The Prime Minister’s Daughter and the Marquis’s Fool – Chapter 161
by Little PandaIf You Are Not Hungry, Then Go Back and Rest.
Lin Xizhao could hear the nervousness in Zhu Ming’an’s voice. Her gaze softened as she looked at her. “Go on, ask.”
Zhu Ming’an knew she was so nervous she had started stuttering again. Her face flushed, and she lowered her head, unable to squeeze out a word for a long time.
Lin Xizhao didn’t rush her, waiting patiently for her to ask her question.
“I, I want to ask, how, did you two, confess your feelings, to each other,” Zhu Ming’an finally asked, lifting her head and speaking slowly.
The moment Lin Xizhao heard the question, she knew the two of them weren’t together yet. She had seen them together constantly, Zhu Ming’an’s eyes full of Jin Mingyi, and it was also easy to see that Jin Mingyi cared for Zhu Ming’an a great deal.
If they weren’t together, the problem most likely lay with Jin Mingyi.
“Does my cousin know you like her?” Lin Xizhao asked gently.
“Mm, she knows,” Zhu Ming’an replied with a bashful nod.
They had kissed. Of course, she knew.
With the answer confirmed, Lin Xizhao addressed her earlier question. “Sheng’er and I didn’t have a smooth start either. But the problem was with me. At the time, I wasn’t optimistic about our future together. In fact, I thought it was utterly impossible.”
Lin Xizhao explained her past concerns, thinking that Jin Mingyi’s were likely the same.
“The future…” Zhu Ming’an repeated the words under her breath.
While their families weren’t exactly of equal social standing1, and while the Zhu family’s wealth couldn’t rival a nation’s, securing a match with a feudal lord was certainly not out of the question.
The biggest problem between them was that they were both women.
The Qu family supported Qu Sheng. As for the Lin family, she hadn’t heard anything, but she knew Lin Xizhao’s two brothers weren’t opposed. Now that Lin Jianhai was also dead, that concern was gone. But between her and Jin Mingyi, there were still several elders to consider.
“I know, what, I should do,” Zhu Ming’an said, rising to her feet. When she asked Lin Xizhao how they had confessed their feelings, she was really asking how they had overcome their reservations to be together.
A union between two women was not common, especially for families of rank like the Lin and Qu. Now that she understood the root of the problem, she knew where she needed to start.
Seeing Zhu Ming’an stand, Lin Xizhao also rose to see her out. But before they could say their farewells, Zhao Jiayu arrived.
The moment Zhao Jiayu saw Zhu Ming’an, her eyes crinkled into a smile. “I was just thinking of looking for you two.”
Zhao Jiayu had only met Zhu Ming’an a few times, but they were acquainted, and Zhao Jiayu’s straightforward and charming personality was easy to like. Zhu Ming’an smiled and greeted her. “Is, something the matter?”
“Ah, it’s nothing. It’s just that tonight is Lunar New Year’s Eve2, and since Xiao Sheng’er and the others aren’t here, I was thinking we younger ones could get together at the small residence for some drinks and conversation. We can call Xirui over, too, and liven things up.”
At this, Zhu Ming’an didn’t agree right away, but looked to Lin Xizhao instead. They were only borrowing the residence; they couldn’t usurp the host’s place3. The final say had to be Lin Xizhao’s.
“You don’t need to look at her. She listens to me,” Zhao Jiayu said with a laugh.
Truthfully, they didn’t have to go out. Staying in this small courtyard would have been fine, but with the unwelcome Jin family now in the main residence, it was inconvenient. Jin Mingyi didn’t want her family to know where she was staying in the capital, and now that Qu Yu’s health was much better, walking wasn’t too strenuous for him. So, Zhao Jiayu thought going to the small residence would allow them to be more at ease.
Zhu Ming’an turned her gaze back. “Of course, that’s fine.”
The owner of the house had no objections, so naturally, neither did she. Besides, Jin Mingyi wanted to spend New Year’s Eve with them. She would be overjoyed to hear they were coming over.
But then a thought occurred to her. They were both part of the Qu family. Would the Qu elders permit them to go?
“Will your aunt, permit it?”
“Don’t you worry about that. And don’t bother the kitchen staff, either. We’ll bring plenty of good food and wine with us later. All you have to do is wait to eat,” Zhao Jiayu said, dispelling Zhu Ming’an’s concerns.
In previous years, Lin Xizhao and Qu Sheng would always go to the Lin Residence for dinner first. This year, with Lin Jianhai gone, it didn’t matter whether she went back or not. Lin Xikuan wasn’t in the capital, and Lin Xizhao didn’t feel at ease leaving Lin Xirui alone in the residence.
Thinking of this, Zhao Jiayu made the decision for Lin Xizhao entirely.
Zhu Ming’an looked at Lin Xizhao, who gave a slight nod. “You needn’t worry. I’ll just say I’m going back to have dinner with my younger brother. Mother will agree.” As long as she came back in the evening, it would be fine.
Zhu Ming’an nodded with a smile. “Then I’ll, go back, and tell Mingyi, the good news.”
“Go on. We’ll be there in about two hours,” Zhao Jiayu said, giving her an estimated time.
It would take just about that long to go from the Qu Residence to Houxiang Restaurant, place the order, and have it prepared and delivered.
After Zhu Ming’an left, Zhao Jiayu first sent someone to Houxiang Restaurant to order a few of their signature dishes and their newest creations. Then she sent someone to the Lin Residence to have Lin Xirui head over as well.
Once her arrangements were in order, Zhao Jiayu acted as the messenger, relaying the news to Jin Yunfei. Lin Xizhao had originally intended to go herself but was stopped by Zhao Jiayu. And it was a good thing she didn’t go, or she would have run right into the Jin family.
The Jin family’s Aunt was there, chatting with Jin Yunfei.
As soon as she returned, Zhao Jiayu rushed Lin Xizhao out the door, not even waiting for Qu Yu. The two of them, holding the baby, boarded the carriage. They still had to wait for Qu Yu, but before long, Jin Mingjun came out.
Zhao Jiayu, who was holding the carriage curtain open, slammed the small wooden window shut the moment she saw him.
“Is that Xizhao-meimei in the carriage?” Jin Mingjun called out, craning his neck.
The people inside the carriage exchanged a glance. Lin Xizhao was about to speak, but Zhao Jiayu covered her lips with little Zhimu’s hand.
Zhao Jiayu lifted the curtain. “Cousin, what are you asking after my Eldest Aunt for?”
Seeing Zhao Jiayu’s head pop out, Jin Mingjun’s expression softened into a smile. “Oh, it’s been a long time since I’ve paid a visit. Today being New Year’s Eve, I thought I would stop by King Wenze’s Residence.”
“Hah. Cousin, you must be joking. When Uncle Lin passed away, you didn’t even come to pay your respects. Now you’ve been in the capital for so long without visiting, yet you choose today, of all days, to go. It’s truly baffling,” Zhao Jiayu said, ruthlessly exposing his excuse.
Jin Mingjun gave a placating smile. “Fourth Sister-in-law jests. My father and I have simply been too busy in the capital to get away. We just happen to have some free time today, so I wanted to pay my respects—”
“Then go pay your respects. What are you asking after my Eldest Aunt for?” Zhao Jiayu cut him off.
“I was just asking. If Xizhao-meimei is returning to her residence, I could accompany her.”
“We’re not going the same way. My Eldest Aunt already left for her residence by carriage earlier. You can go by yourself,” Zhao Jiayu said, slamming the small wooden window shut again.
Lin Xizhao listened to Zhao Jiayu’s sharp-witted refutation of Jin Mingjun, her expression sinking. His actions proved he was indeed after her.
“Go,” Zhao Jiayu said, not even waiting for Qu Yu anymore. She ordered the driver to set off at once.
The moment the carriage departed, Qu Yu emerged, wrapped in a thick cloak. He saw Jin Mingjun standing at the residence gate and the fresh tracks in the snow, and he knew Zhao Jiayu had left ahead to avoid Jin Mingjun.
“Cousin Mingjun, what are you doing standing here?” Qu Yu asked, feigning ignorance.
Jin Mingjun gave an awkward smile. “I was just about to leave the residence. And where might Cousin Yu be heading?”
Qu Yu smiled, his tone polite. “My wife is returning to the Zhao Residence. I came out to see her off, but who knew she’d leave without me.”
The smile on Jin Mingjun’s face slowly stiffened. He had just heard from his mother that Lin Xizhao was going to the Lin Residence with Zhao Jiayu. Why were their stories different?
Jin Mingjun smiled and asked, “Why isn’t Cousin Yu going with her?”
“My wife is currently upset with me. See? She didn’t even wait,” Qu Yu said with a shake of his head.
The smile on Jin Mingjun’s face faded slightly. “It’s only natural for women to be a little temperamental.”
“Cousin Mingjun is right,” Qu Yu said. He then turned to the person behind him. “Go prepare a carriage. I must go to the Zhao Residence and bring my wife back. I can’t let her stay angry.”
“Is Cousin Mingjun also waiting for a carriage?” Qu Yu asked, turning back after giving his instructions.
Jin Mingjun’s gaze followed the direction the carriage had taken. He came back to himself and said, “I am just heading out. I only had them prepare a horse.”
Qu Yu smiled. “Cousin Mingjun is in good health. Not like me. I’m already a cripple, and I’m afraid I’ll be dependent on medicine for the rest of my life.”
As Qu Yu spoke, a horse was led out from the stables in the rear courtyard. Jin Mingjun had no desire to listen to him ramble on. Seeing the horse, he quickly cupped his hands. “You will get better. There’s no need to be so disheartened. I have matters to attend to, so I won’t wait with Cousin Yu any longer. I’ll take my leave.”
Qu Yu nodded, unconcerned. He watched Jin Mingjun mount his horse and gallop off in the direction of Zhao Jiayu and Lin Xizhao’s carriage. Qu Yu lowered his eyes in thought for a moment, then instructed the person behind him to take a fast horse, chase after them, and give them a warning.
Inside the carriage, Lin Xizhao and Zhao Jiayu were completely unaware they were being followed. When the servant on the fast horse reported to them, they poked their heads out and glanced behind the carriage. Jin Mingjun was following on horseback, not too close and not too far, just within clear view.
Since Jin Mingjun was following without approaching, Zhao Jiayu couldn’t just get out and rebuke him. If he claimed he was just happening to go the same way, it would make things awkwardly tense.
“To the Zhao Residence,” Zhao Jiayu told the young servant driving the carriage.
The two first went to the Zhao Residence, and Qu Yu followed soon after. Zhao Jiayu was grinding her teeth in frustration. For a grown man to follow them like this—Jin Mingjun was truly shameless.
“What do we do?” Zhao Jiayu asked, turning to Qu Yu.
Qu Yu’s eyes lowered for a moment before looking at Lin Xizhao. “Why don’t we just have the gathering here?”
“No way!” Zhao Jiayu refused flatly. If they stayed here, her own father and mother would be watching her. How could she possibly drink to her heart’s content?
Lin Xizhao glanced at a helpless Qu Yu and thought of a plan.
Zhao Jiayu and the others, bundled in their thick cloaks, first left in the carriage. A short while later, Lin Xizhao rode out from the back gate and headed to the residence first. After that, Qu Yu and Zhao Jiayu returned to the Zhao Residence once more, and when they came out again, one person was missing from their party.
Zhao Jiayu lifted the carriage curtain and looked back. Seeing that Jin Mingjun wasn’t following, she let out a sigh of relief. The first time they left the Zhao Residence, they had one of the maids dress up as Lin Xizhao. Wrapped in a thick cloak, it was impossible to tell who was who. This drew Jin Mingjun away, allowing Lin Xizhao to slip out.
Afterward, when Jin Mingjun realized Lin Xizhao hadn’t gotten into the carriage, he had started waiting there for her.
Only Jin Mingjun could be capable of such pointless, obnoxious behavior, Zhao Jiayu thought with a sniff, cursing him all the way there.
By the time they reached the small residence, the food had been delivered for quite some time. Everyone took their seats. In front of Jin Mingyi, Zhao Jiayu didn’t have the heart to start cursing, but Jin Mingyi, knowing why she was late, beat her to it. “How could I have such a damn leech for a brother? It’s so embarrassing!”
Jin Mingyi covered her face with her hands as she spoke.
Lin Xizhao, holding little Zhimu, smiled. “It’s alright. Today is New Year’s Eve. We should be happy.”
“Right, right, right! Let’s not think about it. He won’t find this place anyway. Come, let’s drink!” Zhao Jiayu raised her wine cup and took a large gulp. The vintage was fragrant and mellow. The wine doesn’t intoxicate, but the drinker intoxicates themself.4
Zhao Jiayu closed her eyes, savoring the aftertaste, her whole body and soul opened up by the fine wine.
Lin Xirui had arrived early. Seeing Zhao Jiayu was just the same as ever, he also raised his cup. “Here, Jiayu-jie, let me toast you.”
Zhao Jiayu looked at Lin Xirui’s increasingly mature and steady demeanor and grinned. “A personal toast from our Zhuangyuan? I’ll have to drink three cups for that. Come on!”
With that, Zhao Jiayu clinked her cup against Lin Xirui’s and drained it in one go. A maidservant stood by to refill their cups, and Jin Mingyi immediately wanted to clink cups with him as well.
Lin Xirui was, at heart, a pale-faced scholar5, and he was always modest around young women. After clinking cups with Zhao Jiayu, he did the same with Jin Mingyi.
Lin Xizhao sat to one side holding little Zhimu, eating. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Zhu Ming’an sitting by herself, head down, silently clutching her wine cup.
Jin Mingyi didn’t seem to notice, entirely caught up in drinking with Zhao Jiayu and Lin Xirui. After a while, the three of them started playing a finger-guessing game6.
Qu Yu had a few small cups but didn’t dare drink more. He took little Zhimu from Lin Xizhao’s arms so she could eat properly.
A maidservant poured some wine for Lin Xizhao. She looked up at the trio sitting together, having a merry time, then raised her cup to Zhu Ming’an. “It’s New Year’s Eve. Let me toast you.”
Zhu Ming’an had been drinking sullenly by herself. Hearing Lin Xizhao’s gentle voice, she quickly raised her own cup, clinked it lightly against Lin Xizhao’s, and drank it down with a nod.
Just then, Jin Mingyi finally noticed Zhu Ming’an. Seeing her drinking by herself again, she nudged her with an elbow and whispered, “Drink less.”
Zhu Ming’an started at the touch and looked up. Her expression had been relatively placid, but upon seeing Jin Mingyi and hearing her almost commanding tone, a flash of anger rose in her. She turned her face away, picked up her refilled cup, and started drinking again.
Jin Mingyi was baffled by this but didn’t let it spoil her mood. Zhao Jiayu and Lin Xirui were still playing their game, and she quickly rejoined them.
Qu Yu and Lin Xizhao exchanged a glance. Neither of them said anything, just smiling as they watched the three play. As they drank and ate their fill, dusk began to fall.
Although Zhao Jiayu had had a lot to drink, she wasn’t like she used to be, unable to even walk. Without Xiao Bingying around and with Qu Yu’s health too poor to carry her, she had to restrain herself and didn’t dare be as reckless as before.
Jin Mingyi and Lin Xirui, however, were rather drunk.
Lin Xizhao had someone escort Lin Xirui back to the Lin Residence, spoke a few words with Zhu Ming’an, and then returned to the Qu Residence with Qu Yu and the others.
Zhu Ming’an helped the unsteady Jin Mingyi to the bed. She soaked a towel in water and tossed it directly onto the face of Jin Mingyi, who was lying on the bed.
The warm, somewhat heavy towel startled the drunkenly sleeping Jin Mingyi, who shot up into a sitting position. “Mmph… Ming’an, someone hit me,” she slurred, a hint of a sob in her voice.
Even drunk, she didn’t forget to call for Zhu Ming’an. Zhu Ming’an had still been angry, but hearing Jin Mingyi subconsciously call her name, her heart softened. She walked over with a sigh, picked up the cloth, and supported her, wiping her face as she said, “It’s me. I’m wiping, your face.”
Jin Mingyi managed to pry her eyes half-open. The blurry figure before her seemed to be Zhu Ming’an, so she relaxed her guard and her body slumped sideways.
Zhu Ming’an was pulled down onto the bed with her. Afraid of crushing her, Zhu Ming’an propped herself up at the last second with the hand still holding the cloth.
Zhu Ming’an was startled and about to lose her temper, but when she saw Jin Mingyi’s soft, sleeping face, her anger slowly dissipated. At the same time, something in her chest began to ferment and expand.
They were too close. Zhu Ming’an stared at Jin Mingyi, who must have felt a tickle on her face, because her lips moved and she raised a hand to scratch.
Zhu Ming’an instinctively relaxed her arm, realizing Jin Mingyi was just scratching an itch, not trying to push her away. After scratching, Jin Mingyi went back to sleep, but Zhu Ming’an didn’t move for a long, long time.
She didn’t know how long she watched her. When Zhu Ming’an felt the cloth in her hand grow cold, she glanced aside and tossed it onto the floor beneath the bed.
They had lived in this room for a long time, always sharing a bed. Ever since that one time they’d gotten drunk, they had kissed from time to time. Looking at Jin Mingyi’s flushed, soft face, Zhu Ming’an was overcome by a strange impulse. Slowly, she leaned down and kissed her.
As their warm lips touched, Zhu Ming’an’s kiss was at first light and tentative, but it slowly became addictive, unstoppable.
Perhaps kissing had become a habit for them. A moment after Zhu Ming’an kissed her, Jin Mingyi began to respond unconsciously.
The kiss between them deepened. Zhu Ming’an’s fingers unconsciously drifted toward a place Jin Mingyi had forbidden her to touch before. But the moment she made contact, she snatched her hand back as if shocked.
She had been rejected by Jin Mingyi too many times. She didn’t dare act rashly. Though Jin Mingyi wasn’t stopping her this time, she couldn’t bring herself to cross the line7.
Noticing the shift in her own thoughts, Zhu Ming’an tried to end the kiss. But just as they pulled slightly apart, Jin Mingyi wrapped her arms around Zhu Ming’an’s neck like an octopus, pulling her back. Her legs tangled around Zhu Ming’an’s waist.
Zhu Ming’an: “…”
Her face a mask of shock, Zhu Ming’an’s first instinct was to flee, but Jin Mingyi’s kiss was too intoxicating to leave.
The sweet, slick sensation between their lips and tongues slowly relaxed Zhu Ming’an’s tense body. Before long, she was covering Jin Mingyi’s body, and the taste of their kiss had changed.
Zhu Ming’an’s warm lips broke from hers, slowly traveling to Jin Mingyi’s pale neck. Perhaps it was pleasant, because Jin Mingyi tilted her neck back slightly, accommodating Zhu Ming’an’s wet, hot kisses.
When Lin Xizhao and Zhao Jiayu returned to the residence, an encounter with the Jin family was unavoidable. The family banquet was already laid out. Though the residence was missing a few people, the Jin family alone took up half the table.
Jin Yunfei called the three of them over to sit. Lin Xizhao and Zhao Jiayu greeted their maternal uncle and aunt from the Jin family. Just as they were about to be seated, the Jin family’s Aunt began introducing her two grandsons to Lin Xizhao.
“Call her Eldest Aunt.”
“Eldest Aunt.” Jin Mingjun’s two sons weren’t very old; the younger one could just barely hold his chopsticks steady.
“Mm, very good. I haven’t prepared any meeting gifts, but tomorrow, for the new year, your aunt will prepare something for you,” Lin Xizhao said with a smile, looking at the two children.
It was the children’s first time seeing Lin Xizhao. They had been staring at her from afar, and now that they were closer and could see her clearly and hear her uniquely gentle voice, they felt an instant sense of warmth. They smiled and nodded. “Okay, thank you, Eldest Aunt.”
Because of the Jin family, the usual seating arrangement was disrupted again. Qu Yu glanced at where Lin Xizhao was and called her over. “Xizhao-meimei, come sit over here. If you sit so far away, Mu’er will start crying for you later.”
Lin Xizhao nodded and started walking toward Qu Yu, but then she heard the Jin family’s Aunt say, “Your child is strange, isn’t she? At her age, she doesn’t look for her father or her mother, but insists on clinging to an unmarried Zhao’er, keeping her busy day and night.”
Lin Xizhao had previously used taking care of the child as an excuse to avoid eating with everyone. The Jin family’s Aunt had sent a message, wanting to visit, but Lin Xizhao had always turned her away, either by saying the child was asleep or had gone to Qu Yu’s quarters.
The Jin family seemed to have realized that Lin Xizhao was deliberately avoiding them, so they hadn’t pushed the matter.
Zhao Jiayu heard the subtext in the aunt’s words. Flushed with wine, her temper flared. She had just stiffened her neck to retort when Qu Yu reached out and tugged her sleeve, stopping her. He spoke first with a smile. “Is Aunt accusing my wife and me of being lazy?”
The Jin family’s Aunt was about to explain when Qu Yu’s tone grew colder. He let out a derisive snort. “I am in poor health, and my wife tends to me day and night. My Xizhao-meimei is considerate of us. What’s wrong with my daughter clinging to her? How is it that when it comes to Aunt, my wife, my daughter, and I have become unreasonable bullies, villains of the worst sort8?”
Hearing the anger in Qu Yu’s voice, the Jin family’s Aunt quickly forced a placating smile. “This aunt is getting old and doesn’t know how to beat around the bush. I’m a bit too straightforward. If I’ve said anything to cause my nephew any misunderstanding, I hope you won’t take offense.”
Qu Yu raised his eyes and stared at her. Though his body was ill and weak, he was a trained martial artist. The inherent ferocity of the Qu family could still be seen glinting in his eyes.
Jin Yunyou heard the anger in Qu Yu’s voice and quickly admonished his wife. “If you are not hungry, then go back and rest.”
The Jin family’s Aunt’s face twitched in embarrassment. She lowered her head and fell silent.
Seeing her deflated, the anger in Zhao Jiayu’s heart instantly smoothed over. But she knew when to quit while she was ahead, and started cooing at her daughter instead.
The atmosphere at the table suddenly turned awkward, but it was soon dispelled by little Zhimu’s laughter.
Little Zhimu’s giggles attracted the attention of the two Jin family children, and the adults found a new topic of conversation.
Qu Sheng’s Second Uncle, Qu Jixian, said a few auspicious words for the new year and told everyone to begin eating.
There was little conversation at the table. Zhao Jiayu held the baby and had Lin Xizhao feed her, her gaze occasionally flicking toward Jin Mingjun at the side.
She had noticed. Whenever Jin Mingjun had a spare moment, his eyes were on Lin Xizhao.
After the New Year’s Eve family banquet, Zhao Jiayu made the excuse that the baby was tired and left first with Lin Xizhao. The Jin family tried to make them stay. The Jin family’s Aunt said, “She looks quite energetic to me. Her two older brothers here want to play with her. Why not let the children play for a while before resting?”
Zhao Jiayu found another excuse. “There will be fireworks outside later. I’m worried Mu’er will be startled and won’t get enough rest. Our Mu’er is small, not like our cousin’s two sons. It’s better she rests early.”
Jin Yunfei and the other aunts agreed that the child should go rest first. The Jin family’s Aunt wanted to keep them, but she couldn’t brazenly force them to stay. She could only smile and watch them leave.
Back in their small courtyard, Zhao Jiayu and Lin Xizhao were playing with little Zhimu on the bed. At first, everything was fine. Zhao Jiayu was playing a game of catch with her daughter and accidentally tossed a toy that hit her on the head. For some reason, the little one suddenly threw a tantrum. She picked up the small toy that had landed on the bed and threw it forcefully onto the floor.
Lin Xizhao and Zhao Jiayu were both stunned. It wasn’t the first time Zhao Jiayu had seen her daughter act like this. She knew she couldn’t try to soothe her right now; if she spoke to her, it would only set her off again.
Lin Xizhao watched little Zhimu’s tiny chest heave. She met Zhao Jiayu’s eyes, then reached out and took Zhimu’s hand, slowly massaging it.
Zhimu had been fuming, but when she turned her head and saw it was Lin Xizhao, she froze on the spot.
Zhao Jiayu didn’t dare make a sound. Lin Xizhao kneaded her little hand for a while, then slowly moved closer and gathered her into her arms.
After Zhimu was lulled to sleep, Zhao Jiayu looked exhausted. She whispered, “You’re the only one who can handle her.” She had no idea who the child got this temper from. Zhao Jiayu was worn out by her daughter’s explosive tantrums at such a young age.
Lin Xizhao held the child and looked up at Zhao Jiayu, her heart heavy with worry. She didn’t know when would be the right time to tell Zhao Jiayu that Qu Zhimu was simply ill, not a difficult child.
As the thousands of households in the Capital City lit fireworks and firecrackers to celebrate the new year, the sounds of slaughter from the soldiers on the Northern Frontier also echoed across half the sky.
The author has something to say:
Qu Sheng: “Waiting for a letter from my wife.”
Lin Xizhao: “What a coincidence, I’m also waiting for a letter from my wife.”
Qu Sheng: “Wife… want kisses…”
Zhao Jiayu: “Have you no shame!”
Leave a comment for a red envelope, 200 available.
Footnotes
- An idiom (mén dāng hù duì) literally meaning that the 'gates and doors match,' used to describe the traditional ideal of a marriage between families of equal social and economic status.
- Chúxī yè, the final evening of the lunar year and a time for family reunion dinners.
- A chengyu (jiū zhàn què cháo) meaning 'the cuckoo occupying the magpie's nest,' used to describe someone who takes over another person's home or position.
- A classical Chinese proverb (jiǔ bù zuì rén, rén zì zuì) meaning that it is not the wine that intoxicates, but the drinker who intoxicates themselves with the atmosphere and their own feelings.
- Báimiàn shūshēng, a Chinese archetype for a young, physically delicate, bookish man — the stereotypical scholar who has spent his life studying indoors rather than training in martial pursuits.
- Huáquán, a drinking game where two players simultaneously show a number with their fingers while shouting out a number. If a player shouts the number that equals the sum of both players' fingers, they win, and the loser has to drink.
- A classical Chinese idiom, yuè léichí yībù, meaning 'to cross the thunder pond by one step.' It refers to overstepping a boundary or forbidden limit.
- Shí è bù shè, a classical Chinese legal term referring to the 'ten abominations' — the ten most heinous crimes under imperial law, for which no pardon could be granted. Used colloquially to mean utterly irredeemable.
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