The Prime Minister’s Daughter and the Marquis’s Fool – Chapter 31

Xizhao-jiejie Is So Good to Sheng-meimei

Lin Xizhao followed Yu-shi’s gaze into the room. Qu Sheng had also turned her head back by now, a well-behaved look on her face. Lin Xizhao’s lips curved slightly as she smiled at her, then she said to Yu-shi, “Since he’s the Vice Minister of Revenue, their residence shouldn’t be short on food for Sheng’er, right?”

Lin Xizhao didn’t say she wouldn’t go, but if she went, she had to bring Qu Sheng. Last time, Qu Sheng had waited outside Prince Fucheng’s Residence for half a day, which had broken her heart with worry. If she were sent back to the Marquis Qu Residence tomorrow, she might just go looking for her again.

She’d have to go over sooner or later, so it was better to just take her directly. Besides, if the Vice Minister of Revenue’s precious daughter truly wanted to befriend her in the future, then she would have to accept Qu Sheng.

Hearing this, a trace of difficulty appeared on Yu-shi’s face. As she was thinking of what to say to persuade Lin Xizhao to go by herself, Lin Xizhao said, “If Sheng’er can’t go, then I won’t go either. When I have time, I’ll personally write an invitation card and ask Miss Zheng to be a guest at our residence as an apology for not going tomorrow.”

When Lin Xizhao said she wouldn’t go, Yu-shi grew a little anxious and quickly said with a smile, “What are you saying? Sheng’er has been like form and shadow, never apart¹ from you these past few years. I was just worried she’d be uncomfortable at Vice Minister Zheng’s home and have a relapse of her old illness. I was only thinking of her.”

Didn’t she have an episode just the other day? And she even had a fit of madness. The memory alone sent a chill through her heart.

“She won’t. Sheng’er… won’t have an episode.” She had previously asked Jin Yunfei if Qu Sheng’s epilepsy would act up again, and if it did, how to handle it. Jin Yunfei had said that they had found many doctors for Qu Sheng over the years and it was basically under control. The chance of an episode was minuscule, so there was no need to worry.

That day in Mother’s courtyard, Qu Sheng was just pretending. She admitted it herself.

“Alright, then you’ll go together.” Yu-shi’s tone was loving, as if she really were just worried Qu Sheng would have an episode. “Since it’s settled, I’ll be heading back. The Zheng Residence will send a carriage to pick you both up tomorrow.”

Hearing this, Lin Xizhao nodded slightly and said, “Then I won’t see Auntie Yu out.”

Yu-shi smiled, nodded, and left. Lin Xizhao returned to the dining table, picked up the bowl and chopsticks, and began feeding Qu Sheng again, telling her about the conversation with Yu-shi as she did.

Qu Sheng had heard, but sometimes, she would be selectively deaf. If she didn’t want to hear what others said, she would have no reaction even if the words entered her ears, so Lin Xizhao had to tell her again.

“We’re going to be guests at a jiejie’s residence tomorrow. Would Sheng’er like to go?” Lin Xizhao had just been haggling with Yu-shi about bringing Qu Sheng along, yet now she was asking her again.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to take Qu Sheng; rather, even though she had fought for the chance for her to go, she still had to ask Qu Sheng herself if she wanted to. What if she didn’t?

“Go.” Qu Sheng swallowed the food in her mouth, nodded, and answered crisply.

Hearing this, Lin Xizhao’s eyes curved in a smile, but she feigned a bit of seriousness. “Then it’s settled. You have to be good when we get there, no running around.” Qu Sheng was always well-behaved with her, but there was no guarantee an unexpected situation wouldn’t arise. After all, they would be guests in someone else’s home.

Qu Sheng looked at the food Lin Xizhao was holding out with the chopsticks, nodded, opened her little mouth, and leaned in to eat it.

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Early in the morning, Lin Xizhao helped Qu Sheng put on a dress. The little girl was changing day by day, right at the age of growth.

Lin Xizhao’s soft, pale hands cupped Qu Sheng’s delicate cheeks. She lowered her head to look for a moment, then suddenly teased with a smile, “My Sheng’er, you seem even prettier today than you were yesterday.”

Qu Sheng had originally thought Lin Xizhao just wanted to see if her face was dirty. Hearing her say this, she lifted her eyes to glance at Lin Xizhao.

When it came to being pretty, Lin Xizhao’s appearance was Qu Sheng’s absolute favorite. Hearing Lin Xizhao praise her looks now, she didn’t have much of a reaction, but the blush on her cheeks couldn’t lie.

Seeing her shyness, Lin Xizhao didn’t point it out, just smiled gently and said, “Let’s eat something to fill our stomachs first. Jiayu and Bingying probably won’t be over until after noon. We’ll only be at Vice Minister Zheng’s home for the midday, and tonight I’ll make you something delicious.”

Qu Sheng listened to Lin Xizhao’s arrangements, nodded, and was led out by the hand.

During the morning meal, Prime Minister Lin wasn’t at the residence and didn’t come to eat, but Yu-shi didn’t come either.

“Why haven’t I seen Auntie Yu today?” Lin Xizhao placed some food in her little brother Lin Xirui’s bowl.

Lin Xirui held up his bowl to receive the food Lin Xizhao gave him and replied with a smile, “Thank you, Ajie. Mother said she isn’t hungry yet and will eat later, so we don’t have to wait for her.”

“Is she unwell?” Lin Xizhao was a little concerned. Ever since Yu-shi had been promoted to the official wife and become the matriarch, she had rarely missed a meal like this.

“No, I saw Mother ordering the servants around just a moment ago,” Lin Xirui replied as he ate. How could someone who scolds people with so much vigor possibly be sick?

Hearing this, Lin Xizhao nodded. “That’s good, then.” After speaking, she went back to feeding Qu Sheng.

Lately, Qu Sheng had become more and more dependent on her, not even wanting to feed herself anymore. But watching the way Qu Sheng’s little mouth moved as she ate so obediently, Lin Xizhao found it to be a kind of pleasure.

After the meal, the carriage from the Vice Minister Zheng Residence arrived. Lin Xizhao led Qu Sheng onto the carriage. Qu Sheng tilted her head and leaned against Lin Xizhao’s shoulder, seeming very sleepy.

She ate a little too much today, and we woke up a bit early. Lin Xizhao glanced sideways, stroking Qu Sheng’s cheek. “Go ahead and sleep for a bit. I’ll wake you when we arrive.”

Hearing this, Qu Sheng didn’t speak, but she obediently closed her eyes.

The Vice Minister Zheng Residence was quite a distance from the Prime Minister’s Residence; the carriage traveled for nearly half a shichen² before arriving. Lin Xizhao had said she would wake Qu Sheng when they got there, but she ended up falling asleep herself. It was only when Feng Qi called softly from outside that the two of them woke up.

Qu Sheng got off the carriage and habitually turned back to help Lin Xizhao, only to find that Lin Xizhao seemed even sleepier than she was.

The two of them hadn’t interacted much last night; they had gone to sleep right after bathing. Although they had woken up a bit early today, it shouldn’t have been enough to make them this drowsy.

Qu Sheng thought back to what they had eaten today. After a slight frown, she called out for Feng Qi.

The two were led into the residence by a servant from the Zheng household. Just as they reached the front courtyard, a Zheng family servant brought out the Vice Minister’s wife and daughter.

“Greetings, Shenshen.”³ Lin Xizhao curtsied, her voice gentle.

Hearing this, Madam Zheng quickly smiled. “Good, good. I was worried you wouldn’t come after I so presumptuously sent the invitation yesterday. I’m so happy you could make it today. Chun Yi⁴, quickly, come greet your Xizhao-jiejie.” As she spoke, Madam Zheng turned to look at her daughter.

Chun Yi was Vice Minister Zheng’s daughter, the same girl who had struck up a conversation with Lin Xizhao at the running water banquet.

“Chun Yi greets Jiejie.” The young lady was only a month younger than Lin Xizhao, and their hairpin ceremonies had been around the same time. That day had also been her first time appearing at that kind of banquet.

Lin Xizhao smiled and nodded, then glanced sideways at Qu Sheng. Qu Sheng stood beside Lin Xizhao, looking well-behaved, but her gaze was a bit vacant.

“Sheng’er.” Seeing Qu Sheng make no move, Lin Xizhao called to her softly and reached out to take her hand.

Hearing this, Qu Sheng looked over at Lin Xizhao, blinking her innocent eyes. As if understanding, she bowed her head and curtsied to Madam Zheng and her daughter.

“This must be the young miss from the Marquis Qu household.” Madam Zheng had never met Qu Sheng. At first, seeing how fair and clean she was, she’d quite liked her, but upon hearing Lin Xizhao call her name and seeing her dazed and foolish appearance, she knew this was the Qu family’s idiot.

“Yes. My meimei has been with me constantly of late. When I heard from Auntie Yu that Shenshen and Chun Yi-meimei were inviting me, she came along as well,” Lin Xizhao explained.

Hearing this, Madam Zheng gave Qu Sheng another look before speaking some pleasantries with a smile. “The more the merrier. My daughter is a bit shy around strangers, so it’s good for her to meet people. Why don’t you all go to Chun Yi’s courtyard to talk.”

Lin Xizhao smiled gently, nodded, and then, holding Qu Sheng’s hand, followed Madam Zheng and her daughter to Zheng Chun Yi’s courtyard.

This daughter of the Zheng family was indeed a bit timid. After Madam Zheng left, she just sat to the side, not knowing how to start a conversation with Lin Xizhao.

It had been fine when Lin Xizhao spoke with her at the banquet. Seeing her silent now, she guessed it was because of Qu Sheng’s presence.

Ever since entering Zheng Chun Yi’s boudoir, Qu Sheng had just been sitting there in a daze. Lin Xizhao looked at the two of them—one who kept glancing at her, and one who kept her head down, silent and withdrawn.

“Has Chun Yi-meimei read any interesting books lately?” Lin Xizhao had heard that although this daughter of the Zheng family didn’t like to talk, she was well-read. Starting a conversation with her on this topic seemed like a good idea.

Hearing this, Zheng Chun Yi blinked. The books she read were almost all serious academic texts, incredibly dry. How could they be interesting? In a low voice, she said, “Has Jiejie read any?”

Hearing Zheng Chun Yi’s question, Lin Xizhao smiled. “I haven’t read much recently, but I did read a collection of miscellaneous notes before, about how to raise horses.”

“About raising horses?” Hearing this, Zheng Chun Yi grew curious. “Why does Jiejie like to read such books?”

Lin Xizhao gave a light laugh. “It’s because Father mentioned a few days ago that His Majesty wants to purchase a batch of warhorses from the north. We happened to have this book at home, so I took a look.”

Hearing Lin Xizhao’s explanation, Zheng Chun Yi also opened her word box⁵ and asked many questions. Lin Xizhao was patient and treated people gently, so Zheng Chun Yi gradually became more talkative, and the two of them were soon chatting and laughing.

Half a shichen later.

Qu Sheng, sitting to the side, let out a yawn. She did like listening to Lin Xizhao speak—that pleasant, gentle voice was also an excellent sleep aid.

After yawning, Qu Sheng laid her head down on the table, ready to take a nap. But a moment later, she heard Zheng Chun Yi say, “Sheng-meimei seems sleepy. It’s still a while until the noon meal. Let her go sleep on the couch for a bit.”

Qu Sheng kept her eyes closed as if she hadn’t heard. Lin Xizhao walked over, leaned close to her ear, and called softly, “Sheng’er, go sleep on Chun Yi-meimei’s couch for a bit.”

At the sound, Qu Sheng opened her drowsy eyes. She looked at Lin Xizhao without answering until Lin Xizhao reached out to help her up, at which point she finally rose.

Lin Xizhao helped Qu Sheng to the couch, took off her shoes, and covered her with a thin blanket.

“Xizhao-jiejie is so good to Sheng-meimei,” Zheng Chun Yi said softly, a little envious.

Although Qu Sheng was the Eldest Miss of the Marquis Qu Residence, Lin Xizhao was also the Eldest Miss of the Prime Minister’s Residence. For Lin Xizhao to treat Qu Sheng this way, she must truly dote on her.

Zheng Chun Yi had also heard that Qu Sheng was a simpleton. Seeing her today, it did seem to be true to an extent, but she wasn’t as bad as the rumors made her out to be. Qu Sheng was fair-skinned, and her dress was clean. Following behind Lin Xizhao, she was like a well-behaved little doll. Though her reactions were a bit slow, she was still quite likable.

Hearing this, Lin Xizhao turned back with a smile and casually praised, “Sheng’er is very good.”

Lin Xizhao and Zheng Chun Yi chatted about many things in the outer room, all topics between young sisters. Before they knew it, it was midday, and Madam Zheng sent someone to ask if they were ready for the meal.

Since it was midday, it was naturally time to eat. Lin Xizhao could skip the meal herself, but she couldn’t let her precious little glutton go hungry.

Lin Xizhao went into the room to wake Qu Sheng, but Qu Sheng didn’t want to wake up. Helpless, Lin Xizhao could only blow softly into Qu Sheng’s ear, trying to rouse her.

Qu Sheng shook her head to avoid it but was awakened by Lin Xizhao’s laughter. Lin Xizhao’s laugh was soft. Qu Sheng opened her eyes and resignedly followed them to the dining hall.

Lin Xizhao and Qu Sheng were young ladies, so only Madam Zheng, who had cooked herself, and Zheng Chun Yi accompanied them in the residence.

On the way over, Lin Xizhao had told Qu Sheng to eat by herself. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to feed her, but she was afraid of gossip.

Qu Sheng’s reputation for being a simpleton was already bad enough. If word got out that she still needed someone to feed her, it would sound even worse.

Qu Sheng kept yawning at the dining table. After a few bites, she didn’t want to eat anymore. Lin Xizhao wanted to feed her but felt helpless when she refused to eat even then, just clamoring that she wanted to sleep.

“I think Sheng-meimei is just too sleepy today. Why not let her go back to sleep? When she wakes up, we can just have the kitchen make something for her,” Zheng Chun Yi said, watching Qu Sheng yawn so much that she herself felt the urge to open her mouth.

Hearing this, Lin Xizhao didn’t want to force Qu Sheng to endure it. Seeing her in this state, she could only take her back to Zheng Chun Yi’s boudoir to rest first.

After settling Qu Sheng in, Lin Xizhao returned to the dining table to have the noon meal with Madam Zheng and her daughter. In truth, Lin Xizhao was also a bit sleepy, but she could hold out.

At the table, Madam Zheng didn’t say much. Zheng Chun Yi, however, having talked about books with Lin Xizhao in the room earlier, kept asking questions.

Lin Xizhao answered each one. After the noon meal, she first went to check on Qu Sheng. Seeing her sleeping soundly, she didn’t wake her, and instead followed Zheng Chun Yi to the Zheng Residence’s book collection.

“I’ve long heard that Uncle Zheng is immensely learned and has a collection of many classic texts. Now that I have the good fortune to see it today, Xizhao won’t be polite.”

Lin Xizhao was invited by Zheng Chun Yi into the book collection pavilion⁶. Most of the books here were rare ancient texts, and Lin Xizhao had only been allowed in with Madam Zheng’s permission.

Hearing this, Zheng Chun Yi smiled. “I’m also basking in Jiejie’s light to be able to come in here today.”

Hearing this, the smile on Lin Xizhao’s face faded slightly. She turned back and asked, puzzled, “Has Meimei never been here before?”

Their own family’s book collection pavilion… could it be that the young miss of the Zheng family isn’t allowed in?

Hearing this, a bitter smile touched Zheng Chun Yi’s face. “Father treasures these books dearly. Not even my older brother has ever been inside.”

Listening to Zheng Chun Yi’s words, Lin Xizhao’s thoughts spun. Why can’t the children of the house enter, but an outsider like me can?

“Jiejie, see if there’s anything you like. Mother said that if you like any, you can take them home to read.” Zheng Chun Yi changed the subject. The thought of the time she had wanted to come in and was scolded by her father made her a little sad.

Hearing this, Lin Xizhao glanced around. On a wooden plaque hanging from a bookshelf, she saw the category for books on military strategy. Thinking of the military strategy book she had gotten from Qu Sheng that she hadn’t read yet, she gave that shelf a few extra glances.

Lin Xizhao picked out a few books on military tactics, along with some others she liked, and followed Zheng Chun Yi back to the boudoir. Qu Sheng was still asleep. Not wanting to wake her, Lin Xizhao and Zheng Chun Yi sat to the side, reading and waiting for her to wake up.

Qu Sheng’s nap was exceptionally deep and long. Lin Xizhao finished reading an entire book, and still she hadn’t woken. It wasn’t until Lin Xizhao could no longer fight off her own drowsiness and fell asleep with one hand propping up her forehead that there was still no movement in the room.

Lying on the couch, Qu Sheng heard the door to the outer room open and close, and her eyes opened. About a quarter of an hour⁷ later, she heard a sound at the door and the shuffling of extremely light footsteps outside. She slowly sat up.

Surveying the objects in Zheng Chun Yi’s boudoir, Qu Sheng found a conveniently placed vase and tiptoed toward the outer room.

“Miss Xizhao?”

Qu Sheng heard a man’s voice. She pressed herself against the door to the inner room and watched as a man in fine clothes called Lin Xizhao’s name softly, her brows furrowing slightly.

Qu Sheng watched the man stand before Lin Xizhao, seemingly wanting to reach out and touch her, yet not knowing where to start.

Lin Xizhao was now slumped over the table, a book she had read a few pages of still clutched in her hand.

The man had his back to Qu Sheng. He raised a hand mid-air, then pulled it back and sat down face-to-face with Lin Xizhao. Qu Sheng watched his hesitant movements, wanting to touch Lin Xizhao but not daring to, and for a moment, she couldn’t figure out what the Zheng family and Yu-shi were trying to do to Lin Xizhao.

The food this morning was drugged. I ate a lot, so I got very sleepy, but I realized it afterward. Luckily, the dose wasn’t large enough to make me pass out completely. By the time I got out of the carriage, I was already mostly awake.

Lin Xizhao being like this clearly meant the food from this morning and the food at midday had deepened her stupor.

About the time it takes for one stick of incense to burn⁸, Qu Sheng heard voices outside. At that moment, the man stood up again, gesturing with his hands as if he wanted to pick Lin Xizhao up.

Before the man could touch Lin Xizhao, Qu Sheng pulled open the door to the inner room. Seeing the startled expression on his face as he turned to look at her, Qu Sheng actually smiled. But this smile was somewhat sinister and bewitching.

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The author has something to say:

Qu Sheng: “My wife. Only I get to hold her.”

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