The Prime Minister’s Daughter and the Marquis’s Fool – Chapter 55

What Does It Prove?

On the main path in the courtyard, the snow was gone. Qu Sheng carried Lin Xizhao, not worried about slipping, and walked with big steps toward the room.

Lin Xirui, holding a snowball in his hand, watched the two of them like this. He blinked his two big eyes, harboring many questions about Qu Sheng in his heart.

A few days ago, in the secret chamber, Qu Sheng had kicked Lin Xikuan flying with one foot. He hadn’t gone to ask for clarification yet. Now, seeing Qu Sheng pick up his jiejie¹ without using a shred of effort, he became even more puzzled.

“Feng Qi, how is Sheng-meimei² so strong?” Lin Xirui eyed Qu Sheng and the other, his mouth asking Feng Qi, who was standing not far away.

Feng Qi was still in a state of astonishment. Hearing Lin Xirui’s words, he glanced over sideways, lowered his eyes for a moment, and did not answer.

Qu Sheng and Lin Xizhao entered the room. Feng Qi then walked toward the door, preparing to stand guard outside. Seeing that Feng Qi was ignoring him, Lin Xirui pouted and muttered in a low voice, “If you won’t say, I’ll go ask myself.”

Lin Xirui threw away the snowball in his hand and also walked toward Lin Xizhao’s room.

Inside the room, Qu Sheng carried Lin Xizhao toward a chair. Seeing they were already inside, Lin Xizhao looked up at Qu Sheng and said softly, “Sheng’er, put me down.” She wasn’t so weak that she needed someone to carry her to walk.

Hearing this, Qu Sheng looked down, her eyes and brows full of smiles, and slowly put her down.

Lin Xizhao got down, saw Qu Sheng’s happy appearance, and smiled along with her. “Do you like snowball fights that much?”

She hadn’t seen Qu Sheng this happy in many days.

Hearing this, Qu Sheng’s bright eyes stared straight at Lin Xizhao. She wasn’t happy because of the snowball fight; clearly, she was happy because she was happy.

Qu Sheng didn’t speak. Lin Xizhao, seeing the smile in her eyes that couldn’t be concealed, curved her brows and eyes, and went to the side to pour her a cup of hot tea.

“Drink some to moisten your throat first; we will have breakfast soon.”

Hearing this, Qu Sheng’s gaze moved slightly. She raised her hand to take it, but her eyes couldn’t bear to shift away from Lin Xizhao.

“Ah Jie, I want to drink too.” Lin Xirui poked his head into the unclosed door.

Hearing this, Qu Sheng looked back, the smile on her face fading slightly. Seeing Lin Xirui come in, Lin Xizhao went to the side and poured him a cup of hot tea.

“Here.” Lin Xizhao held it up and passed it over.

Lin Xirui took it, took a sip, then looked up and asked, “What was Sheng-meimei laughing at just now?”

Hearing this, Lin Xizhao glanced sideways at Qu Sheng. Qu Sheng indeed didn’t look very smiley right now. It was as if Lin Xirui had startled it away as soon as he entered the door.

Qu Sheng didn’t speak and lowered her head to drink a mouthful of tea. Seeing this, Lin Xizhao explained, “I was just saying I would make water chestnut cake³ for her to eat at noon.” The two hadn’t actually said this just now, but she felt that since Qu Sheng was so happy today, she wanted her smile to continue.

Sure enough, after Lin Xizhao finished saying she would make water chestnut cake for Qu Sheng to eat, the corners of Qu Sheng’s lips couldn’t hide the smile.

Seeing this, Lin Xirui laughed along and said, “Then Ah Jie should make a bit more, so I can follow Sheng-meimei and touch a bit of mouth fortune⁴.”

Lin Xizhao naturally wouldn’t refuse Lin Xirui and agreed, “Alright, but you have to help.”

As soon as Lin Xirui heard he had to help, that excitement instantly dissipated by half. Lin Xizhao saw his face droop a little; she just smiled but didn’t relent on letting him work.

Lin Xirui drank half a cup of tea, thought of Qu Sheng carrying Lin Xizhao just now, and asked, “How is Sheng-meimei’s strength so great? I saw she could pick Ah Jie up just now. Did she practice martial arts like Feng Qi?”

Hearing this, Qu Sheng’s brows moved. Lin Xizhao’s hand, which was taking the cup from Qu Sheng, also paused for a moment. Qu Sheng looked at Lin Xizhao. Lin Xizhao lowered her eyes for a moment, placed Qu Sheng’s cup back on the table, and explained, “Sheng’er… has practiced a little.”

Previously, aside from her young uncle, no one had asked. Zhao Jiayu and the others knew Qu Sheng had some martial arts foundation, but they had never seen Qu Sheng spar with Qu Yu and the others on the training platform.

Therefore, everyone felt Qu Sheng only did it to strengthen her body and didn’t have very deep attainments.

Hearing this, Lin Xirui nodded his head, muttering softly, “No wonder.” No wonder she could kick Lin Xikuan flying with one foot. However, the doctor diagnosed that Qu Sheng’s kick didn’t have a major impact on Lin Xikuan; he was just too weak at the time.

Currently, Lin Xikuan had been picked up and taken to the Yu residence for a few days. Before leaving, Lin Jianhai had spoken to Lin Xikuan alone about something unknown. Looking at Lin Xikuan’s expression, he seemed extremely dispirited. Lin Xirui currently only hoped he could recover from his illness at their grandfather’s home, so that next spring, the two brothers could listen to the teacher’s lessons together again.

“Go have breakfast. Father seems to have returned very early today,” Lin Xizhao also took a sip of tea and said.

Lin Xirui gave an “En” and said, “Then let’s go.”

Lin Xirui finished speaking and walked toward the door. Lin Xizhao raised her eyes to look at Qu Sheng. Qu Sheng lowered her head, seemingly pondering something.

“Xirui.” Lin Xizhao called out to him when Lin Xirui reached the door.

“Ah? Does Ah Jie have other matters?” Lin Xirui turned his body back and asked.

Lin Xizhao walked forward a few steps, glanced at the servants outside the door, and said in a low voice, “Don’t tell others about Sheng’er practicing martial arts, especially your Second Brother.” Lin Xizhao instructed.

It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Lin Xirui, but if she didn’t greet Lin Xirui with this beforehand, she feared it would reach Lin Xikuan’s ears.

Lin Xikuan hated her, but she couldn’t guarantee he wouldn’t hate Qu Sheng along with her. After all, the Qu family was the external factor that sent the Yu clan into prison to lose their lives.

Hearing this, Lin Xirui looked puzzled and asked in a low voice, “Why?”

“Because Sheng’er practicing martial arts will make other people afraid.” A person who was considered a lunatic by outsiders—if they practiced martial arts and went crazy, it was indeed a terrifying thing. But Qu Sheng not wanting outsiders to know was not because of this.

Hearing this, Lin Xirui blinked his eyes. Thinking of the anger revealed on Qu Sheng’s face when she kicked Lin Xikuan flying, he had an answer in his heart and said, “Don’t worry, I won’t say it. Ah Jie, you rest assured, Sheng-meimei won’t hurt people indiscriminately.”

After so many years of contact, in Lin Xirui’s eyes, Qu Sheng was just a little sister who loved to eat. Usually, she was quiet and didn’t cause trouble. Whatever Lin Xizhao asked her to do, she almost never refused. How could such a well-behaved little girl make people afraid? Kicking Lin Xikuan was also because he wanted to hurt his own jiejie.

Listening to Lin Xirui’s words, Lin Xizhao nodded and looked back at Qu Sheng.

Qu Sheng was currently looking toward her. After meeting Lin Xizhao’s gaze for a moment, the corners of her lips tilted up slightly.

The three went to the dining hall to have breakfast. Lin Jianhai was already waiting there. Today’s food was quite abundant, but at the dining table, extremely few people spoke.

These past few years, Qu Sheng had become accustomed to the silence at the dining table when Lin Jianhai was present. But as long as Lin Jianhai opened his mouth, there would basically be big matters. Only, today’s matter was something Qu Sheng hadn’t expected.

“Is the wedding date for the Qu family third branch’s Qu Yu arriving?” Lin Jianhai asked in a warm voice.

Hearing this, Lin Xizhao looked up and replied, “Yes, it is the day after tomorrow.”

Hearing this, Lin Jianhai’s eyelids blinked slightly, and he asked again, “Is the congratulatory gift prepared?”

Hearing this, Lin Xizhao said, “Prepared. The Zhao residence has also prepared theirs.”

Lin Jianhai nodded and said, “En, at that time, Father will go over with you. Rui’er⁵ should go too.”

It was rare for Lin Jianhai to take his family to attend someone else’s joyous event. All these years, for the invitations sent by other residences, almost always the gift arrived, but the people did not.

Listening to Lin Jianhai say he was going to attend Qu Yu’s wedding, Lin Xizhao couldn’t help but curve her brows and eyes, saying, “Good, I’ll have someone bring word to Adoptive Father and Adoptive Mother tomorrow.”

Originally, Lin Xizhao thought Lin Jianhai wasn’t going. In this way, when the time came, she would be sitting together with Father. She needed to greet them in advance to avoid any errors in the arrangements.

Hearing that he was going to attend Qu Yu’s wedding with Lin Jianhai and the others, Lin Xirui hurriedly asked, “Then is Second Brother going too?”

If Lin Xikuan was going, he needed to pick him back up in advance.

Hearing this, Lin Jianhai glanced at him, lowered his eyes for a moment, and said, “No need, let him recover from his illness properly.”

Hearing this, Lin Xizhao glanced at Lin Xirui out of the corner of her eye, served some dishes to Lin Jianhai to ease the atmosphere, and said, “That day, Daughter still needs to go to the Zhao residence for a trip. If Father goes early, you don’t need to wait for Daughter.”

Since it was Zhao Jiayu’s grand wedding, she had to go over. Although it didn’t serve much purpose, Zhao Jiayu requested it, so she would go over early to look at the bride’s makeup for Qu Yu.

Lin Jianhai nodded and didn’t speak again.

Lin Xirui knew he had spoken wrongly and mentioned what shouldn’t be mentioned, so he could only lower his head and shovel rice, not daring to speak again.

After breakfast, Lin Xizhao asked Qu Sheng if she still wanted to have a snowball fight. Thinking of how Lin Xizhao panted after playing for a while, Qu Sheng shook her head.

Playing occasionally was fine, but if they played all day, it would exhaust Lin Xizhao.

Afterward, Lin Xizhao had people sweep the courtyard clean and started making shuxiu⁶ for Qu Sheng. The pattern was the fire pattern Qu Sheng loved. Qu Sheng would look up to see every so often.

Seeing this, Lin Xizhao laughed at her, saying, “Jiejie will embroider it well for Sheng’er. It will definitely be better looking than Jiayu’s.”

Whether it was good-looking or not was unknown, but when sewing for Qu Sheng, her heart was filled with sweetness. She couldn’t describe the feeling; in short, doing anything for Qu Sheng, she was willing.

The two stayed indoors for a while. Lin Xizhao took Qu Sheng to the kitchen. Originally, she wanted Lin Xirui to come help her, but Qu Sheng said she would do it. Therefore, at this moment inside the kitchen, there was no sign of Lin Xirui.

Lin Xizhao and Qu Sheng used small curved knives to peel off the outer shells of the water chestnut, washed them clean, and cut them one by one into small broken grains.

Qu Sheng stood to the side, watching Lin Xizhao carefully cutting the water chestnut, then looked at the clean white water chestnut meat floating on the water. She reached out to take one and took a bite.

The taste couldn’t be described as anything special, but it definitely wasn’t as delicious as the finished water chestnut cake.

Lin Xizhao glanced sideways, saw Qu Sheng eating it raw, and smiled. “Eating too much of this raw will cause a stomach ache. Just taste one is enough, don’t eat too much.”

In the current season, they were already gone. These were all stored by the residence since autumn. It was Lin Xizhao who specially ordered them to be saved for Qu Sheng to make water chestnut cake to eat.

Qu Sheng nodded, put the water chestnut she had bitten once to the side, pressed close to Lin Xizhao’s back, extended her hands from under her arms, and held Lin Xizhao’s hand that was holding the knife.

“Sheng’er will do it.”

Lin Xizhao’s knife technique was very skilled, but Qu Sheng was still worried she would cut herself. Speaking of using knives, she was much more familiar than Lin Xizhao.

Lin Xizhao was encircled by Qu Sheng from behind. Her body paused for a moment, and she smiled helplessly. “Jiejie will do it; you go to the side and start the fire.” It still had to be boiled later.

Inside the kitchen, there were no servants at this moment; Lin Xizhao had intentionally sent them away.

Hearing this, Qu Sheng held Lin Xizhao’s knife-holding hand, hesitated for a moment, and let go.

“Okay.” Qu Sheng’s voice was soft and glutinous, making Lin Xizhao’s heart feel soft.

Lin Xizhao stopped the knife in her hand and looked sideways as Qu Sheng took the huozhezi⁷ from the stove platform. After opening it, her small mouth pursed together lightly. After blowing the flame out, she gave a light laugh.

The Qu Sheng of childhood only knew how to eat and not how to do; now she was big enough to help her.

Qu Sheng burned the stove fire, but because she had never done these things, in a moment she stuffed the stove heart full, so much so that the entire kitchen ceiling was filled with a layer of smoke. By the time Lin Xizhao discovered it, Qu Sheng had already made herself ashy-headed and dirty-faced⁸, and was still selling her strength to fan wind at the stove mouth…

“Sheng’er.” Lin Xizhao hurriedly stopped the work in her hands and walked to Qu Sheng’s side.

At this moment, smoke curled around the kitchen. Lin Xizhao had to bend her waist to barely avoid being choked by the smoke.

“You go out first, Jiejie will do it.” Lin Xizhao instructed Qu Sheng while using her hands to nimbly pull the firewood out.

Hearing this, when Qu Sheng looked up, she realized she seemed not to have burned the stove fire well.

Qu Sheng didn’t speak; she just squatted to the side. It wasn’t that she hadn’t stood up just now, it was just that when she stood up, the smoke fumigated her eyes so she couldn’t open them, and breathing was also difficult.

“Ah Jie.” Lin Xirui came uninvited. He had just stepped into the kitchen when he was met with wind being fanned rapidly toward his face, blowing the smoke away. “Pah, what are you guys doing?”

Hearing the sound, Lin Xizhao looked outside, then looked at Qu Sheng who was squatting beside her with eager eyes. She smiled helplessly and said loudly to Lin Xirui outside, “Xirui, don’t come in yet.”

The smoke was too thick; people simply couldn’t enter. Fortunately, Lin Xizhao’s hands were skilled; she took out the excess firewood and burned the stove fire inside vigorously, so there was no subsequent large amount of smoke. But waiting for the smoke to completely scatter would still take a while.

Qu Sheng squatted beside Lin Xizhao, her eyes holding the grievance of feeling she was useless and only knew how to add chaos. She wasn’t embarrassed; she was aggrieved. She also wanted to help Lin Xizhao, but she messed it up.

“No harm, just burn it like this is fine.” Lin Xizhao taught Qu Sheng.

Lin Xizhao taught Qu Sheng carefully. In a moment, Qu Sheng grasped the laws of burning fire. This burning fire also had great learning; what dish to cook and what fire to burn all had particular requirements.

Lin Xizhao put the cut water chestnut into the pot and lowered her head to look at Qu Sheng. Seeing Qu Sheng looking like a little flower cat⁹, Lin Xizhao’s brows and eyes curved. She took out a handkerchief, lowered her body, and helped her wipe her face.

When Lin Xirui came in again, seeing these two sisters still this intimate in front of the stove fire, he couldn’t help but laugh, “Didn’t we agree I would come to help? Looks like I’m not needed.”

Hearing this, Lin Xizhao and Qu Sheng both looked over sideways. Seeing that Lin Xirui had already put on his panbo¹⁰, the two looked at each other and made way.

Lin Xirui replaced Qu Sheng’s position and squatted there to burn the fire. Lin Xizhao went to mix the other things, and Qu Sheng took over for Lin Xizhao to continue cutting the unfinished water chestnut into pieces.

The three people each performed their own duties, and very quickly, the water chestnut cake was done.

The cooled water chestnut cake was soft, fragrant, and sweet. Lin Xirui unceremoniously took a piece first and put it into his mouth, nodding unceasingly, saying, “Sure enough, with my joining, the taste is even better.”

Hearing this, Lin Xizhao smiled helplessly, picked up a piece with chopsticks, used her other hand to catch underneath, and sent it to Qu Sheng’s lips.

Qu Sheng raised her eyes to look, her brows and eyes curved slightly, opened her small mouth, and bit it into her mouth. The taste was still the previous taste, but with her own joining today, there was an indescribable sense of satisfaction.

Lin Xizhao watched Qu Sheng nod after eating a mouthful, and didn’t go to change for another piece. She directly used the place Qu Sheng had bitten and took another bite.

“En, with the joining of two Great Masters today, the taste is indeed better.” Lin Xizhao praised these two people with smiling eyes.

Every time Lin Xirui was praised by Lin Xizhao, he would unconsciously cock his nonexistent tail.

“That is, it still has to be that I burned the stove fire well, to be able to make this water chestnut cake this delicious.”

“Yes, my Third Brother’s hands are the cleverest.” Lin Xizhao smiled and echoed to coax him, but her eyes glanced toward Qu Sheng. Qu Sheng saw Lin Xizhao looking at her and also laughed along.

However, she wasn’t laughing right now because Lin Xizhao praised Lin Xirui, but because Lin Xizhao was eating the water chestnut cake she had just bitten.

Previously, even if the two were that intimate, Lin Xizhao almost never shared food with her. Qu Sheng guessed it was probably worrying she would be repulsed; secondly, it was also possible Lin Xizhao herself minded.

But now, she didn’t worry about Qu Sheng being repulsed, nor did she mind being bitten by Qu Sheng. Such a tiny action, insufficient to express anything, let Qu Sheng take a step closer on the ladder into Lin Xizhao’s inner world.

Qu Sheng smilingly looked at Lin Xizhao’s gentle face, a countenance that made people want to go crazy for it at any time, and stared blankly for a moment.

“Sheng-meimei, what are you looking at?” Lin Xirui was eating things, and with one glance he caught a glimpse of Qu Sheng staring at Lin Xizhao the whole time. That kind of look, he couldn’t say it was strange, but he also didn’t feel Qu Sheng would be detrimental to Lin Xizhao.

Hearing this, Qu Sheng’s gaze moved slightly. When Lin Xizhao looked up at her, she retracted her gaze in time, pretended nothing was wrong, walked in front of Lin Xirui, and ate water chestnut cake herself.

Today’s water chestnut cake, in just this moment of effort, Lin Xirui had already eaten quite a lot!

The next day at noon, Feng Qi held a box in his hand and walked toward Lin Xizhao’s courtyard. The accumulated snow outside was slowly melting, and the day was becoming increasingly cold.

Feng Qi knocked on Lin Xizhao’s room door. After Lin Xizhao opened the door, she let Feng Qi in.

“Eldest Miss, the congratulatory gift Miss asked to prepare for Miss Jiayu is ready.” As Feng Qi spoke, he placed the somewhat heavy wooden box on the table.

At this time, Qu Sheng had just woken up from her afternoon nap. Lin Xizhao had come out after dressing her in half her dress. Qu Sheng heard Feng Qi’s voice and put on her outer clothes properly herself. When she came out, Feng Qi only took one look and lowered his head.

Qu Sheng walked over and opened the wooden box. Inside lay a long sword. It was Lin Xizhao’s first time seeing someone send a long sword as a newlywed congratulatory gift.

However, Qu Sheng’s little head had some differences from ordinary people. It couldn’t be counted as maverick, but she always had times that made people surprised by her.

Qu Sheng took the sword out without expending any effort. When she pulled it, Lin Xizhao even heard the long sword’s clanging cry.

“Send it.” Qu Sheng didn’t continue looking.

This sword was forged by a famous weapon-forging master in the capital whom she had asked Feng Qi to find. The materials used were expensive, and it came from the hands of a famous teacher, so naturally, it wouldn’t be poor.

Hearing this, Feng Qi lowered his head to bow, took the sword from Qu Sheng’s hand, put it into the wooden box, and took it out.

Lin Xizhao didn’t ask Qu Sheng if Zhao Jiayu would like it, because she knew that as long as Zhao Jiayu saw it, she would definitely like it. All were people who practiced martial arts; naturally, they wanted a weapon that satisfied their hearts. Although it was a newlywed congratulatory gift, for someone like Zhao Jiayu who didn’t stick to small details, as long as she liked it, sending anything was fine; she wouldn’t refuse comers.

After the sword was sent out, just as Feng Qi’s front foot returned to the Prime Minister’s residence, Zhao Jiayu’s side dragged the family and brought the mouth over, even bringing Chengxi along.

Chengxi’s illness, compared to before, was already much better. At this moment at noon, the day was quite a bit warmer than the morning. A stove fire burned inside the room. Lin Xizhao first poured tea water for Chengxi.

Chengxi came today to give thanks. A few days ago, if not for Lin Xizhao calling Zhao Jiayu over, she feared she wouldn’t have been able to escape that night.

Chengxi leaned her body to bow. Lin Xizhao smiled and told her not to stand on ceremony. If saving her was a kindness, then for Lin Xikuan’s conduct and deeds, she still had to apologize for it.

It was she who didn’t discipline her younger brother well, nearly causing Chengxi to meet with disaster.

Chengxi shook her head and didn’t mind. Lin Xizhao was Lin Xizhao, Lin Xikuan was Lin Xikuan. She wouldn’t transfer her anger to Lin Xizhao because Lin Xikuan was her younger brother. She also heard Zhao Jiayu and the others say that Lin Xizhao was the one among them with the kindest heart and the easiest to talk to, and also the best looking among the few of them.

Chengxi listened to Zhao Jiayu’s praise and couldn’t help but want to come see. That night at the Xiao residence, in Xiao Bingying’s room, although the two had met, Chengxi couldn’t see Lin Xizhao clearly in the distance because the lamp fire was dim. Lin Xizhao also didn’t have any interaction with her because Chengxi was separated by a face veil at the time, and when it was taken off, she was already unconscious.

Seeing each other today, the two revealed looks of mutual appreciation.

A princess of a country, reduced to this, but the noble and elegant aura around her body couldn’t be covered.

Zhao Jiayu brought the sword Qu Sheng gave her this time, and it was hanging at her waist.

For this, she even specially wore a body of martial arts clothes that was worthy of this sword. The shuxiu on her wrists were naturally the leather sleeves Lin Xizhao had sewn for her. She came at this moment to show off a bit.

Zhao Jiayu got up and walked around. After Lin Xizhao appreciated it for a bit, she said, “You look rather like a female hero walking the Jianghu¹¹.”

“What do you mean ‘look like’? I originally am one.” Zhao Jiayu heard Lin Xizhao say ‘look like’ and hurriedly retorted.

“Yes, Female Hero.” Xiao Bingying really knew how to spoil her; following her words, she directly coaxed her and said it out loud.

A room full of girls all laughed. Zhao Jiayu laughed along and didn’t feel embarrassed. But when she saw Qu Sheng sitting beside Lin Xizhao the whole time, silent and not speaking, occasionally glancing at Lin Xizhao, Zhao Jiayu moved her chair to approach. She got closer to Qu Sheng, almost sticking to her, and deliberately asked, “Little Sheng’er, is Xizhao very good-looking?”

Hearing Zhao Jiayu’s words, Qu Sheng’s gaze moved slightly. Her head didn’t move, but her peripheral vision glanced over.

“Eh, I just said our Xizhao is the best looking among the few of us. Of course, our family’s Little Sheng’er is also the smartest one. Does this smartest one staring at the best looking one prove…”

Zhao Jiayu originally wanted to say it proved her words that Lin Xizhao was good-looking were true, but then she thought of Xiao Bingying, who had never used this kind of gaze to look at Lin Xizhao, but used a gaze similar to Qu Sheng’s to look at Chengxi…

When she was small, she felt Lin Xizhao was good-looking. The current Chengxi was also good-looking, but she had never used the gaze of these two people. She, then and now, just purely felt they were good-looking, especially appreciated them, but wouldn’t exaggeratedly have thoughts of wanting to take them as her own.

Thinking that between her and Lin Xizhao, doing some things would make Qu Sheng eat flying vinegar, Zhao Jiayu couldn’t figure it out.

“Proved what?” Lin Xizhao saw Zhao Jiayu got stuck and smilingly asked for everyone.

Zhao Jiayu’s head was a bit chaotic right now. Hearing Lin Xizhao ask her, she hurriedly continued the words from before: “Of course, it proved that our Xizhao is the most beautiful. But, right now there is also Chengxi’s joining. I announce the two divide the autumn colors equally¹², not distinguishing between this and that.” Zhao Jiayu was speaking words from her heart; she just felt both were good-looking.

Zhao Jiayu finished speaking and deliberately glanced at Xiao Bingying. Sure enough, while Chengxi laughed, Xiao Bingying secretly looked over.

Chengxi looked at Zhao Jiayu’s peripheral vision looking at Xiao Bingying, and also followed her gaze, looking sideways at Xiao Bingying.

After Xiao Bingying’s gaze collided with Chengxi’s searching eyes, she hurriedly lowered her head.

Zhao Jiayu looked at the two like this and couldn’t help but steal a laugh. Qu Sheng was originally looking at Lin Xizhao; hearing Zhao Jiayu’s laughter, she subconsciously looked over.

Lin Xizhao looked at Zhao Jiayu once, and when she looked at Qu Sheng again, Qu Sheng had already turned her head, her gaze containing emotions she couldn’t understand as she met her eyes.

Inside the room, because of Zhao Jiayu’s laughter, it was quiet for a few moments. But a moment later, it was led by Zhao Jiayu to other topics, chatting about other matters.

Zhao Jiayu and the others didn’t use meals at the Prime Minister’s residence, and Lin Xizhao didn’t stay them much. The sky color was too late, and it wasn’t safe. Added to Chengxi’s illness, it wasn’t good to blow the cold wind in the night.

When Zhao Jiayu and the others left, Lin Xizhao gave the other ginseng to Xiao Bingying and the others.

Xiao Bingying originally refused, but Zhao Jiayu didn’t care. After she took it from Lin Xizhao’s hand, she gave thanks while walking, saying, “Wait until Chengxi’s illness is good, I’ll invite you to Houxiang Tower, eat whatever you want.”

Lin Xizhao nodded and smiled: “Good, at that time you and Fourth Brother invite me together.”

As soon as Zhao Jiayu heard Lin Xizhao mention Qu Yu, she unconsciously blushed, gave Lin Xizhao a rare coquettish glare, and got on the horse carriage.

Xiao Bingying supported Chengxi onto the horse carriage, bid farewell to Lin Xizhao and Qu Sheng, and let the servants drive the horse to leave.

At night time, when Lin Xizhao and Qu Sheng prepared to rest, Feng Qi transmitted news from the Marquis of Qu’s residence.

Zhao Jiayu and the others encountered an ambush on the road back.

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The author has something to say:

Qu Sheng: “I also want to eat Wifey’s saliva.”

Lin Xizhao: “!!! Quickly make her shut up!”

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