The Prime Minister’s Daughter and the Marquis’s Fool – Chapter 201
by Little PandaUnsatisfied
Qu Sheng sat there for a long while without answering. She simply allowed the people in the banquet hall to murmur and speculate amongst themselves.
After a long while, the officials in the banquet hall grew restless, and someone stepped forward.
“Your Majesty, although Lord Zhu is of noble rank and a minister whose contributions to the founding of our dynasty cannot be overlooked, she is, after all, a woman. For her to marry Princess Wanyi through a political alliance between our two nations is, we fear, highly inappropriate.”
Lin Xikuan sneered from where he sat, then stood up and said, “Lord Gong worries too much. Her Majesty has long since decreed laws permitting women to marry women. Lord Zhu is the ideal candidate in both character and status. How can there be any talk of inappropriateness?”
Lord Gong turned around to look at him, furrowing his brows in deep disgust. “Though our dynasty has such laws, the Jin Dynasty is different. Princess Wanyi is the paternal aunt of their sovereign. If Her Majesty agrees to this, is she not intentionally bringing shame upon the sovereign of the Jin Dynasty? This will bring absolutely no benefit to the friendly relations between our two countries.”
“Ah, Lord Gong, by saying such things, do you mean to imply that you have grave objections to the decrees Her Majesty has issued? Or are you simply holding Her Majesty in contempt, refusing to take her commands to heart?” Lin Xikuan seized on his words, eager to pin a crime on him.
“Vice Minister Lin, do not talk such nonsense! Who does not know that you are relying on your sister—” Before Lord Gong could finish, the person next to Lin Xikuan winked at him sharply, causing him to realize he had made a slip of the tongue in his haste.
“Go on. Why have you stopped?” Qu Sheng’s face was clouded with suppressed anger. She stared at Lord Gong, as if the moment he spoke those words, she would have him executed right there in the hall.
Hearing her, Lord Gong hurriedly turned around, bowed with clasped hands, and knelt. “This humble subject deserves death. This humble subject made a slip of the tongue. May Your Majesty appease your anger.”
“Hmph,” Qu Sheng snorted coldly, her gaze sharp and freezing. Yet, when Lin Xizhao reached out of her own accord to clasp her hand, her anger dissipated slightly.
Qu Sheng looked sideways at Lin Xizhao, who gently shook her head.
Letting out a breath through her nose, Qu Sheng turned back to Lord Gong, her gaze lowering for a brief moment. “You may step down.”
Lord Gong quickly scrambled to his feet and retreated to his seat.
The banquet hall fell silent once more. Qu Sheng swept her gaze over the crowd before looking back at Zhu Ming’an, who remained kneeling on the floor. “We have heard that Lord Zhu and Princess Wanyi knew each other previously, and even spent some time together. What Lord Zhu requests today—were it anyone else, We would grant it without hesitation. But Princess Wanyi is a noble princess of the Jin Dynasty. We must first ask for her own opinion.”
If it were anyone else, Qu Sheng would not have cared to give them face, but in her heart, she still regarded Jin Mingyi as family.
Hearing this, Zhu Ming’an slowly straightened her kneeling body and looked toward Jin Mingyi beside her.
Jin Mingyi also lowered her eyes to look back at her. As their gazes met, a pleading look entered Zhu Ming’an’s eyes. Jin Mingyi stared at her, her eyes wavering, yet she could not bring herself to answer—whether to agree or refuse.
The hall fell quiet for a moment. Observing Jin Mingyi’s dilemma, Lin Xizhao glanced at Qu Sheng and spoke softly: “Marriage is a momentous event in a woman’s life. For Your Majesty to demand an answer from Princess Wanyi right this instant might be too hasty. Since the princess will be staying here for a few more days, why not give her some time to consider?”
Had it been anyone else showing such hesitation, Lin Xizhao would have already rejected the proposal on her behalf. But there was clearly mutual affection between Jin Mingyi and Zhu Ming’an. Furthermore, just a moment ago, Jin Mingyi had seemed highly anxious about whether there was any relationship between Zhu Ming’an and Shen Heng.
Hearing this, everyone in the hall turned to look at Lin Xizhao. Qu Sheng chuckled softly. “Since my elder sister has said so, We shall let Princess Wanyi think it over properly. We cannot force anyone. Beloved Minister Zhu, rise first. If Princess Wanyi does not agree, We shall find another fine match for you; We will certainly not treat you poorly.”
Zhu Ming’an turned to look at Qu Sheng, then lowered her eyes after a brief moment, having no choice but to reply, “This humble subject thanks Your Majesty. However, this humble subject desires no other match. If Princess Wanyi refuses to marry me, then this humble subject shall wait forever.”
Zhu Ming’an did not stutter here. It was not because she was adopting a cold, negotiating mindset, but because she had spent the past few months deliberately correcting her speech.
Jin Mingyi had spent so much time helping her correct it, and now that those efforts were finally showing results, she should not let those efforts down.
Once the banquet drew to a close, Jin Mingyi led her envoys out of the palace. Zhu Ming’an hurriedly followed closely behind her, all the way into Nanting Courtyard.
Walking one after the other, they entered the courtyard. Seething with pent-up anger, Jin Mingyi suddenly halted and whirled around. Zhu Ming’an stopped in her tracks as well, maintaining a distance of two paces from her.
“What did you mean by that today?” Jin Mingyi demanded.
Zhu Ming’an’s throat bobbed, her lips tightening for a fraction of a second. “I just want to marry you,” she said.
Jin Mingyi was exasperated. Thinking of how Zhu Ming’an had declared her desire to marry her in front of all the Quzhao officials in the banquet hall, she became incredibly angry. “Didn’t I say that I don’t like you anymore? Why are you still pestering me?”
“I don’t believe you.” When they were in the banquet hall, she had clearly seen how much Jin Mingyi cared.
“Believe it or not, I will never marry you. Give up on this foolish idea!” With that, Jin Mingyi turned and walked toward her guest room.
Zhu Ming’an stood in place, her fists slowly clenching, feeling incredibly wronged. She had clearly already informed her mother, and Jin Mingyi had also agreed to be with her. Why did it suddenly turn out like this?
“Jin Mingyi!”
As Jin Mingyi raised her hand to push open the door, she heard Zhu Ming’an suddenly call her full name. Before she could fully turn around, she was suddenly picked up.
Jin Mingyi panicked for a moment, but she felt no fear. She looked up at Zhu Ming’an, whose eyes were bloodshot, sensing her anger.
Zhu Ming’an carried her into the room, using her leg to hook the door shut behind them, and strode straight toward the bed.
“Put me down!” Only after being carried inside did Jin Mingyi react and try to get down from Zhu Ming’an’s embrace.
Zhu Ming’an kept her head raised, ignoring Jin Mingyi’s words, and carried her back into the inner chamber.
As Jin Mingyi was about to struggle, she had already been set down on the bed. She thought Zhu Ming’an was going to do something to her, but after setting her down, Zhu Ming’an walked over to the washbasin nearby.
Zhu Ming’an wetted a towel in the fresh water, wrung it dry, and held it out to Jin Mingyi. “Wipe down first.”
Jin Mingyi looked down at the towel and immediately grew angry. “Get out of my room!”
After the banquet dispersed, Qu Sheng gathered several ministers in the Imperial Study to discuss state affairs. Meanwhile, Lin Xizhao took Qu Zhimu, who was staying in the palace, to bathe and wash up.
The little one had not been with Lin Xizhao for a long while. Excited, she scooped up water from the tub and splashed it toward Lin Xizhao.
Watching her mischievous behavior, Lin Xizhao recalled Zhao Jiayu of the past—this temperament was truly identical.
Perhaps because she had stayed in the banquet hall for a little too long today, and had played wildly in the tub for a long while, she fell asleep after Lin Xizhao coaxed her for just a short moment upon returning to the bedchamber.
Seeing that the little one was asleep, Lin Xizhao stood up and stepped outside. She had been so preoccupied with the little one that she had neglected the big one. “Has the hangover soup1 been sent to Her Majesty?” she asked.
The maid standing by the door curtsied upon hearing her. “Replying to Junzhu, it was sent over half an hour ago.”
Lin Xizhao nodded and returned to the room, her mind at ease. Looking at the little one on the bed, and recalling that Qu Sheng had mentioned she might return late tonight, she prepared to untie her robes and sleep.
But not long after she lay down, the voice of a maid sounded from outside.
“Your Majesty.”
Qu Sheng raised a hand to silence her, slightly lifting her chin to gesture for her to open the chamber door.
Qu Sheng slipped inside, her footsteps light and quiet. In her hazy consciousness, Lin Xizhao suddenly felt someone lifting her body.
Lin Xizhao opened her eyes. Qu Sheng was kneeling on the bed, bending over, preparing to carry her into another blanket.
“What are you doing?” Lin Xizhao asked in a soft, raspy voice.
Hearing her voice, Qu Sheng swaddled Lin Xizhao in the blanket she had brought, then tucked in the corners of Qu Zhimu’s blanket. Only then did she look at Lin Xizhao with a smile, whispering, “Carrying my wife to another room.”
Amidst Lin Xizhao’s confusion, she had already been picked up.
Qu Sheng moved very fast. Wrapped in the blanket, Lin Xizhao still took a glance at the soundly sleeping Qu Zhimu as she was carried out of the room.
Soon, Qu Sheng carried Lin Xizhao into the side hall, where warm water had already been prepared.
Placing Lin Xizhao onto the daybed, Qu Sheng sought her soft lips, kissing her deeply while her fingers worked to untie the sash of Lin Xizhao’s sleep robe.
“I have already bathed,” Lin Xizhao murmured, raising her hand and lightly pressing down on Qu Sheng’s fingers.
Qu Sheng looked up and said with a smile, “Bathe again.”
Her body stripped bare, Lin Xizhao was lifted into the tub by Qu Sheng. Tonight, the ravenous Qu Sheng satisfied Lin Xizhao with endless variety, none of which Lin Xizhao had ever experienced before.
Returning to the bed, Qu Sheng hovered over Lin Xizhao, staring at her face, which was flushed with a rosy glow after their intimacy. Her gaze wavered, her desire still not fully dissolved by the soft, charming cries she loved so much. “Does my wife still have any strength left?” she asked softly.
Hearing her question, Lin Xizhao was dazed for a moment. She quickly understood what Qu Sheng wanted, yet she remained still for a long time.
“What is it?” Even as she asked, Qu Sheng’s lips began to wander down Lin Xizhao’s fragrant neck.
Lin Xizhao’s body reacted with natural instincts, her slender neck tilting back slightly. As Qu Sheng looked up to meet her moist, glistening eyes, Lin Xizhao leaned up and actively kissed her.
Warm lips met. As they kissed, they coordinated with perfect harmony, their breaths mingling with no need to consciously pause for air. Her agile, soft tongue pried open Qu Sheng’s teeth, carrying an aggressive fervor she had never before unleashed upon Qu Sheng, sucking diligently, entangling, and possessing her.
Soon, as Qu Sheng yielded, Lin Xizhao lay completely on top of her. Her fragrant tongue glided, wrapped in a blush, teasing and swirling around, making Qu Sheng feel incredibly comfortable and drawing her gradually into the abyss of desire.
One after another, broken cries that had been held back gradually rang out in the room. Lin Xizhao learned the intensity Qu Sheng had inflicted on her today and returned it all in full. Yet when it ended, though she saw her beloved trembling beneath her, she still felt as if she had not fully satisfied her. Every time Qu Sheng caught her breath, the look in her eyes when she stared at her always seemed to hold back some words she wanted to say.
Returning to the main bedchamber, the two of them moved with careful silence. Lin Xizhao lay down and pulled Qu Zhimu into her arms. The little one was an incredibly deep sleeper whom even thunder could not wake, proving to be a good child to raise.
Qu Sheng lay under her own blanket, but she felt as if something was missing, unable to close her eyes. Before long, she pulled the edge of her blanket over the aunt and niece, wrapping her arms around Lin Xizhao from behind.
Qu Sheng nuzzled her head into the crook of Lin Xizhao’s neck, inhaling the intoxicating, comforting cool fragrance as she began to drift off.
“Did you send anyone to check on Cousin and Ming’an?”
Hearing Lin Xizhao’s soft voice, Qu Sheng forced her heavy eyelids open. After a moment’s thought, she whispered back, “No need to ask. Ming’an will handle it herself.” Having said this, Qu Sheng nuzzled her head against Lin Xizhao’s neck again, unable to resist giving her a soft kiss.
Zhu Ming’an was deep and cautious; she would not act recklessly. Her public request for a marriage decree in the banquet hall today was by no means an impulsive whim.
“Oh, right. Bingying and Cheng Xi might be arriving within the next couple of days.” Qu Sheng suddenly recalled her conversation with Liu Wuxiang earlier that day.
The author has something to say:
Qu Sheng: “Satisfied? Who says I’m not satisfied?”
Lin Xizhao: “Then why do you always hesitate to speak?”
Qu Sheng: “Oh, right… Wifey, shall we have a baby?”
Lin Xizhao: “…”
Jin Mingyi: “What a blockhead!”
Zhu Ming’an: “I feel so wronged, but I don’t dare.”
Leave a comment to receive red envelopes! Let’s keep going!
0 Comments