The Prime Minister’s Daughter and the Marquis’s Fool – Chapter 192
by Little PandaJiayu Previously Said She Would Give Mu’er to Us
Hearing the voice outside, Lin Xizhao subconsciously pushed away Qu Sheng, whose head was resting against her chest.
Pushed away, Qu Sheng froze for a moment. A roguish smile quickly appeared at the corners of her eyes. She lowered her voice and asked, “We are already home. Why is my wife so timid?”
Back when they were at the Qu Residence in the Capital City, she hadn’t been like this. Was it because they had spent these past days in the military camp?
Lin Xizhao calmed the emotions stirred up by Qu Sheng’s lips, tongue, and those long, powerful fingers. Hearing her words, she raised her eyes to look at Qu Sheng and said, “Second Uncle calling you over must be for some important matter. Hurry and go.”
Hearing this, Qu Sheng nodded. Seeing Lin Xizhao’s slightly flustered appearance, she deliberately stared for a few extra moments before asking, “Then I’m going?”
“Mm, hurry and go,” Lin Xizhao replied as she turned around, pretending she was going to arrange the bedding, but Qu Sheng behind her did not turn to leave.
“Wife,” Qu Sheng called out. She took two steps and wrapped her arms around Lin Xizhao from behind. Her warm lips rested behind Lin Xizhao’s ear, brushing against her skin in light, fleeting kisses.
The emotions Lin Xizhao had just managed to settle were roused once again by Qu Sheng. Just as she was about to urge Qu Sheng to hurry up and leave, she was turned around to face her.
Qu Sheng gazed at Lin Xizhao’s shy eyes and brow, utterly enamored. She lowered her gaze, tracing over Lin Xizhao’s flushed cheeks, and a moment later, leaned in for a kiss.
Lin Xizhao did not refuse Qu Sheng’s gentle kiss. But just as Qu Sheng tried to part her lips, the voice outside sounded once again.
“Miss, Second Master asks that you go see him without delay.”
This time, Lin Xizhao did not push Qu Sheng away, and Qu Sheng did not stop kissing her.
Qu Yu walked slowly; she only needed to walk a bit faster later to catch up. She knew exactly what Qu Jixian was calling her over to discuss.
The kiss, filled with a possessive desire for this beauty, did not lose its sense of propriety because of the voice outside. Qu Sheng kissed her tenderly, as if compensating for the missed opportunity during the banquet, when Lin Xizhao had looked at her with eyes full of love and she had been unable to kiss her.
Receiving this warmth, Lin Xizhao closed her eyes slightly, allowing herself to melt into the embrace.
A moment later, the two parted. A tender light flickered in Qu Sheng’s eyes, and a satisfied smile played on her thin lips as she whispered, “I will be back in a while. My wife should rest first.”
She did not know how long the discussion would take. There had been too many people around earlier, and since it was a banquet, it hadn’t been convenient to discuss the matter of establishing a nation. She had thought Qu Jixian would wait until tomorrow, but it seemed the urgency of the matter could wait no longer.
Lin Xizhao met Qu Sheng’s glowing eyes and gave a soft “Mm.” Her delicate, gentle voice tickled Qu Sheng’s ears.
Unable to resist, as Lin Xizhao lowered her head, Qu Sheng leaned down slightly and kissed her soft lips once more. It was a cherished kiss, lingering for a few moments before she reluctantly pulled away.
“I’m going now,” Qu Sheng said, her voice remaining gentle as she left.
Lin Xizhao looked at her and nodded again. Only then did Qu Sheng turn and leave.
Stepping out of the room, Qu Sheng looked at the maid standing to the side, who was about to knock for the third time, and said, “I will head over now.”
The maid curtsied. Carrying a lantern, she led the way as Qu Sheng closed the door behind her and stepped out.
The discussion hall in the front courtyard.
The official administrative area of Shoulin was not located here, but people were often summoned to the estate for meetings. Therefore, a courtyard in the front had been set aside for discussing official business.
When Qu Sheng arrived, Qu Yu was already there. Of the four senior elders of the Qu family, two had died in battle, and Qu Jinian was currently still comatose. Only Qu Jixian remained. Among the younger generation, only Qu Sheng and Qu Yu were left to stand here.
Watching Qu Sheng walk in, Qu Jixian ordered someone to close the door.
“Second Uncle,” Qu Sheng greeted, bowing as she heard the door close behind her.
Qu Jixian nodded. “Sit.”
Qu Sheng lifted her eyes, glancing at Qu Jixian’s normal expression, then cast a sidelong look at Qu Yu.
Qu Yu also nodded, gesturing for her to take a seat.
Qu Sheng went to sit down to the side. Qu Jixian then began, “Originally, since you just returned, you should have been allowed to rest for a few days. But the Jin family established their dynasty days ago. Since we have chosen to divide the realm with them, we must be evenly matched. We cannot merely operate under the title of a Marquis’s fiefdom.”
“Second Uncle means we should establish a nation as soon as possible?” Qu Sheng asked.
Such a sensitive topic would be approached with extreme caution in any other family. Yet to the Qu family, it seemed to be nothing more than an important household matter to be handled—one they had already made a decision on.
“Yes. To establish a nation, a Sovereign must be crowned. Originally, this Sovereign’s throne should have been taken by your father, but he remains comatose.” Qu Jixian spoke as he turned the jade thumb ring on his thumb with the same hand. “My body is aged, and lately, my leg illness makes it truly difficult to move about. You are well aware of your Fourth Brother’s physical condition; he cannot endure any strain. And your Third Brother is in that state.”
Qu Jixian raised his eyes to look at Qu Yu, then turned to Qu Sheng. The decision they had made went without saying.
“Second Uncle wants me to take it?” Qu Sheng already knew the answer in her heart.
“Second Uncle and I agree that you can stabilize the commoners and officials of Shoulin. First, you were once granted a special exception by the Emperor of Tiansheng, allowing you to inherit our Qu family’s Marquis title. Second, you were the one who led troops in bloody battles on the battlefield to secure these lands. Both logically and emotionally, there is no one more suitable than you,” Qu Yu added, following up on Qu Jixian’s words.
Hearing this, Qu Sheng looked at Qu Yu. She had no current desire for power; her goal was solely to protect her family. However, given the present situation within the household, it seemed that having her sit on that throne was the most appropriate solution.
A woman reigning as emperor was unprecedented, but she did not care about such things.
If there was no precedent, then she would be the one to set it. There were no eternal, unchanging rules in this world—only the laws dictated by the victors and the strong. This was all Qu Sheng had ever firmly believed in. Were it not so, she would never have had the courage to pursue the love of her life.
Qu Jixian nodded in approval, saying, “The affairs of state are extremely arduous. Fortunately, you have tempered yourself through experience over these past years. Within our household, aside from your Eldest Brother, you are the one who puts Second Uncle’s mind at ease the most.”
Qu Sheng’s methods were more akin to those of an emperor than anyone else in the Qu family. He had to admit this point. Moreover, their Qu family cared little for distinctions between men and women.
He also knew that back when Qu Jinian had been hesitating, Qu Sheng had preferred to usurp control, willing to defy Qu Jinian to seize this empire in order to protect their Qu family. Such boldness and decisiveness were beyond the reach of both him and the other men of the Qu family.
Qu Sheng stood up and bowed, her hands clasped together. “Sheng’er will definitely not disappoint Second Uncle and Fourth Brother.”
On the battlefield, she would not decline to shoulder a responsibility1. Since it had already been decided that she would be this emperor, she would no longer put on false displays of courtesy or modesty.
When members of their Qu family spoke, there was no need to doubt the true thoughts in their hearts.
The three talked in the room for a long time. After about four hours, Qu Jixian waved his hand. “Go back and rest.” Ever since his trip to the Capital City, his body had been deteriorating day by day upon his return. It would probably take several years to recover.
Qu Yu also stood up at this time. He clasped his hands in a bow and withdrew together with Qu Sheng.
The two siblings walked through the courtyard. After having just accepted the matter of becoming emperor, Qu Sheng began to ponder the matter Zhao Jiayu had mentioned earlier.
They were going to give Qu Zhimu to her and Lin Xizhao. She wondered if that still counted.
“Fourth Brother,” Qu Sheng suddenly called out to Qu Yu when they reached a fork in the path.
Hearing her, Qu Yu turned his head and asked with a smile, “Does Sheng-meimei have another matter?”
Qu Sheng pressed her lips together lightly and said, “Jiayu previously said she would give Mu’er to us…”
Hearing this, Qu Yu blinked thoughtfully. Then he smiled and said, “I will have to ask Jiayu about this.”
That was one time, this is another2. He knew what Qu Sheng meant; she wanted Qu Zhimu to inherit the great throne after her. However, looking at his own daughter’s temperament, he feared she would be inadequate for the task.
“Alright,” Qu Sheng agreed with a nod, not pressing the issue.
Qu Yu nodded and said, “I heard you once asked Physician Liu if it was possible for you and Xizhao-meimei to have a child.”
Qu Sheng’s gaze paused for a moment. She asked, “Physician Liu told you?”
Qu Yu smiled and said, “I asked him.”
Liu Wuxiang had been looking for a number of herbs recently, all of them being extremely yin and cold medicine3. Because he could not find them, he had pleaded with Qu Yu while preparing his prescriptions, asking him to help search for them.
At the time, Qu Yu had thought Liu Wuxiang wanted to harm someone. Although he didn’t know much about pharmacology, having been sick for so long, he knew to ask a few questions, and thus he had learned a bit about the matter.
“Does Fourth Brother believe it?” Last time, when Qu Sheng heard Liu Wuxiang say it could cost a life, she had dispelled the thought. Who knew this old man would return and start looking for the medicine anyway?
Qu Yu chuckled lightly and said, “Physician Liu is a miraculous healer, but he cannot be entirely trusted either.”
Qu Yu had also read some miscellaneous essays and ancient texts, and there were indeed mentions of such a concept. Moreover, Liu Wuxiang’s medical skills were rare in this world. Though Qu Yu was not an expert in these matters, he certainly hoped it was true.
Qu Sheng nodded, lowering her eyes thoughtfully. Qu Yu looked at his sister. She was elegant, yet possessed a sharp edge absent in ordinary people. And with Lin Xizhao’s rare heavenly beauty and national grace4, as well as her literary talent, it would indeed be a pity for them not to have heirs.
However, with gains came losses. They had obtained each other, and what they had lost was not necessarily something they cared about.
Qu Ting had yet to wake up. Perhaps many years later, their Qu family could still branch out and bear leaves5—who could say?
The two parted ways, each returning to their respective courtyards. As Qu Sheng walked along the path, she kept thinking about this problem. After pondering too much without finding a clear thread, she stopped thinking about it entirely. She would leave it all to the will of Heaven.
When Qu Sheng returned to her room, the maid waiting nearby pushed the door open. Just as she was about to go in and serve her, Qu Sheng waved her hand in dismissal. Lin Xizhao must have already fallen asleep; otherwise, the maid would not have proactively offered to enter and serve.
Qu Sheng untied her outer robe as she walked toward the inner chamber. As soon as she entered, she saw the sleeping beauty on the bed.
The beauty’s brow and eyes were gentle, and she slept much more soundly than she had in the military camp. Previously in the camp, Lin Xizhao would wake up every time Qu Sheng entered the tent. Now that they were back home, not even her entry had roused her.
The corners of Qu Sheng’s lips curled up slightly. Muffling her footsteps, she walked over to Lin Xizhao’s bedside. With a rustling sound, she undressed. Soon, Qu Sheng slipped under the covers, hovering half-propped over Lin Xizhao’s body.
Qu Sheng stared at Lin Xizhao’s face, listening to her light, shallow breathing. Her heart filled with an indescribable, tender satisfaction. However, mere tenderness would not suffice; there was still the accumulated fire of lust between them that had been owed for several days.
Taking a light sniff of the cold fragrance that not even the scent of flower petals scattered during her bath could mask, Qu Sheng kissed her obsessively. She lightly bit the slender neck. The area was exceptionally fragile, and Qu Sheng nibbled on it with the lightest of force. Hearing her let out a soft moan, Qu Sheng raised her head with a wicked smile.
“Wife,” Qu Sheng called out as she watched Lin Xizhao open her languid eyes. A fiery lust, no longer suppressed within her body, gradually began to swell in her gaze, and she allowed it to course wildly through her entire being.
“You’re back.” Before her vision even cleared, Lin Xizhao already knew it was Qu Sheng. Looking at this restless little rascal, she stretched out her slender arms and wrapped them around Qu Sheng’s neck. She buried her not-yet-fully-awake head into Qu Sheng’s embrace, nuzzling unconsciously as if she wanted to continue sleeping.
Seeing Lin Xizhao’s soft, delectable appearance, Qu Sheng shifted her body, lying diagonally on one side. Freeing one hand, she lifted Lin Xizhao up for a moment, making it more convenient to kiss her.
Lin Xizhao was held up for a moment. Just as she opened her drowsy eyes again in confusion, Qu Sheng’s kiss descended.
It was a soft kiss, neither hurried nor impatient, as if aiming to awaken the person who still wanted to close her eyes.
As she was kissed, Lin Xizhao was a bit dazed at first, but after a moment, she slowly began to respond.
The two kissed each other. Qu Sheng teased that fragrant, still somewhat weak tongue, only slowly pulling away when she heard Lin Xizhao’s breathing hitch slightly. A subtle layer of amusement lay at the bottom of Qu Sheng’s eyes. She simply stared at the person before her and deliberately asked, “Awake?”
Lin Xizhao’s eyelashes fluttered lightly. She did not understand what Qu Sheng meant by this, but a moment later, it was as if she did. Lin Xizhao lightly bit her soft lip and lowered her eyes.
Seeing this, Qu Sheng could no longer suppress the wicked thoughts in her heart. She slowly threw off the covers and carried Lin Xizhao off the bed.
Her tender, soft body was in her arms, and the brazier inside the room was exceptionally warm. Being at home was naturally much more reassuring than the drafty military tent. Qu Sheng carried Lin Xizhao over to the dressing table.
The author has something to say:
Qu Sheng: “I can only blame my wife for being too beautiful. Me appreciating her alone isn’t enough, but others appreciating her won’t do either.”
Lin Xizhao: “…”
Cheng Xi: “I should learn from this.”
Xiao Bingying: “I’m shy.”
Zhao Jiayu: “…That’s enough from you all!”
Leave a comment to get a red envelope; it’s all sweetness.
Footnotes
- An idiom meaning to willingly accept a duty or role without passing it off to others.
- An idiom meaning that times have changed and circumstances are different now.
- A hypothetical medicine being sought to allow two women to conceive.
- An idiom describing an exceptionally beautiful woman; literally 'heavenly beauty and national grace.'
- An idiom meaning to have many children and expand the family line.
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