Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 373 Warm words in front of the bed
Xue Sui awoke in a state of confusion.

Consciousness is like driftwood in deep water, floating slowly and laboriously.

Slowly, a sound came to my ears—a gentle, unhurried patter, tapping on the broad sycamore leaves, making a soft, rustling sound, the air filled with the damp, cool scent of earth and vegetation.

Her eyelids felt heavy, and she struggled to open them a crack...

As dawn broke, the soft light slowly seeped in through layers of gauze curtains.

At this moment, the hall was extremely quiet, and the hazy light and the continuous sound of rain outside the window made her feel very comfortable.

"woke up?"

A deep voice came, hoarse from just waking up.

Xue Sui tilted his head slightly.

Li Zhao leaned against the carved rosewood armchair beside the couch.

He was still wearing the same gold-embroidered dragon robe he wore last night, the collar slightly open. There was a faint dark patch under his eyes, and short, stiff stubble had sprouted on his chin, tinged with a bluish tinge...

He clearly hadn't moved an inch all night, staying by her side without leaving her side.

"Why doesn't Your Highness rest in the side hall?" She struggled to sit up, but he pressed her shoulder down.

"Lie down." Li Zhao leaned down and naturally placed the back of his hand on her forehead.

"Your fever persisted last night; how could I be at ease?"

Xue Sui's heart skipped a beat.

Looking at Li Zhao's worried face, her throat felt dry and tight, and her whole body felt sore and weak. In particular, the burning and numbness deep in her internal organs felt like a tearing pain, making her think of the worst possible outcome.

Am I... beyond cure?

Li Zhao paused, his dark eyes fixed on her, and then he suddenly chuckled softly.

"Dr. Shu said that the poison is sinister and domineering, and its interaction with the cold poison in your body may be a good thing."

"Your Highness means...?"

“You, Xue Ping’an, are not destined to die.” He gently brushed her newly grown short hair with his fingertips, a smile spreading from his eyes to his lips, softening the seriousness on his face and giving him a youthful vibrancy.

"Dr. Shu said that misfortune and fortune are interdependent. If this battle between the two poisons is handled properly, it may be able to shake the cold poison... and it is not impossible for white hair to turn black."

Xue Sui subconsciously raised his hand and touched the prickly top of his head.

She used to not care at all.

Black hair turns white, but it's all just a physical shell.

But at this moment, hearing the undisguised hope in Li Zhao's voice, a slight ripple stirred in my heart.

"It's a miracle that I survived..."

She whispered, suddenly remembering Yukihime.

The blood-stained memory brought a chill down her spine. She abruptly threw off the covers and tried to get out of bed, but Li Zhao stopped her.

"Where do you want to go?"

"My mother, she..."

“With Dr. Shu and Zhang Huaicheng here, there’s no need for you.” Li Zhao gently pressed her back onto the bed. “Dr. Shu said that your internal organs are injured and you still need to rest. You shouldn’t overexert yourself. Right now, all you need to do is lie down and recuperate.”

As he spoke, he announced loudly, "Serve breakfast."

The palace maids filed in.

With footsteps as light as a cat, she silently served the food.

The celadon bowl is filled with soft and sticky millet porridge, and several light side dishes look and smell appealing.

Li Zhao picked up the bowl of porridge, carefully stirred it with a silver spoon to cool it down, blew on it to cool it, and then brought it to her lips, the movements so natural as if he had done it a thousand times before...

"Dr. Shu instructed that your spleen and stomach are weak and you cannot tolerate strong tonics, so you should eat light and gentle nourishing foods..."

He then explained.

He kept calling me Dr. Shu.

In such a short time, how did he become so familiar with Tian Shu?

She couldn't help but smile, nod, and open her mouth to catch it.

The aroma of the porridge spreads across the tongue, carrying a subtle fragrance of rice.

She lazily looked at Li Zhao's profile.

In the morning light, the prince's straight nose and tightly pursed lips, which were originally cold and hard features, now seemed to be infused with a focused gentleness, making him quite handsome...

"What Your Highness said yesterday... was it serious?" she suddenly asked, her voice as soft as a feather.

Li Zhao looked up, his dark eyes reflecting the faint light from the window, shining brightly.

When have I ever spoken in jest?

“But my identity…” “In my eyes, you are just Xue Sui.” Li Zhao interrupted, looking at her intently, “the Xue Sui who can take my pulse, discuss politics with me, and fight alongside me in times of crisis.”

"Xue Sui is a nun." She found it somewhat amusing.

“I will revoke your Nepali citizenship.” Li Zhao put down the silver spoon, picked up a silk handkerchief to wipe a trace of porridge from the corner of her lips, and said calmly:

"Three days from now, at the grand court, I will announce to all officials that you will be made Crown Princess."

Xue Sui took a deep breath, which caused a dull pain in his chest.

"Your Highness, please reconsider!"

“I have already made up my mind.” Li Zhao held her slightly cool hand, his palm warm and firm. “You don’t need to worry about the criticisms of those pedantic scholars. I have my own ways to shut them up.”

“Your Highness, I am not afraid of rumors.” Xue Sui’s fingertips curled unconsciously, sinking into his palm.

"But right now, the remnants of the Xiao family have not been eliminated, Prince Duan is eyeing us covetously, the Empress Dowager harbors resentment, and Ping Le is still lurking in the shadows... If Your Highness were to make me a concubine now, wouldn't that give them an excuse to attack you? They would say that Your Highness, for your own selfish reasons, disregarded the critical illness of the Emperor and Father, corrupted the court, and indulged in women... At that time, there will only be more people attacking you... How can Your Highness sit securely in this position of regent? And how can you spare the time to eliminate the wolves surrounding you?"

Li Zhao's lips slowly curved into a smile.

A sharp glint suddenly appeared in his eyes—

"I want them to come out. Rather than waiting for a sneak attack, I'd rather lure them out..."

He paused, then spoke each word clearly and coldly, "Open and aboveboard, let's resolve this once and for all."

Xue Sui shuddered.

Looking into Li Zhao's eyes, where there was no attempt to conceal his calculations, she instantly understood his scheme—establishing a concubine was not only bait, but also a means for him to cleanse the court and consolidate his power.

She sighed, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

"So that's what Your Highness was thinking."

"What I cherish most is the thought of marrying you." Li Zhao leaned closer, his warm breath brushing against her ear, his voice deepening and reaching straight to her heart.

"I want both fish and bear's paw."

Xue Sui was speechless, choked by his forceful declaration, and her cheeks even felt slightly hot.

The rain outside the window stopped sometime ago.

The morning light pierced through the clouds and into the window, gilding the prince's shoulders with a golden edge.

"Your Highness..." she whispered, her heart churning.

"Drink porridge." Li Zhao smiled slightly, picked up the silver spoon again, and moved gently, as if the conversation that had just stirred up the world was just her illusion.

Silence returned to the palace.

A cool breeze swept across the palace walls, emitting a mournful whistle.

The rain has stopped and the sky has cleared, but the storm that is brewing over the capital city is only just beginning to take shape...
-
The next morning, news from the Xue family was delivered to the East Palace's desk.

Ms. Qian was so frightened that she went into premature labor. After a day and a night of struggle, she gave birth to a seven-pound baby boy. Both mother and child are safe.

Xue Qingzhi remained unconscious, and Madam Fu stayed by his bedside without changing her clothes, bringing him soup and medicine, never leaving his side. This display of deep affection between the couple was even more loving than it had been in the past twenty years.

"It seems we won't find anything out about the Xue family." Li Zhao listened to Guan Ya's report, his slender fingers tapping unconsciously on the table a few times.

"She certainly put on a good show."

Guan Ya said, "Your Highness, Fu is the most suspicious. She went to Cixi Palace just that day, and her expression was strange when she came out. Should we interrogate her? Try to get her to talk..."

“No need,” Li Zhao said. “She is just a pawn. The real mastermind is in the Cixi Palace. Send people to keep a close eye on the Xue family, especially Fu’s every move. Without my explicit order, do not alert them.”

Guan Ya was somewhat puzzled. "Your Highness, please forgive my bluntness, but the Xue family's perfunctory and irresponsible attitude is clearly an attempt to protect the murderer... Why does Your Highness want to show leniency?"

Li Zhao frowned. "That's Xue Liu's maternal family."

Guan Ya met the Crown Prince's sharp gaze and then understood.

The Crown Prince wasn't being soft-hearted; it was for the sake of Miss Xue.

No matter how capable a woman is, if she wants to marry into the royal family, her family must have some standing. If the Xue family falls completely, even if she enters the Eastern Palace in the future, she will inevitably become the subject of gossip and be pointed at by court officials and members of the royal family.

Besides, one Fu woman is nothing to worry about. What we really need to be wary of is the Yongding Marquis's mansion behind her, and the cunning and scheming Empress Dowager in the deep palace...

"To strike a snake, one must strike its vital spot."

Before he could finish speaking, Mei Ruhui rushed in with a grave expression: "Your Highness, something has happened at Zichen Palace. Xiao Song's cousin, Xiao Wenyuan, the Grand Secretary, along with Minister He of the Ministry of Rites, Wang Huan of the Censorate, and more than ten other officials, are kneeling outside Zichen Palace, demanding an audience with the Emperor and questioning Your Highness's authority as regent..."

Li Zhao sneered and slowly adjusted his cuffs.

"They certainly know how to seize opportunities. I have issued an order that the Emperor is unwell and unable to receive guests, and that they should all return to their residences."

“Your Highness, they said that if they do not see His Majesty’s face today, they will kneel for a long time and die to prove their loyalty…” Mei Ruhui spoke very quickly, and fine beads of sweat could be seen on his forehead.

"What's even more troublesome is that, instigated by someone, rumors are spreading throughout the capital. The people are talking about it, saying that His Highness the Crown Prince... has imprisoned his father and is seizing power, and... has even forcibly taken a nun into the palace, which is morally questionable... If this stalemate continues, it may be detrimental to His Highness."

Li Zhao stood up: "I'll go and meet them."

(End of this chapter)