The Prime Minister’s Daughter and the Marquis’s Fool – Chapter 278
by Little PandaBonus Chapter 14
Qianjie said to share with us.
The oppressive weight of Qu Ning’s words expanded infinitely in Zhao Ningying’s heart at that moment. It was true that Qu Ning had grown up alongside her, but she was the Crown Princess—she had never forgotten that.
She had spoken those words as a preamble, hoping Qu Ning might bend the rules. But Qu Ning had invoked the law, and in that hazy instant, Zhao Ningying saw the future sovereign once more.
Qu Ning had always been this way. From childhood to adulthood, she had been raised as a future emperor—every word she spoke carried absolute authority.
“This subject acknowledges her guilt.”
That single word—”this subject”—dragged Qu Ning’s heart into a deep abyss.
Qu Ning watched Zhao Ningying lower her head, the hurt written across her brow and eyes, and a hollow helplessness welled up inside her.
“What fault does Ying-meimei have?” Qu Ning asked softly, after a long, speechless silence.
Zhao Ningying raised her head and replied with respectful formality: “As a subject, this subject should not harbor a heart that shields those who violate the laws of our Quzhao dynasty—this is the first charge. This subject knew the law yet transgressed—this is the second charge. Third, this subject dared not incite Your Highness with slanderous counsel, leading Your Highness to transgress alongside this subject.”
The charges were valid, yet never once had such thoughts crossed Qu Ning’s mind.
Qu Ning stared at Zhao Ningying for a long time. A flicker of irritation seemed to surface in her eyes, but she concealed it well. The innate authority of a sovereign—she wielded it effortlessly without ever needing to try.
“Call me Ning-jiejie.” Qu Ning’s tone carried not the slightest anger, yet Zhao Ningying, who had grown up beside her, could already hear that she was upset.
Zhao Ningying raised her gaze once more, pressed her soft lips together lightly, and called out: “Ning-jiejie.”
“From now on, whenever there are no outsiders present, you must call me that.” Qu Ning’s words brooked no disregard—she was truly angry.
Why, when they had been chatting perfectly fine, had Zhao Ningying suddenly switched to the formal address between sovereign and subject? Qu Ning hadn’t forced her to do anything. Was it truly impossible to have a serious discussion the way they normally did?
“All right,” Zhao Ningying answered, her voice low.
Qu Ning seemed to realize her words had been a bit too heavy. She picked up the tea beside her and took a sip, thought for a few moments, then added, “I never said I would punish them. Braving the wind and sleeping in the open1, yet still willing to share with Qianjie-meimei and Mu-jiejie—that shows their nature isn’t bad. Licking blood off a knife’s edge2 is not a life most people can endure. Such work pays faster than ordinary labor, and quick money always muddles the mind. If they are willing to give it up, I can find them a suitable position. But if they persist in their ways, I certainly will not spare them.”
Qu Ning’s tone was gentle, yet her words allowed no rebuttal.
Zhao Ningying lowered her eyes in thought for a moment, then nodded. “I understand.”
Hearing Zhao Ningying refer to herself as “I” rather than “this subject,” Qu Ning’s mood improved considerably. She offered a warm smile and said, “You must be hungry. I will have someone bring us some food. What would you like?”
Zhao Ningying looked up, curved her lips into a small smile, and replied, “Anything is fine.”
After meeting Zhao Ningying’s gaze, Qu Ning noticed her deliberately averting her eyes. But she didn’t know what she had done wrong—she hadn’t intended to punish those people. Why had things suddenly turned out like this?
“I will go check on Mu-jiejie and the others.” Zhao Ningying rose to her feet as she spoke, preparing to leave without looking back.
Qu Ning watched her, and only when Zhao Ningying turned her head to glance back did she give a soft “Mm.”
Watching Zhao Ningying’s retreating figure, Qu Ning felt in that moment as though Zhao Ningying no longer liked her—because she realized that what Zhao Ningying had just done looked remarkably like fleeing.
Once outside the door, Zhao Ningying slowed her pace. She exhaled slowly, came to a halt, and looked back.
Conflict filled her eyes.
Perhaps what lay between them was never meant to be.
Perhaps Qu Ning would not be like the current Emperor—devoted to only one person, married to only one.
Zhao Ningying thought of how Qu Zhimu and Qiao Jin had just reunited after being apart, hesitated for a moment, then went to knock on Zhu Qianjie’s door.
But she had only knocked a few times when the door next to hers opened. Zhao Ningying turned to look—Zhu Qianjie poked her head out, saw that it was Zhao Ningying knocking at her door, and beckoned with her hand. “Ying-jiejie is looking for me.”
Zhao Ningying walked over, amused by her thief-like demeanor, and said with a laugh, “Just coming to check on you.”
Zhu Qianjie opened the door wider and pulled Zhao Ningying inside.
Qiao Jin and Qu Zhimu were sitting together eating spiced beef taken from their bundles. Seeing Zhao Ningying enter, Qu Zhimu quickly waved her over. “Ying-meimei, come have a taste!”
“My household chef just made this fresh today. I brought a whole lot,” Zhu Qianjie said proudly, then muttered, “This crummy inn has nothing, and the food they cook is awful. Good thing I brought some decent things along.”
Zhao Ningying laughed and patted her head. Qu Zhimu picked up a piece as well, cupping her hand beneath it to catch any crumbs, and stood up to bring it over to Zhao Ningying.
Zhao Ningying smiled and didn’t stand on ceremony, tasting a piece. She chewed and praised it: “Good chew to it, and the flavor goes all the way through.”
Zhu Qianjie grinned. “Of course! This chef was someone my mother spent a great deal of money to hire for Mother.”
Zhu Ming’an catered to Jin Mingyi’s every wish—simply because of her poor appetite, Zhu Ming’an had hired a chef from the Jin family’s former fief territory.
“Ning-jiejie had someone prepare some food. Let’s all go over and eat together in a bit.”
“I’m not going.” Zhu Qianjie was the first to refuse.
Zhao Ningying watched her dig her heels in and said with a smile, “Ning-jiejie is all by herself.”
“I don’t care.” Zhu Qianjie tilted her head and mumbled, “She was mean to me.”
“I’ll just eat here too.” Qiao Jin could also see that Qu Zhimu didn’t want to go.
If Qu Zhimu went over now, there was no telling whether Qu Ning might change her mind and send them back.
Zhao Ningying sighed softly in her heart and said, “Ning-jiejie is just worried about you. She already gave her word—she won’t go back on it. I’m here. What are you afraid of?”
Everyone knew that when Qu Ning dug in her heels, only Zhao Ningying could persuade her—and Qu Ning only ever listened to Zhao Ningying.
“Then I’m still not going. If you want to go, go yourself.” Zhu Qianjie still didn’t dare risk it. Even though Qu Ning listened to Zhao Ningying, there were times she didn’t.
“I’m not going either,” Qu Zhimu added in a small voice of agreement.
Zhao Ningying lowered her eyes, helpless. A moment later, a knock came at the door: “Honored guests, your dishes are here.”
Qu Ning had ordered food sent over.
Zhao Ningying turned to look, walked over in a few steps, and opened the door. The inn waiter saw that everyone was gathered in one room and asked an extra question: “Should the other room’s order be brought here as well?”
“Bring it over,” Zhu Qianjie said quickly.
The food here might not be good, but it was better than nothing. Eating nothing but beef was getting tiresome.
Zhao Ningying watched the dishes being brought in, thought that Qu Ning’s food should be arriving too, and turned to Qu Zhimu and the others. “Then I will head over first to keep Ning-jiejie company.”
“Hey, wait.” Zhu Qianjie called Zhao Ningying to a stop, wrapped up some of the sliced beef from the table, and handed it over. “For you two to eat.”
Zhao Ningying accepted it with a smile and left the room.
Qu Ning sat at the table, staring blankly at the wine flask that had been brought up. A moment later, she heard footsteps outside.
Qu Ning sat up straight and quietly cleared her throat.
Zhao Ningying knocked on the door, and the person inside responded: “Coming.”
Qu Ning walked over quickly, saw that Zhao Ningying was carrying something that gave off a savory aroma, and asked, “What is this?”
Zhao Ningying curved her lips and said, “Qianjie said to share with us.”
Zhao Ningying unwrapped part of it, and Qu Ning could see it was cooked beef.
Qu Ning looked up at Zhao Ningying and said, “It is thoughtful of her to remember us.”
Zhao Ningying smiled and entered the room, setting the beef down on the table. As she glanced sideways, she noticed the wine flask.
“When you are away from home, it is best to drink less,” Zhao Ningying reminded her softly.
Qu Ning gazed at Zhao Ningying’s slender figure, gave a soft “Ah” in acknowledgment, and replied, “Just a little.”
When Zhao Ningying turned back around, Qu Ning’s gaze shifted casually elsewhere, as though she hadn’t been staring at Zhao Ningying just a moment ago.
“Jin-jiejie and Mu-jiejie just reunited—they probably can’t bear to be apart. Qianjie doesn’t want to come over either. Only you are willing to pay attention to me.” Qu Ning had guessed as much when she saw Zhao Ningying arrive alone.
Zhao Ningying paused for an instant, then looked up at Qu Ning. Realizing that she had seen through everything yet had pretended not to know, Zhao Ningying lowered her gaze for a moment and said, “They are just worried you might change your mind and send them back. It is not that they don’t want to pay attention to you.”
Qu Ning smiled and nodded. Sometimes even she found herself rather tiresome. Having them along would have brought a touch of warmth and liveliness to her otherwise dull days, yet precisely because of the position she occupied, she couldn’t let them run free—and that made her, well, rather disagreeable.
“I have already sent riders back to report that we are safe,” Qu Ning said casually as she sat down.
Zhao Ningying picked up the wine flask and poured for Qu Ning. Hearing this, she looked up with an “Mm” and asked, “The people outside were let go?”
Qu Ning raised her eyes and replied, “They were searched.”
“Oh, so those people aren’t entirely unreasonable.” Zhao Ningying finished pouring and sat down.
Qu Ning studied her, then glanced at the wine cup before her and asked, “Aren’t you drinking?”
Zhao Ningying curved her lips and smiled. “I will pass.”
Qu Ning looked at the wine cup filled on the table and said, “Then I won’t drink either.”
“Why?” Zhao Ningying looked puzzled and smiled. “Is it no fun drinking alone?”
“No.” Qu Ning denied it. Her gaze rested on Zhao Ningying, wearing a tender, affectionate look she never showed anyone else, and said, “I am afraid that when we sleep later, the smell might bother Ying-meimei.”
Zhao Ningying’s chopstick-holding hand paused for an instant. She looked at Qu Ning with something like surprise, then smiled after a moment. “It is all right, I…” Zhao Ningying had meant to take the opportunity to say she would go back to her own room to sleep, but the words reached her lips and she couldn’t bear to say them. Seeing Qu Ning looking so wounded earlier, she hadn’t the heart for it. “I will drink a little with Ning-jiejie.”
The author has something to say:
Qu Ning: “Wuuuuuuu…”
Zhao Ningying: “Be good now.”
I feel like I will need to write a great deal before I can present this story in its entirety.
Is everyone stockpiling chapters? I can barely see any comments anymore, wuuuuu. Your comments are my motivation, you know!
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