The Prime Minister’s Daughter and the Marquis’s Fool – Chapter 130
by Little PandaSo Many Names, How Long Will It Take to Find Them?
The torches in the secret chamber burned, crackling softly. Qu Sheng strode over and touched the wall, which had been newly built but artificially aged.
Yan Fengwu’s former residence connected to Prince Cheng’an’s Residence behind it. So where did this passage lead?
Qu Sheng stood and pondered. This side had been bricked up, so the other side must have been as well. But as long as new bluestone bricks were used, there should be traces in the stone and earth filling.
“Miss, should I go back and call for people?” Feng Qi asked, looking up at the wall.
Qu Sheng glanced over at his words. “Go call for people. Be careful on the road and don’t let anyone see you.”
Breaking through the wall would inevitably be noisy. Qu Sheng was worried about beating the grass and startling the snake,1 but she was also worried that if she let this clue go, she wouldn’t find another.
Feng Qi nodded and ordered one of his men to return to the Qu Marquis Residence.
Qu Sheng exited the secret chamber and stood on the roof of the room, surveying the surroundings as her mind began to work. The residences here all belonged to the rich and powerful. How long was this secret passage, and whose home did it lead to?
The previous passage to Prince Cheng’an’s Residence was a full hundred zhang long. Could it be that these people went through all the trouble of digging such a tunnel just to make it easier to contact each other in private?
There were a few officials in the area who had political disagreements with Qu Jinian, but none with whom he had a deep-seated hatred.
After Qu Yu returned, he woke up once during the night. He was fed some medicinal decoction and congee before falling asleep again. Zhao Jiayu cared for him attentively, but her body wouldn’t allow her to sit and accompany him for long.
Liu Wuxiang, having prepared the medicine in the apothecary, came over and saw Zhao Jiayu dozing by the bedside. He coughed lightly.
Worried about Qu Yu, Zhao Jiayu was sleeping lightly and woke at the sound.
She turned to look at Liu Wuxiang and, seeing his kind expression, said, “Doctor Liu, you’re here.”
Liu Wuxiang nodded. “It’s late, and the nights are getting cooler. You should go back and rest. I’m here; nothing will go wrong for the time being.”
Hearing his words, Zhao Jiayu didn’t insist on staying. She was still carrying her and Qu Yu’s child; she couldn’t be willful. “Then Jiayu will take her leave. I’m troubling Doctor Liu.”
Her body felt heavier than it had in previous days, and she was constantly tired.
Liu Wuxiang nodded. He watched as Zhao Jiayu stood up, reached out to touch Qu Yu’s forehead, and then let her fingertips brush against his gaunt cheek before leaving with a somewhat sorrowful expression.
When Qu Sheng returned to the residence, she first went to check on Qu Yu. Hearing from Liu Wuxiang that Zhao Jiayu had just left, she lowered her eyes and thought for a long while.
Zhao Jiayu had truly grown up.
Qu Sheng returned to her own courtyard. When she pushed open the door, Lin Xizhao was cutting that handkerchief with a pair of scissors.
“Jiejie, what are you doing?” Qu Sheng asked, puzzled.
Lin Xizhao looked up. “I’m seeing what’s different about this fabric compared to the piece I had someone buy.”
Qu Sheng lowered her gaze and walked closer. Watching Lin Xizhao compare the two pieces of cloth, she asked, “Can you see anything?”
With both pieces of cloth on the table, Lin Xizhao studied them carefully for a good while but couldn’t spot any difference.
“Could that seamstress have been lying to us?” Qu Sheng asked, looking up.
Lin Xizhao shook her head. “Probably not. She’s in our hands now. If she wants to live, she won’t try to be deliberately mysterious.”
After careful inspection, Lin Xizhao still felt the two materials were identical.
“Did you find anything at Prince Cheng’an’s Residence?” Lin Xizhao asked.
Qu Sheng lifted her gaze from the handkerchief. “Nothing at Prince Cheng’an’s Residence. But in the secret chamber of Yan Fengwu’s residence, there’s a blocked-off passage.”
Lin Xizhao’s mind immediately started working. “Can it be opened?”
“It can, but it will take some effort.” It would probably take three to five days just to see where it led. Still, she had already sent people to start digging, instructing them to follow the original path of the passage.
“Do you have any idea who might have done it?” Lin Xizhao asked softly.
Qu Sheng shook her head. “I’m not sure.” She had a few candidates in mind, but everything required evidence.
Lin Xizhao didn’t ask further. She had someone prepare a meal and ate a few bites with Qu Sheng before they went to bathe together.
Back in bed, Lin Xizhao snuggled into Qu Sheng’s arms, tilted her slender neck up, and initiated a kiss.
Qu Sheng looked down, her eyes filled with adoration and intoxication. Their soft, fragrant lips touched. Qu Sheng’s kiss gradually deepened, her tongue tangling with Lin Xizhao’s smooth, fragrant tongue. Amid their caresses, Lin Xizhao took the initiative, rolling over to lie on top of her, turning from passive to active.
The moment Qu Sheng’s tongue withdrew, Lin Xizhao began to kiss her lips meticulously. Their soft lips pressed together; no matter how much force she used, it felt gentle to Qu Sheng.
Lin Xizhao used her lips to nibble on Qu Sheng’s lower lip, then slowly began to move towards her neck.
Qu Sheng didn’t resist the wet, hot sensation. Lin Xizhao lingered a little longer at each spot, and the sighs that escaped Qu Sheng’s throat were full of contentment and pleasure.
“Wife…” Qu Sheng breathed out as Lin Xizhao’s lips and tongue began to explore her sensitive places.
Hearing Qu Sheng call her that, Lin Xizhao thought she had misheard. She paused her circling, sucking motions and slowly raised her head. Her voice was gentle but tinged with excitement as she asked, “What did you just call me?”
Qu Sheng met Lin Xizhao’s expectant gaze, her lips pursed slightly, her eyes shimmering like water. “Sheng’er wants to marry jiejie and make you my Wife.” She had changed how she addressed her countless times in her dreams, but they still lacked the proper ceremony. She was afraid that if she changed the address, Lin Xizhao wouldn’t be used to it.
Hearing this, Lin Xizhao’s eyelashes trembled. Her eyes shone brightly, showing no discomfort. A smile unconsciously bloomed on her face. “Alright.”
Once they helped find the antidote for Qu Yu, she would find a way to persuade Lin Jianhai to let her marry Qu Sheng, lest a long delay bring new complications.
When Qu Sheng heard Lin Xizhao’s words, she was stunned for a moment. Although she knew Lin Xizhao would agree, her heart was still filled with joy.
“But we can’t delay what comes next,” Lin Xizhao said, wiggling her fingers with interest as she rested her hand on Qu Sheng’s soft breast.
Her desire for Qu Sheng, which had started with just wanting a kiss, had gradually become less restrained with each taste.
She felt that when it came to matters in bed, perhaps she should be as uninhibited as Qu Sheng.
If you want to do it, just do it.
A blush still lingered on Qu Sheng’s face. Hearing Lin Xizhao’s words, she ‘resigned’ herself to her fate and looked away.
Lin Xizhao chuckled softly in Qu Sheng’s ear and slipped her tongue into the shell of her ear. A tingling itch spread through Qu Sheng’s body, making her heart itch with unbearable desire.
A soft moan escaped her slightly parted lips, a sound Lin Xizhao had never heard before. It was so delightful that it made Lin Xizhao pause for a moment, but only a moment, before she continued, wanting more.
And Qu Sheng granted her every wish.
After their pleasure, Lin Xizhao held Qu Sheng in her arms, her fingertips still tracing the softness there. She would hold it gently, and after a while, her five fingers would close together again, making Qu Sheng’s spirit tense up.
“Jiejie, how did you become like this?” Qu Sheng felt a little unused to Lin Xizhao’s transformation. But even so, her body was enjoying it.
“Is it uncomfortable?” Lin Xizhao deliberately pressed her soft lips to Qu Sheng’s ear and asked.
“Jiejie,” Qu Sheng said, a hint of a small grievance in her tone.
She didn’t remember, but Lin Xizhao did. Qu Sheng used to treat her just like this.
The soft feeling in her palm was addicting.
Lin Xizhao chuckled softly. Instead of removing her hand, she leaned over Qu Sheng again, found her lips, and began to kiss her.
Lin Xizhao’s breathing was ragged with passion. After kissing for a moment, Qu Sheng turned the tables,2 one hand supporting Lin Xizhao’s slender waist and the other her nape, pressing her down.
Qu Sheng was naturally stronger than Lin Xizhao. If Lin Xizhao wanted to regain the upper hand, she would have to beg Qu Sheng.
But as Lin Xizhao looked into Qu Sheng’s somewhat sly eyes, not only did she not resist, but she actively offered herself up.
Hearing the decadent sounds3 coming from Lin Xizhao’s throat, Qu Sheng became even more vigorous.
When it was over, Qu Sheng held Lin Xizhao, kissing her damp eyebrows and eyes reverently. “Jiejie was… truly bewitching today.”
Hearing Qu Sheng’s bawdy bedroom talk, Lin Xizhao knew she was sexually unsatisfied and was deliberately pushing the ‘responsibility’ onto her.
Lin Xizhao looked up, a little exasperated. A slight smile touched Qu Sheng’s lips as she lowered her head to kiss her straight nose, then moved to her soft lips a moment later.
Twice in a row, Lin Xizhao let her do as she pleased without telling her to stop.
Remembering how sore Lin Xizhao’s body had been the day before, Qu Sheng waited until she saw Lin Xizhao’s body tremble before using her lips and tongue one last time, finally letting her go.
At that moment, Lin Xizhao seemed to have no strength left, but as her damp eyelashes fluttered, they hooked Qu Sheng’s heart, making it itch with desire once more.
In the end, however, Qu Sheng held back.
The bed was now too wet to sleep on. Qu Sheng called for servants to change the sheets before carrying Lin Xizhao, who was clinging to her, back to bed.
Lying in Qu Sheng’s arms, Lin Xizhao stared at her. Qu Sheng met her gaze for a moment and asked, “Does jiejie have something you want to ask Sheng’er?”
Today, Lin Xizhao seemed to be deliberately indulging her.
“I…” Lin Xizhao had just started to speak when she instinctively lowered her eyes. “I want to go to the palace tomorrow.”
Qu Sheng didn’t understand but didn’t get angry with her. In just a moment, she guessed Lin Xizhao’s intention. “Does jiejie want to go to the palace to ask about the fabric of that handkerchief?”
“Mhm. Since it was a tribute item, there should be records of it in the palace. Perhaps I can ask the Empress.”
Qu Sheng lowered her gaze for a moment. “I’ll go with jiejie tomorrow.”
“No need, you can go attend to your business. I can do it myself.” Lin Xizhao knew Qu Sheng was busy. If she dragged her along, going in and out of the palace would waste a lot of time, and it wasn’t even certain she could find anything out.
“I’m worried—”
“Don’t worry. Father has been ennobled as a king now. The Crown Prince won’t do anything to me.” Lin Xizhao knew what Qu Sheng was worried about.
Every time the Crown Prince looked at her, although he made no frivolous moves, there was indeed a look of affection in his eyes.
But from beginning to end, she had only ever liked Qu Sheng. And she wasn’t the daughter of an ordinary official; the Crown Prince wouldn’t dare to act recklessly.
Even so, Qu Sheng was still a little uneasy.
Seeing the worry in Qu Sheng’s eyes, Lin Xizhao thought for a moment and said, “I’ll ask my adoptive mother to accompany me tomorrow.”
It would also be a good excuse for Jin Yunfei to go. The last time Qu Sheng had hit the Crown Prince, although a long time had passed, it was still a plausible reason to go and apologize to him.
The next morning, Qu Sheng went to Yan Fengwu’s former residence, while Lin Xizhao and Jin Yunfei went to the palace.
Jin Yunfei had prepared many nourishing tonics. Although the palace lacked nothing, the gifts from their Qu Marquis Residence were certainly not ordinary items.
For this occasion, Qu Jinian had specially taken out a pair of treasures for her to present to the Crown Prince, as a way of testing the waters.4
Jin Yunfei had someone send a message to the Empress’s Bedchamber, and soon, one of the Empress’s Attending Eunuch Officials came to receive them personally.
The two of them followed the eunuch with small steps towards the Empress’s Bedchamber. They had just entered and finished their obeisance when the Crown Prince also arrived.
“I heard the Marquis Qu sent his wife to see this palace. It was just a small injury, yet it troubles him so.”
Jin Yunfei smiled at his words. After bowing, she said, “Ever since this servant’s disappointing daughter injured Your Highness, my husband has been anxious day and night, fearing a rift would form between you. Although Her Majesty the Empress and Your Highness have repeatedly stated that you will not pursue my daughter’s crime, to put my husband’s mind at ease, this servant decided to enter the palace to apologize to Your Highness in person and seek your forgiveness.”
The Crown Prince immediately broke into a smile. He was naturally happy that Qu Jinian valued him so much. “It’s nothing. This palace never took it to heart. When you have time, bring Sheng-meimei to the palace more often. This palace would like to spar with her again.”
Jin Yunfei gave an awkward smile. “This servant’s daughter has been simple-minded since childhood. When she was blind, she was often bullied, so her older brothers, feeling sorry for her, taught her some martial arts for self-defense. Compared to Your Highness’s skills, hers are unrefined and not fit for a grand occasion.5 This servant thinks it’s best to forget it.”
Jin Yunfei wasn’t worried about Qu Sheng entering the palace, but she couldn’t just agree, because the Crown Prince was no match for Qu Sheng. He got beaten last time, so wouldn’t he just get beaten again this time? She had to give the Crown Prince a way to save face. She knew her daughter well; if she dared to hit him once, she would dare to hit him a second time.
The Crown Prince just smiled. Besides, he didn’t really want to spar with Qu Sheng; it was just polite talk. Getting beaten up and bottling up a stomach full of anger was a truly awful feeling.
Jin Yunfei and Lin Xizhao sat in the hall. The Crown Prince didn’t leave because Lin Xizhao was there.
Since the Qu family had presented such a precious pair of jade Ruyi,6 the Empress couldn’t just send them away. She had to make some polite conversation.
The few of them began to chat about daily matters, but it was mostly Jin Yunfei who did the talking. Jin Yunfei acted like a woman from a lower station who hadn’t seen much of the world, smiling obsequiously with every sentence.
When the Empress was silent, Lin Xizhao would pick up the conversation, ensuring Jin Yunfei wouldn’t be left in an awkward position.
The Empress listened for a while and didn’t find it annoying. As Jin Yunfei spoke, the topic shifted to the fabric patterns currently popular in the capital.
“In recent months, some rather beautiful patterns have become popular in the capital, just like the one on this servant’s handkerchief. If Your Majesty fancies it, this servant can send the pattern to the Palace Wardrobe7 for the female officials to learn.” As she spoke, Jin Yunfei held up the handkerchief with both hands.
The Empress couldn’t very well refuse her. Although it was an item from among the common people, Jin Yunfei was smiling so earnestly that she couldn’t just slap her in the face.
The Empress tilted her chin slightly, and a palace maid took the handkerchief.
The Empress took it and examined it for a moment, smiling agreeably. “It is indeed beautiful.”
A smile appeared on Jin Yunfei’s face. “Now that the handkerchief is in Your Majesty’s hands, it matches your clothes quite well.”
“Is that so?” The Empress held the handkerchief against the sleeve of her own robe to compare. After a moment, she smiled. “It really does.”
“I heard this fabric was once a tribute item. With this pattern, it’s not the least bit inferior.” As Jin Yunfei finished speaking, the teacup in Lin Xizhao’s hand paused for a moment.
How could a tribute item be overshadowed by something else? Lin Xizhao glanced at Jin Yunfei with worry.
But the Empress paid no mind to Jin Yunfei’s latter words. Hearing that it was a tribute item, she was stunned for a moment and examined it more closely.
The quality of the material was indeed superb, but she had never bestowed any tribute fabric upon the Qu family.
The Empress looked it over for a while but couldn’t make anything of it. She gave a meaningful look to the Attending Eunuch Official beside her. The eunuch took it, glanced at it, and said in a low voice, “This fabric was indeed a tribute from a small country called Sihai during the time of the Late Emperor. However, because the noble ladies who received it as a gift from the Late Empress loved it so much, a large number of people were sent to learn its manufacturing method. It gradually became popular in the capital, and that small country was later vanquished.”
Jin Yunfei heard the elderly eunuch muttering but couldn’t make out what he was saying. But beside her, Lin Xizhao’s eyes were fixed on his lips, not blinking once.
Like Qu Sheng, she could read lips.
The Empress nodded after hearing the explanation and smiled at Jin Yunfei. “It is a good thing that items from the imperial household can be used by common families. It proves that the lives of our Tiansheng subjects are improving.”
After leaving the palace, Lin Xizhao told Jin Yunfei what she had read from the eunuch’s lips. The fabric wasn’t from the same two pieces as Qu Yu’s and Zhao Jiayu’s; it was just something bought in the capital that morning.
When they returned to the residence and Qu Jinian learned of the matter, he bribed a eunuch from the Imperial Household Department to find out to whom the Late Empress had gifted this cloth.
Because it had been so long ago, it wasn’t something that could be fully investigated in a short time. Qu Jinian stayed at the Emperor’s court for a while, brought up a few matters, and then left the palace.
Qu Sheng had people digging the bluestone slab tunnel. Because they couldn’t make too much noise and the space inside was narrow, the progress was extremely slow. After a day and a night, they had only cleared a few zhang.
Late at night, Qu Sheng returned to the residence and first went to see Qu Yu.
This time, she happened to run into Zhao Jiayu, who was keeping watch by his side. Zhao Jiayu looked somewhat tired but still smiled as she spoke to her.
“I heard from Xizhao that you went to dig the secret passage. Have you opened it up yet?”
Qu Sheng shook her head. “Not yet.” She still didn’t know where it led, much less how long it would take to dig.
Zhao Jiayu wasn’t too disappointed. She turned to continue helping Qu Yu exercise his limbs. Seeing how much she was struggling with her large belly, Qu Sheng said, “Let me do it.”
Zhao Jiayu turned back and smiled. “Do you know how?”
Qu Sheng was taken aback by the question. She did know how; she had just given Lin Xizhao a massage the other day.
“I’d better do it.” Zhao Jiayu didn’t quite trust her. She thought of herself as clumsy, but Qu Sheng was even more so. If she hurt Qu Yu, she would feel heartbroken.
Qu Sheng silently watched Zhao Jiayu knead Qu Yu’s arms and legs. Later, she even slowly turned him over to massage his back.
Qu Sheng left without informing Zhao Jiayu. When Zhao Jiayu heard footsteps and turned around, Qu Sheng was already gone. The maids outside came in, saying Qu Sheng had ordered them to come.
Qu Sheng was worried about Zhao Jiayu’s health. Even if she didn’t need the maids’ help, someone had to keep an eye on her in case she felt unwell.
Seeing Zhao Jiayu force a smile here made Qu Sheng’s heart ache.
Two days later, after Qu Jinian left morning court, the eunuch he had entrusted with the task handed him a transcribed list.
It recorded in detail when the Late Empress had gifted the Luochun cloth. Qu Jinian took it, stuffed it into his sleeve, and gave the eunuch a gold ingot.
The eunuch glanced around, then looked at Qu Jinian, grinning from ear to ear. “Thank you, Marquis Qu. If there’s anything else you need this little one for in the future, just say the word.”
Qu Jinian smiled and said in a low voice, “You know and I know. Don’t let a third person find out about this.”
The eunuch also whispered with a smile, “Marquis Qu, you can rest assured. This matter will rot in this little one’s stomach.”
Qu Jinian smiled and left. He hurried out of the palace and only opened the list once he was back in his residence.
Qu Sheng was called back, and everyone in the residence gathered to look at the list.
There were simply too many names on it, spanning many years, making one’s head spin just looking at it. The reason this cloth could be a tribute item was because of its high quality and its color, which didn’t fade over the years.
“With so many names, how long will it take to find them? We can’t possibly go to each house and probe them, can we?” Qian Shuangying said, feeling anxious.
Lin Xizhao flipped through a few pages, her eyes downcast for a moment. “The descendants of the officials basically all live in their old residences. For now, let’s just note down those within a hundred zhang of Yan Fengwu’s residence.” She guessed the secret passage wouldn’t be too long. Even if it was, if they couldn’t find the right person, they could just expand the search area.
Everyone looked up at Lin Xizhao. At present, they hadn’t even dug past the boundary of Yan Fengwu’s residence. Her words served as a reminder to them all.
After Lin Xizhao compiled the names of those near Yan Fengwu’s residence, Qu Sheng held the list and studied it for a long time.
To raise a large number of deathsworn and cause such a commotion in the capital was not the work of an ordinary person. With that, more than half the names on the list were eliminated at once.
Qu Sheng stared at the remaining five names, her gaze falling on the name of Prince Fucheng.
Back on the day of Lin Xizhao’s hairpin ceremony, Qu Ming’s men had captured someone from his residence. But that person had insisted it wasn’t Prince Fucheng. Later, after much investigation, no evidence could be found to link Prince Fucheng to Qu Ce’s death, and the matter was eventually dropped.
Prince Fucheng was the Emperor’s biological younger brother and currently commanded a portion of the military on the Emperor’s behalf. His voice carried significant weight in the court.
If she remembered correctly, the first time Marquis Yongshen’s eldest son had taken liberties with Lin Xizhao, it was at an invitation from his Princess Consort.
“Father, has Prince Fucheng ever had any conflict with our Qu family?” Qu Sheng asked, looking at Qu Jinian.
Qu Jinian thought for a moment. “No. This father has always minded my own business where he is concerned.”8
“Then does he have a close relationship with Marquis Yongshen?”
Qu Jinian was stunned by the question. He pondered for a moment. “This father will need to have someone inquire.”
Just as he finished speaking, Feng Qi rushed in from outside. His eyes sought out Qu Sheng. After greeting everyone, he said to her, “Miss, people from the government came and cleared our men out.”
Feng Qi had been supervising the progress of the digging. A group of yamen runners had just arrived, saying they were trespassing and deliberately damaging private property, and they were going to arrest them all. Feng Qi had spent some silver and used a mix of threats and persuasion to get their men released.
“How did the government find out?” Qu Sheng frowned. Their people only ever went in late at night. How did anyone know they were there?
“Someone bought Yan Fengwu’s residence and discovered us when they came to inspect it,” Feng Qi replied.
“Do you know who bought it?”
“I don’t. The government officials refused to disclose it.” Feng Qi couldn’t pry it out of them even with silver.
Qu Sheng lowered her eyes and thought for a few moments, then sneered. “I was afraid he wouldn’t show up.”
What a coincidence. They had only been digging for two or three days, and the residence was sold. It was obvious that the other end of the secret passage had found out and didn’t want them to dig.
“Go prepare the carriage.”
The author has something to say:
Qu Sheng: “Wifey, if you want to get on top, get on top. I’m ready anytime.”
Lin Xizhao: “…Shut up.”
Footnotes
- Dǎ cǎo jīng shé: An idiom meaning to act rashly and alert the enemy to your intentions.
- Fǎnkè wéizhǔ: Literally ‘the guest becomes the host’. An idiom for taking the initiative or turning a situation to one’s advantage.
- Mǐmǐ zhī yīn: A literary term for music or sounds considered lewd, seductive, or morally corrupting. Here, it refers to sounds of passion.
- Tóushí wènlù: Literally ‘to throw a stone to ask for the way’. An idiom for making a tentative move to gauge the situation or the other party’s reaction.
- Nán dēng dàyǎ zhī táng: Literally ‘hard to ascend to the hall of great elegance’. A self-deprecating phrase for something considered too crude or amateurish for a high-class setting.
- A Ruyi is a curved, s-shaped ceremonial scepter, usually made of jade. It is a symbol of power and good fortune, making it a very valuable gift.
- The Shàngyījiān was the imperial agency within the palace responsible for managing and creating clothing and textiles for the imperial family.
- The original idiom is jǐngshuǐ bùfàn héshuǐ, ‘well water does not interfere with river water’, meaning two parties should keep to themselves and not interfere with one another.
0 Comments