents' home in anger..."

She had no idea what had happened, but thought Xue Yueying and Xue Sui were having a quarrel, so she thoughtlessly threw a basin of dirty water at Xue Sui.

Xue Yuechen frowned slightly and sighed in his heart.

She didn't think that it was Xue Liu's return that caused the unrest in the family.

A girl of seventeen or eighteen years old, who grew up in a mean alley in the countryside, was rejected by her sisters when she returned home. She couldn't stand all kinds of rules. Her parents didn't like her anymore, so it was inevitable that people would gossip about her. The words of the Ninth Miss could not be taken seriously.

In her heart, she even thought it might be related to her recent bad luck...

Fortunately, her third uncle returned safely, otherwise, she would have suspected that she had killed him.

At this time, a maid came to report that Miss Xue Liu had returned.

Xue Yuechen gave Xue Yue'e some instructions, telling her not to talk nonsense, and then hurried to Bitong Courtyard.

Feicui was lying on the Hu bed in the outer room, her face was pale with pain, her legs were swollen like steamed buns, and she started crying out in pain when she saw Xue Yuechen.

Xue Yuechen asked distressedly: "Is the injury serious?"

Feicui frowned and shook her head in pain, describing the situation at that time, and glanced at Xue Sui.

"It's good that the Sixth Miss wasn't hurt..."

These words were full of resentment.

It was obvious that he felt that Miss Xue Liu was possessed by a calamity star, which caused her to suffer the calamity.

A subtle hint of embarrassment flashed across Xue Yuechen's face. He glared at her warningly, then smiled and pulled Xue Sui to sit in the inner room. He asked her in a gentle tone what pastries she had bought.

Unexpectedly, Xue Sui said, "The cakes in the Treasure Pavilion are always the same. I think the prince is tired of them. Why not let him try some of what I made myself?"

Xue Yuechen was a little surprised.

Soon Ruyi went to Lixiangyuan to get the box of pastries.

Several snacks were placed in a nine-grid ebony box and served on verdant porcelain plates. The colors were either golden, tender pink, or pure white like snow. Each piece was delicate and small, exuding an enticing aroma, and was pleasing to the eye.

"Princess, try it. How does it taste?"

She didn't have time to go to the Treasure Pavilion just now, and Feicui came out of Ji'an Hall, so she had to deal with it like this.

The maid picked up a piece, Xue Yue put it in her mouth to taste it, and her eyes lit up.

"good."

After hesitating for a moment, he smiled again, "It's just that the prince is old-fashioned and doesn't like to try new things. I don't know if this will suit his taste."

Xue Sui said: "Even if I don't like it, I won't blame you for the princess's sake. It won't go too far."

Xue Yuechen thought so too and looked at the pastries with a faint smile, suddenly recalling her days as a girl.

In the world of Xue Mansion, she is the eldest daughter of the family, a lucky star with eight fortunes, and everything is the best. The world here is infinitely vast for her, allowing her to swim freely like a fish, and occasionally she will cook some food herself to please herself and others...

There are fewer days like this after getting married.

Prince Duan's Mansion is larger than Xue's Mansion, but more cramped.

She couldn't swim anymore.

Xue Yuechen suddenly felt a little sad. Looking at Xue Sui's young and bright eyes, she looked only twenty-six years old, but she had an indescribable sense of vicissitudes.

"Sixth sister, I feel sorry for you in this matter."

Xue Sui smiled softly, "Princess, why are you being so polite? I should do it."

Seeing her obedient, Xue Yuechen sighed in his heart, with some genuine pity and helplessness in his eyes, "In those years, because of my younger brother who died young, mother had a lot of complaints towards Xue Ji and you, and she made you suffer a lot..."

Xue Sui looked at her extremely moved expression, the corners of his lips twitched, but he didn't say anything.

Xue Yuechen added: "I brought you back this time to make up for my mother's previous mistakes. Don't worry, Sixth Sister, when you go to Prince Duan's Mansion, no one will bully you anymore with my elder sister around."

Xue Sui smiled faintly, "It's all up to the princess."

Xue Yuechen breathed a sigh of relief, his guilt faded away, and his brows relaxed.

"Mother was also confused at the time. It's been many years since the incident. Can you forgive her?"

Xue Sui chuckled.

It is a very simple thing to let go of grudges in the mouth of outsiders.

Especially the kind-hearted eldest daughter of the Xue family, who was used to being looked down upon, would even feel that this bit of pity and charity was enough. When such noble women were willing to resolve their grievances, a lowly person like her should be grateful and should not complain anymore.

The girl has a high attitude and status, and has never been wronged. She will never feel how humiliating and unbearable it is to be trampled under the feet of others...

If you have not experienced the suffering of others, of course you can forgive them.

"Sixth sister?" Xue Yuechen frowned when he saw that she couldn't laugh.

Xue Sui curled his lips and said nonchalantly: "I have forgotten everything in the past." He had been away from home for ten years and was very young when he left, so it was normal that he couldn't remember anything.

The heavy stone in Xue Yuechen's heart fell away.

Then he thought of Lingxu's matter and glanced at her again.

"As long as Sixth Sister doesn't pursue it, it won't be a big deal. These outsiders pretend to be highly skilled and talk nonsense..."

You've made a big deal out of nothing. You really know how to handle things for the Fu family. What a good daughter.

Xue Sui sneered in his heart, and his face also showed a hint of coldness.

"I'm afraid I don't have the final say on this matter. It depends on your Majesty's decision."

"Your Majesty?"

Xue Yuechen was slightly startled and frowned slightly.

"What does it have to do with the prince?"

Xue Sui said, "The princess didn't come just now, so she didn't hear what the Taoist said. He seems to be very clear about the Qionglou case... Although the person who died in Qionglou was not my third uncle, it was still a life. What's more, there is also the third master of the You family, who disappeared for no reason and has not been seen alive or dead until now. Once the You family gets the news, they will definitely hold on to this matter, and it will also involve the eldest lady of our mansion. That's not something a little girl like me can think about. The princess has a broad vision, and naturally she sees the pros and cons more clearly than I do..."

She spoke from the heart.

Xue Yuechen felt as if there was a rabbit in his heart, and he was very nervous. He couldn't help but look at her carefully.

This sixth sister is completely different from the naive little girl ten years ago.

At least he's not some ignorant idiot who grew up in a despicable place.

"Sister, what you said makes sense."

She nodded slightly, looked up and instructed the maid Yuzhui.

"Go to Huixian Hall and ask around. Is there any news?"

Yu Zhui bowed and left quickly.

Not long after, she hurried back, her face tense and her voice a little flustered: "Princess, His Highness interrogated the Taoist Lingxu, saying that he had hired a torture device, and the Taoist couldn't bear it and confessed everything..."

"How?"

"He turned out to be a fake Taoist priest, fake from head to toe! He even confessed that he was a liar hired by the Madam!"

"what?"

A bolt of thunder struck, and Xue Yuechen's heart sank suddenly, and the world was spinning in an instant.

She still remembered vividly the scene when Taoist Lingxu concluded that Xue Liu was one of the Seven Evil Stars.

She was still young at that time, standing beside her mother and watching the Taoist holding a whisk, his robe fluttering, chanting incantations, and talking about the mysteries of the way of heaven with great confidence. She was so scared that her heart tightened.

Fortunately, Lingxu said that she was a lucky star with eight fortunes.

Lucky people should enjoy all the wealth and glory in this world and live a smooth and comfortable life.

Later, when she reached marriageable age, she was supposed to marry back into her mother's family, the Yongding Marquis Mansion, but she was inexplicably chosen to be the principal wife of Prince Duan. This great blessing from heaven made her firmly believe that she was destined to be the wife.

If she had not been childless for many years and if it weren't for the series of accidents that happened after the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, she would have continued to believe this.

Unexpectedly, Lingxu turned out to be a fake Taoist priest.

She has been a favored child for more than 20 years. Is this also a lie?

"Sixth sister..."

Xue Yuechen's throat tightened and he held Xue Sui's hand, his knuckles turning white from the force.

"If it has anything to do with my mother, even if I had mouths all over my body, I still wouldn't be able to explain it."

Xue Sui held her firmly, his lips curled up, "Why should Princess worry?"

Xue Yuechen shook his head subconsciously.

"You don't understand. If Concubine Xiao knew about this, I wouldn't be able to explain myself..."

Her sky fell.

Xue Sui looked at her and laughed.

For a moment, she seemed to see the weak child with no one to rely on, saying "Big sister, save me" over and over again.

"Princess." She shook Xue Yuechen's hand firmly, looked deeply into her eyes, and said with a subtle expression, "You and His Royal Highness Prince Duan are husband and wife, and are close relatives. What has the scandal done by the First Lady to do with Princess?"

Xue Yuechen's expression changed again and again.

Yes! She didn't know about this.

What does her mother do have to do with her?

No, no, that's her mother.

As a daughter, how can I completely break away from my mother?

Xue Sui saw her expression changing, so he didn't try to persuade her to distance herself from the First Madam, but just consoled her softly:

"A husband and wife are bound by a hundred days of grace. Princess, you should put the prince first in everything. With the prince's support, I think Concubine Xiao won't be too embarrassed... As for the affairs of her mother's family, there is no need to shoulder them on her own shoulders, so as not to create a rift with the prince..."

Xue Yuechen was already at a loss, but after thinking about it he nodded.

"Sixth sister is right. I am a married woman, and this is what I should do..."

Xue Sui said a few words to comfort her and felt happy.

I wonder what Mrs. Fu’s expression will be when she is deserted by her friends and relatives and even her own daughter turns against her?
(End of this chapter)