The Prime Minister’s Daughter and the Marquis’s Fool – Chapter 153
by Little PandaThe Name to Inherit the Title of Nobility
The ministers in the hall held their breath, terrified of making a single sound and drawing attention to themselves, lest they end up like the Minister of War and lose their heads.
The Emperor stared at the words on the list. Cradling a sliver of hope in his heart, he forced an unnatural smile to his lips. “Among the names listed in your petition, are there any who were wrongly investigated?”
Hearing this, Qu Sheng raised her eyes and said coldly, “There are none.”
The Emperor’s expression instantly collapsed into panicked tension. Like a bird with broken wings, he sat waiting for the danger to descend.
The Emperor sat upon the dragon throne, silent for a long time. Ever since the former Crown Prince had come to report to him—how he had nearly died at Qu Sheng’s hands, and confessing the deeds he had committed—the Emperor had begun to feel a faint sense of dread.
The nature of the Qu family had always been to exact vengeance for every grudge. Prince Fucheng’s entire household of over two thousand people had been wiped out without a single survivor. Emperor Baoguang had known perfectly well that the Qu family was responsible, but he suffered from an inability to produce evidence. Even if there had been evidence, the Qu family was not one to be easily manipulated.
Only now did he suddenly understand why a carved jade stone had abruptly appeared in his territory back then. How was it so entirely coincidental that the Qu family had made contact with them so soon after the incident, and that their military forces had arrived with such perfect timing?
Had they not chosen to cooperate with the Qu family back then, the person currently sitting on this throne would already be a member of the Qu family.
The only reason the Qu family had allowed him to become Emperor was merely to bide their time and win over the feudal lords.
The Emperor looked toward Qu Sheng, a measure of mournful despair seeping into his eyes.
“I ask Your Majesty to issue an edict to avenge the deceased commoners.” Qu Sheng rested her hand on the Xuanwu Sword1 at her waist, her voice cold, harsh, and refusing any denial.
By the time Lin Xizhao heard the news of Qu Sheng’s return, Qu Sheng had already been in the palace for two hours2. The Emperor’s most trusted ministers were all currently under house arrest within the palace walls.
The Emperor had issued an imperial decree holding the former Crown Prince’s faction, as well as a portion of his own trusted aides, entirely accountable. The lighter punishments involved being stripped of official posts; the heavier ones awaited execution.
Qu Sheng had not even needed to present the conclusive evidence to compel the Emperor to decree that the former Crown Prince be locked in the Imperial Prison3. He would wait until the execution order was given at the Hour of the Horse4 tomorrow, which she would personally supervise.
At dusk, Lin Xizhao, who had waited in the Qu Residence for an entire day, finally saw Qu Sheng return from the palace.
The events inside the palace had been almost entirely locked down, but outside, the Qu family army had entered the city, and the key strategic posts had all completed their guard rotations.
With such speed, if one claimed this had not been plotted in advance, absolutely no one would believe it.
Qu Jinian sat in his room holding a teacup. As he listened to the guards’ reports, his brows slowly furrowed together. He had perceived what Qu Sheng was plotting, but given the circumstances at the time, he had been powerless to stop it, nor could he have stood in her way.
The Emperor feared the Qu family. He had already begun cultivating his own power in the court, and he had replaced the Qu family army at the capital’s strategic posts, dispatching them outside the city instead.
During the months Qu Sheng had been away, the court had ceased to fear the Qu family. The former Crown Prince had been forced into deposition, and both the Emperor and the courtiers had accumulated grievances in their hearts. Many times, the court’s decisions were no longer brought before Qu Jinian for consultation; in fact, they actively avoided him.
With Emperor Baoguang as a past lesson, if the Qu family continued to endure adversity meekly without any resistance, they would slowly be eaten alive.
The younger generation of the Qu family had either died or gone missing. And there was also Qu Yu, who no longer had the body he once did; even if he recovered, he would never be like a normal person again.
With such profound hatred between them, Emperor Baoguang had brushed it aside lightly and even instated the Qu family’s ‘foolish’ Qu Sheng as the Crown Princess, vainly attempting to swallow the military forces of the Qu family’s territory. No matter how much Qu Jinian could endure, it was time to make a move.
When Qu Sheng laid out her plans in the south previously, he had not understood them at the time. It was not until a few days ago, when Qu Sheng prepared to lead her troops into the capital, that he finally realized what she was truly aiming for.
Qu Sheng exited the palace and returned to the Marquis’s Residence covered in the dust of travel. Everyone in the household came out to welcome her—even the youngest, Qu Zhimu, was carried out—yet Qu Jinian was the only one absent.
After Qu Sheng finished bowing to all her elders, she asked Jin Yunfei, “Mother, where is Father?”
Upon seeing Qu Sheng’s joyful expression, Jin Yunfei slowly reined in her own smile. She looked back over her shoulder. “Your father is waiting for you in his room.”
Hearing this, Qu Sheng glanced at her two aunts and the couple Qu Yu and Zhao Jiayu. “I will go see Father,” she said, before striding away.
Qu Yu watched the wind trail behind Qu Sheng’s brisk steps, feeling inevitably worried. Today, when Qu Jinian learned that Qu Sheng had led troops into the city, his complexion had been exceedingly ugly.
Qu Yu had served as an official. Unless it was an armed usurpation of power, the troops stationed outside the city were forbidden to enter the capital without an imperial edict. Yet Qu Sheng had not only brought the soldiers inside, but she had also completely swapped out the city’s deployments.
She had even entered the inner palace herself; who knew what she had done in there.
Qu Sheng walked swiftly toward the study in the main courtyard. Qu Jinian sat inside, having kept his eyes closed for a long time. Even when he heard the footsteps and the rustle of armor, he did not open them.
Qu Sheng raised her eyes to look at Qu Jinian, lowered her head in a bow, and called out, “Father?”
At the sound of her voice, Qu Jinian slowly opened his eyes. The usual gentleness in his gaze was gone, replaced by a scrutinizing appraisal of the daughter standing before him.
Seeing that Qu Jinian did not answer or say anything to her, Qu Sheng lifted her head and reported, “The capital is now under our Qu family’s control. The power of the feudal lords has been greatly diminished. At present, Tiansheng’s interior is stable, and the four seas are at peace. This child wishes for Father to oversee the capital—”
“Oversee the capital to do what?” Qu Jinian asked coldly.
Hearing the displeasure in Qu Jinian’s tone, Qu Sheng’s lips pressed into a tight, hard line. A moment later, she said, “This child wishes to go to the Northern Frontier to aid Third Uncle, but I am afraid that chaos will break out in the capital. Therefore, I want Father to oversee the capital… and when the time is ripe, take their place.”
Hearing Qu Sheng spill her true, innermost thoughts, Qu Jinian’s brow furrowed severely. To think that his Qu family had accompanied the Emperor of Tiansheng from the founding of the state up to the present day across hundreds of years. In every dynasty and every generation, they had served their masters with absolute loyalty; never had they committed such an act of treason.
Changing the candidate for Emperor was a matter of absolute necessity, but they were still loyal to the House of Sheng. Yet if they were to take their place entirely, they would become usurping traitors.
Qu Sheng raised her eyes and met the fury in Qu Jinian’s gaze. She lowered her lashes for a fleeting moment, but did not retreat in the slightest. “If Father does not wish to do it, then let this child take it upon herself.”
“You!” Qu Jinian simply could not believe his own daughter’s ambition was this vast.
Let alone that the world would not tolerate the Qu family usurping the throne, if Qu Sheng ascended the throne as a woman, would she not be mocked by everyone under heaven? Throughout history, there had never been a precedent for a woman becoming Emperor.
Having spoken her piece, Qu Sheng stood to the side with her eyes lowered, allowing Qu Jinian to stew in his fury beside her. She had known this day would come, but she also knew just how much Qu Jinian cared about her.
Her survival was also fundamentally tied to the future prosperity of the Qu family.
The two remained locked in a stalemate for a long time. Qu Sheng blinked lightly and said, “Father can consider the matter this child has raised a bit longer. If there are no other orders, this child would like to go to King Wenze’s Residence to bring Wife back.”
Rather than stand here and let Qu Jinian look at her while choking on his anger, it was better to leave early. She had expected Qu Jinian to be angry, but it was only a matter of time. She felt that when something like absolute power was presented to someone on a silver platter, very few people would refuse it.
Naturally, she was one of them.
However, if she had not experienced the murders of her family members, she would have been quite willing to be an idle master, ignoring all of this, wishing only to spend her days and nights facing Lin Xizhao.
But she had been through far too much over these past two years. Her thirst for power had only grown fiercer, because only by holding enough authority and influence could she protect the safety of her family. Thus, that absolute pinnacle was what she desired the most.
Seeing that Qu Jinian remained silent, his expression thoroughly darkened, Qu Sheng backed out of the room.
The rest of the Qu family knew of the upheaval in the city. The two of them conversing in the study had deliberately kept the others away, so the family merely stood beneath the trees in the courtyard, chatting and teasing the little milk-babe, Qu Zhimu.
Seeing Qu Sheng emerge, they all looked toward her. Noting her hurried pace, Jin Yunfei hastily said, “A banquet has been set in the dining hall. Eat something before you go out.”
Hearing this, Qu Sheng walked over to them beneath the flowering trees. With a gentle expression, she said, “This child wants to go pick up Wife first. I will eat the meal later.”
A smile appeared on Jin Yunfei’s face. “It is indeed time to bring Zhao’er back. However, your Uncle Lin is bedridden with illness. I fear you may not get your wish on this trip.” Lin Xizhao had been so busy these past few days that she hadn’t returned at all.
While in the army, Qu Sheng had heard the news of Lin Jianhai being paralyzed in bed. She replied, “It is no matter. This child ought to go check on Father-in-law anyway.”
“Alright, then I will have someone prepare some gifts.”
“There is no need. This child will be back very soon.” Preparing gifts would delay her further; she wanted to see Lin Xizhao as quickly as possible.
As long as Lin Xizhao liked it, she could empty out the entire Marquis’s Residence. Gifts could wait until later.
Qu Sheng bade farewell to everyone and left at a brisk walk.
Inside the Lin Residence, Lin Xizhao was feeding Lin Jianhai. Quite some time had passed since Lin Jianhai began receiving treatment. The majority of the people in the residence who had caught the febrile disease had already shown improvement, and those with severe pustules had begun to scab over.
Qu Sheng brought two squads of guards, leaving them waiting outside the gates while she went in entirely alone.
The steward of the Lin Residence guided Qu Sheng inside, while a servant hurriedly ran ahead to Lin Jianhai’s courtyard to inform Lin Xizhao.
“Junzhu, the General of the Flying Cavalry has arrived.”
Hearing this, Lin Xizhao’s expression froze for a second before a bright joy quickly filled her eyes. She fed the last bite of rice into Lin Jianhai’s mouth, wiped the corners of his lips for him, and tucked the thin blanket securely around him before rising to hand the bowl and chopsticks to a servant.
Lin Xizhao walked outside with quick, small steps, nearly colliding head-on with Qu Sheng.
Seeing Lin Xizhao instinctively shrink back, Qu Sheng reached out an arm, scooped her right back up, and pulled her into her embrace. “Wife, it’s me.”
Caught in her arms, the armor was freezing cold against Lin Xizhao, but she could feel the warmth radiating from Qu Sheng’s voice. Lin Xizhao lifted her head, looking at the Qu Sheng she had been separated from for days, the corners of her eyes curving upward. “Are all the matters in the court handled?”
Lin Xizhao knew that the very first thing Qu Sheng would do upon returning to the capital was go to the palace to report on her duties.
Qu Sheng nodded, a smile lingering on her lips. “They are handled.”
Their gazes met, both swimming in a tender, watery light. The profound, lingering affection between them drew them together into another embrace.
Holding Lin Xizhao, Qu Sheng let out a soft sigh of contentment in her heart, while Lin Xizhao’s arms wrapped tighter and tighter around Qu Sheng’s waist.
“Cough.” Lin Xirui and Lin Xikuan had arrived outside at some unknown point.
Hearing Lin Xirui’s cough, Lin Xizhao hurriedly released Qu Sheng and looked over Qu Sheng’s shoulder.
Looking somewhat awkward, Lin Xirui forced a small smile. “We heard Sheng-meimei had returned, so Second Brother and I came over to take a look.”
As he spoke, Lin Xirui nodded toward Qu Sheng, and Qu Sheng returned the gesture.
Though Qu Sheng was a woman, she now held an official military post that was even higher than both of theirs. Lin Xikuan offered a formal, disciplined salute with clasped hands, and Qu Sheng returned it with a crisp military salute.
With the arrival of these two, the atmosphere in the room grew slightly awkward. Seeing this, Lin Xirui smiled and said, “Sheng-meimei has returned triumphant from suppressing the rebellion. You must be exhausted these past few days. It would be best for you and Ajie to go back to your room and rest for a while.”
Having said that, Lin Xirui looked at Lin Xizhao again. “Ajie, Second Brother and I will take care of Father. You can go rest with Sheng-meimei with peace of mind.”
This was exactly what Qu Sheng wanted anyway. She certainly hadn’t come just to look at Lin Jianhai. Lin Xizhao gave her a glance, took her hand, and after nodding and giving a few instructions, led Qu Sheng outside.
The two of them walked very fast the entire way. It wasn’t that Qu Sheng was fast, but that Lin Xizhao was fast. Her small steps carried her so swiftly that the hem of her thin skirt, embroidered with baoxiang flowers5, fluttered in the air. Qu Sheng simply smiled and followed her at an unhurried, leisurely pace.
Upon returning to their courtyard, Lin Xizhao pulled Qu Sheng into the room, shut the door, and turned around, a burning heat in her eyes.
Separated for these past few days, she had missed Qu Sheng so much.
Seeing Qu Sheng standing there with a beaming smile, Lin Xizhao couldn’t resist reaching up to cup her cheek. “How have you grown so thin?”
When Lin Xizhao had been with her, she would constantly remind her to take care of her health at all times, but as soon as Lin Xizhao left, there was no one left to supervise Qu Sheng.
Qu Sheng leaned her cheek into the touch, raising her own hand to cover Lin Xizhao’s fair, delicate fingers, pressing herself even closer to Lin Xizhao. “From missing Wife.”
Hearing Qu Sheng say such things, Lin Xizhao was startled for a moment before she quickly broke into a smile. Resting one hand against the back of Qu Sheng’s neck, she leaned up and kissed her.
Qu Sheng’s hands wrapped around Lin Xizhao’s slender waist. The delicate hand resting on Qu Sheng’s cheek slid toward the back of her head, hooking around her as they kissed deeply.
Lin Xizhao had noticed a long time ago that Qu Sheng had grown quite a bit taller than her.
Their four lips met, like spring water melting winter ice, bringing a rising warmth.
After a long time, the initial fiery intensity slowly maintained its original temperature as they parted. They regulated their breathing, their foreheads pressed together, neither willing to let go.
After their breaths, heavy with longing, intertwined for a moment longer, Qu Sheng took the initiative to kiss her again. Soon, Lin Xizhao’s slender waist was bent backward by Qu Sheng’s surging intensity. Qu Sheng lifted an arm to cradle the back of Lin Xizhao’s neck, balancing the forceful demand between their lips and tongues.
In the courtyard, the foliage was lush and dense. The cicadas’ cries in the dusk were as loud and clear as ever, and occasionally a light breeze brushed past, making the branches and leaves rustle in harmony with nature’s tune.
When the people in the room finally emerged, they sent a servant with a message for Lin Xirui and Lin Xikuan, before returning to the Qu Residence together.
Lin Jianhai’s condition had stabilized. Liu Wuxiang said that in perhaps another three to five days, Lin Jianhai would be able to speak. Lin Xizhao had been busy here for the past few days and hadn’t gone back at all. Since Qu Sheng had returned today, it was indeed time for her to go back and take a look; that place was her home.
Sitting together in the carriage, Qu Sheng held Lin Xizhao’s hand, pressing it against her own leg, her gaze constantly fixed on Lin Xizhao.
Having not seen her for so long, she felt that her wife was somehow even more beautiful than when she had left.
Her delicate charm was only deepening.
When they arrived before the gates of the Marquis’s Residence, Qu Sheng dismounted first and lifted Lin Xizhao down in her arms. The servants in the estate hurriedly rushed over to bow to them.
The two entered the courtyard. The people inside were still waiting for them to eat. Seeing the young couple return together, Jin Yunfei hastily ordered the servants to add a few more hot dishes.
Qu Sheng and Lin Xizhao returned to her room, changed into casual clothes, and came back out.
The whole family sat together, and Qu Jinian was called over as well. The words Qu Sheng and Qu Jinian had exchanged were known only to the two of them; since Qu Jinian didn’t speak of it, no one else knew what had happened.
Qu Sheng pretended nothing was amiss, eating the food Lin Xizhao served her, while Qu Jinian’s complexion remained mild but carried an imperceptible trace of displeasure.
With the family gathered together, their numbers had grown since the last time—especially with the addition of little Zhimu. The babbling little girl was perpetually restless in Zhao Jiayu’s arms, pawing the air as if she wanted Lin Xizhao to hold her.
Her eyes curving into crescents, Lin Xizhao took the baby. Seeing that Lin Xizhao wouldn’t be able to eat properly, Qu Sheng reached out and took Qu Zhimu into her own arms. “Wife, eat first.”
Qu Sheng looked a bit stiff and wooden holding the child. Lin Xizhao watched with some concern and said, “It’s better if I hold her.”
“No need, I can watch it just fine.”
Held by Qu Sheng, the little girl neither cried nor fussed; instead, she reached out with great interest to pick at Qu Sheng’s lips and nose with her tiny hands.
Sitting to the side, Zhao Jiayu was perfectly happy to leave them to it. When the wet nurse and others tried to take the child, the baby pouted her pink little lips in protest. Qu Sheng took one look and simply let the baby poke and pry at her face.
Zhao Jiayu had eaten her fill and had even drunk a little fine wine, but that didn’t stop her from holding the child. Qu Sheng had only just returned today; she wouldn’t be so inconsiderate as to let the baby pester them any longer.
Zhao Jiayu took the child back, allowing Qu Sheng to properly eat. Once dinner was finished, the two of them stayed in the hall to chat with the elders for a while before Jin Yunfei urged them to go back and rest early.
Qu Sheng was accustomed to military marches. Despite the exhausting travel today, she was not tired. After Lin Xizhao attended to Qu Sheng’s bath, she washed away the sticky summer heat from her own body. They shared a moment of intimacy, but then Lin Xizhao wanted to return to the Lin Residence.
Qu Sheng couldn’t bear to let her go, so Lin Xizhao had no choice but to stay, sending someone with a message that she would return to the Lin Residence first thing tomorrow morning.
Back in their room, Qu Sheng did not remain idle. The letters that had originally been routed to the army were delivered one by one to the Qu Residence.
Qu Sheng made no effort to hide from Lin Xizhao; as the letters were delivered, she tore them open and read them right there.
Lin Xizhao walked over to trim a wick that had burned a bit short, asking casually, “I heard today that you completely swapped out the capital’s defense deployments. Is someone planning to act against us?”
Qu Sheng, who was scanning the letters ten lines at a time, raised her head at those words and looked over at Lin Xizhao.
Lin Xizhao met her gaze. Though her eyes were gentle, it seemed she had already guessed Qu Sheng’s intentions, hence the question, wanting to resolve the doubts in her heart.
But she didn’t ask directly; if it was inconvenient for Qu Sheng to answer, she wouldn’t force it.
Qu Sheng gazed back at Lin Xizhao for a long time. Setting the letters aside on the nearby desk, she turned and walked over to Lin Xizhao’s side, wrapping her arms around her soft, slender waist from behind. Pressing her lips against her porcelain-white neck, which gave off a cold fragrance, she said softly, “Wife knows what I intend to do.”
Previously in the army, Qu Sheng had never kept anything from Lin Xizhao. If Lin Xizhao ever asked a single question, she would inevitably pour out the entire truth.
Hearing this, a look of realization flashed in Lin Xizhao’s eyes. Turning her face slightly, she asked, “Is it Father’s idea?”
Qu Sheng shook her head. “No. Father disagrees, but my mind is made up.” The fire had already been built, and the water was boiling; even if she didn’t want to do it, she had to now.
They needed no explicit words; their unique tacit understanding had already laid the entire matter bare.
Lin Xizhao thought back to the past—when exactly had Qu Sheng first shown signs of such thoughts? It seemed to be right after Qu Yu’s incident.
First, Qu Sheng had discussed revenge with Qu Jinian, and then she began her step-by-step campaign. Every strategy seemed to carry a necessary destiny. Lin Xizhao had even participated in them, yet she hadn’t realized Qu Sheng’s true ultimate goal earlier.
Qu Sheng nuzzled Lin Xizhao’s cheek, soft and tender as mutton-fat jade, and murmured, “Wife doesn’t need to worry. Even if I fail, I have already prepared an escape route.”
Qu Sheng’s original intention was to protect her family. If her actions caused the people in her household to lose their lives, she would never be able to forgive herself.
Although Qu Sheng said this, Lin Xizhao still felt it was far too great a risk. Tiansheng had existed for hundreds of years; how could it be so easily seized by someone outside the imperial bloodline?
The feudal lords’ rebellion had been led by someone with royal blood, after all. If the Qu family wanted to take their place, it would inevitably trigger massive turmoil.
“Jiejie…” Qu Sheng’s thick, sticky tone called Lin Xizhao out of her thoughts, and soon after, she felt a wet warmth behind her ear.
As Qu Sheng kissed the skin behind Lin Xizhao’s ear, she suddenly switched her form of address. It was entirely deliberate on Qu Sheng’s part; she had called her ‘Wife’ for so long that Lin Xizhao seemed entirely accustomed to it. Hearing Qu Sheng call her ‘Jiejie’ at this moment stirred a strange, inexplicable sensation in her heart.
Qu Sheng’s kisses were too clinging, dense and overwhelming, quickly filling her heart entirely. Yet if they pulled away for even an instant, she felt as though she were falling into an abyss, compelling her to want more, an endless, ceaseless more.
After kissing for a while, Qu Sheng scooped Lin Xizhao up into her arms from behind and set her down on the desk not far away.
The letters she had already read were scattered all over the floor. Lin Xizhao tried to reach down and pick them up, but Qu Sheng stopped her. “It doesn’t matter.” The incoming letters were no longer any sort of secret now.
Held up and seated on the desk, her arched waist supported firmly by Qu Sheng’s palm, Lin Xizhao lifted her head to look at Qu Sheng, seeing a chasm of desire that was nearly impossible to fill.
Soft moans soon echoed in the room. Lin Xizhao’s dress fell open, covering Qu Sheng, who was currently seeking flowers and asking willows6 upon her body.
The posture on the desk was truly somewhat difficult for Lin Xizhao. Her arms braced behind her, but the sensations coursing through her body were so tingling and numbing that she was left weak and powerless.
Qu Sheng’s ears were filled with the exact musical movement she wanted to hear. She quickly sensed Lin Xizhao’s soft, strengthless state. With a smile gleaming with moisture on her lips, she supported Lin Xizhao’s leaning body, hooking her arms around her own neck, and gently lifted her up into an embrace.
Just as Lin Xizhao thought Qu Sheng was going to carry her to the bed, Qu Sheng turned, found a wide chair, and sat down with her in her arms…
Early the next morning, Qu Sheng first accompanied Lin Xizhao to the Lin Residence. Once Lin Xizhao went to see Lin Jianhai, she left the estate and headed for the palace.
Many officials of the court were still inside the palace walls. Qu Sheng had someone gather them together. After a night of abject terror, these men were all like stray dogs, not daring to put up the slightest resistance.
But this was still far from what Qu Sheng wanted.
During the Morning Court, more than half the officials were missing. Those who remained were almost entirely those aligned with the Qu family, or a few old ministers left behind by Emperor Baoguang.
Qu Sheng was not wearing armor today. She wore a scarlet military official’s court dress, embroidered with a majestic prairie lion. Holding an ivory tablet7, she stood at the head of all the officials, directly opposite the Crown Prince.
Qu Jinian had claimed illness and excused himself from court today. Unable to decide what to do, the Emperor sent people to summon him several times, but Qu Jinian continually used his poor health as an excuse to decline.
Standing there, Qu Sheng’s figure was elegant and striking. If one did not know she had commanded soldiers and generals, they might easily believe she was a civil official.
The hundred officials knelt in prostration, but Qu Sheng merely lowered her head, her thin lips unmoving.
Seeing this, some of the officials in the hall noticed when they rose, yet absolutely no one dared step forward to reprimand her.
The officials in the court all knew Qu Sheng was the Emperor’s trusted aide, so they truly dared not speak out of turn.
What they didn’t know was that at this exact moment, the Emperor was utterly terrified of Qu Sheng, dressed in her military official’s court robes.
The chilling aura of silver armor was gone from Qu Sheng’s body, yet simply by standing there, her entire presence forbade anyone from taking her lightly.
“A few months ago, the General of the Flying Cavalry marched south to suppress the rebels. When the enemy was strong and we were weak, she turned the tide and pacified the rebellion. This Emperor is greatly pleased. Yesterday, the Ministry of Rites was ordered to bestow rewards upon the officers and soldiers, and today, it is time to discuss merits and grant rewards to the generals.” As the Emperor spoke, his eyes kept darting toward Qu Sheng.
Qu Sheng stood to the side with her head lowered, silent. Hearing the Emperor’s speech, she finally looked up.
Qu Sheng’s gaze was pitch-black and profound; it was completely impossible to tell what she was thinking. The Emperor stole a few more glances, and noticing Qu Sheng watching him, hastily looked to the inner court attendant beside him. “Read the decree.”
The inner court attendant stepped forward and read aloud the list of Qu family generals receiving elevated ranks. The several generals of the Qu family also stepped forward to receive their titles. Once the rewards were given, they all retreated behind Qu Sheng, entirely devoid of smiles on their faces.
The Emperor had initially been smiling, but seeing that the generals he had just rewarded seemed to feel no joy at their promotions, the smile on his face turned rather awkward.
“Cough, the one with the greatest merit is naturally our General of the Flying Cavalry. This Emperor discussed with the Ministry of Personnel yesterday, and This Emperor should heavily reward the General of the Flying Cavalry. It is just that the post of Pillar of the State is already held by Marquis Qu. Hearing that the Qu Residence’s family line is thin and her elder brothers died young, therefore, This Emperor specially issues an edict, allowing the General of the Flying Cavalry, in the capacity of a woman, to possess the name to inherit the title of nobility. As for other rewards, as long as the General of the Flying Cavalry opens her mouth, This Emperor will grant them one by one.”
The Emperor was selling Qu Sheng a massive favor.
When she came to court today, Qu Sheng had originally planned to oversee the matter of the former Crown Prince. She hadn’t expected the Emperor to actually come up with such a method to win her over.
Hearing this, Qu Sheng raised her head. No emotion could be seen in her pitch-black eyes. Her elegant figure bowed slightly as she offered a salute. “I thank Your Majesty for this profound grace. This subject does not want any rewards. I only beg Your Majesty to promptly execute the one who spread the febrile disease, to comfort the commoners who lost their lives to the febrile disease.”
At these words, the smile on the Emperor’s face slowly vanished without a trace.
The author has something to say:
Qu Sheng: “I want to make my wife the Empress, and then we’ll build a massive imperial garden. Just thinking about it gets me excited.”
Lin Xizhao: “…”
The update is a bit late. I try hard to update early every day, but typing plus editing the text—it’s fine if I don’t get stuck, but the moment I get writer’s block, it ends up being a bit late.
Continuing with the two hundred red envelopes today. The deadline is midnight tomorrow night. Just leaving a comment counts, and nutrient solution counts too.
Footnotes
- The Black Tortoise Sword. The Black Tortoise (Xuánwǔ) is one of the Four Mythological Symbols, representing the North and winter.
- A traditional two-hour period (shíchen).
- The Imperial Prison, or tiānláo, was the highest-security prison in the capital, reserved for nobles, high officials, and severe threats to the state.
- The Hour of the Horse (wǔshí) corresponds to roughly 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Executions were traditionally carried out at noon, when the sun's yang energy was at its peak, to suppress the yin energy of the dead.
- The 'bǎoxiàng' (treasure appearance) flower is a traditional Chinese auspicious motif, typically a stylized composite of lotus, peony, and chrysanthemum elements.
- An idiom (xún huā wèn liǔ) that literally means 'seeking flowers and asking willows.' It traditionally refers to visiting brothels or engaging in romantic dalliances, used playfully here to describe Qu Sheng's intimate explorations.
- A flat ceremonial tablet (hù) made of ivory, jade, or bamboo, held by officials during imperial audiences to record orders or shield their faces respectfully from the emperor.
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