Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 69 Ending
After taking the first sip of the medicine, Pingle felt like vomiting...

But she didn't even have the strength to vomit. She felt the medicine sliding down her throat and her throat seemed to be burning. She was in so much pain that she couldn't help whimpering. Her body resisted instinctively and her eyes opened slightly.

She blinked desperately, trying to refuse the medicine.

But Emperor Chongzhao was delighted to see the remarkable effect of the medicine.

"The medicine is effective! Keep on giving it to me!"

Li Zhao's lips curled up slightly, his face seemed to be happy but not happy, and his eyes fell on Pingle's face like poison.

"Sister Imperial, you are blessed with great fortune and good fortune."

Pingle wanted to struggle and speak, but only a few sobs came out of his throat. The medicine even came out of his nostrils accidentally, and he was in a very embarrassing state...

Li Zhao said: "Be careful, don't spill it!"

The palace maid held Pingle tightly to prevent her from moving.

The medicine was swallowed mouthful by mouthful, and the taste was very strange. She had never drunk such a bitter medicine before. Hatred surged in her heart, and the feeling of nausea became stronger and stronger. But her body was held firmly by two palace maids, and she had no power to resist until there was not a drop of the medicine left in the bowl, and then the palace maids let her go.

After this ordeal, Princess Pingle had regained some consciousness.

As soon as I opened my eyes, tears started falling.

"woke up!"

"woke up!"

"The princess is awake!"

The whole room was filled with sounds of joy.

Concubine Xiao was even more excited, she covered her cheeks with her hands and cried with joy.

Emperor Chongzhao said: "Doctor Hu, you have made a great contribution!"

Xue Yuechen also mustered up the courage and said something weakly.

"Father, this time it is also thanks to my sixth sister who donated blood."

Emperor Chongzhao nodded in agreement.

"I have treated him unfairly this time. I will definitely reward him handsomely."

When Pingle heard this, his pupils suddenly shrank and he realized again what he had drunk. He suddenly turned his body over and suddenly fell on the edge of the bed, retching hard, trying to vomit out what he had drunk.

"My son, you must not vomit."

Concubine Xiao hurriedly helped her up and pressed her back.

"Good medicine tastes bitter, please be patient. You are not well yet, don't spit it out or it will lose its medicinal properties..."

Emperor Chongzhao also leaned forward and tried to comfort him earnestly. The kindness in his eyes was like that of an ordinary father who loves his own child, without any trace of the majesty of an emperor.

"You have been unconscious for so long that your father and mother must be worried. Just lie down and don't move. Wait until you have recovered your energy and spirit, then we can talk..."

Li Zhao stood quietly in the hall, watching from neither far nor near.

He was also the son of Emperor Chongzhao and the half-brother of Princess Pingle.

But at this moment, I felt like an outsider, unable to integrate into the warmth of this family of three.

Li Zhao raised the corners of his lips slightly and bowed.

"Father, now that my sister has woken up, I am relieved. I will take my leave now so as not to disturb my sister's rest."

Emperor Chongzhao didn't even raise his head, his eyes still fixed on Princess Pingle, and he just raised his arm and waved it.

"Go, remember to reflect on yourself at all times, be diligent and humble, and hone your ability to govern. Don't be lazy, perfunctory, or reckless. I don't want to hear the court officials complain about your improper behavior and excessive playfulness."

Li Zhao bowed and said, "Your son will follow your father's instructions."

Then turned and walked out.

The smile on his face remained unchanged, but his eyes were cold.

As soon as I arrived at the outer hall, I ran into Li Huan.

The two bumped into each other, and Li Zhao subconsciously looked towards the seat where Xue Liu had just sat.

It was empty.

He didn't ask any more questions and stood face to face with Li Huan.

Li Huan bowed his head and saluted, "Greetings, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Although he was the elder brother and Li Zhao was the younger brother, Li Zhao was the crown prince, so he could only pay him a visit as a subject.

Li Zhao curled his lips slightly, and one could imagine how unwilling Li Huan was at this moment.

However, His Royal Highness Prince Duan, who had been extremely intelligent since childhood and deeply favored by the Emperor, had always been tactful in his actions. Li Zhao only saw worry on his face, not a trace of dissatisfaction.

This brother's ability far exceeds that of other princes. If he were born legitimately, he would have no chance of taking the throne of the Crown Prince...

He raised his hand, "You don't have to be so polite, my brother."

Li Huan responded, "Yes. Prince, please take your time."

Li Zhao nodded, said nothing more, and passed him by.

Lai Fu came over in a hurry, put a light coat on him, and reported in a low voice: "The sun is not shining outside, the weather has become cold, and the Spring Flower Banquet in Changchun Pavilion has also ended. The Queen Mother came to inquire about what happened just now, and even specially granted a sedan chair to carry Miss Xue Liu away..."

Li Zhao glanced at him and said coldly: "Did I ask you?"

Lai Fu’s chubby smiling face froze in an instant, and he quickly slapped his lips.

"My little one is so talkative! Hey, sew it up now!"
-
Things had developed to this point, not to mention Queen Xie, even the concubines in the palace and the ladies outside the court found the situation awkward.

Xue Sui came to Changchun Pavilion on a sedan chair. Apart from his slightly pale face and weak body, there was no sign of injury he had suffered in Huayi Palace.

The ladies had no definite news and could only guess secretly.

As for Empress Xie, she sent a sedan chair to pick someone up with such fanfare, of course it was not entirely because she felt sorry for Xue Sui, but more because she wanted to embarrass Concubine Xiao.

But when Miss Xue Liu was really carried in front of her, Empress Xie couldn't help but feel softened.

In the bamboo forest pavilion, the maid leaned close to her ear and told her the following words:

"Don't be afraid, my lady. There is no woman in the room."

She didn't know whether Xue Liu had ever stayed in that room with the prince, and the truth is still unknown.

But she was also secretly glad that it was thanks to the girl's intelligence and alertness that her son escaped.

Therefore, she actually felt some pity for Xue Sui.

"Ms. Xue Liu, you have been wronged."

Empress Xie didn't know what to say. She glanced at Fu and said in a slow and gentle voice:

"I will let the Sixth Miss take my sedan chair and leave the Imperial Garden. Madam Shangshu, you must take care of her more. Let the maids help her get on and off the carriage carefully, and don't let the Sixth Miss get tired."

Fu bowed slightly with a smile on her face.

"Thank you for your mercy, my lady. I am so unlucky that I cannot possibly deserve such grace from you..."

Empress Xie smiled at her, took off a gold-inlaid emerald green jade bracelet from her wrist, handed it to the palace maid beside her, and motioned her to give it to Xue Sui.

"Ms. Xue Liu has performed a great deed today. Not only did she save the little princess, she also saved Princess Pingle's life. What kind of grace can't she deserve? Not only will I reward her, but His Majesty will reward her too."

When Fu heard this, she was shocked.

What did Xue Liu do to be so lucky?

Not only is she valued by Concubine Xiao and Empress Xie, but she is also favored by Your Majesty?
She answered "yes" with trepidation, and watched the aunt put the bracelet on Xue Sui's fair wrist. Her heart couldn't help but sink, and she felt vaguely uneasy.

But that damn girl Xue Liu just sat there motionless, so calm as if she had no idea what a blessing this was.

"Thank you for your reward, Your Majesty." Seeing how obedient and polite she was, Empress Xie couldn't help but sigh.

It's a pity that such a good child has to be sent to Prince Duan's Mansion and trapped in Li Huan's inner residence.

She was full of sympathy, but even as the queen, she couldn't do anything for her...

This is fate, just like herself, no one can change it.

"Go back, be careful on the way..."
-
Xue Sui saved the county lord and the princess in the palace, received rewards, and even sat on the empress's sedan chair. Before he arrived, the news had already reached the Xue Mansion.

The family was curious and surprised.

But the gate of Lixiangyuan was tightly closed, not a single breath of wind could get in.

Xue Sui had just been helped into the inner room by Ruyi and Xiaozhao to sit down, and before he had time to catch his breath, Jinshu came over.

She brought a bunch of medicinal herbs and food given by the old lady, carefully placed them on the table, arranged them neatly, and then walked to Xue Sui with a serious expression.

"I heard that the young lady was frightened and injured in the palace. The old lady was very distressed and asked me to bring these here. She also repeatedly reminded me to make sure the young lady took the medicine on time and recovered."

Ever since Xue Qingxiu returned home, the old lady has been very nice to her.

But Xue Sui just smiled and said a few polite words.

Seeing that she looked unhappy, Jinshu found an excuse and asked Ruyi to take the maid who came with her out, and then he spoke in a low voice.

"Miss, everything has been settled at Nanny Chen's house."

Xue Sui's eyelids drooped slightly.

"Thank you for your help."

Jinshu continued, "Don't take it to heart, young lady. She has no good intentions and has been accomplices to Princess Pingle for many years. Even if she doesn't fall into the hands of the crown prince today, she will be in trouble sooner or later."

Xue Sui hummed softly.

After a pause, he said, "Li Zhao is really cruel."

The two maids were the princess's confidants, and they were indeed in the Bamboo Forest Pavilion to help Pingle with her affairs.

But during the years that Xue Sui had been serving as an imperial envoy in Jiuling Swamp, he had already thoroughly investigated everyone he could in Princess Pingle's mansion.

This Chen Ma had a beloved son who worked in a silk and satin shop in Shangjing. He was supported by his mother and liked to act like a big shot outside. He drank and gambled when he had nothing to do. He fell into the trap of Hongfu Casino early on and owed a lot of debts...

At that time, they were in the Bamboo Grove Pavilion. Nanny Chen heard the sound and unlocked the door to check. Xue Sui and Li Zhao stood up and met her eyes.

The old woman's face immediately turned pale.

Because the two people looked very sober.

After Xue Sui told her son's birth date and deeds, she knew what she should do and say.

However, Xue Sui did not expect that Li Zhao would beat someone to death on the spot.

Although the method is a bit cruel, it is reasonable.

Only the dead have the most confidential words.

Otherwise, what happened in the bamboo house would be difficult to cover up.

Xue Sui's eyelids twitched slightly.

For some reason, when Xue Sui thought of that room, he recalled the burning spark in Li Zhao's smiling eyes when he ordered the flogging.

"I was lucky enough to escape today, thanks to my senior brothers and sisters who had made plans for me. But Li Zhao is not someone who will give up easily, and I think he hates me very much."

Jinshu smiled and said, "No matter how powerful the prince is, he still made a mistake and fell into the hands of the girl. Even if he is extremely angry, he can only protect the girl and stand on her side in the future."

Xue Sui curled his lips slightly.

"Senior Sister Yuheng may have a solution..."

Jinshu stopped smiling and said solemnly, "We didn't expect Princess Pingle to have such a despicable trick. I have to say, her methods are so insidious and cunning that we can't guard against them."

Xue Sui nodded in agreement.

"If I didn't know her well, I would have suffered a loss and my reputation would have been ruined."

Xiao Zhao listened at the side and snorted angrily.

"Our girl's blood is not so delicious. Xiao Zhao is waiting to see what happens to the vicious princess. When she gets angry, she will suffer..."

Xue Sui curled the corners of his mouth and said nothing more.

When she was pricking the blood with the golden needle, she added some ingredients without anyone noticing.

Princess Pingle was probably just worried that she had drunk poisoned wine and that the poison in her body might accidentally injure her through her blood. However, after she took the antidote, there was very little poison left, and she could probably withstand an attack, so it was not a big deal...

She had to make Pingle suffer more...

Death is too easy for her!

She wouldn't let Pingle die easily.

If she died, who would be there to watch the rest of the fun?
What's more, she was noble in life and noble in death.

Everything she had, she deserved to lose...

Seeing that she didn't move for a long time, Jinshu thought that her body must be damaged, with poisoning and blood-letting. How could a young girl bear it?
After a moment of silence, Jinshu could not help but frown and sighed: "Miss, do you still want to marry into Prince Duan's mansion now?"

Xue Sui said: "Marry."

The plan has been deduced countless times, how can we give up halfway?

Jinshu said: "The old lady feels sorry for you. She said that you are young and the maids around you are also young. There is no one around you who understands you. So I volunteered to follow you to Prince Duan's Mansion..."

Then he asked again: "Miss, do you understand what's going on?"

Xue Sui smiled slightly: "The old lady is worried about me and hopes to have a pair of eyes watching me. Auntie is that pair of eyes."

Seeing that the girl was smart, Jinshu nodded with satisfaction.

"Don't worry about Shou'an Courtyard, young lady. Even if I'm not here, there will be people to watch over it for me. As for Prince Duan's Mansion, it's a dangerous place, so I'll feel more at ease if I go with you."

After a pause, he continued, "The old lady is now determined to hand over the power of the household to the third house, and I am trying to make this happen. The third lady treats the young lady kindly, and the third master is now willing to take care of her. In the future, Xue Ji will be able to live a more peaceful life in this house."

Xue Sui was silent.

After a moment, he suddenly raised his eyes and said in a light tone:

"Before leaving, I still wanted to repay her kindness."

Jinshu was stunned for a moment, then he understood.

Xue Ji has been with Xue Qingzhi for many years, but still has no name or status.

For women, this is a huge regret. Over time, it becomes an obsession and makes them depressed.

Even though the Sixth Girl hated her father, she still wanted to fulfill Xue Ji's wish.

Jinshu said, "The young lady wants to go to Prince Duan's mansion. It's not right for her biological mother to have no status. I will arrange this matter. As long as the third lady mentions it, the old lady won't have any problems. As for the first lady..."

She chuckled.

"How can the eldest lady have a say in front of the old lady right now?"

Xue Sui's expression was normal, but his eyes were dark.

"Then let her have a good taste of what it feels like to be ignored by everyone."

The second update is here.

Thank you for your reading and support!

Li Zhao: Gone? So what the hell was I hit with?

Pingle: I also want to know, what the hell am I drinking?