The Prime Minister’s Daughter and the Marquis’s Fool – Chapter 232
by Little PandaExtra 7
Lotus Root
Returning to her room, Qu Sheng recounted what she’d overheard outside the door to Lin Xizhao. Lin Xizhao didn’t laugh at her for fussing unnecessarily—others might not know, but she, as Qu Ning’s mother, understood how deeply Qu Sheng cared for their daughter.
Qu Sheng’s devotion to family was known throughout the realm. When she’d chosen the character “凝” (Ning) for her daughter’s name, it was with the hope that she would one day unite the Qu family, just as her mothers and ancestors had supported and trusted one another.
With no little ones interrupting tonight and Qu Sheng now understanding her daughter’s intentions, she nestled into Lin Xizhao’s embrace with rare tenderness, nuzzling softly. Lin Xizhao smiled gently, her gaze lingering on Qu Sheng’s lips before she leaned in to kiss her, savoring the contact.
Qu Sheng responded eagerly. As their tongues intertwined, the restlessness Qu Sheng had felt all afternoon flared anew. Soon, she bent down, lifted Lin Xizhao, and carried her to the bed.
Pleasured murmurs filled the room, hushed and restrained. If Qu Sheng hadn’t mentioned overhearing the children’s chatter earlier, Lin Xizhao wouldn’t have realized how thin the inn’s walls were. Now, biting her lip, she stifled every sound, no matter how Qu Sheng teased her.
Early the next morning, Zhao Jiayu massaged her sore arm as she headed downstairs for breakfast. She’d gone to wake her daughter and helped both little ones dress. With no maids on this trip, Zhao Jiayu had to manage the children herself—though thankfully, both knew how to dress and wash on their own.
After smoothing their robes, she led them downstairs. The others were already waiting below when the four finally appeared.
Zhao Ningying’s eyes lit up when she saw Cheng Xi. As Cheng Xi approached and embraced her, the little girl whispered in her ear, “You look so beautiful today, Mother.”
Cheng Xi’s lips curved, her eyes crinkling as she kissed her daughter’s forehead.
Qu Ning studied Lin Xizhao, thinking her mother looked especially lovely too—though unlike Zhao Ningying, she kept the thought to herself.
After breakfast, the children—exhausted from yesterday—gathered in Qu Zhimu’s room. Zhao Jiayu, though fond of snacks, welcomed the rare quiet and napped in her room. She’d been tending to the children nonstop lately, and the fatigue weighed on her. But she’d brought this on herself—after all, Lin Xizhao and the others had watched over her own daughter, Qu Zhimu, countless times.
The children chatted until a disagreement arose. Qu Ning firmly opposed sneaking out, while Qu Zhimu insisted it was fine—her martial arts training with her aunt had progressed enough to protect them. Zhao Ningying stayed silent.
“Cousin, say something!” Qu Zhimu urged Zhao Ningying.
Zhao Ningying blinked at her cousins. “We can go… but on one condition.”
“Ying-meimei,” Qu Ning pleaded with Zhao Ningying, “we don’t know this place. If something happens, Auntie will worry.”
Qu Zhimu cut in, “If you don’t want to go, stay here. Just don’t cry for what you miss out on later.”
Qu Ning pressed her lips together, frowning at her cousin before glancing toward the door.
The three slipped out unnoticed. By noon, when Zhao Jiayu went to fetch them for lunch, they were gone. Panicked, she rushed upstairs, knocking on doors—but no one had seen them leave. Even the guards hadn’t spotted the little troublemakers.
Qu Sheng’s brow furrowed with worry. As she moved to join the search, Xiao Bingying stopped her. “Xu Jiang’s missing too—he must be with them.” Xu Jiang was Zhao Jiayu’s personal guard.
Though visibly anxious, everyone reacted differently. Lin Xizhao and Cheng Xi were concerned but calm; Xiao Bingying remained composed; Zhao Jiayu flustered. Only Qu Sheng’s agitation stood out—her reaction suggested the children wouldn’t escape scot-free.
They waited tensely in the inn. Two quarters of an hour later, the three children reappeared outside, laughing, with Xu Jiang trailing behind.
But their joy vanished when they stepped inside and saw the adults. All three froze.
They were drenched from the waist down. Qu Zhimu had shed her vest, which Qu Ning and Zhao Ningying held stretched between them, bulging with something. Qu Zhimu herself cradled several lotus stems topped with wilting seed pods.
Caught red-handed, only Qu Ning trembled slightly—a reaction Qu Sheng noted with a pang. Her daughter feared her that much?
“Mother,” Qu Zhimu piped up first, forcing a smile as she shook the lotus pods. “Can we have lotus root soup and sweet lotus seed pudding tonight?”
Zhao Jiayu sighed at her daughter but eyed the bulging vest—filled with freshly washed lotus roots.
Qu Ning stood frozen, all earlier delight gone, radiating guilt.
Lin Xizhao glanced at Qu Sheng, relieved to see her anger fading, and tugged her sleeve gently. Qu Sheng met her gaze, her expression softening as she walked to Qu Ning.
Kneeling, she inspected the lotus roots in the makeshift sling, then looked up at Qu Ning. “Aren’t you cold?” she asked softly, feeling Qu Ning’s damp clothes. Detecting a chill, she wrapped her own outer robe around the girl.
Xiao Bingying approached, examined the roots, and draped her robe over Zhao Ningying’s soaked lower half. “Why didn’t you tell anyone you were leaving?”
Zhao Ningying glanced back at Xu Jiang. “Mu-jiejie asked Guard Xu along.” That had been Zhao Ningying’s condition for going—someone had to accompany them.
Thankfully, Xu Jiang had been there—otherwise, they’d have been stuck in the mud.
Qu Ning kept her head down, avoiding Qu Sheng’s question.
Qu Sheng sighed quietly and instructed guards to take the lotus roots and pods to the kitchen. “We’ll have lotus root soup and sweet pudding tonight,” she announced warmly. “Let’s taste their harvest.” Harvesting roots from muddy ponds couldn’t have been easy.
Qu Zhimu beamed, handing her stems to a guard.
Qu Ning released her grip on the vest, her small fingers red from clutching it. Qu Sheng took her hand, wiping away lingering mud, then lifted her into her arms.
“Draw baths first,” Qu Sheng instructed. “They can join us for lotus root dishes afterward.”
Qu Ning relaxed slightly in Qu Sheng’s arms, her tense expression easing. She knew sneaking out was wrong—but the lure of freedom had been too strong.
Qu Sheng ordered hot water and bathed Qu Ning herself. Lin Xizhao smiled as she checked their daughter’s discarded clothes—no bloodstains.
While Qu Sheng inspected Qu Ning’s body, Lin Xizhao reassured her, “She’s unharmed,” and began gently washing their daughter.
“Why did you go dig lotus roots?” Lin Xizhao asked softly.
Qu Ning avoided Qu Sheng’s gaze until Lin Xizhao added, “Mother was only worried you’d get hurt. Since you’re safe, she won’t scold you.”
Qu Ning peeked at Qu Sheng, whose gentle eyes held no reproach. After a pause, she murmured, “We saw people gathering them when we entered the city… We wanted to bring some back for you and Mother…” She hesitated, then added, “…and it looked fun and new.”
Lin Xizhao chuckled at her daughter’s mix of filial piety and curiosity.
Next door, Cheng Xi asked Zhao Ningying the same question.
“We wanted to pick them ourselves—and play,” Zhao Ningying admitted. “If you knew, you’d never have let us go.” The mud was foul-smelling; they were pampered young misses, one destined to rule. Their mothers would never permit such grubby adventures.
“You’re too clever by half,” Cheng Xi teased, then grew serious. “Don’t do this again. It’s too dangerous.”
Zhao Ningying looked to Xiao Bingying, who added, “The mud’s depth varies, and it’s full of snakes and insects. No more risks.”
Zhao Ningying nodded obediently. “This child understands.”
Xiao Bingying smiled, lifting her from the tub to dry and dress her.
When Qu Sheng carried Qu Ning downstairs, the others were already waiting. Lunch now included extra dishes and a pot of lotus seed congee.
The kitchen had transformed the lotus roots into multiple dishes: sweet-and-sour diced roots, crispy fried slices, sticky-rice-stuffed roots with osmanthus honey, and lotus root pork rib soup.
Qu Zhimu ate heartily, carefree like her mother. Qu Ning, after several cautious glances at Qu Sheng, finally savored her osmanthus-glazed root.
Qu Sheng watched her daughter’s contented nibbling and served her another piece.
Children loved play, unaware of lurking dangers. Though Qu Sheng didn’t punish them, that evening she explained the risks to Qu Ning, voicing her fears.
Minor injuries were one thing—losing her would shatter Qu Sheng. Play was fine, she stressed, but Qu Ning must protect herself.
Qu Ning listened, sensing Qu Sheng’s vulnerability. Cradling her mother’s head against her small chest, she vowed, “This child will protect herself always. She won’t get hurt.”
She resolved silently: next time, she’d prepare thoroughly and never ignore dangers for fun’s sake.
As Mid-Autumn Festival approached, they traveled to Qu Ning’s maternal great-grandfather’s home—the Liang Family Mansion.
Qu Ning seldom saw these relatives. The Liang grand-uncles adored Lin Xizhao and doted on her in turn.
The grand-uncles kept the three girls busy with archery, pitch-pot, and hunting. But Qu Ning’s favorite pastime was playing chess with her eldest grand-uncle.
Her skill, remarkable for her age, made the old man slap his own forehead in dismay.
Of course, the games had stakes—Qu Ning was winning a treasured sword from her grand-uncle’s collection for her cousin.
The author has something to say:
Qu Sheng: “My daughter dug lotus roots—I never have!”
Lin Xizhao: “You haven’t dug them, but you’ve been in the mud with me.”
Qu Sheng: “!”
Writing the other story drained me so much it gave me a headache. Would you mind checking it out? I really need your support.
Both new chapters have red envelope comments! For Raising a Spoiled Wife, Chapter 1’s red envelopes will last until it charts.
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