Chapter 16: Was He Killed?
Xue Sui was momentarily speechless.
No wonder they all said Li Zhao was arrogant. With such a detestable personality, who would like him?
She smiled and continued, “It’s because the court officials believe that the Crown Prince will eventually fall from power, and the Eastern Palace will surely have a new master. They fear that if their daughters marry the Crown Prince, they will be disgraced and bring shame upon their families. They place great hope in Prince Duan, wishing to marry their daughters into his household as soon as possible, to bear him sons and daughters. This way, when Prince Duan eventually ascends the throne, they will bring glory to their ancestors and rise in status.”
“How dare you!” Eunuch Lai’s expression changed.
What a sharp-tongued maid.
How could she dare to speak such treasonous words to His Highness?
How could she dare?
Before her stood the current Crown Prince!
This moment seemed to freeze.
There was no sound, and all eyes turned to the person on the main seat. Amidst an extremely low aura, Li Zhao’s low chuckle was finally heard.
“Let her speak.”
Xue Sui bowed slightly, “Your Highness, please forgive me.”
After apologizing, she calmly continued, “For the Crown Prince, the current situation may be a bit difficult, but fortune and misfortune are intertwined, and it’s not necessarily a bad thing. With a little manipulation, the situation can be turned around.”
“Continue!”
“Consort Xiao chose a concubine, but she is tampering with the very foundation of the state. Princes and ministers are rushing to send their daughters to Prince Duan’s Mansion. To put it nicely, it’s an alliance; to put it crudely, it’s forming factions and private dealings. Although the Crown Prince is not popular, he has held the position of Crown Prince for many years. I don’t believe the Censorate can’t find a couple of useful spokespersons.”
Li Zhao hummed, “Continue!”
Xue Sui said calmly, “The spokespersons impeach, listing the facts of Prince Duan’s close association with external officials, lamenting Consort Xiao’s interference in harem affairs, and the harm caused by the growing power of the Xiao Clan. Their various actions are dissected and exaggerated, placed under the guise of the state’s great cause… Your Highness, what do you think His Majesty will consider?”
Li Zhao remained silent for a long time.
Suddenly, he chuckled, like a deep ancient bell in the dark night, resonant and magnetic, each word striking the heart.
“Are you thinking for me?”
Xue Sui looked up, meeting his gaze. Her calm heart, for the first time, felt a tremor. “Your Highness has no shortage of people who are sweet-tongued and flattering; Xue Liu is not the only one. Therefore, Xue Liu only speaks the truth, not falsehoods. Every word comes from the heart, planning for the Crown Prince’s future.”
Li Zhao: “Does Xue Liu’s heart only contain treachery?”
Planning for him, who is being treated as a pawn?
Xue Sui smiled slightly.
Dealing with Li Zhao required great precision.
Too much truth or too much falsehood would be wrong, and a mistake would be fatal.
“I believe the people of Shangjing all praise Prince Duan’s benevolence, and no one in the court can match him. This is Your Highness’s opportunity.”
Emperors are often suspicious.
Allowing Prince Duan to exceptionally manage the Right Imperial Guard and the Palace Guards, entrusting him with the affairs of the capital, and letting him win over the people by revising the laws – is this genuine affection, or is it to support Prince Duan to control the Crown Prince? Is it the Emperor’s strategy to balance the court, or is it love for the Crown Prince extending to him? Only the Emperor knows.
Without Prince Duan, the Eastern Palace would grow too powerful, posing a threat to the Emperor.
If Prince Duan’s influence grew to the point where it threatened the Eastern Palace’s position, wouldn’t that also be a hidden worry for the Emperor?
“Xue Liu has said all she can. Your Highness may consider it yourself. I bid you farewell.”
Having said what she needed to, Xue Sui, without waiting for Li Zhao to dismiss her, gave a casual bow and turned to leave.
The heavy wooden door was pulled open from the middle, revealing a sliver of faint light that gently fell upon her. The intermingled faint light and her stubbornness made her appear tall, resolute, and fearless.
Not like a woman.
Li Zhao suddenly spoke, “Miss Xue Liu!”
Xue Sui slowly turned to face him, standing at a short distance, smiling faintly.
Li Zhao’s gaze fell upon her. He let out a light scoff, his words and actions seemingly casual, yet filled with killing intent:
“You fear no snakes, and you fear no one. In this world, is there anything you are afraid of?”
Xue Sui said faintly, “I fear death.”
Li Zhao smiled enigmatically, “Then you can rest assured. If you are to die, you will only die by my hand.”
A nonsensical statement.
Xue Sui smiled slightly, cupped her fist, and turned to leave. Suddenly, a shadow flashed before her eyes, and a bloody figure flew through the air, crashing heavily onto the steps in front of her.
Lying face up, his eyes were dead and hollow, his eye sockets bruised, his face contorted beyond recognition, clearly showing he had been extremely terrified. He looked like a dead man, yet he was alive, living a life more painful than death…
This person was Third Master You, You Zhimu, who had fallen and become disabled from the You Grand Tutor’s household.
Xue Sui looked at Li Zhao.
Li Zhao said, “Miss Xue Liu offered a plan, and I accepted it. This is my return gift.”
Xue Sui’s heart sank.
It turned out Li Zhao hadn’t gone to Hongfu Gambling House for a casual visit, but suspected her, suspected Old Mausoleum Swamp.
If she hadn’t spoken her heart out like this, what would he have done?
Would he have killed You Zhimu to clean up the mess, or simply pushed her out?
Or was this a test in itself?
Xue Sui did not move.
Li Zhao walked over.
Xue Sui heard his footsteps and stopped behind her, so close that his breath seemed to fall upon her head.
“Seeing your former enemy, why are you so calm?”
The Crown Prince, with his sword at his side, stood tall. He looked at her for a moment, then slowly handed the sword over.
“Killing him in You Huang Ju, no one would know.”
Xue Sui remained motionless.
She hadn’t faced such a great test in a long time. Two diverging paths suddenly appeared before her, and if she chose wrongly, she could be killed at any moment.
The one who would kill her was the owner of that sword.
Qionghua Hall was silent.
With Eastern Palace attendants watching menacingly, Xue Sui could not leave You Huang Ju without Li Zhao’s word. She saw Xiao Zhao quietly reach for her left wrist. There was a specially made sleeve dart from Old Mausoleum Swamp, for emergencies…
Xue Sui gave Xiao Zhao a reassuring look and lowered her gaze to the Crown Prince’s hand holding the sword.
That hand was fair, with distinct knuckles, clean and beautiful, just like the man himself, appearing incredibly noble. So close, yet a thousand miles apart.
She reached out to take the sword, “Thank you for your trouble, Your Highness.”
Li Zhao let go, and the long sword clanged to the ground. The hilt struck Xue Sui’s toes. She didn’t move, looking at Li Zhao.
Their gazes met.
Their eyes locked.
The confrontation felt like an instant, yet also like a long time.
Xue Sui asked, “Your Highness, what did Third Master You say?”
Li Zhao glanced at the half-dead You Zhimu, who seemed completely oblivious, and suddenly chuckled. He bent down, looking at her face at close range, a subtle storm brewing in the corners of his eyes.
“He said he used to trample on you, just like playing with an ant.”
The wind at the door seemed to blow more fiercely than before, scattering the fierce aura from her eyes.
Xue Sui lowered her gaze and also smiled.
Only Li Zhao could think of such a clever method.
Unlike Prince Duan, who was searching for suspects all over Shangjing, he interrogated the victim. He severely beat the victim, naturally extracting information from his mouth. Those who had offended him, or those he wanted to understand, would have no more secrets.
This You Zhimu could not fall into Li Huan’s hands again.
Xue Sui glanced at the man in the pool of blood.
The past rushed into her mind like a surging tide.
You Zhimu was right; ten years ago, Third Master You toyed with her like an ant. Among that group of youths, You Zhimu, who disliked verbal intimidation, loved physical action the most. He liked to press his knee into her chest or grip her throat, making her feel that even taking a breath was a luxury…
Every time, You Zhimu would feel proud.
A sense of lawless pride.
He would look at her pleading eyes, laugh heartily with the others, and then arrogantly ask her.
“Do you know your mistake?”
“Don’t you know what your mistake is?”
“Your mistake is being born into the wrong family!”
“Everyone in the world has a hierarchy. The noble, like us. The lowly, like you. You are like ants, meant to crawl at the feet of us nobles. This is fate.”
Xue Sui looked at You Zhimu, the dying You Zhimu. A sweet, bloody taste rose in her throat, and the uncontrollable pain gnawed at her bones like a persistent ulcer.
“He cannot move anymore,” Xue Sui said. “What he seeks now is simply a swift death.”
Just like the thought that often crossed her mind when they bullied her, death was the greatest mercy.
Li Zhao raised an eyebrow, “He could also live.”
Xue Sui hummed, “I have a family banquet at home, and it’s not good to be stained with blood.”
Li Zhao: “I can handle it for you.”
His deep voice carried a hint of lazy mockery. If it weren’t Li Zhao, Xue Sui might have found him considerate and approachable.
But he was Li Zhao.
Crown Prince Li Zhao.
Xue Sui looked up at him. Her reflection was mirrored in his cold, dark eyes, making him inscrutable.
“Third Master You, I am Xue Liu.”
The bloody man’s mouth twitched, as if trying to see her clearly.
Li Zhao narrowed his eyes contentedly.
Xue Sui slowly picked up the long sword, performed a beautiful flourish, and sent it flying diagonally, piercing You Zhimu’s chest.
Blood splattered out.
Li Zhao laughed, “Merciful.”
Xue Sui said nothing, bowed, and with Xiao Zhao, strode away.
This time, no one stopped them.
–
Back at the Xue Mansion, Xue Sui had calmed down.
Xiugu from Qing Lan Courtyard was waiting at Li Xiang Courtyard, bringing some clothes, accessories, soap, scented paste, and cosmetics. Xue Ji, looking at so many things, bowed and thanked Xiugu profusely, saying many kind words.
Xiugu smiled disdainfully, “If Sixth Miss were as sensible as Xue Ji, how much less worry would the First Madam have?”
Xue Ji said softly, “A young girl, she just speaks too quickly and doesn’t know her limits. Please ask the First Madam to forgive her and not take it to heart…”
Xiugu pouted, “She’s already considered betrothed. If she still has no manners, gossip will be spread to outsiders…”
Xue Sui, overhearing this outside the door, stepped over the threshold and smiled, “Nanny Liu is injured and bedridden, and the First Madam has sent you to teach me manners?”
Xiugu dared not confront her directly. She gave a perfunctory bow, her smile not reaching her eyes, “There’s a dinner at Shou An Courtyard tonight. Madam instructed that Sixth Miss should not dress so shabbily and embarrass herself. These clothes and accessories have been sent over. Sixth Miss should tidy herself up. If you need anything, just say the word at Qing Lan Courtyard, don’t bring shame to the First Branch.”
Xue Ji, standing beside her, repeatedly agreed and kept winking at Xue Sui, “Please trouble Auntie to say a few more good words.”
Xue Sui remained still, not looking at Xue Ji or the trunks, “Then, do I still need to learn these manners?”
Xiugu’s cheek twitched strangely, and she gave an awkward smile.
“The Old Madam herself praises Sixth Miss for her intelligence. How would I, a servant, dare to teach Sixth Miss manners?”
Xue Sui nodded, had the items taken in, and sent Xiugu away with a single copper coin.
Xiugu clenched the copper coin, her face flushed with humiliation. She snorted inwardly, flicked her sleeve, and left Li Xiang Courtyard. Looking around, she headed towards Liuli Pavilion, where Xue Yueying resided.
A small window in Li Xiang Courtyard gently closed.
Xiao Zhao nodded at Xue Sui.
Li Zhao: No one has ever insulted me like this before. Xue Ping’an, you have successfully captured my attention…
Xue Ping’an: So, not finding the Crown Princess is something to be proud of?
