The Prime Minister’s Daughter and the Marquis’s Fool – Chapter 32

Feng Qi, Stop!

Qu Sheng didn’t recognize the man before her, but today, he had touched her reverse scale¹; he could only blame his own bad luck.

Qu Sheng’s smile was grim. The young master from the Yong Shen Marquisate recognized Qu Sheng. Seeing her expression, his face grew a little awkward. Though he knew she was a fool, he couldn’t help but feel flustered. He smiled and opened his mouth, wanting to offer some kind of explanation.

But Qu Sheng gave him no chance. She raised the vase in her hands.

“You—”

Quickly and accurately, Qu Sheng threw the vase, smashing it against the head of the Yong Shen Marquisate’s young master. But the vase was too small; even though it cracked against his head and shattered into porcelain shards, it failed to knock him down.

In an instant, several bloody streaks trickled down the young master’s forehead. Before he could even register the pain, his hand came away with blood, and he began to tremble in fright.

A grown man, having gotten his head smashed by a mad girl, naturally wouldn’t let the matter rest. He looked at Qu Sheng, remembered she was a fool, and his expression shifted from its earlier awkwardness to rage.

Qu Sheng watched him stride over, yet her expression remained composed. Just as the young master from the Yong Shen Marquisate reached out his hand, about to touch her, a person dropped down from the roof and kicked him into the doorframe across the room.

“Miss,” Feng Qi said, turning back for instructions after landing from the roof and kicking the man away.

Before entering the Zheng Residence today, Qu Sheng had summoned him and told him to stay alert at all times. He was a guard, but he was also a man. Although he had permission to freely enter and exit Lin Xizhao’s courtyard at the Prime Minister’s Residence, he could not enter the courtyard of a young lady of the Zheng family. So, from the beginning, he had not followed Qu Sheng into the residence but had entered from elsewhere.

Qu Sheng’s eyes grew cold as she stared at the man on the floor, clutching his chest.

Feng Qi understood. When he turned around, his face was just as terrifying.

Qu Sheng wanted to kill this man.

Feng Qi slowly walked over, looked down contemptuously at the man on the floor, then bent over, grabbed him by the neck, and lifted him up.

Perhaps the noise in the room was too loud. Lin Xizhao had been asleep for so long that the effects of the drug had half worn off. She slowly opened her eyes, and when she saw clearly what was happening, she was instantly wide awake.

“Feng Qi, stop!”

Lin Xizhao saw Song Zixiang—the man who had blocked her path at Prince Fucheng’s Residence last time—his face turning purple as Feng Qi choked him, looking as if he was about to stop breathing. She scrambled to her feet.

But for some reason, her body was too exhausted. She took only one step before stumbling into Qu Sheng’s arms.

“Jiejie.” Qu Sheng caught Lin Xizhao, the coldness in her eyes vanishing. Seeing Lin Xizhao’s anxious look, she frowned slightly.

“Quick, tell Feng Qi to stop! He’s the young master of the Yong Shen Marquisate,” Lin Xizhao said, revealing the man’s identity.

Hearing this, Feng Qi’s hands didn’t stop, but he did glance back at Qu Sheng. Qu Sheng’s eyes narrowed imperceptibly as she looked back at him.

Feng Qi received his orders from her gaze. He loosened his grip but didn’t let the man off just like that. After setting him down, Feng Qi delivered another kick, sending the man flying out of the room along with the door panel. He probably wouldn’t be getting out of bed for a year and a half.

Lin Xizhao saw the viciousness in Feng Qi’s actions and seemed to realize that Song Zixiang must have done something improper. But before she could think it over, she saw the newcomers outside.

The wife of Vice Minister Zheng was in the courtyard with several young ladies, staring in astonishment at Song Zixiang on the ground.

“Isn’t this the young master of the Yong Shen Marquisate? How is he in Sister Chunyi’s private chamber?” The one who spoke was none other than the daughter of the current Imperial Uncle-in-law, Cheng Mianrong. With her were the daughters of several other officials.

Cheng Mianrong didn’t care if the man on the ground lived or died; she was more curious about who was in the room. When she saw Qu Sheng and Lin Xizhao emerge, she wasn’t surprised at all.

“This man had improper intentions toward my young miss. I must trouble Madam Zheng to send someone to report this to the authorities, and also to inform my family’s Third and Fourth Young Masters,” Feng Qi said, clasping his hands in a salute. When he looked up, his eyes were fierce.

Hearing this, Madam Zheng looked down at Song Zixiang, whom her servants were about to help up, and for a moment, she was at a loss.

“To think that the Young Marquis Song would be interested in a fool. It really opens one’s eyes²,” Cheng Mianrong said, surveying the scene. She glanced around but didn’t see the young lady of the Zheng family. They had sent her lavish gifts and invited her over for a chat, but it turned out they just wanted her to see this.

In an instant, Cheng Mianrong understood the trap the Zheng family had laid. It was nothing more than to have her witness the young master of the Yong Shen Marquisate having a private rendezvous with a young lady in the room. And that young lady was definitely not Qu Sheng.

If not for this scene today, she probably would have become a spreader of that rumor. Cheng Mianrong snorted coldly and left without so much as a greeting to Lin Xizhao and the others. Seeing this, the other young ladies silently turned and followed.

Of course, young ladies would avoid such sordid matters whenever possible.

By now, Lin Xizhao was fully awake. She and Qu Sheng had both felt unusually drowsy today, and now she understood everything perfectly. But today’s events could not be publicized; it would do them no good.

Lin Xizhao led Qu Sheng over to Madam Zheng. When she looked up, the gentleness was gone from her eyes. “Today, let’s just pretend we were never here. If Madam Zheng wishes to—” pursue responsibility.

“Eldest Miss,” Feng Qi interjected at the right moment. He knew Lin Xizhao was soft-hearted, but with the young master of the Yong Shen Marquisate beaten this badly, they would surely not let the matter rest. Therefore, their Qu Marquisate had to step forward. Prime Minister Lin cared too much about his reputation; he couldn’t be relied upon.

Hearing Feng Qi call her, Lin Xizhao glanced over. Seeing him nod, she stopped herself from finishing her sentence.

“If the Yong Shen Marquisate has any objections regarding today’s events, we, the Zhengyi Marquisate, will be ready to oblige at any time.” Though Feng Qi was Qu Sheng’s personal guard, he understood her so well that his words were her own.

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When Qu Ting and Qu Yu arrived, they brought a carriage.

The people from the Zheng Residence had only said that Qu Sheng’s guard had asked them to come pick them up, without explaining why. But those two were so sharp that they guessed at once that something had happened. Upon entering the residence and hearing Feng Qi’s report, they learned the gist of the situation. They had Lin Xizhao and Qu Sheng taken to the carriage, then remained behind in the Zheng Residence.

“Madam Zheng doesn’t think that today’s matter will just be swept under the rug, does she?” Qu Ting said, sitting in the Zheng Residence’s main hall and sipping tea. He looked at Song Zixiang on the floor, where a doctor was still diagnosing him, and smiled casually, yet it was a smile that struck fear in people.

Everyone knew that aside from the fool, no one in the Qu family was to be trifled with. The Qu family always repaid kindness with kindness, and they always avenged their grievances.

Although today’s scheme was aimed at Lin Xizhao, she was their Qu family’s adopted daughter. To them, she was no different from their own sister. Furthermore, their own sister had been implicated as well. The innocence of both their sisters had nearly been ruined today, so they would certainly not let the matter rest. The schemers had underestimated Lin Xizhao’s place in the hearts of the Qu family, and they had also underestimated Qu Sheng.

As for the man lying on the floor, it wasn’t that no one from the Yong Shen Marquisate had come for him, but that the two Qu brothers wouldn’t let them take him away.

They stated clearly that they wanted the Marquis and Madam of Yong Shen to come pick him up in person. Otherwise, they would take him to the dungeons of the Capital Prefecture Yamen³, and they had already thought up the perfect crime to charge him with.

When Vice Minister Zheng returned from the Ministry of Revenue and learned what had happened, he immediately extricated himself and his daughter from the situation. As for how the Qu family wanted to deal with his wife, he wouldn’t interfere.

“Lord Zheng truly has the spirit to destroy his own relatives for the sake of righteousness⁴. But do you think you can wash your hands clean of today’s events?” Qu Ting spoke unhurriedly, but his words once again made the hearts of the Zheng family tremble.

Since the Qu family was clinging to this matter and not reporting it to the officials, Vice Minister Zheng figured they wanted something.

“Young Masters, please say whatever it is you want. I, Zheng, will not be stingy with anything I can offer to make amends,” Vice Minister Zheng said, putting it all on the line. Even if they demanded his entire family fortune, he would grit his teeth and give it.

“Make amends?” Qu Ting chuckled and looked at Qu Yu. Qu Yu smiled with understanding. “Lord Zheng, don’t misunderstand. Our Qu family isn’t so poor as to want anything from your home. However…”

“However what?” Hearing that word, Vice Minister Zheng began to suspect that the Qu family wanted him to do something for them.

Sure enough, Qu Yu beckoned to him. After he drew near, the words Qu Yu spoke scared him into silence.

“Is Lord Zheng willing, or not?” Qu Yu raised an eyebrow and asked with a smirk, looking at Vice Minister Zheng, who was as dumb as a wooden chicken⁵.

Vice Minister Zheng’s mind spun. Qu Yu had made it very clear just now: if he didn’t agree, he would not only lose his home and property, but he could also forget about keeping his official post.

“I, Zheng, agree.” If he didn’t do it, he would lose everything. If he did, there was still a sliver of hope. He hadn’t been ignorant of today’s affair; he felt the matter was feasible and so had opened one eye and closed one eye⁶, never expecting the Qu family would care so much about Lin Xizhao.

After hearing Vice Minister Zheng agree, Qu Yu glanced at Qu Ting. The corner of Qu Ting’s lips curved up as he set down his teacup.

The servant from the Yong Shen Marquisate who had returned quickly brought back the Marquis of Yong Shen and his wife.

When the Marquis of Yong Shen saw his son, who had been unconscious on the floor for so long without even being put on a bed, and saw his injuries, he began to wail crocodile tears, accusing the Qu family of being vicious. His son had done nothing, yet he was beaten this badly—it was a terrible injustice! He threatened to go to the imperial palace and report the Qu family.

It would have been better if the Marquis of Yong Shen had said nothing. His words just made the two Qu brothers exchange a smile. Qu Yu laughed. “Noble Consort has been at odds with the Empress recently. Does Marquis Song think that if this matter reaches the palace, it will be Her Majesty the Empress who judges it?”

Song Zixiang had done nothing, but he had appeared in a woman’s private chamber, acting furtively, and was caught in the act by Qu Sheng’s guard. Could that be faked?

For an unmarried woman to be with a man in someone else’s private chamber—unless they were siblings—would sound extremely bad for her reputation, even if nothing happened.

If they insisted that Lin Xizhao had deliberately come here for a tryst with him, it would be even harder for her to clear her name. In the future, aside from the Yong Shen Marquisate, if she wanted to marry, even if she married down to someone willing to have her, the groom’s family would have to bear the rumors and slanderous talk. Who would treat her well then?

In this Tiancheng Kingdom, a woman’s reputation was paramount. They were trying to ruin Lin Xizhao! And it had been long premeditated.

The Noble Consort was the Marquis of Yong Shen’s elder sister. In recent years, the Emperor of Tiancheng had doted on her. Although he had no intention of replacing the Crown Prince, he had enfeoffed her son as a prince, and she often stole the Empress’s thunder in the palace. The Empress resented her for it. In today’s matter, the Marquis of Yong Shen had no leg to stand on. Even with his son beaten this badly, he would have to swallow his anger and choke back his voice.

“We must trouble Marquis Song to visit the Lin Residence with your wife tomorrow and apologize to my Sister Xizhao and Sister Sheng,” Qu Ting said. This was why he and Qu Yu had waited here.

The Marquis of Yong Shen had to go whether he wanted to or not. Qu Yu and Qu Ting were determined to make them lose face. After doing something so disgusting, if they weren’t punished, wouldn’t it mean that anyone could bully the Qu family?

“My father will be returning to the capital soon. My brother and I have other matters to attend to, so we won’t disturb you any longer.” After dropping these words, Qu Yu and Qu Ting left the Vice Minister Zheng’s residence.

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The moment Lin Xizhao and Qu Sheng returned to the Prime Minister’s Residence, a servant told them that Zhao Jiayu and Xiao Bingying had come. On the carriage ride back, Lin Xizhao had thought back on the day’s events and connected them to when Yu-shi had told her to attend the banquet a few days ago.

The two incidents seemed unrelated, but Yu-shi had told her to go both times, and both times she had run into the young master of the Yong Shen Marquisate. She would never believe it wasn’t deliberately arranged.

Upon returning to the residence, Lin Xizhao went specifically to ask the servants who looked after her two younger brothers if the two young masters had been drowsy before noon.

The servants replied that they had.

Lin Xizhao guessed that Yu-shi had tampered with the food but didn’t confront her directly. Yu-shi seemed easygoing, but she was quite crafty. If not for her birth mother suppressing her all these years, her true nature would have likely been revealed long ago. If she went to find her now, Yu-shi would surely use her two sons as an excuse.

Who would drug food without regard for their own children?

She could only accept her loss today. She just felt bad that Qu Sheng had to suffer this injustice with her.

Lin Xizhao returned to her courtyard and saw Zhao Jiayu and Xiao Bingying looking anxious from waiting. Before she could speak, she heard Zhao Jiayu complain, “Where did you take little Sheng’er?”

Hearing this, Lin Xizhao was about to answer when she noticed that one side of Zhao Jiayu’s face was red and swollen. Her gaze froze. “What happened to your face?” she asked, reaching out to examine it.

Zhao Jiayu looked a bit embarrassed. “My mother hit me yesterday,” she said.

Hearing that Zhao Jiayu had been hit by her own mother, Lin Xizhao’s eyes filled with unconcealed sympathy. But in the next moment, she saw Zhao Jiayu give a bitter smile. “But don’t worry, I got the indenture contracts⁷ for those girls.”

Xiao Bingying had brought them herself when she went to find her today.

Yesterday, Lin Xizhao had originally arranged for Xiao Bingying to beat around the bush⁸, in case Zhao Jiayu couldn’t get them. But unexpectedly, General Zhao himself had gone to the Xiao Residence today to demand the girls’ indenture contracts.

General Xiao was inevitably berated by his wife, but thankfully, the contracts were handed over, and Xiao Bingying took them to the Zhao Residence.

Today, Lin Xizhao had finally heard a piece of good news, but Zhao Jiayu’s face was truly heartbreaking to see.

“It’s nothing. Let’s go see those girls first,” Zhao Jiayu said. She had been sad when her mother hit her yesterday, but after hearing about her mother’s helplessness, her anger had already dissipated.

“Alright.” Lin Xizhao and Qu Sheng had only just returned, but they headed out of the residence again.

Lin Xizhao took them to the small courtyard in the capital where the girls were staying. The girls had received medical treatment from a doctor, and knowing they no longer had to return to that dark place, they were all wreathed in smiles. However, two of them still had some mental health issues.

Looking at these young girls, Lin Xizhao pondered for a moment and decided to let them stay here. The place didn’t have many servants anyway, so it was fine for them to stay. But they were free to leave if they wished; she wouldn’t force them, in case they had better places to go.

Zhao Jiayu looked at the girls who had been abused by her maternal uncle, her heart filled with self-blame. Not only that, but she was also powerless to stop the next group of girls from being harmed.

Her mother was right. By saving these girls, she would inevitably harm another group. A dog can’t change its habit of eating shit⁹. If he could do it secretly once, he would surely do it a second time; it was only a matter of time.

As for how to stop her uncle’s perverse behavior, she had thought all night without coming up with a single idea.

After arranging things for the girls, Lin Xizhao didn’t leave right away. It was much quieter here than at the Prime Minister’s Residence, and she didn’t want to go back just yet.

“The capital’s Censors¹⁰ have the duty to investigate and evaluate all ministry officials and military officers. The reason Xiao-shufu¹¹ is so reckless is because he has no hope of promotion. If he had an opportunity to achieve merit, I think this matter could then be split open like bamboo with the grain¹²,” Lin Xizhao said, offering a suggestion in response to Zhao Jiayu’s request for help.

Since he was a man, he surely had an unshirkable duty¹³ to achieve merits and bring glory to his family gate¹⁴. Besides, which official didn’t want to climb higher?

“Achieve merit?” It wasn’t that Zhao Jiayu didn’t trust her maternal uncle, but the country had long been without war. Even her own father had no hope of promotion, let alone her uncle.

Hearing Lin Xizhao’s words, Xiao Bingying looked toward Qu Sheng. Speaking of war, wasn’t there one recently? Although it was an internal conflict in a vassal state, it was still a war. But the Qu family had handled that matter single-handedly; what need was there for military generals in the capital?

Qu Sheng was eating the pastries Lin Xizhao had sent a servant out to buy. When she looked up, she found all three of them looking at her.

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The author has something to say:

Qu Sheng: “Don’t look at me. If you keep looking, I’ll eat you.”

Xiao-baobao’s¹⁵ wife is coming soon.

Sorry for the late post today.

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