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    The Prime Minister’s Daughter and the Marquis’s Fool

    The Prime Minister’s Daughter and the Marquis’s Fool – Chapter 21

    by Little Panda

    Luring the Snake Out of its Hole​1

    Lin Xizhao stepped out of the carriage and immediately began searching for Qu Sheng in the crowd. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw her standing to the side, eating snacks with an air of ‘a matter of no concern to oneself’​2.

    The Qu family had intentionally concealed the fact that Qu Sheng knew martial arts from outsiders. She was genuinely afraid that if Zhao Jiayu attacked or was attacked, Qu Sheng would also jump in. After all, back then, she was someone who even dared to shoot an arrow at the daughter of the State Uncle Cheng; not only that, but in the Imperial Study, she had openly aimed an arrow at His Majesty…

    The Qu family had Qu Sheng learn martial arts so she wouldn’t be bullied. But if outsiders were to find out, given that she was already rumored to be somewhat mad, having martial skills would only give people more to talk about.

    If it were said that they had raised a lunatic and deliberately let her out to harm people, the Qu family would certainly be criticized. At that point, if someone were to impeach Marquis Qu, he would inevitably have to bear the responsibility.

    Lin Xizhao watched as her Third Maternal Uncle got out of the carriage and, making three steps into two​3, walked towards Qu Sheng. Zhao Jiayu and the others also saw Lin Xizhao, but at this moment, they couldn’t afford to lose their momentum, and Zhao Jiayu was still arguing with the man.

    Only after seeing Lin Xizhao approach did Qu Sheng take another bite of her jujube flower cake before offering it to Lin Xizhao. “Jiejie.”

    “Jiejie doesn’t want any. Be good, come to the carriage with me first.” Lin Xizhao’s voice was gentle, trying to coax Qu Sheng onto the carriage to wait while the matter here was slowly resolved.

    Hearing this, Qu Sheng nodded and let Lin Xizhao lead her onto the carriage.

    Holding the jujube flower cake, Qu Sheng lifted the carriage curtain and watched the scene outside. Feng Qi stood on one side of the carriage, keeping a close eye on Zhao Jiayu and her friends.

    Qu Sheng was protective of her own. Since she considered them friends, she would not stand by with hands in her sleeves​4. Feng Qi was also prepared to step forward and help at any moment.

    Zhao Jiayu argued with the man, who was clearly not getting the upper hand. However, since they were at the gate of his residence and his family’s servants had already surrounded them, he wanted to forcibly take his wife back.

    “Hey, a gentleman uses his mouth, not his fists​5. What is the meaning of this?” Zhao Jiayu reached out and blocked the man’s outstretched hand.

    “This is my family’s business, it’s not for an outsider to meddle in!” The man, whose anger had reached an uncontrollable level from being watched by the crowd, flushed red and shot a look at his servants.

    “With me here today, I’d like to see any of you dare to touch her!” Zhao Jiayu was certainly not a vegetarian​6, and at this moment, Xiao Bingying also took a few steps forward, shielding her.

    Although Xiao Bingying was a girl, she surpassed Zhao Jiayu in both scholarship and martial arts. Her martial skill, in particular, was no worse than Feng Qi’s in his prime.

    Back then, the Zhao family had seen that Xiao Bingying was a good seedling​7 and found a good instructor for her. Her skills had advanced by flying leaps and violent bounds​8 over the years, and the Xiao family had also seen her value, which was why they were even more eager to have her return to the Xiao Residence.

    Seeing that it was just a girl, the few family servants tried to forcibly drag their mistress back, but they were kicked away by Xiao Bingying as soon as they made a move.

    “Stop!” The Third Uncle of the Liang family had been watching from the side of the carriage for a while. Seeing that the group was about to start a brawl, he called out to stop them.

    Everyone turned to look at the sound of his voice. Some recognized him as a member of the Liang family and put on expressions as if they were watching a play.

    This family’s surname was Jiao. Some days ago, bandits had broken into their home. Seeing the wife’s beautiful face, the bandits violated her. The Jiao family members could have originally fought them off, and even if they couldn’t win, at worst both sides would be defeated and wounded​9. But at that moment, this Young Master Jiao had a knife held to his neck. He watched with his own eyes as his wife cried and begged him to save her, yet for the sake of his own safety, he forbade the servants from acting.

    The group of bandits had already been apprehended by the authorities and sentenced to exile or execution; several months had passed since the incident. Initially, the young master of this family felt he owed his wife and had sworn an oath that he would never hold it against her. However, he couldn’t withstand the floating words and flying phrases​10 from outside and lived in agony every day. This was what led him to finally decide to sacrifice his wife to preserve his family’s reputation.

    It was just a coincidence that they ran into Zhao Jiayu and her friends today; otherwise, this woman would have already been drowned in a pond​11.

    In this Tiansheng Kingdom, there was a practice where women who did not uphold wifely virtues would be locked in a pig cage​12 and drowned in a pond, though no one knew in what year or by whom this was established. The authorities, after roughly understanding the reason, would typically not interfere. But in today’s matter, there were extenuating circumstances, and the Jiao family was not in the right.

    “Deputy Prefect​13 Liang.” Young Master Jiao greeted the Liang family’s Third Uncle when he approached. Young Master Jiao was a scholar, a Xiucai​14, and upon seeing an official arrive, his arrogance diminished by more than half.

    The Liang family’s Third Uncle nodded in return and said, “First, take Madam Jiao back into the residence.”

    “This…” Young Master Jiao hesitated. He had made a great resolution to drown his wife in front of everyone today to prove that his family’s conduct was clean and could not tolerate such filth.

    “Hm?” The Liang family’s Third Uncle possessed a natural authority without being angry. With just a single sound, Young Master Jiao wilted. He understood the principle that the common people do not fight with officials​15.

    Young Master Jiao waved his hand, and the Jiao family members once again moved forward. But Zhao Jiayu refused to yield, blocking their path.

    Seeing this, Third Uncle Liang’s expression softened slightly. “Miss Jiayu, rest assured, nothing will happen.” The Liang family’s Third Uncle gave his guarantee. He would see this matter through to the end today.

    This case had caused a sensation throughout the entire prefecture at the time—bandits from outside the city entering late at night to commit theft and sexual assault. The Liang family’s Eldest Uncle had even been fined a portion of his salary over it. How could he not remember?

    “Jiayu.” Lin Xizhao called out to Zhao Jiayu. She was the one who had asked her Third Maternal Uncle to come; she was not a person who would place herself outside the matter​16. Zhao Jiayu saw Lin Xizhao nod at her, and after a moment’s thought, she lowered her arm, allowing the Jiao family to take the woman away.

    After the group returned to the Liang Residence, Zhao Jiayu finally remembered that she had gone out to buy jujube flower cakes. Qu Sheng had eaten her fill, and Zhao Jiayu wanted to go back and buy more, but Lin Xizhao had a servant bring over the jujube flower cakes that had already been purchased.

    With something to eat, Zhao Jiayu’s anger dissipated by more than half. It wasn’t until noon that they received news: the Jiao family had agreed to an amicable divorce​17, and the woman had been escorted back to her maternal home by the authorities.

    The Jiao family had initially refused the amicable divorce, single-mindedly wanting to drown the woman. However, due to pressure from the Liang family and the authorities threatening to charge them with murder, and with the woman herself determined to leave, the Jiao family had no choice but to agree.

    They had lost the lady and had their soldiers routed on top of it​18. The Jiao family wanted to kill a victimized woman to save their own reputation—the thought was utterly laughable.

    When Zhao Jiayu received the news, she let out a relieved breath, but her heart ached. To be born in this dynasty that valued men over women​19, where the status of women was so low, filled her with hatred, yet she was powerless to change it.

    Men could openly visit green mansions and brothels​20, take concubines and keep mistresses, and have all sorts of bed-warming maids​21, while women had to strictly adhere to the wifely way​22, not overstepping the bounds of propriety in the slightest. Men could use matters of reputation to hold the power of life and death over women. Thinking about it, for them as women, it was truly suffocating.

    They were born into better circumstances and didn’t have to deal with such sordid affairs, but just because they didn’t experience it didn’t mean others didn’t. In those unseen places, what kind of a hell on earth was it?

    The more Zhao Jiayu thought about it, the more upset she became. She called for Xiao Bingying and went to the Liang Residence’s training grounds to spar.

    Qu Sheng was brought back to their bedroom by Lin Xizhao. Lin Xizhao was a bit quieter today, and Qu Sheng just sat to the side, reading a book. Today, she hadn’t heard Lin Xizhao speak to the Liang family’s uncles about investigating her mother’s cause of death, but seeing Lin Xizhao’s somewhat gloomy expression, Qu Sheng guessed what was on her mind.

    “Jiejie.”

    Qu Sheng, sitting to the side, pointed a finger at a word in the book. In the past, Qu Sheng had never asked Lin Xizhao questions, not only because she had a tutor, but also because Qu Sheng was inherently intelligent. As long as the tutor explained something once, she could basically remember and understand it.

    Hearing Qu Sheng call her, Lin Xizhao rose from the window, walked over, leaned close to Qu Sheng, and glanced down.

    “Luring the snake out of its hole. Does Sheng’er want to know what it means?” Lin Xizhao had never been asked this by Qu Sheng before, so she inquired if she wanted an explanation.

    Qu Sheng nodded her head.

    Seeing Qu Sheng’s seemingly earnest expression as she stared at her, Lin Xizhao smiled, reached out, and stroked her cheek. “The meaning of luring the snake out of its hole,” she said, “is a metaphor for using a method to draw out a bad person who is hiding in the dark…”

    As Lin Xizhao finished speaking, something seemed to flash in her mind. A moment later, she suddenly looked up at Qu Sheng, a hint of scrutiny in her eyes. Seeing Qu Sheng’s bright, innocent-looking eyes fixed on her, she flipped the book open for a look.

    This book was newly brought over today. It should just be a coincidence, but this coincidence had done her a huge favor.

    “Jiejie is going out for a bit. If Sheng’er has anything else she doesn’t understand, wait for Jiejie to come back, and I’ll explain it to you then, alright?” Lin Xizhao coaxed Qu Sheng in a soft voice. She was now in a hurry to tell her uncles what she was thinking.

    The author has something to say:

    Zhao Jiayu: “In my young heart, the idea of following Xiao Sheng’er to establish a kingdom of women​23 has already been planted.”

    Qu Sheng: “…”

    TOC

    Footnotes

    1. Hanzi: 引蛇出洞. Pinyin: yǐn shé chū dòng. Explanation: A Chengyu (idiom) that literally means “to lure a snake out of its hole.” It is used as a metaphor for devising a plan to draw out a hidden enemy or wrongdoer.
    2. Hanzi: 事不关己. Pinyin: shì bù guān jǐ. Explanation: A Chengyu (idiom) that literally means “the matter does not concern oneself.” It describes an attitude of indifference or aloofness to something that is happening.
    3. Hanzi: 三步并作两步. Pinyin: sān bù bìng zuò liǎng bù. Explanation: A Chengyu (idiom) that literally means “to combine three steps into two.” It vividly describes walking very quickly or hurrying.
    4. Hanzi: 袖手旁观. Pinyin: xiù shǒu páng guān. Explanation: A Chengyu (idiom) that literally means “to stand by with one’s hands tucked in one’s sleeves.” It describes being an idle bystander and refusing to help.
    5. Hanzi: 君子动口不动手. Pinyin: jūnzǐ dòng kǒu bù dòng shǒu. Explanation: A common proverb meaning that a civilized person resorts to reason and persuasion rather than violence.
    6. Hanzi: 吃素的. Pinyin: chī sù de. Explanation: A common saying that literally means “to be a vegetarian.” It is used metaphorically to describe someone who is a pushover, weak, or easy to bully.
    7. Hanzi: 好苗子. Pinyin: hǎo miáozi. Explanation: A culturally-specific metaphor that literally means “a good seedling.” It is used to describe a young person with great potential or promising talent.
    8. Hanzi: 突飞猛进. Pinyin: tū fēi měng jìn. Explanation: A Chengyu (idiom) that literally means “advancing suddenly by flight and猛ly.” It describes extremely rapid progress or development.
    9. Hanzi: 两败俱伤. Pinyin: liǎng bài jù shāng. Explanation: A Chengyu (idiom) meaning that in a conflict, both parties suffer losses; a Pyrrhic victory or a mutually destructive outcome.
    10. Hanzi: 流言蜚语. Pinyin: liú yán fēi yǔ. Explanation: A Chengyu (idiom) that literally means “flowing words and flying rumors.” It refers to baseless gossip, slander, and malicious rumors.
    11. Hanzi: 沉塘. Pinyin: chén táng. Explanation: A form of extrajudicial punishment, primarily for women accused of adultery or other “immoral” acts. The victim would be put in a cage (often a pig cage) and drowned in a public pond to “cleanse” the family’s honor.
    12. Hanzi: 猪笼. Pinyin: zhū lóng. Explanation: A cage made of bamboo or wood, originally used for transporting pigs. It became notoriously associated with the punishment of drowning (沉塘, chén táng).
    13. Hanzi: 通判. Pinyin: Tōngpàn. Explanation: An official title from imperial China, roughly translated as “Vice Prefect” or “Assistant Prefect.” They were civilian officials dispatched by the central government to supervise a prefecture’s administration, acting as a check on the power of the local prefect.
    14. Hanzi: 秀才. Pinyin: xiùcai. Explanation: A “Flourishing Talent.” This was the title granted to those who passed the prefectural level of the imperial civil service examinations. It was the lowest degree but still conferred significant social status and privileges.
    15. Hanzi: 民不与官斗. Pinyin: mín bù yǔ guān dòu. Explanation: A traditional proverb reflecting the power imbalance in a feudal or bureaucratic society. It advises commoners against confronting or challenging government officials, as they are unlikely to win.
    16. Hanzi: 置身事外. Pinyin: zhì shēn shì wài. Explanation: A Chengyu (idiom) that literally means “to place one’s body outside of the matter.” It describes the act of staying aloof and not getting involved.
    17. Hanzi: 和离. Pinyin: hélí. Explanation: A form of divorce in ancient China that was mutually agreed upon by both husband and wife, as opposed to being initiated solely by the husband. It was a relatively peaceful and less disgraceful way to end a marriage.
    18. Hanzi: 赔了夫人又折兵. Pinyin: péile fūrén yòu zhé bīng. Explanation: A Chengyu (idiom) originating from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. It literally means “to lose the bride and the army too.” It describes a situation where one tries to gain an advantage but ends up suffering a double loss.
    19. Hanzi: 重男轻女. Pinyin: zhòng nán qīng nǚ. Explanation: A cultural concept and social issue meaning “to prize males and belittle females.” It refers to a patriarchal mindset where sons are valued more highly than daughters.
    20. Hanzi: 青楼妓院. Pinyin: qīnglóu jìyuàn. Explanation: 青楼 (qīnglóu), literally “green/blue-green mansion,” was a poetic term for high-class brothels or houses of courtesans in ancient China. 妓院 (jìyuàn) is a more direct term for a brothel.
    21. Hanzi: 通房丫鬟. Pinyin: tōng fáng yāhuán. Explanation: A high-ranking personal maid of a young master or mistress. Her room was often connected to her master’s, and she was expected to serve his sexual needs, effectively holding a status between a servant and a concubine.
    22. Hanzi: 恪守妇道. Pinyin: kèshǒu fùdào. Explanation: 妇道 (fùdào) refers to the traditional code of conduct and virtues expected of women, emphasizing obedience, chastity, and domesticity. 恪守 (kèshǒu) means to scrupulously abide by.
    23. Hanzi: 女国. Pinyin: nǚguó. Explanation: Literally “women’s country” or “women’s kingdom.” It refers to a nation or society ruled by and composed of women, a concept found in Chinese mythology and literature.

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