Chapter 175: Predicament
The night rain fell in torrents.
Xue Sui paused for a moment, standing under the eaves, her gaze lowered to avoid Li Huan’s probing eyes. She curtsied in greeting.
“Greetings, Your Highness…”
Li Huan remained silent.
Raindrops fell from the eaves, splashing into fine mist on the blue bricks. Xue Sui pondered for a moment, her fingers beneath her wide sleeves subtly tightening on her handkerchief.
“I was admiring the rain and thought I’d take a walk by Moonlit Lake while the rain wasn’t too heavy.”
Li Huan raised an eyebrow slightly, then stepped forward, reaching out a hand as if to support her. The scent of sandalwood from his sleeves mingled with the rain, blending into his gentle, steady voice.
“I too enjoy the scene of rain on banana leaves. Shall we appreciate it together?”
He said it lightly, but his steps had already landed on the damp bluestone path.
“Let’s go.”
There was no room for refusal.
Xue Sui watched his dark boots with cloud patterns tread through the puddles. She suddenly recalled playing chess with Li Huan in Tan Qiu Courtyard; he had the same posture when holding a piece – gentle, yet forceful, as if he could grasp all variables in his palm.
She smiled brightly, handed the oiled paper umbrella to Xiao Zhao, and turned to signal Ru Yi.
“I’m going to the lake with the Prince to admire the rain. Remember to feed Spirit Feather.”
Ru Yi bowed in acknowledgment.
Xue Sui then instructed carefully, “Spirit Feather loves millet mixed with pine nuts the most. That millet is in the third celadon jar. Don’t get it wrong.”
Ru Yi lowered her head and retreated, “This maid understands.”
–
By Moonlit Lake, the misty rain was like a light veil, enveloping the withered lotus leaves layer by layer. The scene was artfully arranged, resembling a watercolor painting of decaying lotus, serene and desolate.
Xue Sui maintained a distance of two steps from Li Huan, following behind him.
The attendant steadily held the lantern and umbrella, following Li Huan towards the Lotus Fragrance Pavilion by the lake.
Xue Sui slowly followed.
Li Huan stood with his hands behind his back by the stone railing, gazing at the lake’s surface disturbed by the rain. He began to speak about the events in Lin De Hall today.
Xue Sui remained silent, but Li Huan suddenly turned his head to look at her.
“The Crown Prince suffers from a heart ailment, and I am deeply concerned. Does Madam have any remedies?”
“Your Highness jokes,” Xue Sui replied with a shallow smile, her demeanor graceful. “The Imperial Hospital has many master physicians; where would it be my place, a mere woman, to offer advice? Moreover, I specialize in gynecology, and the Crown Prince would likely not consent…”
Li Huan stopped and turned his body slightly, a faint smile on his face.
“I heard that in Ci Jia Hall today, you and the Crown Prince joined forces to confront my Imperial Mother and Princess Ping Le?”
Xue Sui’s expression was calm.
“The Crown Prince wished to seek justice for the Empress, and I wished to plead for my aunt. We each got what we needed.”
She spoke without reservation about targeting Princess Ping Le, her tone frank.
“However, this matter has put my elder sister in a difficult position. Caught between her maternal and marital families, it’s hard to navigate.”
Li Huan smiled and looked up at her, “The Xue family has treated you with little kindness or favor, abandoning you from childhood. Yet, you are so protective of the Xue family?”
Xue Sui’s gaze sharpened slightly, and she said with a solemn expression, “Filial piety and fraternity are ordained by heaven; it is human nature.”
Then, she lightly brushed the moisture from her sleeves and looked calmly at Li Huan. “Recently, Princess Ruihe has been frequently visiting the Prince’s Mansion. Anyone with eyes can see she intends to get close to Your Highness. I wonder what the reason is?”
Li Huan smiled faintly, his tone casual.
“The Princess and I were childhood playmates.”
Concise and to the point.
He did not wish to elaborate.
Xue Sui smiled knowingly.
Li Huan gazed at the slender woman in the misty rain.
“Has Madam misunderstood something?”
Xue Sui slightly lifted her chin, smiling as she shook her head.
“I am merely concerned for my elder sister and brother-in-law. The Princess is a recent widow returning to the capital and is the Empress Dowager’s darling, receiving much attention lately. If she gets too close to Prince Duan’s Mansion, it might lead to speculation…”
Li Huan: “Do you truly think so?”
Xue Sui: “Indeed.”
Unlike Xue Yuechen’s apprehension towards Princess Ruihe, Xue Sui never believed Li Huan would be so careless as to get entangled with Ruihe at this juncture.
Li Huan was not a man to be swayed by emotion.
Moreover, Ruihe, a lone woman, would not be his asset.
Li Huan gazed at her for a moment, then chuckled softly. “Ping An has extraordinary insight, often impressing me.” He suddenly leaned closer, lowering his voice. “In your eyes, can I only be your brother-in-law, and have no other identity?”
Xue Sui retorted, “And in Your Highness’s eyes, am I not just the Princess Consort’s younger sister?”
Li Huan raised an eyebrow slightly, his smile undiminished, but his tone suddenly shifted.
“I have sought out Mister Qiu, hoping to inquire about a peculiar matter.”
Xue Sui remained silent, waiting for him to speak first.
After a moment, Li Huan gazed at her and said, “I’ve heard that in the Southern Border, there is a type of ‘concentric gu’ where those afflicted live and die together, even sharing emotions and pain. Did Ping An ever hear of this when you were in Old Mausoleum Swamp?”
“A gentleman does not discuss the strange and supernatural,” Xue Sui smiled faintly. “Where do such witchcrafts exist in the world? Your Highness should not be deceived by those martial world charlatans…”
Li Huan’s expression was serious, devoid of jest. “The Crown Prince’s illness is strange, and Zhang Huaicheng’s medical consultations are furtive, as if guarding against a thief. He even secretly sought out a Gu Master from Miao to inquire…”
After a slight pause, he looked deeply at Xue Sui.
“Ping An, do you think the Crown Prince has been afflicted by something like this?”
Xue Sui’s eyelashes fluttered slightly, and she curved her lips subtly. “Xue Liu lives a secluded life; how would I know matters of the Eastern Palace? However, witchcraft has always been strictly forbidden by the court. Your Highness would be wise to keep a respectful distance to avoid bringing trouble upon yourself.”
After speaking, she turned, intending to descend the steps of the Lotus Fragrance Pavilion.
Unexpectedly, her arm was seized by Li Huan.
“Ping An, please stay.” Li Huan’s fingertips transmitted a scorching heat through her sleeve, and his gaze was sharp and irresistible.
Xue Sui lowered her head to look at his tightly clasped hand, then looked up to meet his eyes. Just as she was about to ask, Fei Cui’s urgent and excited shout was heard from not far away.
“Your Highness, Your Highness… Great news!”
Xue Sui seized the opportunity to pull her hand free, looking at Fei Cui who was rushing over excitedly.
“Aunt, what brings such joy?”
Fei Cui put away her oiled paper umbrella and stepped onto the pavilion’s steps in two or three strides. She curtsied to Li Huan and Xue Sui, her face beaming as she spoke:
“Reporting to Your Highness and Madam. Tonight, the Princess Consort suddenly felt unwell and was restless. This maid dared not delay and quickly invited a medical officer. After a diagnosis, the officer actually detected a pregnancy! This is truly momentous news…”
A pregnancy?
Xue Sui’s heart stirred, and she glanced at Li Huan subtly.
She saw no hint of joy on his face.
This Prince was truly adept at hiding his emotions, revealing neither joy nor anger.
Xue Sui said softly, “Your Highness, hurry and go see my elder sister.”
She intended to send Li Huan away, but he nodded, walked ahead with his hands behind his back, and said gravely, “You will accompany me.”
Xue Sui nodded in agreement, glanced at the misty rain, and walked behind Li Huan, side-by-side with Fei Cui, softly inquiring about Xue Yuechen’s reaction.
Li Huan did not look back. Hearing her concerned and gentle voice, he unconsciously rubbed his fingers twice, his brow deeply furrowed.
This Xue Liu!
Hmph, cunning as a fox.
—
The rain continued to patter down until the next day, showing no signs of stopping.
At this moment, in the Shou An Courtyard of the Xue Mansion, Xue Qingzhi stood by the window with his hands behind his back, watching the rain drip down the window lattice, his face etched with thought.
Old Madam Cui watched his silent demeanor, her fingers tightening on her prayer beads until her knuckles turned white.
“The Crown Prince is forcing the Xue family to declare their stance.”
Xue Qingzhi frowned, sighed softly, and nodded slightly.
“Mother, the Xue family is in a precarious position now. Xiao Jing’s ears were sent to Rui Jin Hall under the Ministry of Justice’s name. As the Minister of Justice, it is difficult for me to remain uninvolved…”
“The Xiao clan is ruthless and poisoned your sister. It is fitting that Xiao Jing meets such an end!”
Old Madam Cui sneered, then raised a hand to cover her chest, her expression sorrowful.
“If your sister and that Imperial Prince were still alive, would our Xue family be in such a predicament?”
Xue Qingzhi’s expression was grave. “Mother, please be mindful of your words.”
Old Madam Cui, overcome with emotion, suddenly began to cough violently.
Seeing this, Xue Qingzhi quickly handed her ginseng soup.
“Take a breath before you speak.”
Old Madam Cui shook her head and continued, “Though the words are unpleasant, this logic holds true everywhere. If that stillborn Imperial Prince had lived to grow up, perhaps the court would be in a different situation…”
This time, Xue Qingzhi did not object.
When Consort Xue Shu was alive, had he not harbored such hopes?
“As long as we are in the right, we need not fear offending the Xiao clan. Otherwise, they will think the Xue family is a pushover, to be manipulated at their will.”
“Mother…” Xue Qingzhi murmured, his expression troubled.
Old Madam Cui snorted, pushed the ginseng soup away in displeasure, and added, “Tomorrow, you will submit a memorial requesting His Majesty to issue an edict to thoroughly investigate the truth behind the unjust deaths of Consort Shu and the young Imperial Prince…”
Before she finished speaking, an announcement came from outside that the Chief Clerk of Prince Wei’s Mansion requested an audience.
Old Madam Cui’s face changed drastically. “They’ve come so quickly!”
Xue Qingzhi quickly appeased her. “Mother, do not worry. Your son will go and meet him.”
In the side hall, the Chief Clerk of Prince Wei saw Xue Qingzhi enter and bowed with a smile.
After a few pleasantries, he got straight to the point.
“Minister, my Prince admires your daughter’s talent and has specially ordered me to come and propose marriage.”
Xue Qingzhi frowned. “May I ask which young lady the Chief Clerk is referring to?”
The Chief Clerk said, “Among the unmarried young ladies in Minister’s Mansion, is it not only the Ninth Miss?”
Xue Qingzhi was greatly alarmed.
After a moment of silence, he cupped his hands and smiled, “Regarding this matter, this old man must consult with my mother. I trouble the Chief Clerk to return to his mansion first and convey my thanks to the Prince for his kind regard…”
