Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 60 Page

Emperor Chongzhao favored Concubine Xiao, and everyone in the imperial harem knew about it.

Therefore, Xue Yuechen's status as Prince Duan's principal wife was very distinguished. Not to mention the ladies outside the court, even the unfavored concubines in the palace had to smile when they saw her, and people respected her wherever she went.

The women who came to the Imperial Garden today were invited by Empress Xie. In order to avoid the purpose of the meeting being too obvious, Empress Xie also invited many sons of princes and ministers in the name of the Crown Prince, saying only that she wanted young people to join in the fun.

Emperor Chongzhao suddenly got excited and added some excitement to the Spring Flower Banquet. He summoned ministers to discuss matters in the Hanyuan Hall, and then admired the flowers and commented on their merits and demerits...

As a result, this spring's flower banquet is much more lively than in previous years.

Xue Yuechen maintained a decent smile, led Xue Sui to appreciate the flowers, and walked straight to the inner courtyard.

The inner garden was full of flowers. Many girls were competing with each other for flowers and plants in the courtyard, and laughter could be heard from time to time.

The young masters went to Changchunping at the other end of the Imperial Garden.

There were performances of martial arts, horse riding and archery, with bursts of applause breaking out from time to time.

The corner of Xue Yuechen's lips twitched up almost imperceptibly.

The wives of princes and ministers came with their daughters, but they did not approach Queen Xie. It seemed that they all knew what was going on.

In this world, there are only two situations where even the Eastern Palace doesn't want to marry -

Either the East Palace is not good enough, or the Crown Prince is too hated.

Coincidentally, Li Zhao had both.

Xue Yuechen glanced at the Yicui Pavilion not far away and said to Xue Sui, "Sixth sister, please go to the pavilion and wait for me for a while. I will go over there to greet the ladies and then take you to the waterside pavilion to have tea and listen to opera. You don't have to get involved with them anymore. We are here today just to gather some people."

The imperial concubine's party and the queen's party are clearly divided.

She also had no intention of introducing Xue Sui to other concubines.

Xue Sui smiled and replied, "Yes."

Xue Yuechen was worried, and reminded her: "Don't run around, don't be too curious. Listen more and talk less. When you meet someone you don't know, be humble and courteous. If someone says something you don't like to hear, or you don't want to speak, just laugh. Wait for me to come back."

Xue Sui smiled and said, "Don't worry, Princess."

Xue Yuechen smiled and said to her, "I am your elder sister. There is no need to be so distant with me behind people's backs."

Xue Sui saluted, "Yes."

She walked calmly towards the Yicui Pavilion.

Xiao Zhao and Ruyi, following closely.

The Yicui Pavilion is surrounded by blooming flowers. There are white curtains hanging at the corners, swaying in the wind, which is very elegant and quiet.

This place is still some distance away from the main hall, so not many people come here.

Xue Sui sat down among the flowers, sniffing the fragrance and feeling contented, when he saw a woman in gorgeous clothes, surrounded by a group of female relatives and palace servants, walking along the flower path below the pavilion.

She had a towering high bun on her head, piled with pearls and jade inlaid with red gold, and a crimson brocade skirt that flowed on the ground. She was flamboyant, warm, graceful, elegant and beautiful.

When the palace maids and ladies saw her, they all bowed to her.

Looking around, everyone is silent...

Xue Sui's hand, which was pinching the petals, paused slightly.

Xiao Zhao looked at it intently, his eyes lighting up.

"I know her! She's on the first page of the album."

Xue Sui curled the corners of his lips wordlessly.

Xiao Zhao has a good memory.

This is Princess Pingle.

Prince Duan is a brother from the same mother and is doted on as a prince.

It's been ten years.

No! Pingle hadn't seen her for ten years, but she had seen Pingle from afar countless times. Therefore, she knew Pingle's voice, appearance and smile very well, as if she had seen him yesterday...

When she was young, she struggled in the mud countless times and found the answers she wanted to find countless times on Pingle's face.

Why born lowly?
Why do you bully and humiliate me?
Why is effort hopeless?
Why is there no one to turn to for help?
Why should you be punished for not doing something wrong?

Why do they commit so many evil things and still get away with it?

Why are jackals, tigers and leopards so highly respected?

Why lose all conscience and enjoy all the glory?

Why is it that the clear justice of heaven cannot illuminate the sufferings of the world?
It was Pingle's face that told her.

To become stronger.

Only become stronger.

Strong enough to tear her apart, take the crown off her head, and you will get the answer.

As long as her weapon is strong enough, she can find a way out for the lost justice and trampled dignity, and repair those tattered wounds...

The flower branch bounced back from Xue Sui's hand.

In a blink of an eye, Pingle's gaze turned over.

It passed across Xue Sui's face without stopping.

Pingle didn't recognize her.

Pingle no longer recognized the little girl she had abused, the little girl whose bloody wounds she had sprinkled with coarse salt, wondering if she would melt away like a slug... She was just a livestock that explored the world during Pingle's innocent childhood, not worth remembering...

Xiao Zhao clenched his fists.

Xue Sui smiled gently, took her hand and handed her a flower.

"It smells good, try it."

Pingle walked very fast.

We went around to the other side of the Qicui Pavilion, where there were more flowers and trees and no one was in sight.

Pingle's voice came through the flowers.

Still lazy and arrogant.

"If it weren't for my mother's insistence, I wouldn't have wanted to come. Who would have given her that respect?"

She didn't even take the queen seriously, which showed how arrogant she was.

Lu Xi followed Ping Le and looked around carefully. Then he leaned over to hold up Ping Le's sleeve and asked her in a low voice, "Your Highness, have I arranged everything?"

Pingle didn't even raise his eyes, and the corners of his mouth curved into a cold arc.

"Don't worry. Even if you want to get married, I can't bear to let you go..."

Lu Xi frowned, looking very uneasy. "My grandfather is the most arbitrary one in the family. He has the final say on everything. Last night, my mother told me that my grandfather had already discussed this with Empress Xie, and that Empress Xie was very satisfied with me. She might finalize the marriage today..."

Pingle chuckled and glanced at me with a playful look in his eyes.

"Look at how little you have achieved! Why are you so nervous? Don't you still have me to back you up? After today, your stubborn grandfather will never force you to marry the Crown Prince again..."

"Thank you for your consideration, Your Highness."

A smile appeared on Lu Xi's pretty face, but she felt vaguely uneasy in her heart.

Of course it’s good to have Princess Pingle’s support.

I'm afraid she won't...

Xue Yueying was still in the prison of the Ministry of Justice, and Pingle was still angry. Even though they had been friends since childhood, Pingle didn't even try to make concessions for her.

Pingle glanced at her with a smile and suddenly changed the subject.

"Mr. Su Jin is quite good. His talent and appearance are worthy of you."

Lu Xi hummed awkwardly, unable to tell what he felt.

Su Jin was the third place winner of the imperial examination in the 10th year of Chongzhao. He was not as good-looking as Li Zhaosheng, but he was much gentler. Moreover, Su's ancestors did not hold high positions and his father was only a fifth-rank doctor, who was not worthy of his grandfather's attention.

But Su Jin took refuge with Ping Le, became Ping Le's person, and worked for Ping Le. Ping Le said that he had a promising career and wanted to be her matchmaker, so she didn't know how to refuse...

If Li Zhao had not been so cruel to her, the power of the Eastern Palace would have been able to suppress Prince Duan, and marrying Li Zhao would actually be a good thing.

If Duke Pingle insisted on pulling this red string for her and asking her to be "one of their own", she would be in a dilemma, neither agreeing nor not agreeing...

Ping Le noticed Lu Xi's silence and said dissatisfiedly: "What's the matter? Do you feel that marrying Su Jin is an insult to you as the granddaughter of the Taifu family? Or is it that you still want the position of Crown Princess? That's fine, I can also fulfill your wish..."

Lu Xi has known Ping Le for many years and knows her character well.

Those who follow me will prosper, and those who go against me will perish.

It would be terrible if she bore a grudge against him.

So he gritted his teeth slightly, lowered his head and responded:
"I won't marry the Crown Prince. I will follow your Highness's arrangements."

Ping Le then smiled with satisfaction, "Don't worry! I won't treat you unfairly. Su Jin is very talented and is highly appreciated by our father. She will be a high-ranking official in the future. Are you afraid that you can't become a first-rank imperial lady?"

How can a first-rank imperial decree compare to the dignity of a Crown Princess?

Lu Xi felt a bitter taste in his mouth and felt lost in his heart.

She is only seventeen years old now. She has been following Pingle since she was a child. She is used to following Pingle's lead and goes against her family in everything. Even if she feels something is wrong, she has no intention of resisting, let alone distinguishing between good and evil.

The veil flutters behind the Yicui Pavilion.

Xue Sui slowly withdrew his hand from a blooming peony, with a meaningful smile on the corner of his lips.

Li Zhao’s trouble is coming.
-
After Xue Yuechen came back, Xue Sui accompanied her to the waterside pavilion to have tea and watch a play. He also watched her socializing with the ladies and they rarely spoke.

She noticed that there were female officials and maids leading the way in the garden. Whenever an unmarried girl came, she would be led by the ladies of each family to pay her respects to Queen Xie.

When they returned, without exception, they were rewarded with a flower and a string of beads.

Xue Yuechen told her quietly.

"The Eastern Palace has been in vain until now, and His Majesty is fed up with it. This time, a lot of beautiful girls will probably be sent to the Eastern Palace, and the maids will take good care of them. After the Crown Prince's wedding, they will be given corresponding positions..."

After saying this, her eyes moved and a smile appeared on the corner of her mouth.

"It also depends on their family background. The former dynasty and the harem have always been intricately connected."

Xue Sui looked at her and smiled, "Princess, you are so lucky."

If she wasn't for the "lucky star of eight fortunes", she wouldn't have such a good life.

Although the words were obviously meant to flatter, Xue Yuechen found them a bit harsh. He turned his face away, pressed the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief as if to conceal it, lowered his head to drink the tea, and did not answer.

Xue Sui had no interest in the flower banquet and was bored, so he finally waited for the female official to come and inform him.

"Her Majesty has granted a banquet to Changchun Pavilion. Please move forward, distinguished guests."

(End of this chapter)