The Prime Minister’s Daughter and the Marquis’s Fool – Chapter 4

Is There a Cure for This Epileptic Malady?

Qu Sheng foamed at the mouth, and no one dared to approach. Only Lin Xizhao remained standing by her side, using a handkerchief to wipe the white foam from the corner of her mouth. But in just a moment, Qu Sheng’s body began to convulse, her hands and feet curled up, and her eyes could no longer see.

“Quick, pinch her mouth shut!” The daughter of General Zhao had her fist raised but stopped it in mid-air to remind Lin Xizhao.

Hearing this, Lin Xizhao dared not delay and immediately pinched Qu Sheng’s cheeks. After a short while, Qu Sheng’s body went limp. Although Lin Xizhao was a bit older than her, she was still a delicate girl. When Qu Sheng’s body went soft, Lin Xizhao was pulled down to her knees, but her hands never let go.

“Quickly, go call an Imperial Physician!” Lin Xizhao shouted to the people beside her.

“Don’t you dare call one!” The Eldest Miss of the Cheng family was pinned to the ground and couldn’t get up, but her arrogance was undiminished as she yelled not to call for an Imperial Physician.

The daughter of General Zhao heard this and glanced back at her. At that moment, she truly wanted to beat her until she cried, but a human life is connected to heaven¹, so she had to get up. She quickly ran outside the palace hall and summoned someone.

The Palace Attendant on duty outside received the message. One went into the hall to check on the situation, while the other ran in a panic to report to the Empress. By the time the Empress arrived with her entourage, Qu Sheng had already fainted, and the Imperial Physician had not yet arrived.

When Jin Yunfei saw her daughter lying on the ground, she forgot all etiquette in that instant. Rushing past the Empress, she ran over and took Qu Sheng into her arms from Lin Xizhao’s embrace.

“Sheng’er, Sheng’er, what’s wrong with you?”

Jin Yunfei called out with genuine anxiety in her voice, not at all feigned. The Empress also had someone inquire about what had happened.

The first person she asked was naturally her closest niece, the Eldest Miss of the Cheng family.

Due to the earlier scuffle, the Eldest Miss of the Cheng family’s hair was now a mess and her dress was wrinkled. She stammered, not daring to answer.

When Lin Xizhao looked up, she glanced at her own mother, who seemed to already understand and shook her head at her. But Lin Xizhao spoke up anyway. She curtsied and said, “Reporting to Her Majesty, the Empress, the young sisters had a little quarrel. Sheng-meimei was probably frightened.”

Upon hearing this, all the noble ladies who had entered the hall looked over. The Eldest Miss Cheng also looked at Lin Xizhao at this moment. Although her gaze was guilty and timid, she frowned with a hint of warning in her eyes.

Lin Xizhao’s expression was indifferent. She met her gaze for a moment but paid it no mind, nor did she continue speaking. It was not appropriate to speak of today’s matter in public. Not only would it be bad for the girls’ reputations, but it could also annoy the Empress and lead to a charge of the crime of great disrespect².

It was just unfair that this little doll, Qu Sheng, who was only three years old, had to suffer such a fright.

Worried, Lin Xizhao glanced sideways at Qu Sheng in Jin Yunfei’s arms. Qu Sheng’s body was limp, and she seemed to have lost consciousness. Judging from the situation just now, it looked like she had some kind of old illness.

The Imperial Physician quickly arrived and diagnosed Qu Sheng’s pulse. There was no longer any serious issue, but there seemed to be some things that were inconvenient to say out loud.

Emperor Tiancheng, having heard the news from somewhere, brought Qu Jinian, who had been discussing matters with him in the Imperial Study, to the Empress’s palace. He first reprimanded the palace maids and attendants, then sent people to escort the Qu mother and daughter out of the palace, ordering an Imperial Physician to accompany them all the way.

Qu Jinian remained in the palace. Although there was worry on his face, state affairs were not yet finished. Since the Son of Heaven did not let him leave, he did not ask to leave the palace either.

Inside the Imperial Study.

“We³ heard the imperial physician report just now that little Sheng’er seems to have an old illness. Is there such a thing?” Emperor Tiancheng sat on the Dragon Throne⁴, asking as if it were a casual question.

Hearing this, Qu Jinian looked up for a moment, then lowered his head and replied, “Reporting to Your Majesty, my young daughter has only recently arrived in the capital. This humble subject is not very clear on the matter. This humble subject will only know after leaving the palace and asking my wife.”

Qu Jinian had never seen his daughter before, only communicating through letters each year. If Jin Yunfei intended to hide it, she could naturally have kept it a secret.

The Emperor nodded, his gaze scrutinizing for a moment, before picking up a memorial⁵ from the Dragon Desk and beginning to read it again.

The moment Qu Sheng was carried into the carriage by Jin Yunfei and the curtain was lowered, Jin Yunfei hastily pulled a bottle of medicine from her sleeve and placed it under Qu Sheng’s nose.

Halfway back to their residence, Qu Sheng slowly regained consciousness. Seeing her daughter awake, Jin Yunfei finally let out a small sigh of relief.

“Sheng’er, are you feeling alright?” Jin Yunfei held her daughter, her eyes full of unease.

Hearing this, Qu Sheng’s long eyelashes fluttered. She moved her slender neck and with some difficulty, opened her pale, thin lips. Her voice was nearly hoarse as she said, “Sheng’er is fine, Mother need not worry.”

Even when she was unwell, Qu Sheng would say such things to comfort Jin Yunfei.

Tears began to well up in Jin Yunfei’s eyes at her words. She didn’t want her child to be so strong. She wanted her daughter to act spoiled in her arms, but this child was far too sensible.

After resting for a long while, Qu Sheng slowly sat up. Jin Yunfei had wanted to hold her longer, but she insisted on sitting up, as if only by sitting up could she prove she was truly fine and stop her mother from worrying.

Jin Yunfei couldn’t win against her and placed her on the long bench inside the carriage. Qu Sheng stretched out her small hand, lifted the carriage curtain, and glanced at the street outside.

The light outside was a bit glaring. Qu Sheng narrowed her eyes and turned her face slightly. After a moment, she moved her tongue inside her mouth, and a faint taste of blood seemed to spread through it just then.

Before she fainted, she had heard someone say not to let her bite her tongue. The next moment, a curled finger had been placed in her mouth, propping her jaw open, and she had instinctively bitten down on it.

After a short while, Qu Sheng’s eyes adjusted to the bright light outside, and her gaze returned to normal. In a voice that was both childish and a little hoarse, she asked, “The person who was helping Sheng’er just now, did Mother see clearly who it was?” In fact, as she asked, Qu Sheng had already guessed it was the older official’s family’s young miss who had been holding her hand, but she still wanted to confirm.

Hearing this, Jin Yunfei thought for a moment. When she entered the main hall, there was indeed a young girl taking care of her daughter. “It was the Prime Minister’s legitimate daughter⁶. I believe her name is Lin Xizhao.”

Yesterday, Qu Jinian had specifically told her who would likely be attending today. While admiring the chrysanthemums outside, she had also spoken with the Prime Minister’s wife for a while. She was certain it was the Prime Minister’s daughter.

When Jin Yunfei spoke with Qu Sheng, she sometimes forgot that the child was only three years old. Whenever Qu Sheng asked a question, she would always answer it fully. If Qu Sheng didn’t understand something, she would frown slightly and ask, so Jin Yunfei never used a coddling tone to speak with her.

Hearing the answer, Qu Sheng nodded her small head, looked at her mother, and said thoughtfully, “Today or tomorrow, someone will probably visit our residence. Mother must be careful in how you respond.”

Yesterday, Qu Sheng had proposed the idea of pretending to be a fool. Jin Yunfei had initially been unwilling to agree, but seeing how small her daughter was, if she were chosen as the Crown Princess, she would surely be taken into the palace to be raised, and they would never be able to see each other. Their Qu family was already a distinguished Marquis household; they did not care for the position of Empress.

After Jin Yunfei explained this to the others, they all agreed. So, the current consensus in the residence was that Qu Sheng was a fool.

Qu Sheng was carried out of the carriage by a guard. The Imperial Physician from the carriage behind immediately got out to check on her. Seeing that Qu Sheng’s eyes were open, he reached out, lifted her eyelid, and his tense expression finally relaxed a little.

“Thank you for your hard work, Imperial Physician Zheng. Please come into the residence for a short rest,” Jin Yunfei said, inviting him in as she saw him rush over from his carriage to check on Qu Sheng.

The Imperial Physician was flattered and quickly bowed to supplement his courtesy. In the Empress’s hall today, the dragon’s face had been furious⁷, and he had been ordered to cure Qu Sheng at all costs. Otherwise, losing his official post would be a small matter; if he were thrown into the great prison, it would be a disaster falling from the heavens.

The group entered the residence. The Imperial Physician checked Qu Sheng’s pulse again. It was steady and stable, and he couldn’t find anything wrong. It was just that, based on the palace maid’s initial description, it seemed to be a symptom of epilepsy.

Imperial Physician Zheng blinked, wanting to ask but not daring to. The young men of the Qu family had all returned by now and were crowded into Qu Sheng’s room.

Qu Yu, the youngest from the third branch, saw the Imperial Physician hesitating and spoke impatiently, “If you have something to say, say it directly. What’s wrong with my sister?”

Hearing this, Imperial Physician Zheng hesitated for a moment, then heard Qu Ming from the second branch say, “Did my sister’s old illness act up?”

Hearing the words “old illness,” Imperial Physician Zheng didn’t dare to make a direct diagnosis and risk offending the family of Marquis Qu. He finally made up his mind and reported truthfully, “Is the young miss’s old illness epilepsy?”

Everyone looked at each other upon hearing this. Qu Ming was stunned for a moment by the question, then a fawning smile appeared on his face. “Imperial Physician Zheng, may we borrow a step to speak⁸?”

Imperial Physician Zheng glanced at the crowd, sensed Qu Ming’s intention, and nodded before following him to a side hall.

Qu Ming had someone prepare several silver notes⁹. As he spoke with Imperial Physician Zheng, he stuffed them into his hand and said with a low laugh, “Imperial Physician Zheng, you know that our Qu family only has this one little sister. My sister’s illness…” Qu Ming left his sentence half-finished, but he knew that someone who had been in the Imperial Medical Academy¹⁰ for over a decade would surely grasp his meaning.

Imperial Physician Zheng tried to refuse the items in his hand, but Qu Ming was insistent on giving them to him. Seeing that he didn’t want to accept, Qu Ming quickly lowered his voice and said, “Hey, Imperial Physician Zheng has worked hard for my sister’s sake. It is only right that you accept this.”

Imperial Physician Zheng looked at Qu Ming’s earnestness and hesitated for a few moments, saying with difficulty, “It’s not that this subordinate is unwilling to accept, but if His Majesty asks, this subordinate can only report truthfully.” He couldn’t cover it up, and accepting it would offend the Qu family.

Hearing this, Qu Ming had a moment of realization, then smiled and said, “If His Majesty asks about my sister’s old illness, you must of course tell him, it’s just…”

Qu Ming didn’t ask Imperial Physician Zheng to keep his mouth completely shut, but the meaning in his words left much to the imagination. Imperial Physician Zheng’s expression softened slightly, having vaguely understood the implication. When Qu Ming pushed the silver notes over again, he raised his hand to accept them and put them in his sleeve. “This subordinate will definitely guard my mouth like a bottle¹¹.”

He could speak of it, but not to outsiders. For a young lady to have epilepsy, even if she couldn’t marry the Crown Prince, it couldn’t be spread around.

Imperial Physician Zheng had just returned to the palace when he was summoned by the Empress.

“You’re saying the daughter of the Marquis Qu family has epilepsy?” The Empress’s face was full of disbelief when she heard Imperial Physician Zheng’s report.

Back in the hall, because Qu Sheng was out of danger, Imperial Physician Zheng had only reported that she was frightened and there was no serious issue, so she hadn’t asked further. But epilepsy was no small matter.

How could the future Empress of a nation have epilepsy?

The Empress kept Imperial Physician Zheng and sent someone to ask the Emperor to come over.

The Emperor didn’t seem to care too much about it. Emperors are the most suspicious of people. He asked, “Are you certain it is epilepsy?”

“Reporting to Your Majesty, this humble subject heard it from the palace maid today, and the second branch’s¹² eldest young master, Qu Ming, admitted it himself. It cannot be wrong.” As Imperial Physician Zheng spoke, he took out the silver notes from his sleeve and continued, “This is from the Qu family’s second branch’s eldest young master, Qu Ming. He gave this humble subject these silver notes and instructed this humble subject not to speak of it to outsiders.”

The Emperor looked at the silver notes in Imperial Physician Zheng’s hand, his expression grave. He lowered his eyes for a moment, paying no mind to the matter of him accepting a small bribe, and instead asked, “Is there a cure for this epileptic malady?”

Hearing this, Imperial Physician Zheng blinked and looked up in confusion. Seeing the urgency in the Son of Heaven’s eyes, he quickly lowered his head and replied, “Epilepsy is a chronic disease, but if it is controlled properly, it is less likely to occur after adulthood.”

“We asked you if it can be cured!” The Son of Heaven was young and hot-tempered. He suddenly raised his voice, scaring Imperial Physician Zheng so much that he fell directly to his knees, his head making a thud on the floor. “This humble subject is incompetent.” He didn’t have complete confidence. Even if everyone from the Imperial Medical Academy came, they could only say it could be controlled, not cured.

“Your Majesty, please calm your anger first. In this consort’s opinion, the Marquis Qu’s daughter may have more than just this one illness of epilepsy.”

The Emperor frowned slightly at her words, looking at the Empress with a puzzled expression.

The Empress met his gaze, then looked at Imperial Physician Zheng kneeling on the floor. “Imperial Physician Zheng, did you diagnose any other illnesses in the Marquis Qu’s daughter?”

Hearing this, Imperial Physician Zheng kept his head pressed to the floor, not daring to lift it. His eyes darted left and right, unable to figure out the Empress’s meaning. Because his head was lowered, his voice sounded muffled, “This guilty subject does not know.”

“What does the Empress mean by this?” The Emperor was perplexed, not understanding why the Empress would suddenly ask such a question.

The Empress looked at the Emperor, pondered for a moment, and said, “I heard from Mianrong that the Marquis Qu’s daughter is like a foolish child.” Mianrong was the Empress’s niece, the Eldest Miss of the Cheng family who had thrown the pastries on the ground.

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The author has something to say:

Lin Xizhao: “A whole family of acting human essences¹³.”

Qu Sheng: “Welcome to the mutually-dear, mutually-loving family.”

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