The Prime Minister’s Daughter and the Marquis’s Fool – Chapter 144

Returning Home

The feudal lords and vassal kings who had recently come to the capital were not necessarily sincere in their submission. With a new emperor on the throne, the court was rife with problems. And this was with a successor from the House of Sheng; if the imperial surname had changed, it would likely have incited even greater bloodshed.

The Emperor ordered the various vassal kings and feudal lords to dispatch their troops and quell the rebellious factions.

            

Yet he never dared to send Qu Sheng away. If Qu Sheng left, she would inevitably take the majority of the Qu family’s military power with her. He feared that with the Qu forces gone, the Imperial City would be plunged into crisis.

After the court assembly, Qu Sheng followed Qu Jinian back to their residence, where a letter from Shoulin had arrived.

Qu Sheng’s eyes scanned the letter from Zhao Jiayu, taking in ten lines at a glance. Zhao Jiayu wrote that if the capital or the border were in need, her Zhao family would do their part. If they were needed for any task, her father could be informed at any time.

            

Zhao Dian had not participated in the coup. The Qu family had been worried about potential variables at the time, and while he might have been affected, his life would not have been in danger.

For now, Qu Yu was still unaware that Qu Jian was dead and that Qu Ting was missing at the border. The climate in Shoulin was milder than in the capital, and he was fighting with all his might against the poison in his body.

Among the younger generation of the Qu family, aside from the little babe still in swaddling clothes, only Qu Sheng remained whole. The thought brought a wave of sorrow to Qu Jinian.

            

Qu Sheng followed behind Jin Yunfei, having the servants carry the dishes to the Fourth Aunt of the Qu family’s rooms.

Ever since receiving the news of her husband’s death in battle, the Fourth Aunt of the Qu family had spent her days in tears. By now, her tears seemed to have run dry. No matter how much she grieved, not another drop would fall.

Jin Yunfei worried that if this continued, Fourth Aunt’s eyes would be ruined.

            

“The dead cannot be brought back to life,” she said. “Fourth Brother’s body is not yet cold. You will be needed to manage the arrangements when his remains return to the capital. You mustn’t grieve so. Your health is what’s important.”

Jin Yunfei’s words only layered more sorrow onto the Fourth Aunt of the Qu family, but she still could not cry.

“I hate that I couldn’t even bear him a son or a daughter. He left just like that… what face do I have to show our ancestors?”

            

At the mention of children, Jin Yunfei’s heart ached for them. She had been pregnant once, but for some unknown reason, she had miscarried. The loss had damaged her body, and she could no longer conceive.

Not long ago, they had used Qu Yu’s injury as a pretext to summon Liu Daifu, who had managed to restore much of her health. But who could have imagined that Qu Jian would go away and never return?

Qu Sheng stood behind Jin Yunfei, a thousand thoughts swirling in her mind. She was no good at comforting people, but she could feel the depths of her fourth aunt’s pain.

            

Her eyes reddened, and just as she turned to hide the tears welling up, Lin Xizhao entered from outside.

Qu Sheng started at the sight of her, then quickly looked away. She didn’t want Lin Xizhao to see her like this.

Lin Xizhao held a handkerchief in her hand. She took a few steps forward, gently took Qu Sheng’s arm, and turned her back around. The snow-white cloth wiped away the sorrow in her eyes.

            

They exchanged no words. Once Qu Sheng’s tears had stopped, Lin Xizhao walked further into the room.

“Mother, let me feed Fourth Aunt,” Lin Xizhao said softly.

The Fourth Aunt of the Qu family was lying on the couch-bed, her face turned toward the wall, unwilling to see anyone. Jin Yunfei had been trying to persuade her for a long time, but she refused to eat properly.

            

For the past few days, she had only consumed some broths and liquids. It wasn’t that she wasn’t hungry, but that she couldn’t keep anything down. Whatever she ate, she would vomit. The Imperial Physicians had come several times, but even acupuncture had no effect.

Jin Yunfei looked back at Lin Xizhao. Her gentle face was naturally comforting, and with her expression softened intentionally, she was impossible to refuse.

Jin Yunfei rose and handed the bowl to Lin Xizhao.

            

Lin Xizhao took it and sat where Jin Yunfei had been. First, she called out, “Fourth Aunt.”

Hearing her voice, the Fourth Aunt of the Qu family, though heartbroken, knew she shouldn’t make things difficult for the younger generation. Besides, she had always been fondest of Lin Xizhao.

The Fourth Aunt of the Qu family turned her head. Lin Xizhao’s eyes were gentle, a faint smile gracing her lips. In a soft voice, she said, “I heard that Fourth Uncle’s remains will arrive in the capital in five days. He always loved it when you wore the dress embroidered with plum blossoms. The old one probably doesn’t fit anymore, so I had someone make a new one a few days ago. It should be delivered tomorrow. Sheng’er and I have discussed it. We want to go out to meet him, so that he has fewer steps to travel before he can see us. We’ve saved a place for you, too.”

            

At these words, a flicker of light returned to the Fourth Aunt of the Qu family’s eyes. The pain of losing her husband was immense, but his remains were her only solace now.

“I…” Fourth Aunt wanted to go.

People always need time to adapt to sudden changes in their lives. Some things, with habit, become bearable. The Fourth Aunt of the Qu family may have been born delicate, but her heart was not weak in the slightest.

            

She had cried these past few days, and there was no doubting the love between them, but the living must always look forward. Looking back only brought more pain. When Qu Jian was alive, he had been a broad-minded man. Over the years, his wife had been influenced by him and had learned much.

She still needed time to pull herself out of this, but if someone helped guide her, perhaps she could do it faster.

“Come with us tomorrow, Fourth Aunt. The first person Fourth Uncle will want to see is surely you.”

            

The Fourth Aunt of the Qu family ate. Though her stomach was still unsettled, as long as her mind was at ease, there would be no need to worry about her appetite in the future.

Only by eating could she steady her heart and spirit.

Seeing that the Fourth Aunt of the Qu family had eaten, Jin Yunfei told her to rest well and led the two young women out.

            

Lin Xizhao and Qu Sheng walked hand-in-hand behind Jin Yunfei. After a few steps, Jin Yunfei glanced back, her gaze falling on their intertwined fingers.

Seeing them so devoted to each other filled her with relief. She asked Lin Xizhao, “How is your father?”

At the mention of Lin Jianhai, Lin Xizhao’s eyes instinctively lowered. His condition had stabilized, but he was still angry with himself, causing his health to fluctuate, though it was nothing serious.

            

He had lost a lot of weight recently. When she attended to him during the day, he would speak with her a little, asking about the situation outside.

Lin Jianhai had claimed illness and had not attended court, nor had he gone to the new emperor’s ascension ceremony. The Emperor had originally drafted an Imperial edict¹ to strip him of his title as King Wenze, but after Qu Jinian reviewed it, he had withdrawn it.

Lin Jianhai’s open disdain for the new emperor should have made him the perfect target to be made an example of—to kill the chicken to scare the monkeys². But Qu Jinian worried that revoking his title would create panic among the other officials.

            

Moreover, he worried that it would worsen Lin Jianhai’s condition and breed resentment in Lin Xizhao’s heart.

Among the officials, a great many did not support the new emperor. But for the court to function, these officials had to remain in their posts. A mass replacement was clearly unrealistic. It would be better to wait until the Spring Examinations next year to select new talent and then slowly make the changes.

This had been agreed upon beforehand, but after the Emperor’s move, Qu Jinian realized that someone was instigating the new monarch from behind the scenes.

            

Lin Xizhao and Qu Sheng stopped and replied, “Mother, there’s no need to worry. The doctor said Father will be able to get out of bed in a few days.”

Jin Yunfei nodded. Recalling what Lin Xizhao had said about going with Qu Sheng to receive Qu Jian’s body, she asked, “You’re leaving the city tomorrow. Will your father be alright?”

“It’s fine. Xikuan and Xirui are both at the residence.” Lin Xizhao had already made the arrangements.

            

She had been staying at the Lin Residence recently and had rarely returned to the Qu estate. Qu Sheng spent her nights there as well, but the Qu family was understanding and had never said a word.

Jin Yunfei smiled and nodded. Her affection for Lin Xizhao, devoid of any selfish motive, had already surpassed her love for her own daughter.

They returned to the Dining Hall. In the enormous Qu Marquis Residence, only the women remained. Ever since Qu Jiqin had taken Qian Shuangying to the Northern Frontier, the Third Aunt of the Qu family had been ill at ease.

            

Lin Xizhao served her a portion of food, but she stared blankly for a long time without moving.

“Third Aunt, don’t worry too much. Third Uncle will surely find Third Brother,” Qu Sheng said, comforting the Third Aunt of the Qu family in a rare moment of reassurance.

Third Aunt heard her, saw the food that had appeared in her bowl, and managed an awkward smile. She nodded. “Yes, I know.”

            

After that, there was no more conversation.

After they finished their morning meal, Lin Xizhao did not mention returning to the Lin Residence. Today, she would stay.

Although Qu Sheng returned to the Qu Marquis Residence every day, she almost never went back to her own courtyard. Any free moment she had, she would go to the Lin Residence. No matter how tired she was, she would insist on resting at Lin Xizhao’s side.

            

At the Qu Marquis Residence, when she slept, she was just asleep. But at the Lin Residence, when she slept, she would dream of Lin Xizhao’s cool, fragrant scent.

She knew Lin Xizhao would come to see her whenever she had a spare moment.

The two returned to their courtyard. Before long, Feng Qi reported that someone from the Jin family had arrived. They had brought the young miss, Jin Mingyi, with them.

            

Qu Sheng and Lin Xizhao exchanged a look and went to the Reception Hall.

The Jin family was also one of the feudal lords. They had come to the capital this time to have an audience with the new emperor. As it happened, they had spotted their daughter on the street today.

Jin Mingyi’s face was a thundercloud. She refused to go back, insisting that with the Qu family in the capital, she would be fine.

            

While they were still exchanging pleasantries, someone else sent in a visiting card³.

Zhu Ming’an had arrived.

Earlier today, Zhu Ming’an had heard from a servant boy that Jin Mingyi had been whisked away by her family the moment she lifted her carriage curtain on the street. As soon as she found out where Jin Mingyi had been taken, she had rushed over.

            

“Ming… Mingming, an. Greets, the, the, the, the var… various el, elders…”

“Speak slowly,” Jin Mingyi snapped, her tone sharp at hearing her struggle.

Zhu Ming’an heard her and looked up, stealing a glance at Jin Mingyi, who was now staring at her sternly. She slowed her pace. “Ming’an, greets the various, elders.”

            

Hearing Zhu Ming’an speak slowly but without a stutter, Jin Mingyi’s expression showed a hint of satisfaction.

The Qu family was naturally polite to Zhu Ming’an, but the Jin family did not know her. They merely nodded and stared at her in silence.

“I don’t want to leave! Ming’an and I opened a shop in the capital, and I can’t bear to abandon it,” Jin Mingyi said, resuming her earlier argument.

            

The Jin family wanted to take her away, but she didn’t want to go. The money wasn’t the issue; she couldn’t bear to part with the shop she and Zhu Ming’an had worked so hard to build.

“Don’t be unreasonable. What kind of young lady opens a shop? The marriage with the Zheng family has been put on hold, and they’ve urged us several times. This father had your mother find excuses to delay it, but we can’t keep dragging it on.”

“I refuse to marry him! He already has four or five serving girls⁴. Father, who are you trying to disgust by making me marry into that family?” The thought that the Zheng family man had already had children with his serving girls and concubines made Jin Mingyi feel sick.

            

“It’s not up to you! Marriage is based on the command of parents and the words of a matchmaker⁵. When did a girl like you get a say in it?!”

“I don’t care! If Father forces me to marry him, I’d rather die!” Jin Mingyi retorted in front of everyone, threatening her own father with death. Jin Yunyou was so furious he wished he could take a whip to her.

“If you have the nerve, then die for me to see right now! Otherwise, you’re coming back with me tomorrow!” Jin Yunyou had no patience for his daughter’s temper.

            

Jin Mingyi’s anger flared. She had a lively disposition and would never truly throw her life away over something like this. If she had, she would have killed herself back then instead of running away.

Lin Xizhao watched Jin Mingyi’s pouting face, saw her glance sideways at Zhu Ming’an, and then saw her gaze shift to a pillar in the room.

Qu Sheng’s eyes were sharp. Just as she saw Jin Mingyi about to run for the pillar, Lin Xizhao tugged on her sleeve.

            

Qu Sheng looked at Lin Xizhao, who shook her head. The step she was about to take halted.

In the moment their eyes met, Jin Mingyi charged toward the pillar. Zhu Ming’an grabbed at her sleeve, but only managed to tear the fabric…

Zhu Ming’an stared at the piece of sleeve in her hand, dumbfounded. In that instant, she heard a thud.

            

A chorus of gasps followed. For a second, Lin Xizhao was stunned as well.

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Lying on the couch-bed with a white bandage wrapped around her head, Jin Mingyi drank her medicine, grimaced, and turned her head away.

“Eat, eat-eat, eat a, a piece of, of candied fruit⁶.” Zhu Ming’an was overcome with apology and distress.

            

After Jin Yunfei finished feeding her the medicine, she stepped back. Zhu Ming’an quickly offered the candied fruit in her hand. Although Jin Mingyi was angry, the bitterness in her mouth was unbearable. The moment the fruit touched her lips, she opened her mouth and ate it.

“Do, do, do—”

“Speak slowly! Hiss…” Even at a time like this, Jin Mingyi didn’t forget to correct Zhu Ming’an’s stutter.

            

Zhu Ming’an paused for a moment, swallowed, and asked in a slower voice, “Do you want more?”

Jin Mingyi turned her head at the sound. She saw the roomful of people staring at her, then glanced at her own full-blooded brother and her father.

Her brother was useless, too. He hadn’t said a single word to help her. All he did was parrot that their parents were doing this for her own good.

            

Bullshit!

“Tell them to get out. I don’t want to see them,” Jin Mingyi said, frowning and raising a hand to her head as if in great pain.

Jin Yunfei glanced at her brother. “You should leave first. Let Yi’er get some rest.”

            

Jin Yunyou had been frightened by his daughter’s stunt. Hearing that she didn’t want to see him, he sighed and left with his son.

Although Qu Jinian was their maternal uncle, he was still an unrelated male⁷ and had waited outside. When he saw Jin Yunyou and Jin Mingjun emerge, he invited them to the Front Hall.

The moment her father and brother were gone, Jin Mingyi eagerly opened her mouth for the candied fruit in Zhu Ming’an’s hand.

            

Zhu Ming’an quickly popped it into her mouth.

“This is all your fault,” Jin Mingyi mumbled, her right cheek puffed out with the treat, beginning to grumble at Zhu Ming’an.

“Right, right-right—”

            

“Hm?”

Zhu Ming’an’s eyes flickered up like a scolded puppy. She slowed her voice. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know your clothes were so…”

“Still making excuses? If you couldn’t hold on, why didn’t you block me with your body?”

            

Zhu Ming’an looked taken aback, as if that possibility hadn’t occurred to her. “Next time, I’ll remember.”

“You want there to be a next time?”

Zhu Ming’an always gave in to her unconditionally, and she knew it, but she didn’t want a next time.

            

They had agreed on this plan long ago. If her father ever found her and tried to take her away, she would pretend to kill herself, and Zhu Ming’an had promised to protect her. Who knew she would nearly lose her life for real today?

Zhu Ming’an’s shoulders slumped, and she lowered her head.

Watching their exchange, the others had likely guessed why Jin Mingyi had found her courage after Zhu Ming’an’s arrival.

            

Lin Xizhao now felt a pang of guilt. If only she hadn’t stopped Qu Sheng.

Qu Sheng seemed to sense her remorse. She reached out, took Lin Xizhao’s hand, and squeezed their intertwined fingers.

Their eyes met, a silent exchange of gentleness and affection.

            

“Paternal Aunt, you should all go rest. This little injury of mine is nothing,” Jin Mingyi said. For all her theatrics, she still knew her manners.

The elders were still here. The doctor had already seen her; she just had a bump on her head and had bled a little, but her brain was fine.

Jin Yunfei looked at the bright, spirited girl, who resembled Qu Sheng in some ways, and her heart ached. She nodded. “You rest well. I’ll have someone make you something nice to eat.”

            

Jin Mingyi tried to nod, but the movement made her head hurt, so she gave up. A smile appeared on her face. “Alright.”

Jin Yunfei looked at Lin Xizhao and the others, and the three of them left together.

Qu Sheng didn’t want to interfere in the Jin family’s affairs, but after a scene like this, Lin Xizhao would surely persuade her to say a few words on Jin Mingyi’s behalf. After Jin Yunfei went to the Front Hall, Lin Xizhao turned to her.

            

“It was wrong of our cousin to use this to frighten the elders, but if she marries a man who is not to her liking, I fear she will spend the rest of her life in misery.”

As Lin Xizhao spoke, Qu Sheng looked up at her. How could she not understand? If it weren’t for Lin Xizhao, her life—whether she married a man or a woman—would have been tasteless.

Her disposition used to be withdrawn, but under Lin Xizhao’s influence, except for when she was leading troops, she had been steadily growing gentler.

            

“Wife is right. Sheng’er will think of something,” Qu Sheng said, raising her arms and pulling Lin Xizhao into her embrace.

Although Jin Yunyou doted on his daughter, he was never ambiguous when it came to matters that benefited the Jin family. He would not hesitate to send his daughter into a wolf’s den if he had to.

Back when Emperor Baoguang was on the throne, Jin Yunyou had been warned that a marriage alliance with the Zheng family would attract suspicion, so the matter was shelved.

            

Now, with a new emperor, the various feudal lords, taking advantage of the lack of oversight during the transition, all had ideas of expanding their own military power. A marriage alliance was the fastest and best way to bind two houses together.

The feudal lords in the west had united and seceded. To protect himself, Jin Yunyou had to ally with other lords. The Emperor had ordered the other lords to march against the rebels, promising rewards based on merit. But in private, all the lords wanted to play it safe and preserve their own strength⁸.

None of them wanted to suffer losses. Most hoped to reap the rewards of others’ conflict⁹.

            

The Qu family had no expectation that these lords would serve the new emperor, but they had to maintain appearances. Qu Jinian had already had the Emperor issue a secret edict¹⁰, conscripting a significant number of troops from various prefectures, to be placed under the direct command of the Qu family to suppress the rebellious lords.

Everyone had left the room, leaving only Jin Mingyi and Zhu Ming’an.

Jin Mingyi dropped her delicate act. Zhu Ming’an poured her tea and water, brought her fruits and pastries, and knelt with one leg on the couch-bed, serving her hand and foot¹¹.

            

“My father will definitely try to take me away again. I was thinking, why don’t we sneak away to your home while they’re not looking?” Jin Mingyi said as she chewed on a pastry.

Hearing this, Zhu Ming’an blinked. Should she tell her that she was also a runaway bride?

Last time she wrote a letter home for the Qu family, people from her family had come to get her not long after. Thankfully, she had warned Qu Sheng in advance not to reveal her whereabouts and to tell them she had been sent elsewhere.

            

Zhu Ming’an’s silence made Jin Mingyi’s chewing slow down. “What, you don’t want me to come to your home?”

“No, no, no—”

“Hm?”

            

“No, it’s not that. I, I also, don’t dare to go home,” Zhu Ming’an said, slowing her speech.

“Why?” Jin Mingyi asked, taking another piece of fruit from the plate Zhu Ming’an was holding and popping it into her mouth. She waited for a long while, but Zhu Ming’an didn’t answer. Her eyelashes fluttered for a moment, and she asked tentatively, “You didn’t run away from a marriage, too, did you?”

At that, Zhu Ming’an looked up, the evasiveness in her eyes saying it all.

            

“Then we’re doomed. This Tiansheng is so big, yet there’s no place for us.” Jin Mingyi was troubled for a moment, but only a moment. Then she had another idea. “Why don’t we just go to the Qu family estate in Shoulin?”

“Right now, outside, it’s not safe.”

Zhu Ming’an always humbled herself before Jin Mingyi, but in the outside world, especially when doing business, she was unflappable¹², never subservient when negotiating with others.

            

She had recently heard from merchants about the situation outside. The prices of gold and silver were rising, and the price of grain had doubled. She suspected an even greater war was coming, so she didn’t advise leaving the city.

“So you’re just going to watch my father take me away?” Jin Mingyi demanded.

Zhu Ming’an grew anxious hearing this, but there seemed to be no good solution. She was an outsider, and one Jin Mingyi had bought at that. “How about, I go back with you?”

            

“No!” Jin Mingyi refused flatly. “The moment I go back, I’ll have to get married. Are you going to follow me even after I’m married?”

Hearing Jin Mingyi speak of marriage, Zhu Ming’an lowered her gaze. Her eyes flickered, then gradually deepened.

She had just heard them mention the Zheng family. The Zheng family’s lands bordered the Jin family’s to the north… Zhu Ming’an’s throat tightened for a moment. She looked up at Jin Mingyi, the intensity in her eyes now gone.

            

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Three days later, Qu Sheng, Lin Xizhao, and the Fourth Aunt of the Qu family sat in a carriage, waiting for Qu Jian’s coffin¹³ to pass.

The carriage, draped with white silk funeral banners¹⁴, stood out starkly against the withered yellow grass of winter. The Qu family cavalry was arrayed behind the carriage, white cloths tied around their heads.

Soon, a large banner bearing the character ‘Qu’ appeared from a mountain pass. Qu Sheng and Lin Xizhao helped the Fourth Aunt of the Qu family out of the carriage.

            

In the vanguard was a troop of cavalry, the faces of their horses covered with white cloth, leaving only their eyes, nostrils, and mouths exposed.

An Assistant Commander leading the troop saw the Qu family’s carriage and soldiers and spurred his horse forward. When he saw the Fourth Aunt of the Qu family being supported, he fell to his knees with a heavy thud, his eyes instantly reddening. “This last general¹⁵ failed to protect the Fourth Master! I have failed to live up to your trust!”

The Fourth Aunt of the Qu family looked at the guard who was always by Qu Jian’s side, a soldier from Shoulin. Her heart trembled. She reached out and helped him up. “You did your best. You don’t need to blame yourself so much.”

            

These men were all exceptionally loyal; she knew that. She had come to terms with it now. A military man lives with his head in his hands. She had known that before she married Qu Jian.

The Assistant Commander was helped to his feet. Behind him, the coffin, drawn by five horses, slowly came into view.

A feudal lord’s carriage was permitted a maximum of five horses. The Emperor had granted this special honor, allowing Qu Jian to return to the capital with the status of a lord.

            

The Fourth Aunt of the Qu family reached out to touch her husband’s coffin. The moment her fingertips made contact, it felt as if her heart shattered.

Tears welled in the eyes of Lin Xizhao and Qu Sheng. The cavalrymen behind them dismounted, removed their heavy helmets in unison, and knelt on one knee, their voices thundering as one:

“We welcome the Fourth Master home!”

            

The mournful cry echoed through the surroundings, startling flocks of birds into flight.

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