Chapter 180: Defiance
While contemplating, Xue Yue E’s crying could be heard from outside.
“I didn’t attempt suicide… Grandmother, Father, someone wants to harm me… It must be someone who doesn’t want me to marry the Prince and can’t stand to see me become a Princess Consort…”
Xue Qingzhi clutched Prince Wei’s betrothal token, his fingertips tightening slightly.
“Fortune delivered to your doorstep, and you’re so useless you still have the nerve to cry here…”
“This is a frame-up! Someone must be framing me!” Xue Yue E suddenly cried out loudly, “Father, someone wants me dead and wants the Xue family to fall out with Prince Wei… just like they dealt with Aunt back then…”
“Silence!” Xue Qingzhi roared in anger, “Aren’t you embarrassed enough?”
Xue Yue Chen, concealing her inner shock, asked softly, “Father, have you inquired clearly? Is Prince Wei sincere about this marriage?”
“Although Prince Wei is a bit lazy usually, he is an Imperial Prince after all. With the Empress Dowager personally overseeing this matter this time, there’s no way it’s fake…” Xue Qingzhi interrupted her, his voice somewhat impatient.
“Moreover, the Xue family cannot afford any more turmoil. Going all in is not a good strategy; we shouldn’t put all our eggs in one basket…”
Xue Yue Chen pursed her lips and remained silent.
Xue Sui, however, spoke directly, “Father, is this plan for the sake of Eldest Sister’s unborn child?”
Xue Qingzhi paused slightly, looking up at her, his eyes filled with complexity.
“You see things quite clearly.”
Seeing a cold smile appear on Xue Sui’s lips, he suddenly sighed and lowered his voice.
“In this situation, the Xue family has no choice anymore. We and the Xiao family are already on the same boat; we can only grit our teeth and push forward…”
Saying this, he looked again at Xue Yue Chen’s abdomen.
“I only hope our ancestors bless Eldest Miss to give birth to a son, and present an Imperial Grandson to His Majesty.”
Xue Sui gave a cold laugh and asked, “Then Father has decided to break ties with the Eastern Palace?”
Xue Qingzhi shook his head, his gaze falling on the memorial on the table that decided the Xue family’s fate, and slowly said, “Not breaking ties, but maintaining balance.”
Xue Yue Chen pressed, “Then how does Father plan to proceed?”
Xue Qingzhi reached out, pulled out the memorial that had already been written, and unhesitatingly threw it into the fire basin. Only when it gradually turned to ash in the flames did he slowly begin to speak.
“Your father will rewrite the memorial and report to His Majesty, stating that Consort Xue has been frail since childhood, and what happened back then was merely an accident, unrelated to anyone else—this way, we can preserve the Xiao family’s reputation and also leave a retreat for the Xue family.”
Xue Yue Chen’s brow furrowed slightly, “Then Aunt… died unjustly for nothing?”
Xue Qingzhi turned around, his back to them, looking out the window.
“You are now carrying Prince Duan’s child. Just focus on your pregnancy; you don’t need to worry about these matters.”
Xue Yue Chen looked at her father’s back, suddenly clutched her handkerchief, and pressed it to her lower abdomen.
Xue Sui watched all this coldly, narrowing her eyes slightly, “Father can disregard Aunt’s unjust death for power, and in the future, the Xiao clan will also disregard the Xue family’s life and death for their own benefit…”
Her tone was full of disdain, which ignited Xue Qingzhi’s anger.
“Presumptuous!”
He suddenly turned around, his beard trembling with anger.
“Everything I do is for the Xue family! Don’t speak carelessly and forget your duty as a daughter of the Xue family…”
“An excuse.” Xue Sui looked directly into his reddened eyes, stood up without fear, and ignoring Old Madam Cui’s obstruction, said coldly, “Father is merely trying to keep his position as Minister of Justice and become the Emperor’s father-in-law one day… If Aunt knew in the afterlife, how heartbroken she would be.”
“Wicked daughter!” Xue Qingzhi was so enraged that he clutched his chest, his face turning pale.
“Get out! You ungrateful wretch, get out of here…”
“Father, please calm your anger. Sixth Sister spoke without thinking; don’t take it to heart…” Xue Yue Chen quickly pulled Xue Sui, signaling her to apologize to their father.
Xue Sui, however, merely gave a cold smile, turned, and strode away.
She and the Xue family had long parted ways, destined not to walk together.
–
In the courtyard, Xue Yue E was kneeling with her hair disheveled, crying and wiping her tears.
On her fair neck, there was a bruise from strangulation, a blue-purple mark.
Seeing Xue Sui approach, she raised her tear-filled eyes and accused her through gritted teeth.
“Bad omen star! Are you the one harming me? You’re envious that I’m about to become Prince Wei’s consort and gain status, so you instructed a maid to try and strangle me, right…”
Xue Sui acted as if she hadn’t heard, and went straight to the West Courtyard to visit Madam Qian.
Madam Qian had already heard the commotion from the main courtyard and had her ear pressed to the door, listening.
Upon hearing the servants report Xue Sui’s arrival, she hurried out personally, grabbed her hand, and warmly ushered her inside.
“I just heard that Ninth Miss attempted suicide, and I didn’t quite believe it. Who would be willing to seek death? She wouldn’t be. What did Old Madam say? How will this situation be resolved?”
Xue Sui shook her head, not saying much. After playing with Tenth Young Lady Xue Yue Zhen for a bit, she asked with a seemingly casual smile.
“Where is my Third Uncle?”
Madam Qian said, “The border has been unsettled recently, and your Third Uncle is busy preparing grain and fodder. He leaves early and returns late every day; it’s hard to even catch a glimpse of him…”
Third Madam, with a cheerful demeanor, spoke without any hint of complaint, and even winked at Xue Sui.
“General Yi Wu thinks highly of your Third Uncle. At this rate, he’ll be promoted again before long. Ah, I never noticed he had such great ability before, but who would have thought that with good fortune, entering the military would be like a fish in water, and he’d be more successful with each passing day…”
“Congratulations, Third Aunt.” Xue Sui’s lips curved upwards, and she complimented her softly, then unhurriedly added:
“When Third Uncle returns, please have someone inform me. I’ll be staying at Li Xiang Courtyard for the next few days; I’m not leaving.”
Madam Qian asked doubtfully, “What’s wrong? Did you suffer some grievance at Prince Duan’s Mansion? Why are you suddenly thinking of staying at your maternal home for a while?”
Xue Sui did not explain the reason directly, merely stating indifferently, “Concubine Xue is not feeling very well. I’ve returned to serve her with medicinal soup for a few days and help her recuperate.”
“Is that so?”
Madam Qian’s wrist tightened, her tone full of apology.
“It’s all my fault for being negligent. These days, I’ve been so focused on your Fifth Brother’s studies that I didn’t even hear Concubine Xue was unwell. I truly shouldn’t have…”
“Third Aunt!” Xue Sui gently squeezed Madam Qian’s hand back, smiling warmly, “You know Concubine Xue’s temperament, don’t you? She never likes to trouble people, so how could she let anyone know? How can you blame yourself…”
Of course, Madam Qian couldn’t be blamed.
Because Xue Ji wasn’t seriously ill, this was just Xue Sui’s excuse.
After the incident at Lotus Fragrance Pavilion that night, Li Huan had been keeping a very close eye on her. Not only were there guards and maids accompanying her, but Xue Yue Chen had also been alerted, leaving her no opportunity for independent action…
Her return to her maternal home was to find an opportunity to meet Li Zhao, check on his Gu Poison, and discuss their next plans…
–
That night, Xue Sui was in Li Xiang Courtyard, talking with Xue Yue Lou and Xue Ji, when Jinshu hurried in and whispered in her ear, “Fourth Miss is back!”
Everyone exchanged glances and went out together to see.
Xue Yue Ying looked much thinner than the previous month. She was wrapped in a plain cloak, and the infant in her arms was crying heartbreakingly, yet she paid it no mind. The maid and wet nurse running behind her couldn’t keep up with her hurried steps.
Holding the child, she stumbled to the steps of the Main Hall and, with a “thump,” heavily kowtowed on the blue stone slabs, crying out:
“I beg Father to save me!”
“Father, please save your daughter.”
Xue Qingzhi dismissed all the servants, then closed the courtyard gate before speaking in a low voice.
“What are you trying to stir up now?”
Xue Yue Ying looked up, thrust the infant in her arms forward, her eyes bloodshot, her expression almost frenzied.
“Father, this is the flesh and blood from my body, your own grandson, and Prince Wei’s own child. How can you bear to let Ninth Sister reap the rewards while my child remains nameless and without status…”
“Absurd!” Before Xue Qingzhi could speak, Old Madam Cui had already walked over, furious.
She brandished her cane as if to poke it into Xue Yue Ying’s face.
“You disgraceful thing! Having married into the Marquis Jingyuan’s Mansion, you are the daughter-in-law of Marquis Jingyuan. You have no further connection with Prince Wei; do not mention these words again!”
“Then what am I? What am I?”
“You have Gu Wulang!”
“Gu Wulang?” Xue Yue Ying suddenly gave a bitter laugh, collapsing to the ground as if her bones had been removed, “Grandmother, Father, Gu Jie is no longer the Gu Wulang he used to be. He has changed his heart; he doesn’t have me in his heart…”
“That is your fate.” Old Madam Cui reprimanded coldly, “You disobedient and unfilial wretch! If Gu Wulang and the Marquis Jingyuan’s Mansion hadn’t tolerated your disgraceful actions, you would have been drowned in a pig cage long ago… The Marquis Jingyuan’s Mansion has treated you well; are you still not satisfied, and must you drag the Xue family down with you, ruining our reputation before you’re willing to stop?”
“Then can he have an affair with Princess Ping Le and ignore me?”
Xue Yue Ying suddenly shrieked, “I saw him with my own eyes, sneaking into Princess Ping Le’s Mansion and not returning all night… He also admitted to having an affair with Princess Ping Le! I want a divorce, I want to become Prince Wei’s consort, please Father, give this opportunity to your daughter…”
Fourth Son-in-law and… Princess Ping Le?
The room fell silent.
As if suddenly under a spell, no one spoke.
Xue Sui looked at the stunned crowd, a faint, cold smile playing on her lips.
This game of chess had finally reached its climax, and the hidden daggers were about to be revealed…
Goodnight, see you tomorrow~
