Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 80: Debt

Pingle sat idly in the courtyard of Huayi Palace, listening to the maid chattering about what was happening outside.

She has lived here for quite a few days and has been thinking about returning home. It was her father who asked her to stay.

Although he said that he was concerned about her health, Pingle knew clearly in her heart that her father was afraid that after she returned home, she would hear the rumors outside and would be unhappy.

"Are all the things you said about Xue Liu true?"

The little girl's name was Lulian. She went to the Bamboo Forest Pavilion with Pingle that day.

She saw two maids being beaten to death with her own eyes and still feels the shock.

"Yes, I have heard that Miss Xue Liu is very powerful now. She makes the old lady smile happily. Everyone in the mansion likes her. Even the Shangshu Master thinks highly of her. When she enters Prince Duan's mansion in the future, who knows how she will seduce His Highness Prince Duan..."

Pingle frowned even more tightly.

Recently, she had been ill and had no time to take care of the mess in the women's club, but she knew that there was a "petition of the people" outside to accuse her of occupying land and selling official positions, and people were beating drums everywhere and filing complaints with the emperor, causing a lot of noise.

When he heard about Xue Liu's glory, he felt even more angry.

"When this princess gets better, I'll show you how I'll punish her!"

It was at this time that the emperor walked in with his hands behind his back.

"Look at the crabapple blossoms in the Huayi Palace. They are in full bloom. The flowers are so beautiful and I feel happy. Pingle should go out for a walk more often to appreciate the flowers and relax..."

Huayi Palace was where Pingle lived before she got married.

Although she had been married for many years, the palace was still preserved.

She returns to the palace from time to time and can still feel as comfortable as before.

This shows how much the emperor favored her.

"Father!"

When Pingle heard the voice, he quickly stood up and saluted.

When he looked up, he saw Li Zhao following behind the emperor.

The smile on her face froze, but she didn't dare to be too presumptuous in front of the emperor, so she twitched the corners of her mouth and smiled with her mouth but without any smile.

"Your Highness, Brother, why are you all here?"

Li Zhao smiled, "Is my sister okay?"

Li Huan said gently, "I haven't seen you for a long time. I see that you look much thinner."

Pingle felt depressed.

Because of that terrible thing, she had been drinking bitter medicine every day and had no relief for a single day.

All medicines are poisonous. Taking medicine every day not only ruins her appetite, but also makes her feel depressed from time to time. These days, she summons her husband two or three times a day, and she torments him a lot.

Fortunately, the prince consort was kind and gentle, and did not ask any more questions. He also believed her excuse that she was poisoned by the Eastern Palace...

She said, "Father, the weather has been getting warmer recently, and I want to go back home. The palace is too quiet, and I always can't sleep well at night. Besides, my son Guanchen is still in the palace, and I am worried about leaving him alone..."

The emperor saw that she looked haggard.

Those eyes that were once bright and lively became dull and lifeless.

He has lost weight, and there is a dark spot under his eyelids.

The emperor said, "Then I will send someone to take you back to the palace tomorrow, and have Imperial Doctor Hu and Imperial Doctor He accompany you so that they can take care of you and give you medicine to recover from your illness."

Ping Le smiled and said, "Father! Why does my daughter need two imperial physicians? Recently, the decoctions and medicines are all prepared by Imperial Physician Hu, and my daughter also takes his prescriptions. His home is close to the Princess's residence, so it is convenient to call him if there is anything. Just him will be enough."

Emperor Chongzhao nodded, with an imperceptible hint of darkness in his eyes.

"Then it's up to you."

While the father and daughter were talking, the palace maids served tea and arranged the seats at the right time.

Li Huan and Li Zhao sat aside, listening quietly.

Then I'll do as you say. They have heard this sentence countless times.

The emperor treated Pingle with a loving fatherly attitude, which was completely different from how he treated his other children.

The sun was getting warmer, and Pingle seemed to be in better spirits.

She suddenly raised her head, her eyes stayed on Li Huan for a while, and then glanced at Li Zhao's calm face.

"Brother, do you really want to marry Miss Xue Liu into your palace?"

Li Huan simply nodded, "Yes."

Ping Le could no longer hide the mockery on his face when he heard this. He said directly, regardless of the fact that the emperor was right in front of him, "There were a lot of rumors outside on the day of the Spring Flower Banquet. Aren't you afraid of what others say? There are so many famous ladies in the capital, but they are not enough for you to choose from? Why did you choose Xue Liu? What's so good about her?"

After hearing this, Li Huan frowned slightly.

"Pingle, this is my brother's family affair."

Ping Le insisted: "If everyone is watching, it's not just a family matter anymore."

Li Huan never liked to argue in front of the emperor.

He has always been praised for his gentlemanly magnanimity and integrity, and did not want to talk much with Pingle.

Li Zhao was different.

He had never given Ping Le face before, and mentioning the Spring Flower Banquet was like stepping on his tail, and he immediately sneered.

"Where did the rumor come from? Your Majesty should know it very well. Your Majesty didn't blame you, but you are here to accuse me?"

Pingle raised the corner of his mouth, as if mocking or laughing.

"The Crown Prince doesn't want Miss Xue Liu to marry into Prince Duan's mansion, right?"

Li Zhao said, "What a joke! If I don't marry a woman, why should I care?"

His reaction was so cold and mocking that no one could detect the chill in his words.

Ping Le stared into his eyes, "Prince, ask yourself, are you really not familiar with Miss Xue Liu?"

Li Zhao: "Sister, be careful with your words."

The relationship between the princes is already delicate, and such words will undoubtedly provoke conflicts.

Li Zhao was like a lice that didn't bite him, he didn't care at all, but Li Huan was very reluctant to argue with Li Zhao. The emperor didn't like him to argue, he wanted a good son who didn't fight or fight but worked quietly.

Which emperor would want to have an additional rival in his prime?

That’s why some people privately say…

The reason why Pingle received unlimited favor from the emperor was because she was a daughter.

The pure and selfless fatherly love that the emperor could not place on his princes could be embodied in her, a fatherly heart...

Of course, only the emperor himself knows what he thinks.

At this time, Li Huan didn't think the emperor was willing to hear this.

"Pingle." He frowned slightly. "Sixth Miss Xue is innocent. The emperor personally gave her the title of benevolent and kind girl. Not to mention that she saved your and Tongtong's lives, even if she is a girl from an ordinary family, you should not tarnish her innocence."

Ping Le raised his eyebrows: "I tarnished her innocence? Before they even got married, my brother spoke for her. What will happen in the future?"

Li Huan was silent.

Li Zhao smiled coolly.

"Who will your Highness let take the blame for the people's petition? This matter cannot be left unresolved. Father and brother have been so worried about you, but you refuse to show any understanding and are making trouble..."

Ping Le's pupils trembled slightly, and his voice unconsciously rose a few degrees.

"Don't slander me, Crown Prince! It was clearly the Minister of Internal Affairs Yao Hong who indulged his son and used this princess's name to tamper with documents, forge imperial edicts, and occupy the people's land! I am even more innocent in the matter of the Ministry of Finance. What has Gu Jie done to do with me? The emperor will make a clear decision on this matter, so you don't need to worry about it!"

The two sides fought back and refused to give in. Emperor Chongzhao felt his head hurt even more.

"All right!"

He looked at his children.

Then he said to Ping Le, "You are a mother now, so stop being childish. Your brother is just marrying a concubine, why do you worry about it? Take care of your health and stop having irresponsible thoughts."

Pingle looked at the emperor aggrievedly.

"The prince killed the nanny beside me to silence her."

"The nurse said that she was pushed into the lotus pond. I sent someone to check and found that the road was smooth and flat. How could she fall if she was walking on it? Someone must have arranged it in advance to push her into the water and then let Xue Liu pretend to save Tongtong to gain a good reputation..."

"And that mouthful of blood..."

She really wanted to say that it was because she drank the blood that she became such a pitiful state now, but that would inevitably implicate her in poisoning the prince, so she stopped.

"In short, I have known Xue Liu since childhood. She is treacherous and cunning, as bad as a snake. If she were to marry into Prince Duan's mansion, there would be a lot of trouble..."

"Enough!" Emperor Chongzhao suddenly raised his voice.

He rubbed his forehead and looked at Ping Le with some fatigue.

"I say, that's enough. You are a girl, so keep your duty."

Pingle didn't know that his father knew exactly what he had done, but he could see that the emperor was really unhappy.

The emperor’s wrath left millions of people dead.

Your heart is unpredictable.

Pingle knows how to go with the flow.

She bit her lip and lowered her head, her face showing a sick and regretful look.

"My daughter was wrong. I will be more careful with my words and actions in the future. Please calm down, father!"

Emperor Chongzhao said, "When you return home, remember to prepare some gifts and send someone to deliver them to the Xue residence to express your gratitude. After all, he saved your life. Don't let people say that the princess is ungrateful."

A life-saving grace...

Pingle gritted his teeth secretly.

She will "return the favor".

Will pay it back a hundredfold...

If Xue Liu wants to get married, then just get married.

Once she entered Prince Duan's Mansion, she had plenty of ways to punish her.
-
On the other hand, the marriage of Xue Yueman, the eighth daughter of the Xue family, fell through.

She wanted to die, and her mother, Concubine Liu, was also very worried and begged the eldest lady. But Fu Shi no longer cared about the family affairs. She looked haggard and just sighed.

"Fate. It's all fate!"

That’s all.

Xue Qingzhi and the old lady naturally did not want the Eighth Girl to go to Duke Zheng's mansion to be a concubine.

Since the marriage failed, he asked someone to ask the Zhao family, a doctor at Guangwenguan, what they thought.

Dr. Zhao originally intended to marry into the Xue family.

His son Zhao Hong was handsome and talented, but at that time, Miss Xue Ba had high standards and looked down on the Zhao family. Now there was a "secret meeting in Puji Temple" and an unidentified corpse case, and the whole city was full of rumors. If he asked her again, would she be happy?
Dr. Zhao didn't want to offend anyone, but he was unwilling to marry into the Xue family. Just when he was in a dilemma, an official matchmaker from Qingfengfang came to his door and mentioned Miss Gu San from the Jingyuan Marquis's Mansion.

Miss Gu San is the youngest daughter of Marquis Jingyuan and has just reached the age of marriage.

The Zhao family was worried about the lack of a suitable marriage, so they asked someone and learned that the third Miss Gu originally had an engagement, but the man's family broke off the engagement because of an incident at the Marquis Jingyuan's Mansion.

During this period, Miss Gu San has been accompanying her mother in fasting at Puji Temple. She is quiet, well-educated and sensible, completely different from her brother.

Moreover, the lintel of Jingyuan Marquis's Mansion is higher than that of Shangshu Mansion.

If it weren't for Gu Jie's accident, their family might not have been able to marry the daughter of the Marquis.

Dr. Zhao asked his son what he meant.

Zhao Hong just said: "Everything is up to father."

Dr. Zhao stroked his beard and said, "Although Gu Jie was involved in the corruption case of the Ministry of Finance, His Majesty did not pursue Marquis Jingyuan. Moreover, the old marquis made great military achievements in the past, and Marquis Jingyuan was also a man of steel. He handled this matter very properly. As a father, I admire him a little. Right now, people in the capital are avoiding their family. It might be a good thing for us to marry into the Gu family at this time."

Zhao Hong nodded.

"Father is right. In the case of the Ministry of Finance, Marquis Jingyuan was only implicated, and his daughter is innocent. It is better to help someone in need than to add icing on the cake. Getting married at this time is also a noble act, and it is the character of a scholar."
-
The Xue Mansion was filled with gloom and sadness.

The next day, the person who went to the Zhao family to inquire about the news came back and said that Zhao Hong had already reached a verbal agreement with the Jingyuan Marquis' Mansion. Both parties were willing to get married, so they politely rejected Miss Xue Ba.

No matter how beautiful the words are, they cannot cover up the fact.

The Zhao family disliked Miss Xue Ba's bad reputation and were unwilling to marry her to the other girl.

In order to avoid her, Lin Ye almost formed a marriage with the Gu family...

Her face was slapped with loud slapping sounds. Xue Yueman was so ashamed and angry that she cried all day long. Xue Yue'e went to her room to comfort her, but no matter how much she talked, there was no place to complain.

In the end, all that was left was spitting.

"It's all because of that unlucky Xue Liu that we are living such a miserable life!"

"Lingxu is right. Xue Liu is the Seven Evil Stars."

Fortunately, Xue Liu is about to get married.

Prince Duan's birthday is approaching, and Xue Yuechen has sent letters back twice to inquire about the preparations in the mansion.

The setback suffered by the eighth lady of the Xue family did not affect Qian's joyful preparations for Xue Sui's wedding ceremony.

In Lixiangyuan.

Xue Sui was teasing Ling Yu.

Jinshu came over and said that Madam Chun had returned to Jingyuanhou Mansion from Puji Temple to discuss her daughter's marriage.

She asked someone to send a gold-embroidered pillowcase to Xue Sui, saying that it was made by Miss Gu from the Marquis's Mansion and would be added to her dowry.

Xue Sui looked at the exquisite Twin Lotus pillowcase, with its tight gold and silk threads and gorgeous shape, and couldn't help but curl his lips slightly.

"Miss Gu is very skillful. I hope she can find a husband of her dreams. This will also be a comfort to Aunt Chun."

If her son is not well, and her daughter’s marriage is also hindered, she is really afraid that Aunt Chun will not be able to survive.

At Puji Temple, she stayed with Madam Chun every day, and was fortunate enough to meet Miss Gu San, who was gentle and kind-hearted, much like Aunt Chun.

Now that Aunt Chun has returned home to take care of her daughter's marriage, it's a good thing that she can share some of her attention.

That Young Master Zhao is a noble and famous scholar. He may not necessarily become an official or rich and powerful in the future, but people with noble character will be blessed by the gods.

Since Xue Yueman looks down on you, just watch others be happy.

Jinshu looked at Xue Sui, spread the food on his palm, and gently let Lingyu peck at it.

"I used to think that the young lady was smart, but I never expected her to be so generous and magnanimous."

Xue Sui smiled and said, "There is no need to vent your anger on others."

The person she hated was only Gu Jie, and the person who left the scar on her body was also Gu Jie, not Aunt Chun, and certainly not his sister Gu Ruoyi.

She came back for revenge.

Don’t let hatred grow to the point of no return.

Xue Sui: Ah, I am finally leaving the Xue Mansion~

Li Zhao: Enough! I say enough!