The Prime Minister’s Daughter and the Marquis’s Fool – Chapter 195

Do You Also Want to Fulfill Your Duties as a Wife?

Lin Xizhao looked at Qu Sheng’s seemingly frustrated expression, raised her eyes to meet hers, and said very gently, “Don’t be anxious just yet. I didn’t say I wanted to separate from you.”

Hearing the word ‘separate,’ Qu Sheng could not help but furrow her brows. She and Lin Xizhao had already bowed to heaven and earth; how could she possibly let her leave? But since Lin Xizhao had said this, she must have her reasons. She waited for her to explain.

            

“You have encountered numerous obstacles even before ascending the throne and proclaiming yourself Emperor. You and I are both women. If you name me Empress, what would you have the officials and the common people of the world think?”

A woman proclaiming herself Emperor was already difficult for people to accept. If this female Emperor were to name another woman as her Empress, the repercussions would be enough to shake the newly established court and the hearts of the people.

Hearing Lin Xizhao’s words, Qu Sheng’s heart did not waver. She naturally knew what they would face, but she was confident she could resolve it. Lin Xizhao’s worries were nothing to be concerned about.

            

“Everything my wife worries about, I have already considered. But you are my first and formal wife¹, and have long been a member of our Qu family. You only consider those officials and the common people of the world, but have you thought about how the people around us will view me? If I do not name you Empress, would I not be a heartless and ungrateful person?”

“Sheng’er,” Lin Xizhao said, feeling a bit helpless at Qu Sheng’s muddled logic.

How could the people around them not be clear on what kind of person Qu Sheng was? How could their relationship possibly be shaken by whether or not she was named Empress?

            

The common people of the world and the people around them were equally important, but Qu Sheng naming her Empress would undoubtedly push the Qu family into becoming the target of public criticism. Moreover, she could already predict how Qu Sheng would deal with those who opposed it when the time came.

Qu Sheng was not obsessed with power or influence. Regarding the matter of the throne, although there were disputes, she would hold her temper. But if the throne was exchanged for her, that would be touching Qu Sheng’s reverse scale². Even with her admonishments, there would be times when Qu Sheng lost control.

Having lived with Qu Sheng since childhood, even though there were times she couldn’t see through her, she was well aware of her obsessive side.

            

“Alright, I promise my wife to temporarily postpone this matter.” Qu Sheng did not want to argue with Lin Xizhao over something that had not yet happened, nor did she want her to be fraught with worry over it. She wanted her to be happy.

She had once asked Lin Xizhao if she would like to come live with her in Shoulin. Although it had caused an unpleasant disagreement at the time, Lin Xizhao had followed her here now. Since she had come, Qu Sheng absolutely had to ensure she lived a comfortable, carefree life here.

After hearing Qu Sheng’s words, Lin Xizhao’s unease was no longer so intense, but her worries still lingered. She, too, was pondering how to resolve this matter.

            

As Qu Sheng watched Lin Xizhao lower her eyes, her cicada-wing-like eyelashes trembling slightly, she couldn’t resist raising a hand to lift her pale, smooth chin, which felt as smooth as a jade bead. Her gaze fell on her soft, lustrous lips as she murmured, “Wife.”

“Mm?” Lin Xizhao raised her eyes, crashing into the depths of Qu Sheng’s desire-filled gaze.

Qu Sheng lowered her head and captured those moist, soft lips. She sucked on them for only a few moments before prying open her pearly teeth, sweeping straight in.

            

The sound of heavy breathing caused the two to briefly separate. Qu Sheng bent at the waist and swept Lin Xizhao up into her arms.

“We have to eat dinner soon,” Lin Xizhao said, her slender arms subconsciously hooking around Qu Sheng’s neck.

Qu Sheng carried Lin Xizhao toward the edge of the bed. Looking down with an inextinguishable fire of lust, her gaze swept nakedly over Lin Xizhao’s face as she smiled and replied, “I’ll eat my wife first.”

            

A tempestuous storm within the room was forced to an end as Lin Xizhao kept strict track of the time. Qu Sheng lay on her side on the bed, the belt of her inner robe loose. Lin Xizhao stood beside the bed, tying the sash at her waist before smoothing out the overlapping collar of her dress, which had just been slightly wrinkled by Qu Sheng.

Qu Sheng admired the dazzling, dewy beauty who had just been deeply nourished, her eyes full of profound affection. A moment later, seeing Lin Xizhao turn around, she looked down at her own disheveled state. When she raised her head again, Lin Xizhao had already brought over all her clothes.

“Hurry up and get up. Mother and the others must be waiting anxiously.” Lin Xizhao’s tone was slightly urgent, but it remained gentle.

            

Hearing this, Qu Sheng shifted her body and sat forward. Lin Xizhao fetched her a set of casual everyday clothes to wear around the house.

As Qu Sheng put on her clothes, she looked at Lin Xizhao’s lips, which were slightly red and swollen from her kisses. She seemed a bit unsatisfied.

Lin Xizhao kept her head down as she tied the sash at Qu Sheng’s waist, quickly neatening her clothes. Seeing her little girl’s delicate and pretty features, Lin Xizhao couldn’t help but smile. She tilted her chin up slightly and took the initiative to kiss her.

            

Qu Sheng’s just-settled mind rippled once more. She looked at Lin Xizhao, her eyes shining. Looking at Qu Sheng’s infatuated gaze, Lin Xizhao raised a pale finger and caressed Qu Sheng’s cheek, saying softly, “Let’s go. Today I instructed the kitchen to make some of your favorite dishes.”

After speaking, Lin Xizhao lowered her hand and prepared to walk out, but Qu Sheng pulled her half-turned body back, wrapping her in an embrace.

Pulled back into her arms, a trace of confusion flickered in Lin Xizhao’s eyes, but she obediently hugged Qu Sheng back. After making love, the two of them would always embrace like this, sharing the lingering emptiness that followed physical and emotional bliss, along with their mutual sense of belonging.

            

However, this was mostly something Lin Xizhao needed. She didn’t know what had gotten into Qu Sheng today.

“Wife,” Qu Sheng called out softly, resting her chin against Lin Xizhao’s neck.

Lin Xizhao shifted, rubbing her soft cheek against Qu Sheng’s warm neck, and responded softly, “Mm.”

            

Hearing Lin Xizhao’s voice, the words Qu Sheng was on the verge of saying were swallowed back down as her throat bobbed. “Let’s hurry and go.”

After saying this, Qu Sheng released her embrace.

Lin Xizhao looked at Qu Sheng, an indescribable feeling welling up in her heart. She felt that Qu Sheng had something she wanted to say, but as for what it was, she couldn’t figure it out just yet. “Alright.”

            

If it was something Qu Sheng wanted to say, she would eventually say it.

The two went hand in hand to the dining hall in the front courtyard. Everyone took their seats. Qu Sheng served Lin Xizhao food; she had just picked something up on one side when someone was already feeding her on the other.

“Auntie, eat this, it’s delicious.” Qu Zhimu generously brought her own food to Lin Xizhao’s lips with her chopsticks, cupping her other chubby little hand underneath to catch any drops.

            

Lin Xizhao took a look, her eyes curving into a smile, and parted her lips to take it in.

Watching Lin Xizhao eat it, Qu Zhimu blinked her round little eyes, wanting to ask if she liked it, but out of the corner of her eye, she saw Qu Sheng’s gaze cast her way.

She didn’t know why, but she always felt that her Little Aunt didn’t really like her. Yet normally, she didn’t feel that way; it was only when she got close to this Eldest Aunt of hers that her Little Aunt’s eyes looked as if they wanted to hit her.

            

Of course, in this estate, other than her own mother, no one else had ever hit her.

After eating the food Qu Zhimu gave her, Lin Xizhao hurriedly picked up the bowl in front of her, taking the initiative to receive the food from Qu Sheng’s chopsticks.

The feeling of being caught in the middle was actually not very pleasant. After eating Qu Sheng’s food, Lin Xizhao took the initiative to serve her some in return.

            

Looking at the extra food in her bowl, a smile returned to Qu Sheng’s face.

Jin Yunfei watched this childish side of Qu Sheng and shook her head helplessly.

Zhao Jiayu was solely occupied with taking care of Qu Yu and hadn’t been able to come here. Qu Yu had caught a chill today; perhaps from substituting for Qu Jixian in handling some official affairs over the past few days, he had exhausted himself, triggering a low fever.

            

After returning, Qu Sheng had gone to visit him and no longer allowed him to busy himself with official duties.

Qu Zhimu had followed Lin Xizhao around for the entire day today. It was only during the evening that she was carried away by her grandmother, giving Lin Xizhao a brief window to rest—but even that sliver of time had been completely squeezed dry by Qu Sheng.

By the end of dinner, it was clear Lin Xizhao had eaten quite a bit more than usual. Perhaps because she had spent the whole day looking after Qu Zhimu, the little one had returned the favor by giving more than half the food in front of her to Lin Xizhao.

            

The dining table was cleared away, and the family sat together chatting idly for a while. The several women did not discuss external official affairs. Qu Sheng sat there, watching everyone tease and play with Qu Zhimu, as she held her tea and took a light sip.

Looking at the scene before her, Qu Sheng felt incredibly gratified. Everything she had done was worth it.

After everyone finished chatting, Jin Yunfei, her heart aching for Qu Sheng who had been busy outside all day, told her and Lin Xizhao to go back and rest early.

            

Lin Xizhao and Qu Sheng stood up and bowed. Once out the door, Qu Sheng wanted to sweep Lin Xizhao into her arms and hurry back to their courtyard.

Just as Qu Sheng pulled Lin Xizhao toward her and leaned down to pick her up, Lin Xizhao stepped to the side and dodged her. “I want to walk for a bit.” She really had eaten too much today.

Qu Sheng raised an eyebrow slightly. After only a second’s thought, she realized Lin Xizhao wanted to walk off her meal. She smiled and said, “Then Sheng’er will accompany my wife to help digest her food.”

            

Lin Xizhao’s eyes curved in a smile. She reached out her hand, intertwining her fingers with Qu Sheng’s, and Qu Sheng led her in another direction.

The two strolled through the courtyard. Before long, Qu Sheng pulled Lin Xizhao into a spot concealed by the thick night, where—because it was winter—only barren vines remained.

Even though there were only vines and no green leaves, they still blocked out most of the moonlight, and very few people came over here in the evening.

            

Initially, Lin Xizhao paid it no mind, but the moment Qu Sheng sat down and pulled her into her lap, she understood Qu Sheng’s intentions.

Qu Sheng’s eyes could see in the dark, but others could not. Lin Xizhao almost never engaged in overly intimate actions with her outdoors, but under the cover of the night sky, they could be a little more uninhibited.

Just as expected, Qu Sheng had chosen this spot. Lin Xizhao did not reject her kisses, and the two kissed here for a long time. Even though outsiders couldn’t see clearly into this area, it was still outdoors, and within the grounds of their own estate no less. Qu Sheng knew she shouldn’t act too brazenly; otherwise, if she provoked Lin Xizhao into resisting, there would be no more of this in the future.

            

The two stayed outside for a long time, but their body temperatures never managed to cool down.

After thirty minutes, Qu Sheng lifted Lin Xizhao from her lap and carried her straight back to their courtyard.

Qu Sheng carried Lin Xizhao straight into the washroom in their courtyard, where hot water had already been prepared.

            

Having walked all the way back, the fire of lust that had suddenly surged up in them earlier had largely subsided. Lin Xizhao unhurriedly helped Qu Sheng untie her sash, and then proceeded to undo her own dress.

Watching Lin Xizhao’s dress half-covering her body, Qu Sheng stared intently with a burning gaze. Soon, she couldn’t help but reach over, taking over the task from Lin Xizhao’s hands.

The dress gradually slipped off. As Lin Xizhao followed Qu Sheng’s movements, her breath trembled faintly whenever Qu Sheng accidentally brushed against her skin. Qu Sheng gazed at the red undergarment worn on Lin Xizhao’s body. The smooth, draping texture—she didn’t know how many times she had touched it, yet every time she saw it, it still made her lose herself.

            

Lin Xizhao lightly bit her lower lip, her shy gaze not daring to look at Qu Sheng again.

Wearing only her inner robes, Qu Sheng picked Lin Xizhao up and slowly walked toward the steaming bathtub.

The splashing sounds of entering the water surged and collided, much like Lin Xizhao’s heart at this moment. With a flushed face, she hugged Qu Sheng’s neck and slowly sank into the water together with her.

            

The warm, clear water enveloped the two of them, and a sense of comfort instantly spread throughout their bodies.

Qu Sheng set Lin Xizhao down, having her sit on her lap with her back facing her. Her own warm lips gently brushed against Lin Xizhao’s porcelain-white earlobes with barely there touches, not speaking for a long time.

Just as Lin Xizhao thought Qu Sheng intended to spare her today, Qu Sheng’s soft voice suddenly sounded in her ear.

            

“Wife, do you also want to fulfill your duties as a wife?”

Hearing this sentence, Lin Xizhao went from initial confusion to slowly turning around. The water in the bathtub, filled with bright petals, sloshed and splashed together with a loud splash. Seeing Qu Sheng’s evasive gaze, Lin Xizhao understood her meaning.

Lin Xizhao’s heart also began to clamor at this moment. Other than that brief time when they first reunited, she hadn’t had another opportunity. But today, Qu Sheng had actually taken the initiative to ask for intimacy.

            

The corners of Lin Xizhao’s lips curved up. That involuntary wave of shyness in her heart from moments ago suddenly faded away as Qu Sheng’s gaze flickered and darted elsewhere.

Such wifely duties—she couldn’t ask for anything more.

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The author has something to say:

            

Qu Sheng: “My character setting is aloof and cool, right? For this kind of thing, of course I have to be aloof and cool too.”

Lin Xizhao: “Yes, yes, yes, as long as you aren’t frigid.”

Qu Sheng: “…”

            

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