The Prime Minister’s Daughter and the Marquis’s Fool – Chapter 46

You Have One More Chance

The rain of arrows outside stopped. Qu Sheng heard Lin Xizhao’s worried voice and loosened the arms that were tightly holding her body. Her tone was steady as she said, “I’m fine.”

Qu Sheng helped Lin Xizhao slowly get up. A moment later, someone came to check on their injuries. “Eldest Young Miss, Young Miss, are you injured?”

Qu Sheng shook her head and asked, “Where is Feng Qi?”

The guard replied, “Lord Feng is pursuing the assassins.”

Qu Sheng nodded and helped Lin Xizhao out of the carriage. To dare commit such a blatant attack under the cover of night within this Capital City, Qu Sheng could not think of a second person.

Qu Sheng mounted a guard’s horse, pulling Lin Xizhao to sit in front of her. She wrapped one arm around Lin Xizhao’s waist and rode the horse away.

The two had not even settled in after returning to the Qu Marquis Residence when everyone in the Qu family came over.

“Zhao’er, Sheng’er, are you hurt?” Jin Yunfei had already gone to bed, but after being informed by the returning guards, she had come over wrapped in a thick cloak.

“Adoptive Mother, we’re fine.” Lin Xizhao raised a hand to grasp Jin Yunfei’s, which was extended in concern, and soothed her.

Jin Yunfei looked Lin Xizhao over from head to toe, then had her turn around. Seeing that her dress was completely intact, she breathed a sigh of relief and went to check on Qu Sheng.

Seeing that Qu Sheng and Lin Xizhao were safe and sound, Jin Yunfei’s suspended heart finally settled.

Qu Jinian told them to first return to their courtyard residence to rest; they would handle the subsequent matters. But after Lin Xizhao returned to the courtyard, she sat by a chair and fell into a daze.

Qu Sheng didn’t know what she was thinking, but it was certainly related to what had happened today.

Before they slept, Lin Xizhao held Qu Sheng, still looking heavy with worry.

Qu Sheng lifted her head to gaze at Lin Xizhao. Sensing it, Lin Xizhao lowered her head to look at her, the expression on her face as if she had made some kind of decision. “Sheng’er, for the next few days, just stay in the residence. Don’t go out.”

Lin Xizhao’s words made Qu Sheng realize that Lin Xizhao had attributed the assassins’ target entirely to herself.

Outsiders all considered Qu Sheng a fool; who would be so ruthless to a fool? Since she was in the same carriage as Qu Sheng, the target of that group of attackers was naturally her.

Today was a stroke of luck, but what about next time?

Qu Sheng looked at Lin Xizhao without speaking. Lin Xizhao’s eyelashes fluttered, and the corners of her lips curved slightly. “It’s just temporary. The residence has been a bit busy recently, and I have to keep an eye on things. I won’t have time for you,” Lin Xizhao explained, afraid Qu Sheng would disagree.

“Mm,” Qu Sheng nodded, not asking any more questions. She knew Lin Xizhao was worried about her.

The Qu Marquis Residence had the tightest security. Lin Xizhao still had many matters to handle at the Prime Minister’s Residence, making it impossible for her to stay here forever, which was why she didn’t plan to take Qu Sheng with her.

And Qu Sheng also wanted to take this opportunity to do a few things.

The next morning, after Lin Xizhao finished her morning meal, Qu Sheng saw her off to her carriage and had Feng Qi take a few men to follow her. She also instructed Feng Qi to stay by Lin Xizhao’s side for the next few days.

After Lin Xizhao left, Qu Sheng went straight to the residence’s dungeon.

Of yesterday’s assassins, several had been executed on the spot, and three had been brought back. At this moment, the three Qu brothers were interrogating them.

“Whether you talk or not, we know who sent you. But if you can identify the mastermind, I will spare your life.” A charcoal fire burned red-hot in the prison cell. Qu Ting took a branding iron from it and blew on it lightly.

The assassin tied to the rack just stared, without a hint of fear in his expression.

Qu Ming and Qu Yu sat to one side. Hearing footsteps coming from the stairs, they glanced over. Qu Sheng was draped in a white cloak today, and upon entering the dungeon, she formed a stark contrast with the dark atmosphere.

Qu Sheng untied the sash of her cloak, and a guard at her side reached out to take it. The red and white cross-collar¹ was trimmed with white fluff, and Qu Sheng, dressed in a thick white gown, walked to the side of the brazier.

“Xizhao-meimei has gone back?” Qu Ming asked, looking sideways.

Hearing this, Qu Sheng looked at Qu Ming and replied, “Yes, she’s gone back. I had Feng Qi follow her.”

Qu Ming nodded and said, “Then I’ll leave this to you to handle.”

After Qu Sheng nodded, Qu Ming got up and left. He still had duties at the Yamen² and couldn’t afford to slack off.

Qu Ting and Qu Yu heard their conversation and knew what was about to happen. The two of them made way, and Qu Yu said, “These three have hard bones. They seem like trained killers.”

They refused to reveal a single thing, even in death. But the people of the Qu family already knew who was behind it. To be able to attack on the streets of the capital, and to have grasped their whereabouts so quickly—Qu Sheng didn’t believe it was only Earl Yongshen.

Listening to Qu Yu’s words, Qu Sheng’s gaze swept over the branding iron Qu Ting had put down.

“I’ll handle it.” Qu Sheng’s voice was clear and bright as her gaze shifted to the charcoal tongs beside her.

Qu Sheng brushed her sleeve, used the tongs to pick up a small piece of burning charcoal, and walked before one of the assassins. She stared at the man for a few moments and asked, “Can you write?”

Hearing Qu Sheng’s words, the assassin’s eyes clearly showed confusion. Everyone said the Qu Marquis Residence’s di daughter³ was a fool, but speaking with her now, she didn’t seem foolish at all.

The assassin didn’t speak, and Qu Sheng paid it no mind. She gestured with her eyes to a guard beside her, who pried his mouth open.

Qu Sheng sent the red-hot piece of charcoal deep into the assassin’s throat. Qu Sheng withdrew the tongs, and the guard released his hands at the same time.

This assassin was tied to the rack, his body unable to move, but his head could still thrash. Qu Sheng could not hear the man’s sounds of pain, but she could see the veins bulging on his face and the struggling way he gaped his mouth, trying to spit out the charcoal.

Qu Sheng only watched for two moments before turning and sitting down to the side.

“Go get paper and a brush.”

Upon hearing this, a guard quickly brought over paper and a brush, and then had someone remove the charcoal from the man’s throat.

The pained expression was still on the man’s face, but Qu Sheng did not look.

Two guards untied the assassin and escorted him before Qu Sheng.

“You have one more chance.” Qu Sheng dipped the nearby brush in ink, set it aside, and moved to make some space.

The guards pressed the man down by the table. As Qu Sheng watched him lean his hands on the table and look at her with a savage expression, the calm in her eyes was abnormal.

Qu Sheng watched him continue to glare at her, then raised her hand without a word. A guard in the dungeon directly drew the saber from his waist, and two other guards pinned the man’s hands to the table.

Qu Sheng’s hand rose and the blade fell; the assassin’s two hands were chopped off.

Unable to speak and unable to write, it would be difficult to learn anything detailed from him now. The guards dragged away the struggling but silent assassin to one side.

Qu Sheng handed the saber to a guard, her gaze sweeping over to the other two assassins not far from her side.

The smell of blood in the dungeon was too heavy. After leaving, Qu Sheng went to bathe and change her clothes. She hadn’t managed to get a handle on Earl Yongshen from last night’s events, but she knew she had to speed up her progress.

Originally, she had planned to formulate countermeasures after Earl Yongshen was released from prison. But now that he was out early and dared to attack her and Lin Xizhao like this, she could not let him live much longer.

The next day, the Qu Marquis Residence brought betrothal gifts to the Zhao Residence to present the betrothal gifts, settling the marriage between Zhao Jiayu and Qu Yu. The date for the grand wedding was also set for the end of the year.

Qu Sheng was not in the residence for the entire day. She only returned from outside when Qu Yu came back.

“It’s not peaceful these days. Sheng-meimei, if you have matters to attend to, just leave them to us. There’s no need for you to run the errands yourself,” Qu Ming said, looking at Qu Sheng who had just returned from outside.

The three brothers were on xiumu⁴ today and had gone specifically to present the betrothal gifts for Qu Yu.

“It’s no trouble,” Qu Sheng replied, walking closer and looking up.

She had only gone out to take a look today and hadn’t done anything. She had never been to Earl Yongshen’s residence before; today she had just circled it once. Besides, after leaving, she had switched carriages at a restaurant.

The three brothers saw that Qu Sheng’s brow was always slightly furrowed. Qu Ting said, “Behind Earl Yongshen is the Imperial Noble Consort. The Imperial Noble Consort is carrying a dragon heir⁵. Even if we obtain some criminal evidence now, His Majesty will not move against her easily.”

Hearing this, Qu Sheng nodded, seeming not to care about the Imperial Noble Consort at the moment.

The three brothers looked at the perpetually silent Qu Sheng and then at each other. This sister of theirs—sometimes, even they, who had watched her grow up, could not fathom the ideas in her heart.

To make a move on Earl Yongshen, they needed to dig out the pillar behind him as well. Otherwise, whatever they did would just be pulling weeds on a late autumn day.

The seeds of autumn grasses scatter everywhere with the slightest movement. If you don’t dig up the soil along with them, they will likely grow again after the spring winds blow.

Qu Sheng sat with her three older brothers in the hall for a long time. Only when Qu Jinian returned did Qu Sheng stand up and bow. Before Qu Jinian could even take off his thick cloak, Qu Sheng said, “Father, would you permit this child to transfer a few people over from the army?”

Qu Jinian looked at his daughter, his face showing incomprehension. He asked, “Sheng’er, who do you want to bring over?”

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The next morning, Qu Sheng took a carriage to the Prime Minister’s Residence. Lin Xizhao was in the accounting room checking the ledgers. The Prime Minister’s second son, Lin Xikuan, was sitting to one side, waiting for Lin Xizhao’s maidservant to give him his monthly allowance.

“I want to withdraw a little extra this month,” Lin Xikuan said in a low voice, standing before the maidservant in charge of finances.

“How much extra does Second Young Master wish to withdraw?” the maidservant asked, holding the silver on the tray.

Hearing this, Lin Xikuan lowered his gaze for a moment, his eyes blinking rapidly. His voice was extremely soft, as if afraid of being heard by Lin Xizhao not far away. “One hundred liang.”

“One hundred liang?” The maidservant asked in surprise when she heard the amount.

Startled by the maidservant’s suddenly loud voice, Lin Xikuan subconsciously looked toward Lin Xizhao, who had indeed heard and was now looking in their direction.

“Second Young Master, one hundred liang is no small sum. If you truly have an urgent matter, you will need to discuss it with the Eldest Young Miss,” the maidservant said, following the rules.

Lin Xikuan’s face turned red as the maidservant spoke. Staring at Lin Xizhao’s persistent gaze, he swallowed and, as if mustering his courage, said, “I am a young master of this residence. In the future, all of this will be mine. I need one hundred liang of silver; do I need you people to interfere?”

Hearing Lin Xikuan’s displeased voice, Lin Xizhao seemed to have already guessed what it was for. She stood up and walked over, her voice gentle as she asked, “Xikuan, is there something important you need to do?”

Hearing Lin Xizhao’s gentle tone, the courage Lin Xikuan had just summoned somehow dissipated again. He lowered his eyes, not daring to look at Lin Xizhao, and stammered, “A few of the Juren⁶ who passed the provincial examinations⁷ with us a few days ago have formed a poetry society. It requires one hundred liang of silver as a membership fee. I’m the only one who hasn’t paid yet.”

Hearing this, Lin Xizhao let out a soft laugh and said, “That’s a good thing.” As she spoke, she looked at the maidservant distributing the money and said, “Go get a one-hundred-liang silver draft⁸.”

Carrying the silver would be inconvenient; it was better to exchange it directly for a silver draft.

The maidservant hesitated for a moment, but seeing Lin Xizhao nod, she went to get a one-hundred-liang silver draft.

Lin Xizhao took the silver draft, glanced at the note, and then said to the maidservant, “Get another twenty liang of silver.”

The maidservant did as she was told and handed several pieces of silver to Lin Xizhao. Lin Xizhao took them, placed them on top of the silver draft, and handed it to Lin Xikuan. “When you’re out, don’t be too restrained. If you need more money, just let me know.”

Lin Xizhao gave him an extra twenty liang, afraid that with his timid personality, he would feel even more constrained outside due to a shortage of funds.

Hearing this, Lin Xikuan looked at Lin Xizhao’s smiling eyes and his brow tightened. He seemed to find it hard to believe that Lin Xizhao would give him the silver draft so easily, and even give him an extra twenty liang.

Lin Xikuan took the silver draft and the silver, and without a word of thanks, turned and left.

“Eldest Young Miss, are you indulging the Second Young Master too much?” He had been asking for more and more of his monthly allowance, with a new reason every time. This time, he had the lion’s big mouth⁹, asking for a hundred liang.

“It’s no matter. Xikuan is at an age for making friends; we can’t let him be short of funds.”

Lin Xizhao spoke nonchalantly. As she turned back, she suddenly noticed a familiar figure at the door.

Lin Xizhao turned her body back around. The moment she saw Qu Sheng, the happiness in her eyes was impossible to hide.

“Sheng’er.”

“Jiejie¹⁰.” Qu Sheng looked at Lin Xizhao, watching as her eyes and brows became dyed with a smile, the corners of her lips also curling up slightly.

Lin Xizhao walked to Qu Sheng’s side in a few steps. Looking at Qu Sheng, whom she hadn’t seen for two days, her eyes shone with light, her heart aching with longing.

“Didn’t I tell you to stay in the residence? Why did you come over?” Lin Xizhao gently chided Qu Sheng.

“I missed jiejie.” Qu Sheng made no attempt to hide it, even with the servants present, directly stating that she missed Lin Xizhao. It was an excuse, but it was also the truth.

She missed her even after just a short while apart.

Lin Xizhao was helpless against her. She led her by the hand into the room and ordered a servant to bring some pastries.

Feng Qi was still outside, so Lin Xizhao wasn’t worried that someone could brazenly enter the Prime Minister’s Residence to cause harm.

A maidservant brought a chair for Qu Sheng and placed it beside Lin Xizhao. Lin Xizhao carefully asked Qu Sheng if she had been eating well these past two days.

Listening to Lin Xizhao’s gentle and soft-spoken questions, Qu Sheng’s lips curled as she nodded.

Lin Xizhao watched Qu Sheng nod, then looked at her small face and said, “Liar, you’ve gotten thinner.”

It had only been two days, but Lin Xizhao could already tell that Qu Sheng had lost weight. It was true; when Qu Sheng was with Lin Xizhao, Lin Xizhao was always afraid she wouldn’t eat enough. And every time Lin Xizhao placed food by Qu Sheng’s lips, Qu Sheng would eat it whether she was full or not.

Without Lin Xizhao to feed her these past two days, and with her mind preoccupied with other matters, she naturally ate a little less.

“I missed jiejie,” Qu Sheng used missing Lin Xizhao as an excuse again.

Lin Xizhao was half-convinced by Qu Sheng’s words and said deliberately, “Does Sheng’er mean to say that you missed jiejie so much you lost all appetite for tea and food¹¹?”

Hearing this, Qu Sheng nodded again. Seeing this, Lin Xizhao smiled and gently scraped the tip of her little nose.

A maidservant brought in snacks from outside, placed them in front of Qu Sheng, and said with a smile, “It’s a good thing Miss Sheng isn’t a man, otherwise if Eldest Young Miss didn’t marry her, there would be much crying.”

Hearing this, the smile on Qu Sheng’s face faded a little. She didn’t need to look up to know the maidservant was still laughing at her.

Lin Xizhao heard this, smiled, and looked up at the maidservant. “Go bring some hot water.”

The maidservant accepted the order, curtsied, and went out to bring the water.

Lin Xizhao took a towel and helped Qu Sheng wipe her hands, then handed the towel back to the maidservant. “There’s nothing else to do here. You can go attend to your other tasks.”

Watching the maidservant leave, Lin Xizhao’s eyes curved into crescents again. She watched Qu Sheng’s little mouth puff out as she ate and said in a gentle voice, “Sheng’er, eat something to tide you over first. It’s still early; we’ll have to wait a bit longer for the midday meal.”

After Lin Xizhao finished speaking, Qu Sheng looked at her sideways and nodded.

Lin Xizhao checked the accounts in the room while Qu Sheng sat to the side and watched. She wasn’t concerned with the Prime Minister’s Residence’s ledgers, but seeing Lin Xizhao’s furrowed brow, Qu Sheng took a closer look.

The entries were all Lin Jianhai’s expenditures. The largest sum was over one thousand liang.

Qu Sheng didn’t ask about it, and Lin Xizhao wouldn’t trouble her with such matters. Lin Xizhao turned the page of the ledger and continued checking the rest.

At the time for the midday meal, Lin Xizhao took Qu Sheng to the dining hall to eat. Lin Jianhai, breaking with convention, came over today, preparing to dine with them.

While waiting for the food, Lin Xizhao asked Lin Jianhai a few things. “Has Father had any social engagements recently?”

Hearing this, Lin Jianhai replied, “No, why do you suddenly ask?”

Listening to Lin Jianhai’s words, Lin Xizhao pondered for a moment and rephrased her question. “Then is Father planning to purchase any items for the residence?”

Lin Xizhao hadn’t seen any new items in the household; she just wanted to confirm whether Lin Jianhai had withdrawn that sum of over one thousand liang.

Hearing Lin Xizhao’s question, Lin Jianhai knew she had been balancing the accounts today and asked, “Is there some discrepancy in the ledgers?”

Since Lin Jianhai could ask this but didn’t mention withdrawing a large sum of money himself, it proved that he wasn’t the one who took it.

Lin Xizhao shook her head and said, “No, I was just asking. If Father needs it, your daughter can set aside the cash.”

Lin Jianhai, not suspecting anything, nodded.

Lin Xirui had come to wait early. Seeing that all the dishes had been served but his second son had not arrived, Lin Jianhai asked, “Why hasn’t Xikuan come?”

Hearing this, Lin Xizhao paused her chopsticks. Just as she was about to reply, she heard Lin Xirui hastily swallow the food in his mouth and say, “Second Brother hasn’t eaten with us for a long time.”

“Why? Did no one go call him?” Lin Jianhai was a little puzzled.

“He won’t come even if we call him. Ah Jie¹² and I don’t know how many times we’ve called him,” Lin Xirui said, then picked up more food and placed it in his bowl.

“You didn’t call him today?”

Hearing Lin Jianhai’s words, Lin Xirui stopped the motion of bringing food to his mouth and glanced sideways at Lin Xizhao.

Listening to Lin Jianhai’s inquiry, Lin Xizhao replied, “No.” She didn’t offer any further explanation. They had sent for him several times, and Lin Xikuan was always impatient.

The last time she went personally, she heard him yelling at Lin Xirui that he didn’t want to sit with the person who killed his mother; he found it disgusting.

Lin Xirui had a bit of a quick temper but was generally well-behaved. Seeing Lin Jianhai frown, he said with a trace of annoyance, “Second Brother thinks that mother’s death was Ah Jie’s fault. He says that seeing Ah Jie makes him feel disgusted.”

“Xirui!” Lin Xizhao quickly tried to make Lin Xirui stop.

As expected, Lin Jianhai’s frown deepened upon hearing this. After a moment, he said to Lin Xirui, “Go and call your second brother here.”

Hearing this, Lin Xirui stopped shoveling rice into his mouth, looked up at Lin Jianhai, and then at Lin Xizhao.

A trace of nervousness appeared in Lin Xizhao’s eyes, and she shook her head at Lin Xirui.

“Hurry up and go.”

Lin Jianhai’s voice, tight with anger, rang out, and Lin Xirui quickly stood up and walked out.

A moment later, Lin Xikuan was brought over by Lin Xirui.

Just now, when Lin Xikuan heard his younger brother say that their father was calling him for the midday meal, he hadn’t believed it. Only now, seeing Lin Jianhai, did he confirm it was true.

He walked closer and bowed. “Father.”

Lin Jianhai looked down at this second son of his. He looked obedient, but just a moment ago, he had heard from his third son that he had called Lin Xizhao disgusting. A coldness suddenly colored his face.

SMACK!

The moment Lin Xikuan looked up, he was slapped to the ground by Lin Jianhai.

Lin Xizhao and Lin Xirui were both stunned to see Lin Xikuan fall to the ground. Seeing Lin Jianhai take a step forward, as if to strike again, Lin Xizhao could no longer sit still.

“Father!” Lin Xizhao hurriedly stood up, blocking Lin Xikuan’s body with her own.

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The author has something to say:

Qu Sheng: “If my wife doesn’t marry me, I’ll cry for a lifetime.”

Lin Xizhao: “You’d better only cry in bed, otherwise I’ll find you annoying.”

Qu Sheng: “……”

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