The Prime Minister’s Daughter and the Marquis’s Fool – Chapter 274
by Little PandaBonus Chapter 10
I quite like eating it too.
“Your Highness.” The patrol guards saluted. Qu Ning raised a hand to wave off the formality, walked past them straight toward Zhao Ningying.
“Why are you here so late?”
Zhao Ningying looked up at her, a smile playing in her eyes, and said, “Someone said when she left this morning that she’d come see me and Qianjie later. But she vanished without a trace. I came to check whether she’d gotten lost.”
Qu Ning had indeed said so that morning, yet she had never sent word that she wouldn’t be coming.
Qu Ning smiled and said, “I got so busy I forgot. Next time I’ll definitely send someone to let Ying-meimei know.”
Zhao Ningying’s eyes curved. She glanced at the patrol guards still standing to one side. Qu Ning looked back, then said, “Continue your patrol.”
“Yes.”
Once the guards had left, Zhao Ningying asked Qu Ning, “Are you heading back to the palace, or coming to my place?”
Qu Ning thought for a moment, then turned to the guard behind her and said, “Return to the palace and tell my Empress Mother that I’ve gone to the Zhao Residence. I won’t be coming back tonight.”
The guard bowed and rode off on horseback.
Qu Ning turned back to Zhao Ningying. “I’ll go with you.”
Zhao Ningying laughed softly, and the two of them climbed into the carriage together.
Zhu Qianjie had already left, though she and Zhao Ningying had set aside plenty of food for Qu Ning today.
Back in the room, Zhao Ningying had someone bring up the Beggar’s Chicken that had been kept warm, along with an assortment of snacks—nothing that constituted a proper meal.
[Image: Beggar’s Chicken]
“The kitchen has already started preparing food. Have these to tide you over for now,” Zhao Ningying said, pouring Qu Ning a cup of tea.
Qu Ning handed the damp towel she had used to wipe her hands to a maid, walked over, and sat down. “Don’t trouble the kitchen. I’ll just have these.”
“Let them make something—a little congee, at least.”
Qu Ning didn’t insist further. She nodded and began eating the snacks on the table.
Everything was delicious and whetted the appetite. Zhao Ningying watched Qu Ning eat, frequently picking up a pastry and placing it in her bowl, introducing each of the snacks.
When Qu Ning recognized a flavor, she would eagerly name which shop the pastry came from.
When the congee arrived, Qu Ning ate a small half-bowl.
Noticing Qu Ning rest a hand on her own waist, Zhao Ningying smiled and said, “Let’s take a walk in the courtyard.”
Qu Ning had indeed eaten too much. She said with a hint of embarrassment, “Qianjie-meimei and Ying-meimei picked such delicious things. I couldn’t help but eat a bit more.”
Zhao Ningying laughed. “No kidding. When we were buying them, Qianjie couldn’t stop talking about how much Ning-jiejie would love them.”
Qu Ning smiled, feeling the affection she’d shown hadn’t been wasted.
The two walked around the courtyard for a while, then went to the washroom. Because the folding screen had toppled over the previous night, Qu Ning had specifically arranged to sleep in a separate room from Zhao Ningying today.
Fortunately, Zhao Ningying’s courtyard had plenty of rooms, though setting up a new stove took some time and effort.
Zhao Ningying had finished bathing and been back for a while before Qu Ning returned from washing up.
Just like the night before, Zhao Ningying got into bed first, and Qu Ning followed. Once in bed, Qu Ning lay still for only a moment before she began anticipating Zhao Ningying drawing close the way she had last night. But the person beside her first shifted further inward, then turned over.
Qu Ning noticed. The distance made her feel uncomfortable. She turned to look and found Zhao Ningying’s clear eyes watching her.
Their eyes met for a few breaths. Zhao Ningying’s brows curved as she said, “I’ve gotten used to sleeping alone these past two years in the army. My sleeping habits aren’t the best—I’m afraid I disturbed Ning-jiejie’s rest last night.”
That was not how Qu Ning had ever seen it.
“It’s fine,” Qu Ning said magnanimously. “Ying-meimei is still very well-behaved, just like when you were little.”
Zhao Ningying curved her lips but offered no reply.
Qu Ning waited a while, and when no movement came, she could only close her eyes and rest.
At cockcrow, the world outside was still cloaked in darkness. Just two ke later, a layer of white mist gradually crept in.
Having slept poorly the night before and worked an entire day without rest, Qu Ning had stayed awake a short while before finally falling asleep.
Previously, Qu Ning had been accustomed to rising at Mao Hour to attend morning court with Lu Qusheng. But these past two days she had been staying at the Zhao Residence and was busy handling the tuntian matter, so she hadn’t been required to attend the early court session.
Qu Ning opened her hazy eyes. Her breathing was steady, and her mind gradually cleared as she woke.
She turned to look at Zhao Ningying, taking in her graceful, gentle features, and for a moment didn’t know what to do about her. She understood her own feelings toward Zhao Ningying. They had existed before, but she had thought them sisterly affection. Yet after so long apart and then reuniting, her eyes and heart could no longer hold room for anyone else.
Until full daylight, Qu Ning simply lay there watching Zhao Ningying. She had thought about doing something, but fearing she would frighten Zhao Ningying, she could only watch in silence.
When the sky was fully bright, Xiao Bingying arrived.
Qu Ning hadn’t been able to eat breakfast at the residence yesterday, and Xiao Bingying felt bad about it. Though Qu Ning was the Imperial Crown Princess, Xiao Bingying still treated her as she would her own child. Knowing Qu Ning was busy, she had prepared a meal early and come ahead of time to call them.
Qu Ning couldn’t refuse again and followed her to the dining hall. The entire Zhao household was present, and everyone was very attentive to Qu Ning.
Cheng Xi served Qu Ning some dishes, glanced at her own daughter, and said, “There are several Academy students at Jiangkou whose medical skills are quite accomplished. When you arrive there in a few days, they may prove useful. I’ve already sent word ahead—once you arrive, they’ll enter the camp.”
Qu Ning and Zhao Ningying both looked over.
“This child understands. Thank you, Mother,” Zhao Ningying said.
“Ning’er has noted it as well. Thank you, Aunt Xi,” Qu Ning said.
When children traveled far from home, elders always worried. Xiao Bingying looked at the two of them, and as she lowered her head, a trace of sadness and concern showed through.
Zhao Ningying had only been back a few days and was already leaving again. But the child had grown up, and she should do what she believed was right. How could a mother hold her back?
Cheng Xi noticed Xiao Bingying’s downcast mood. After the children left, she stayed with her for a while and offered comfort.
“Jiangkou isn’t that far. If you truly miss Ying’er, I’ll go with you to visit. Don’t keep your worries bottled up—it’ll harm your health.” Cheng Xi reached up and stroked Xiao Bingying’s handsome cheek.
Xiao Bingying managed a faint smile, nodded, and said, “I know. Wife, don’t worry about me. I’ll escort you to the Academy.”
Cheng Xi’s eyes softened. She pressed a kiss to Xiao Bingying’s lips, then rested her forehead against hers. Seeing that she had indeed recovered somewhat, she said in a gentle voice, “All right.”
Qu Ning had been at the Ministry of War office yesterday, and today after spending half the day she headed to the Ministry of Revenue. Minister of Revenue Lin Xikuan had already been waiting for some time.
“This humble subject Lin Xikuan greets Your Highness.” Lin Xikuan saw Qu Ning arrive with her entourage and came forward to bow.
Qu Ning raised a hand to help him up. “Second Uncle, no need for formalities. Let’s attend to official business.”
Lin Xikuan nodded. Qiao Jin beside him raised her hand in greeting, and Lin Xikuan returned the gesture before leading them to the inner hall of the Ministry of Revenue office.
Qiao Jin presented the expenditure list compiled by the Ministry of War for the tuntian project to the Ministry of Revenue officials. After reviewing it, they passed it to Lin Xikuan.
Lin Xikuan verified it carefully, went to the desk to annotate it in red, and stamped it with the Ministry of Revenue’s official seal.
Qiao Jin took it, reviewed it, and nodded to Qu Ning. “Your Highness, it’s ready.”
Qu Ning nodded, turned back to Lin Xikuan, and bowed with hands clasped. “Ning’er still has matters to attend to, so I won’t stay longer.”
Lin Xikuan nodded, and he and the officials escorted Qu Ning out.
Outside the office, Qu Ning saw Zhao Ningying sitting in the carriage waiting for her, and the corners of her mouth lifted involuntarily.
“Ning-jiejie, hurry up!” Zhu Qianjie’s head popped out from beneath Zhao Ningying’s chin.
Qu Ning’s smile faltered. She knitted her brows in resignation, turned to bid farewell to the officials, and instructed Qiao Jin, “Send someone to withdraw the silver notes first. We’ll meet up outside the city later.”
Qiao Jin nodded and briskly led her people toward another carriage.
Today they were going out of the city for an excursion—and some hunting.
Azure water, blue sky. The river outside the city had thawed, flowing with a crisp, pleasant murmur.
Qu Ning adjusted her bow for a moment, then said to Zhu Qianjie, who was sitting on a rock, “Don’t run off. We’ll be back soon.”
Zhu Qianjie poked at the firewood for boiling water with one hand and waved the other, saying leisurely, “Don’t worry. There are no bad people under the capital’s nose.”
Zhao Ningying smiled at her. Qu Zhimu teased, “Make sure you have your signal marker on you. Don’t let us come back and find you’ve ended up in a wolf’s belly.”
Zhu Qianjie stiffened, eyes widening as she asked, “There are wolves around here?”
Qu Ning glanced around and chimed in, “Maybe.”
Zhu Qianjie jumped up, ran to Qu Ning’s side, and clutched her arm, scanning the surroundings warily. “There aren’t really, are there?”
Seeing that she was genuinely frightened, Zhao Ningying reassured her, “There haven’t been any reports of wolves coming down the mountains in the past two years. Plenty of people pass through here—if there were any, they wouldn’t dare approach.”
Zhu Qianjie was still uneasy. She turned to Zhao Ningying, and with a quick turn of mind, immediately threw herself over and clung to Zhao Ningying’s arm, pleading coquettishly, “Ying-jiejie, stay and keep me company, won’t you?”
Zhao Ningying laughed and was about to agree when Qu Ning cut in hastily, “No!”
Zhu Qianjie’s little face fell. “Why?”
Qu Ning couldn’t articulate a reason. It was just—no.
Qu Zhimu stood to one side, watching Qu Ning’s sour expression. After a moment’s thought, she smiled and said, “I’ll stay and keep you company instead. My feet are feeling a bit uncomfortable today, anyway.”
Qu Zhimu staying with Zhu Qianjie was perfectly acceptable to her. But why did Qu Ning refuse to let Zhao Ningying stay?
Qu Zhimu stepped closer. Seeing Zhu Qianjie still drooping, she smiled and said, “We agreed today to take your Ying-jiejie out hunting. If you don’t let her go, wouldn’t that defeat the whole purpose?”
They hadn’t brought any attendants with them today.
Hunting and roasting meat required boiling water in advance. Zhu Qianjie was too lazy to go, so staying behind to boil water was ideal. Pulling in one more person meant there was no telling whether the game they caught would be enough to feed everyone.
Among the four of them, Qu Ning and Zhao Ningying had the best martial skills and the finest archery. If Zhao Ningying stayed behind, there was a real chance they wouldn’t catch enough food.
Zhu Qianjie pouted. “Fine, then.”
The urgency in Qu Ning’s eyes eased. She turned to Zhao Ningying and said, “Let’s go.”
Zhao Ningying smiled and nodded. When Qu Ning reached out her hand, Zhao Ningying glanced down at it, then naturally extended her own.
Their fingers interlaced. Qu Zhimu lowered her gaze and nudged Zhu Qianjie with her shoulder.
“What?” Zhu Qianjie tilted her head.
Qu Zhimu turned to look at her. “Do you think there’s anything different about your two jiejie when they’re together?”
Zhu Qianjie stared at Qu Ning and Zhao Ningying walking away. Both had arrow quivers on their backs, bows in hand, and light swords at their waists. Nothing seemed particularly unusual.
Through the wild mountain forest, two figures sped through the trees. One leapt onto a branch, sprang to a thicker limb, then landed—cutting off the escape of three pheasants ahead.
Qu Ning grabbed for the pheasants barehanded while Zhao Ningying, behind her, drew two arrows at once, working in concert with Qu Ning to bring down all three wild pheasants.
Qu Ning lifted the pheasants, then went over to collect the ones that had been shot by arrows as well.
“With these three and those four rabbits, that should be plenty,” Qu Ning said with a smile.
Zhao Ningying smiled and nodded. She casually sliced some vines, took the pheasants from Qu Ning’s hands, and bound them. Qu Ning also drew her sword, cut a few lengths of vine, and tied the pheasants’ legs together for easier carrying on the scabbard later.
The two descended the mountain, chatting and laughing along the way.
“Qianjie loves Beggar’s Chicken the most. We’ll bake one for her later,” Zhao Ningying said.
Qu Ning gave an “mm” of acknowledgment. Then, summoning courage from who knows where, she said vaguely, “I quite like eating it too.”
Zhao Ningying turned to look at her. There was no doubt in her eyes—only a glint of seeing through without saying so.
She naturally knew what Qu Ning loved to eat. Soft, tender things were her favorite—otherwise she wouldn’t have brought her to eat so many pastries.
Both were martial practitioners with swift footing. Before long, they reached the riverbank—only to find, looking from afar, no sign of Qu Zhimu or Zhu Qianjie.
The windbreak tent had been half-assembled. The fire had long since gone out. The carriage stood there, quietly tethered. Qu Ning and Zhao Ningying stopped in their tracks, stunned for an instant. They dropped the game they were carrying and sprinted forward.
The author has something to say:
Zhao Ningying: “You must have been raised soaking in a vinegar vat1, huh.”
Qu Ning: “…”
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