The Prime Minister’s Daughter and the Marquis’s Fool – Chapter 48

You’re not really going to make me sleep on the floor, are you?

When Qu Sheng heard that Lin Xikuan was in contact with Xiao Yaocai, she lifted her eyes and looked over. Xiao Yaocai’s literary talent was lacking, and his martial arts were merely passable. Compared to Xiao Bingying, the difference wasn’t just one or two points¹.

Of these two people, one studied literature, the other practiced martial arts. Lin Xikuan had been busy with the imperial examinations for the past few years and had hardly ever left the residence. Plus, with his soft personality, he hadn’t made many friends. How did he get in touch with Xiao Yaocai?

“Did you see clearly?” Lin Xizhao asked after a slight pause.

Seeing that Lin Xizhao was a bit skeptical, Zhao Jiayu said quickly, “On a matter like this, could I possibly be talking nonsense? But I only saw them together; I don’t know what they were doing.”

The day before yesterday, the Marquis Qu’s Residence had sent the betrothal gifts for her. Because Xiao Tong held a post in Shoulin, the Xiao Residence was related by marriage or kinship², so Xiao Yaocai had represented Xiao Tong and gone to accompany the drinking.

Zhao Jiayu had seen them at the back entrance of the rear courtyard. At the time, she had wanted to go over and ask what they were doing, but she was called away by her mother. She thought about it later and decided not to ask Xiao Yaocai, choosing to tell Lin Xizhao first.

“I understand. You should hurry over to Bingying’s place,” Lin Xizhao said with a nod, urging her.

“Aren’t you two coming with me?” Zhao Jiayu, having been prompted by Lin Xizhao several times and seeing that she didn’t seem to have much to do in the residence, wanted to pull them along.

“I still have some things to do here. I’ll go over after I’m done with this busy spell,” Lin Xizhao said, making up an excuse.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to go, but that if she went out, she would likely be watched again.

Zhao Jiayu nodded and didn’t press Lin Xizhao further, leaving with the ginseng. After watching Zhao Jiayu leave, Lin Xizhao turned back to see Qu Sheng with her head down, lost in thought about something.

Ever since Qu Sheng had returned from Shoulin, Lin Xizhao had noticed that she was always pondering things. She didn’t know what Qu Sheng had experienced³ during her year in Shoulin.

Lin Xizhao had a servant fetch Lin Xirui, who was reading in the courtyard, and asked him about the poetry society.

“Ah Jie⁴, who did you hear about the poetry society from?” Lin Xirui had clearly not heard of it.

“The scholars who passed the provincial examinations⁵ with you, have you not been in contact?”

Hearing this, Lin Xirui smiled and said, “Aside from a few from the capital, the rest are from all over. Some who live nearby will return to their hometowns or celebrate with their families. Others want to strive hard and wait three years to take the imperial examinations again. During this time, who has the leisure to study poetry and prose?”

Listening to Lin Xirui’s words, a look of confusion appeared on Lin Xizhao’s face.

“Was it Second Brother who told Ah Jie?” Lin Xirui asked, his brow furrowing slightly when he saw the confused expression on Lin Xizhao’s face.

Lin Xizhao had never participated in the imperial examinations and was the young lady of an official’s family; she certainly wouldn’t go out of her way to befriend those scholars. He figured it must have been Lin Xikuan who told her.

“He said that the successful candidates who passed the examinations with you all have formed a poetry society in the capital and that the membership fee is one hundred liang⁶,” Lin Xizhao told him the truth, having nothing to hide from this younger brother of hers.

Upon hearing this, Lin Xirui looked quite surprised and said, “One hundred liang? How could he open his mouth to ask for that?”

“Is that a lot?” Lin Xizhao hadn’t paid much attention to these things, nor had she inquired about them.

“A poetry society’s total annual expenses are only one or two hundred liang of silver. If Second Brother joined the poetry society, wouldn’t that mean he alone paid for more than half of it?”

After Lin Xirui finished speaking, he saw the look on Lin Xizhao’s face that suggested she knew she’d been deceived. Feeling a bit angry, he said, “I’m going to find Second Brother.”

“Xirui, don’t go yet. I want to ask you something,” Lin Xizhao called out softly to Lin Xirui, who had turned to leave.

Lin Xirui heard her and said, “Ah Jie, please ask.”

“Some time ago, from the accounting office, your Second Brother withdrew silver drafts⁷ worth one thousand two hundred liang in Father’s name. Do you know about this?”

Hearing this, Lin Xirui’s expression shifted from the previous annoyance to instant fury. “One thousand two hundred liang? Ah Jie, are you saying Second Brother stole one thousand two hundred liang of silver?”

Lin Xizhao’s brow twitched slightly at the word “stole”. Given Lin Xikuan’s courage, he certainly wouldn’t dare to steal. But why would he take one thousand two hundred liang of silver in such a secretive manner?

If he was truly in urgent need, or wanted to buy something, he could have just told her. Although she was in charge of the residence’s finances, she had no intention of claiming it for herself. This money was earned by Lin Jianhai, and all of them, sister and brothers, had the right to use it.

Lin Xirui’s words made it clear he didn’t know, so naturally, he wouldn’t know what Lin Xikuan was up to.

“For now, just pretend you don’t know about this. Don’t go asking your Second Brother,” Lin Xizhao said, her expression softening slightly.

That one thousand two hundred liang was probably no longer in his hands. And according to Lin Xikuan’s personality, unless Lin Jianhai gave him a beating, he probably wouldn’t say what it was used for.

Lin Xirui didn’t know what Lin Xizhao was planning, but he did as she said and kept his mouth shut.

After Lin Xirui left, Lin Xizhao sent someone to the Xiao Residence to find Zhao Jiayu.

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When Zhao Jiayu arrived at the Xiao Residence, she gave the aged ginseng to Xiao Bingying.

Looking at this nearly hundred-year-old ginseng, Xiao Bingying was at a loss for words. She wanted it, but it was too expensive. A typical pharmacy would sit on the ground and raise the price; they wouldn’t sell it for less than a thousand liang of silver.

“Aiya, Xizhao already said it, how can money be more important than a person’s life? Just take it, and consider it as accumulating good fortune for Xizhao. Isn’t there a saying, saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-story pagoda⁸? She should be thanking you,” Zhao Jiayu said, spouting nonsense as she saw Xiao Bingying’s hesitation.

“In that case, please thank Xizhao for me. If she needs anything in the future, I will definitely do my utmost,” Xiao Bingying said, feeling extremely grateful at that moment. But all she had were words; she feared she couldn’t produce any decent object in return.

In recent days, her search for substitutes for expensive medicinal herbs had already cost her more than half of what Zhao Jiayu had given her last time. It was the first time she had truly experienced the benefits of having money.

“What’s there to thank? If she didn’t give you this, would you not help her?” Zhao Jiayu said with a smile.

“Of course not,” Xiao Bingying denied hastily. Even if Lin Xizhao hadn’t given her the ginseng, if she was in trouble or needed her help with something, she would still spare no effort.

Zhao Jiayu smiled at her words. “That’s more like it. Hurry up and prepare the medicine for Miss Chengxi. I’ll sit here for a bit and then leave.”

Xiao Bingying held the wooden box containing the ginseng, glanced down at it, and said, “Then I’ll go over first. If you’re bored, you can come with me.”

Hearing that she could go with her, Zhao Jiayu thought of Chengxi’s beauty, which was like that of a celestial fairy, and a smile appeared on her face.

In Chengxi’s small courtyard, Xiao Bingying was personally decocting the medicine while Zhao Jiayu stuffed pastries into her mouth at the side. Originally, apart from three light meals a day, there were no pastries here. But with Zhao Jiayu’s arrival, the people of the residence naturally didn’t dare to be negligent and sent the pastries directly here. Zhao Jiayu only took a small piece before Chi Li sent them into the room.

When the medicine was almost ready, Xiao Bingying poured it into a soup bowl, and Chi Li came out.

“Miss Bingying, let me,” Chi Li said, reaching out to take the bowl of medicinal soup from Xiao Bingying.

“Careful, it’s hot.” Xiao Bingying slowly let go, handing it to Chi Li, and reminded her, “Don’t let it get too cold. It’s most effective when it’s warm.”

Chi Li smiled upon hearing this. “I know, you’ve already said it many times.” Xiao Bingying would give this reminder almost every time.

Watching Chi Li enter the room, Xiao Bingying then went to the side, lifted the lid of the pot where the ginseng soup was simmering, and sniffed the aroma.

“The ginseng is guaranteed authentic,” Zhao Jiayu teased, seeing how carefully Xiao Bingying was examining its color.

Xiao Bingying looked up and smiled. Of course, she knew it was real; Lin Xizhao would never give her a fake.

“Miss Biao, the eldest young lady of the Prime Minister’s Residence sent someone over, asking you to make a trip there,” a servant from the Xiao Residence said, entering the courtyard and bowing his head in salute.

Xiao Bingying and Zhao Jiayu exchanged a look.

Zhao Jiayu stuffed a pastry into her mouth, clapped her hands, and said, “Alright, I know. Tell him I’ll be over in a bit.”

Watching the Xiao Residence servant leave, Zhao Jiayu smiled. “I didn’t get to see the little beauty, so now I’m off to see the great beauty.”

When Zhao Jiayu had arrived, Chengxi was still resting. She couldn’t just wake someone from their bed for the sake of looking at them.

“I’ll go with you,” Xiao Bingying said, putting the lid back on the soup pot.

“What about your soup?”

“It’s fine. I’ll just ask Chi Li to watch it. It’s simmering on a low fire; it should be about done when we get back,” Xiao Bingying replied.

“Alright. Xizhao probably has something she wants to ask you, too.”

Xiao Bingying went into the room. Seeing that Chengxi was still asleep, she whispered to Chi Li, who was waiting for the medicine to cool to a warm temperature, “I need to go out for a bit. Could I trouble Miss Chi Li to watch the medicine stove outside for a while?”

“Of course, Miss Bingying. Just go. I’ll watch it carefully,” Chi Li replied, standing up.

Xiao Bingying nodded, turned and left, went to her own courtyard to change her clothes, and then followed Zhao Jiayu out of the Xiao Residence.

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Sitting in the carriage, Zhao Jiayu asked Xiao Bingying some questions, all concerning Xiao Yaocai.

“Why do you keep asking about Cai-didi? What’s wrong with him?” Xiao Bingying asked, puzzled.

Zhao Jiayu was asking whether Xiao Yaocai had been to brothels or casinos, things like that. She had never cared or asked before, so why was she asking today?

“The day before yesterday, I saw Xikuan with Yaocai. What kind of virtue does Yaocai have? How could I not know? Tell me, this Xikuan doesn’t usually leave the residence much, and Yaocai has never been to the Prime Minister’s Residence. How did the two of them get to know each other?”

When Zhao Jiayu had arrived, Xiao Yaocai had his arm around Lin Xikuan’s shoulder, looking very familiar.

“Perhaps they met somewhere else,” Xiao Bingying said thoughtfully.

Xiao Yaocai ran all over the capital wherever there was fun to be had, and it wasn’t as if Lin Xikuan could stay in the residence forever. There would always be opportunities to meet.

While the two were talking in the carriage, they arrived at the Prime Minister Lin’s Residence.

Lin Xizhao was currently in her courtyard, sitting opposite Qu Sheng, both reading books.

In their leisure time, the two of them were almost always reading. Lin Xizhao liked to read travelogues, while Qu Sheng preferred books on military strategy.

Over the years, Qu Sheng had read almost every military strategy book available on the market. Although she was exceptionally intelligent, it took more time to fully digest them. Furthermore, some of the things written in the books were not without flaws, and she often thought about how to patch up these flaws.

When Zhao Jiayu and Xiao Bingying entered the Xiang Fu, they were led all the way to Lin Xizhao’s courtyard by the residence’s steward.

Hearing the steward announce that Xiao Bingying had also come, Lin Xizhao put down her book and went to open the door.

“Bingying, why did you come along too? Is Miss Chengxi doing any better?” Lin Xizhao asked as she stepped aside to let them in.

Xiao Bingying and Zhao Jiayu entered the room. Zhao Jiayu immediately ran to the side of the brazier; it was freezing cold outside, and she couldn’t stand walking for even a short while.

“Chengxi’s health is much better. She doesn’t need to be watched constantly,” Xiao Bingying said, not hiding the fact that she had been looking after Chengxi.

Since Lin Xizhao could send her ginseng, she must have known that she had been taking care of Chengxi.

“That’s good. Please, sit.” Lin Xizhao gestured for Xiao Bingying to sit, then poured them both a cup of hot tea and handed it to them.

“Thank you.” Xiao Bingying was always very polite. “The ginseng Jiayu brought must have cost you a lot.” One could say thank you for a cup of tea, but a stalk of ginseng couldn’t be repaid with a simple thank you.

“Why are you being so polite with me? If you need any other medicinal herbs, just let me know. Miss Chengxi’s illness is what’s important,” Lin Xizhao said, not trying to take credit. In her eyes, a stalk of ginseng was nothing. As long as it was something that could save a life, she was willing to part with it.

Xiao Bingying nodded. Zhao Jiayu, warming her palms and the backs of her hands, teased with a smile, “Ah Jie said she wants to be an ox and a horse⁹ for you in the next life to repay your great kindness and great virtue. I say, forget the next life, how about this one?”

“This mouth of yours, can’t it just be quiet for a moment,” Lin Xizhao chided her gently, knowing she loved to joke.

“What’s wrong with this mouth of mine? It’s better than little Sheng’er’s, which only knows how to eat, right? At least I can pass messages for you.”

Qu Sheng, having been compared by Zhao Jiayu, looked up at Lin Xizhao at the sound of her name, and Lin Xizhao was also looking at her. Qu Sheng had never considered herself a glutton, but over the years, Lin Xizhao had indeed been feeding her like a child.

Whenever there was something delicious, she would think of her, which had led to her getting used to it now. When her mouth stopped moving, she would sometimes think about it, but she could control herself.

She remembered her Teacher saying that habits are things that form over a long time, and over a long time, they can also change.

Qu Sheng looked at Lin Xizhao’s gentle smile, then glanced at the half-eaten pastry on the table. Her eyes glazed over for a moment, lost in thought.

“Are the pastries not to your liking?” Lin Xizhao asked, glancing at Qu Sheng during a lull in the conversation.

Qu Sheng looked up and met her gaze. Seeing the concern in Lin Xizhao’s eyes, she hesitated for a moment before saying, “I’m full.”

I’m full.

Lin Xizhao had a rough idea of Qu Sheng’s appetite these past few days. How could it suddenly have gotten smaller?

Could it be that she has been accommodating my estimations all this time?

“Alright. If you want to eat something else, just tell me,” Lin Xizhao said, walking over and gently stroking Qu Sheng’s head.

Qu Sheng nodded and continued to read her book. Zhao Jiayu, listening to their conversation, deliberately stretched and said, “Aiya, I’ve been busy all day, running east and west¹⁰ in this massive capital city, and no one feels sorry for me.”

Hearing this, Lin Xizhao turned to look at her and smiled. “Should I send someone to call Fourth Brother?”

At these words, Zhao Jiayu looked as if she’d been choked back¹¹, which made both Xiao Bingying and Lin Xizhao laugh.

“It’s still early. Let’s have lunch here,” Lin Xizhao said, knowing that Zhao Jiayu was hungry. She had left right after breakfast, and she certainly wouldn’t have eaten again at the Xiao Residence.

Zhao Jiayu nodded, having no objections, but Xiao Bingying was a little hesitant.

“I won’t stay for lunch. If there’s nothing else, I’d like to head back first.” Xiao Bingying wasn’t one to be awkward with Lin Xizhao and the others.

“Alright. Miss Chengxi still needs you to look after her. You should go back early,” Lin Xizhao said, not stopping Xiao Bingying. With a patient in the residence, one naturally had to be more attentive.

After Xiao Bingying left, Zhao Jiayu stayed at the Xiang Fu. The group went to the dining hall, where the two young masters of the residence were also present. At the dining table, apart from Lin Xizhao asking Qu Sheng if she wanted something, there was no other conversation.

After lunch, Zhao Jiayu clutched her overstuffed stomach and followed Lin Xizhao and the others back to the courtyard.

“The food at the Xiang Fu is still the best,” Zhao Jiayu sighed. As soon as she entered the room, she found the lounge chair in Lin Xizhao’s outer room and lay down.

Lin Xizhao led Qu Sheng to a seat and ordered someone to prepare some tea.

“Eh, I think Xikuan is a pretty good kid. How did he get mixed up with someone like my cousin?” Zhao Jiayu said, lying on the lounge chair and recalling Lin Xikuan’s well-behaved demeanor during the meal.

Lin Xizhao glanced sideways at her. She knew why Lin Xikuan disliked her, but she didn’t know what he planned to do with the money he took.

Since childhood, Lin Xikuan had been timid but very obedient. Over the years in the residence, their relationship had been one of sisterly and brotherly affection. But ever since he passed the provincial examinations and the Yu family started visiting frequently, a rift had gradually appeared between them.

She thought that while the Yu family had certainly played a role, it shouldn’t have been possible for them to sow discord with just a few words. It must have been Lin Xikuan who had been hiding his resentment for her in his heart all along. The Yu family had just added oil and vinegar¹², drawing it out.

Just like today, Lin Xikuan clearly hadn’t forgiven her, yet he put on an appearance of obedience and submission.

Come to think of it, Lin Xikuan’s appearance was rather more like that of the Yu family.

Zhao Jiayu muttered to herself, and Lin Xizhao didn’t respond. Zhao Jiayu’s mind turned, and she thought of something else. “Xizhao, don’t you think my ajie is a bit too concerned about Miss Chengxi?” She had mentioned this last time.

When she went today, Xiao Bingying had originally invited her to see Chengxi together, but when she learned that Chengxi was still resting, she wouldn’t even let her into the room.

She could have at least gone in for a cup of hot water, right? She wasn’t a child who would make a racket and wake Chengxi up.

“What do you mean?” Lin Xizhao asked, taking Zhao Jiayu’s question. She poured a cup of the tea brought by the maid and placed it in front of Qu Sheng, whispering, “It’s a bit hot.”

Qu Sheng took it and nodded.

Zhao Jiayu thought back carefully but couldn’t put her finger on the strange feeling. She just felt that whenever Xiao Bingying looked at Chengxi, her gaze was always a bit evasive, as if she had a guilty conscience.

She admitted that Chengxi was indeed beautiful, but it shouldn’t make her ajie afraid to meet her gaze, right?

In terms of looks, Xiao Bingying’s appearance was not bad either. But she felt the best-looking was still Lin Xizhao. Not only was she beautiful, but her heart was also beautiful; she could always clear up her doubts. The key was her good temper, which could always calm her, someone who was prone to occasional outbursts, down.

“Perhaps I’m overthinking it.” Zhao Jiayu dismissed the thought in her mind. “I want to ask my mother to find a marriage match for my ajie. Which family’s young master do you think is worthy of her?” Zhao Jiayu changed the subject.

“Bingying’s marriage—can you and Auntie make the decision?” Lin Xizhao handed the poured tea over. Zhao Jiayu sat up from the lounge chair, took it with both hands, lifted the porcelain lid to blow on it, and took a sip. “Hot, hot, hot.”

Lin Xizhao had already turned away, but when she heard Zhao Jiayu yelp, she and Qu Sheng both turned back to look at her.

Zhao Jiayu opened her mouth and panted rapidly, blowing on her scalded lips. Seeing them both looking at her, she said, “Ehh…” Zhao Jiayu was about to say that no one cared about her, that Lin Xizhao could remind Qu Sheng but not her, but then she remembered that Lin Xizhao would always use Qu Yu to tease her, so she swallowed her words back down.

“Such a big girl, about to become our saosao¹³, and still not being careful,” Lin Xizhao said, deliberately laughing at her. She knew what Zhao Jiayu was about to say just by the look on her face as she held her words back.

Zhao Jiayu, still blowing on her tea, freed her mouth to reply, “I may be big, but isn’t little Sheng’er big too? You can remind her but not me. Look how biased you are.”

Lin Xizhao paused for a moment at her words, looked at Qu Sheng, and then smiled. “Sheng’er is still young.”

Lin Xizhao’s words, “still young,” struck a chord in Qu Sheng’s heart, making her feel a little uncomfortable. She was a few years younger than them, but the things she understood were not necessarily fewer than what they knew.

Zhao Jiayu didn’t expose the fact that Lin Xizhao was just biased towards Qu Sheng and continued with the previous topic. “We can’t make the decision on Ah Jie’s marriage, but we should find a good family for her in advance. Otherwise, even if my jiumu¹⁴ agrees later, we won’t be able to pick someone suitable in time, right?”

Picking someone satisfactory would surely take time.

Lin Xizhao felt that Zhao Jiayu’s words were not without reason, but if they brought it up and Madam Xiao disagreed, it might affect Xiao Bingying’s reputation.

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The sky gradually darkened. Zhao Jiayu scrounged another dinner at the Xiang Fu and followed Lin Xizhao and the others back to the courtyard. But even when it was time for Lin Xizhao and Qu Sheng to sleep, Zhao Jiayu still showed no intention of leaving.

Qu Sheng went to bathe first. When she returned, Zhao Jiayu was still there. After Lin Xizhao let out a sleepy yawn, Qu Sheng looked at Zhao Jiayu and said, “Jiayu.” Aren’t you leaving?

Seeing that Qu Sheng was trying to shoo her away, Zhao Jiayu looked a bit unnatural and said, “I want to stay tonight and talk with Xizhao.”

Zhao Jiayu rarely slept over at the Xiang Fu, and when she did, it was before Qu Sheng had appeared. Back then, when she first met Lin Xizhao, she was captivated by her beautiful appearance and pestered Lin Xizhao to stay with her.

Later, because she was a really unruly sleeper and would always steal Lin Xizhao’s blanket in her sleep, causing Lin Xizhao to catch a cold, she never slept with her again.

When Lin Xizhao heard Zhao Jiayu say she wanted to stay, she let out a laugh. Just as she was about to tell her to go bathe first, she heard Qu Sheng’s refusal.

“No.”

“Why not?” Zhao Jiayu became a little anxious. The host hadn’t even refused, yet Qu Sheng was the first to stand up.

Qu Sheng didn’t speak. Lin Xizhao, sensing that Zhao Jiayu seemed to have something on her mind today, said, “Sheng’er means she’s afraid the bed will be too crowded.”

It wasn’t as if Zhao Jiayu had never slept in Lin Xizhao’s bed before. It could hold not just the three of them, but even three grown men.

“Then it’s settled if I sleep on the floor, right?” Zhao Jiayu was dead set on staying tonight.

Qu Sheng lowered her head and said nothing. She shouldn’t have spoken up to refuse Zhao Jiayu just now. It was a natural reaction from the bottom of her heart that had made her refuse.

Lin Xizhao smiled and said, “Then you should go bathe first.”

Hearing Lin Xizhao’s words, Zhao Jiayu’s earlier gloominess dissipated, and she left the room with a smile. Lin Xizhao instructed a servant to fetch some of her unworn nightclothes and send them to Zhao Jiayu.

When Zhao Jiayu returned from her bath, she saw Qu Sheng lying on the bed. Upon seeing her arrive, Qu Sheng sat up and stared at her, making her feel so guilty, as if she had done something to wrong her, that she didn’t dare to look back.

“You’re not really going to make me sleep on the floor, are you?” Zhao Jiayu said, looking down at the wooden floor in Lin Xizhao’s bedroom.

Although the wooden floor was made of wood just like the bed, how could it be as comfortable? Besides, in this freezing weather, the floor would be so cold. If she slept there for one night, she was guaranteed to be chugging medicinal soup tomorrow.

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The author has something to say:

Zhao Jiayu: “So much to worry about.”

Qu Yu: “The little beauty is your saosao, the great beauty is your zhouli¹⁵.”

Zhao Jiayu: “…”

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