The Prime Minister’s Daughter and the Marquis’s Fool – Chapter 15

Our Sheng’er has grown up and knows how to be shy now.

Qu Sheng’s body stiffened for a moment upon hearing Lin Xizhao’s voice, but her gaze never left the person she had just shot. Only then did Qu Sheng turn her head, looking at the approaching Lin Xizhao with a docile expression, until that person, clutching their neck as foul blood gushed from their gaping mouth, fell into the river channel.

The splash of a heavy object falling into the river channel drew Lin Xizhao’s attention, but the moonlight was too dim, and Lin Xizhao couldn’t see what it was at all.

“What was that sound?” Lin Xizhao asked, glancing sideways as she heard the sound of splashing water.

Qu Sheng looked at Lin Xizhao’s worried expression and said, “It was Feng Qi.”

“Feng Qi fell into the river?” Lin Xizhao’s gaze grew even more concerned.

“No.” Qu Sheng quickly denied it.

Hearing Qu Sheng’s words, Lin Xizhao was a bit stunned. Before Lin Xizhao could ask further, Feng Qi flew up from the water.

“Young Miss, please give me the bow and arrow.” Feng Qi held out her hand.

Lin Xizhao watched with a puzzled expression as Qu Sheng handed the bow and arrow to Feng Qi, who had just flown out of the river channel.

Seeing Lin Xizhao staring at her, Feng Qi explained, “As we were passing through, the wind here was a bit strong, so I suggested that the Young Miss practice her archery.” Feng Qi had taught Qu Sheng most of her archery skills. The flight of an arrow is highly dependent on wind speed, especially over a hundred meters.

Lin Xizhao seemed to understand Feng Qi’s explanation and nodded, but in the next moment, she felt the explanation was a bit far-fetched. “On a night this dark, how can Sheng’er see?”

The two were stumped by the question. Feng Qi glanced at Qu Sheng, who didn’t hide it and said, “I can.”

Lin Xizhao was surprised to hear this. She was always able to understand Qu Sheng’s brief words, and now, feeling puzzled, she asked, “You can see in the dark?”

Qu Sheng looked at Lin Xizhao’s astonished expression and nodded her head.

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Lin Xizhao took Qu Sheng directly back to the Prime Minister’s Manor and had someone prepare hot water. She instructed gently, “Sheng’er, go take a bath first. Father has summoned me, I’ll be back in a little while.”

As always, Qu Sheng was obedient to Lin Xizhao’s words and nodded meekly. She watched Lin Xizhao’s departing figure, and the moment the door closed, she lowered her eyes.

Today was not the first time she had killed. As early as two years ago, she had killed someone with her own hands, and over the past few years, she had killed quite a few more sporadically.

And without exception, all the people she killed were accomplices who had participated in the murder of the Qu family’s eldest son, Qu Ce¹. The Qu family had never given up on finding the cause of Qu Ce’s death, and after years of investigation, they had finally gotten some eyebrows and eyes².

The man today was a subordinate of Prince Fucheng. Qu Sheng had asked many things, but the man had adamantly insisted it had nothing to do with Prince Fucheng. Since she couldn’t pry anything out of him, she wouldn’t leave him alive.

Qu Sheng removed her clothes and stepped into the bathtub, which was filled with flower petals that Lin Xizhao had scattered for her. She stared blankly for a while at the fragrant, delicate petals. When she was at her own manor, besides her mother, she never allowed anyone else to put them in.

Because she didn’t like any scent lingering on her body.

While Qu Sheng was bathing and lost in thought, Lin Xizhao came in from outside. This was the first time she had come in while Qu Sheng was bathing. Recognizing Lin Xizhao’s footsteps, Qu Sheng stood up and immediately put on the outer robe that was beside her.

When Lin Xizhao entered, she saw Qu Sheng’s clothes clinging to her body. After being stunned for a moment, she walked over and said, “Why did you get dressed without drying off?”

Lin Xizhao felt a little guilty; had she known, she would have sent someone in earlier to help her.

“Take it off, I’ll go get you a new one.” Qu Sheng had plenty of clothes left at the Prime Minister’s Manor. As she spoke, Lin Xizhao reached out to untie Qu Sheng’s semi-damp clothes.

Just as Lin Xizhao’s hand touched the cross-collar³ of Qu Sheng’s robe, Qu Sheng raised her hand to stop it.

“What’s wrong?” Qu Sheng’s action left Lin Xizhao a bit confused.

Qu Sheng didn’t speak. Her face, flushed and tender from the hot bath, simply looked at Lin Xizhao. After a moment, Lin Xizhao seemed to understand what Qu Sheng was thinking. She smiled and said, “Our Sheng’er has grown up and knows how to be shy now.”

Hearing this, Qu Sheng’s expression was stunned for a moment before she lowered her head in tacit agreement.

Lin Xizhao didn’t insist. She fetched the clothes for her and then went outside to wait. Qu Sheng knew how to dress herself and could understand what others said, so Lin Xizhao wasn’t worried about that; she just sometimes felt uneasy leaving her alone.

Qu Sheng’s reputation to the outside world was that of a mad fool, but Lin Xizhao, apart from treating her like a child, had never treated her like an idiot.

After Qu Sheng returned to the bedroom, Lin Xizhao went to take her own bath. When she came back, Qu Sheng was already lying down, asleep.

Looking at the sleeping Qu Sheng on the bed, Lin Xizhao always had a strange feeling. Qu Sheng’s charming naivety was not real. Beneath her naive exterior was a mind as clear as glass, yet entangled in a web of a thousand knots.

Sometimes, even she couldn’t see through it.

But none of that mattered. To her, the current Qu Sheng was an indispensable part of her life.

Lin Xizhao bent down and couldn’t help but place a light kiss on Qu Sheng’s forehead. She was too fond of this little sister, who was like a treasure bestowed upon her by the heavens, bringing her warmth during the darkest time of her life.

Qu Sheng, who had been thinking about the day’s events with her eyes closed, opened them after Lin Xizhao kissed her forehead.

Looking at Qu Sheng, who had opened her eyes as if just waking from a dream, Lin Xizhao’s face showed a hint of apology. She whispered in a hushed voice, “Did I wake you?”

Hearing this, Qu Sheng gazed at Lin Xizhao’s soft and beautiful face, so close to her own. She was dazed for a moment before shaking her head.

“Jiejie, come up.” Qu Sheng made some space and lifted the thin quilt.

Hearing Qu Sheng’s inexplicably reassuring voice, Lin Xizhao’s eyes curved into a smile. She got onto the bed and lay down beside Qu Sheng.

“Come here.” At some point, Lin Xizhao had gotten used to sleeping while holding Qu Sheng. When Qu Sheng wasn’t there, she would suffer from insomnia for a long time; only by holding her could she sleep peacefully.

Hearing Lin Xizhao call her, Qu Sheng pulled herself from her thoughts and shifted her body to lie in Lin Xizhao’s embrace.

Lin Xizhao looked down at her, her eyes crinkling with a smile, and chatted with her for a while.

“Can Sheng’er really see things in the dark?” Lin Xizhao was half-convinced and half-doubtful about Qu Sheng’s ability to see at night.

“Mhm.” Qu Sheng’s reply was as brief as ever. She had no intention of proving it; if Lin Xizhao hadn’t stumbled upon her today, she probably wouldn’t have said anything.

Hearing Qu Sheng’s answer, Lin Xizhao recalled previous nights when, in the darkness, Qu Sheng could always touch her accurately and pull her into an embrace. Now, she didn’t ask Qu Sheng to prove it, because she believed her.

After Lin Xizhao fell asleep, Qu Sheng propped herself up and looked at her.

Although she hadn’t gotten the information she wanted today, she had unexpectedly learned that the death of Lin Xizhao’s birth mother was no accident.

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The author has something to say:

Qu Sheng: “I’m just young, not stupid. How can I let people see my body so casually.”

Lin Xizhao: “I can’t take a look either?”

Qu Sheng: “You can, but to be fair, I have to look at you too.”

Lin Xizhao: “…That’s a bad deal, forget it.”

Qu Sheng: “…”

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