The Prime Minister’s Daughter and the Marquis’s Fool – Chapter 18

What Bewildering Soul Soup¹ Did Xizhao Give Xiao Sheng’er This Time?

Qu Sheng’s nose, as fair and smooth as bone china, twitched. The sounds of hawkers on the street soon reached her ears, and she said slowly, “Jiejie, I want to eat.” Qu Sheng had caught the scent of baked flatbread wafting through the air.

Lin Xizhao heard this, paused for a moment, then smiled helplessly and had the servant driving the carriage stop.

“Go buy two flatbreads,” Lin Xizhao instructed the servant, sending him to the stall they had just passed to buy two for this little glutton.

Once she had the flatbread, Qu Sheng sat in the carriage and began to nibble on it. Lin Xizhao, meanwhile, would periodically use a handkerchief to wipe the corners of her lips and the crumbs that fell onto her dress.

Soon, the carriage arrived at the Zhao Manor. Zhao Jiayu had already gone to pick up Xiao Bingying and bring her to the Zhao Manor earlier that morning; she had gone to find Lin Xizhao the previous night.

Although Xiao Bingying was injured, Zhao Jiayu wasn’t about to leave her behind on a trip to enjoy the mountains and rivers. Besides, if she left and something happened to Xiao Bingying again, she wouldn’t be there to protect her at a moment’s notice, so it was better to keep her close.

Zhao Jiayu and the others had prepared their own carriage. After meeting up with Qu Sheng’s party, they followed behind them. Although the journey wasn’t too far, having two young women from martial general families like Zhao Jiayu and Xiao Bingying along was always reassuring.

They left the city gates and headed south. Traveling light and with documents from the Prime Minister’s Manor², they took the official road³, and the journey was smooth.

The Liang family was a prominent household in Changzhou⁴. Lin Xizhao’s maternal grandfather had also been a Prefect⁵ of the region, though he had now passed away. However, his eldest son had made him proud, succeeding in the Imperial Examination⁶ and being dispatched back here as a father-mother official⁷, taking over his old father’s position.

Speaking of Lin Jianhai, although not a local, he had put down roots here with his parents. Back then, it was the Liang family who had a wise eye that recognizes a person⁸, knowing that his literary talents would surely lead to great achievements in the future. They married their daughter to him at a time when he had nothing to his name.

Lin Jianhai truly lived up to their expectations. The awl’s tip revealed itself⁹ from among the many students, and he ascended the ranks in a single move, becoming the top of all the scholars. In the Jinluan Hall¹⁰ he was personally named the Zhuangyuan¹¹ by the Emperor of Tiansheng.

But none of this could have been achieved without the Liang family’s support. Even the teacher who now taught Qu Sheng and the others at the Prime Minister’s Manor had been specially hired for him by the Liang family.

Over the years, as Lin Jianhai rose high step by step to the position of Prime Minister, the Liang family’s help in managing affairs was indispensable. Lin Xizhao’s birth mother, even more so, had contributed greatly by devising strategies for him. And to repay this kindness, Lin Jianhai did many things for the Liang family. He even secured official posts as military officers in the capital’s suburbs and some assignments in the local region for his several little brothers-in-law, who had not studied much. The Liang family’s eldest son was also able to return here to serve as an official thanks to his arrangements.

The two families supported each other, but then Lady Liang’s fragrance vanished and the jade shattered¹² at a young age. The year after, Lin Jianhai still sent people to interact with them frequently, but gradually, the connection faded. The Liang family, too, was reluctant to visit the Prime Minister’s Manor often due to their sister’s death. Even for Lin Xizhao’s hairpin ceremony, they only sent someone to deliver a congratulatory gift.

Lin Xizhao’s carriage stopped outside the Liang Manor. Prefect Liang, hearing the news, hurriedly excused himself from his household affairs to greet this niece who resembled his own sister by seventy or eighty percent.

Lin Xizhao alighted from the carriage. Seeing her maternal uncle, she smiled gently, and after performing her salutations, she looked up to find her uncle’s eyes already blurry with tears.

“Jiufu…”¹³ Lin Xizhao murmured, seeming to understand the heartache of this uncle who had several strands of white hair at his temples.

Before her own mother passed away, even if they couldn’t visit often, their correspondence was frequent. The bond between them was deep. The white hairs between his temples had appeared overnight after her mother’s death.

Liang Wenting¹⁴ heard his niece call him and nodded with a choke in his voice. “The toil of boat and carriage¹⁵ must have been tiring, right? Hurry home and rest.” Liang Wenting used the word ‘home.’ He had never treated Lin Xizhao as an outsider, only as his own child.

Hearing this, Lin Xizhao pressed her soft lips together and nodded, then looked toward Qu Sheng and the others.

“Jiufu, these are my dear friends. They came with me this time, hoping to share in my younger uncle’s joyous occasion.”

Liang Wenting looked toward Qu Sheng and the others and nodded, his expression kind. “Good, good. As long as you don’t mind our humble home, the Liang family opens its doors to welcome you.” A prefectural capital was naturally no match for the imperial capital, and those who could befriend his niece would certainly not be from ordinary families.

After Zhao Jiayu and Xiao Bingying paid their respects, Qu Sheng stood to the side without moving. Liang Wenting looked at this little girl whose gaze was a bit dazed but whose appearance was quite captivating. Before he could ask, Lin Xizhao took Qu Sheng’s hand and said in a gentle voice, “Sheng’er, this is my eldest uncle.”

As if controlled by Lin Xizhao’s words, Qu Sheng glanced at Lin Xizhao, who was nodding at her. She then, uncharacteristically, performed a salutation, her voice slow. “Sheng’er pays her respects to Jiufu.”

Hearing what Qu Sheng said as she bowed, Zhao Jiayu tugged on Xiao Bingying’s sleeve and whispered in amazement, “Whoa, what bewildering soul soup did Xizhao give little Sheng’er this time?”

Xiao Bingying just smiled and didn’t answer her. Qu Sheng was already old enough; it wasn’t that she couldn’t understand people. Lin Xizhao must have instructed her in the carriage.

“Good, good.” Liang Wenting had long heard about the Qu Sheng who was always by Lin Xizhao’s side, but he had never met her. He had also heard that Qu Sheng was born simple-minded, but seeing her today, he didn’t think so. How could such a beautiful little girl who understood etiquette be a fool?

The group entered the manor, and the servants arranged for them to stay in the courtyard that had belonged to Lin Xizhao’s mother.

Lin Xizhao hadn’t been back here since her mother passed away. Everything was still the same as it was, and seeing this scene, she couldn’t help but feel a little sorrowful.

Qu Sheng was peeling a loquat¹⁶ from the plate on the table, occasionally lifting her eyes to look at Lin Xizhao, who was staring blankly out the window. After a whole loquat was peeled, Qu Sheng called out to her, “Jiejie.”

Lin Xizhao heard the voice and turned her head. Seeing Qu Sheng holding up the loquat in her hand, she blinked her eyes, thought for a moment, and asked, “For me?”

Qu Sheng nodded her little head, her meaning perfectly clear.

A smile blossomed on Lin Xizhao’s face. She walked over, bent down slightly, and took the loquat from Qu Sheng’s hand into her mouth.

The loquats of this season were juicy and refreshing, and because it was fed to her by Qu Sheng, Lin Xizhao felt it was even sweeter.

Lin Xizhao’s eyes curved as she looked at Qu Sheng. The more she looked at the little girl, the prettier she became. But because Lin Xizhao kept staring at her, Qu Sheng began to feel a little uncomfortable. She deliberately averted her gaze, picked up another loquat, and after peeling it, was about to put it in her own mouth, but she stopped when she heard Lin Xizhao’s words.

“I want to eat more.” This was the first time Lin Xizhao had ever acted coquettishly to compete for food with Qu Sheng, and it was one she had peeled.

Hearing this, Qu Sheng glanced at Lin Xizhao, then looked down at the peeled loquat in her hand. As if having made a very difficult decision, she passed the loquat to Lin Xizhao.

“Jiejie, eat.”

“I’m just teasing you. You eat it.” Lin Xizhao’s eyes curved into crescents. She was just testing to see if Qu Sheng would be willing to share with her again. Having gotten the answer she wanted, her heart felt sweeter than when she had eaten the loquat just now. One had to know, Zhao Jiayu had never successfully gotten any food from Qu Sheng.

Seeing how much Qu Sheng loved the loquats, Lin Xizhao also sat down and peeled some for her, feeding them to her. Qu Sheng ate until her little mouth was full of sweet juice. Lin Xizhao picked up a handkerchief to wipe it for her, and just then, a knock came from the door.

“What is it?” Lin Xizhao asked, looking sideways.

“Miss Xizhao, the Second Master and the others have also returned. The Eldest Master requests your presence,” a servant of the Liang family reported politely from outside after knocking.

The sky was now approaching dusk. Lin Xizhao had been staying here ever since she arrived. It was likely that her several uncles had all returned, and out of consideration for the young ladies who had accompanied her, they were calling her over to talk for a while.

But Lin Xizhao was a little worried about leaving Qu Sheng here alone. She stood up, told the servant she would be right there, and then went back into the room.

“Sheng’er, do you want to come with me?” She could have asked Zhao Jiayu and the others to come over, but she had her own selfish reasons; she didn’t want Qu Sheng to leave her sight, so she asked if she wanted to go with her.

Qu Sheng looked at Lin Xizhao, her gaze a little puzzled.

Seeing this, Lin Xizhao explained softly, “To meet my uncles.” She knew Qu Sheng would agree.

Qu Sheng put down the half-peeled loquat in her hand and, after a moment, nodded.

After changing Qu Sheng into a different set of clothes, Lin Xizhao took her to the main hall, where many people were already seated.

Lin Xizhao led Qu Sheng to pay their respects. Qu Sheng remembered all the instructions; whatever Lin Xizhao called them, she would call them, not shy at all. If they didn’t know that Qu Sheng was born simple-minded, none of the five Liang family uncles would have been able to tell that there was anything wrong with this child.

However, on the way back to the courtyard, Lin Xizhao could no longer control her emotions. She hugged Qu Sheng on the quiet path and began to cry silently.

At this time, Qu Sheng was a bit shorter than Lin Xizhao. She had heard everything that was said in the hall just now. They had talked about Lin Xizhao’s birth mother, and her uncles had been unable to control their emotions at the time, either looking up to hide their tears or lowering their heads in silence.

But there was one thing the Liang family had guessed correctly. The death of Lin Xizhao’s mother was no accident.

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The author has something to say:

Qu Sheng: “My wife is crying, my heart is broken.”

Zhao Jiayu: “I’ll get you some paste to stick it together, you can make do.”

Qu Sheng: “Forget it, I’ll just carry it to my wife and let her keep it in her heart. That way, I’ll belong only to my wife.”

Zhao Jiayu: “…Xizhao, hurry up and do something about her oily mouth!”¹⁷

Lin Xizhao: “I can’t. My oil tank here is already full.”

Qu Sheng: “Wife, since it’s full, let’s go stir-fry some dishes until they burst.”¹⁸

Lin Xizhao: “…”

Zhao Jiayu: “!!!”

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