The Prime Minister’s Daughter and the Marquis’s Fool – Chapter 231
by Little PandaExtra 6
Adults’ business, we youngsters shouldn’t meddle
Once the case had been thoroughly investigated, it became clear that although the gang from yesterday did not run the gambling den itself, they were connected to it—they were loan sharks.
The Quzhao Dynasty strictly prohibited both gambling1 and high-interest lending. Whether one was a mere participant or the house running the operation, anyone caught would face severe punishment. That was why the events of last night had occurred.
Qu Ning stood in the courtroom, listening intently as the county magistrate2 handed down his judgment. Though she was small and had only recently left the palace, she had already witnessed how powerful lies could be.
Watching her daughter seemingly deep in thought, Qu Sheng smiled and asked, “What did you think of that bailiff yesterday, Ning’er?”
Qu Ning tilted her little head toward Qu Sheng. That bailiff had accepted a bribe, yet he hadn’t shown the briber any leniency. Furthermore, when he heard they were from the Zhu family, his overly flattering smile made her feel he wasn’t a good person.
Qu Ning remained silent. Having made a mistake once, she didn’t dare jump to conclusions so easily again.
“It’s alright. Only by making mistakes can you learn your own shortcomings,” Qu Sheng advised in a gentle, warm tone, guiding her daughter. “If you hesitate just to avoid making a mistake, that’s an even greater mistake.”
Qu Ning pondered for a moment, her brow furrowing slightly in gravity. “He took their money and should have done what he was paid to do, but after accepting the bribe, he didn’t help them at all. Instead, he kicked them while they were down. That makes him even worse.”
“Then how should we prevent such things from happening?” Qu Sheng asked again.
Qu Ning blinked, recalling what her tutor had previously said about the six codes of law that maintained a nation’s legal order. Since this man was an official runner, he should naturally be punished under the administrative codes. However, she had not yet reached the age to study the law.
She blinked and said, “Punish him according to the law to make an example of him.”
Hearing this, Qu Sheng let out a soft chuckle and nodded. “Yes. I have already sent your Aunt Bingying to handle it. You may wait and watch for a moment, Ning’er.”
Once the case in court was concluded and the confessions were signed, the county magistrate suddenly changed his tone. Before those people could be led away, he ordered his men to seize the bailiff from yesterday.
“Huang Feiche, do you plead guilty?” the county magistrate demanded, glaring at the bailiff with absolute fury.
The bailiff immediately fell to his knees, putting on an aggrieved look. “Your Honor, this subordinate doesn’t know what crime he has committed. Please enlighten me.”
Hearing him still try to deny it, the county magistrate ordered the evidence to be brought forward.
“These are the land deeds and silver cash just seized from your home. What else do you have to say for yourself?”
For a mere head bailiff to possess such wealth, how could he have acquired so much income if not through bribery?
“Your Honor, you wrong this subordinate! These were earned by my wife through her merchant trade. How can they be considered stolen goods?” The bailiff still refused to relent.
“Since you refuse to speak the truth, bring in the witnesses.” The county magistrate then had the victims of his extortion and their families brought in.
At the sight of them, the bailiff’s resistance crumbled. He prostrated himself and begged, “This subordinate knows his mistake! I beg for Your Honor’s mercy! For the sake of our past association, please spare me this once!”
Seeing him yield and beg for mercy, the county magistrate frowned and waved his hand, ordering the guards to drag him away.
Xiao Bingying was currently waiting in the back courtyard. As soon as court was adjourned, the county magistrate rushed over and fell to his knees to pay his respects.
Holding Zhao Ningying, Xiao Bingying watched the county magistrate kneel. “There is no need to kneel, Magistrate Du,” she said. “It is fortunate that such an incident under your jurisdiction did not culminate in a massive disaster. Had lives been lost, you would have struggled to keep your black official cap. Let this be a warning to you.”
“This lower official understands. Thank you for your guidance, Lord Zhao.” The county magistrate kept his head bowed to the ground. By the time he looked up, Xiao Bingying had already carried Zhao Ningying out of the yamen.
Qu Sheng and her party stayed there for two days before moving on. For half a month, Qu Sheng remained constantly by Qu Ning’s side. The young girl was bright and quick-witted; with just a little guidance, she could apply a single lesson to countless other situations.
Qu Sheng was deeply gratified by this. Over this past half-month, the smiles on Qu Ning’s face had grown significantly more frequent. Lin Xizhao even praised Qu Sheng for it.
It would have been better had she not praised her, for as soon as she did, the look Qu Sheng directed toward Lin Xizhao burned with a restless, simmering desire.
Even after all these years, Qu Sheng had never lost her absolute fascination with Lin Xizhao. They had been traveling for half a month now, and aside from stealing a few kisses on her fragrant lips, she had been unable to do anything else. She had truly made a significant sacrifice for the sake of her daughter.
The Mid-Autumn Festival was fast approaching. During the day, they had seen many shops along the streets adorned with vibrant decorations, some already selling festive lanterns ahead of time.
Zhao Jiayu bought two festive lanterns for each of the children so they could celebrate the holiday a little early.
Children are always easily satisfied. Zhao Jiayu walked ahead, holding one child in each hand, but Qu Zhimu, who was trailing behind them, had had enough. “Mother, let’s head back first to drop these things off before we come back out.”
At this moment, both Qu Zhimu and the guards behind her were loaded down with various items purchased by Zhao Jiayu and her two younger cousins—as well as her own, of course. Holding six lanterns in her two hands, her arms were aching from the effort.
Hearing her daughter’s complaint, Zhao Jiayu looked back. Seeing the deep grievance on her daughter’s face, she could only laugh. “All right, let’s head back to put everything away. We’ll return after we’ve had dinner.”
Only then did a smile finally return to Qu Zhimu’s face.
Once they returned to the inn, Qu Zhimu immediately rushed upstairs to her own room. Zhao Jiayu led the other two children upstairs, practically carrying one in each hand, and stopped first to knock on Qu Sheng’s door.
“Mother, Mama, Ning’er is back!” Qu Ning called out in her crisp, youthful voice from outside the door, her excitement from earlier still lingering.
Seeing Qu Ning waiting there, Zhao Jiayu then escorted Zhao Ningying to the front of Xiao Bingying and Cheng Xi’s room before taking her leave to head back and rest her aching feet. The two little girls stood before their respective doors, identical expressions of confusion on their faces.
Though they had knocked on the doors for a long time, no one came to open them. Yet, since the guards were still stationed in the corridor and the lobby, neither Qu Sheng nor Xiao Bingying and their partners could have gone out.
Only after the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea3 did the doors in front of them open.
Lin Xizhao opened her door to scoop Qu Ning into her arms, while Xiao Bingying emerged from hers, preparing to usher Zhao Ningying into their room.
Xiao Bingying looked at Lin Xizhao, who had also taken just as long to open her door, and a flash of mutual awkwardness crossed both their faces.
Lin Xizhao offered a gentle smile and a nod. Normally, she would have graciously stepped over to chat with Zhao Ningying, but today she refrained.
Not daring to look too closely at Lin Xizhao either, Xiao Bingying simply smiled, scooped up Zhao Ningying, and retreated inside. Yet, once they had shut their respective doors, without exception, the remaining adult in each room was currently busy changing the bedsheets.
Watching her mother, Cheng Xi, changing the bedsheets, Zhao Ningying blinked her small eyes in silence for a long moment, sitting on a chair without saying a single word.
“Let me,” Xiao Bingying said, walking over to take the sheets from Cheng Xi’s hands.
Cheng Xi glanced back at Xiao Bingying, then instinctively turned her gaze to her daughter. Zhao Ningying tilted her little head and looked at Cheng Xi. When she saw her mother approaching, a faint smile lit up her face, and she began to chatter about all the fun things Zhao Jiayu had taken them to do that day.
“Mother, Auntie also bought a lantern for you! Let’s go out and play together tonight,” Zhao Ningying said in her tender, childish voice with a smile.
Cheng Xi sat down naturally and drew Zhao Ningying into her lap. “All right,” she said with a smile. “Is the lantern your aunt bought pretty?”
“Very pretty! It’s a little rabbit.” Zhao Ningying’s large eyes curved into crescent moons.
Gazing at her daughter’s adorable face, Cheng Xi leaned down to plant a soft kiss on her forehead. “Then we’ll go after we’ve had dinner.”
“Mhm!” Zhao Ningying nodded her little head happily.
While all was peaceful and harmonious on their side, the same could not be said for Qu Sheng’s room.
The moment Lin Xizhao carried Qu Ning into the room, Qu Sheng felt a wave of acute embarrassment wash over her. Even though she had already smoothed the bedsheets until all four corners were perfectly aligned, she did not dare turn around to face her daughter.
Sitting in the room, Qu Ning looked up at Lin Xizhao, utterly baffled as to why her mother was ignoring her.
Lin Xizhao poured a cup of tea, handed it to Qu Ning, and then looked over at Qu Sheng. Seeing Qu Sheng’s flustered state and her sudden bout of bashfulness, she spoke softly with a warm smile, “Sheng’er, that’s enough. Come over and rest for a moment.”
At the sound of Lin Xizhao’s voice, Qu Sheng froze mid-motion, still too embarrassed to look at the two of them.
Lin Xizhao had no choice but to walk over, take her hand, and lead her over.
Observing the deep, unnatural flush on Qu Sheng’s face, Qu Ning tilted her head. “Is Mother unwell?” she asked.
Qu Sheng’s eyes widened. She wasn’t sick at all—just moments prior, she had been enjoying the height of intimacy with Lin Xizhao. But how could she possibly explain such a thing to a young child?
Even when they were completely undisturbed, she was prone to bouts of shyness. Yet, her daughter’s sudden arrival had caused her body to reach its peak early out of sheer panic, for which Lin Xizhao had gently teased her just a moment ago.
Clearing her throat with forced composure, Qu Sheng said, “It’s nothing. The room is simply a bit stuffy.”
It was already almost the Mid-Autumn Festival, and they had all changed into thicker outer garments. Though Qu Ning looked around the room, she didn’t suspect a thing. Instead, she carried a stool over to the window and pushed it open.
“Does this make Mother feel any better?” Qu Ning asked, still feeling a bit worried in her heart.
From watching her daughter drag the stool over to hearing her ask this question, Qu Sheng realized just how much Qu Ning cared for her.
“Much better. Thank you, Ning’er.” A warm, gratified smile broke across Qu Sheng’s face, and she nodded.
Qu Ning smiled. Remembering their plans for later, she asked, “Would Mother like to go out with Fourth Aunt and us to play tonight?”
Although the relationship between Qu Ning and Qu Sheng had softened of late, she had never proactively invited her mother to spend time with her. To hear her say such a thing now meant she was asking with complete sincerity.
Qu Sheng froze in surprise for a moment. Seeing her delay in responding, Lin Xizhao saw the expectant look in Qu Ning’s eyes begin to dim with the pain of disappointment. Just as she was about to speak up and agree on Qu Sheng’s behalf, she heard Qu Sheng say with joy, “All right. Mother will go with you, Ning’er.”
The instant Qu Sheng agreed, an indescribable joy filled Qu Ning’s heart. She stared at Qu Sheng, her gaze lingering on her for a long time.
That evening, after they had finished their dinner, the group went out into the streets holding their festive lanterns. Even though it wasn’t yet the Mid-Autumn Festival, the streets were already dazzling with colorful lights.
Qu Ning lit the two lanterns in her hands, giving one to Qu Sheng and the other to Lin Xizhao. She watched for a moment as the gauze lantern and the flower-basket lantern in their hands complemented each other beautifully, then laughed and ran off to join Zhao Ningying.
Zhao Ningying also lit her two rabbit lanterns and handed them to Xiao Bingying and Cheng Xi.
Qu Zhimu handed her own two lanterns to her younger cousins, then took their hands and led them toward the livelier sections of the street. There were fireworks tonight as well; though they weren’t as beautiful as those in the Capital City, they still added to the lively, festive atmosphere of the evening.
Qu Zhimu stepped aside to buy sugar figurines for her cousins. When she turned back, she saw the two younger girls whispering to each other with their heads close together. She handed each of them a sugar figurine and asked curiously, “What are you two whispering about?”
Zhao Ningying looked up, offering an “Ah” as she took her sugar figurine. “When I went back earlier today, it took Mother and Mama ages to open the door for me.”
“Same here,” Qu Ning chimed in.
Hearing them, Qu Zhimu was thoroughly confused. “It was just a little late. What’s the big deal?”
“I feel like they’re hiding something from me,” Zhao Ningying speculated.
Qu Zhimu shrugged it off. “Adults’ business, we youngsters shouldn’t meddle.”
“But I saw a red mark on Mother’s neck. Could they have been fighting?” Zhao Ningying pointed to her own neck, a worried look on her face.
Qu Zhimu blinked, then turned her gaze to Qu Ning. “Auntie too?”
Clutching the sugar figurine in her hand, Qu Ning shook her head. “No, it was Mother.”
Qu Zhimu thought about it for a few moments, then curiously looked back at the adults, who were standing some distance away, watching them.
Both Lin Xizhao and Qu Sheng were proficient in lip-reading, but since the two younger girls had their backs turned to them, they could not decipher what was being said. They only saw the three children speak a few words before turning around to look at them. Qu Sheng and Lin Xizhao were left utterly bewildered, though they would figure out what the children had been discussing soon enough.
After they returned to the inn and finished bathing, the two younger girls announced that they had already agreed to sleep together in Qu Zhimu’s room tonight.
The adults were naturally glad that the girls got along so well, but what made it strange was: why did it have to be tonight of all nights?
Qu Sheng paced slowly back and forth in the room. Lin Xizhao, who had already finished making the bed, watched her with a helpless smile. “Don’t overthink it. Zhimu is a sensible girl; she won’t say anything improper.”
Qu Zhimu was older, and though certain things had never been openly explained to her, she still understood them.
While they were outside, the two little ones must have told her about what happened in the afternoon, prompting her to suggest this sleepover to give the adults some private time.
Qu Sheng looked up at Lin Xizhao, her heart plagued by a trace of unease. She had worked so hard to slowly mend her relationship with Qu Ning; if this incident caused her daughter to distance herself once more, it would throw her mind into utter chaos.
In the adjacent room, the smile on Cheng Xi’s face had not faded once since her daughter left.
Xiao Bingying took a sip of her tea. When she saw Cheng Xi finish making the bed and turn around, her wife’s breathtaking beauty caught her gaze, making her unable to tear her eyes away.
“Aren’t you coming over yet?” Cheng Xi shot her a playful glare.
Hearing this, Xiao Bingying set down her tea, stood up, walked over, and pulled Cheng Xi into her arms. Her soft, tender body exuded a fragrance she knew all too well.
Xiao Bingying kissed Cheng Xi’s soft lips and smiled. “Ying’er has grown up.”
“That’s because you taught her well,” Cheng Xi said, refusing to take the credit. Zhao Ningying was actually closer to Xiao Bingying than to her.
Although Cheng Xi held no official position at court, she continued to devote herself to refining her medical skills. She had already established several medicine shops in the Capital City, where she regularly sat in to see patients.
Although Xiao Bingying was the Commander of the Imperial Guards, she enjoyed more free time than Cheng Xi did. As a result, it was almost always Xiao Bingying who tutored Zhao Ningying in her lessons.
Now that Zhao Ningying was studying as a companion in the palace, her daily drop-offs and pickups fell entirely on Xiao Bingying. Even on this trip, Zhao Ningying constantly clung to Xiao Bingying.
However, both of them shared the exact same goal—to protect Cheng Xi.
With a slight curve of her lips, Xiao Bingying softly kissed Cheng Xi’s tender lips again, murmuring against them, “It’s still because my wife teaches her well.”
Before Cheng Xi could reply, Xiao Bingying could no longer resist trailing her kisses down to her wife’s fair, fragrant neck. Even as she kissed her, her fingers worked to unfasten the sash around Cheng Xi’s waist. Her warm palms brushed against smooth, silky skin, causing Cheng Xi’s breath to catch and tremble unsteadily.
Inside Qu Zhimu’s room.
The two younger girls lay flat side-by-side, with Qu Zhimu sleeping on the outer edge.
It was only at Qu Zhimu’s prompting that the two younger girls had come over tonight. She had explained that adults needed time alone to strengthen their bond. Though they did not fully understand, they had listened to their cousin, fabricating an excuse to stay in her room instead.
“Zhimu-jiejie, when did you stop sleeping in the same bed as Auntie and Uncle?” Zhao Ningying asked, poking her head up to peer over Qu Ning, who lay in the middle.
Hearing this, Qu Zhimu cast her mind back. When exactly had she stopped sleeping with her mother and father?
It seemed she had stopped sleeping with them a very long time ago. In her memories, she had mostly clung to Lin Xizhao and Cheng Xi instead. Back then, she had been a real beloved favorite4—no matter whose room she went to, she was always welcomed with open arms.
“Why are you asking about that? It was so long ago, who would still remember?” Qu Zhimu laughed it off, though her face flushed red in spite of herself.
She distinctly remembered that when she was her cousins’ age, she had still been clinging to her aunts.
Sensing Qu Zhimu’s unusual fluster and embarrassment, the two younger girls exchanged a glance and burst into fits of giggles.
Seeing herself mocked by the two younger girls, Qu Zhimu sat up and began to playfully tickle them.
The room instantly filled with the joyful laughter of Qu Ning and Zhao Ningying. Meanwhile, Qu Sheng stood just outside, her eyes fixed on the door as she listened quietly to the cheerful commotion within.
The author has something to say:
My new novel, 《Raising a Sweet Wife》, has launched! There are red envelopes for comments on both sides.
I wish everyone a Happy New Year’s Day~ A new year brings new beginnings. May you all be safe, peaceful, and in good health!
Footnotes
- Traditional gambling (dubo) was legally restricted or banned in various Chinese dynasties, often heavily penalized to maintain social order.
- A county magistrate (xianling) was the lowest-ranking direct imperial official, responsible for judicial, fiscal, and administrative duties in a county.
- A traditional Chinese time measurement meaning approximately five minutes, referring to the time required for a freshly poured cup of tea to cool enough to drink.
- An idiom meaning a highly popular, sought-after, or beloved person or thing, literally referring to a delicious, sweet pastry.
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