The Prime Minister’s Daughter and the Marquis’s Fool – Chapter 202
by Little PandaWhy Not Try to Plan Slowly and Gradually?
Nanting Courtyard.
In the guest room of the west wing, Zhu Ming’an was briskly tidying up the room. Just as she finished smoothing out the bedding, a knock sounded at the door.
Zhu Ming’an looked up, paused in thought for a moment, and then stepped forward to open the door.
This was Jin Mingyi’s room; if she were returning herself, she certainly would not have knocked.
Qian Shuangying stood outside with an attendant behind her. When she saw Zhu Ming’an, she smiled. “Lord Zhu, I was wondering why your room was empty just now. So this is where you were.”
Zhu Ming’an bowed and gave a polite smile. “Please, just call me Ming’an. I wonder what brings the Third Princess Consort to seek Ming’an?”
Qian Shuangying glanced back at her attendant before looking back at Zhu Ming’an. “Everyone drank a bit too much tonight. I had the kitchens prepare some hangover soup and sent a bowl to every room. I must trouble you to accept this on Mingyi’s behalf as well.”
As she spoke, Qian Shuangying gestured for her attendant to present the covered tureen of hangover soup.
Zhu Ming’an reached out to receive it and bowed her head. “Thank you, Third Princess Consort. I will certainly pass it on to Mingyi.”
Qian Shuangying returned the nod. “We are family; there is no need for thanks. I won’t disturb you any longer. Rest early.”
Zhu Ming’an nodded in response, watching Qian Shuangying leave.
Just as Qian Shuangying was about to turn, footsteps came from behind. Returning from her bath, Jin Mingyi saw the crowd of people at the door of her room. She walked over, somewhat puzzled, but seeing the tureen in Zhu Ming’an’s hands, she knew what was going on.
“Thank you, Third Sister-in-law, for sending hangover soup to Mingyi,” Jin Mingyi said, bowing her head.
Qian Shuangying smiled and glanced back at Zhu Ming’an. Zhu Ming’an had proposed in the banquet hall today; the two of them were indeed quite a well-matched pair.
“We are family; there is no need for such politeness. I shall head back now. Remember to drink it.”
“Alright, Mingyi will definitely drink it.”
Jin Mingyi watched Qian Shuangying leave with the two palace maids. When she turned back to look at Zhu Ming’an, her expression instantly darkened, and her tone carried a trace of impatience. “Why haven’t you left yet?”
“I—I left, but then I came back.” When Jin Mingyi had gone to bathe, Zhu Ming’an had gone as well, only returning slightly earlier. The moment she got back, she dismissed all the serving palace maids from the room.
In the past, when they lived together, most of the things in the room were also tidied and organized by her.
Jin Mingyi walked forward, but Zhu Ming’an stood there without moving. Jin Mingyi looked up at her, her anger not having dissipated in the slightest despite her bath. But as to what exactly she was angry about, even she herself was confused.
“A good dog doesn’t block the path. Move,” Jin Mingyi snapped, glaring at Zhu Ming’an.
Zhu Ming’an seemed completely devoid of temper; she was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, then hurriedly stepped aside.
Jin Mingyi entered the room and walked toward the inner room. Zhu Ming’an also followed her inside, carrying the hangover soup.
Jin Mingyi sat down, and Zhu Ming’an placed both soup tureens on the table. She first ladled a bowl for Jin Mingyi and handed it to her, saying, “Drink it while it’s hot.”
Jin Mingyi glanced at it from the corner of her eye, reached out to take the bowl, and began to drink.
Seeing her drink it, Zhu Ming’an also took down her own portion. While she was still ladling it, Jin Mingyi stood up and walked toward the bed.
Zhu Ming’an stopped halfway through pouring her soup, her gaze following her.
“Yi’er… I…”
“After you finish drinking, get out quickly. Don’t disrupt my rest,” Jin Mingyi said, lying down on the bed fully clothed. Having drunk alcohol and just returned from her bath, her dizziness grew worse and worse.
Hearing this, Zhu Ming’an placed the porcelain spoon back in the tureen, quickly gulped down her half-filled bowl of soup, wiped her mouth, and walked over to stand by Jin Mingyi.
Seeing Jin Mingyi’s eyes closed, Zhu Ming’an knelt down to help take off her shoes.
“What are you doing?” The moment her heel was grabbed, Jin Mingyi hurriedly lifted her foot to dodge.
“Taking off your shoes.” Zhu Ming’an had waited on her like this countless times before.
“No need, I can do it myself,” Jin Mingyi said, looking toward the small table in the room. Seeing that Zhu Ming’an had finished the hangover soup, she immediately snapped, “You have finished the hangover soup as well. Now, get out.”
“I’m not leaving,” Zhu Ming’an insisted stubbornly, feeling aggrieved once again.
Seeing her put on that pitiful look again, Jin Mingyi was so vexed she rolled over onto the inner side of the bed, her shoes flying off as she kicked them loose.
Watching the shoes clatter to the floor, the hurt on Zhu Ming’an’s face softened slightly.
The night air carried a faint, crisp chill. As drowsiness finally overcame Jin Mingyi, Zhu Ming’an quietly climbed onto the bed beside her.
At the start of maoshi1, Lin Xizhao, wearing her silk sleepwear, stood behind Qu Sheng, helping her into her imperial dragon robes.
As Lin Xizhao looped Qu Sheng’s gold-thread jade belt from behind her, Qu Sheng turned back with a smile playing on her lips. As Lin Xizhao stepped to her side, Qu Sheng slipped an arm around her slender waist, pulling her into her embrace.
Qu Sheng looked down at her wife, her face filled with an intoxicated happiness as she said, “Wife, you and Mu’er should sleep a little longer. Once morning court is dismissed, I will return to accompany you both to go to Nanting Courtyard for breakfast.”
Lin Xizhao raised her eyes slightly and gave a soft murmur of agreement. Seeing that Lin Xizhao still seemed somewhat listless, Qu Sheng felt a brief pang of guilt.
They had returned quite late last night, and she had drunk wine besides; she really should not have clung to Lin Xizhao for so long.
Qu Sheng lowered her head, kissed Lin Xizhao’s soft lips, and lifted her up from the floor.
Lin Xizhao was gently placed on the bed by Qu Sheng, who then tucked in her bedding. Her fingertips lightly brushed the hair at Lin Xizhao’s temple, and unable to resist, she leaned over again, kissed her soft lips, and only then stood up to say, “Wife can sleep a little longer.”
Lin Xizhao curved her brows and said softly, “Go quickly, the officials are all waiting.”
A smile played on Qu Sheng’s face as she nodded in response, but her gaze still drifted down for a moment, grinding and sucking on Lin Xizhao’s lips for a good while before she let her go and departed.
At the morning court, Qu Sheng opened a discussion regarding the ‘tribute’ sent after negotiations with the envoys of the Jin Dynasty.
“Your Majesty, the Jin Dynasty is home to numerous powerful clans and wealthy families; this small tribute is but a single hair from nine oxen2 to them,” an official argued. “This humble subject believes we should conscript more troops and crush them entirely, eradicating any future threat.”
“Your Majesty, before the founding of our Quzhao, we had already fought continuous wars across all directions for a long time,” another countered. “Our soldiers are exhausted, our horses are spent, and countless warriors have sacrificed their lives. We must not instigate another conflict. Allowing the people to rest and recover is the true path to strengthening our nation.”
“This humble subject supports the words of the Minister of Revenue,” a third official chimed in. “At the very beginning of our dynasty’s founding, we should not expend our wealth and grain to wage more war. The common people have lived in terror for years due to these ceaseless conflicts. If this continues, I fear it may spark a rebellion.”
Seated upon the dragon throne, Qu Sheng listened to the debates of her ministers. She already had her answer. There could not be two hegemons on a single fertile land; war between the two nations was inevitable sooner or later. However, now was indeed not the time for war. Even if the Jin Dynasty was currently plagued by internal and external crises, she could not hope to conquer the Jin Dynasty without heavy casualties.
Furthermore, the powerful clans and prominent families entrenched within the Jin Dynasty were her greatest headache. Even if she seized their territory by force, if these families manipulated public sentiment to oppose her, she would not necessarily be able to secure a stable foothold on their soil.
Yet, these Jin prominent families were not entirely without benefit to the current Quzhao Dynasty. If a country could not collect enough money and grain to replenish its treasury, then no matter how powerful it appeared on the surface, it would eventually face decline and desolation.
At present, the best course of action for Quzhao was to rest and recover3. Only when the time was ripe, and when they were capable of wiping out both the Jin Dynasty and the powerful families entrenched within it in a single stroke, could they wage war once more.
“Enough. We have already made Our decision on this matter,” Qu Sheng declared. “At the beginning of our Quzhao’s founding, there indeed should be no more war. However, as to whether we shall coexist in harmony with the Jin Dynasty, we must first see if they possess the necessary sincerity.”
“Today’s court audience shall end here.”
With that, Qu Sheng rose to her feet. Seeing this, the chamberlain beside her took a step forward and cried out to the assembled officials, “Court is dismissed!”
The officials knelt and bowed, their voices rising in a collective cry of “Long live Your Majesty,” before dispersing in an orderly fashion. Qu Sheng then sent an attendant to summon Lin Xikuan back to her.
“Your Majesty,” Lin Xikuan said, kneeling to pay his respects. He was dressed in his scarlet civil official robes embroidered with a peacock rank patch.
Qu Sheng nodded and said, “Rise.”
As Lin Xikuan stood up, Qu Sheng walked down from the dais. Approaching him, she asked, “After the state banquet last night, has anyone outside been saying anything?”
Lowering his head, Lin Xikuan replied, “Replying to Your Majesty: quite a few officials are debating the matter of your marriage. They say that if you persist in going your own way, it will inevitably provoke public opposition. They have already resolved to gather a faction of court officials to lodge a formal complaint with the Old Prince.”
It was to be expected, but it still made Qu Sheng feel displeased for a moment.
Qu Jixian had not meddled in state affairs for a very long time. These people were merely taking advantage of his reputation for being courteous and deferent to scholars—knowing that as long as a matter was deemed beneficial to the nation, he would consider accepting it. However, the words Lin Xikuan chose to speak just now were still somewhat restrained.
“Are they also saying that if We persist in having Our own way, they will have the Old Prince depose Us?”
Hearing this, Lin Xikuan hurriedly lowered his head again, not daring to answer.
“Has there been any family letter from Xirui?” Qu Sheng looked down at Lin Xikuan and asked.
Hearing this, Lin Xikuan replied, “Yes, this humble subject has brought it on my person.”
Saying this, Lin Xikuan took out the letter and handed it to Qu Sheng. “This letter is for Ajie.”
Qu Sheng took it, glanced at the words on the letter, and nodded. “Go back first. Feng Qi will look for you at noon.”
“Yes, this humble subject takes his leave.” Lin Xikuan cupped his hands in salute and withdrew from the main hall.
Holding the letter in her hand, Qu Sheng stood alone in the main hall for a long time, her gaze deep.
By the time Qu Sheng returned to the bedchamber, Lin Xizhao and Qu Zhimu had already changed into their outdoor attire, waiting for her return so they could head back to Nanting Courtyard together.
When Qu Sheng returned, Lin Xizhao went to change her clothes for her. However, when the clothes were brought over, Qu Sheng took them instead, saying, “I’ll do it myself. This is a family letter from Xirui for Wife.”
Saying this, Qu Sheng handed the letter to Lin Xizhao.
Lin Xizhao took it, looked up at Qu Sheng, and did not insist on changing her clothes herself, opening the letter instead.
While changing her clothes, Qu Sheng kept her eyes on the soft smile spreading across Lin Xizhao’s face. Her wife still looked best when she smiled.
Nanting Courtyard.
The three returned to Nanting Courtyard. Looking at the food on the table, they waited for a long time, yet Jin Mingyi and Zhu Ming’an still had not arrived.
“I’ll go take a look,” Zhao Jiayu stood up, wanting to find out what was going on. This morning she had heard from Qian Shuangying that when she went by last night, Zhu Ming’an was in Jin Mingyi’s room.
“Oh, you had better not go. A young maiden’s skin is thin,” Qian Shuangying said, pulling her back. She knew what Zhao Jiayu wanted to do; if she let her go, even if nothing was going on, she would surely talk as if something had happened.
Held back, Zhao Jiayu could only reluctantly smother her burning curiosity.
Yet, no sooner had the words left Qian Shuangying’s mouth than Zhu Ming’an and Jin Mingyi arrived. The two came over together, greeted everyone, and then sat down.
“Since everyone is here, let’s begin the meal,” Jin Yunfei said with a smile.
Although Qu Jixian’s leg ailment had improved significantly, he still could not walk too much. For meals nowadays, he stayed in his own courtyard.
Gathered together like this, no one felt constrained by Qu Sheng’s status as the Emperor. Once Jin Yunfei picked up her chopsticks, the rest of the table followed suit and began to eat.
Qu Sheng first picked up a portion of a dish she knew Lin Xizhao favored and placed it in her bowl. Receiving it, Lin Xizhao looked up at Qu Sheng, her lips curving slightly as she lowered her head to eat.
But when it was Zhu Ming’an’s turn, Jin Mingyi pulled her bowl away. Zhu Ming’an’s chopsticks hovered in mid-air in momentary embarrassment; she could only put the food into her own bowl instead.
Last night, she had been truly sleepy, so after Jin Mingyi fell asleep, she climbed onto her bed. When she first reached out to embrace Jin Mingyi, she had met with no resistance. Yet when she woke up this morning, Jin Mingyi had kicked her flat off the bed.
Even now, her backside still hurt from the fall, yet Zhu Ming’an did not utter a single word of blame, nor was she even angry.
After breakfast, Lin Xizhao, Zhao Jiayu, and the others gathered to chat, while Qu Sheng and Qu Yu headed over to Qu Jixian’s quarters.
Qu Jixian listened as Qu Sheng explained her purpose. He lowered his eyes for a moment, then looked up at her, speaking with deep, earnest gravity. “I have heard of this. You must make your own decision. You are the Emperor, the monarch of this nation. Whatever you wish to do, no one has the power to stop you.”
Qu Sheng made her stance clear: she wished to crown Lin Xizhao as her Empress, and no one else. If she could not, she would no longer be the Emperor.
As for Qu Jixian, he promised that he would not interfere, much less seek to depose her from the throne. After all, who else in their Qu family was more suited for the imperial throne than the Qu Sheng of today?
Though Qu Jixian had governed Shoulin for many years, when it came to the way they handled critical matters, he was no match for Qu Sheng.
Qu Sheng bowed, and then she and Qu Yu withdrew from his quarters.
“Why not try to plan slowly and gradually?” Qu Yu suddenly spoke up as they walked.
Hearing his voice, Qu Sheng glanced over sideways without breaking her stride. She smiled and said, “If it were Fourth Sister-in-law in her place, would Fourth Brother have the heart to make her wait?” A year or two, she could afford to wait. But what if it were eight or ten years? The longer it dragged on, the more guilt would accumulate in her heart. The obstacle was not a matter of time; it was deeply ingrained, traditional thinking. If she did not act with the speed of wind and the force of thunder, she feared she would never, in this lifetime, be able to have Lin Xizhao sit openly and rightfully by her side.
She did not want Lin Xizhao to be criticized by others, and she was indeed planning gradually—but her ‘gradually’ was certainly not eight or ten years.
Upon hearing this, Qu Yu was slightly stunned.
Qu Sheng added, “Sometimes, fast cuts to a tangled knot4 yield far better results.”
Qu Yu chuckled softly, nodding. “Sheng-meimei is more mature than before.”
The brother and sister walked and chatted through the courtyard, quickly arriving back at the main courtyard. Standing there, they watched their large family talking and laughing together in perfect harmony, and smiles bloomed on both of their faces.
Two days later, Qu Sheng received news of Xiao Bingying’s arrival and hurriedly left the palace with Lin Xizhao.
Xiao Bingying and Cheng Xi had traveled light, accompanied by only two guards on their journey from the Haichao Kingdom.
Cheng Xi and Xiao Bingying had come without using the princess’s title, quietly arriving in Quzhao instead.
While Zhao Jiayu was accompanying her daughter in reading a book, she heard the guards in the residence say that Xiao Bingying and Cheng Xi had gone to the Zhao Residence. She didn’t even care about her daughter anymore, running straight out.
Qu Zhimu watched her mother, then turned to her father in confusion and asked, “Papa, what is wrong with Mother?”
Qu Yu gave a helpless smile. “Your aunt has arrived. Your mother simply misses her.” With that, Qu Yu gently lifted his daughter into his arms and ordered a servant to prepare the carriage.
Zhao Jiayu rode her horse back to her maternal home. The moment she reached the gates of the residence, she gathered up her skirts and sprinted into the courtyard. Before the butler even had time to report, she had already reached the outside of the main hall in the main courtyard.
At this moment, Xiao Bingying and Cheng Xi were performing kneeling bows together.
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Lin Xizhao: “My savior has arrived.”
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Footnotes
- Mǎoshí (卯時) refers to the traditional Chinese hour of the Rabbit, spanning from 5:00 AM to 7:00 AM. The 'start' of this hour corresponds to 5:00 AM.
- Jiǔniú-yīmáo (九牛一毛), literally 'a single hair from nine oxen,' is a traditional idiom meaning an insignificant portion of a vast amount; a drop in the ocean.
- Xiūyǎng-shēngxī (休養生息) is a traditional idiom meaning to rest, recover, and rebuild strength, typically referring to a state implementing policies to let the populace recover after a major war.
- Kuàidāo-zhǎnluànmá (快刀斬亂麻), literally meaning to use a sharp knife to cut a tangled knot, is an idiom that refers to resolving a complex, messy problem with swift, decisive action.
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