Chapter 221: Turmoil in the Night
“I still prefer it when you call me by my name.”
Li Zhao’s shadow, elongated by the lamplight, was cast upon the damp wall.
The chill seemed to seep into his very bones…
Xue Sui’s eyes flickered, her lips pressed together.
Silence.
Seeing her like this, Li Zhao slowly sat down on the ground.
“You already knew of Ping Le’s scheme?”
“A little before Your Highness,” Xue Sui nodded gently, her gaze flowing with composure. “From the moment she gifted the Second Young Lady Lu the Agarwood Bracelet, I knew.”
“Then you also knew Li Huan would use this opportunity to frame you?” Li Zhao’s voice was low, his thumb unconsciously brushing over her thin prison clothes, slightly hoarse.
Xue Sui looked up to meet his gaze, shook her head, and said slowly:
“Ping Le wanted to kill two birds with one stone: kill the Empress and frame me. I, however, wanted to kill three birds with one stone: protect the Empress, kill Consort Xiao, and drive Ping Le mad. Li Huan wouldn’t have known beforehand that Consort Xiao would meet her end, otherwise, he wouldn’t have let me succeed…”
Li Zhao let out a cold snort, “But he would have thought of using half a Xizi Jade Pendant to make a big fuss?”
The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.
Xue Sui smiled faintly, “This move, Prince Duan played it indeed masterfully. Li Huan is an extremely ruthless opponent.”
Li Zhao stared intently at Xue Sui, his lips unconsciously turning downwards, “In the end, it’s because you were not wary enough of him. If you didn’t let him get close, how could he have tampered with things…”
His words carried a hint of sourness, as if he were desperately suppressing his inner resentment…
The Crown Prince, usually stern and imposing, now resembled a young man whose beloved girl had been snatched away, feeling wronged and unwilling.
Xue Sui lowered her gaze, “If I were too wary, how would Prince Duan trust me to maneuver within the mansion? The more he believes I am a chess piece, the more he will expose his flaws.”
Li Zhao fell silent, taking out a Blue Porcelain Small Bottle from his sleeve.
The scent of medicine mingled with the faint aroma of cypress, it was the plague-dispelling powder secretly made by the Imperial Hospital.
He crouched down, his fingertip touching her burning forehead, and slowly applied the medicine, his Adam’s apple bobbing heavily in the shadows.
“Aren’t you well-versed in medicine, knowing all sorts of ailments? How could you fall so ill?”
Xue Sui looked at the bloodshot veins in his eyes, “When one is ill, it’s easy to let down one’s guard.”
After a pause, she softly inquired again.
“Did Jinshu convey my message?”
“Mm,” Li Zhao responded with a muffled sound, his thumb tracing her forehead.
“Today is Consort Xiao’s grand funeral. Are there any movements from the Lu Mansion?”
“Mm.”
“Wen Jia contributed significantly this time.”
“Mm.”
Xue Sui’s gaze sharpened slightly, and she calmly asked, “The clothes Third Miss Guo sent that day, was that your instruction? Entrusted by you?”
“Mm…” Li Zhao’s fingertip paused, and he suddenly looked up, “No.”
He explained urgently, “I only learned she was coming to the Ministry of Justice Prison to visit you, so I secretly had someone tamper with it, inserting a letter. She knew nothing of it.”
Xue Sui nodded faintly, saying nothing more.
Li Zhao, thinking she didn’t believe him, unconsciously raised his voice.
“Heaven and Earth as my witness. Besides you, I trust no one.”
Xue Sui suddenly chuckled softly, “I didn’t say I didn’t believe you. Why is Your Highness so nervous…”
Wasn’t this implying he was guilty?
Li Zhao pondered for a moment, a wave of unease washing over him. He suddenly grabbed her wrist, leaning forward until he was almost against her, his breathing growing rapid.
“Do you know what they want me to do?”
His grip was strong, and Xue Sui frowned slightly, but he seemed oblivious.
“They want me to marry Third Miss Guo.”
“Your Highness should marry her,” Xue Sui nodded slightly, looking at him with a frank gaze, and stirred the straw beside her, making it rustle.
“Duke Zheng holds great power, with factions and numerous disciples and former officials throughout the Imperial Court. This marriage would bring a hundred benefits and no harm to the Crown Prince…”
“I’ve gone to great lengths for you, yet I can’t get a single sincere word from you?”
“Your Highness!” Xue Sui looked at him steadily, sighed softly, her tone sincere and solemn.
“This is Xue Liu’s sincere word.”
Li Zhao’s heart ached, and he suddenly gripped her chin, his thumb pressing heavily on her chapped lip corner, “If I were to break you out of prison tonight…”
“Then it would perfectly suit Prince Duan’s intentions,” Xue Sui pushed his hand away, pulled at the collar of her prison clothes, her gaze calm, and spoke with utmost seriousness.
“At that time, the Censorate would submit memorials to the Emperor accusing the Crown Prince of disregarding the law, forcibly taking his brother’s wife, and colluding with Xizi. These would pile up on the Imperial Desk. At best, it would be house arrest; at worst, he would lose the Position of Crown Prince, which would be exactly what Prince Duan and Ping Le desire?”
What Li Huan’s intentions were, they both understood clearly.
Even if Li Zhao resisted the urge to rescue her, there was still the Love Silk Gu. No matter what, it was all a test.
Li Zhao said hoarsely, “I can’t just stand by and watch you suffer in prison…”
Perhaps feeling he had sounded too affectionate, he coldly turned his head away and stiffly added,
“The Love Silk Gu is a twin bond. You can die, but I don’t want to accompany you!”
“Does Your Highness think I am someone who would easily seek death?” Xue Sui’s eyes burned, she forced herself to sit up, a cold smile appearing on her pale face. “Ten years ago, I could crawl out of a pile of bones. Naturally, I can wait for the clouds to part and the sun to shine now…”
She suddenly coughed violently, her thin shoulders trembling beneath her prison clothes, cold sweat soaking her temples, yet her words were clear.
“Don’t fall for it. Prince Duan wishes for Your Highness to lose your composure and walk right into his trap…”
Seeing her cough so uncomfortably, Li Zhao’s expression instantly improved.
He raised his hand and slowly stroked Xue Sui’s back, his movements as gentle as if he were touching a fragile treasure.
“What do you want me to do?”
“Marry Guo Yunrong, leverage the Duke of Zheng’s Mansion, win over various forces, stabilize the Position of Crown Prince, and then slowly eliminate Prince Duan’s faction, clear the obstacles in the Imperial Court, and plan for the future…”
Xue Sui’s voice, mixed with her coughs, was exceptionally clear and calm.
It was exactly the same as what Empress Xie had said.
Without any personal feelings…
It was normal; she had always been like this.
But at this moment, in the damp and dark dungeon, a calm analysis devoid of any emotion pierced her heart like a sharp blade, making Li Zhao’s eyes burn and a metallic sweetness rise in his throat.
“Xue Ping’an—”
The Love Silk Gu, like gnawing insects, surged through her meridians, burning every inch of her senses.
He suddenly leaned down, his lips brushing her earlobe.
“If I kiss you now, does that count as walking into a trap?”
“Crown Prince, there’s no need to be impulsive. Only those without emotion can achieve great things. For example, Prince Duan…”
Her unfinished words were abruptly sealed.
Li Zhao bit her lower lip fiercely, the taste of blood mingling with the scent of Green Plum Wine, spreading between their lips.
From a distance, hurried footsteps grew louder and closer.
Xue Sui’s eyes widened slightly.
Li Zhao not only didn’t stop but forcefully pressed her against the stone wall, kissing her more deeply until she lightly pounded his shoulder from lack of air.
“Xue Ping’an,” Li Zhao’s breath was ragged as he pressed his forehead against hers.
“Not strangling you to death at Pu Ji Temple ten years ago was my greatest mistake in this life.”
Xue Sui’s back beneath her prison clothes pressed against the cold stone wall, yet she felt the heat of his palm.
She steadied her mind, pushed against his shoulder, listened to his thundering heartbeat, and remained expressionless.
“Your Highness can still act now…”
A cold laugh escaped Li Zhao’s throat.
What a ruthless woman…
“Are you truly heartless—”
Before his words finished, Guan Ya’s urgent voice came from outside.
“Crown Prince! Prince Duan has arrived!”
