The Prime Minister’s Daughter and the Marquis’s Fool – Chapter 271
by Little PandaBonus Chapter 7
Triumphal Banquet
Zhu Qianjie walked with her head down toward Qu Ning and the others. Zhao Ningying took a small bite of a pastry. Qu Ning watched her soft lips move and asked, “How does this one taste?”
Zhao Ningying raised a hand to lightly cover her lips, her smiling eyes answering before her words could. From a distance, Zhu Qianjie called out, “Eating so many sweets, how can you even taste anything? Ning-jiejie is being so stingy, too—just feeding us desserts.”
Qu Ning and Zhao Ningying looked over at the sound, then exchanged a glance. Qu Ning lowered her eyes to the pastries in her hand—she had eaten quite a few.
But if not desserts, she could not stomach anything else right now.
Zhao Ningying swallowed her bite and looked at Zhu Qianjie, her voice gentle. “Has Mu-jiejie eaten yet?”
At the mention of Qu Zhimu, Zhu Qianjie’s neck flushed red. She stammered, “They probably have.”
She did not actually know whether they had eaten or not. She had fled the pavilion earlier; otherwise, everything she had managed to swallow would have come right back up from sheer sweetness.
Before the two could say more, Qu Zhimu and Qiao Jin walked over.
“How can you still be eating?” Qu Zhimu was already quite close when she spotted them. She had eaten her fill today—she rarely returned to the Zhao Residence, and her appetite was especially good.
Qu Ning and Zhao Ningying stood together, watching them approach. Zhao Ningying smiled and replied, “I have not been back to the Capital City in a long while. I was craving things.”
Qu Zhimu’s eyes softened with sympathy at those words. Had she not been about to give birth, she would have accompanied her.
“Whatever else you want to eat, your Older Female Cousin will buy for you,” Qu Zhimu offered, shifting her tone.
Zhu Qianjie gave a helpless sigh and turned her head to survey the surroundings instead.
Zhao Ningying smiled and replied, “Ning-jiejie has already bought me plenty.”
Qu Ning recalled Zhu Qianjie’s earlier words—they had indeed been eating mostly sweets. Perhaps relying on desserts alone was not ideal. She had not thought it through properly.
“Shall we find something else?” Qu Ning had not actually eaten much; she had been feeding most of it to Zhao Ningying. Now, facing Zhao Ningying, her mind seemed to go blank.
Qu Zhimu considered for a moment, then turned to Qiao Jin. “I remember our Eldest Brother opened a teahouse. Why do we not go sit there for a while?”
Qiao Jin nodded and looked toward Qu Ning and the others. “My Eldest Brother has a teahouse under his name that opened recently. Shall we go there and rest a bit?”
Zhu Qianjie perked up at once, craning her neck. “Yes, yes, yes—perfect!” She could rest her feet and get some tea. She was dying of thirst.
Qu Ning and Zhao Ningying exchanged a look. Neither had any objections. Qu Ning nodded. “Very well. Let us go have tea.”
The group walked back toward the carriages. Once inside, the aroma of pastries filled the air. Zhu Qianjie could not eat another bite—the very smell made her stomach churn. Zhao Ningying had only tasted small portions earlier and felt no discomfort.
Qu Zhimu picked up a few pieces to try and praised them. “This is the first time I have had these pastries. They are truly delicious.”
Zhao Ningying smiled. “Indeed. I wanted to eat more earlier, but I was worried I would not have room for whatever Ning-jiejie had hidden away at the next shop, so I held back. Now I am craving them again.”
She reached for another piece as she spoke.
Qu Ning’s suspicion that she had lost her mind eased somewhat when she heard Zhao Ningying say this.
As long as Zhao Ningying enjoyed eating, that was enough.
Qu Zhimu smiled. “Later we can bring these to the teahouse. We can chat and have them with our tea.”
Zhao Ningying agreed with a bright look, her gaze drifting unbidden toward Qu Ning beside her.
Their eyes met. In that fleeting exchange, something imperceptibly shifted in both their gazes.
The carriage traveled to the teahouse. Qiao Jin went ahead to speak with the counter, and the manager came out at once with a respectful bow, then led them upstairs to a spacious private room.
The room’s windows were open; stepping to the sill, one could look down at the stage below, where opera was being performed.
Listening to the opera, Zhu Qianjie held a cup of tea in one hand and tapped her fingers on the table in time with the melodies below.
Qiao Jin and Qu Zhimu watched with great enjoyment. Qu Zhimu had not been out like this since giving birth. Today’s outing was, in truth, thanks to Zhao Ningying.
Qu Ning and Zhao Ningying sat together. Qu Ning peeled boiled salted peanuts, setting them on the plate in front of Zhao Ningying.
Zhao Ningying would occasionally pinch a couple to eat. Zhu Qianjie, however, had no such restraint—whenever a pile accumulated, she would reach over and grab a handful without ceremony.
When Qu Ning shot her a look, she pretended not to notice. When Zhao Ningying saw Qu Ning’s stern expression, she laughed and took the peanuts from her hands, peeling them alongside her.
Watching Zhao Ningying’s smiling, crescent-eyed face, Qu Ning’s urge to swat Zhu Qianjie faded. And so it went—the two of them peeled, and the others ate. An entire afternoon passed in the blink of an eye.
That evening, after court officials were dismissed from duty, Qu Sheng invited all ministers of the third rank and above, along with their families, to attend the triumphal banquet honoring Zhao Ningying.
Each returned to their respective residence. Qu Ning also headed back to the palace early. As the Imperial Crown Princess of Quzhao, she would represent the Female Emperor Qu Sheng in bestowing the imperial rewards upon Zhao Ningying.
In Lin Xizhao’s bedchamber, Qu Sheng stood beside her, gazing down at the woman who had walked through more than thirty years by her side. Whatever traces the years had left upon her face, at this moment, Qu Sheng loved her as fiercely as ever.
Lin Xizhao adjusted Qu Sheng’s Dragon Robe1. She glanced up and caught Qu Sheng’s expression—those eyes that loved her to the bone. The corners of her lips curved upward, and her voice was gentle. “Today is Ying’er’s triumphal banquet. If you are worried about Ning’er and Ying’er, you might simply read the appointment decree at the banquet itself.”
Qu Sheng’s gaze shifted slightly. She was indeed worried about Qu Ning and Zhao Ningying, but she was not entirely confident about making the appointment at a court banquet.
In the Imperial Crown Princess’s bedchamber, Qu Ning stood tall, dressed in her resplendent python robes2. Clad in the full regalia of the Imperial Crown Princess, her every movement radiated distinguished authority.
Beneath that gentle countenance lay decisive martial resolve—the absolute sovereign power that none dared challenge.
“Your Highness, Her Majesty and the Empress are waiting for you,” a palace attendant from the Empress’s quarters had come to deliver the message.
Qu Ning looked at her reflection in the bronze mirror. When her face was composed like this, her gaze seemed somewhat intimidating.
She turned to the attendant. “Understood. This palace will go at once.”
The attendant bowed and withdrew from the hall. Qu Ning then looked at the young palace maid attending her and asked, “Will dressing like this make me seem distant from Ying-meimei?” She wondered if ordinary clothes would be better—something that did not emphasize the difference in their stations.
The maid lowered her head with a soft laugh. “Your Highness, you are the Imperial Crown Princess. Distant or not, you must wear these robes. Today is Little General Zhao’s triumphal banquet. It would not do to dress too casually.”
Qu Ning found the maid’s reasoning sound. She glanced at her reflection once more, gave a small nod, and made her way toward the Empress’s quarters.
The invited ministers and their families had all arrived and taken their seats. The palace had not hosted a banquet in quite some time. Zhao Ningying was the child born of the Princess of Haichao, and her service to Quzhao also meant merit for Haichao.
Qu Sheng had already ordered the rewards drafted—Haichao Kingdom was exempted from three years of tribute.
Such an extraordinary honor left Haichao deeply reverent toward this young princess they had scarcely met.
Xiao Bingying and Cheng Xi had also been invited into the palace. They now sat beside Zhao Ningying.
Xiao Bingying remained the Commander of the Imperial Guard, and her rank had increased year by year. In the entire palace, only a handful of generals could stand on equal footing with her.
That pivotal reinforcement battle—the one that turned the tide—was something no one could erase from history.
Zhu Ming’an had brought her family as well. Zhu Qianjie raised the wine cup before her and raised an eyebrow at Zhao Ningying from across the room. Though they were in the palace, and Zhao Ningying was no child, Zhu Qianjie would always dote on this little sister.
Zhao Ningying lifted her own wine cup and smiled as she drank with her in unison.
“Her Majesty arrives! The Empress arrives! The Imperial Crown Princess arrives!” The palace attendant’s voice rang out in clear announcement as Qu Sheng, in her Dragon Robe, entered the hall with her wife and daughter.
The court officials rose in orderly fashion, stood to one side in reverence, and knelt in unison.
“We pay our respects to Your Majesty, the Empress, and the Imperial Crown Princess. Long live Your Majesty, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years! Long live the Empress! Long live the Imperial Crown Princess!”
The three walked toward the dais. As they turned, Qu Sheng addressed the assembly. “Rise, all of you.”
The gathered officials responded in unison, “Our thanks, Your Majesty. Our thanks, Empress and Imperial Crown Princess.”
Those who had been performing obeisance took their seats in order. Qu Sheng guided Lin Xizhao to sit upon the dragon throne beside her.
Qu Ning sat to one side. A palace maid behind her filled her cup with wine. Qu Ning sat motionless and composed. She swept her gaze across the assembled officials, her eyes finding Zhao Ningying’s place.
Zhao Ningying was looking down at that moment, staring at her filled wine cup.
“Today is the triumphal banquet held for General Wulüe. Though General Wulüe is young, she performed with outstanding distinction in the bandit suppression campaign, and her subordinate officers were peerless in valor. Therefore, we have decided to reward according to merit.”
After Qu Sheng finished speaking, the palace attendant beside her raised his voice and called toward the hall doors, “Announce—the officers shall enter the hall!”
At his words, two rows of soldiers marched in formation into the great hall. Zhao Ningying looked over them, seeing the officers she had led, each one vigorous and spirited, and a proud, gratified smile rose to her lips.
The six officers knelt in unison. The palace attendant read aloud the edict3 of reward.
“By imperial grace, the Pingding Army shall be rewarded according to military merit. Each is granted one hundred taels of gold, a capital residence, and promotion by one rank. So it is decreed.”
“We, your humble subjects, give thanks for Your Majesty’s boundless grace! Long live Her Majesty, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!”
“Rise. Be seated.” A smile graced Qu Sheng’s face. The oldest among these men was no more than twenty. Among them was Feng Qi’s son, Feng Miao.
Qu Sheng cast an extra glance at him from among the crowd. Feng Miao raised his head briefly, gave a quick nod, and made his way to his seat.
“Your Majesty, if we are rewarding by merit, how can we leave out our General Wulüe?” Prime Minister Yun said with a smile.
Qu Sheng smiled as well. “Of course. We would not forget.”
She turned to look at Qu Ning on the side. Qu Ning gave a slight nod and rose, walking toward the front of the banquet hall.
The palace attendant hurried forward and presented the prepared imperial edict with both hands before Qu Ning.
Qu Ning accepted the edict and looked toward Zhao Ningying.
“General Wulüe, receive the decree.”
Zhao Ningying rose at the words. She smoothed her official robes and walked with steady steps to stand before Qu Ning. On the grand hall floor, neither of them forgot their bearing.
Zhao Ningying clasped her hands in salute, then knelt. “This humble subject, Zhao Ningying, receives the decree.”
Qu Sheng unfurled the edict, scanned it, and read aloud: “The Empress decrees: General Wulüe is a strategist and fierce commander, accomplished despite youth, generous in recommending worthy talent, and has eradicated the bandit threat in one stroke—a fortune for our Quzhao. Moreover, her character is humble and modest; she does not claim sole credit for her victories. We are deeply gratified. We hereby specially bestow ten thousand taels of gold, one hundred treasures, and one Floating-Head Spear4 forged from celestial meteorite, along with promotion by two ranks, conferring the title and honors of General Wude. So it is decreed!”
When Zhao Ningying heard the preceding rewards, her expression barely shifted. But at the mention of the spear, she froze.
She had heard that the meteorite had already been given by Qu Sheng to Qu Ning—it was originally meant to be forged into a light sword. Could there be another piece?
Zhao Ningying looked up. As Qu Ning lowered her gaze to her, a palace attendant carried over an exquisite wooden box containing the Floating-Head Spear.
The author has something to say:
Qu Ning: “If my wife is going to be with me from now on, then that spear still belongs to my family anyway.”
Zhu Qianjie: “What a shrewd calculation.”
Leave comments on the new chapter for red envelopes~
Footnotes
- 龙袍 | lóngpáo | Imperial ceremonial robe embroidered with dragon motifs, worn exclusively by the reigning sovereign during state assemblies and banquets.
- 蟒袍 | mǎngpáo | Ceremonial court robe embroidered with four-clawed python motifs, worn by the Crown Princess on formal state occasions.
- 圣旨 | shèngzhǐ | Imperial decree scroll conveying sovereign mandates, awards, and noble promotions.
- 浮头枪 | fútóu qiāng | Prized martial spear forged from rare celestial meteorite, originally intended for Qu Ning's light sword before being crafted and conferred upon Zhao Ningying.
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