The Prime Minister’s Daughter and the Marquis’s Fool – Chapter 146
by Little PandaSorry, I Disagree.
A young servant stood behind Qu Sheng, holding a suit of armor. Worry bloomed in Lin Xizhao’s eyes. She knew perfectly well why Qu Sheng had gone to the palace today and what she was about to do, yet she couldn’t control the anxiety in her heart.
The family gathered in the hall. Qu Jinian gave his instructions while Qu Sheng stood and listened. Lin Xizhao, clenching a handkerchief in her hand, also listened with rapt attention.
She didn’t understand military strategy, but Qu Jinian’s admonitions were not confusing. The Qu family had many soldiers and generals, but the Emperor had sent two generals from his own fiefdom to accompany her, ostensibly for protection, but in reality, for surveillance.
Though the new Emperor’s appointment of Qu Sheng was an unprecedented honor, in the end, he still didn’t trust the Qu family.
Two hundred thousand troops against seven feudal lords and vassal kings—it was a task no one would dare accept. The Emperor was forcing the Qu family to use the forces from their own fief.
But Qu Sheng held the Emperor’s tiger tally1, and Qu Jinian was now telling her which of the vassal kings had the most formidable soldiers.
“This child has committed it all to memory.”
“You must remember: supreme authority cannot be delegated. You must cut the head off the snake—eliminate the commanders of the feudal lords’ armies,” Qu Jinian said, worried that these soldiers might turn their coats mid-battle and put Qu Sheng in a perilous position.
“Rest assured, Father. With the military tally in hand and generals like Cai Daozheng by my side, this child will certainly keep a firm grip on actual power,” Qu Sheng replied humbly.
She naturally understood this principle. The soldiers of each vassal king were loyal to their own master. If someone were to make a clandestine move2 and stir up trouble within her army, they would be defeated before the battle even began.
After finishing his instructions, Qu Jinian glanced at Lin Xizhao. With a slight blink, he said, “You two should have a moment to talk.”
“Are you leaving today?” Lin Xizhao knew that mobilizing an army was an urgent matter, but she hadn’t expected it to be this soon.
Qu Jinian nodded. “The Jin family has sent a plea for help. If we arrive any later, this father fears they won’t be able to hold on.”
Lingyi was easy to defend and difficult to attack. Furthermore, after Qu Jinian’s administration, its troops were strong and its horses were robust. Conquering it would be no simple task, but they couldn’t afford to be careless. It was better to send reinforcements sooner rather than later.
Qu Sheng looked sideways at Lin Xizhao, then turned back to Qu Jinian. “This child will first take my wife back to our courtyard. We will depart in two hours.”
Qu Jinian nodded and dismissed them. Jin Yunfei followed a few steps behind them before lowering her eyes.
“My lord, can Sheng’er really lead an army?” Jin Yunfei was deeply worried, but she knew better than to say anything discouraging just now.
Qu Jinian looked at his wife and took a deep breath. “It will be fine. Sheng’er is very much like Ce’er.”
Hearing Qu Jinian compare Qu Sheng to Qu Ce brought Jin Yunfei a small measure of comfort. When Qu Ce had led troops and commanded battles, he had been in no way inferior to Qu Jinian.
But Jin Yunfei’s worry stemmed from the fact that Qu Sheng was a girl.
When Lin Xizhao and Qu Sheng reached their room, Lin Xizhao immediately began to hurry about, helping Qu Sheng pack her clothes. She had thought Qu Sheng would be leaving tomorrow.
Qu Sheng stood in the room, watching Lin Xizhao bustle around. Winter clothes were thick and heavy; a few garments were enough to overfill a bundle.
Suddenly, Qu Sheng grasped Lin Xizhao’s nimble, slender hands.
“Wife, I can’t take you with me.” Qu Sheng had seen Lin Xizhao start to pack her own clothes.
Lin Xizhao froze, but she didn’t turn her head. She had never asked Qu Sheng if she could go, because without a definite answer, she could hold on to a sliver of hope. Now that Qu Sheng had said it aloud, an irrepressible sense of grievance welled up inside her.
A war was no place for her; she knew that. But she wanted to be by Qu Sheng’s side.
Seeing her slender body remain still, Qu Sheng moved closer, pressing against her delicate back and whispering in her ear, “I’ll be fine. The troops from Shoulin are already marching this way in secret. I just need to rendezvous with them, and we can crush these rebels in a pincer attack.”
Qu Sheng was revealing her strategy.
She didn’t want Lin Xizhao to worry too much. When Lin Xizhao was sad, she felt even sadder.
Though these words soothed Lin Xizhao’s heart, how could she not worry about the flashing blades and bloody shadows of the battlefield? The last time had been a do-or-die battle3; this time was different.
Qu Sheng slowly turned Lin Xizhao’s slim body to face her. She looked down at the shimmer of unshed tears in Lin Xizhao’s eyes, and her own heart clenched. “Trust me.”
She never did things she wasn’t sure of. If she knew she was marching to her death, she would never go.
At her words, Lin Xizhao lifted her gaze. The moisture in her eyes slid down her cheeks, her face a mask of grievance and worry.
“Wife…” Qu Sheng’s gaze wavered as she searched Lin Xizhao’s gentle face. She wanted to take her along, too, but campaigning was too harsh. She couldn’t bear to let her beautiful wife suffer such hardships with her.
Their eyes met, both gazes as soft as water. Qu Sheng lowered her head, tilting it slightly to kiss Lin Xizhao’s soft lips.
The taste of her tear-streaked lips was salty, and Qu Sheng drank it all in.
As the kiss deepened, Lin Xizhao responded, her hands behind her back letting go of the clothes she held. They embraced, kissing for a long time.
Only when the tears on Lin Xizhao’s cheeks had vanished did Qu Sheng slowly release her.
Qu Sheng rested her forehead against Lin Xizhao’s, their noses barely touching as they steadied their breathing. “Just pack a few changes of clothes. No need to prepare too much.”
Lin Xizhao lowered her eyes for a moment, then nodded gently. “Mm.”
Qu Sheng helped Lin Xizhao pack the clothes into a bundle, which was then given to a guard to take away. Qu Sheng sat on the edge of the bed, and Lin Xizhao sat on her lap, listening to her instructions.
“I’ve already sent someone to inform my cousin. If you get bored, you can go find them.”
There was no set date for Qu Sheng’s return; she wasn’t sure when she would be back. She was also worried about potential upheavals in the capital, so she had discussed a few things with Qu Jinian on the way back.
Lin Xizhao agreed softly. While Qu Sheng was away, she would stay in the residence and take care of the two elders for her.
They cherished their time together for a long while. Qu Sheng’s reluctance to leave was expressed physically; she held Lin Xizhao tighter and tighter, wishing she could tuck her away inside her own body and take her everywhere.
Time passed quickly. Before they could finish their farewells, a messenger from Qu Jinian arrived to hurry her along.
Hearing the voice outside, Lin Xizhao’s heart gave a sudden, painful lurch.
The two of them stood up and walked hand-in-hand out to the main hall.
Qu Jinian had selected a few more guards to accompany her, and two capable guards from Shoulin had also returned. After giving his final instructions, Qu Jinian saw Qu Sheng to the residence gates.
The Qu family did not go to the city gates to see her off, and as Qu Sheng left, she did not look back. Standing by the gate, Jin Yunfei saw the disappointment in Lin Xizhao’s eyes and offered a faint smile of comfort. “Everyone in our Qu family is like this. We never waver when it comes to important matters.”
Jin Yunfei’s words were meant to console, but Lin Xizhao didn’t think that was it. The people of the Qu family valued sentiment and loyalty above all, to say nothing of the bond between her and Qu Sheng.
Qu Sheng had left without a backward glance not out of resolve, but because she was afraid that if she looked back even a few more times, she wouldn’t be able to bear leaving at all.
“Let’s go back inside,” Lin Xizhao said. Her heart was heavy. The sense of loss from Qu Sheng’s departure was too oppressive; she needed to be alone to soothe herself.
Qu Jinian nodded and had everyone return to the residence.
They had just turned to go back when the sound of horse hooves approached. The Qu family turned to see their own family carriage.
The carriage stopped, and Jin Mingyi and Zhu Ming’an poked their heads out.
The two of them alighted, first greeting the elders before turning to Lin Xizhao with beaming smiles.
Two months later.
Two months had passed since Qu Sheng’s departure. The war situation, at first unclear, had turned into a stream of frequent victory reports.
Qu Sheng had led her troops to first strike the heartland of the rebel army, cutting them off at the root. Along the way, she had mobilized the forces of other feudal lords, painstakingly4 dismantling their command structures until she held all military authority in her own hands.
In Lingyi, just as the city walls were breached, her army coordinated an attack from within and without, annihilating the besieging rebel forces.
Now, the fighting in Lingyi was over. Qu Sheng was leading her army to advance on the rebels’ current main encampment.
In the capital, the Spring Examinations were imminent. Despite the frequent battles in the south, aspiring scholars who had passed the provincial exams still risked their lives to reach the capital.
The city’s inns were filled to capacity.
For the past two months, Lin Xizhao had been shuttling between the Lin Residence and the Qu Marquis Residence. With her two younger brothers about to take the imperial examinations5, she, as their elder sister, couldn’t just stand by. She took care of everything personally, and so had moved back to the Lin Residence to live for a while.
Lin Jianhai had claimed illness and stopped attending court. The Emperor simply stripped him of all his official duties and halved his salary.
For the past two months, after their tutor had left for the day, Lin Jianhai would personally instruct his two sons in the evenings. He himself had been a top scholar, so teaching his sons came naturally to him.
Lin Xizhao, meanwhile, busied herself in the rear courtyard, tending to the needs of the father and his two sons. The furrows in Lin Jianhai’s brow gradually began to smooth out.
Lin Xizhao entered from outside, a gentle smile on her face. “Father,” she said, looking at him and her two brothers, “have something to eat first.”
At the mention of food, Lin Xirui looked up, his eyes shining. “A-jie! What delicious things did you make tonight?”
Every evening, Lin Xizhao would cook personally, and she had thoroughly spoiled Lin Xirui’s palate.
“Ahem.” Lin Jianhai coughed lightly.
Lin Xirui quickly lowered his head, sneaking a peek at his father’s expression.
“Let’s rest for a while. We’ll continue memorizing after we’ve eaten,” Lin Jianhai said. He was hungry too; eating at this time had become a habit.
Hearing his father give the word, Lin Xirui shot to his feet and ran behind Lin Xizhao to take the food box from a maid’s hands.
He opened the box to reveal pan-fried fish slices, lychee pork, and jade belt shrimp—all his favorites. Of course, there were also dishes that Lin Jianhai and Lin Xikuan enjoyed.
The family sat together, eating. When Lin Xirui looked up at Lin Xizhao, he was grinning from ear to ear. He also drank two large bowls of the mushroom soup.
“Eat a little less, or you’ll get indigestion,” Lin Xizhao said with a smile.
“It’s fine. Second Brother and I will take a walk in the courtyard later. It’ll digest in no time.”
It was currently the second month, and the weather was still a bit cold. Lin Xizhao reminded him, “Then wear more clothes. Don’t catch a chill.”
The examinations were only a few days away. If he caught a cold then, this whole year of preparation would be for naught.
Lin Xirui nodded. “Don’t worry, jiejie. I’m strong as an ox.”
Lin Xizhao smiled and served him some food. “It’s still better to be careful.”
Lin Xirui accepted the food, nodding as he shovelled it into his mouth.
After the late-night snack, Lin Xizhao had the dishes cleared away and left the father and sons to their studies. As she was leading her maids out of the courtyard, she was met by a rapidly approaching Feng Qi.
“Eldest Miss, a letter has come from the Young Miss,” Feng Qi said, his form of address unchanged.
Feng Qi had originally been left behind, but Lin Xizhao, worried about Qu Sheng, had sent him to follow her. Qu Sheng, however, had refused him, insisting that he must stay by Lin Xizhao’s side. After some back and forth, Lin Xizhao had let him stay.
Hearing that a letter had come from Qu Sheng, Lin Xizhao’s eyes instantly lit up with joy. She took the letter from Feng Qi, held it to her heart for a moment, then gave some instructions to her servants and hurried back to her courtyard.
Standing under the dim yellow candlelight, Lin Xizhao slowly unfolded the letter and saw the familiar handwriting.
It would still be some time before the war in the south was quelled. The letter reported only good news and no bad, mostly describing the scenery Qu Sheng had seen and the local specialties the soldiers had told her about.
Lin Xizhao loved reading travelogues, and Qu Sheng’s letter was just like one. At the end, she didn’t forget to tell Lin Xizhao that she missed her.
Lin Xizhao gazed at the densely packed characters, and after reading it, her brows were arched with happiness. She put the letter away, had someone bring her a brush and ink, and began to write a reply to Qu Sheng.
On the ninth day of the second month of spring, the Ministry of Rites held the examinations to select officials.
The scholars entered the grounds ahead of time to acclimate to the environment. Lin Xirui and Lin Xikuan had been through it before, and Lin Xizhao had prepared everything they could possibly need.
On the day the nearly half-month-long examinations ended, Lin Jianhai sat in a carriage, personally waiting for his two sons to emerge from the Examination Hall6.
Lin Xizhao stood beside the carriage, flanked by Feng Qi and several other guards, anxiously waiting for her two brothers.
Around noon, the great gates of the Examination Hall opened, and a throng of scholars poured out. Lin Xizhao had told them beforehand that she would be waiting for them under the pagoda tree a few dozen metres from the hall.
The two brothers squeezed their way through the crowd. There were so many scholars that it was hard to move an inch. By the time they found Lin Xizhao, it was already past noon.
They boarded the carriage. Lin Jianhai sat waiting and asked, “How was it?”
Lin Xirui spoke first, smiling. “Thanks to Father’s guidance, although this child is untalented, I am confident I will not fail this time.”
Lin Jianhai nodded and glanced at Lin Xikuan. Lin Xikuan looked up at his father, his expression a little tense, and replied, “Many of the essay topics Father coached us on were on the exam. This child also feels there shouldn’t be any major problems.”
Lin Jianhai nodded, satisfied. His glory days were past; the Lin family now had to rely on these two sons.
Lin Xizhao arranged a banquet. Whether they did well or not, all that mattered was that they had tried their best. She had hopes for Lin Xirui, but she wouldn’t be harsh if he failed.
Qu Sheng wanted a civil official in the court, and that person didn’t necessarily have to be Lin Xirui.
After the banquet, Lin Xizhao made a trip back to the Qu Marquis Residence to report the news of her brothers to Jin Yunfei and Qu Jinian.
She was a member of the Qu family now; she always had to go back.
The results of the Spring Examinations would be posted in less than half a month. Three days after that, the Palace Examination7 would be held, with the Emperor himself setting the questions.
Everything was rushed and simplified, which also tested the scholars’ ability to adapt.
After returning to the Qu Marquis Residence, Lin Xizhao went to the small courtyard residence that afternoon. Jin Mingyi and Zhu Ming’an had often come to find her over the past two months, alleviating much of her boredom.
Ever since that day they had kissed while drunk, the relationship between Jin Mingyi and Zhu Ming’an had become somewhat delicate.
When Lin Xizhao arrived, the two were in the middle of a passionate kiss inside the room. Even so, they had not discussed their relationship or what the future held.
Zhu Ming’an pressed down on Jin Mingyi, her kisses growing more practiced. The person beneath her was enjoying it, but was also apprehensive.
“Don’t,” Jin Mingyi mumbled, frowning.
At her words, Zhu Ming’an slowly withdrew her mischievous fingers, clenching them into a fist for a moment before planting her hand by Jin Mingyi’s side. If she couldn’t take liberties with her hands, she would have to take them with her mouth.
Zhu Ming’an’s breath came in heavy pants as she tangled her tongue with Jin Mingyi’s. But it wasn’t enough to quench the ‘thirst’ in her heart.
The kiss gradually slowed. Zhu Ming’an propped herself up, hovering over Jin Mingyi. Her hot breath ghosted over Jin Mingyi’s lips and her slender, fair neck.
The sight was dazzling. Zhu Ming’an’s throat bobbed as she suppressed her ragged breathing and asked, “Do you… want to… be with me?”
Jin Mingyi was gasping for air. Hearing Zhu Ming’an’s question, she looked up and answered without a second thought, “No.”
With that, she pushed Zhu Ming’an off, got up, and went to pour herself a cup of cold tea, which she drank down in one gulp. When she turned back, she saw Zhu Ming’an still in the same half-reclined position she had been pushed into, propped up on her arms.
Jin Mingyi glanced at her once before turning her head away, pretending to casually smooth out her dress.
Zhu Ming’an saw it all, but her expression didn’t change. She stared at Jin Mingyi until she walked back on her own, then without a word, pulled her back onto the couch and sought out her lips, now cool from the tea, and began to kiss her again.
She didn’t refuse the kisses, but she would never agree to be with her.
Zhu Ming’an liked girls. She had known since she was old enough to remember that she preferred women. Ending up by Jin Mingyi’s side had been an accident, but she didn’t know when she had fallen for her.
They were kissing again, Zhu Ming’an drawing in the coolness from her lips, Jin Mingyi enduring the heat from Zhu Ming’an’s.
Neither side would yield, and the kiss grew ever more intoxicating.
“Young Miss, the Eldest Miss is here.”
A maid’s voice came from outside. Jin Mingyi abruptly pushed Zhu Ming’an away. She raised a sleeve to wipe her mouth and scrambled off the couch.
Zhu Ming’an took a moment to compose herself before sullenly following her out.
“Cousin-in-law, you’re here! Are your two brothers done with their business?” Jin Mingyi asked cheerfully as soon as she entered the hall.
Seeing Jin Mingyi, Lin Xizhao noted her resemblance to Qu Sheng and smiled. “Yes, they’re finished. I’m not sure if they’ll be able to participate in the Palace Examination.”
“To hear you say that, does it mean your two brothers will pass?”
“According to Father, they probably will.” In previous years, Lin Jianhai had been selected to help write examination questions. Hearing his sons’ answers, he had a good idea of where they stood.
“Then I must congratulate you in advance!” Jin Mingyi smiled and was about to link arms with Lin Xizhao, but as she raised her hand, she heard Zhu Ming’an cough lightly.
Both of them looked over at the sound. Jin Mingyi’s hand froze mid-air, and Zhu Ming’an pretended to look away.
Jin Mingyi shot Zhu Ming’an a glare, then wrapped her arm around Lin Xizhao’s. “Stay here and rest today,” she said affectionately. “You’ve been so tired for so long, you should relax.”
Lin Xizhao smiled. “I can’t stay, but I can join you for dinner. Mother had me bring some ingredients, and the kitchen has already started preparing them.”
Jin Mingyi’s face lit up. “Aunt is still the best to me.”
Jin Yunfei had been visiting often these days. Before, she would just send people with gifts, but now that the younger generation was away, she missed them terribly and came to see Jin Mingyi frequently for comfort.
The three of them had dinner at the small residence, and then Lin Xizhao left.
Soon, the day the examination results were posted arrived. Lin Xizhao accompanied her two brothers to check the lists. Not having high hopes for Lin Xirui, she started looking from the second-class list, but when she reached the end, she hadn’t seen his name. Just as she was about to check the third-class list, Feng Qi whispered, “Eldest Miss, the Shizi is in the first class.”
Lin Xizhao walked over to the first-class list. She didn’t have to search; his name was the very first one.
Lin Xirui was still searching the third-class list. When he reached the end without finding his name, he saw Lin Xikuan’s instead.
The two brothers had each taken the top spot in two different classes.
The group returned to the residence in high spirits. Lin Jianhai was extremely pleased with Lin Xirui’s performance and had no criticism for Lin Xikuan either.
After the meal, Lin Jianhai had his two sons go back to burning the midnight oil and studying hard.
The Palace Examination would be held in five days, and all those on the list were required to attend.
On the day of the Palace Examination, it began to snow. Three days later, the results were out.
Lin Xirui was still at the top of the list, with Lin Xikuan close behind.
The Emperor personally selected the Zhuangyuan8. When he inquired about his family background and heard he was Lin Jianhai’s son, his expression turned cold. However, with the persuasion of his ministers and Qu Jinian’s mediation, the Emperor granted him some face, bestowing upon them a seat at the Qionglin Banquet9 and many other gifts.
Three paragons from one family soon became a celebrated story in the capital. Many people came to the Lin Residence with marriage proposals, and Lin Jianhai was all smiles.
From then on, Lin Jianhai’s attitude toward the new Emperor gradually changed. But it no longer mattered to him whether things were good or bad. It was time for the young to make their mark; he would remain behind the scenes.
Lin Xirui and Lin Xikuan were assigned to the Hanlin Academy10. Their positions were not high, but Lin Jianhai had also started from such a step. However, all his achievements had been inseparable from the support of Lady Liang.
Lin Jianhai cared for Lady Liang not only because she had borne him children and given him a respectable life, but also because she had been an excellent helpmate who advised him on strategy.
As the court needed new blood, the Emperor soon dismissed several officials and promoted Lin Xirui and Lin Xikuan into their positions.
To win support, the Crown Prince made a special trip to Lin Jianhai’s residence to visit the new Zhuangyuan and Bangyan.
Since the family had no matriarch, Lin Xizhao, as the eldest sister, returned from the Qu Marquis Residence to arrange a banquet.
Lin Jianhai was somewhat surprised by the new Crown Prince’s visit, but as a former Prime Minister, he still had the necessary composure. The Crown Prince complained about some of the court’s chronic problems, and Lin Jianhai offered some advice.
After that, the Crown Prince began to visit frequently, and each time, Lin Xizhao had to rush back from afar.
After a while, Lin Xirui began to feel sorry for her and told her not to come anymore. But one day when Lin Xizhao didn’t come, the Crown Prince actually asked about her.
Neither of the two residences had ever let slip the matter of Lin Xizhao’s marriage to Qu Sheng. Thus, when the Crown Prince saw Lin Xizhao at the Qu Marquis Residence that day, he had assumed she was the wife of one of the Qu family’s young masters.
He wouldn’t dare covet someone from the Qu Marquis Residence, but someone from the Lin Residence was fair game.
One day, during a banquet, after draining a cup with Lin Jianhai, the Crown Prince smiled and said, “I hear that Xizhao-jiejie of your residence is not yet betrothed. I wonder if King Wenze would be willing to form a marital alliance with my imperial family?”
Hearing the Crown Prince’s words, the wine cup in Lin Xirui’s hand froze. He looked at the Crown Prince, his face showing a hint of panic.
Lin Jianhai heard him, raised his eyebrows slightly, and asked with a faint smile, “I wonder which prince Your Highness is referring to?”
The Crown Prince laughed. “Naturally, it is I.” He had used “I” instead of the royal “this palace,” a clear gesture of goodwill toward Lin Jianhai.
“Your Highness already has a Crown Princess in the Eastern Palace11. What is the meaning of this?”
Hearing Lin Jianhai’s probing question, the Crown Prince knew that Lin Jianhai was willing. It was just that he had taken a primary wife when he was a mere prince, who had now been elevated to Crown Princess. “As long as Uncle Lin agrees, everything can be arranged.” The Crown Prince changed his form of address again.
“Father King,” Lin Xirui said, trying to warn him.
Lin Jianhai shot him a cold glare. “When did it become your turn to interrupt while I am speaking with His Highness?”
Lin Xirui felt a surge of anger at being rebuked, but given the Crown Prince’s status, he didn’t dare say another word.
“Zhuangyuan, don’t be angry. If your sister is willing to marry me, the position of Crown Princess will surely be hers.”
Hearing this, Lin Xirui glanced at the Crown Prince, not in the least bit tempted. On the contrary, he felt a sense of disdain.
Lin Xirui downed a few cups of wine in frustration, then directly apologized to the Crown Prince. “This official is suddenly feeling unwell and would like to rest. I beg Your Highness’s leave.”
The Crown Prince saw Lin Xirui’s face alternating between pale and red and figured he had lost face from being scolded by his father. “Very well, you are dismissed.”
After leaving, Lin Xirui went straight out of the residence and to the Qu Marquis Residence to find Lin Xizhao, telling her everything that had been said at the dinner table.
After listening, Lin Xizhao thought it over carefully and advised, “Father King’s health has only recently improved. Don’t argue with him. Just pretend this never happened.”
“A-jie, Father King is about to sell you out, and you’re still thinking of him!” Lin Xirui was also a very filial son, but today’s events had truly stoked his anger.
“It’s fine. You just focus on your own duties. I will handle the rest,” Lin Xizhao reassured him.
She was also worried that Lin Xirui would clash with the Crown Prince and lose the official position he had worked so hard to obtain. Qu Jinian was already doing his best to support him.
Lin Xirui didn’t know what Lin Xizhao was thinking and left in a huff.
A few days later, news came from the palace: the Crown Prince, on the grounds that his Crown Princess was without talent or virtue, had demoted her to a secondary consort12, freeing up the position of Crown Princess.
In the fourth month, a late spring cold snap arrived. The flowers had all bloomed, only to be met with a heavy snowfall. Lin Jianhai’s old ailment flared up, and he sent his butler to the Qu Marquis Residence to ask Lin Xizhao to come back, saying he was craving the lotus seed and red date soup she made.
Upon hearing this, Lin Xizhao hastily threw on a cloak and returned to the Lin Residence.
She simmered the soup over a low fire, sitting by the stove the entire time. By the time she had finished making it and watched Lin Jianhai drink it, the sky had turned completely dark. The snowy roads were difficult to travel, so Lin Xizhao stayed the night.
At the end of the Hour of the Dog13, Lin Xizhao was preparing to extinguish the lamps and rest when she got up and saw the door had been blown open by the wind.
Not only had it snowed, but a cold wind had also picked up. This year’s fruit harvest would likely suffer greatly.
Lin Xizhao got up to close the door, only to be startled by a figure that suddenly appeared.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince.” Lin Xizhao’s heart was still pounding.
The Crown Prince chuckled, his eyes fixed on the lovely face that had occupied his thoughts day and night. He softened his voice and asked, “Xizhao-jiejie, are you about to sleep?”
Hearing his voice, Lin Xizhao immediately glanced outside. The maids were all gone, and Feng Qi was nowhere to be seen.
“It is so late. What is Your Highness doing in this female subject’s chambers?” Lin Xizhao asked, steadying herself.
The Crown Prince took a step inside. Lin Xizhao instinctively took a few steps back, maintaining her distance.
Seeing that he couldn’t get close to her, the Crown Prince stopped and smiled. “At your father’s word, I demoted my consort. I came today to ask you if you would be willing to be my primary consort.”
“Your Highness jests. Xizhao is already betrothed. Did my father not tell you?”
“Xizhao-jiejie, don’t try to deceive me,” the Crown Prince said. “I know you are Qu Jinian’s adopted daughter, but that doesn’t matter. The Qu family and we are one big family. As long as you agree, they will agree too.”
“Sorry, I disagree.” Lin Xizhao was normally a very patient person, but Qu Sheng was not in the capital, it was late at night, and the Crown Prince should not be here.
Hearing her refusal, the Crown Prince didn’t get angry. He coaxed her with a smile, “As long as you are willing, when I inherit the throne, you will be the Empress, and your two brothers will have a meteoric rise. We each get what we want. What’s not to like?”
“Your Highness, this female subject wishes to rest. Please leave,” Lin Xizhao said, her voice turning cold.
When Emperor Baoguang was on the throne, even the former Crown Prince would not have treated her like this. Faced with such lecherous14 behavior, Lin Xizhao saw no need to feign civility.
Hearing that she was trying to kick him out, the Crown Prince’s face fell. “Don’t refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit15. Your father has already promised you to this palace. Tonight, why don’t we just—”
Before the Crown Prince could finish, a sound like a clap of thunder echoed from outside. The night was torn asunder, and through the wind and snow, Lin Xizhao saw a figure.
“Sheng’er.”
Qu Sheng stood in a suit of armor, her figure tall and imposing in the biting wind, radiating a formidable chill.
Qu Sheng’s cold gaze swept over. The Crown Prince froze for a moment, then, recognizing her, immediately put on a smile. “General Zhaoyong—”
He had just uttered Qu Sheng’s military title when she strode inside. The sheer coldness emanating from her tied the Crown Prince’s tongue in knots.
Lin Xizhao’s room was large, but with Qu Sheng’s entrance, it suddenly felt cramped.
The corners of her eyes scarlet with rage, Qu Sheng walked toward the Crown Prince step by step. The Crown Prince knew some martial arts, but it was nothing more than clumsy brawling, a world away from Qu Sheng’s rigorous training. Moreover, Qu Sheng had just returned from the battlefield. She had lost count of how many people she had killed, and the murderous aura she carried forced the Crown Prince into a corner of the room.
In an instant, Qu Sheng’s hand shot out and clamped around the Crown Prince’s throat. His breath was snatched away, and his face began to turn red.
Footnotes
- A tiger tally (hǔfú) was a two-part bronze or gold token in the shape of a tiger, used in ancient China to authorize the movement of troops. The emperor held one half, and the general held the other; they had to be matched to verify an order.
- An idiom, àndùchéncāng, which literally means 'to secretly cross to Chencang.' It refers to a famous military strategy and means to feign one action while secretly carrying out another.
- An idiom, pòfǔchénzhōu, meaning 'to break the cauldrons and sink the boats.' It signifies a point of no return, where one commits to a do-or-die struggle by destroying any means of retreat.
- An idiom, bō sī chōu jiǎn, literally 'to peel silk and pull out the cocoon.' It means to analyze something complex layer by layer, getting to the heart of the matter.
- The imperial examinations (kējǔ) were a civil service examination system in Imperial China for selecting candidates for the state bureaucracy. The process involved multiple levels, from local to metropolitan.
- The gòngyuàn, or Examination Hall, was a large compound of small, isolated cells where candidates would be locked in for several days to complete the imperial examinations.
- The Palace Examination (diànshì) was the final and highest level of the imperial examinations, personally presided over by the emperor.
- Zhuàngyuán, or First Scholar, was the title given to the scholar who achieved the highest score on the final, palace-level imperial examination. It was the most prestigious academic honor.
- The Qiónglín Yàn, or Qionglin Banquet, was a celebratory feast hosted by the emperor for scholars who had successfully passed the final Palace Examination.
- The Hanlin Academy (Hànlín Yuàn) was an elite academic and administrative institution of top scholars who performed secretarial, archival, and literary tasks for the court.
- The Eastern Palace (Dōnggōng) was the official residence of the crown prince and is often used as a metonym for the crown prince himself or his household.
- A cèfēi, or secondary consort, was a consort of a prince or emperor with a rank lower than the primary wife (the fēi or princess consort) but higher than a concubine.
- The xū shí, or Hour of the Dog, is a traditional Chinese two-hour period corresponding to roughly 7-9 p.m. 'Xū shí mò' means it was near the end of this period, around 9 p.m.
- A reference to Dēng Túzǐ, a character in a poem by Song Yu from the Warring States period, who became a byword for a lecher or libertine.
- A common saying, jìngjiǔ bù chī chī fájiǔ, which literally means 'to refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit.' It's a threat, implying that if one doesn't accept a polite offer, they will be forced to accept a much harsher outcome.
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