The Prime Minister’s Daughter and the Marquis’s Fool – Chapter 211
by Little PandaDon’t Get Ahead of Yourself, I Still Have Three More Behind Me
Qu Sheng had arranged for people to closely monitor the officials everywhere, compiling a list of their activities.
The founding of the Quzhao Dynasty had gone too smoothly. If Qu Sheng hadn’t led her troops with invincible force, never once relinquishing her grip on military command, the vassal kings and marquises whose territories fell within their borders would’ve long since been instigated to declare independence.
At the beginning of her reign, she had indeed abolished the practice of aristocratic families recommending officials. However, the recommended officials remaining within her realm hadn’t vanished, and she couldn’t simply issue an imperial decree to dismiss them all.
If she had indeed dismissed them all, the operations of local governments everywhere would certainly have run into issues. Thus, Qu Sheng had begun casting her net even before the dynasty was founded; it was only that drawing it in would still take some time.
Hearing the news brought by Feng Qi, Qu Sheng scoffed. “Who’s on the list?”
Feng Qi reported them one by one. After listening, Qu Sheng pondered for a few moments, then said, “Plant a few people around them.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Once Feng Qi left, Qu Sheng took a single glance at the starry sky before hurrying back inside. Lin Xizhao had already risen and changed the bedsheets. Seeing Qu Sheng return, a gentle smile graced her face as she asked, “What’s going on at this late hour?”
Qu Sheng walked over, wrapping her arms around Lin Xizhao from behind. She breathed in the cool, subtle fragrance at her neck and replied, “Gong Lianlang hosted several military officers at a tavern tonight.” She then offhandedly mentioned their names.
Lin Xizhao blinked, turning her head to look at Qu Sheng, seemingly filled with doubt. Seeing her turn her head, Qu Sheng’s gaze fell upon her rosy lips. After a brief moment, she leaned in to kiss them, slowly turning Lin Xizhao’s body around to face her.
After the kiss, Qu Sheng’s breath was slightly ragged. Just as she wanted to resume their earlier intimacy, Lin Xizhao raised a hand to block her.
Qu Sheng merely kissed the palm of Lin Xizhao’s hand, drawing back slightly as she asked with a smile, “Wife, don’t you want to?”
Seeing her look of unfulfilled desire, Lin Xizhao felt a pang of reluctance but still shook her head, steering the conversation back to serious matters.
“While it’s common for civil officials and military officers to associate, don’t you find it unusual for him to host so many of them at once tonight?”
Qu Sheng smiled. “I’ve already had Feng Qi plant men by their sides.”
Lin Xizhao shook her head again. “Gong Lianlang is an official from the previous dynasty, hailing from a wealthy family of generational officials. These factional alliances1 are what every ruler dreads most. By hosting these officers at a tavern and even slipping in through the back door, no matter how well he tries to hide it, word is bound to get out in a place frequented by such mixed crowds2.”
Lin Xizhao was well aware of the hidden perils surrounding Qu Sheng as emperor. It was precisely for this reason that she’d been reluctant to let Qu Sheng declare her Empress, wanting to avoid stirring up unnecessary trouble.
Hearing Lin Xizhao’s analysis, Qu Sheng lowered her eyes in deep thought. After a long moment, she looked up, a faint trace of worry showing in her eyes.
“Go to sleep first, wife. I’m going out for a bit.” Qu Sheng had caught the underlying meaning in Lin Xizhao’s words. She was just wondering: if these officers weren’t the ones Gong Lianlang was trying to win over and align with, then who actually was?
Seeing Qu Sheng turn to leave in such a hurry, Lin Xizhao quickly called out to stop her. Qu Sheng paused and turned back, only to hear Lin Xizhao urge, “Put on more clothes. It’s still cold at night.”
Qu Sheng was taking medicine, and her body didn’t seem as robust as before; she was always sensitive to the cold at night.
Lin Xizhao fetched an outer robe and draped it over Qu Sheng’s shoulders before finally feeling at ease letting her go.
Having not returned all night, Qu Sheng attended the morning court audience as usual the next day during the Mao hour3. Everything proceeded as normal, as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred.
Yet when Qu Sheng announced the wedding date of Zhu Ming’an and Jin Mingyi, a low, buzzing clamor of discussion erupted among the assembled officials.
After making the announcement, however, not a single person stepped forward. Even the officials who had previously opposed it the most vehemently remained silent. Qu Sheng looked down at her ministers, smiled with satisfaction, and dismissed the court.
By the time Qu Sheng returned to her bedchamber, Lin Xizhao had already arrived from the Nanting Courtyard, and breakfast had been laid out. Qu Sheng hadn’t returned after leaving the previous night, and since the morning court was scheduled, she couldn’t easily find an excuse to skip it.
Worried about Qu Sheng, Lin Xizhao had come over early to cook for her. Qu Sheng had originally intended to change out of her robes and head straight to the Nanting Courtyard after court, but on her way back, she received a message Lin Xizhao had sent ahead.
Returning to her bedchamber and seeing the light, simple dishes, Qu Sheng felt a sudden spark of appetite.
After breakfast, Qu Sheng headed to the Imperial Study, taking Lin Xizhao along. Today’s memorials still spoke of the marriage between Jin Mingyi and Zhu Ming’an, but they were far fewer than in previous days.
Lin Xizhao stood to one side, organizing the memorials and placing them neatly into a basket to be distributed by the attendants.
“Do you want to sleep for a bit?” Lin Xizhao asked, noticing that Qu Sheng kept pinching the bridge of her nose—doubtless because she’d had no rest the previous night.
Hearing her voice, Qu Sheng paused her vermilion brush, turned to look at Lin Xizhao, and replied with a warm, gentle smile, “Alright.”
Lin Xizhao reached out to take the vermilion brush from Qu Sheng’s hand, set it upon the brush rest, and went into the inner chamber of the Imperial Study to lay out the bedding.
Qu Sheng removed her outer robe and lay down. Lin Xizhao sat by her side, tucking the blanket around her as she watched Qu Sheng drift off to sleep.
Lin Xizhao returned to the outer room to resume sorting the memorials. Before long, a palace attendant came to report that someone had arrived seeking Her Majesty. Wishing to let Qu Sheng sleep a while longer, Lin Xizhao went out in person to speak with the visitor.
The visitor was not very old—a young official. Lin Xizhao informed him that Qu Sheng was currently resting and asked him to wait. The young man stood there with his head lowered, replying respectfully, “This humble subject will wait, then.”
Lin Xizhao had never seen him before, and he hadn’t announced his official title just now. She gave him a few extra glances before returning to the Imperial Study.
When Qu Sheng awoke, an hour had already passed, though that was enough of a rest. Hearing that someone was waiting for her outside, Lin Xizhao assisted her in donning her dragon robe before summoning the visitor.
Once the young man entered the Imperial Study, Lin Xizhao remained in the inner room. As she listened to the matters they were discussing, she grew puzzled.
The matters they discussed weren’t about Quzhao, but rather the Haichao Kingdom.
Half a month later, the eldest legitimate daughter of the royal merchant Zhu family of Quzhao was to have her grand wedding, marrying Princess Wanyi of the Jin Dynasty, Jin Mingyi.
To avoid overshadowing the event, Qu Sheng specifically dispatched Qu Yu to preside over the ceremony as the main officiant. Before Jin Mingyi departed for the wedding, Qu Sheng did pay a visit to her courtyard to see her.
Zhu Ming’an rode on a tall horse, clad in a crimson robe with a red silk sash tied around her waist. Behind her, attendants bore an eight-bearer bridal sedan4, drawing every eye along the road as they made their way toward the Nanting Courtyard.
Hearing the festive music, many of the common folk came out to watch. Seeing a woman marry a wife, some men clamored that the natural order of the world was falling into chaos, while others covered their children’s eyes, forbidding them from looking any longer.
Meanwhile, inside a nearby teahouse, quite a few officials dressed in plain clothes had gathered, peering down at the spectacle below.
Zhu Ming’an had her attendants scatter copper coins, and the crowd grew increasingly lively. Whether by chance or by design, as Zhu Ming’an raised her head, her gaze locked with those of the officials above.
Zhu Ming’an was the first to smile, offering them a cupped-fist salute5. In contrast, the officials all wore dark expressions, and some even flung their sleeves in indignation and stormed off.
Watching the familiar faces vanish, Zhu Ming’an raised her brows slightly and continued her procession through the streets with a smile.
The bridal sedan from the Zhu Residence arrived outside the gates of the Nanting Courtyard, which was already crowded with people. Zhu Ming’an smiled, bowing and greeting the onlookers. The moment she straightened up, she hitched up her wedding robe and prepared to run inside, only to be blocked by Zhao Jiayu and Qian Shuangying.
“Hey, Lord Zhu, what’s the rush? Our bride isn’t going to run away,” Zhao Jiayu said with a mischievous grin.
Knowing how much Zhao Jiayu loved to play pranks, Zhu Ming’an grew so anxious that her stutter returned. “G-good, good, good sisters-in-law, M-M-Ming’an has prepared some modest gifts for you both. I hope you’ll accept them.”
As Zhu Ming’an spoke, she hurriedly gestured to the attendants behind her. A young servant quickly pulled an item wrapped in red cloth from his shirt; it looked like something valuable.
However, the moment Zhao Jiayu took it, she unwrapped the cloth to find a thick stack of banknotes.
Zhao Jiayu clicked her tongue at the amount. As expected of the Zhu family, they were incredibly generous. Yet, even after handing the red silk bundle to her daughter, she still didn’t yield the path.
Seeing Zhu Ming’an’s frantic look, Zhao Jiayu teased, “Our cousin is a woman of royal blood. On her wedding day, how can I, as her sister-in-law, not test her groom a little?”
To bring up a test now that the bridal procession was already at the gates—Zhu Ming’an knew that with Zhao Jiayu present, bringing Jin Mingyi home wouldn’t be an easy task.
But since today was her wedding day, she could only play along. Zhu Ming’an pleaded, “Good sister-in-law, Yi’er is still waiting for me.”
Zhao Jiayu smiled sweetly at her. “I won’t make things too difficult for you. Since we’re both practitioners of martial arts, why don’t we settle this with an arm-wrestling match? If you beat me, I’ll let you in.”
Upon hearing this, Zhu Ming’an’s worries suddenly vanished. Although Zhao Jiayu practiced martial arts, her skills were about as mediocre as her own.
Zhu Ming’an said nothing, only offering a conciliatory smile. Zhao Jiayu glanced back, and a table was promptly brought over. Casting aside her status as a Princess Consort, Zhao Jiayu rolled up her sleeves and engaged in a public arm-wrestling match with Zhu Ming’an, who had hitched up her wedding robe.
As the two began to wrestle, the onlookers—even Cheng Xi—were somewhat dazed by the sight. Qu Yu held his daughter in his arms and stood nearby, watching with a doting smile, not minding his wife making such a scene in the least.
In the small courtyard of the Nanting Courtyard, Jin Mingyi had been ready for some time. Seeing that Zhu Ming’an still hadn’t arrived, she grew somewhat anxious, wanting to peek outside.
Accompanying her, Lin Xizhao saw her anxious state and smiled. “We won’t miss the auspicious hour.” She knew that Zhao Jiayu was blocking Zhu Ming’an outside.
For the past few days, Zhao Jiayu had been racking her brains for a way to block Zhu Ming’an at the gates without delaying the wedding or losing face. This was the only solution she’d come up with.
While Zhu Ming’an arm-wrestled Zhao Jiayu, several of the Zhu family cousins cheered her on from the side. Behind Zhao Jiayu, however, was only her daughter. Clenching her tiny fists, the little girl was even more excited than her mother, shouting in a crisp voice, “Mother, keep going! Try harder!”
Laughter rippled through the crowd. Before long, Zhao Jiayu sensed that Zhu Ming’an’s strength was flagging. She smiled, imperceptibly easing the pressure in her wrist; after all, holding her daughter had given her plenty of arm strength.
Zhu Ming’an’s pale arm was strained to the limit. With one final burst of effort, she finally pinned Zhao Jiayu’s arm to the table.
Seeing her win, the Zhu family members erupted into cheers, and a triumphant grin spread across Zhu Ming’an’s face.
Losing didn’t bother Zhao Jiayu. She grinned and said, “Don’t get ahead of yourself. I still have three more behind me.”
Zhu Ming’an’s smile instantly collapsed. She looked toward Qian Shuangying; how could she ever defeat her?
Qian Shuangying merely looked at her with a smile. Zhu Ming’an stepped forward, but just as she thought she’d have to wrestle again, Qian Shuangying stepped aside.
Seeing this, Zhu Ming’an grinned and prepared to bolt inside, only to be blocked by Xiao Bingying and Cheng Xi.
The moment she saw Xiao Bingying, Zhu Ming’an completely lost heart. She couldn’t even defeat Qian Shuangying; how could she possibly win against Xiao Bingying, who commanded hundreds of thousands of troops?
Seeing Zhu Ming’an look so thoroughly defeated, Xiao Bingying and Cheng Xi exchanged a smiling glance and stepped aside as well.
Zhu Ming’an stared as they moved out of the way. From disbelief to belief took only an instant; terrified they might change their minds, she immediately sprinted inside, surrounded by the crowd.
Festive music blared as both the interior and exterior of the residence erupted in celebration.
Zhu Ming’an first paid her respects to Jin Yunfei and the other elders before heading to Jin Mingyi’s courtyard. Hearing footsteps, those inside peeked out, and a maid smiled, saying, “Lord Zhu is here.”
Even as she spoke, Zhu Ming’an had already stepped inside.
At the exact moment she entered, Lin Xizhao quickly lowered Jin Mingyi’s red bridal veil. Zhu Ming’an didn’t manage to catch a glimpse of Jin Mingyi, but Jin Mingyi had already seen her.
She was bright and clean, looking almost identical to the first time Jin Mingyi had laid eyes on her. Though she had a stalk of wild grass stuck in her hair back then, Jin Mingyi had only needed a passing glance out of the corner of her eye to be utterly captivated.
Zhu Ming’an stared at Jin Mingyi beneath the red veil, dazed for a brief moment. Shaking herself out of it, she bowed to Lin Xizhao with a cupped-fist salute and smiled. “Xizhao-jiejie.”
Lin Xizhao offered a warm smile, nodding in acknowledgment. She then turned to Jin Mingyi, who was seated nearby. “Ming’an is here. Let her carry you on her back to the bridal sedan.”
Hearing this, Jin Mingyi still felt nervous for a moment. Standing nearby, Zhu Ming’an watched the red veil sway slightly before Jin Mingyi finally nodded.
Lin Xizhao helped Jin Mingyi stand, and a smile lit up Zhu Ming’an’s face. The maid chucklingly gestured for her to turn around and bend down.
Zhu Ming’an complied, bending her back. Soon, Jin Mingyi leaned against her, wrapping her arms securely around Zhu Ming’an’s neck.
Zhu Ming’an stood up. A grin tugged at her lips, completely impossible to suppress. She glanced back, gave her bride a gentle upward hoist, and carried Jin Mingyi out.
Having secured the bride, the Zhu family’s wedding procession became even more boisterous. When they first set out, the streets had been relatively quiet; now, hearing that coins and wedding candies were being distributed, crowds of people lined every path the procession was set to take.
Zhu Ming’an rode her horse, looking back toward the bridal sedan. A stream of city folk followed them the entire way. When they passed the teahouse once more, those plain-clothed officials were nowhere to be seen.
Qu Yu presided over the wedding. At the head of the hall, Squire Zhu and his wife, Lu-shi, smiled warmly as they accepted the newlyweds’ formal bows.
Everything proceeded in an orderly fashion, indistinguishable from a traditional wedding between a man and a woman.
Once the bride was escorted to the bridal chamber, Zhu Ming’an selected some of Jin Mingyi’s favorite dishes, sent them to the room with an attendant, and went out to offer toasts. The guests consisted of court officials and many wealthy merchants.
Zhu Ming’an didn’t shrink back because she was a woman. Emulating the way her cousins offered toasts, she drank heartily with everyone.
Midway through the feast, the Zhu Residence welcomed the most honored guests in all of Quzhao.
Qu Sheng, the female Emperor of Quzhao, arrived to attend the banquet, accompanied by Commandery Princess Lin Xizhao of the Lin Residence.
The author has something to say:
Qu Sheng: “I knew Ming’an was thick-skinned enough to handle this.”
Zhu Ming’an: “…”
Another round of 200 red envelopes is on the way!
Footnotes
- The term 'péngdǎng' refers to political factions or cliques formed by court officials. In imperial China, emperors deeply feared these alliances, as they could undermine imperial authority and lead to subversion or rebellion.
- The idiom 'sānjiāo jiǔliú' literally means 'three religions and nine schools.' It refers to people from all walks of life, often carrying a connotation of a bustling, chaotic mix of both respectable and disreputable figures.
- The 'mǎoshí' is a traditional Chinese two-hour time period from 5:00 AM to 7:00 AM, the standard time for imperial court assemblies to begin.
- The 'bā tái dà jiào', or eight-bearer litter, was a luxurious wedding sedan reserved for noble families and high-ranking officials, indicating immense wealth and prestige.
- The 'gǒngshǒulǐ' is a traditional Chinese gesture of respect or greeting, performed by wrapping one hand over the opposite fist at chest level.
0 Comments