The Prime Minister’s Daughter and the Marquis’s Fool – Chapter 206
by Little PandaThis Medicine Varies From Person to Person
Xiao Bingying nodded. “Go ahead and ask.”
“Lately, Sheng’er and I… our bedroom affairs have been quite frequent, and she seems… always unsated.” Lin Xizhao lowered her head as she spoke, her gaze flickering with a touch of avoidance.
Xiao Bingying lowered her eyes for a moment, then asked, “Has she ever been like this before?”
Lin Xizhao looked up and shook her head. “No, it’s only been like this recently. But… it also feels as though the issue lies with me.”
There was no trace of teasing on Xiao Bingying’s face. Her expression remained normal as she pondered Lin Xizhao’s words. When she saw Qu Sheng yesterday, she hadn’t noticed anything amiss. After a brief pause, she asked, “Has she ever spoken of it plainly with you?”
Lin Xizhao shook her head. “No. Perhaps I’m overthinking things.”
“Are you worried she’s becoming addicted?”
“Yes,” Lin Xizhao nodded softly.
“It’s no matter. Little Sheng’er isn’t one to indulge in excess.” Xiao Bingying wasn’t worried about this, but she also realized what Lin Xizhao was thinking.
It was Lin Xizhao’s own issue.
“I… let me tell you about a few… things…” Although Xiao Bingying didn’t finish her words, when she looked up and met Lin Xizhao’s eyes, Lin Xizhao already understood.
“All right.”
The two conversed in the room for a while, their faces both faintly flushed. When Cheng Xi returned from Liu Wuxiang’s and didn’t see Qu Sheng, she asked Lin Xizhao, “When is Her Majesty returning?”
Lin Xizhao replied, “She said she’d come back at noon to have lunch with us.” She glanced at the sky outside. “She should be back in about an hour.”
Cheng Xi nodded. “Then it’s the same if I tell you first.”
A touch of confusion flickered across Lin Xizhao’s face, but she waited quietly for Cheng Xi to continue.
“My master’s already gathered the herbs, but he needs to examine both of your bodies first.”
Lin Xizhao was left in a complete daze by Cheng Xi’s words. She glanced at Xiao Bingying, growing increasingly bewildered. “Wait a moment,” she spoke up. “What are these herbs for? And what is this physical examination for?”
Cheng Xi stared blankly for a brief second, asking in confusion, “Her Majesty hasn’t told you?”
Lin Xizhao shook her head, though she now knew this must have been instructed by Qu Sheng.
Cheng Xi glanced sideways at Xiao Bingying, then lowered her eyes for a moment. “Then it’s better to wait for her to return and tell you herself.”
Since Qu Sheng hadn’t told Lin Xizhao, it wouldn’t be proper for her to bypass Qu Sheng and disclose it directly.
At noon, Qu Sheng returned from the palace. She went first to pay her respects to Jin Yunfei before returning to the small courtyard.
Lin Xizhao and the others were sitting in the room, chatting idly. As Qu Sheng entered, everyone stood up.
Lin Xizhao poured a cup of tea, handed it to Qu Sheng, and said softly, “You’re back right on time.”
Qu Sheng smiled and said, “I was discussing some matters with Xikuan. Didn’t Jiayu say she was preparing a banquet for lunch? Where is she?”
“Mu’er needs to nap for a bit at noon, so she’s keeping her company right now. The kitchen’s almost finished preparing everything.”
Lin Xizhao let go, and Qu Sheng took the teacup. There was no need to blow on it; she could drink it straight away. If it had been hot, Lin Xizhao wouldn’t have handed it directly to her.
Qu Sheng finished the tea and handed the cup back. Noticing that Xiao Bingying and Cheng Xi were staring at her, she asked, “What’s wrong?”
Cheng Xi and Xiao Bingying shifted their gazes toward Lin Xizhao, who was staring fixedly at Qu Sheng. Following their gaze, Qu Sheng turned to Lin Xizhao and asked warmly, “Does my wife have something to say to Sheng’er?”
Hearing Qu Sheng’s words, Xiao Bingying and Cheng Xi made an excuse to head over to Zhao Jiayu’s quarters.
Xiao Bingying cleared her throat. “We’ll go nudge Jiayu along. By now, Qu Zhimu should’ve fallen asleep.”
Qu Sheng stared blankly at them for a second, then nodded and watched them leave.
Turning to Lin Xizhao beside her, Qu Sheng’s voice softened even further as she asked with concern, “Wife, what’s wrong?”
“Sit,” Lin Xizhao said, lifting her chin slightly to gesture for Qu Sheng to sit.
Seeing the thin sweat seeping on Qu Sheng’s brow—likely because she’d rushed all the way back in a hurry—she handed her a handkerchief.
Qu Sheng looked at Lin Xizhao’s expression, feeling suspicious, but she still took the handkerchief, walked a few steps over, and sat down.
“You had Physician Liu prepare medicine—what are you planning to do with it?” Lin Xizhao asked, taking back the handkerchief Qu Sheng had used to wipe her sweat.
Hearing this, Qu Sheng froze for a moment. Her hands clenched slightly as she lowered her eyes. “Wife already knows?”
“I don’t know,” Lin Xizhao said, pouring another cup of warm tea. “It’s because I don’t know that I’m asking you.”
Qu Sheng blinked, staring at Lin Xizhao. “Didn’t Cheng Xi and Bingying tell you, Wife?”
Lin Xizhao shook her head. “They told me to ask you.” She pushed the refilled tea in front of Qu Sheng.
Qu Sheng looked down at the tea, clearly feeling uneasy. Resting her hands on her thighs, she rubbed them back and forth for a moment, then lifted the cup and drank it down.
Qu Sheng’s throat bobbed. She looked up at Lin Xizhao, her gaze holding a trace of hope. “I want to have a child with Wife.”
Hearing that Qu Sheng wanted a child, Lin Xizhao’s heart quickened. For some reason, a wave of sorrow flooded her chest. Perhaps she had subconsciously felt that Qu Sheng wanting a child meant excluding her from it.
Lin Xizhao stared at Qu Sheng, unable to speak for a long time. Her mind felt completely muddled, and tears quickly spilled uncontrollably from her gentle eyes.
“That’s fine too.”
“What?” Qu Sheng was bewildered by her reply. Seeing the teary glint in Lin Xizhao’s eyes, she slowly furrowed her brow. “What is Wife thinking?”
Lin Xizhao didn’t answer. Her chest felt stifled and tight, yet she didn’t utter a single word of refusal, nor did she harbor any resentment or question her.
“Wife!” As Lin Xizhao turned away, Qu Sheng hurriedly stood up and stepped in front of her. Seeing the tears sliding down Lin Xizhao’s face, she panicked instantly. “Wife, if you don’t want one, we won’t have one!”
Lin Xizhao shook her head to avoid her, the tightness in her chest growing, leaving her with no strength to speak insincere words to Qu Sheng. How could she possibly give Qu Sheng away to someone else?
Seeing Lin Xizhao’s aversion to her touch, Qu Sheng quickly figured out what she was thinking. She grabbed Lin Xizhao’s arms, forcing her to look at her. “Did you misunderstand, Wife? The child I’m talking about is one of your blood and mine—not with anyone else.”
Hearing this, the stream of tears on Lin Xizhao’s face broke, and the piercing pain in her heart gradually stopped. Gazing at Qu Sheng in disbelief, she repeated, “A child of our own blood?”
“Yes, yours and mine. But if Wife doesn’t want to, we won’t have one,” Qu Sheng explained, reassuring Lin Xizhao that it wasn’t an absolute necessity.
Qu Sheng wouldn’t force Lin Xizhao. She hadn’t fully committed to Liu Wuxiang yet; if Lin Xizhao didn’t agree, they’d simply call it off.
“Wife.” Qu Sheng raised her hand to gently wipe away the tears on Lin Xizhao’s cheeks, her expression full of heartache and sincerity. After a moment, she leaned in and softly kissed the tears from Lin Xizhao’s eyes.
And as Qu Sheng gently embraced her, Lin Xizhao threw herself into her arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
She’d thought Qu Sheng wanted to have a child with someone else.
Qu Sheng held Lin Xizhao, her heart aching deeply. She kissed Lin Xizhao’s forehead and embraced her tightly, sharing in her grief at that moment, until tears slowly welled in her own eyes as well.
“Sheng’er won’t leave Wife, let alone do anything to betray you.” The last time Qu Sheng had seen Lin Xizhao like this was many years ago, when Lin Xizhao lost her mother.
It was her fault; she hadn’t made herself clear.
Qu Sheng held Lin Xizhao, her heart aching incomparably, embracing her until her faint, trembling sobs gradually stopped.
On Lin Xizhao’s beautiful face, the corners of her eyes were slightly red from crying. She looked up at Qu Sheng, realizing that ever since they had committed to their relationship, she’d displayed many selfish sides of herself.
She wanted Qu Sheng to belong to her alone, wanted this person to accompany her for a lifetime, and wanted to see every single part of Qu Sheng.
She didn’t want to share Qu Sheng’s love with anyone.
Qu Sheng gazed at Lin Xizhao, who looked so delicate and pitiable, like a tender flower battered by a sudden rainstorm. Vividly beautiful, she also carried a touch of melancholy, a unique and heart-stirring allure.
Their gazes locked, and Qu Sheng leaned close, kissing Lin Xizhao’s slightly dry, soft lips. As their lips touched, the dry lips were quickly moistened and softened…
“Ahem, the midday sun’s so bright, it’s really hot today, huh? Uh, well, let’s head over to the kitchen first.” Zhao Jiayu’s voice echoed from the courtyard.
Hearing the voice, Lin Xizhao’s head cleared, and she immediately pushed Qu Sheng away gently. By the time she looked outside, Zhao Jiayu had already led Xiao Bingying and Cheng Xi back out of the courtyard.
Seeing Lin Xizhao’s flustered look, a smile appeared on Qu Sheng’s face. “They’ve gone to the kitchen.”
Lin Xizhao cast a playful, mock-angry glare at Qu Sheng, feeling helpless. But thinking back to what had just occurred, she pondered for a moment and asked, “Did Bingying and Cheng Xi return for this matter as well?”
Hearing Lin Xizhao bring up the child again, Qu Sheng replied, “Yes. But if Wife doesn’t want to, we won’t do it.”
“We’re both women. How can we bear a child?” Even though Lin Xizhao had never married a man, she still knew how children were made.
Seeing Lin Xizhao’s doubts, Qu Sheng explained Liu Wuxiang’s words from start to finish based on her own understanding.
“These past few days… you’ve been doing it for this?” Lin Xizhao was quite surprised.
Qu Sheng’s expression shifted slightly. Seeing that Lin Xizhao had long since noticed, she nodded sheepishly. “Yes.”
Lately, she’d been clinging to Lin Xizhao constantly. Even by Lin Xizhao’s standards, the frequency was unprecedented. If she hadn’t been worried about exhausting Lin Xizhao, her eagerness for quick results probably would’ve made her even more demanding.
And what Liu Wuxiang had spoken of, which Qu Sheng was so eager to obtain, was a different kind of feminine tide.
Qu Sheng knew what it was because she’d seen it—on Lin Xizhao.
Lin Xizhao watched Qu Sheng’s eyelashes flutter. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“I hadn’t decided whether I really wanted it or not,” Qu Sheng explained.
She’d never fully made up her mind. Even when Cheng Xi and Xiao Bingying arrived from the Haichao Kingdom, she was still undecided, and whether it would even succeed was another matter entirely.
Lin Xizhao lowered her eyes. “Physician Liu’s medical skills are indeed rare in this world, but how can you be sure… we can bear a child?”
Between two women, it was as absurd as expecting a rooster to lay eggs.
“When Cheng Xi comes over, Wife can ask her.” Qu Sheng hadn’t believed it at first either. But her obsession with wanting a child with Lin Xizhao was so deep that her inner anticipation had transformed into an unstoppable delusion.
Fifteen minutes1 later, Zhao Jiayu and the others arrived with the maids from the kitchen. The food and wine were all prepared and carried in together.
Zhao Jiayu stopped the group first and stepped into the courtyard ahead of them to take a peek. Seeing Qu Sheng and Lin Xizhao sitting calmly inside, with no trace of the scene from earlier, she smiled and waved for the others to enter.
Xiao Bingying shook her head with a helpless smile at Zhao Jiayu’s mischievous behavior.
“As soon as I got back, I ordered the servants to stew black chicken soup—our Little Sheng’er’s favorite. We absolutely couldn’t cut any corners.” As Zhao Jiayu spoke, she personally placed the large tureen of black chicken soup onto the dining table.
Lin Xizhao and the others looked at one another, smiles spreading across their faces.
Everyone sat down as the utensils and wine were laid out. Lin Xizhao suggested calling Qu Yu over, but Zhao Jiayu said there was no need; Qu Yu was currently keeping their daughter company, and it was good for them sisters to have some private talk without any outside distractions.
Seeing that Zhao Jiayu was insistent, Lin Xizhao didn’t press the matter.
However, since Qu Yu wasn’t there, it was the perfect opportunity for Lin Xizhao to ask Cheng Xi about the child.
“Cough, cough, cough…”
Lin Xizhao had barely finished asking Cheng Xi how women could bear a child together when Zhao Jiayu choked on her food. Xiao Bingying hurriedly patted her on the back while Lin Xizhao handed her some water.
Still the same as before, even after giving birth, Zhao Jiayu didn’t have the steady air of an adult.
After drinking some water, Zhao Jiayu waved her hand, signaling for everyone not to mind her and let Cheng Xi continue.
Cheng Xi glanced at her, and once she was sure Zhao Jiayu was fine, she turned back to Lin Xizhao to explain. “There are many hermaphroditic life forms in this world. Men and women are fundamentally differentiated from the same origin, and their primal essence is female. However, these are merely deductions my master’s made from ancient texts. After all, there isn’t any book that records such an occurrence.”
Xiao Bingying sat there with lowered eyes, lost in thought. Zhao Jiayu listened with great interest, finding that it made some sense, while Lin Xizhao turned her gaze to Qu Sheng.
Qu Sheng looked back at Lin Xizhao and gave a gentle nod.
Seeing their differing reactions, Cheng Xi continued, “My master’s hypothesis is that a woman’s body still retains certain traits from a hermaphroditic state. It simply requires medicine to alter the body’s attributes so that… so that it can reach a state capable of conceiving life. Thus, what we have to do next is have one of you take the medicine.”
“This medicine also varies from person to person. Currently, the formulation my master’s developed guarantees there won’t be any life-threatening danger. Even if the one taking the medicine doesn’t succeed, it won’t cause any major issues.” Cheng Xi briefly summarized Liu Wuxiang’s ideas.
Lin Xizhao pondered this, her heart filled with uncertainty, much like Xiao Bingying’s.
Meanwhile, Xiao Bingying realized that Cheng Xi intended to be the one to take the medicine. Since the one taking it would have to bear the unknown harm of the drug’s properties, she shouldn’t let Cheng Xi be the one to do it.
“So, there’s still danger in taking the medicine,” Lin Xizhao pointed out, voicing her main concern.
“Yes,” Cheng Xi answered without hiding anything.
“Let Sheng’er and me discuss this further.” After a long silence, Lin Xizhao still couldn’t make up her mind.
Now that everything had been spoken plainly, everyone had an idea of things in their hearts. The banquet Zhao Jiayu had put together couldn’t be wasted either, so they raised their cups and drank merrily together until dusk.
Qu Sheng drank quite heavily today and stayed behind to rest at Nanting Courtyard. Zhao Jiayu was picked up by Qu Yu, and she took Xiao Bingying and the others back to the Zhao Residence.
As the sky gradually darkened into a dusky gray, the brazier in the room had long since been removed. Lin Xizhao was dressed in a jinyun-colored2 silk robe, her skirt swaying as she walked back and forth between the water basin and the bed.
Qu Sheng’s cheeks were flushed red. As Lin Xizhao wiped down her body, Qu Sheng—a mischievous grin playing on her lips—suddenly swept her arms around her slender waist and pulled her onto her own body.
Forced to lie on top of Qu Sheng with a warm towel still in hand, Lin Xizhao looked at Qu Sheng’s slightly drunken state. Though she felt a touch of mock annoyance, her voice remained gentle. “Don’t mess around. Be good, let me go.”
“No, Sheng’er doesn’t want to let Wife go.” Qu Sheng’s words weren’t slurred, though her speech was somewhat slow.
Her shimmering, slightly unfocused eyes searched continuously across Lin Xizhao’s soft and gentle face; the more she looked, the more unbearably restless her heart grew.
Hot lips gradually drew closer, and in the end, she didn’t let Lin Xizhao leave the bed again.
The curtains of the bed fell, and the serving maids inside tactfully withdrew, closing the door behind them.
Qu Sheng kissed Lin Xizhao with deep infatuation. Lin Xizhao could feel Qu Sheng’s sluggishness, as well as the softness of her tongue.
Qu Sheng was indeed drunk; it seemed she’d really drunk too much today.
Qu Sheng’s robes were stripped away, and the sounds within the curtains were no longer held back. Listening to those fragmented, tearful whimpers growing louder and louder, Lin Xizhao applied her carefully channeled strength with increasing intensity.
After a long while, Qu Sheng forced herself awake from her drunken stupor. Looking down at the bed she had soaked, her mind went completely blank.
The author has something to say:
Lin Xizhao: “Though my knowledge is shallow, I’m diligent and fond of learning. I apply what I’ve learned, put new lessons into immediate practice, and never tire of studying.”
Qu Sheng: “…”
Regarding the whole conceiving-a-child business, I’m just making things up. Just read it for fun, it’s just for the plot. Leave a comment for a red envelope!
Footnotes
- A traditional Chinese unit of time equivalent to fifteen minutes. In the ancient timekeeping system, a day and night was divided into ninety-six ke, with each ke representing approximately fifteen minutes.
- A traditional Chinese color representing a muted, warm reddish-brown hue. It takes its name from the sunset clouds over Mount Jinyun, often symbolizing the soft warmth of natural crimson-gray tones, written as jìnyún sè.
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