The Prime Minister’s Daughter and the Marquis’s Fool – Chapter 218
by Little PandaThe Military Tally
The fire inside the Seaside Palace was too massive; nearly all the palace servants Cheng Feng had brought were throwing themselves into fighting it. Being right next to the sea, water was easily accessible, yet the fire simply couldn’t be doused.
The palace servants and guards running back and forth through the estate were almost all carrying wooden buckets.
Just then, those who had slipped into the crowd were discovered. One of the guards spotted a man carrying an empty bucket, rushing toward an area untouched by the fire. He quickly lunged forward, grabbed him, and barked, “That is the Princess’s residence! Where do you think you’re going?”
Confronted by the guard, the man looked up with murderous intent. Drawing the soft sword wrapped around his waist, he slashed the guard’s hand that was gripping his arm.
The guard dodged quickly enough to keep his entire arm from being severed, immediately shouting, “Someone help! Assassins have slipped in!”
The assassin wanted to finish him off to silence his cries, but he saw numerous guards dropping their water buckets and rushing over.
Meanwhile, in the courtyard where Qu Sheng and her party were staying, many individuals who had disguised themselves and slipped inside were already locked in combat with the guards.
Assassins kicked open the doors and barged in, seemingly knowing exactly which room Qu Sheng occupied. Before long, Qu Sheng kicked an assassin who had lunged inside right back out.
The door shattered under the impact, and as the commotion grew, Xiao Bingying and Cheng Xi rushed over. Qu Sheng held her sword in one hand and cradled Lin Xizhao with her other arm, searching for a safe spot to place her.
Yet these people threw themselves forward as if their lives meant nothing, surging toward Qu Sheng in waves.
Qu Sheng swung her sword, piercing the throat of the nearest assassin in a single strike. As she drew the blade out, she pivoted her body to shield Lin Xizhao. Foul blood splattered across the back of Qu Sheng’s shoulder. Without pausing, she thrust her slender sword backward with vicious force, piercing the heart of another man lunging at them with a longsword.
“Xiao Sheng’er! Xizhao!” Xiao Bingying shouted. She was fighting on the outer perimeter of the assassins, calling out to Qu Sheng, who had only a few guards remaining by her side.
Hearing the call, Qu Sheng glanced over. She didn’t reply, but she began fighting her way toward them.
The assassins—both those who had slipped inside disguised and those scaling the outer walls—seemed endless. As soon as one wave was cut down, another rushed forward. Dead bodies were already piling up on the ground.
Qu Sheng and Lin Xizhao were trapped, finding it difficult to take even a single step. Meanwhile, when Xiao Bingying and Cheng Xi tried to break through to assist them, they found their own paths blocked by assassins, just like Qu Sheng’s group.
Blood dripped like water from the red tassel of Xiao Bingying’s long spear, pooling on the ground, yet there was no end to the slaughter.
Xiao Bingying glanced back at the guard beside her and roared, “Go summon the archers! Now!”
Hearing her command, the guard cut down the assassin in front of him and immediately sprinted back.
By now, Qu Sheng and Lin Xizhao were completely enveloped by the stench of blood. The pungent metallic odor sent Lin Xizhao’s stomach into a violent churn. Just as Qu Sheng used her sleeve to shield Lin Xizhao’s face from splattering blood, Lin Xizhao bent over and vomited.
“Wife, what’s wrong?!” Seeing her reaction, Qu Sheng was struck with worry. She immediately looked down to check if there were any wounds on her.
Lin Xizhao shook her head. Fighting against the constriction in her throat that threatened to make her vomit again, she trembled uncontrollably from head to toe. Shaking her head once more, she whispered, “I’m fine.”
At that moment, the guards near Qu Sheng also surrounded them, shielding them in the narrow space between their bodies and the wall.
Qu Sheng looked up at the assassins. The prolonged combat had left her throat dry and parched. Coupled with the stifling stench of blood, she knew they couldn’t afford to let this battle drag on.
Right then, a squad of archers deployed from another part of the estate, drawing the assassins’ attention. Seizing the distraction, Qu Sheng prepared to carry Lin Xizhao and leap clear of the melee.
“Wife, hold on to me tightly,” Qu Sheng said, tightening her arm around Lin Xizhao’s slender waist.
Lin Xizhao wrapped both arms around Qu Sheng’s neck. Under the cover of the guards, Qu Sheng leaped into the air, her feet stepping on the heads of the assassins as she glided down behind Xiao Bingying and the others.
The moment Lin Xizhao was set down, the residual nausea caused her to dry-heave once more. Worried, Qu Sheng gently rubbed her back and began to inspect her body for injuries.
Lin Xizhao’s face was pale. It wasn’t that she had never witnessed bloodshed before, but being so close to it and seeing so many people die in rapid succession was more than her body could bear.
“I’m fine,” Lin Xizhao said, shaking her head as she looked up at Qu Sheng.
Seeing that there was only a small splatter of blood on Lin Xizhao’s dress, Qu Sheng let out a breath of relief. Cheng Xi hurried over as well and asked, “Are you two hurt?”
Qu Sheng shook her head and replied, “No.” But when she instinctively reached into her robes to check her belongings, she froze. Her brow furrowed deeply. “The military tally… My military tally is gone!”
Qu Sheng’s military tally had always been kept in her inner pocket, and even when she slept, she placed it beneath her square pillow. It must have slipped out during the chaos of the fight.
Upon hearing that Qu Sheng had lost her military tally, Cheng Xi whipped around and shouted to the guards, “Her Majesty’s military tally has been dropped! Do not let a single person escape!”
Forming neat rows, the archers unleashed a volley of arrows to cut down the assassins. Seeing the tide turn, the remaining intruders abandoned the fight and scattered to flee.
By the time Cheng Feng arrived with his men, there were no survivors left among the pile of assassin corpses.
“This subject is late in coming to Your Majesty’s rescue. I pray Your Majesty will pardon my offense,” Cheng Feng said, stepping toward Qu Sheng and bowing.
Qu Sheng glanced at him, then looked toward the corpses lying in pools of blood behind her. “Clean this place up,” she said. “We must find the military tally!”
With that, Qu Sheng swept the still-pale Lin Xizhao into her arms and carried her away.
Five days later. Already one day prior, in the middle of the night, officials from the Capital City had directly led men to barge into Nanting Courtyard and drag away Qu Yu, who was still sound asleep.
And Nanting Courtyard was also completely surrounded by patrol soldiers sent from the Capital City’s patrol division.
Jin Yunfei did not know what had happened, so she had someone go invite Qu Jixian over.
Qu Jixian was carried out, but as he headed toward the gates of the residence, he was stopped by the soldiers.
Qu Jixian barked, “This is Her Majesty’s temporary palace! Who permitted you to do this?”
An assistant commander saw this and hurriedly smiled, saying, “Please don’t be angry, Your Highness. This humble subordinate is also merely acting on orders.”
“Whose orders are you acting on?” Qu Jixian demanded, his face tight with displeased anger.
The assistant commander smiled apologetically and said, “Naturally, Her Majesty’s orders.”
At this, Qu Jixian furrowed his brows. He saw that the road outside was almost entirely filled with people from the patrol division, moving in groups and rushing back and forth. He had no idea what they were doing.
Qu Yu was brought to the Court Assembly Hall in the palace. With his hands clasped behind his back, he stared at that shimmering, golden dragon throne belonging to Qu Sheng.
Many officials stood below the grand hall in their court robes, yet Qu Yu never turned around.
“Your Highness, please agree to it! Quzhao cannot be ruined by a woman like this!” the officials below spoke with sincere earnestness.
Hearing this, Qu Yu turned back to look at everyone. He smiled gently and said, “Though Her Majesty is a woman, she possesses grand and noble aspirations1. We ought to assist her with all our hearts. How can we disregard how the Quzhao empire was won simply because she is a woman?”
Gong Lianlang, the official who had bickered with Lin Xikuan in court a few days ago, cupped his hands and said, “We, your subjects, all know that Your Highness, King Long, is heavy with affection and loyalty. However, after Her Majesty established the country, she has placed Quzhao as the target of public criticism. Now, she has even cast aside state administration, regardless of her status, and personally went to the Haichao Kingdom to lobby for a marriage between two women. Such absurd behavior is truly not what a sovereign should do.”
“Yes, indeed! Her Majesty treats the court like □□, doing everything according to her own wishes. For such an absurd person, she truly cannot be the common ruler of this world anymore. We, your subjects, implore Your Highness, King Long, to preside over state administration and ascend the throne as Emperor!”
“We, your subjects, respectfully implore Your Highness, King Long, to ascend the throne as Emperor!” The court officials spoke in unison, all kneeling and prostrating themselves.
Seeing the situation before him, Qu Yu hurriedly said, “No, no, absolutely not! Such treasonous acts are something this prince can never commit. My lords, you must never speak of this again!”
“Your Highness! Since ancient times, there has never been a female ruler. That you did not contest Her Majesty’s claim is because you are humble and value affection. Now, it is not only because Her Majesty’s desire to establish a woman as Empress has aroused popular indignation, but the vassal kings, marquises, and great noble clans in various places are also filled with deep resentment. We, your subjects, implore Your Highness, King Long, to ascend the throne, appease the panic of the citizens, and restore justice to them!”
Qu Yu’s chest heaved, and he clenched both hands into fists. A look of eagerness flashed in his eyes, but a moment later, he said again, “Quzhao’s empire was conquered by Her Majesty, and her loyalists are stationed in every corner of Quzhao. If you ask this prince to ascend the throne, isn’t that trying to get this prince killed? No, no, absolutely not!”
Hearing Qu Yu’s concerns, Gong Lianlang hurriedly looked toward the Left Chancellor, Qi Jinfu, who had stood on the side all this time without saying a word. “Left Chancellor, please say something!”
Qi Jinfu kept his head bowed. Hearing this, he looked up at Qu Yu and cupped his hands. “Your Highness, please do not be anxious. For us to gather here tonight to assist you in ascending the throne, we have naturally made thorough preparations.”
Qu Yu blinked and said, “Even so, it won’t do. This prince will never commit an act of usurpation.” With a sharp flick of his wide sleeve2, he turned his face away.
Seeing Qu Yu’s refusal to proclaim himself emperor, Qi Jinfu lowered his gaze and pondered for a brief moment. “Since Your Highness is unwilling to become Emperor, we can only invite the Old Prince.”
With those words, Qi Jinfu cast a glance at a nearby official. The man looked up at Qu Yu, then turned and began walking out of the hall.
“Wait! Where are you going?” Qu Yu turned his face back around and hurriedly asked.
Noticing the anxiety on Qu Yu’s face, Qi Jinfu bowed his head. “Since Your Highness, King Long, is unwilling to take the throne, we, your subjects, can only ask the Old Prince to occupy the dragon seat.”
“My second imperial uncle is advanced in years, and his leg ailment has only just begun to improve! Aren’t you simply trying to make him die sooner?!” Qu Yu was no longer polite as he spoke, his voice tinged with irritation.
Qi Jinfu stood there without speaking. Qu Yu swept his gaze across the officials below who had been staring at him, his face growing increasingly strained. Furrowing his brows, he exclaimed, “Enough! This prince will reluctantly yield. However, I am only temporarily supervising state affairs on Her Majesty’s behalf. If Her Majesty returns and refuses to abdicate, this prince will…” Qu Yu trailed off, leaving the rest of his sentence unsaid.
Yet the officials in the hall understood his meaning perfectly. He was securing an escape route for himself.
Gong Lianlang hurriedly cupped his hands and bowed, saying, “We, your subjects, respectfully request Your Highness, King Long, to act as Prince Regent!”
The moment the words left Gong Lianlang’s mouth, all the officials prostrated themselves once more.
In the military encampments of southeastern Quzhao, someone issued orders in the dead of night bearing the military tally. Three hundred thousand troops mobilized from their camps, marching directly toward the military encampments of the Quzhao Emperor stationed near various vassal kings and marquises across the land.
Only one day later, from another military stronghold, two hundred thousand more troops marched out.
A day after that, yet another regional army broke camp and mobilized.
All at once, the sounds of military campaigns and punitive expeditions echoed throughout Quzhao. Battlefield dispatches rushed into the Capital City, one after another.
Qu Yu sat in the grand hall on a chair beside the dragon throne. Holding his tea, he shook his head as he blew on it, took a small sip, and listened to the officials below reporting on state affairs.
“Your Highness, the garrison forces in Yingzhou have already surrendered, and several critical regions of Quzhao are now firmly under our control. We wonder if Your Highness wishes to select an auspicious day3 to formally ascend the throne as Emperor?”
The author has something to say:
Qu Sheng: “Go ahead and take a seat. It makes no difference which one of us sits there.”
Qu Yu: “No, no, absolutely not! I still want to live a few days longer.”
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Footnotes
- An idiom from the Records of the Grand Historian, literally meaning the ambition of a swan or wild goose. It is used to describe a person who harbors grand and lofty aspirations, far beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.
- The act of brushing or flicking one's wide sleeves, or fuxiang or fuxiu, is a traditional Chinese theatrical and historical gesture used to express sudden anger, annoyance, or a firm dismissal of another person's words.
- The traditional practice of selecting an auspicious date, or zeji, using the lunar calendar and divination to ensure major state events are aligned with favorable cosmic forces.
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