The Prime Minister’s Daughter and the Marquis’s Fool – Chapter 115
by Little PandaShe’s an idiot girl, she’ll forget you soon enough
Qu Sheng and the others’ carriage was too conspicuous, so the three of them had to disembark and hide in the shadows to observe.
An hour later, the Zhao Residence carriage appeared before the gates of the Xiao Residence. General Zhao and Mother Zhao got out, but when they tried to enter, they were stopped by government runners.
“Is the person who has come General Zhao?” a government runner asked as he came out of the residence.
“Yes. A short while ago, the Lord Prefect1 sent someone to inform this subordinate official. Could you possibly allow us passage?” General Zhao wanted to go inside.
Hearing this, the government runner’s expression softened. “The Lord Prefect has been waiting for some time. General Zhao, please hurry.”
By now, General Zhao was aware that Xiao Bingying had murdered Xiao Tong and Madam Xiao, but he and his wife still couldn’t believe she was the killer.
General Zhao and Mother Zhao entered Xiao Bingying’s courtyard. As they reached the doorway of her room, the crisp sound of shattering porcelain came from within.
“Bullshit! My father was a beloved general whom His Majesty relied upon. How could he do something like this? It was clearly her wolf-cub’s ambition2 that lured my father here to harm him. And my mother—she must have discovered her scheme and was about to expose it when she was moved to kill…” Xiao Yaocai covered his face and began to weep bitterly. But a moment later, his face twisted with rage. Catching everyone off guard, he strode over and kicked Xiao Bingying, who was standing dazedly to the side, sending her to the ground.
“Young Master Xiao, calm down!” A government runner at the side stopped Xiao Yaocai, who was about to strike Xiao Bingying again.
“Calm, my ass! If your father and mother were harmed, could you stay calm?!” Xiao Yaocai roared, his body still struggling as he tried to hit Xiao Bingying.
The government runner frowned at Xiao Yaocai’s words and didn’t reply, but he prevented him from assaulting Xiao Bingying again.
“Bingying.” The moment Mother Zhao entered, she saw Xiao Bingying on the floor, her eyes filled with worry.
When Xiao Bingying heard Mother Zhao’s voice, a flicker of emotion crossed her face. “Paternal Aunt,” she called out. But in the next instant, her expression fell again. The person she had killed was her paternal aunt’s own younger brother.
General Zhao had already surveyed the room. Xiao Tong’s body had not been moved, but Madam Xiao’s had been shifted from the doorway to another location. The floor was covered in bloodstains.
“General Zhao.” The Prefect, seeing General Zhao Dian arrive, raised a hand in salute.
Zhao Dian returned the salute, his expression still grave. “Lord Shen, could there be some misunderstanding in all this?” Zhao Dian didn’t believe Xiao Bingying would murder Xiao Tong and Madam Xiao, Chen shi.
The Prefect’s expression tightened slightly. “Miss Xiao confessed herself.”
Hearing this, Zhao Dian immediately looked at Xiao Bingying. She currently had her head lowered, her expression seemingly one of great pain.
“Miss Xiao says that General Xiao drugged her and intended to act improperly toward her. In her anger and with no other choice, she killed him.” The Prefect looked at the shattered porcelain on the floor. “The sobering-up soup in that bowl gives off the scent of Soft Tendon Powder.3 We have already sent for a doctor to verify it.”
The soup tureen containing the sobering-up soup had fallen to the ground during the fight between Xiao Tong and Cheng Xi, but it hadn’t broken, and a good amount of soup remained inside.
“Nonsense! Impossible!” Xiao Yaocai’s eyes widened as he listened to the Prefect. He immediately began to grind his foot into the spilled soup on the floor, smearing it around as if trying to destroy it.
Seeing Xiao Yaocai’s actions, the Prefect frowned slightly. “Young Master Xiao, this official sympathizes with your plight, but if you destroy evidence again, this official will have to take you into custody.”
Intimidated by the Prefect, Xiao Yaocai froze, his soup-stained foot halting.
Seeing Xiao Bingying sitting there with her head down, Mother Zhao walked over and bowed to the government runner guarding her, hoping he would be lenient. When the runner saw that Madam Zhao wanted to approach, he glanced up at the Prefect.
The Prefect looked at Xiao Bingying, then at Mother Zhao, and nodded to the government runner.
The effects of the Soft Tendon Powder were still active in Xiao Bingying’s body. Even if no one watched her, she couldn’t escape far. However, the room was in such disarray that there had clearly been a fight. Since Xiao Bingying had been drugged, how could she have resisted Xiao Tong?
Mother Zhao walked to Xiao Bingying’s side and gently called to the dazed girl. “Bingying.”
Xiao Bingying turned her head at the sound, her eyes faintly red. She was full of grievances but couldn’t speak of them.
“Bingying, tell your paternal aunt the truth. Did you really kill your father and mother?” Mother Zhao worried that Xiao Bingying was taking the blame for someone else.
“Yes, I killed them.”
At the time, Xiao Tong had been trying to kill Cheng Xi. Her body was too weak, and in her panic, she had remembered the longsword she kept in her room. Though she didn’t have much strength, that sword could slice iron as if it were mud.4 It was a gift from General Zhao for her hairpin ceremony.5
“Paternal Aunt! She’s already admitted it. What is there to question?!” Xiao Yaocai said from the side, unable to contain his fury.
Mother Zhao looked up at her nephew. Noticing his posture was still a bit unsteady and smelling the alcohol on him, she frowned.
When the government runners had gone to inform them, they said that Xiao Yaocai was still drunk and hadn’t woken up after being called several times.
Mother Zhao had always believed that Xiao Bingying was not a reckless or cruel person. Something of enormous grievance must have happened for her to do such a thing.
She was heartbroken by the fact that her younger brother was dead, but she also believed Xiao Bingying’s words.
“My lord, the doctor is here.”
A government runner led a doctor in. Xiao Yaocai’s head shot up, and he glanced guiltily at the soup on the floor, thinking to himself that it was so ruined, it shouldn’t be identifiable.
“Doctor, can you see if anything was added to this sobering-up soup?” The Prefect waved a hand, and a runner beside him brought out a bamboo tube containing a small sample of the soup.
The doctor took it, opened it, and sniffed. His brows knitted together. “Replying to the Lord Prefect, besides pueraria flower, dried tangerine peel, and other medicines for sobering up, another formula has been mixed into this soup.”
“What is it?”
“Soft Tendon Powder. This formula circulates among the sons of some wealthy families, for the purpose of…” The doctor deliberated for a moment before whispering, “Making a woman submit to sexual assault.”
The Prefect grew thoughtful at his words, his gaze turning to Xiao Bingying. Xiao Bingying said she hadn’t drunk it, but because she had been drinking alcohol, her sense of smell had been temporarily impaired, and she hadn’t detected the scent at the time.
And the antidote was in the small porcelain bottle Xiao Tong had been holding.
Xiao Bingying had been on high alert back then. If she hadn’t been on guard and had drunk it, she might not have even been able to move.
“See if this is the antidote.” The Prefect handed the porcelain bottle found on Xiao Tong’s body to the doctor.
The doctor took it, held it to his nose, and sniffed. His expression froze for a second. He looked at the Prefect and said, “This is indeed the antidote.”
The Prefect nodded, seemingly having confirmed Xiao Bingying’s testimony. He said, “Doctor, please also take this young lady’s pulse.”
The doctor immediately understood. The Prefect hadn’t mentioned Xiao Bingying’s name, and he knew why. A woman’s reputation was paramount. Before the matter was clarified, not saying her name was to protect her and to prevent him from spreading rumors after leaving.
The doctor walked over and looked down at Xiao Bingying. She had heard the conversation between the Prefect and the doctor. Without waiting for him to ask, she extended her arm.
The doctor stooped, gave her a nod, and took her pulse. His eyes blinked. A moment later, he rose and returned to the Prefect’s side. “My lord, this young lady has indeed ingested Soft Tendon Powder.” Xiao Bingying had only discovered the drug after she had mostly sobered up, before the government runners arrived. The Soft Tendon Powder, mixed with the alcohol in her system, would have made the drug take effect much faster.
The Prefect nodded and looked at Zhao Dian. “General Zhao, this matter is mostly clear. Miss Xiao had cause to kill General Xiao, but the death of Madam Xiao was indeed intentional on her part. This official will later report the facts to His Majesty. For now, this official will take her away.”
The Xiao family’s only close maternal relative was Madam Zhao. General Zhao had been called because Xiao Yaocai had been too drunk to manage affairs. Now that the case was mostly clear, he still needed to take the suspect back to the government office for further detailed interrogation.
After waiting outside for four hours, Qu Sheng and the others saw the government runners leading Xiao Bingying away.
Xiao Tong and Madam Xiao’s bodies were also removed.
The moment Cheng Xi saw Xiao Bingying, she could barely contain herself. Though they were far away, she could see just how despondent Xiao Bingying was.
“Miss Cheng, don’t be hasty. Let’s wait and see on this matter,” Qu Sheng said, holding back Cheng Xi, who was on the verge of rushing forward to snatch her away.
She could understand Cheng Xi’s feelings. She hadn’t come out alone to abandon Xiao Bingying. Right now, they could only wait and see.
Although the Prefect of the Capital City could be servile at times, as long as no one else interfered, his handling of cases was considered strict and fair. The fear was that His Majesty would interfere in this matter.
“Let’s go back first. Before the case is fully tried, Bingying-jiejie won’t be in trouble.” She wasn’t in trouble for now, but what happened later was uncertain.
Qu Sheng was also in a difficult position.
Xiao Tong was no ordinary military officer. To prevent him from harming women, their Qu family had sent him to Shoulin. He was now the Son of Heaven’s eyes and ears in Shoulin. For his own informant to be killed by his adopted daughter in his own residence, how could the Emperor just let it go?
Watching Xiao Bingying being taken away, the three of them could only return to the Qu Marquis Residence first to ask Qu Jinian if he had a solution.
When they arrived at the gates of the Qu Marquis Residence and disembarked, Qu Sheng noticed the carriage next to theirs belonged to the Lin Residence.
Before entering the residence, Lin Xizhao asked a servant at the gate, “Do you know who has come?”
“Replying to Eldest Miss, it is Prime Minister Lin who is visiting,” the servant replied with a bow.
Qu Sheng and Lin Xizhao exchanged a look. Qu Sheng then asked, “When did he arrive?”
“An hour ago.”
Cheng Xi returned to her courtyard first. Lin Xizhao and Qu Sheng went to the reception hall in the main courtyard. For Lin Jianhai to still be here so late, he must have come looking for Lin Xizhao.
When the two of them appeared before the reception hall, Jin Yunfei stood up. When Lin Jianhai had arrived, he had been relatively amicable, but when Lin Xizhao was mentioned, his expression had cooled.
He had said he would wait here for his daughter to return.
Qu Jinian had sent people to call for Qu Sheng and Lin Xizhao, but they hadn’t been found at the small courtyard house. Since Lin Jianhai hadn’t seen his daughter, he hadn’t left.
And so, he had waited until now.
“Father, why have you come?” Lin Xizhao already knew Lin Jianhai was here from when she was outside the residence gates, so she showed no surprise.
Lin Jianhai glanced at his daughter, then at Qu Sheng beside her, sizing them up for a few moments before asking, “Where have you two been in the dead of night?”
Lin Xizhao froze for an instant, but quickly found an excuse. “Daughter lost a pair of hairpins, so I went out with Sheng’er to look for them.”
“Did you find them?” Lin Jianhai asked doubtfully.
“We found them,” Lin Xizhao said, raising a hand to touch the jade hairpin in her hair.
Lin Jianhai’s gaze followed her hand. Though he didn’t believe her, he didn’t press the matter. He said, “There are some errors in the residence’s accounts. You will come back with me to check them.”
Lin Xizhao’s soft lips pressed together at his words. This was clearly an excuse. Even if there was a problem with the residence’s accounts, Lin Jianhai wouldn’t come here so late at night.
“Yes,” Lin Xizhao replied with a curtsy.
Lin Jianhai watched Lin Xizhao agree to go back with him without protest. He glanced at Qu Sheng, then at Qu Jinian and the others.
Lin Jianhai hadn’t stated his reason for coming, but by now, Qu Jinian and Jin Yunfei seemed to have guessed it.
“Lin will take his leave now,” Lin Jianhai said, turning to walk out the door.
Lin Xizhao bowed to Qu Jinian and Jin Yunfei, then looked at Qu Sheng. The two of them had also figured out the general situation by now. Qu Sheng started to follow Lin Xizhao, but Lin Jianhai, hearing her footsteps, turned back. His smile was a little cold as he said, “It is late. Miss Sheng should remain at your residence.”
Qu Sheng looked up at Lin Jianhai. The look in his eyes, as if he had seen through everything, made her frown.
Lin Xizhao gently squeezed Qu Sheng’s hand, gave her a slight shake of her head, and then followed Lin Jianhai out. Qu Sheng was unable to follow.
Lin Jianhai led Lin Xizhao out of the Qu Marquis Residence. Not long after, Qu Sheng followed on horseback. Only after seeing Lin Xizhao enter the Lin Prime Minister Residence did Qu Sheng turn back.
As soon as Qu Sheng returned to the residence, Qu Jinian told her that Lin Jianhai had probably found out about their relationship, though he didn’t know how.
“It’s no use talking about this now. The betrothal gifts6 this child asked you to prepare earlier, are they ready?” Qu Sheng didn’t seem worried, but now was not the right time.
Jin Yunfei glanced at Qu Jinian, then looked at Qu Sheng and nodded. “They are all ready.”
The betrothal gifts were ready, but they couldn’t be sent to the Lin Residence openly and brazenly. And even if they were sent, Lin Jianhai wouldn’t accept them. Qu Sheng had already thought of all this.
She had prepared the gifts merely to have a good start when she explained things to Lin Jianhai. But they hadn’t expected him to find out ahead of time.
However, there was another important matter at hand that she needed to discuss with Qu Jinian.
At the Lin Residence.
It had been a while since Lin Xizhao was brought back. She stood in Lin Jianhai’s room, waiting for him to speak and question her.
Lin Jianhai paced back and forth in the room, his fingers twisting restlessly behind his back. He didn’t know how to begin questioning his daughter.
“Is Father wondering about the relationship between daughter and Sheng’er?” Lin Xizhao spoke first.
She had realized it when Lin Jianhai sent the steward to find her but didn’t allow Qu Sheng to follow. When he later went to the Qu Marquis Residence in the middle of the night, she became even more certain that this was the reason.
Lin Jianhai stopped pacing and turned to look at Lin Xizhao.
Lin Xizhao met his gaze, showing no sign of embarrassment. The deep frown on Lin Jianhai’s brow confirmed for her that it was indeed about this matter.
Lin Jianhai remained silent, waiting for Lin Xizhao to continue. A moment later, Lin Xizhao met his gaze and said, “It is exactly as Father has guessed. Daughter and Sheng’er have pledged our lives to each other.”
“It was daughter who could not control herself and made the first move.” Lin Xizhao cleared Qu Sheng of any blame.
At her words, Lin Jianhai’s brow furrowed even more deeply. He stared at his daughter, his eyes filled with disbelief and confusion.
“Does Marquis Qu know about this?”
“Adoptive Father already knows,” Lin Xizhao answered truthfully.
“And Qu Jinian didn’t object?” Lin Jianhai’s tone was filled with shock as he asked this.
Lin Xizhao’s heart was in her throat. Her expression was anxious as she said, “Does Father remember that Sheng’er fell gravely ill after she returned?”
Of course Lin Jianhai remembered. He had felt sorry for his daughter at the time and told her to rest at their residence, but she had stayed for only one night before rushing off to the Qu Marquis Residence.
It was said that Qu Sheng had one foot in the Gates of Hell.7
“It was Adoptive Father who beat Sheng’er into that state after he found out.” Lin Xizhao had been ready to give up then, too, but she truly couldn’t let go of Qu Sheng.
Especially after experiencing a matter of life and death, she now cherished her days with Qu Sheng even more.
Lin Jianhai’s fingers clenched slightly as he listened to Lin Xizhao. He said scornfully, “I see she looks perfectly healthy now.” Going out with Lin Xizhao so late at night.
Lin Xizhao was stunned for a moment. After a brief silence, her gaze became resolute. “If Father wants daughter to separate from Sheng’er, then forgive daughter for finding it difficult to obey.”
Lin Xizhao had steeled her heart. She would not be separated from Qu Sheng.
Lin Jianhai’s eyes showed his shock, but after a moment, he let out a derisive laugh. “Don’t you think the two of you are utterly absurd?”
Lin Jianhai wasn’t angry; his state of mind was quite calm as he talked with Lin Xizhao. He didn’t believe his daughter could like an idiot, and a girl at that.
“In the eyes of the world, daughter and Sheng’er may be absurd, but to us, it surpasses what most people in this world have.” Lin Xizhao was not ashamed, but neither did she feel any particular pride.
Their relationship was not accepted by the world, but whether it was good or bad, they themselves knew. If it was bad, they would have broken up long ago. How could it have lasted until today?
Lin Jianhai didn’t know how far things had gone between his daughter and Qu Sheng, but they had been companions day and night since childhood. The thought made Lin Jianhai’s chest tighten. But Lin Xizhao was a girl, and it wasn’t proper for him to ask too much.
“This father does not understand what you are saying. In this world, only men marry women. All who do not follow the rites will be swallowed by public opinion. From this day on, you are forbidden to take a single step out of this residence.”
Lin Jianhai knew he couldn’t win an argument against Lin Xizhao. Like her mother, Lin Xizhao was usually quiet, but her words were always convincing.
And precisely because of that, Lin Jianhai felt there was no need to discuss it with her any further.
“Father.” Lin Xizhao was clearly starting to get anxious upon hearing he was placing her under house arrest.
“She’s an idiot girl, she’ll forget you soon enough.”
Lin Xizhao had said she made the first move. Thinking about it carefully, there were no holes in her story. Qu Sheng was an idiot girl. Although she possessed some cleverness, she was taciturn and only listened to his daughter’s words.
However, he did have some doubts. Did Qu Sheng even understand what affection was?
“Sheng’er will not forget daughter.” Lin Xizhao was certain of this. Qu Sheng would never forget her, not ever.
Lin Jianhai looked down at his daughter. Seeing the determination in her eyes made him feel that the relationship between her and Qu Sheng was not as simple as he had imagined.
At the very least, Qu Sheng understood affection.
“It is late. This father has to attend the morning court tomorrow. Go back and rest,” Lin Jianhai said with a heavy breath. He looked up and closed his eyes, contemplating whether he should investigate Qu Sheng.
“Father.”
“Go.” Lin Jianhai turned his back, no longer looking at Lin Xizhao.
Lin Xizhao looked at his back, the many words she had prepared left unsaid. She lowered her eyes for a moment, then had no choice but to return to her quarters.
When Lin Xizhao returned to her courtyard, a maidservant carrying a lantern pushed open the door. As she was about to open the door to the inner room, Lin Xizhao stared at the door in the darkness for a moment, then stopped the maidservant. “You may leave. There is no need to serve here.”
The maidservant was stunned for a moment but quickly obeyed with a curtsy, handing the lantern to Lin Xizhao and leaving the room.
Hearing the outer door close, Lin Xizhao hurried to open the door to the inner room. The lantern light illuminated the figure of Qu Sheng.
“Jiejie.” Qu Sheng smiled when she saw Lin Xizhao enter with the lantern.
In the past, the inner room door was rarely closed when Lin Xizhao went out. But today, when she had left, the look in Qu Sheng’s eyes gave her a feeling that Qu Sheng would come.
Sure enough, upon opening the door, she saw the little person she had been worrying about all night.
Lin Xizhao went forward and embraced Qu Sheng. The embrace was soft yet very tight. Being held like this, Qu Sheng guessed Lin Xizhao’s worries and raised her arms to wrap them tightly around her slender waist.
Without exchanging a word, they both knew that Lin Jianhai had discovered their relationship.
“Jiejie need not worry. Once I handle Bingying-jiejie’s matter, I will come to the residence to propose marriage.”
Lin Xizhao froze at her words. She lifted her head from Qu Sheng’s shoulder and looked into her eyes, asking in confusion, “What are you going to do?”
“Sheng’er wants to marry jiejie,” Qu Sheng said, her eyes crinkling with a smile.
It wasn’t that Lin Xizhao doubted Qu Sheng’s ability, but how could they marry each other?
“Father will not agree for the time being.” Lin Xizhao wanted to persuade Qu Sheng to slow down; there was no need for them to rush.
Lin Xizhao understood Lin Jianhai better than he perhaps understood himself. Now that she had stated she was the one who initiated things, Lin Jianhai wouldn’t blame Qu Sheng for the time being, but he also wouldn’t accept their relationship anytime soon.
“Jiejie need not worry. Sheng’er has a way.”
Seeing Qu Sheng’s confident look, Lin Xizhao’s brow remained furrowed. What good way could there be?
Qu Sheng stayed with Lin Xizhao for an hour, leaving before dawn.
At the beginning of maoshi,8 Qu Jinian entered the palace to attend the court session held every few days. He and Lin Jianhai stood in parallel rows on opposite sides. In the past, they would have exchanged a glance as a greeting, but today, Lin Jianhai didn’t even look at Qu Jinian.
Qu Jinian studied Lin Jianhai’s expression and, after a moment, smiled helplessly. He rarely interfered in his children’s affairs. He had already beaten his own daughter. To force his daughter to die just to separate them, he felt, was too cruel.
As long as both of them were willing, he would let them do as they pleased. If it worked out, fine. If it didn’t, even better.
“His Majesty arrives.”
The Chief Eunuch Attendant announced the Son of Heaven’s arrival at court.
The hundred officials knelt and kowtowed at the announcement, shouting in unison: “Long live the Emperor, long live, long, long live.”
“My dear ministers, you may rise.” The Emperor walked to the Dragon Throne and gestured for the officials to rise.
The officials stood. The Emperor was already seated. A moment later, he slightly lifted his chin, signaling the eunuch attendant to announce the court proceedings.
“Present your memorials if you have them, or court is dismissed if there is no business.”
After the eunuch attendant spoke, no one stepped forward. Qu Jinian glanced left and right. Seeing that the other departments had nothing to report, he stepped out from the ranks.
But at that same moment, the Prefect of the Capital Prefecture, Lord Shen, also stepped out.
The author has something to say:
Qu Sheng: “I’d forget myself before I forgot my wife! She’s mine!”
Footnotes
- The Prefect, or ‘fǔyǐn’, was the highest administrative official of a prefecture. The Capital Prefect (Jīngzhào Fǔyǐn) specifically governed the imperial capital city and reported directly to the Emperor.
- An idiom, ‘lángzǐyěxīn’, meaning to have a cruel and ruthless nature like a wolf.
- Soft Tendon Powder, or ‘ruǎnjīnsǎn’, is a fictional poison in wuxia stories that causes temporary paralysis or extreme weakness, making the victim unable to use their strength or martial arts.
- An idiom, ‘xuē tiě rú ní’, used to describe an incredibly sharp blade.
- The hairpin ceremony, or ‘jí jī’, was a coming-of-age ceremony for girls in ancient China, typically held when they turned fifteen.
- Betrothal gifts, or ‘pìnlǐ’, are a traditional part of the marriage process where the groom’s family presents valuable gifts to the bride’s family to formalize the engagement.
- An idiom, ‘guǐménguān’, meaning to be at death’s door or in a perilous situation.
- Maoshi is the period of the day from 5 AM to 7 AM in the traditional Chinese timekeeping system.
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