The Prime Minister’s Daughter and the Marquis’s Fool – Chapter 185
by Little PandaYour Majesty, this humble subject has a plan.
The Imperial Guards, with long sabers strapped to their waists, charged into the Qu Residence row by row.
Inside the courtyard, the guards of the Qu Residence all drew their swords, assuming defensive stances. The Commander of the Imperial Guards sent someone to summon the people of the Qu Residence, but the guards ignored them entirely.
The masters of the estate had already received the news by now.
Seeing the guards before him arranged in battle formation, the Commander of the Imperial Guards rested his hand on the hilt of his long saber. His cold, stern gaze swept over the crowd. He raised a hand, waved it, and took a step back.
Without waiting for further verbal commands, the Imperial Guards surged forward to engage. The guards of the Qu Residence fought with all their might to repel the enemy.
Quickly, the first wave of Imperial Guards fell to the ground, and several Qu Residence guards were also injured.
Looking at the corpses on the ground, the Commander let out a heavy breath. Frowning, he waved his hand again. The next wave of Imperial Guards stepped up. Long sabers clashed with longswords; even in the broad daylight, sparks flew.
The Imperial Guards’ long sabers were broad, but when hacking against the longswords of the Qu Residence guards, they gained no advantage whatsoever.
Soon, the second wave fell, and the third wave charged up.
After several quarters of an hour, the guards of the estate were like withered autumn leaves, shaken loose and growing ever sparser. The Imperial Guards, however, were like summer weeds, spreading relentlessly batch after batch. Finally, trampling over the decaying leaves, they broke into the courtyards of the Qu Residence.
The guards searched every courtyard and room one by one. Aside from the servants, the masters of the estate had all vanished.
“Grand Commander, we haven’t found the Qu family,” the guard captain reported to the man standing in the courtyard, whose eyes were fixed intently on the distance.
Hearing this, the Grand Commander of the Imperial Guards furrowed his brow. “Keep searching,” he ordered coldly.
The guards scurried through the courtyards like rats and insects in a famine, searching and hacking at every corner of the estate, but they couldn’t find a single clue.
The people had simply vanished into thin air.
Squad after squad of guards emerged from the courtyards, reporting the exact same thing.
The Commander of the guards stood by a dry well, his expression grim. Soon, the troops withdrew from the Qu Residence.
The Commander hurried toward the imperial palace. Entering the grand hall, he reported the results of the search.
“Your Majesty, the people of the Qu Residence are all gone.”
The court officials all turned to look at him, revealing expressions of shock. Jin Mingjun even stood up directly from the dragon throne.
“What did you say?”
“In reply to Your Majesty, we killed all the guards at the estate gates and entered every courtyard. Aside from the servants, we found no trace of the Qu family,” the Imperial Guard Commander said, lowering his head.
Hearing this, Jin Mingjun immediately flared with anger. “Nonsense! The Qu Residence was surrounded like an iron barrel. They were fine for so long, yet today they suddenly disappear?” At this, Jin Mingjun’s gaze turned cold as he glared at the Commander. “Did you hide them?”
“Your Majesty, this subject did not. All the guards who went can testify. Aside from the servants, all the guards in the Qu Residence were killed, and every corner of the estate—even the bamboo grove—was cut down. There was absolutely no sign of the Qu family.” The Commander hastily raised his head to defend himself.
The Commander of the Imperial Guards was a retainer of the Jin family, yet at this moment, Jin Mingjun did not believe him.
The grand hall was dead silent. Jin Mingjun descended the steps, walked up to the Imperial Guard Commander, and glared down at him.
“Men, detain Lang Guo’an. I order Chen Gaohan to temporarily take over the duties of Commander and go to the Qu Residence to continue the search for Us!” Jin Mingjun simply refused to believe that so many people in the Qu Residence could vanish so silently right under his men’s noses.
Countless soldiers were attacking the outer city. As far as the eye could see, the attackers had set up scaling ladders and were swarming densely up the city walls. However, the defenders quickly brought up buckets of oil and poured them down the ladders.
The attackers slipped and slid, falling from the ladders before they could even climb up. The modified wall structure above the gates featured alternating high and low sections; one side could block the attackers’ arrows, while the other allowed defenders to strike down climbers before they could even prepare themselves.
Watching her own soldiers continuously fall from the city walls, Qu Sheng slowly knit her brows.
If this continued, they would inevitably suffer even more casualties. After two rounds of assaults, Qu Sheng dispatched the Flying Soldiers.
With giant wings spread wide on both sides, they glided down from a high vantage point. Each carried one person, flying straight toward the inner city.
However, when the first batch launched from the constructed takeoff points, they were shot full of holes by the archers on the wall before they could even land.
Seeing this, Qu Sheng and the commanding generals behind her immediately ordered the Flying Soldiers’ assault to halt.
Attacking the city like this was no different from being live targets.
The trebuchets continued their barrage. Trebuchets had historically been abandoned because nearly all city walls had been heightened beyond their throwing arcs. Now, however, after Qu Sheng’s improvements, they had proven highly effective not only against the Bei’an Kingdom’s army but also in this current siege. It was just that the city walls were far too sturdy, and the defenders atop them were agile in their resistance. Taking the city would likely take some time.
In the capital’s imperial city, the newly replaced Commander of the Imperial Guards led his men back into the Qu Residence to search anew. They found some clues inside a dry well, but after sending men down, they still couldn’t find anyone.
It was too dark below, and the air was extremely thin. The sheer number of torches brought down quickly depleted what little oxygen there was, forcing the men to return to the surface in short order.
Furthermore, the passages down there extended in all directions, yet not a sliver of light could be seen.
When Jin Mingjun received the news, he immediately ordered a city-wide search, declaring that anyone who refused to let the guards search their homes would be executed on the spot.
While the soldiers on the city walls were bleeding and fighting, many commoners outside the imperial city died in their own homes for refusing the search—and still couldn’t escape the fate of being ransacked. Their valuables had already been heavily looted during the previous wave of searches; now, there was likely nothing left.
For a time, both inside and outside the city, everything devolved into utter chaos.
The people inside the Qu Residence, having learned that Jin Mingjun had ordered their arrest, had the guards stall for time while they escaped through the dry well passage they had previously cleared.
It wasn’t safe up above, but it was equally dangerous below. Fortunately, Qu Yu’s eyes could see objects in the dark, and his daughter had inherited this bloodline trait of the Qu family.
As Lin Xizhao carried Qu Zhimu, Zhimu’s clear voice occasionally rang out in the dry well’s passage. “Careful, Aunt.”
Hearing this, Lin Xizhao tightened her embrace and replied softly, “Okay.”
Lin Xikuan and a few guards walked at the very front, using only a single fire stalk1. Zhao Jiayu and Qu Yu supported Qu Jixian as the three of them walked near the back. The women, along with Lin Xizhao and her niece, were in the middle with a few servants. At the very rear trailed a few more guards.
“Just a little further and we’ll reach the edge of the city walls,” Lin Xikuan said as they walked. “This leads to Yingtuo Mountain. The passage there has already been dug open.”
Previously, when Lin Xizhao had slipped out in Marquis Feng’s palanquin, she had been intercepted by Lin Xikuan’s carriage. The two had stayed at Prince Zhongping’s Residence for quite some time. Today, the scouts Lin Xikuan had arranged sent word that Jin Mingjun had decreed the arrest of the Qu family. The siblings quickly descended through the dry well and brought all the Qu family members down with them.
Even if the pursuing troops found this place, searching it would be incredibly difficult. The capital’s underground river channel network was vast and winding. Without the previously mapped routes, finding a way out of here would be nearly impossible.
Lin Xizhao and the others walked through the underground river channel for half a day before reaching the location Lin Xikuan had mentioned.
As the guards pulled the last person up, Qu Zhimu, still in Lin Xizhao’s arms, vaguely heard the sounds of slaughter and asked, “Aunt, what’s that sound?” Earlier, when she was in the residence, she hadn’t heard it very clearly.
Everyone could hear it now. They knew Qu Sheng had arrived, but previously they had been trapped in the city and unable to leave.
Although the capital’s guards hadn’t been overly strict at the time, the people of the Qu Residence had long been placed under heavy surveillance. Even when Lin Xikuan had initially entered from outside the city, he had been recognized immediately and brought straight before Jin Mingjun.
“Let’s eat something first,” Lin Xikuan said, taking down the bundle he had been carrying on his back.
The guards also untied their bundles, taking out the dry rations they had hastily prepared.
Lin Xikuan distributed some flatbread, handing a piece to Lin Xizhao. She crouched down, tore the bread, and gave some to Qu Zhimu. After half a day’s journey, they were all already hungry.
Qu Zhimu behaved wonderfully, showing none of her usual pampered temperament. She ate the bread without a single complaint.
After everyone had eaten, they got up, preparing to head deeper into the mountain forest.
As for Qu Sheng’s siege, if she was fast, she could take the city in a day or two. If she was slow, they would have to find a way to survive and make a path for themselves. Otherwise, if they fell into Jin Mingjun’s hands, Qu Sheng’s siege would become incredibly difficult.
The mountain forest in winter was freezing. They found a place sheltered from the wind, cleared away the surrounding deadwood and dry grass, and lit a fire there.
Night was approaching. Because this mountain was technically situated within the capital’s broader fengshui enclosure—centered around the imperial palace—it offered the shelter of a mountain without the threat of wild beasts.
Everyone huddled together. Wearing a thick outer cloak, Lin Xizhao wrapped Qu Zhimu securely in her arms.
Atop the capital’s city walls, Jin Mingjun, having heard that Jiang Pingchao had withstood Qu Sheng’s assault, ascended the tower to inspect and encourage the troops.
A full day of sieging had not breached the city, but it had caused significant damage to the walls. The attacking soldiers had already withdrawn. Qu Sheng had dispatched a portion of her troops to ambush the forces Jin Mingjun was transferring from the south.
In the night, aside from the thud of the trebuchets, there was only the sound of hidden arrows being fired from below.
The lanterns and fires on the city walls had long been extinguished, and the soldiers outside the city lay in wait elsewhere. Qu Sheng had originally intended to capture the city in one vigorous push today, but she had met her match.
She went to the central command tent and called someone in to ask, “Who is the general defending the city?”
Feng Kang blinked, quickly replying, “He is a retainer general of the Marquis of Lingyi, named Jiang Pingchao.”
“Jiang Pingchao.” Qu Sheng murmured the name softly to herself. She suddenly remembered that when she had led troops to reinforce Lingyi, it was this same Jiang Pingchao who had held off the Rebel Alliance’s siege with a paltry number of soldiers.
Qu Sheng furrowed her brow and asked again, “When are the southern reinforcements expected to arrive?”
“Tomorrow at the fastest, five days at the slowest,” Feng Kang replied.
Qu Sheng nodded. “You must ensure they are ambushed on the road.”
“Yes.”
“Also, send men to the Western Frontier and the Southern Border. Keep a strict watch on the Sishi Kingdom and the Zongshang Kingdom. At the first sign of movement, report back immediately.”
Tiansheng had troops stationed in the west, but not many. And although the Shoulin army was garrisoned in the south, the vast majority of them had already been brought here by her.
“Yes.”
Having finished her arrangements, Qu Sheng went to see Xiao Bingying and Cheng Xi.
The two had brought a massive army, but Xiao Bingying had handed all command authority over to Qu Sheng. Compared to other military officers, Xiao Bingying was certainly a cut above, but compared to a supreme commander talent like Qu Sheng, she fell far short.
If Qu Sheng hadn’t used her wits to bypass a heavily fortified natural chokepoint leading into the capital’s territory, they would have had to lay siege to it for a long time. Instead, a single imperial edict had allowed them to pass through the checkpoint effortlessly.
“Xiao Sheng’er.”
“Miss Sheng.”
Even though Qu Sheng was now a Grand General commanding an army of nearly a million, in the eyes of Xiao Bingying and Cheng Xi, she was no different than before.
Qu Sheng nodded. Taking a few steps forward, she dispensed with any distant pleasantries. Looking at Xiao Bingying, she said, “My wife and family are still in the city. If we breach the walls tomorrow, Jin Mingjun will definitely use them to threaten me. Therefore, I want to ask a favor of you two.”
Qu Sheng had not abandoned her family to fate. She also knew that unless absolutely necessary, Jin Mingjun wouldn’t dare touch the people of the Qu family.
The Qu family was his most important bargaining chip to force her into negotiations.
As the first light of dawn broke, a heavy mist lingered around the city. Qu Sheng’s massive army was concealed within it, while the imperial city’s defending forces were still waiting for their reinforcements to arrive.
Atop the city walls, the rhythmic sound of heavy objects crashing down rang out.
Several large breaches had already appeared in the walls, but breaching the city entirely would still require holding out for a few more hours.
At this moment, Qu Sheng had fully prepared for the final assault.
Inside the imperial city, the Emperor—who hadn’t slept in two nights—had dark bags under his eyes and looked thoroughly despondent. Although he had inspected the walls yesterday and encouraged the troops, he had also learned that they were on the verge of collapse.
There was absolutely nothing wrong with Jiang Pingchao’s defense. Without Qu Sheng’s improved trebuchets, the city definitely would have held out until reinforcements arrived.
But now, the city walls were crumbling bit by bit. Once they were reduced to rubble, the city would fall.
“Your Majesty, do we not still have a certain someone in the palace? It is said the Empress and Qu Sheng grew up together and share a very close relationship. If we bring her up to the city walls, it will inevitably force Qu Sheng to halt her attack. Then, we can propose conditions and reach a truce with her.”
The court officials had finally woken up to reality. Winning now was harder than ascending to the heavens. Even if the southern reinforcements arrived, it would merely lead to a bloody slaughter, devastating their troops before they were ultimately captured alive.
When Jin Mingjun heard the suggestion to use the Empress in the palace to threaten Qu Sheng, his expression abruptly changed. Lin Xizhao had long since escaped before the Empress investiture ceremony; the one in the palace was a fake.
“No,” Jin Mingjun refused. Even now, he refused to admit that he had married a fake Empress.
“Your Majesty, this is a move born of desperation. If you only go and persuade her, the Empress will surely agree.” The subordinate officials still wanted Jin Mingjun to persuade her, completely unaware that Lin Xizhao had never intended to marry him in the first place.
Although she now nominally held the title of Empress, the person who had accepted the investiture was not her.
A trace of embarrassment crossed Jin Mingjun’s face. As that official tried to continue his persuasion, another official beside him nudged him with his elbow and muttered, “The Empress was swapped.”
Hearing this, the official’s eyes instantly widened in shock, but soon after, he became even more eager for Jin Mingjun to send that fake Empress up to the city tower.
“Your Majesty, this humble subject has a plan.”
After battering the city gate tower for two hours, just as the tower and walls were on the verge of giving way, Qu Sheng, from amidst her vast army, saw a person with a slender figure being dragged up onto the city wall.
Standing far away, though she couldn’t see clearly, Qu Sheng felt that the person’s silhouette looked remarkably similar to Lin Xizhao’s.
A catapult stone flew over. The guards on the wall hastily dodged, pulling the woman with them. In that instant, Qu Sheng’s heart lurched, and she immediately ordered her men to stop firing the stones.
“Stop! Cease fire immediately!” When Qu Sheng saw a stone smash dangerously close to the woman, she nervously roared for the catapult operators to halt.
As the catapults ceased, the defenders on the tower breathed a sigh of relief. Within moments, a large number of officials gathered atop the wall.
Qu Sheng looked up, her eyes flashing with panic as those people blocked the woman from view.
“Listen here, Qu Sheng, you traitorous rebel! The Emperor of our Great Jin has issued an edict: if you abandon the darkness and turn to the light, your family will live in peace. If not, we will hang them all from the city tower as sacrifices to our Great Jin’s banner!”
As an official on the tower spoke, several people with burlap sacks over their heads were brought up from behind.
Qu Sheng stared at them one by one, but she couldn’t distinguish who was who. These figures were merely paraded briefly across the wall before being blocked from view by the soldiers behind them.
Yet, their silhouettes were intensely familiar.
Unable to clearly identify them, panic flared in Qu Sheng’s heart.
Qu Sheng had anticipated that Jin Mingjun would resort to such methods, but she hadn’t expected it to happen so quickly—that he would actually start using her family to threaten her right in the middle of the siege.
Qu Sheng spurred her horse forward. Seeing Qu Sheng emerge from the ranks of her army, the people above stared intently at her, a glimmer of hope seemingly rising in their eyes.
“Qu Sheng, as long as you agree to submit to our Great Jin, His Majesty will not pursue—” the official above shouted down, but his words were suddenly cut off by Qu Sheng.
“If you think this general will surrender, you are utterly delusional! Go tell Jin Mingjun: if he dares harm a single hair on my family’s heads, I will surely cut him into a thousand pieces—”
Thud!
“No—”
Before Qu Sheng could even finish her sentence, she watched as those officials hauled the woman up to the front. Without giving her a single moment to react, they threw her straight off the city tower.
In that instant, Qu Sheng’s entire body shuddered.
She stared at the mangled, bloodied body that had plummeted from the city tower over a dozen zhang high, utterly paralyzed.
If her eyes hadn’t deceived her earlier, that was Lin Xizhao’s silhouette.
It felt as if something was lodged in Qu Sheng’s throat, choking off her breath. Her body grew rigid, unable to move. She just sat there, quietly staring at the bloody scene in the distance, entirely stripped of life.
The generals flanking Qu Sheng were all stunned as well, but soon they saw their supreme commander charge alone toward the city tower.
“General! It’s dangerous!” When the accompanying generals saw Qu Sheng rushing recklessly toward the walls, they tried to stop her, but it was already too late.
Qu Sheng’s warhorse was one in a thousand. With blistering speed, she rapidly closed in on the base of the tower.
“Fire! Loose the arrows!” The officials on the wall, seeing Qu Sheng enter firing range, immediately ordered the archers to shoot at her.
The archers who had just been hiding atop the tower now all stepped forward. Drawing their bows taut without a shred of hesitation, they unleashed a volley of ten thousand arrows down upon Qu Sheng.
The author has something to say:
Lin Xizhao: “Are you silly? You couldn’t even recognize if it was me or not?”
Qu Sheng: “Well, it’s been so long since I’ve seen you, my eyes were playing tricks on me.”
Xiao Bingying: “This is what they call concern leads to confusion2.”
Zhao Jiayu: “Right, right, right.”
Red envelopes, red envelopes!
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