The Prime Minister’s Daughter and the Marquis’s Fool – Chapter 155
by Little PandaStratagem
The Five Great Families of the South had been heavily impacted during Qu Sheng’s southern campaign to suppress the rebellion. Most of the immense wealth that King Chao had amassed was stripped directly from these five noble houses. The Capital City and its immediate surroundings hosted the greatest concentration of noble clans, but the fires of war had not reached the north. Consequently, only these five major southern families had suffered devastating losses.
Qu Sheng sent emissaries to invite their representatives into the palace, notified the Emperor, and had the few surviving rebel vassal kings extracted from the Imperial Prison.
Inside the grand hall, the representatives of the Five Great Families stood waiting. They were centuries-old lineages with deep-rooted influence throughout Tiansheng, and Qu Sheng knew exactly what this joint petition was about.
They wanted money.
“Your Majesty, our estates were all brutally ransacked by the rebel forces. Our treasuries were scoured empty. Now that the rebels have been executed, we have heard that the gold and silver they hoarded were escorted to the Capital City by the General of the Flying Cavalry. Wealth is merely a worldly possession, and in times of national crisis, we ought to have offered everything we had. Yet this humble commoner1‘s entire extended family still has mouths to feed. This humble commoner makes bold to implore Your Majesty: please permit us to reclaim our stolen wealth.”
The He family of Chuandai took the lead in demanding the return of their silver.
Upon hearing this, the Emperor looked toward Qu Sheng. She stood to the side, quietly observing the men from these great houses. Their estates had indeed been virtually ruined, yet the tracts of land registered under their names remained countless, and the commoners they ruthlessly exploited barely scraped together enough to survive.
If she refused, these men would inevitably double their exploitations upon returning. But if she agreed, her stratagem could not proceed.
“This Emperor will send officials to investigate the claims you have made,” the Emperor said. “Once the truth is verified, you will certainly be given justice.”
“Your Majesty, this matter is perfectly clear. Just summon the military registrar, and let everyone review the ledgers detailing the confiscated funds and provisions. There is no need to make these gentlemen wait,” Qu Sheng reported, bowing her head slightly.
The Emperor nodded. “Then let it be as the General of the Flying Cavalry says. Summon the military registrar, review the ledgers, and if any of their wealth was confiscated, it shall be returned piece by piece.”
For the five great clans to jointly petition for their money, the sum had to be astronomical.
With the imperial decree issued, the military registrar swiftly brought forth the account books. It was a thick stack; the comings and goings of a massive army required vast documentation.
Yet the registrar only pulled out one small, thin booklet.
The Emperor flipped through the ledger, suspicion clouding his face. He looked toward Qu Sheng. “My beloved official, what is this?”
“Your Majesty, this ledger accurately records the items confiscated after the annihilation of the rebel forces. Aside from fifty thousand warhorses, there are only these scattered trinkets. Not a single tael2 of silver is to be found.”
As Qu Sheng finished speaking, the representatives of the Five Great Families standing in the great hall all wore expressions of sheer disbelief. “General, please do not joke with us. The wealth lost by our five families is no small sum. Even if the rebel King Chao aggressively recruited troops and bought horses, he could not possibly have spent it all…” The representative of the He family cast a sidelong glance at Qu Sheng, then looked up at the Emperor. In short, he did not believe a word of it.
Qu Sheng let out a soft laugh. “If you gentlemen do not believe me, you are welcome to inspect the rest of the ledgers.”
At her command, the subordinates hauled the massive pile of ledgers over and dropped them in front of the representatives.
The men exchanged uncertain glances before kneeling to flip through the books.
Qu Sheng’s expression remained calm and unhurried, though the Emperor began to look anxious. The collective wealth of these five noble families could not only fill Tiansheng’s national treasury to the brim, but it could buy half of Jiangnan3 as well.
Since Qu Sheng’s return, the Emperor had been kept entirely in the dark regarding military affairs, nor had he dared to ask. Seeing these ledgers today filled his heart with confusion. As he craned his neck to get a better look at the books below, Qu Sheng shot him a sidelong glance. The corner of her lips hooked upward, and she spoke to the men below with deliberate nonchalance.
“When His Majesty dispatched this general to the south, I was given only two hundred thousand troops and barely a month’s worth of provisions. The remainder was entirely supplied by my Qu family—both manpower and funds. Along the way, we borrowed forces from various feudal lords to suppress the rebellion, but we only borrowed troops, not grain. The ledgers you see before you document the portions of our Qu family estate that were liquidated to ensure our soldiers were fed and clothed. These account books are classified military secrets. I must ask you gentlemen to keep what you see strictly confidential.”
“This… Your Majesty! Aside from our ancestral homes and fertile fields which cannot be moved, the entirety of our fortunes fell into the hands of the rebel King Chao. To say that the General of the Flying Cavalry obtained not a single fraction of it during her southern campaign—no one in the world would believe this! We beseech Your Majesty to uphold justice for us!” Another family representative delivered his impassioned plea, clearly growing furious.
Qu Sheng knew they would not believe it, but she did not use her authority to crush them. As the Emperor sat paralyzed by indecision, Qu Sheng began to pace back and forth. After a moment, she stopped a short distance from the five representatives.
“When putting down the rebellion, this general once led troops past your family territories. At the time, we were in desperate need of funds and provisions. I sent emissaries to request donations. Did any of you contribute a single coin?”
Her question made the men freeze. It was true that Qu Sheng had sent people to solicit donations. But at the time, these noble families had believed that a woman was utterly unfit to lead an army into battle. Furthermore, if she won, it would inevitably degrade the standing of men in the world. Thus, they had all sat back to watch the show, hoping Qu Sheng would be defeated and chased back like a stray dog, forcing the imperial court to send a proper male general to clean up the mess.
As they choked on their words, Qu Sheng sneered and continued, “The troops and provisions were entirely funded by my Qu family. Your estates were robbed, yet you come to this general demanding your money. What kind of logic is that?”
The barrage of questioning left the men looking deeply embarrassed, but only for a moment. Rallying their courage, they fired back, “Since the General of the Flying Cavalry claims not to have taken a single fraction from the rebels, then please summon the rebel army’s own ledgers. We have heard that although the rebel King Chao is dead, the other vassal lords are still sitting in the Imperial Prison. Would the General dare bring them out to testify face-to-face?”
“Such audacity! You dare try to command this general?” Qu Sheng feigned fury, her voice turning cold and sharp.
But the men from the great families were unafraid of her. Still brimming with indignation, they turned their faces away and said, “Could it be that the General is feeling guilty? If you truly took nothing, why are you afraid to have them come and testify?”
Qu Sheng let out a cold laugh. “If what I say is true, then what crime do you commit today by slandering this general?”
Her implication was clear: they were accusing her of embezzling an astronomical sum of silver. Slandering a high-ranking official of the imperial court over such a massive amount was no trivial offense.
“If the General’s words prove true, we are willing to offer up the heads on our shoulders.” The representative surnamed He cupped his hands in a formal salute. He looked utterly certain, absolutely convinced that their families’ wealth was sitting in Qu Sheng’s pockets.
The man beside him gave him a sharp nudge with his elbow upon hearing him wager their lives. The others exchanged nervous glances, suddenly far less eager to take such a gamble.
Qu Sheng was in no rush. She watched the men before her with a frigid gaze.
They were absolutely certain that King Chao had robbed them, but they also knew that King Chao had maintained connections with the outside world. Recruiting troops and buying horses consumed vast amounts of money, though they had no idea just how staggering those expenses had been.
After a prolonged, tense silence, Qu Sheng paced for a long while before stopping. “This general will do as you ask. But if I truly took nothing, your heads alone will not be enough to compensate me.”
“What else does the General desire?” the He representative asked.
Qu Sheng’s expression darkened. “The war on the Northern Frontier is at a bitter stalemate. A six-nation alliance invades our borders while we sit in the interior, enjoying the comforts of peace and prosperity. You gentlemen are all wealthy, dominant families in your regions. You offered no support during the rebellion, yet you have caused us no shortage of trouble. Now I intend to dispatch troops to the north, but our military funds and provisions are critically low. Why don’t you all show a little generosity? If my words are not false, then I ask that you represent your respective families and provide the grain and pay for our one million soldiers.”
“Very well! We accept,” the He representative said.
The moment the words left his mouth, Qu Sheng, seemingly afraid they would back out, immediately ordered her subordinates to bring the rebel army’s registrar, the ledgers, and the few vassal kings she had deliberately kept alive into the grand hall.
An hour later, the five family representatives had flipped through every page of the rebel ledgers. The records clearly detailed exactly how much silver King Chao had spent purchasing provisions and warhorses, and on what dates. Even the exact values at which stolen antiques and calligraphy scrolls had been pawned off were meticulously documented.
The captured vassal kings all corroborated the records perfectly. “To resist the General of the Flying Cavalry’s army, King Chao did not hesitate to buy provisions and warhorses at astronomical prices. We poured every last drop of our own fortunes into the effort as well. Not a single fraction was secretly transferred or buried. We beg Your Majesty to see clearly.”
Terrified that the Emperor would hold them responsible for the missing wealth, the feudal lords dropped to their knees, eagerly embellishing the truth and dumping all the blame onto the dead King Chao.
“And who was this merchant who traded with you?” the family representatives hurriedly asked.
Such a massive outflow of silver had to end up somewhere. Furthermore, in the midst of a chaotic war, how could a merchant quietly transport such a staggering number of warhorses? And all those provisions?
“It was a merchant family surnamed Lu. At the time, they were the only ones willing to trade with us, so they jacked up the prices right on the spot, multiplying the cost several times over. That last transaction completely drained our estates. We sold off every valuable item we owned and even ended up owing them a massive favor.”
The Marquis of Jinxiang, who had followed the rebel King Chao, spoke with agonizing regret. Had he known King Chao was so incompetent, he never would have joined the uprising. Even though they had purchased provisions, it was never enough. Every time they bought grain, Qu Sheng would soon capture it or burn it to ash, forcing them to buy more. It had been a bottomless pit.
“Surnamed Lu?” The representatives racked their brains, trying to figure out who this sacred merchant surnamed Lu could be, but no matter how hard they thought, they could not recall any merchant capable of sourcing so many warhorses.
Even if their Five Great Families pooled their resources, they could not procure warhorses. According to imperial law, commoners were strictly forbidden from breeding or trading them. To move such a massive quantity, this ‘Lu’ individual had to be practically divine.
“Does what is recorded in these ledgers match what these men have said?” Standing in the center of the great hall, Qu Sheng looked the picture of a master strategist holding all the cards. She smiled at the thoroughly defeated family representatives. “The truth is now clear. It is time for you gentlemen to honor your word. Of course, I will not have you supply the military provisions for nothing. When the time comes, this general will personally petition His Majesty to grant you titles of virtuous scholars and bestow hereditary privileges upon the scions of your families.”
The five family representatives were dumbfounded. Not only were they going to bleed money and grain, but they were supposed to hand over their heads. As for those fifty thousand warhorses, they dared not ask for a single one back.
Seeing their deathly pale faces, Qu Sheng raised an eyebrow and smiled. “What, do you gentlemen wish to renege on your debt? His Majesty is sitting right here. Are you attempting to… deceive the sovereign?”
Qu Sheng drew out the last three words, causing all five men to drop to their knees simultaneously, begging for mercy.
Qu Sheng let out a cold sneer, looking down at the groveling nobles scrambling to save their own lives. Her voice turned icy. “This general will temporarily spare your lives today. If the provisions and military funds are fully prepared within a month, I will personally beg His Majesty to show mercy and pardon your death sentences. But if you fail, this general will come in person to take the heads off your shoulders!”
“Thank you, General, for sparing our lives! Thank you, Your Majesty, for your mercy…” The five representatives were already frightened out of their wits. Knowing they could keep their lives, they hurriedly pressed their heads to the floor in gratitude.
“Generals Xin and Wu, where are you?” Qu Sheng turned toward the entrance of the hall as she paced.
“This last general is here.” The two generals stepped into the hall and saluted.
“I order the two of you to accompany these lords to procure the military provisions. If there is any delay, execute them on the spot without pardon!”
Having issued her orders, Qu Sheng slowly turned around to look at the Emperor on his Dragon Throne. The Emperor had been studying her, and upon being suddenly caught, he hurriedly and frantically averted his gaze. When he stole another glance, he found Qu Sheng was still staring fixedly at him. Resigning himself, he boldly met her eyes.
“Let it be as the General of the Flying Cavalry says. Go and procure the provisions,” the Emperor commanded. With his golden words spoken, the five men knelt to give thanks once more before fleeing the hall.
Only the few rebellious vassal kings remained. The Emperor watched Qu Sheng pace back and forth, unsure of what she was going to do.
A moment later, Qu Sheng stopped and looked at the feudal lords. “This general wishes to spare your lives, but if I do not execute you, I cannot establish the prestige of the imperial court, and I fear other vassal lords may attempt to follow your example. I will allow you to keep your lives for one day to reunite with your families. Tomorrow, you will return here and commit suicide to apologize for your crimes, thereby guaranteeing the safety of your families. But if anyone attempts to flee, your entire clan will be eradicated.”
Hearing this, the feudal lords looked at the diminutive woman standing before them—the same girl who had once been rumored to be a fool. They stood stunned for a moment, then cast a glance up toward the throne. The Emperor said nothing, seemingly just as shocked by Qu Sheng’s words. Suddenly, the vassal kings felt that their defeat was not so regrettable after all. To handle them in this manner not only preserved their dignity but also served as a terrifying warning to the other feudal lords. It was a perfect balance of grace and authority. A profound sense of admiration welled up within them.
“We thank Your Majesty for your boundless grace, and we thank the General of the Flying Cavalry for her great mercy.”
Though they were prisoners of war, they were still lords of their respective realms, and they maintained the bearing expected of them.
Once everyone had left the hall, only Qu Sheng and the Emperor remained.
Qu Sheng turned back to face him. As their eyes met, the Emperor felt like he was sitting on pins and needles. He made several attempts to stand up, but the icy sharpness in Qu Sheng’s gaze terrified him so deeply that he dared not step forward.
“My belov—”
Before the Emperor could even finish the word, Qu Sheng turned on her heel and walked out.
The Emperor watched her receding figure. He swallowed hard, raising a hand to wipe the cold sweat that had dripped all the way down his jaw. He had genuinely feared that the moment she finished dealing with those men, she would drag him off the throne and deal with him too.
Returning to the Shenzheng Hall, Qu Sheng walked in to find Lin Xizhao sitting by the desk, helping her organize the towering stacks of memorials. Qu Sheng crossed the room in a few strides and gently clasped Lin Xizhao’s pale, slender hands. As the warm temperature transferred between their palms, Lin Xizhao looked up at Qu Sheng and asked, “What happened?” She knew Qu Sheng could easily handle those men, so she was not overly worried.
From the moment the arrival of the Five Great Families’ representatives was announced, Lin Xizhao had immediately connected it to Qu Sheng’s decision to have the Zhu family help her sell the surplus provisions. She knew Qu Sheng had laid a trap for them long ago.
Before the war even began, Qu Sheng had already dispatched people to purchase massive quantities of grain. What she had been selling off was merely the excess.
“I just wanted my wife to help me process these memorials.”
Qu Sheng had effectively usurped the Emperor’s duties, but she could not pull him off the throne just yet. It was a long process. She needed to earn the trust of the common people, pacify the feudal lords while slowly stripping away their power, and gather all regional forces to serve under her command. Only then could she ensure a peaceful dynastic transition.
She had executed several officials on her very first day back in the capital specifically to establish a terrifying reputation. Her subsequent execution of the former Crown Prince had served two purposes: first, to avenge a personal grudge, and second, to strike fear into the faction of the court still loyal to the Emperor.
The reason Qu Jinian refused to support her ambition was twofold. First, the Qu family ancestors had left strict instructions to remain eternally loyal to the House of Sheng. Second, Qu Sheng’s actions were considered anathema to the world—defying the heavens and rejecting fate. The vassal lords would all have a righteous pretext to crusade against her, and Qu Jinian could not shoulder such a colossal sin.
Qu Sheng understood these principles perfectly, which was why she was advancing slowly and methodically.
Though the internal rebellion had been quelled, the court and the country were riddled with deep-seated rot. If she did not treat these ailments properly, the empire would collapse long before the Qu family ever took the throne. She was doing everything in her power to govern the country effectively while keeping civilian casualties to an absolute minimum.
Lin Xizhao’s lips curved into a smile. While she worried for Qu Sheng, she never felt her actions were absurd. She knew exactly how the Emperor of Tiansheng had treated the Qu family. Since she was now a member of the Qu family, her heart would naturally align with Qu Sheng’s; otherwise, she never would have helped plot her strategies in the first place.
When Qu Sheng had asked for her help last night, Lin Xizhao had remembered her father’s exhausting silhouette when he was Prime Minister. Her heart ached for Qu Sheng, and she had agreed without hesitation.
However, she had never involved herself in state or military affairs before, so she needed Qu Sheng to guide her.
Qu Sheng shared some of her governing philosophies with Lin Xizhao. After listening carefully, Lin Xizhao understood how these memorials should be vetted. But as she read through the pile, she found several petitions filled with arrogant rhetoric, aggressively condemning Qu Sheng for hoarding military power. Lin Xizhao read them with growing concern.
Noticing Lin Xizhao had stopped, Qu Sheng asked, “Is my wife tired?”
Lin Xizhao looked up, her gaze softening. “No.”
Sensing that Lin Xizhao was upset about something, Qu Sheng gently took the memorial from her hands, glanced at it, and laughed. “It’s fine. There will be plenty more memorials exactly like this in the future. Don’t be angry, Wife. I’ll deal with him later.”
Lin Xizhao looked confused. “How do you intend to deal with him?”
“Since he believes I am a treacherous official and a hen crowing at dawn4, how could I possibly tolerate him?” Qu Sheng’s implication was clear: she was going to execute him as a warning to the others.
“For this man to dare submit such a memorial publicly, I actually think he has quite a bit of integrity. You could summon him and see. Anyone willing to risk beheading to state their views so clearly is certainly no shrinking violet,” Lin Xizhao suggested softly.
Qu Sheng had initially assumed the man was just an obstinate old fool, but Lin Xizhao’s words made her reconsider.
Right now, the entire court bowed to her command, making it impossible to tell the spineless fence-sitters from those who genuinely submitted. For this man to dare hurl insults at her in a memorial meant he did not care about his life. “Mm, let it be as my wife says. I want to see exactly what kind of ability he has.” If he lacked real talent, she would absolutely kill him.
The man was a Prefectural Magistrate5. After being summoned, it took him four days to reach the Capital City.
He had expected an audience with the Emperor, but to his surprise, the moment he entered the palace, he was escorted directly to the Shenzheng Hall. Qu Sheng was processing memorials. She looked up, saw the man brought in, standing there rigidly—neither bowing nor leaving—and smiled. “Please sit, Lord Zhai.”
“Someone, serve tea.” Qu Sheng called a palace maid to pour tea for him.
There was an empty chair right beside him, but the man merely rolled his eyes at Qu Sheng, who was leaning over the desk. “I am here to see His Majesty.”
“His Majesty? Lord Zhai, did you really think it was His Majesty who summoned you?”
Zhai Zhong furrowed his brow instantly. “Are you forging an imperial decree?”
Qu Sheng chuckled softly. “Lord Zhai, you speak in error. Every imperial decree drafted by this general is personally reviewed by His Majesty and stamped with the Imperial Seal. The Ministry of Rites processes them strictly according to protocol. How is it that in Lord Zhai’s mouth, this becomes forging an imperial decree? The last person to accuse this general of such a thing was executed. Does Lord Zhai wish to try his luck?”
“Hmph. Kill me or slice me to pieces, do as you please! Why bother putting on this fake, hypocritical display?” Zhai Zhong frowned with utter disdain.
He was a civil official, yet his posture was remarkably like that of a martial artist. Noting how incredibly stable his lower stance was, Qu Sheng glanced behind the folding screen and asked, “Does General Zhai know anything about the art of war?”
Being asked about his specialty, Zhai Zhong sneered. “Why would I bother discussing that with a wet-behind-the-ears little girl like you?”
Zhai Zhong had spoken insolently several times now. Though Qu Sheng possessed immense patience, she was starting to feel genuinely irritated. However, Lin Xizhao was still sitting behind the screen. Since Lin Xizhao had said this man possessed exceptional talent and might be useful, she would tolerate him a little longer.
“Lord Zhai calls this general wet behind the ears. Tell me, what battles has Lord Zhai ever commanded?”
“I am a civil official of this dynasty. Why would it ever be my place to command a battle?” Zhai Zhong mocked her for asking a question she already knew the answer to.
Hearing this, Qu Sheng stood up, staring Zhai Zhong up and down. “Lord Zhai’s words are inappropriate. The civil and martial officials of our dynasty all serve the imperial court. Yet despite my lack of talent, I—the wet-behind-the-ears woman you despise—was heavily relied upon by His Majesty to personally lead a massive army and crush a rebellion.”
Zhai Zhong knew everything Qu Sheng had accomplished, but he simply could not stomach the idea of a woman attempting to monopolize state power.
“Nothing to say, Lord Zhai?” Qu Sheng raised an eyebrow. “Lord Zhai compared this general to a hen crowing at dawn. Do you look down on women? Have you ever stopped to consider that without your honorable mother, you wouldn’t even exist to stand here today?”
Being reminded of his old mother made Zhai Zhong’s heart sink. Just as he opened his mouth to retort, Qu Sheng spoke again. “Since Lord Zhai firmly believes women are inferior to men, I happen to have two swords right here. Do you dare come out to the courtyard and spar with me?”
Zhai Zhong frowned in thought. Qu Sheng looked overly delicate and weak. If he accidentally killed her with a single strike, it would be ridding the imperial court of a massive plague. “Blades have no eyes. I’m afraid I might accidentally kill you.”
“Hmph. If Lord Zhai has the skill, you are welcome to come and take Qu Sheng’s life!”
Qu Sheng ordered her guards to place the swords in the courtyard, instructing everyone to observe from a distance and forbidding anyone from interfering. Zhai Zhong picked a heavy broadsword, testing its sharpness against a nearby branch. Seeing Qu Sheng select a slender, lightweight sword, he let out a scoff of derision.
They clashed in the courtyard. Inside the hall, Lin Xizhao could no longer sit still. She hurried out. Pushing the door open, she froze. Qu Sheng’s blade was already pressed against Zhai Zhong’s throat.
Qu Sheng had used a single move—making a feint to the east to strike in the west—and forced Zhai Zhong to surrender instantly.
Only at this moment did Zhai Zhong realize that the woman standing before him was far from ordinary. He looked at Qu Sheng, a trace of genuine wariness finally appearing in his eyes.
“Lord Zhai, you’ve lost. Would you like to try again?” Qu Sheng asked as she sheathed her sword.
Despite losing to Qu Sheng in front of an audience, Zhai Zhong did not feel humiliated. He knew perfectly well that with his current level of martial arts, even if he trained for several more years, he would never defeat her. Qu Sheng’s sword had moved far too fast.
Zhai Zhong stood rooted to the spot, turning his head away. He refused to admit defeat, but he also refused to fight again.
Qu Sheng chuckled lightly, tossing her sword to a guard. She walked over to Lin Xizhao and asked softly, “Why did my wife come out?”
Lin Xizhao had been worried about her. Qu Sheng had only said she was going to test Zhai Zhong’s ability to handle state affairs—she had never mentioned fighting him in a duel.
But Qu Sheng knew that when dealing with a man of such arrogant pride, if she did not forcefully suppress him right out of the gate, it would be impossible to communicate with him later. That was why she had challenged him.
Once they were back inside, Zhai Zhong’s attitude shifted entirely. Qu Sheng had someone hand him a memorial regarding the illegal seizure of agricultural land and asked him how he would handle the matter.
Zhai Zhong took the memorial. Looking at the list of names, he recognized them all as powerful noble families and local tyrants. He had submitted similar memorials in the past, but the only response he ever received from the capital was ‘Read’—with zero actual enforcement.
Qu Sheng had previously ordered people to dig up years’ worth of old memorials. Zhai Zhong had offered numerous insightful policy proposals back then, and his views happened to align perfectly with her own.
“I have read the memorials you submitted over the past few years. I intend to launch a nationwide land measurement initiative, but I have struggled to find someone capable of shouldering such a massive responsibility. Does Lord Zhai possess the ambition for this?”
Zhai Zhong had spoken passionately about the land issue more times than he could count, but every plea had sunk like a stone into the sea. For this woman, Qu Sheng, to dig out his old proposals today caused a massive surge of emotion in his chest. But remembering his previous insolence, and his own pride…
“Lord Zhai shouldn’t celebrate too early. This matter requires further testing. Only if you can fulfill this general’s specific tasks will the initiative be entrusted to you. If you are incapable, I will simply find someone else.”
“What is the test?” Zhai Zhong asked eagerly, his previous arrogance vanishing entirely.
Seeing his dramatic shift in attitude, the corners of Qu Sheng’s lips curled up. She glanced at Lin Xizhao standing beside her.
This man knew when to bow and when to stand tall. Although they clashed on certain principles, he did not falter when it came to the grand scheme of the empire. Just as Lin Xizhao had predicted, he could be entrusted with heavy responsibilities.
Qu Sheng gave him an assignment and formally transferred him to the Ministry of Revenue.
Over the next few days, Lin Xizhao helped Qu Sheng process a vast amount of state affairs. Since Lin Jianhai was now able to get out of bed, Lin Xizhao no longer needed to constantly care for him. Lin Xirui and Lin Xikuan’s sick leaves had also expired, and both brothers had begun participating in court politics.
Half a month later, an urgent dispatch arrived from the border. The Chemu Tribe had publicly declared that they had captured Qu Ting. If the Tiansheng Empire willingly ceded territory and compensated them for their lost troops and horses, they would release him.
Upon hearing the news, Qu Jiqin flew into a towering rage. Not only did he refuse to entertain the thought of ceding territory, but he immediately launched an offensive.
When Qu Sheng learned that Qu Ting was still alive, her heart filled with complex emotions. Yet right now, she could not afford to leave the capital. Just as she was burning with anxiety over how to handle the situation, Qu Jinian entered the palace, clad in full armor.
The author has something to say:
Qu Sheng: “Robbing is not as good as stealing, and stealing is not as good as scamming.”
Lin Xizhao: “This is called business. One is willing to strike, the other is willing to take the blow.”
Qu Sheng: “Got it, got it.”
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Footnotes
- A formal self-referential term used by commoners to address the emperor or high officials, literally meaning 'grass subject' (cǎomín). Here, it is used with false humility by powerful nobles.
- A traditional unit of weight and currency (liǎng), with one tael equal to approximately 37.5 grams of silver.
- A prosperous geographic region (Jiāngnán) situated immediately south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, historically known for its immense wealth, agriculture, and culture.
- A traditional Chinese idiom (pìn jī sī chén) meaning 'a hen crowing at dawn.' It is a derogatory metaphor for a woman usurping a man's power or meddling in state affairs.
- A traditional term for a local state official (zhīzhōu) overseeing a prefecture.
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