The Prime Minister’s Daughter and the Marquis’s Fool – Chapter 247

Extra 22

“What Are You Inquiring About a Little Girl For?”

The moonlight was hazy. A brazier burned inside the reception room, leaving a faint sheen of moisture gathered beneath the window frame.

            

Xiao Bingying warmed one hand over the brazier while holding a medical text in the other, casually turning the pages.

She had been here for a shichen¹, and Cheng Xi had not come to see her yet, but she was in no hurry. This was the National Medical Academy; the medical texts provided for the scholars were even more extensive than those in her own residence, so reading a few more was certainly no bad thing.

She did not know how much time had passed, but even after finishing all the books in her hands, there was still no sign of Cheng Xi. In the meantime, the academy manager had come in to replenish her charcoal fire, refilling her cup with tea time and time again.

            

Xiao Bingying stood up and walked toward the exit. Just as she reached the threshold, the door was opened from the outside.

“Are you hungry?” Cheng Xi’s eyes curved in a gentle smile, her cool, elegant countenance softening into a look that intoxicated like a spring breeze.

Xiao Bingying was dazed for a moment before she smiled and asked, “Are you finished?”

            

Cheng Xi walked inside and replied, “Not yet, but the evening meal has been served. After eating, I’ll need to work for one more shichen before we can leave.”

Xiao Bingying turned to look back, only to see that Cheng Xi had already picked up the cloak she had left draped over a nearby chair.

Holding the cloak in her arms, Cheng Xi walked to Xiao Bingying’s side, draped it over her shoulders, and said, “Come with me to have dinner.”

            

“Is that appropriate?” Xiao Bingying wanted to decline.

This was the National Medical Academy, and the food was prepared for the people here. As an outsider, she feared it might be inconvenient.

“It doesn’t matter. I have already given word. Just come along with me. Besides, you don’t eat much anyway.” Cheng Xi took her hand and led her outside.

            

And so Xiao Bingying followed Cheng Xi toward the academy’s refectory.

“Since you came here, has Ying’er returned to the residence?” Cheng Xi asked casually as they walked along the path.

“Mm, Mother is looking after her, so there is no need to worry,” Xiao Bingying replied gently, before asking, “Is my wife like this every day?”

            

“What do you mean?” Cheng Xi asked, turning her head.

Xiao Bingying slowed her pace slightly, and Cheng Xi slowed down as well. Looking at Cheng Xi, Xiao Bingying said, “Working so hard every day that you can’t even eat a peaceful meal.”

Cheng Xi let out a soft chuckle. “It’s manageable. I don’t feel tired.”

            

As the two were speaking, a person approached from not far away.

“Dean, I had someone bring some sesame cakes from home today. They are still warm, so please go over and eat them while they are hot.”

It was the female scholar from this morning.

            

Xiao Bingying looked at her. The young lady certainly had smooth, delicate skin, but she lacked manners.

Xiao Bingying stood right there, yet the girl acted as if she were invisible, her eyes fixed entirely on Cheng Xi.

Hearing this, Cheng Xi smiled. “That’s very thoughtful of you.”

            

Only after Cheng Xi spoke did the young lady look up at Xiao Bingying, finally bowing her head in greeting.

Xiao Bingying nodded and shot a glance at Cheng Xi. Cheng Xi was looking back at her with smiling eyes. “Let’s hurry over, so as not to waste Yun Ming’s thoughtful gesture.”

Xiao Bingying nodded with a smile, exchanging a brief look with the young lady whom Cheng Xi called Yun Ming. After a slight nod, she withdrew her gaze and followed Cheng Xi to the refectory.

            

The refectory was crowded with people. Previously, Cheng Xi used to dine alone, but later on, the scholars kept bringing food from home for her, which eventually prompted her to come out and eat alongside everyone else.

The spread of dishes in the refectory was quite lavish, though it was somewhat difficult to taste specialties from other regions here.

As Cheng Xi and Xiao Bingying stepped inside, many scholars looked over, rising to offer their respects as Cheng Xi passed by their tables.

            

Cheng Xi and Xiao Bingying smiled and nodded in return. Once they found a table, Cheng Xi said, “Sit here for a moment; I’ll go fetch us some food.”

Xiao Bingying sat down, and Cheng Xi headed toward the meal serving area.

Cheng Xi selected several dishes according to Xiao Bingying’s taste. Once the refectory staff helped fill the plates, two voices spoke up simultaneously just as Cheng Xi turned around.

            

“Let me help you carry that.”

Cheng Xi looked up to see both Yun Ming and Xiao Bingying standing before her. Without the slightest hesitation, she handed the food to Xiao Bingying.

Cheng Xi turned to Yun Ming and said, “My wife is here with me, so go on and have your meal as well.”

            

Unable to assist Cheng Xi, Yun Ming lowered her head and replied, “Yes.”

When Yun Ming looked up again, she saw Cheng Xi walking beside Xiao Bingying. The two took their seats one after the other, and Xiao Bingying handed a pair of chopsticks to Cheng Xi.

“How does it taste?” Cheng Xi asked softly, watching Xiao Bingying take a bite.

            

Xiao Bingying placed a piece of meat into Cheng Xi’s bowl and replied, “It’s similar to the craftsmanship of the cook at our residence.”

Cheng Xi’s eyes curved gently. “Unless the difference is vast, you wouldn’t be able to tell. This cook came from the Jin Dynasty. He originally worked in a restaurant before making his way here to our Quzhao Dynasty.”

Xiao Bingying nodded; the flavor indeed felt faintly familiar.

            

Cheng Xi even had the leisure to chat with her about the cook, which suggested she was in quite a good mood.

“How are matters progressing with Mu’er’s marriage?” Cheng Xi asked as she ate.

Xiao Bingying took a sip of soup, raised her head, and replied, “Mu’er has taken a liking to Qiao Jin, so Jiayu is currently nursing quite a headache over it.”

            

“Qiao Jin?” Cheng Xi looked up, seemingly trying to recall who that was.

“Last year’s Top Scholar. Her Majesty kept her in the capital, though I have no idea when Mu’er ever met her.”

The couple chatted about family affairs, paying no mind to the gazes cast from nearby.

            

“Now that you mention it, I remember,” Cheng Xi said, recalling the event. “During the grand parade of the top imperial examination scholars last year, Ying’er and Mu’er went to watch it together.”

“Is that so?” Xiao Bingying seemed to recall as well; Zhao Ningying had indeed gone out that day.

Remembering the day, Xiao Bingying smiled and said, “Mu’er must have seen her back then. It seems she has harbored feelings for quite a long time.”

            

Cheng Xi hummed softly in agreement. “A Top Scholar riding high on success and overflowing with literary brilliance—who wouldn’t admire such a person?”

Hearing this, Xiao Bingying paused slightly. She raised her eyes to steal a glance at Cheng Xi and asked in a low voice, “Does my wife like Top Scholars too?”

Cheng Xi raised her eyes, her gaze filled with gentle warmth, and replied softly, “If the Top Scholar were you, I suppose I could try to like them a bit.”

            

Having received a satisfying answer, Xiao Bingying pursed her lips in a secret smile and placed a few more morsels of food into Cheng Xi’s bowl.

Once the two finished eating, Cheng Xi escorted Xiao Bingying back to the reception room, having someone select a few medical texts to send over beforehand.

The two of them were truly eye-catching. Since Xiao Bingying had accompanied Cheng Xi for her meal in the refectory, some people began to joke with Cheng Xi upon her return.

            

Cheng Xi was a princess of a foreign nation who had married here, while Xiao Bingying was the Commander of the Imperial Guard, boasting an already distinguished status. Now that Qu Sheng had entrusted the National Medical Academy to Cheng Xi’s management, her prestige went without saying. Yet Cheng Xi never pulled rank, maintaining excellent relations with both the scholars and the instructors at the academy.

“The Dean’s Consort was feeling distressed for you! No sooner had you returned from accompanying Her Majesty than she arrived to see you to and from work. Dean, you are truly blessed,” a female instructor nearby teased with a smile.

Cheng Xi merely offered a quiet smile in response, making no reply as she resumed the work in her hands.

            

Sitting in the reception room and reading her book, Xiao Bingying recalled Cheng Xi’s words—‘If the Top Scholar were you, I suppose I could try to like them a bit’—and the corners of her lips curved up unbidden.

One shichen later, Cheng Xi came to collect her. Looking at the half-read medical text in her hands, Cheng Xi said, “You may take it back with you. Just return it once you have finished reading.”

Xiao Bingying glanced down at the medical text resting on the desk, picking it up with a smile.

            

The two stepped out of the National Medical Academy. Xiao Bingying lifted Cheng Xi onto the carriage; though Cheng Xi was bundled in extra layers of clothing, her body remained delightfully light.

Once they boarded the carriage, Xiao Bingying brought up the female scholar from earlier.

“Is she your student?”

            

Xiao Bingying’s abrupt question left Cheng Xi puzzled for a moment. “What do you mean?”

“Is Yun Ming your student?” Xiao Bingying added her name.

Hearing this, Cheng Xi smiled. “No, she is Prime Minister Yun’s daughter.”

            

“Then what is she doing here?” Xiao Bingying asked, confused.

Cheng Xi did not think much of it and replied, “The personnel here are diverse and numerous, so Prime Minister Yun’s office handles registration and selection. His daughter sat for the imperial examinations last year and placed first in the Second Class. Had Prime Minister Yun not intentionally petitioned Her Majesty to place her lower, she could have made it into the First Class as well. Now she remains in the capital, holding an official post here at the National Medical Academy to manage the academy’s general affairs.”

“So she possesses the talent of a Top Scholar?” Xiao Bingying was actually rather impressed.

            

Cheng Xi smiled faintly. “One could say so.”

Xiao Bingying nodded, keeping her head lowered as if lost in thought. Seeing her looking down without asking further questions, Cheng Xi chuckled and said, “What are you inquiring about a little girl for?”

“Hm?” Xiao Bingying had not caught what Cheng Xi said.

            

Noticing her absentmindedness, Cheng Xi repeated, “I asked, what are you inquiring about a little girl for?”

Xiao Bingying let out a quiet sigh upon hearing this and smiled. “Nothing much. I just felt like she doesn’t seem to like me very much.”

“Is that so?” Cheng Xi lowered her eyes in recollection.

            

“Eldest Miss, My Lady, we have arrived,” the servant driving the horses called out, bringing the carriage to a halt.

Xiao Bingying stood up and took Cheng Xi’s hand, leading her down from the carriage.

Zhao Ningying knew that Xiao Bingying had gone to the National Medical Academy. Upon hearing the servants report that the two had returned, she hurried out to greet them.

            

“Mother! Mother!” Zhao Ningying ran over in a rush, throwing herself into Cheng Xi’s arms first.

Xiao Bingying was easygoing, and Cheng Xi had traveled extensively with Liu Wuxiang in the past, so neither cared overly much about rigid protocol, allowing Zhao Ningying to act completely at ease.

Cheng Xi stroked her daughter’s small head, her voice gentle as she asked, “It’s already so late; why aren’t you asleep yet?”

            

Zhao Ningying looked up with a smile and said, “I was waiting for Mother and Mother to return.”

Cheng Xi looked down at her with doting affection and led Zhao Ningying back to the courtyard.

Having already dined, Cheng Xi and Xiao Bingying went straight to bathe upon returning home. Recalling the words Cheng Xi had spoken earlier that day, Xiao Bingying felt a persistent itch in her heart. She stood there, watching Cheng Xi turn around, and only after plucking up her courage for a long while did she open her mouth to whisper, “I want to bathe together with my wife today.”

            

Cheng Xi was unfastening her robes when she looked over at the sound of her voice. Her eyes curved into a tender smile, and her voice was soft as she said, “Alright.”

Obtaining Cheng Xi’s consent so effortlessly did not make Xiao Bingying take it for granted in the slightest.

Cheng Xi had her own schedule, so agreeing to this was naturally her way of tending to Xiao Bingying’s mood—a gesture of affection Xiao Bingying deeply cherished.

            

Warm streams of water submerged the alluring, delicate body. Xiao Bingying pressed her thin lips against the fragrant neck arched in a soft, graceful curve, her tongue flicking gently and drawing forth low, breathless moans from the beauty.

The wandering, slick tingles slowly set Cheng Xi’s body ablaze. She genuinely loved being treated like this by Xiao Bingying; time simply had not permitted it lately.

She needed to maintain sharp focus and clear energy for the tasks before her, leaving no room for the slightest oversight.

            

By the time Xiao Bingying lifted Cheng Xi out of the water and laid her onto the couch, she had already lost half her senses. That enchanting form left her willing to do anything for Cheng Xi—even if it cost her life, she would embrace it without regret.

A long while later.

When Xiao Bingying prepared to possess her a third time, Cheng Xi pushed her back gently. Knowing when to stop, Xiao Bingying relented, no longer as high-strung or plagued by insecurity as before.

            

Xiao Bingying dressed in simple garments, helped wipe Cheng Xi clean again, and then wrapped her in a quilt to carry her back to their bedchamber.

“Mother, Mother, why did you take so long to wash? I was almost asleep,” Zhao Ningying grumbled from where she lay on their bed the moment she heard footsteps.

Yet when she caught sight of Xiao Bingying carrying Cheng Xi into the room, she froze on the spot, utterly dumbfounded.

            

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The author has something to say:

Xiao Bingying: “You’re already so big. Isn’t it nice sleeping by yourself?”

Zhao Ningying: “Then why don’t you sleep by yourself!”

            

Xiao Bingying: “…”

200 red envelopes!

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