The Prime Minister’s Daughter and the Marquis’s Fool – Chapter 174
by Little PandaPerhaps It’s a Merchant Caravan Preparing to Leave the City at Dawn
The capital suburbs’ troops had been dispatched to the Northern Frontier, leaving the main camp empty. Qu Jixian ordered men to summon the Jin family’s 300,000 garrison troops, and they arrived outside the city by starlight. The Jin family’s commander, Jiang Pingchao, had come under orders.
The city’s garrison opened the gates to welcome the commander. Qu Jixian received him personally.
Looking at the young general, Qu Jixian could not help but sigh and say, “I have heard that during the rebellion of the traitorous King Chao, General Jiang defended the city against 300,000 rebels with only 40,000 soldiers. I did not expect you to be so young. The General possesses great talent and strategy—truly a fortune for our dynasty.” Qu Jixian greatly admired this general of the Jin family.
Jiang Pingchao followed Qu Jixian into Shenzheng Hall. At Qu Jixian’s praise, he hurriedly expressed his humility: “It was the soldiers’ bravery and coordination. This humble subordinate merely holds a hollow reputation.”
Qu Jixian saw that he did not claim credit and was modest. He smiled and said, “It is only a pity that you are a retainer of Marquis Jin. Otherwise, I would truly wish to keep you in the capital for service.”
Qu Jixian’s probing words were spoken, but Jiang Pingchao only lowered his head and said nothing. Qu Jixian knew that this man was extremely loyal to his masters. Seeing his attitude, Qu Jixian realized that recruiting him would likely be impossible.
Qu Jixian abandoned his intention to keep him and simply said, “General Jiang has come from afar. I have prepared a modest banquet—please do me the honor of attending.”
Jiang Pingchao heard this and quickly clasped his hands in salute: “I thank Lord Shangqing for his kindness, but military discipline is strict. This humble subordinate is still commanding troops and cannot drink alcohol.”
Qu Jixian smiled and said, “It is no matter. General Yichang has already led men to have the army rest at camp. The transfer will take place tomorrow. Tonight you may drink with ease.”
Jiang Pingchao heard this and lowered his eyes for a moment. He raised his head with confusion and said, “Lord Shangqing, we came under orders. There was no mention of a transfer. Has there been some mistake?”
Qu Jixian fixed his gaze on Jiang Pingchao, his eyes showing a trace of caution. He said, “How could that be? Could it be that General Jiang has made a mistake?”
Such a matter could not possibly be wrong. Qu Jixian stared at Jiang Pingchao, seeing that his face also showed confusion. He lowered his eyes for a moment and said, “General Jiang may first follow the attendant to rest at the posthouse. I will investigate and clarify the matter.”
Qu Jixian finished speaking and was about to leave. Jiang Pingchao instantly became anxious and hurriedly said, “Lord Shangqing, this humble subordinate…”
Jiang Pingchao wanted to say more, but Qu Jixian had already gone out.
Qu Jixian left the room and immediately ordered someone to quickly go to Lingyi to investigate the troop situation, and to transfer the garrison troops from Huancheng Road and Guyin Canal. But before he could finish speaking, someone came running to report that a messenger had arrived from Lingyi.
Qu Jixian raised his eyes, which were not kind, and thought for a moment. His tone carried a chill like that after autumn rain as he said, “Let him come.”
The person from Lingyi had come to convey a message to Jiang Pingchao, instructing him to hand over military authority.
“My family’s Shizi was truly drunk and made a mistake. General Jiang was also following orders. I hope Lord Shangqing will not be suspicious. My master has absolutely no disloyalty.” The messenger’s attitude was very sincere, but even so, after the man left, Qu Jixian still issued orders to transfer the garrison troops from both locations.
The military authority transfer had been scheduled for tomorrow, but that night Qu Jixian ordered men to take the military authority from Jiang Pingchao’s hands.
The capital suburbs’ camp was empty, but not without a single soldier. Even though Qu Jixian had dispatched troops north, he had left behind enough forces to resist for a time, waiting for surrounding garrisons to come to their aid.
Qu Jixian certainly hoped that it was only Jin Mingjun who had made a mistake while drunk. They had been continuously sending troops to the Northern Frontier, but had not yet seen any hope of victory. If the Jin family was not of one heart with them at this moment, not only would the Tiansheng court be in danger, but the entire Central Plains people would be bullied and slaughtered.
Since the rainy season, how many battle reports had come from the Northern Frontier, yet not a single one had been a victory. The last reinforcements sent—no one knew if they had been of any use.
Like Qu Sheng, Qu Jixian had not slept for several days and nights. When he had a moment of rest, his right leg began to ache again. The illness he had been born with—whenever he was exhausted, the pain was unbearable. Though he had handled affairs in Shoulin these years, he had never felt this drained of heart and spirit.
Somewhere in Jiangnan.
Since leaving the Jin family, Zhu Ming’an had gone straight to a certain place in Jiangnan. Jin Mingyi did not know who the Xie family was, but she knew.
She had not originally remembered who that person was, but after what Jin Weifu said, she suddenly remembered.
Her father, Zhu Baibing, had once taken her to do business with the Xie family. She was still young then, but it was only a few years ago. The heir of the Xie family was praised endlessly by his father. At the time, she had declared that if she ever took charge of the Zhu family, she would surpass the Xie family.
Zhu Ming’an had come to Jiangnan for no other reason than to investigate the movement of provisions here.
Every major operation, even if conducted in secret, would cause changes in the price of grain—especially its flow.
When Zhu Ming’an passed through areas on her way, she found that grain prices were stable, but most places had less than half their storage. She entered her family’s shop and discovered that someone was purchasing large quantities of grain, but not depleting the stock.
Even so, Zhu Ming’an still noticed some details. All the grain was flowing toward Lingyi, and from Lingyi toward the capital along the route.
Lingyi had sent part of its army to the capital, but the amount of grain added up to more than that.
Zhu Ming’an wrote a letter and sent it to Shoulin. She then had someone prepare a fast horse and rode toward the capital.
The heir of the Marquis of Lingyi was plotting with the Xie family to launch a rebellion. Even if her judgment was wrong, she needed to ensure the capital was prepared.
The transfer of military authority in the capital had taken several days. At the Northern Frontier battlefield, the soldiers had not even had time to bury their dead before they were forced back into the city by the Bei’an army, which had counterattacked.
Qu Sheng brought the bodies of her maternal uncle and Third Uncle back into the city, losing quite a few soldiers in the process. To protect the bodies, she had even taken an arrow.
Due to her injuries and days without rest, the military physician had administered medicine and forced her into unconsciousness to let her body recover.
A mourning hall had been set up in the city for Qu Jiqin and Jin Yunyou, but they could not open the city gates to bury them outside.
Qu Sheng woke after three days in unconsciousness. She stared at the bed curtains but did not sink into grief. She was still thinking about how to win this war.
The Bei’an army appeared strong and well-equipped, but Tiansheng’s forces were not weak either. Weapons and equipment were a shortcoming, but after this battle, Qu Sheng strangely discovered that the Bei’an army’s combat strength was truly astonishing.
Why did they still have the strength to fight her main force after killing 300,000 of her soldiers overnight?
“General.” Kou Huan saw Qu Sheng trying to rise and hurried over to help.
“It’s fine.” Qu Sheng, whose lips were pale, slowly raised her hand to avoid Kou Huan’s outstretched hand.
She was not so weak that she needed someone to help her up. When she had carried her maternal uncle’s body on her back, being pursued by the Bei’an army, she could have dodged—but if she had, her uncle’s body might have fallen from the horse.
She could not let anyone desecrate her family members’ corpses.
If her maternal uncle and Third Uncle had not been so desperate to save her, they would not have been lured out of the city by Bei’an soldiers in disguise. If they had hesitated then and investigated further, they could have exposed the Bei’an army’s plot—but they did not.
Thinking about it now was useless. She had lost two generals, but she would not lose her composure. Yet losing two family members made her heart ache uncontrollably.
“Where are my Third Uncle and maternal uncle now?” Qu Sheng stood up and asked, her voice weak.
Kou Huan replied, “In the coffins in the front courtyard. The mourning hall has been arranged.”
“Mn.” Qu Sheng let out a long breath through her nose. “Take me there.”
Qu Sheng put on her outer robe and went to the front hall. What met her eyes were two black lacquered coffins. In that moment, Qu Sheng’s heart felt heavy with pain, and the corners of her eyes grew red. She paused for a moment, then slowly walked forward.
“General.”
“General…”
The soldiers kneeling to keep vigil, and the Qu family’s soldiers, watched their general emerge. Seeing her pale, bloodless face, their hearts tightened.
Qu Sheng’s gaze was fixed on those two coffins. When she stepped into the mourning hall, her body tilted as if she would fall. Kou Huan hurriedly caught her.
“General, are you alright?” Kou Huan’s anxious tone showed she had been frightened by Qu Sheng’s stumble.
Qu Sheng was held up, but her body still struggled to stand steady. She glanced at Kou Huan and gently shook her head, trying to keep her voice steady. “It’s fine. Help me inside.”
Qu Sheng’s body had no strength, but she still insisted on entering the mourning hall. Kou Huan supported her as she knelt, watching Qu Sheng perform the three kneelings and nine prostrations1. Tears kept flowing from her eyes, but she made no sound. Kou Huan sadly raised her hand to wipe away her own tears.
After Qu Sheng finished her offerings, she knelt there for a long time without moving, and did not ask anyone to help her up.
Her gaze did not blink, falling on the coffins that separated her from her family.
“Has there been any communication with the capital?” Qu Sheng lowered her gaze and began burning paper money.
“Yes. General Fengkang has already sent someone back.”
Qu Sheng lowered her eyes and did not respond. This news might as well not have been sent.
“Has the Bei’an army attacked other cities?”
“No. We sent people out to contact the generals of various cities, but we have not seen any trace of the Bei’an army.”
Qu Sheng nodded and said, “Do not let your guard down. Once I think of a plan, we will go out and fight again. Cough, cough…”
Qu Sheng coughed as she spoke. Kou Huan saw this and reached out to take the thick outer cloak from someone waiting outside. She draped it over Qu Sheng and said, “The weather is getting colder. General, please take care of your body.”
“Mn.” Qu Sheng suppressed the discomfort in her throat and gave a low hum.
Qu Sheng’s battle report from the Northern Frontier should have arrived by now, but the capital still showed no movement, as if unaware of what had happened at the Northern Frontier.
On this day, Lin Xizhao and Zhao Jiayu took Qu Zhimu to the Zhao Residence. General Zhao had recently been assigned to the Capital Suburbs Camp, and today was his day of rest. Zhao Jiayu had brought her daughter to show her off.
Qu Zhimu could now walk quite steadily. Though she stumbled when running, she did not fall.
Mother Zhao had personally made her small shoes. Though they could not compare to store-bought ones in refinement, she had put her heart into them—after all, neither Mother Zhao nor Zhao Jiayu had any talent for needlework.
Lin Xizhao sat at one end, Zhao Jiayu at the other. The little one ran back and forth between them, squealing as she ran. Her grandparents, seeing the little one playing so happily, smiled until fine lines appeared at the corners of their eyes.
After running for a while, the little one got tired and settled in Lin Xizhao’s arms. Their relationship was closer than with Zhao Jiayu, her own mother.
“After all, Auntie is more fragrant.” Zhao Jiayu lifted the porcelain lid of the tea beside her and smiled.
Lin Xizhao curved her brows, picked up Qu Zhimu, and gave her some water. Before long, a servant came to announce that lunch was ready.
Everyone rose and moved to the dining hall. Lin Xizhao was used to feeding Qu Sheng, so feeding Qu Zhimu came naturally to her. But Mother Zhao still felt bad and asked Lin Xizhao to eat first while she fed the child.
Mother Zhao took the bowl and chopsticks for Qu Zhimu from Lin Xizhao’s hand, not forgetting to scold her own daughter. She had not realized that her daughter was a hands-off mother who only gave birth but did not raise.
Zhao Jiayu did not mind. With Qu Sheng away, having Qu Zhimu’s company would surely distract Lin Xizhao from her longing. Though it was tiring at times, the benefits outweighed the costs.
On one hand, she could help teach her daughter and absorb some of that fairy-like aura. On the other hand, she could distract her from falling into lovesickness.
“Has Father been comfortable at the Capital Suburbs Camp lately?” Zhao Jiayu asked as she ate.
Zhao Dian looked up and smiled. “Leading troops—what is there to be comfortable or uncomfortable about?”
Zhao Jiayu smiled but said nothing. Before this, although Zhao Dian was a general, he had not had a single soldier under his command. He had been ill earlier, so Qu Sheng and Qu Jixian had not let him lead troops. This time, he had secretly spoken to Qu Yu, who had then spoken to Qu Jixian, and only then was he allowed to lead troops at the capital suburbs.
If a general did not lead troops, he had no place to use his skills. How could Zhao Dian feel good about that?
“But the soldiers from Lingyi are indeed quite troublesome.” Zhao Dian muttered this unexpectedly.
Lin Xizhao heard this and looked over. Zhao Jiayu put a piece of Dongpo pork in her mouth and asked vaguely, “What’s going on? Are they not following discipline?”
“Mn.” Zhao Dian nodded. “I wanted to replace them, but given the Jin family, I didn’t dare do it easily. If they continue forming factions like before, I will submit a memorial to replace all the Duyuhou2 in the army.”
Zhao Dian’s words seemed casual, but he was deliberately saying them for Lin Xizhao to hear. He knew his own daughter’s temperament. A Duyuhou commanded more than two thousand men. Though not many, if a group of Duyuhou banded together, it was troublesome.
When he first arrived at the camp, these people had privately formed cliques. When he issued military orders that were not completed, they would make excuses one after another, pleading for leniency. The law cannot punish the multitude3—but this was the military. After he enforced punishment, these people would look at him with hatred every time they saw him, as if they had swallowed gunpowder. If someone said they wanted to kill him, people would believe it.
He led troops with strict discipline—that was the baseline for a military general. But these people secretly opposed him, which gave rise to strange thoughts in his mind.
Though the Jin family was related to the Qu family by marriage, they were ultimately two different surnames. If the Jin family had good intentions, they would have ordered their people in the army not to cause trouble and to serve the court faithfully. But with the current situation… Zhao Dian hoped these people were only targeting him personally, but other camps had similar situations.
He had wanted to tell Qu Jixian about this, but he was afraid that if he said it himself, Qu Jixian would think he was making a big deal out of nothing and embarrass his daughter. So today, he wanted to use Lin Xizhao’s mouth to tell Qu Jixian.
If Qu Jixian thought something was wrong, then something was wrong. If he thought nothing was wrong, he would not pay attention to these people.
After lunch, they stayed for another hour before Lin Xizhao and Zhao Jiayu headed back.
Zhao Jiayu held her daughter and looked at the lively streets outside. Lin Xizhao sat in the carriage, thinking about what Zhao Dian had said. Deep bonds between soldiers were nothing unusual, but forming factions was a great taboo.
Zhao Dian had not said everything, but she knew that if it were not truly excessive, he would not have spoken of it. She also guessed that Zhao Dian wanted her to tell Qu Jixian about this.
“Have you noticed that there are many more refugees in the capital lately?” Zhao Jiayu held her daughter and sat back, lowering the carriage curtain.
Lin Xizhao heard this and turned to ask, “Are there?”
“Yes. Look, we saw groups of them this morning, and there are still quite a few now.” Zhao Jiayu lifted the carriage curtain as she spoke.
Lin Xizhao looked over. As the carriage passed, she saw the scene outside. A row of people sat in the corners—did they all seem to be able-bodied men?
Zhao Jiayu lowered the curtain after they passed. Lin Xizhao lowered her eyes for a moment, then lifted the curtain on her side.
Every few steps, she would see several ragged able-bodied men sitting by walls or on the ground, begging.
They did not look like beggars, nor like refugees.
Soon the carriage returned to the residence. Lin Xizhao settled the sleeping Qu Zhimu and went to see Jin Yunfei.
Her mind had been on Qu Zhimu lately. Apart from corresponding with Qu Sheng, she had heard little of outside matters.
Jin Yunfei saw Lin Xizhao arrive and smiled, setting down the flowers she was arranging. “Zhao’er, you’ve come at just the right time. Look at my flowers—I feel like something is missing. Tell me, what’s lacking?”
Lin Xizhao curtsied, then looked at the bright red flowers and smiled slightly. “Mother, try putting less of the baby’s breath.”
Jin Yunfei looked at her arrangement and blinked, uncertain where to adjust.
“Here.” Lin Xizhao reached over and removed some baby’s breath from the left side.
Jin Yunfei saw the flowers in the middle instantly appear “slimmer” and smiled until her eyes narrowed. “It really takes you young people. I’m getting old, and my eyes aren’t as good.”
Lin Xizhao walked over and massaged Jin Yunfei’s shoulders. “Mother isn’t old. We haven’t even grown up yet.”
Jin Yunfei laughed at this and patted Lin Xizhao’s fingers, smiling as she looked at her. “Whether we’re old is not your concern.” Since she had heard that Qu Jinian was unconscious at the Northern Frontier, her emotions had been unsettled. This flower arrangement was something Qu Jinian had most appreciated—but now, she could not even arrange a decent one.
Lin Xizhao massaged Jin Yunfei’s shoulders and chatted with her.
“Last time you went to the Northern Frontier, you said Sheng’er didn’t recognize you. When she returns, I will certainly scold her properly.”
“It’s not Sheng’er’s fault. She was poisoned then and not fully conscious.” It was impressive enough that she could face someone who looked exactly like her without any reaction.
Jin Yunfei smiled and changed the subject. The mother and daughter chatted for a while before Lin Xizhao mentioned what she had seen outside.
“There have been many refugees in the city lately. Does Mother know how Cousin is handling it?”
Jin Yunfei looked ahead and thought for a moment. “I heard they’ve opened the granaries for relief. How can there still be refugees?”
Last time when Qu Sheng fought in Jiangnan, this hadn’t happened. Could there be a problem with the Jin family’s relief funds?
“When Second Uncle returns, I’ll ask.” Jin Yunfei did not concern herself with outside matters, but since Lin Xizhao had mentioned it, it must not be ordinary.
Lin Xizhao chatted with Jin Yunfei a while longer before returning. She had wanted to ask Lin Xirui, but considering how busy he was lately, she decided against it.
Lin Xizhao returned to her courtyard and ordered Feng Qi to take men to the surrounding counties to check if there were also so many refugees flooding into the city.
Feng Qi took several men and left on his mission.
Lin Xizhao sat in her room waiting. Seeing the leaves outside beginning to yellow, she stayed for a while before writing another letter to Qu Sheng.
These past few days, her heart had been constantly uneasy. Last time she had a nightmare, and then something happened to Qu Sheng. She was not thinking of it as a curse, but this feeling made her very uncomfortable. She was truly worried.
Lin Xizhao finished the letter and ordered someone to send it to the courier. She had wanted to wait for Qu Jixian to return and tell him what she had heard from Zhao Dian and about the refugees today, but Qu Jixian did not return for dinner.
Feng Qi had been gone for a long time without returning. He had a pass to enter and leave the city, so there was no need to worry about him getting back in.
However, with all these matters piling up, Lin Xizhao could not sleep at night.
Lin Xizhao coaxed the little one to sleep, then rose and walked to the door. She asked the servant keeping watch outside, “Has Guard Feng returned?”
The servant lowered his head and replied, “No.”
Lin Xizhao lowered her eyes. If Feng Qi had returned, he would certainly have told her. She was being impatient.
“When did Second Uncle return?” Lin Xizhao wondered if she should go find Qu Jixian and tell him about this. After all, these things together were truly suspicious.
Even if she was overthinking, Qu Jixian still needed to know. It was better to be safe than sorry.
“Eldest Miss, Second Master has not returned from the palace yet.”
Lin Xizhao heard that Qu Jixian had not returned. At this late hour, she could not go to the palace to find him, so she had to give up.
Unable to sleep at night, Lin Xizhao put on outer clothes in the outer room and read a book—a travelogue she had read to Qu Sheng when Qu Sheng could not see. She had turned its pages back and forth countless times.
After some time, when the moon had begun to sink westward, perhaps because she had read this travelogue so many times, Lin Xizhao grew tired and soon fell asleep at her desk. When she woke, she heard noise outside the courtyard.
Lin Xizhao heard the commotion and rose. She called out to the servant outside, but there was no response. She thought the servant had gone to slack off, so she opened the door and walked out alone to see what was happening.
But soon Lin Xizhao realized something was wrong outside. The lights beyond the residence walls seemed unusually bright tonight.
Lin Xizhao felt an inexplicable chill. She called out the guards hidden in the shadows of the courtyard.
“Eldest Miss.” The guard bowed.
“What is happening outside?” Lin Xizhao stared at the distant firelight and asked.
The guard glanced over and said, “Perhaps it’s a merchant caravan preparing to leave the city at dawn.”
Lin Xizhao heard this answer and found it somewhat credible, but then she thought again—the firelight she had seen earlier did not seem to be heading toward the city gates.
“No, go outside and see what is happening.” Lin Xizhao was not reassured.
The guard accepted the order and took two men to leave the residence. But before they could exit the courtyard, they heard sounds of fighting outside, and servants rushing back in panic to see what was happening.
Lin Xizhao’s eyes instantly grew tense. She stared in the direction of the sounds and quickly determined they were the sounds of weapons clashing.
Lin Xizhao frowned and immediately ordered people to wake everyone in the various courtyards. She herself returned to her room and picked up Qu Zhimu.
Everyone in the various courtyards woke and gathered in the main hall.
Jin Yunfei and the two aunts of the Qu family saw her come and hurried to embrace them. At that moment, from the main gate, came the sound of “Dong, dong”—the noise of something ramming the residence door.
Soon Qu Yu and Zhao Jiayu, carrying swords, came in from outside. Zhao Jiayu said with a tense face, “There are rebels outside ramming our residence door. Fortunately, the gatekeeper was clever and bolted it first.”
“Who would be so bold?” Third Aunt asked urgently.
Qu Yu shook his head. “We don’t know. There’s still fighting outside. We don’t know how Second Uncle is doing in the palace. Let’s wait and see.”
Lin Xizhao held Qu Zhimu, who had woken and was resting on her shoulder. The more she thought about it, the more she felt that today’s events were connected to these rebels.
And the Capital Suburbs Camp—what Zhao Dian had said—Lin Xizhao did not dare to think further. If these rebels were from the Jin family, the capital might not hold.
What was happening outside, they could not know at this moment. They could only hope that before the residence doors were breached, the city’s garrison could subdue them.
Footnotes
- A formal ritual of respect in traditional Chinese funeral ceremonies, consisting of three kneelings, each accompanied by three prostrations, for a total of nine prostrations.
- A military rank commanding approximately 2,000 soldiers. Multiple Duyuhou can form factions within an army.
- An idiom (fǎ bù zé zhòng) meaning that when a large group of people violate a rule or law collectively, authorities cannot punish them all, as the group is too large to discipline effectively.
Gosh i am scared as hell 🤧💔