The Prime Minister’s Daughter and the Marquis’s Fool – Chapter 104

Just a moment, just a moment, how rude of me

Once Jin Yunfei had them seated, she began to make small talk with Lin Xizhao.

“The weather has been so fickle these last two days. It hardly felt warm for more than a few days before it was suddenly the height of summer. I was thinking of making a set of clothes for you two, but I was worried This Mother would make something you wouldn’t like,” Jin Yunfei said, touching on trivial matters.

Lin Xizhao’s eyes curved into a gentle smile. “How could we? If Adoptive Mother were to make them for us personally, This daughter and Sheng’er couldn’t ask for anything more.”

Jin Yunfei knew Lin Xizhao wouldn’t be picky. She glanced at her own daughter; Qu Sheng was sitting primly, taking a sip of tea, her eyes fixed on Lin Xizhao the entire time.

Jin Yunfei cleared her throat softly. When she saw Qu Sheng’s gaze shift to her, she shot her a mildly reproving look before turning back to Lin Xizhao with a smile. “Very well. Summer clothes don’t require much fabric, so it won’t be too much trouble for This Mother. Come, let’s go get you measured.”

As Jin Yunfei started to stand, Xiao Yaocai, who had been listening awkwardly to the three of them, hastily stood up. A smile plastered on his face, he called out, “Aunt, This Nephew is still here.”

“Oh my,” Jin Yunfei exclaimed. “Look at me, old and muddled,¹ I completely forgot about my Worthy Nephew…”² She paused for a moment, looking around. The servants had all been dismissed. Just as Jin Yunfei was about to call for one, Qu Ting and Qu Yu entered from outside.

“This Nephew pays his respects to Eldest Paternal Aunt,” they said in unison, bowing with hands clasped.

Jin Yunfei’s eyes lit up at the sight of her two nephews. “Yaocai is here today to… what was it you came for?” she asked, feigning forgetfulness as she looked at Xiao Yaocai.

Xiao Yaocai seized the opening. “I’ve come to invite—”

“Aunt, Sheng-meimei and Xizhao-meimei are both unmarried ladies³ of the inner quarters,” Qu Ting cut in smoothly. “You should go rest. We nephews will entertain Brother Yaocai.”

Xiao Yaocai glanced at Qu Ting, instinctively feeling a little intimidated. The Qu family elders were gentle enough, but the younger generation was notoriously domineering. One wrong move and he could suffer a major loss.

Jin Yunfei nodded, her face beaming with satisfaction at her nephews’ words. “You’re right. We’ll head back first. Ting’er and Yu’er, please entertain our guest.”

Qu Ting and Qu Yu bowed their heads, seeing the three women off.

“Hey—” Xiao Yaocai took two steps forward, trying to follow Jin Yunfei, but was blocked by Qu Ting’s outstretched arm.

Once Jin Yunfei and the others had left the reception hall, Qu Ting and Qu Yu straightened up. Both of them looked at Xiao Yaocai with expressions where the skin smiles but the flesh doesn’t smile.⁴

“You… I’m a guest of your Marquis’s Residence. You can’t hit me,” Xiao Yaocai blurted out, thoroughly spooked. No one dared to provoke any of the Qu siblings, especially not Qu Sheng. At three years old, she’d dared to shoot an arrow at the Son of Heaven and still managed to retreat with her whole body intact.⁵

The more Xiao Yaocai thought about it, the more terrified he became, his gaze on Qu Ting turning fearful.

Qu Ting and Qu Yu both chuckled. After exchanging a look, Qu Yu walked over to Xiao Yaocai and draped an arm around his shoulders, suddenly calling someone older brother and younger brother.⁶ “Biaodi,⁷ what are you saying? You’re my wife’s cousin. Uncle Xiao serves in the same court as our Qu family, and you both manage the armies in Shoulin. We’re one family. How could we possibly resort to violence?”

The mention of Zhao Jiayu made Xiao Yaocai, who had been starting to relax, tense up again. Better not to have brought her up. The moment he heard her name, he remembered how she’d beaten him so badly he was bedridden, and how he had handed over Cheng Xi to them.

“So, Biaodi, what brings you here today?” Qu Yu asked, his tone perfectly affable.

Xiao Yaocai’s goal today was to take Cheng Xi back to his residence. However, he had been advised to say he was here to invite Xiao Bingying home instead.

After all, it wasn’t proper for an unmarried maiden to live in someone else’s residence for too long.

Hearing Qu Yu’s harmless tone, Xiao Yaocai’s face stiffened. “I… I’m here to ask my Ah Jie⁸ to come home,” he said awkwardly. “My mother struck her before the new year and wronged her. She’s regretted it these past days and sent me to apologize on her behalf and invite her back.”

“Oh, is that so?” Qu Yu listened, pressing his tongue against the inside of his cheek in a thoughtful pose. After a moment, he said, “Hmm. Biaodi, how about this? My younger sister hasn’t fully recovered from her illness yet. Once she’s better, I’ll personally escort Bingying-meimei back.”

Xiao Yaocai blinked, seeming to have anticipated their excuses. He smiled. “It’s not that I won’t allow it, but my mother gave a direct order that I must bring my older sister back. Older Cousin-in-law, I’m begging you, don’t make me go back and get scolded.”

His gaze seemed sincere, but to Qu Yu, he was just putting on an act. Hearing Xiao Yaocai’s insistence on taking her, Qu Yu’s brow furrowed. He made another hmm sound, then said to himself, “I’m a little thirsty.”

With that, he walked over to a small table next to a chair to pour some tea. Seeing Qu Yu deliberately avoid the topic, Xiao Yaocai quickly turned to follow, only to find his view blocked by Qu Ting.

When Xiao Yaocai saw him, a flicker of alarm crossed his face. A smirk touched Qu Ting’s lips. “Has Young Master Xiao forgotten who your father relies on for his smooth-sailing political career?”

Xiao Yaocai was struck speechless. Qu Yu had clearly been playing the sympathy card, but Qu Ting had moved straight to threats.

He immediately dropped his gaze and mumbled, “It’s just my mother missing my Ah Jie. Why must you two brothers prevent a mother and daughter from reuniting?”

Qu Ting snorted. “My Fourth Younger Brother already told you. Once my sister has fully recovered, Bingying-meimei will be sent back. I advise you not to refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit.”⁹

His attitude was ice-cold. Just as Xiao Yaocai was about to say more, Qu Ting added, “If you don’t care about Uncle Xiao’s political career, then by all means, keep dawdling here today. I, Qu Ting, will be happy to accompany you to the very end.”

Xiao Yaocai’s expression instantly turned sour. “Third Brother Qu, what kind of talk is that? I’m just here to invite my Ah Jie home. How did my father’s career get dragged into this?” he said, playing dumb.

Qu Ting stared at him, his gaze so sharp that Xiao Yaocai uncomfortably lowered his head. But even so, he showed no signs of leaving.

As the standoff continued in the room, Qu Sheng entered from outside.

She saw Qu Ting’s cold expression and Qu Yu sitting to the side, seemingly at a loss with Xiao Yaocai. This was, after all, their Marquis Qu’s Residence, and Xiao Yaocai had come bearing gifts from an elder. They couldn’t just beat him up.

Qu Sheng had been standing outside the door the whole time and had heard everything clearly.

When Qu Ting saw her enter, he met her gaze and stepped back.

Qu Sheng walked right up and grabbed Xiao Yaocai by the collar. He instinctively tried to resist, but one look at Qu Ting’s furious glare made his raised hands freeze in mid-air, not daring to touch her.

Qu Sheng threw him out of the reception hall and had Feng Qi drag him from the Marquis Qu’s Residence.

If anyone else had treated Xiao Yaocai this way, he definitely would have gone home to add oil and vinegar¹⁰ to the story, claiming the Qu family was bullying him. But with a simpleton like Qu Sheng, he had bitterness but was unable to speak it.¹¹

He was playing dumb, but against someone who was a genuine simpleton, he was out of options.

After having Xiao Yaocai thrown out, Qu Sheng sent a messenger to the Xiao matriarch in Qu Jinian’s name. Citing her own illness, she requested that Xiao Bingying and Cheng Xi stay a while longer to keep her company.

With that, even if Xiao Yaocai wanted to come demand their return again, he could no longer use his elders as an excuse.

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Three days later.

Aside from a few lingering bruises from the caning, Qu Sheng’s internal injuries were completely healed. Lin Xizhao hadn’t been back to her own home in seven or eight days and had planned to go back with Qu Sheng for a visit today. But Jin Yunfei sent a messenger over, asking Qu Sheng to go to a nearby county town to find the cousin who was supposed to have arrived three to five days ago.

Neither Qu Ting nor Qu Yu had ever met Jin Mingyi, so they wouldn’t recognize her even if she were standing right in front of them.

Jin Yunfei was worried something might have happened to her. It was never safe for a young woman to be traveling alone.

Qu Sheng agreed without hesitation and set out for the nearby towns with a group of men.

Lin Xizhao had been taking care of her for days, and sometimes at night, she was even ‘tormented’ by her. Qu Sheng worried that taking Lin Xizhao with her would be too tiring, so she had her return to the Prime Minister Lin’s Residence first, promising to go over and keep her company once she was back.

Accompanied by Qu Ting and Qu Yu, Qu Sheng led her men to the closest county town. She personally drew a portrait and had the authorities post a notice for a missing person.

Qu Sheng went to an inn to rest, ordering fine wine and food for herself, Qu Ting, and Qu Yu.

“Sheng-meimei, is this really okay?” Qu Ting asked, a little worried. Eldest Paternal Aunt had sent them out to find someone, but Qu Sheng had only posted one portrait with a notice: a young woman has gone missing. Anyone who sees her is to bring her immediately to the Yuhe Inn for a reward of one thousand taels of silver.

Qu Sheng took a small sip of clear wine and looked up at Qu Ting. “It’s fine. If she’s here, she’ll come on her own when she sees it.”

She poured more wine, drinking with her two brothers. “We’ll only wait for half a day, then we’ll move on.”

By afternoon, no one had come to the inn. Qu Sheng left a man behind to wait for any news and went with Qu Ting and Qu Yu to another county town.

Over two days, they searched four towns. Qu Sheng sat waiting in inns, her initial desire to tease her cousin slowly turning into genuine worry.

By her calculations, even walking, her cousin should have reached the vicinity by now. Yet even after posting the notices, there was still no sign of Jin Mingyi. After much thought, Qu Sheng decided to lead her men towards the road to Lingyi to search.

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Half a day later, around noon.

“Biaomei!¹² Biaomei, it’s me! I’m your Biaojie,¹³ come back! Qu Sheng!”

As Qu Sheng and her men were riding at a gallop, she heard a chirping call from behind. She glanced back, reining in her horse and gradually coming to a stop.

Staring at the person in the distance, Qu Sheng’s brow furrowed. The voice sounded like Jin Mingyi, but the clothes the person was wearing made her unrecognizable.

Qu Sheng turned her horse around and rode back.

She looked down at the two people before her. Their clothes weren’t exactly torn, but they were covered in dirt.

“How did you end up like this?” Qu Sheng recognized Jin Mingyi now. It was indeed her cousin.

She remained on her horse, showing no intention of dismounting. Jin Mingyi pushed her messy hair behind her ears, revealing a face that, while not filthy, bore a slight resemblance to Qu Sheng’s.

“It’s a long story. Do you have anything to eat?” Jin Mingyi asked, her eyes scanning the men behind Qu Sheng.

At this point, having confirmed it was her, Qu Ting and Qu Yu had both dismounted. Hearing her request for food, Qu Ting retrieved a soft flatbread from his saddlebag.

Jin Mingyi took the package, but upon seeing only one, she asked, “Is there only one? Anymore?”

Qu Yu untied his own parcel and handed his flatbread over as well. Jin Mingyi took it, opened it, and passed it to the man behind her, who had been watching her hands while making swallowing motions.

The man accepted it, glanced up at Qu Sheng and the others, and gave a slight bow before starting to eat.

Qu Sheng dismounted. Seeing them wolfing down the food as if they were about to choke, she held her hand out behind her.

A guard untied two waterskins and placed them in her hand.

Without a word, Qu Sheng passed a waterskin to Jin Mingyi. After taking it, Jin Mingyi quickly tucked away a stray lock of hair that had fallen forward as she ate, then passed the other waterskin to the man beside her.

Qu Sheng and the others watched as the two finished the flatbreads. It didn’t seem to be enough, so they washed it down with water to fill their stomachs. Then, the man spoke up. “Th-thank you, e-e-everyone, for the kindness of the bread. I, I—”

“Hey, this is my Biaomei. We’re family, what’s with the formality?” Jin Mingyi interrupted the man’s stuttering thanks.

She looked past Qu Sheng at the men behind her. “What are you all doing?”

Qu Sheng followed her gaze but didn’t speak. Assuming she was on urgent business, Jin Mingyi scratched at the collar of her grimy clothes. “Um, could you lend me some silver? And maybe two… no, one horse is fine. I won’t hold you up.”

Qu Sheng studied Jin Mingyi and the man behind her, not answering.

Qu Ting and Qu Yu exchanged a look. “We were sent by Eldest Paternal Aunt to pick you up,” Qu Ting said.

Jin Mingyi’s expression froze for a second, then quickly became wary. Her eyes darted around. “How did Paternal Aunt know I was out?” And that I was headed here.

Qu Sheng’s expression was faint, as if she had already guessed a few things. She turned, took a horse’s reins from a guard, and offered them to Jin Mingyi. “Come back with me first.”

“I’m not going back! Paternal Aunt must have conspired with my father and mother to drag me home.” Jin Mingyi was like a bird startled by a bow,¹⁴ refusing to go with Qu Sheng.

“Why?”

“I…”

Jin Mingyi couldn’t answer. No one at her residence knew she had left. For Jin Yunfei to send Qu Sheng to fetch her clearly meant she had been in contact with the Jin family.

“Come back with me first. I’ll settle you somewhere else,” Qu Sheng said, pushing the reins a little closer.

Jin Mingyi looked down at the reins, seeming not to trust her.

“Where can you go looking like this? Either come back with me and I’ll arrange a place for you, or I’ll send you back to Lingyi.”

“No, I…” Qu Sheng’s threat made Jin Mingyi’s voice rise in panic. She had gone through so much trouble to get out; there was no way she was going back. “You have to promise you won’t send me back. And you can’t let Paternal Aunt send me back either.”

Qu Sheng’s brow twitched. “Fine, I promise.”

Jin Mingyi knew that Qu Sheng was someone who was known to say one and not two.¹⁵ She thought for a moment, glanced at the equally filthy man beside her, and then looked up at Qu Sheng. “Alright then. I’ll go with you to the capital. But you promised to find me a place to stay.”

“Mn.” Qu Sheng glanced at Jin Mingyi’s feet. Her big toe was peeking out; the sole must have been worn through. “Get on the horse.”

Jin Mingyi took the reins and mounted with practiced ease. The moment she offered a hand, the man beside her took it and swung up to sit behind her.

Qu Sheng mounted her own horse, gave the person behind Jin Mingyi a measuring look, then spurred her horse onward, heading back.

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The capital city.

After being away for several days, Qu Sheng didn’t return to the Marquis Qu’s Residence. Instead, she took Jin Mingyi to Lin Xizhao’s small private courtyard.

She saw them inside and arranged for servants to attend to them. Before she could even leave the residence, Lin Xizhao arrived. The moment Qu Sheng had entered the city gates, she’d sent someone to the Prime Minister Lin’s Residence to inform her. Qu Ting and Qu Yu had already returned to their own residence to report back.

Lin Xizhao entered the courtyard with Feng Qi. Qu Sheng was standing in the shade, staring at the room Jin Mingyi and the man had entered, lost in thought.

“Sheng’er.” Lin Xizhao’s gentle voice came from behind her.

Qu Sheng turned, the frown on her brow smoothing out as an unconscious smile bloomed on her face. “Jiejie, what are you doing here?” Qu Sheng’s voice, a stark contrast to the indifferent tone she’d used with Jin Mingyi, was now so soft and warm it made Lin Xizhao’s heart melt. The trip had been worth it.

Qu Sheng walked towards Lin Xizhao and, ignoring the servants’ gazes, pulled her into her arms. Her eyes were sparkling as she looked at Lin Xizhao’s gentle face. “Didn’t I say I’d come find you later?”

She had only sent word to let Lin Xizhao know her cousin was staying here, not for her to come over.

“Me coming, or you going—isn’t it all the same?” Someone had to make the trip, and besides, she wanted to see Qu Sheng as soon as possible.

Seeing that Lin Xizhao had clearly missed her, Qu Sheng’s delight was written all over her face. She stared at the smile on Lin Xizhao’s lips, and soon her gaze drifted down to her lips.

Lin Xizhao saw where Qu Sheng was looking and glanced down. Before she could get the words “there are people here” out, they were swallowed by Qu Sheng’s kiss.

“Mmph…” Caught off guard, Lin Xizhao gave a light push, but couldn’t move her.

After the kiss, Lin Xizhao’s face was faintly flushed, and she didn’t dare meet the eyes of the servants in the courtyard. Seeing her shyness, Qu Sheng glanced at the servants, who all had their heads bowed, and whispered with a smile in Lin Xizhao’s ear, “No one’s looking.”

Lin Xizhao looked up at her, the bashfulness in her eyes utterly captivating.

“Where is your Biaojie?” Lin Xizhao averted her gaze, avoiding Qu Sheng’s hawk-like stare, and looked towards the house.

Qu Sheng’s eyes never left Lin Xizhao as she replied, “In the room.”

Lin Xizhao glanced at the bedroom. “Is it an inconvenient time?”

Since she was already here, there was no reason not to say hello. Leaving without doing so would be a breach of etiquette.

Qu Sheng’s eyes lowered for a second. She turned to look at the bedroom. “It’s convenient.”

She took Lin Xizhao’s hand and led her towards the room Jin Mingyi was in. She raised her hand and knocked. It took a while for the door to open.

Jin Mingyi appeared holding a chicken leg. She tore off a piece with her teeth, chewing as she pushed it further into her mouth with the back of her hand. “What? Is there something else?” she asked indistinctly.

Qu Sheng’s brow furrowed at the sight of Jin Mingyi eating like a hungry ghost,¹⁶ her face still wearing the disheveled hair and dirty face¹⁷ from the road. She cleared her throat. “My Jiejie is here.”

Jin Mingyi frowned. “Besides me, what other jiejie do you have?”

A moment later, the name Lin Xizhao popped into her head. And this courtyard belonged to Lin Xizhao.

Qu Sheng half-stepped aside, revealing Lin Xizhao to Jin Mingyi.

The two women froze when they saw each other, Jin Mingyi with a mouthful of chicken.

Lin Xizhao was taken aback for a second by Jin Mingyi’s complete disregard for her appearance, but then her eyes curved into a smile. “I heard—”

Bang!

Before Lin Xizhao could finish, Jin Mingyi slammed the door shut. Her clear voice came from inside. “Just a moment, just a moment, how rude of me…”

The sudden appearance of a great beauty outside had made Jin Mingyi feel like she had lost all face.

Lin Xizhao was a little stunned by the abrupt door slam. Qu Sheng, however, looked as calm as if this were completely normal.

Lin Xizhao met Qu Sheng’s eyes. Qu Sheng tilted her head slightly, glancing at the door.

Understanding at once, Lin Xizhao looked up and called to Jin Mingyi inside, “Biaomei must be tired after just arriving in the capital—men are weary and horses are tired.¹⁸ I won’t disturb you any longer.”

Even if Jin Mingyi wanted to tidy up before seeing Lin Xizhao, she would have to leave the room. But with Lin Xizhao standing right there, how could she?

Hearing Lin Xizhao’s words, so good at understanding people’s intentions,¹⁹ Jin Mingyi looked down at the chicken leg in her hand, then up at the servant she’d bought on the road, who was still eating at the table. A wave of regret washed over her. She stuffed another bite of chicken in her mouth, but somehow, it wasn’t as fragrant as before.

Why was I eating? Shouldn’t I have cleaned myself up first!

When there was no further sound from the room, Lin Xizhao looked at Qu Sheng, who had been watching her the whole time. Seeing that Lin Xizhao was ready to leave, Qu Sheng didn’t bother saying another word to the person inside. Instead, she bent down and swept Lin Xizhao into her arms.

They didn’t leave the small residence; they went to their own courtyard.

The moment Qu Sheng carried Lin Xizhao into the room, before she even set her down, she kissed her again. These few days of separation had left her feeling parched. Nothing could quench the thirst of longing better than soft lips and the cool fragrance on Lin Xizhao’s body.

As Qu Sheng pressed her against the door, moving her lips down to her jaw, Lin Xizhao actually tilted her neck back to accommodate her. Feeling the faint tickle Qu Sheng was creating, she asked breathlessly, “Aren’t we going back?”

Lin Xizhao knew what Qu Sheng wanted to do. The sky outside was already growing dark. She had no idea how long Qu Sheng would… take.

Between kisses, Qu Sheng hummed in reply. “Not right now. Sheng’er has missed her Jiejie.”

Hearing those words, Lin Xizhao, who had nearly grown accustomed to being treated this way, felt her face burn hot again.

This ‘missed’ from Qu Sheng was different from the one she had previously understood. One was static, the other demanded action.

They stood by the door. Qu Sheng untied the sash at Lin Xizhao’s waist and kissed her, her hands kneading while her other hand tried to undo Lin Xizhao’s inner tunic. Lin Xizhao stopped her.

Hearing Lin Xizhao’s unsteady breathing, Qu Sheng looked up at her. Seeing the shyness and resistance in her eyes, she swallowed, then lifted Lin Xizhao into her arms and carried her towards the bed.

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The author has something to say:

Qu Sheng: “My wife is too shy, she needs to be developed. Taking it step by step is more exciting.”

Lin Xizhao: “I want to put a sack over your mouth.”

Qu Sheng: “……”

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