The Prime Minister’s Daughter and the Marquis’s Fool – Chapter 194
by Little PandaEach Does Their Duty, Without Distinction Between Men and Women
She had never heard Qu Sheng mention wanting to be emperor before. She originally thought that a man from the Qu family would take the throne, yet she never expected that everyone would unanimously want Qu Sheng to do it.
However, a woman becoming emperor was something that had never happened since ancient times. She was somewhat worried that there would be many twists and turns along the way.
“Does my Lady not wish for me to become emperor?” Qu Sheng asked softly, seeing the worry in Lin Xizhao’s eyes.
Lin Xizhao returned to her senses and shook her head. If Qu Jinian remained comatose, Qu Sheng taking the throne would be the most stable outcome, but abolishing the old to establish the new was always difficult.
“No. It is just that a woman becoming emperor has never happened throughout history. I am merely a little worried,” Lin Xizhao voiced her concerns.
“My Lady need not worry. With the changing of dynasties, everything begins anew. The situation is now entirely under my control. Even if there are some who oppose it, I can handle them.” Qu Sheng seemed supremely confident about ascending the throne.
Lin Xizhao believed Qu Sheng. Hearing her words, she nodded and urged, “Just remember not to kill the innocent indiscriminately.”
Upon hearing this, Qu Sheng lowered her eyes for a moment and nodded. She knew that many people might step forward to oppose her. Military force was the simplest solution, but it would also invite disaster.
Qu Sheng raised her hand to caress the back of Lin Xizhao’s hand and leaned in to kiss her cheek, her mind pondering the matter of instating an Empress. She had heard that in the Jin Dynasty, Lin Xizhao had been made Empress by Jin Mingjun. Although the person at the time was not actually Lin Xizhao, Qu Sheng absolutely could not do any worse than him.
She had married Lin Xizhao and adored her with all her heart. She wanted the whole world to know it.
Over the past few days, an unknown number of people had come and gone from the Nanting Residence. Every day, Lin Xizhao was either helping Jin Yunfei care for Qu Jinian or hopelessly entangled with Qu Zhimu. Only at night would she return to the courtyard where Qu Sheng had spent her childhood, which now belonged to the two of them.
However, Qu Sheng had also been leaving early and returning late recently. Sometimes, when Lin Xizhao woke up in the morning, Qu Sheng was already gone. At night, when Qu Sheng returned late, she could not bear to wake her.
Aside from subconsciously embracing each other to rest at night, the time the two spent together was truly few and far between. Yet, Lin Xizhao had never said a word of complaint about it.
She knew that the burdens of the Qu family all rested on Qu Sheng’s shoulders—and not just those of the Qu family, but also the common people across the greater half of the realm.
Qu Sheng’s ascension to the throne required many days of preparation, and the palace and yamen in Shoulin were currently being expanded and renovated. At present, Qu Sheng was not only busy with what was needed to establish a nation, but also with settling the commoners and officials who had come over from the Jin Dynasty.
Since Qu Sheng’s return, word had spread that Tiansheng had been split in two. The Sishi Kingdom on the Western Frontier of the Jin Dynasty had once again increased its troops and sparked a conflict, causing the Jin Dynasty to lose quite a few cities.
Moreover, in the Northern Frontier of the Jin Dynasty, the Beian Army had launched a counterattack. The Jin Dynasty was forced to begin conscripting soldiers and collecting grain rations once again. Many commoners fled at the first sign of trouble, relocating toward Shoulin.
As for the commoners who came over, after investigating their household registries, Qu Sheng assigned dedicated personnel to help them settle down and establish homes.
Meanwhile, the vassal lords within the Qu family’s sphere of influence also defected to Qu Sheng one after another, expressing their willingness to submit.
Everything was proceeding smoothly. Qu Sheng had someone select an auspicious day; once the temporary imperial palace finished its renovations and expansions, she would ascend the throne and proclaim herself emperor.
Since Qu Jixian and Qu Yu rarely intervened in these matters, many people caught the scent of the situation, realizing that the Qu family intended to let a woman govern this greater half of the world. Quite a few veteran officials arrived at the Nanting Courtyard to persuade Qu Jixian to take the throne.
However, Qu Jixian made a solemn declaration in response: their Qu family made no distinction between men and women, and Qu Sheng’s capabilities were obvious to all. If anyone tried to sow confusion or harbor disloyalty again, they would be executed immediately without mercy.
In truth, Qu Jixian releasing such a statement was also to protect these people’s lives. Given Qu Sheng’s temperament, even if these men possessed talent, they were at odds with her. If they remained stubborn, Qu Sheng would likely not let them live.
They would become the perfect examples of executing one to warn a hundred for obstructing her ascension.
The crowd of officials lowered their heads, stealing glances at Qu Jixian. Seeing his serious demeanor, they seemed to realize that he was absolutely determined to let Qu Sheng be the emperor.
After everyone withdrew, Qu Sheng saw that Qu Jixian appeared to be in great discomfort and had someone invite Physician Liu over. With all this agonizing turmoil today, it was likely that Qu Jixian’s leg illness would keep him awake again tonight.
“Sheng’er, you should go as well,” Qu Jixian said, waving his hand.
Qu Sheng cupped her hands in a salute and took her leave.
When Qu Sheng stepped out of the room, several officials were still standing outside the courtyard. Upon seeing her come out, they took one look and unconsciously lowered their heads.
Qu Sheng, who had originally intended to leave, glanced back at Qu Jixian’s room. Remembering how Qu Jixian had just been enduring the pain, she called out to stop one of them just as these officials wanted to go inside. “Lord Qi.”
The person addressed as Lord Qi was an old official with a white beard. Hearing Qu Sheng’s voice, he halted his steps, turned around, and braced himself as he walked over to her.
“Miss.”
Hearing him use a household title, Qu Sheng chuckled softly and said, “Lord Qi gathered these few lords here to ask my Second Uncle if he was being coerced by me, didn’t you?”
Struck by her words, Lord Qi looked up at Qu Sheng, but a moment later, he lowered his head and remained silent.
“I advise you not to waste your efforts, Lord Qi. As you know, military power is currently in my hands. I was the one who led our soldiers through bloody battles to fight for and protect this half of the nation. I am rather puzzled—why can I not be the emperor?”
Hearing Qu Sheng’s question, Lord Qi’s chest puffed out slightly, as if he now had an argument to suppress her. He glanced at the officials behind him, then turned back, speaking with righteous conviction, “Since ancient times, emperors have all been men. How can there be any logic in a woman becoming emperor? Miss possesses both wisdom and courage; this is beyond doubt, and we admire you endlessly for it. But men and women must each do their duty. This is following the ancestral teachings of the sages, the great path that prevents the world from falling into chaos.”
“Hmph. Doesn’t Lord Qi find his own words to be self-contradictory?” Qu Sheng readjusted the black cloak draped over her shoulders. As she stared at him, her face concealed a disdainful smile.
Upon hearing this, Lord Qi cupped his hands. “I would like to hear the details.”
“Your Excellency first flatters me for possessing both wisdom and courage in leading troops to war, but then you say that men and women must each do their duty. Is this not self-contradictory?”
“If we say that men and women must each do their duty, then it should have been all of you fighting on the battlefield back then. How could it ever fall to a woman like me?”
Qu Sheng’s words choked Lord Qi into pressing his lips tightly together. The others also stood to the side, pondering whether their purpose for coming today was right or wrong.
Seeing that Lord Qi wasn’t speaking, Qu Sheng smiled. “In truth, the sages were wrong to judge men and women separately in the first place. Existing in this world, we should each do our duty, without distinction between men and women. Civil officials have civil duties, and military officials have military responsibilities. If a blacksmith goes to embroider flowers, or a tailor goes to slaughter pigs, and they are not proficient at it, it will naturally become a joke. And these things are never separated by gender. What I consider ‘each doing their duty’ is to focus on one’s own expertise. I wonder if you lords agree with my perspective today?”
Upon hearing Qu Sheng’s words, the several officials had the mind to refute her but could not come up with a single reason.
“Lord Qi?” Qu Sheng cast a glance over the officials before her gaze landed on Lord Qi once more.
Lord Qi kept his head lowered, thinking for a few moments. Hearing Qu Sheng call his name, he raised his head to meet her gaze and said, “Miss’s words today indeed offer a unique perspective. But who assumes the role of a nation’s monarch is not child’s play. This concerns the will of the people. We cannot violate the rules set by our ancestors and disrupt the way of yin and yang1, lest we invite disaster.”
“Heh.” Hearing Lord Qi’s words, Qu Sheng knew he was obstinately clinging to the old ways. She interrupted him, saying, “Lord Qi, I have never met these ancestors you speak of. But the decisions we make today will also become ancestral acts that guide future generations. However, I have no intention of making them rigidly adhere to them forever, because by then, I will have been dead for a hundred years. There is no such thing as an empire lasting ten thousand generations in this world. Amidst unknown dynasties, making the most appropriate decision in the present—that is what is truly right.”
“If you stubbornly insist on clinging to your own views, then do not blame me for turning hostile and disregarding our past ties.”
As Qu Sheng finished speaking and raised her eyes, a chilling aura emanated from her gaze. She had wanted to persuade them with reason, but for some dead-set people, saying more was useless.
“Even if Miss kills this lower official, this lower official still must speak.” Lord Qi seemed unmoved by Qu Sheng’s intimidation, so stubborn that he cast aside even life and death.
Qu Sheng laughed out of anger at his words. “Lord Qi, this ‘way of yin and yang’ you speak of is nothing more than your fear of women stepping on men’s heads and stealing the limelight from men. Deeply rooted in your heart is the belief that women have always been lowly and cheap. You fear them rising above you—just as if a beggar clad in rags, who once begged for food under your hand, suddenly became an esteemed guest in your household whom you could not afford to offend. That is what makes you so displeased!”
Qu Sheng cut straight to the point, driving right into the places in his heart that he dared not admit.
Lord Qi was silent for a moment before looking up at Qu Sheng. “These claims are nothing more than Miss’s own imagination. As for the example you gave, how could this lower official possibly hold a grudge against a beggar?”
Listening to Lord Qi’s words, Qu Sheng felt that once some people were bound by outdated texts and ethical codes, they simply could not break free. She thus extinguished any desire to debate with him.
Thinking of Lin Xizhao’s urging, Qu Sheng smiled harmlessly. Staring at Lord Qi and the several officials, she said, “Since Lord Qi cares so deeply for the commoners and possesses such a broad mind, I will also make one thing clear. My Second Uncle just said that if anyone discusses the matter of me ascending the throne to become emperor again, they will be executed immediately without mercy. However, I don’t plan to kill you, nor will I execute your clansmen. I hear that the area surrounding your residence is a bustling market with a complex mix of people. If you still insist on your views five days from now, then I will let them suffer the punishment in your stead.”
“Oh, and that goes for all of you as well.” Qu Sheng had turned around to leave, but she spun back to add.
Before the officials could react, Qu Sheng smiled and walked away. The two guards behind her followed her out of the courtyard, and they subsequently left the residence.
When Qu Sheng returned to her own courtyard, she informed Lin Xizhao of this matter. Lin Xizhao laughed and called her too wicked. “By doing this, he won’t have a moment of peace these next few days.”
Qu Sheng laughed. “Not having a moment of peace is still better than losing his life.”
After leaving the courtyard earlier, Qu Sheng had ordered people to inform Lord Qi’s neighbors of this matter. Furthermore, they were not allowed to relocate; even if they did, they would be dragged right back.
As Lin Xizhao helped Qu Sheng untie her robes, she said, “Although Lord Qi holds stubborn prejudices against women, he is indeed a good official. I heard Mother say that over the years, he has toiled mentally and physically for the common people, and was heavily relied upon by Father and Second Uncle.”
Qu Sheng nodded and replied, “Yes, which is why I couldn’t bear to kill him either.”
Even if he remained stubborn five days from now, Qu Sheng wouldn’t actually kill the people around him. Handing people an excuse to criticize her before she even ascended the throne was not the magnanimity expected of a nation’s monarch.
If he continued to insist, then she would produce political achievements to show him that his insistence was wrong.
Qu Sheng lowered her head and looked at Lin Xizhao, who was untying her robes. Even just looking at her profile, she felt her to be exceptionally beautiful. “My Lady.”
Qu Sheng couldn’t help but call out.
Hearing this, Lin Xizhao raised her eyes, her movements to untie the clothes continuing. She gave a soft “Mm.” “What’s wrong?”
Qu Sheng pressed down on Lin Xizhao’s hands against her waist, pulling her forward slightly so they were pressed against each other. She said, “The matter of instating the Empress will take place one month after my ascension. Sheng’er definitely won’t let my Lady suffer any grievances.”
She had once imagined making her relationship with Lin Xizhao known to the public, but she had always been considerate of Lin Xizhao’s feelings.
But now that she was about to ascend the throne and become emperor, she would no longer remain in obscurity. The Empress in her palace, as a matter of course, would be Lin Xizhao.
After Qu Sheng finished speaking, she looked at Lin Xizhao, whose eyelashes were trembling slightly. Their noses bumped, and just as Qu Sheng was about to kiss her, Lin Xizhao—who had been stunned for a moment—slightly turned her face and avoided it.
“What’s wrong?” Qu Sheng was somewhat confused by Lin Xizhao’s actions, thinking that Lin Xizhao was still deliberately acting this way because of what happened a few days ago.
Seeing Qu Sheng’s confused expression, Lin Xizhao shook her head. She took the initiative to kiss her on the lips and said, “Now that you are becoming emperor, your status is no longer something you can solely dictate. You are a woman. Even if an Empress is instated, it should be a man presiding over the Central Palace2; it shouldn’t be me.”
Hearing Lin Xizhao’s words, Qu Sheng’s eyes widened slightly, and a hint of anger appeared between her brows. She demanded, “What kind of nonsense is my Lady saying?”
The author has something to say:
Qu Sheng: “Instate a male Imperial Husband for the Central Palace? Then it’ll have to be my wife playing the part.”
Leave a comment to get a red envelope!
Footnotes
- The philosophical concept of dualism in ancient Chinese culture, where 'yin' represents the feminine/receptive principle and 'yang' represents the masculine/active principle. Disrupting this balance was believed to cause natural and social disasters.
- The term refers to the Empress's residence and is used as a metonym for the Empress or the head of the imperial inner palace.
0 Comments