Chapter 262: Quelling the Fire
The wind and snow at Chishui Pass had raged for several months, freezing the area inside and out into a vast snowfield.
However, the old plum tree at Shui Yue Nunnery shed its last petal in the spring chill, revealing its gnarled branches, like an old monk who had shed all worldly adornments, silently guarding the mountain gate…
New bamboo shoots emerged from the bamboo grove, their tips piercing the moist earth, carrying the dampness of spring, and even the air was filled with the fresh scent of grass and wood.
Xue Sui stood by the window of the monastic room, watching Xiao Zhao climb a wooden ladder, tiptoeing to pick honeysuckle vines hanging from the wall.
“These honeysuckles are blooming beautifully. If dried and brewed into flower tea, they are excellent for clearing heat in the summer.”
Xiao Zhao was agile. Her blue cloth skirt brushed past the bamboo shadows as she lightly hopped off the ladder, fine sweat beading on her nose, her smile bright.
“Young Lady, Ru Yi is simmering spring bamboo shoots with cured meat in the kitchen. Would you like to try some? Yesterday, we asked a peddler from the foot of the mountain to buy some pork. It was a good mix of fat and lean, and it smelled so delicious!”
Xue Sui shot her a playful glare.
“You’re secretly buying meat again. Be careful the Abbess smells it…”
“Don’t worry, Ru Yi wrapped it in lotus leaves, and the doors and windows are tightly shut…” Xiao Zhao winked, efficiently tidying the bamboo ladder, a mischievous smile on her lips.
“Young Lady’s constitution is delicate; you should eat some nourishing food. Aunt Jinshu also mentioned yesterday that you coughed again last night?”
Xue Sui turned, bent down, and picked up the small porcelain pot warmed by the charcoal stove, taking a gentle sip of the clear, soothing loquat paste.
“The mountain air is damp; a few coughs are nothing to worry about.”
Despite her words, the tickle in her throat felt like a feather gently scratching, making her feel restless and unable to find relief.
Since the Love Silk Gu was removed, the restlessness within her had subsided somewhat, but her old ailment seemed to be recurring, especially during the continuous spring rains, always leaving her bones feeling sore and cold.
She rubbed the prayer beads on her wrist, her gaze gradually dimming…
Since their parting in the plum grove, battle reports from Chishui Pass had been flooding into Shangjing like snowflakes.
Li Zhao’s name appeared frequently in the dispatches, sometimes for night raids on enemy camps, sometimes for repairing supply routes. His words were filled with the ferocity of battle. The once cold and aloof Crown Prince had become known among the border soldiers as the “Eagle of the Snow Ridge,” and even the scholars and poets who had once mocked him now praised his bravery.
However, after the victory reports came news of continuous heavy snowstorms, a shortage of grain and fodder, and the army being trapped on a desolate mountain for over a month…
The entire court believed Li Zhao would be defeated, but unexpectedly, he led his remaining troops to repel the Ashina elites multiple times, stubbornly establishing a wedge in the desperate Black Wind Pass, preventing the enemy from advancing an inch further…
All this information came to Xue Sui through Tianshu’s channels.
Since leaving Shui Yue Nunnery on horseback, Li Zhao had not sent her a single word. After going to the Western Frontier, he seemed to have vanished from the face of the earth…
Of course, this was understandable.
Once the Love Silk Gu’s influence was gone, it was generous of Li Zhao not to hate her; how could he still be as infatuated and obsessed with her as before…
Xue Sui could even imagine that once he was freed from the love poison and recalled all their past entanglements and schemes, he would probably wish he could grind her to dust.
“Young Lady, someone from the Duke of Zheng’s Mansion has sent something from the foot of the mountain.”
Jinshu lifted the curtain and entered, holding a heavy basket in her hands, her expression somewhat troubled.
“It’s from County Princess Minghui, sent as a gift for the Shangsi Festival outing.”
Xue Sui recalled the clear and stubborn eyes of Guo Yunrong and finally shook her head.
“Didn’t I ask you to send back the last gift? Tell her again that Buddhist gates are places of purity, and we dare not accept such a generous gift.”
Jinshu sighed softly: “I heard news from the capital a few days ago that the County Princess has refused several marriage proposals recently. The Empress is worried and has personally interviewed several noble sons, but the County Princess said she wants to serve her Grandmother for two more years and has politely declined…”
Xue Sui’s heart inexplicably faltered.
Could it be that Third Miss Guo’s feelings for Li Zhao have not yet faded?
Li Zhao’s refusal of the marriage before was due to the Love Silk Gu. When he returned alive and regained his senses, he might see his true feelings and have a chance with Guo Yunrong.
Now, she needed to draw a clear line between herself and Third Miss Guo to avoid future trouble…
As she was contemplating, the crisp sound of jade pendants echoed from the courtyard.
“Is Master Liaochen here?”
Xue Sui was slightly taken aback.
Shui Yue Nunnery was high on the mountain with steep paths, and few people came to visit her.
Jinshu went out to check and returned a moment later, smiling and ushering someone in.
“Young Lady, look who’s here?”
The curtain was lifted, and a woman leading a child walked in.
Who else could it be but Princess Wen Jia?
“Ping An!” Wen Jia, dressed in an elegant lilac spring gown with an orchid-colored gauze cloak and a silver butterfly hairpin on her temple, smiled brightly.
Beside her, Niu Niu, with her big, bright eyes, looked like a carved doll, exceptionally cute.
“Auntie…” Niu Niu called out timidly, then clutched her mother’s skirt, revealing only half of her small face as she looked at Xue Sui.
“Look at my Niu Niu, she’s grown so much. She’s become shyer than before, blushing whenever she meets someone…”
Wen Jia smiled and gently pushed Niu Niu forward into Xue Sui’s arms, then sat down on a cushion opposite her.
“It must be the water and rice from this mountain that nourishes people.” Wen Jia examined Xue Sui closely, genuine smiles in her eyes.
“Ping An’s complexion looks even more rosy than when she was in the capital. This blue-grey robe really makes her look quite dignified…”
She teased, her voice not loud, carrying a sense of relaxed weariness from experiencing worldly affairs.
Since Ping Le was demoted, Wen Jia had become increasingly cautious in her actions, fearing any misstep that could be used against her.
Xue Sui nodded slightly, signaling Ru Yi to serve hot tea and simple pastries, and asked with a faint smile.
“Princess, why do you have leisure to come up the mountain today?”
“Imperial Father has been worried about the war in the Western Frontier lately, and Imperial Mother hasn’t been feeling well, always complaining of dizziness and palpitations. The palace is shrouded in gloom, and everyone is on edge… I thought it had been a long time since I came up the mountain, so I brought Niu Niu out for some fresh air and to see you.”
Xue Sui clasped her hands in greeting, lowered her eyes, and bowed.
Newly picked spring tea unfurled in the coarse ceramic cup, creating shallow green ripples.
Niu Niu sat quietly on a small stool, nibbling on a rice cake given by Ru Yi.
Wen Jia was silent for a moment, then took another peach blossom pastry from the plate and offered it to the child, before asking Ru Yi to take her out to play.
After Niu Niu stepped over the threshold, Wen Jia continued, “Ping An, have you heard? Eighth Miss Xue married into the Duke of Zheng’s Mansion, and in less than three months, she has already made the household a mess. She argues with Fourth Young Master Guo every other day, and she’s completely at odds with her mother-in-law, arguing to the point of wanting to separate the households…”
Xue Sui’s hand holding the teacup paused slightly, then returned to its calm state.
“Jinshu did mention it, but I didn’t pay much attention.”
On that day, the Xue family sent someone to deliver a wedding invitation to the mountain, and the Old Madam also sent a letter asking her to return for the ceremony.
Xue Sui politely declined, citing that as a person of faith, it was inconvenient to be involved in worldly customs.
Afterward, the Xue family’s Old Madam sent Madam Qian with the children up the mountain to nag her.
“The wedding banquet was held very simply,” Wen Jia continued. “The corruption case involving military supplies unearthed a whole network of officials – these parasites are truly heartless, falsely reporting losses and pocketing the funds. The amounts involved are staggering—”
She picked up her teacup and took a sip, her throat seeming to constrict, her voice deepening.
“The Second Master of the Duke of Zheng’s Mansion was in charge of warehousing. With this case, his position as Minister of Agriculture is over… At this critical juncture, the Duke of Zheng feared that someone would seize upon his family’s extravagance, so he naturally wanted everything to be simple and convenient. Eighth Miss Xue, already full of grievances, was even more furious when the wedding banquet was kept simple. I heard she threw off her veil on her wedding night, leaving Fourth Young Master Guo in an awkward position…”
Listening to Wen Jia’s narration, Xue Sui merely smiled.
When Xue Yue Man and Guo Zhaoxuan eloped, the Duke of Zheng’s Mansion sent someone to verify her purity before proposing, which already deeply humiliated the proud Xue Yue Man. The current situation was simply settling old scores along with new ones.
One resentful, the other stifled, neither could find peace with the other.
Wen Jia sighed softly, “Eighth Miss Xue is also foolish. Now that the Second Master Guo is imprisoned, and the Duke of Zheng is desperately trying to protect his family, this kind of behavior will only make her husband’s family dislike her even more and cut off her own retreat.”
Xue Sui remained silent, her gaze falling on the newly turned vegetable patch outside the window.
“The path is one she chose herself.”
This marriage was a gamble for the Xue family, hoping to climb the social ladder through it. They just hadn’t anticipated that a family as deeply rooted as the Duke of Zheng’s Mansion would also be mired in the quagmire of corruption, unable to extricate themselves.
“Has the Xue family bothered you again?” Wen Jia pressed.
Xue Sui’s fingertips traced the rim of the teacup, a faint smile curving her lips.
“Don’t worry, they wouldn’t dare.”
Wen Jia looked at her slender profile, then leaned forward and took her hand.
“Ping An, why must you be like this? It’s not easy for a woman to establish herself in the world. Having a maternal family to rely on is also good. Don’t tell me… you truly intend to spend the rest of your life in this nunnery?”
“Princess.” Xue Sui gently patted her hand, her voice calm and unwavering.
“Master gave me the dharma name Liaochen, meaning my worldly ties are severed.”
Wen Jia choked slightly, then sighed, “Fine, let’s not talk about these troublesome matters. Do you know the news from Chishui Pass?”
Xue Sui looked up, a subtle flicker in her eyes.
Seeing this, Wen Jia put down her teacup and stared at her intently.
“In the first lunar month, the Ashina tribe launched a surprise attack during the snow disaster. Crown Prince led his troops to cover the retreat and was surrounded at Black Wind Pass, with their grain and fodder completely cut off. What’s worse—the snow disaster was followed by an epidemic, spreading among the army and the populace… The Ashina forces, like wolves smelling blood, took advantage of the Daliang army’s hunger, cold, and widespread illness, repeatedly launching assaults on Black Wind Pass…”
Wen Jia’s voice lowered, filled with deep worry.
“The snow disaster and epidemic occurred simultaneously. I heard that people in the villages resorted to cannibalism… Tens of thousands of refugees are flooding towards Shangjing… The capital is in a state of panic, grain prices are rising three times a day, and everyone says the Chishui army can’t hold on…”
She paused, her tone becoming even more somber.
“They also say General Lu suffered a great defeat, leaving the Western Frontier wide open, and Crown Prince is likely… in grave danger.”
