Chapter 135: Thoughts
A few dappled tree shadows fell on the blue bricks.
Li Huan stood with his hands behind his back outside the threshold, his face hidden in the hazy sunlight, his profile sharp and imposing, exuding an indescribable aura of pressure.
“Is this tea from Ping An meant to guard against thieves, or against this Prince?”
Xue Sui raised an eyebrow slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips.
“Your Highness’s inner chambers have always been turbulent, with petty individuals attempting to pry from time to time. I’ve been frightened.”
As she spoke, she subtly retreated to her dressing table, her sleeves brushing against the bronze mirror, inadvertently obscuring the ink mark of the character “stillness” on its surface…
“Besides, who would have thought?” Xue Sui tilted her head slightly, continuing the previous topic with a teasing smile, “The dignified Prince Duan would actually eavesdrop on his inner chambers?”
Li Huan stepped over the threshold, his dark boots crushing the sunlight on the ground.
“When I arrived, I saw the window was half-open, and that spirit pigeon was as white and lovely as jade, so I wanted to get closer and take a good look…”
He lowered his head slightly, his gaze slowly sweeping over the water stains on the hem of his robe, and when he looked up again, there was a hint of helpless bitterness in his smile.
“Who would have thought that before I could even stand steady, I’d be scratched on the face by the pigeon, and then receive such a welcome from Ping An?”
Xue Sui glanced at the spirit feather moving nimbly on the windowsill and smiled faintly.
“Ling Yu is still untamed; Ping An apologizes to Your Highness on its behalf.”
“And you?” Li Huan asked with a smile.
“I was also impolite.” Xue Sui curtsied, “I hope Your Highness will forgive my lack of hospitality just now.”
Her smile carried a touch of appropriate apology, yet remained dignified.
Li Huan waved his hand, signaling Jinshu, “You may go first.”
Jinshu responded and quietly retreated to the corridor.
The carved door closed softly, shutting out the summer heat.
The room instantly became quiet, leaving only the two of them facing each other.
Li Huan walked over, picked up the eyebrow pencil, and glanced at it, his gaze lingering on the half-drawn distant mountain eyebrows on Xue Sui’s side.
“Someone as thoughtful as Ping An should use the Qing Que Tou eyebrow pencil to match her.”
He paused slightly, “I’ll have some boxes sent tomorrow.”
Li Huan was not the type of glib and frivolous man; his rare display of thoughtfulness seemed to genuinely place her in his heart.
For a woman with a simple heart, it would be hard not to be lost in such tenderness.
Xue Sui took half a step back, a faint smile on her hibiscus-like face.
“Thank you for Your Highness’s favor, but I dare not accept rewards without merit. Ping An is very humbled.”
“It was I who disturbed your grooming; I should indeed apologize.”
Li Huan leaned forward slightly, his wide sleeves like flowing clouds brushing past the top of her head, stirring up a faint, cool scent of agarwood.
“As an apology, why don’t I draw your eyebrows for you?”
Xue Sui couldn’t help but smile, “Your Highness flatters me. We have a clear hierarchy between us; if you have any instructions, please state them directly?”
“Come here and let me have a look at you.” Li Huan’s fingertips tapped on the rosewood desk, his eyes scanning Xue Sui’s face as if inspecting her.
“You’re so defensive towards me; could it be that you have something to hide and feel guilty?”
Xue Sui straightened her back, her expression calm.
“Your Highness jokes. I spend my days boiling medicine and attending to the sick; where would I find the time to scheme?”
A hint of medicinal fragrance permeated the room.
Li Huan casually lifted the ceramic lid on the desk.
wisps of white mist rose from the medicine pot, the hazy steam ascending, and the medicinal aroma wafted out—
“Is your health still not improving?” he asked with a slight frown. “Shall I have the Imperial Hospital find an Imperial Physician to re-examine your pulse and prescribe medicine?”
“Medical Officer Chen said my constitution is cold and yin, so he prescribed warming and yang-boosting ingredients. They seem to be effective, but chronic illnesses require time to heal. I’ve already troubled Your Highness greatly during this period; there’s no need to add to it.”
Xue Sui brought over the thick, boiled medicinal soup and sat opposite Li Huan. She slightly lifted her sleeve to half-cover her face and slowly drank it, her posture as elegant as if performing a solemn ritual.
Li Huan remained silent, watching her drink.
The medicine spoon clinked against the rim of the bowl with a light sound.
Her long eyelashes trembled slightly, making it difficult to discern her expression.
Yet this woman was clearly a rose with thorns, pretending to be a docile quail.
“It’s beyond my expectation that Wen Jia has succeeded in bringing Consort Wan out of the Cold Palace this time.”
Li Huan’s words were unexpected.
The fingertips supporting the rim of the bowl paused slightly as Xue Sui steadily placed the medicine bowl down.
“Princess Wen Jia’s filial piety is truly moving. However, if I understand Your Highness correctly, you are displeased with the Princess’s rash actions, which have caused trouble for the Imperial Family?”
Li Huan looked at her.
A shadow cast by her browbone perfectly concealed his eyes, making his jaw appear particularly sharp.
“They say Wen Jia received guidance from a master at Pu Ji Temple, which is why she protested in the street. Could that master be you? Otherwise, why would Ping An be so protective?”
Xue Sui’s expression was calm, “Your Highness knows that Princess Ping Le targets me at every turn. Although I don’t have deep ties with Princess Wen Jia, we are fellow sufferers. Therefore, the matter has nothing to do with me, but I am happy to see it succeed.”
“You are quite honest.” Li Huan said, then suddenly reached out and clasped Xue Sui’s wrist like pincers, preventing her from moving. His voice, however, was soft, betraying no anger.
“If Wen Jia asked you to help her eliminate Ping Le, would you assist?”
Xue Sui pursed her lips, suddenly feeling a sense of unease.
It was a primal repulsion, the kind one feels when facing danger.
The trace of red on Li Zhao’s lips that day had not elicited such a strong reaction.
She slowly withdrew her hand, frowning slightly.
“Your Highness, I can barely manage my own affairs; I only wish for a peaceful life.”
Li Huan’s gaze was sharp, like a predator locking onto its prey, fixed intently on her.
“My situation is difficult, and you are also isolated and helpless. Why not stand with me and lend me a hand?”
Xue Sui’s wrist turned red from the pressure. She lowered her head and gently massaged it, but her face was smiling, “As a mere woman, what can I do for Your Highness?”
Li Huan narrowed his eyes slightly, “It seems Ping An is very forgetful. Didn’t you say you would contact the Imperial Envoy from Old Mausoleum Swamp for me?”
Xue Sui calmly replied, “I never made any guarantees. But if I were to truly help Your Highness contact Old Mausoleum Swamp…”
She suddenly smiled, her gaze sweeping over Li Huan’s tense jawline.
“Old Mausoleum Swamp is a forbidden area of the court. If something happens, Your Highness can bear the consequences, but I cannot. Or rather, no matter how the situation unfolds, can Your Highness guarantee my safety?”
Li Huan remained silent.
Seeing this, Xue Sui slowly said, “Your Highness should think it over carefully before coming to me again.”
Outside the window, the cicadas’ chirping suddenly stopped.
As if also intimidated by the tense atmosphere within the room.
After a moment of silence, Li Huan suddenly took out a celadon box from his bosom.
“This is the Snow Toad Paste, secretly made by the Imperial Palace.” He glanced at Xue Sui’s slightly rolled-up sleeve cuff, his tone suddenly softening, “I cannot bear to see a beauty scarred.”
Xue Sui looked at the Snow Toad Paste with a cold gaze, a ripple of emotion stirring within her.
Good heavens, it was exactly the same as what Li Zhao had given her.
Were the scars on her hand so unsightly?
Xue Sui let out a light laugh, with a hint of self-mockery that was hard to detect.
“Your Highness’s compassion for beauties is truly overwhelming.”
Before she finished speaking, footsteps suddenly echoed from outside the courtyard.
Xiao Zhao knocked on the door in a panic, “Miss, a letter has arrived from the Minister’s Mansion saying the Old Madam has suddenly developed a high fever and fainted!”
—
The carriage sped down the street, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Xue Sui leaned against the carriage wall, her eyes closed, her body sitting upright, exuding an aura of reassuring strength.
At the entrance of the Minister’s Mansion, Third Madam Qian Shi’s eyes were anxious, like an ant on a hot pan, pacing restlessly at the manor gate. Before Xue Sui’s carriage had even stopped, she rushed forward, saying anxiously:
“Ping An, hurry and check on the Old Madam…”
Xue Sui asked, “How is the Old Madam now?”
Qian Shi’s expression was grave. She shook her head, her voice trembling slightly, “The fever won’t subside, and she’s still unconscious. The doctor is inside treating her. Your Third Uncle said we need the Doctor Shu you found, but we don’t know where to find him…”
“Don’t worry, I’ll take a look first.”
Xue Sui took her arm and quickly walked towards Shou An Courtyard.
Along the way, Third Madam kept talking about the Old Madam’s condition. Xue Sui didn’t pay much attention, her mind repeatedly replaying Li Huan’s purpose for visiting today, as well as Wen Jia’s situation, a vague sense of unease growing within her—
Shou An Courtyard was crowded with people.
The entire family was waiting in the outer room, like a bustling marketplace. Several young ladies were crying, and Xue Qingzhi and his brothers looked somewhat flustered.
When Xue Qingxiu saw Qian Shi bring Xue Sui in, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
“Sixth Girl, you’re finally here! Doctor Wang’s golden needle treatment didn’t wake her. Quickly invite Doctor Shu that you found last time…”
Xue Sui didn’t have much deep affection for Old Madam Cui.
However, given the circumstances, she didn’t wish for the Old Madam to pass away.
She surveyed the crying Eighth Miss and Ninth Miss, frowning.
“Everyone disperse. It’s so hot, and you’re all crowded here, with no ventilation from the doors and windows. Aren’t you just causing trouble?”
“Lift the curtain at the head of the bed and move the ice chest into the Old Madam’s room.”
“The Old Madam isn’t dead yet, why are you all crying so early?”
Seeing her return and immediately start giving orders and scolding them, Xue Yue E was about to lose her temper, but Xue Yue Man stopped her.
“Xue Liu, what airs are you putting on? Do you think you’re a divine doctor?”
“Look how proud she is.”
“Silence!” Xue Qingxiu suddenly slapped his sash knife, his eyes red as he berated, “If you dare to make noise again and delay the Old Madam’s treatment, my blade won’t recognize you!”
The room immediately fell silent.
Xue Sui said, “Third Uncle, don’t panic. I’ll take a look first.”
