The Prime Minister’s Daughter and the Marquis’s Fool – Chapter 66

Sheng’er Gives jiejie Time

Because Qu Sheng’s words last night had been too explicit, Lin Xizhao fled the Marquis Qu Residence early this morning. She simply told Jin Yunfei that something had come up at her family home and departed in a hurry.

She had been busy all day, but her mind had also been racing. Seeing Qu Sheng suddenly appear now made her heart flutter with guilt.

“Hey, Sheng-meimei, come in quickly,” Lin Xirui called, ushering Qu Sheng into the room.

Qu Sheng did not even glance at Lin Xirui. Her eyes met Lin Xizhao’s, and she stepped inside, stopping just past the doorway.

Lin Xirui noticed the strange look his sister gave Qu Sheng. After a quick glance between the two of them, he quickly said, “I have something to take care of. You two can talk.” He knew Qu Sheng disagreed with Lin Xizhao’s potential marriage. If he could not persuade his sister, maybe Qu Sheng could.

After Lin Xirui left, Qu Sheng remained silent. She knew how cautiously Lin Xizhao had woken up and moved about this morning. The reason she had not followed her was to give Lin Xizhao some time to think.

What she had not expected was that as soon as Lin Xizhao returned home, Lin Jianhai would propose a marriage for her—to her maternal cousin, no less.

Qu Sheng had frowned the moment Lin Xirui mentioned the previous verbal engagement. She had never heard Jin Yunfei say that Jin Mingyun had an engagement with Lin Xizhao. If she remembered correctly, he had married the same year Lady Liang¹ died, and at that time, Lin Xizhao had not yet reached the age of ji².

She had heard upon returning before the new year that Jin Mingyun’s wife had passed away. During her investigation into the Earl of Yongshen’s family, she had also heard that Lin Xizhao had an engagement, but she had assumed it was just an excuse Lady Liang had used to fend off the Earl’s family. In any case, since the agreement had been broken, there was no need to revisit it; there was no connection between them.

She had no contact with the Jin family, but she had seen their youngest daughter last year in Shoulin. Though young, the girl was still older than her.

Only the two of them remained in the room. Lin Xizhao lightly bit her soft lip and asked Qu Sheng, “Are you cold?”

Lin Xirui had closed the door on his way out. Hearing her voice, Qu Sheng finally reacted, shaking her head. She was not cold, but her heart felt a little chilled.

The chaotic thoughts in Lin Xizhao’s mind were momentarily set aside. She looked at Qu Sheng, unsure of what to say.

Qu Sheng walked toward a nearby chair. There were only teacups on the table, suggesting Lin Xizhao had been sitting alone, lost in thought again. Lin Xizhao always did this when something was on her mind, but Qu Sheng did not know if she was thinking about her or the marriage to the Jin family.

Lin Xizhao stood there silently, while Qu Sheng stared at her intently.

She had heard from Lin Xirui that Lin Jianhai had told Lin Xizhao to think it over carefully, and she had not refused at the time, which suggested she was considering it.

“The Jin family… he has two sons,” Qu Sheng said, her eyes fixed on Lin Xizhao. She was telling her that if she wanted to marry him, she had to be prepared to be a stepmother.

People’s hearts are the hardest to grasp, and being a stepmother is the most difficult role. Although the Jin family held the title of Marquis, even if Lin Xizhao were to bear a son, there would still be two older sons above him. Her son would not be able to inherit the title.

Lin Jianhai likely wanted Lin Xizhao to marry into the family for the Marquis title, but Jin Mingyun’s late wife was not from a minor family either. Although Jin Yunfei had not said so, Qu Sheng could guess that at the time, Lin Jianhai’s status was inferior to that of another marquis, which was likely the reason the Jin family broke off the engagement.

Hearing Qu Sheng’s pointed words, Lin Xizhao was momentarily stunned. Surprise flickered in her eyes, and then she smiled. “I have no intention of agreeing.” She had not wanted to marry before because of her mother’s death. Later, it was because of Qu Sheng; she wanted to spend more time with her.

At Lin Xizhao’s answer, the frown that had creased Qu Sheng’s brow slowly smoothed out, and her expression softened.

Her words just now were not truly meant as advice for Lin Xizhao, but rather to probe her thoughts. Hearing that she would not agree, the anxiety in her heart eased slightly.

She was truly afraid that she would push Lin Xizhao into a hasty marriage just to escape her. Even if Lin Xizhao did not marry her, the Jin family was by no means a good match.

Qu Sheng started to walk out. Lin Xizhao called softly, “Where are you going?”

Qu Sheng turned back at the sound of her voice and, echoing Lin Xirui’s words, said, “I have things to do.”

Qu Sheng needed to return to the Marquis Qu Residence. Although the matter with the Earl of Yongshen was nearly resolved, she still had to plan her next move regarding the Imperial Noble Consort.

If you do not pull out the roots, the weeds will grow again³. That family was extremely vengeful, and she feared they would do something to harm Lin Xizhao again.

Qu Sheng opened the door to leave, and Lin Xizhao did not stop her. Feng Qi, seeing Qu Sheng emerge, glanced up at the worried expression on Lin Xizhao’s face inside the room before closing the door.

As Feng Qi followed behind Qu Sheng, she said while walking, “You stay here.”

Feng Qi froze for a second, his steps halting. He looked at Qu Sheng’s back as she walked away without turning, then glanced at the closed door, completely unable to figure out what these two young ladies were up to.

Feng Qi stood in the courtyard watching Qu Sheng leave. A moment later, he heard the sound of the door opening.

When Lin Xizhao opened the door, she only caught a glimpse of the hem of Qu Sheng’s skirt as she left the courtyard.

Lin Xizhao stared in the direction Qu Sheng had gone, and then her gaze fell on Feng Qi. She was startled for a moment but quickly composed her expression and nodded at him.

---

Qu Sheng returned to the residence and first went to find her three older brothers, who were back from their duties after fangya⁴. They were all gathered in Qu Ming’s courtyard; her two sisters-in-law were not present. For some matters, the fewer people who knew, the better.

There was a breakthrough in the investigation of Qu Ce’s death.

“Our man stayed inside for a few days and did see him gambling with silver at the tables,” Qu Ming repeated what he had already told Qu Ting and Qu Yu after Qu Sheng arrived.

“I said we should go grab him, but Second Brother said we should wait for you to get back,” Qu Yu said. He had wanted to go in and arrest the man directly but was stopped by Qu Ming.

Qu Sheng was pondering the matter. Hearing Qu Yu’s anxious voice, she looked up at him and said clearly, “Do not be hasty. Let us see where he goes.”

They had finally found a useful clue. If this one also went cold, who knew how long it would take to find another.

Qu Ming looked doubtful. “It seems this person has been living inside the gambling den.” He had sent people to watch the den, even keeping an eye on the back door, but they never saw the man leave. For him to suddenly reappear inside, it must mean he was living there.

Qu Sheng looked up, frowning slightly, and asked Qu Ming, “Who owns the gambling den?”

“A salt merchant⁵ in the capital, I think his name is Kuang Pengtian⁶,” Qu Ting replied, having apparently done some deeper inquiries.

“Kuang Pengtian,” Qu Sheng murmured the name to herself. After a moment, she said, “Confirm this salt merchant’s identity. Since he is a salt merchant, he must have connections with officials in the capital. You can start by investigating those who have authority over salt distribution.”

Qu Ming nodded. “Alright, I will go right away.”

“Wait a moment, Second Brother,” Qu Sheng called out to Qu Ming, who was eager to leave. A hint of worry was in her eyes as she advised, “Be careful.”

Salt merchants were different from others. These men had significant political influence in the capital, like a string of firecrackers. Moreover, merchants valued profit above all else, and over the years they had formed a vicious criminal network in the capital, hiring thugs who were more ruthless than the last. If anyone got in the way of their wealth, they would eliminate them, no matter who it was.

A slight smile touched Qu Ming’s lips. “Alright, Second Brother will be careful.”

After Qu Ming left, Qu Sheng was still uneasy. She and Qu Ting went out again. Later that evening, Qu Ting took Qu Sheng directly to the Prime Minister Lin Residence⁷. Qu Sheng could enter the Prime Minister’s residence as if it were her own home, without needing to be announced.

---

It was now the end of the house of xu⁸ hour, a time when Lin Xizhao would normally be asleep. But tonight, she tossed and turned, unable to find rest. Even though she had not slept the previous night, she felt no drowsiness. She closed her eyes, turning over and over, her agitation growing.

She had always been gentle-natured. Aside from the grief of her mother’s death, she had never felt so restless.

But to call it restlessness was not quite right; it was more like worry and fear. The fear of loss.

She was afraid of losing Qu Sheng. She could not sleep peacefully on nights without Qu Sheng, and now, on nights with her, she was filled with anxiety. Her mind was a mess when Qu Sheng was not there, but when they were together, she was just as flustered.

Lin Xizhao turned over, and the sound was heard by Qu Sheng, who was standing by the bed.

“WHO’S THERE!” Lin Xizhao turned from facing the inside of the bed to the outside. The moving shadow before her made her heart jump in fright.

But in an instant, she recognized the slender figure. With Feng Qi outside, no stranger could get in.

“Sheng’er.” Lin Xizhao’s heart was still pounding, but she was trying to calm it.

Qu Sheng’s footsteps were usually audible, but she had been so wrapped up in her own turmoil that she had not heard the door or her approach.

Qu Sheng hummed a soft “mm” and continued to undress.

Lin Xizhao watched Qu Sheng’s movements in the dim room. Her heartbeat slowed a little but was still too fast. She wondered if Qu Sheng would… tonight.

Lin Xizhao wanted to light a lamp, but Qu Sheng, after placing her outer robe on a nearby wooden rack and changing into the nightgown she always kept here, climbed directly into bed.

Sensing Qu Sheng getting on the bed, Lin Xizhao instinctively tried to move away, shifting to make some space, but she remained sitting up, unwilling to lie down.

Qu Sheng lifted a corner of the quilt and lay down. When Lin Xizhao still had not moved after a long moment, she looked up at her, her gaze distant, and her heart sank.

Qu Sheng sat up as well. She looked at the panicked expression on Lin Xizhao’s face and, after a moment, spoke in a low voice, “Sheng’er likes jiejie⁹. I want to marry you, just like how Fourth Brother married Jia Yu.”

The paper-thin wall between them, so fragile that a gentle breeze could tear it, still required Qu Sheng to slash it open with a great sword.

Lin Xizhao was completely stunned.

Qu Sheng did not want to force Lin Xizhao. She wanted to give her time. She loved Lin Xizhao, but she did not want to pressure her. When Lin Xizhao was in pain, she would be sad too. This avoidance of hers made her heart grow cold and sorrowful.

Lin Xizhao stared at Qu Sheng in a daze. Though she could not see clearly, Qu Sheng could see the astonishment in her eyes. But Qu Sheng saw no disgust or contempt.

“Sheng’er gives jiejie time.”

Qu Sheng threw back the covers, put on her outer robe, and got off the bed. She should not have come tonight.

Qu Sheng walked towards the door, but just as she reached it, she sensed that Lin Xizhao had lit a lamp and come out.

Qu Sheng paused for a moment and turned sharply. Lin Xizhao’s gentle face appeared before her once more.

Lin Xizhao said nothing, simply standing at the entrance to the inner room, looking at Qu Sheng. Qu Sheng also stood her ground, looking back at Lin Xizhao.

Their gazes met and held. Qu Sheng saw a smile in Lin Xizhao’s eyes. It was soft and gentle, just like Lin Xizhao herself, making her unable to resist the urge to get closer, and closer still.

Qu Sheng walked toward Lin Xizhao, and Lin Xizhao did not shy away. Qu Sheng’s eyes shimmered as if filled with water, sparkling as they moved. She searched Lin Xizhao’s beautiful face.

When Lin Xizhao’s lips curved into a smile again, Qu Sheng felt as if her soul had been bewitched. She took another small step forward, her body pressing against Lin Xizhao’s, and placed her warm, soft lips on hers.

Lin Xizhao did not pull back from the kiss, but Qu Sheng did not dare to be presumptuous. She kissed Lin Xizhao’s soft lips gently, then pulled away after a moment.

“Jiejie.” Qu Sheng’s voice was full of joy, sweet and tender.

Lin Xizhao was not surprised by the kiss, but she had not come out to agree to anything. She was not that brave, nor that selfish. Her feelings for Qu Sheng were… different, but for her to be with Qu Sheng—she could not, and she should not.

Qu Sheng’s confession tonight also let her know that Qu Sheng’s understanding of matters between men and women was not skewed. Qu Sheng’s pretense of not understanding these past few days had been a way of testing her. She admitted that she liked Qu Sheng, but her yifu yimu¹⁰ had only this one child, who was already considered somewhat different from others. If she were to be with her, would it not invite even more ridicule?

She could not do something to wrong the Qu family, nor could she accept this strange relationship with Qu Sheng.

If it meant Qu Sheng could marry well in the future, she could let go of her dependence on her.

“Go back and rest,” Lin Xizhao said, letting Qu Sheng stay.

It was so late, and the weather was cold. It would pain her if Qu Sheng caught a chill.

Qu Sheng nodded with a soft “mm,” the smile in her eyes deepening. Right now, she looked like an obedient child.

Lin Xizhao held the lamp in one hand and took Qu Sheng’s hand with the other, leading her back. At the bedside, Lin Xizhao placed the candlestick on the small table and helped Qu Sheng undress.

Qu Sheng looked down at Lin Xizhao’s gentle, smiling eyes, and a fresh wave of love for her surged in her heart.

She liked Lin Xizhao. A possessive kind of like, a wanting-to-kiss kind of like.

Qu Sheng could not control the love that rushed through her limbs. The moment Lin Xizhao loosened the sash at her waist and looked up, she immediately leaned in and kissed her.

Lin Xizhao’s lips were still so soft they made her want to nibble them, but they could not satisfy the irrepressible desire in her heart. With a nimble tongue, she effortlessly parted Lin Xizhao’s teeth. The wet warmth and softness inside were intoxicating.

She loved kissing Lin Xizhao; it always managed to steady her unmoored heart. But Lin Xizhao’s response made her instinctively want to do other things to her.

After their lips and tongues were entwined for a long time, Qu Sheng took advantage of Lin Xizhao’s gasp for breath to move her kisses to her jaw. There was no excess flesh there, and it was soft to the kiss. But when she tried to go lower, Lin Xizhao reached out and stopped her.

Lin Xizhao’s eyes were misty with the moisture from Qu Sheng’s heart. She smiled faintly and shook her head at Qu Sheng. Qu Sheng swallowed hard; her heart was racing, and her breathing was ragged.

“It is time to rest.”

Lin Xizhao’s gentle voice sounded like a temptation to Qu Sheng’s ears. But her recent refusal made her hesitant to go any further.

Lin Xizhao got onto the bed first and lifted a corner of the quilt. “Come on up.” They still had to sleep; they could not just stand in the room all night.

Hearing Lin Xizhao’s invitation, the desire in Qu Sheng’s eyes flared up again. Her deep, dark eyes were filled with longing for Lin Xizhao. Lin Xizhao was momentarily stunned by the look and was pushed down by Qu Sheng, who had knelt on the bed but had not yet steadied herself.

Qu Sheng resumed the kiss from before, this time far more passionate and unrestrained than the ones where she had suppressed her true feelings.

Before, she had been afraid Lin Xizhao would see through her, so her kisses were restrained and proper, and also because she herself was inexperienced. But now that she had revealed her feelings and Lin Xizhao had tacitly accepted, there was no need to hold back or hide anything.

Her desire for Lin Xizhao was too strong. Back in Shoulin, even though they had not met, Lin Xizhao’s image had frequently appeared in her dreams. When they met again, her feelings for Lin Xizhao had not faded; instead, they had grown even stronger.

“Sheng’er…” Lin Xizhao’s words were muffled by the kiss, her breath catching as she called Qu Sheng’s name.

Lin Xizhao grabbed the hand that was stroking her waist, and Qu Sheng immediately stopped kissing, a flustered, apologetic look on her face. She wanted to say it was just an unconscious instinct, but it was also what her heart most wanted to do.

Her thoughts were shameless, but if she had not had them, she would not have realized she had fallen in love with Lin Xizhao.

“Jiejie.”

Qu Sheng’s soft, apologetic tone made Lin Xizhao lower her guard.

Hearing Qu Sheng’s voice, which she found so endearing, Lin Xizhao said with a hint of helplessness, “It is time to rest.”

The kissing was over, and she had followed her heart and kissed back. It was time to stop.

Hearing this, Qu Sheng could not resist pecking Lin Xizhao’s now overly red, soft lips again. Her eyes were filled with a soft, sweet affection as she pulled Lin Xizhao into her arms, treasuring her.

“Wait for Sheng’er to find a suitable opportunity to convince Father and Mother,” Qu Sheng began to plan their next step.

Hearing this, Lin Xizhao looked up at Qu Sheng. She believed Qu Sheng could do it, but it would also break her adoptive parents’ hearts. Never mind that such a thing between children of ordinary families would be criticized; for young ladies of their prominent status, not marrying would cause a city-wide scandal, let alone two women being together.

That would be a violation of law and ethics.

She absolutely could not let that happen.

Lin Xizhao’s eyes were gentle, a slight smile on her lips, but she did not respond to Qu Sheng’s words. Qu Sheng took her silence as agreement, kissed her brow, and said, “Sheng’er will not let jiejie be wronged.”

She had never let Lin Xizhao be wronged all these years.

“Mm,” Lin Xizhao hummed softly and closed her eyes.

---

The next morning, Qu Sheng did not stay for breakfast at the Prime Minister Lin Residence; she was anxious to get back and hear the news from Qu Ming. After Qu Sheng left, Lin Xizhao went to find Lin Xirui, gave him many instructions, and then returned to her room to wait.

After having breakfast with Lin Jianhai, Lin Xizhao made some water chestnut cake¹¹ and had Feng Qi deliver them to Qu Sheng while they were still warm. Feng Qi did not dare to delay. He covered the food box and rode his horse back to the Marquis Qu Residence at top speed.

But when he returned, Lin Xizhao was gone.

The guards in the courtyard had also disappeared along with Lin Xizhao.

Feng Qi rushed back to the Marquis Qu Residence to report to Qu Sheng. The water chestnut cake on Qu Sheng’s table were not yet finished. Hearing Feng Qi’s report that Lin Xizhao was missing, she asked with a flicker of suspicion, “The guards all went with her?”

“Yes, they all went with her.”

Those guards were from the Marquis Qu Residence; it was natural for them to follow Lin Xizhao when she went out.

“Did you ask Xirui?” Qu Sheng asked, taking another bite of a water chestnut cake.

When Feng Qi saw that Lin Xizhao’s courtyard was empty, he had felt something was amiss and rushed back, only asking the residence’s steward.

The steward had only said she went out to buy some things. But did she have to go herself just to buy things?

“I will go take a look.” Qu Sheng was also a little worried. When she returned today, Qu Ming had brought news. They had identified the owner of the gambling den as Kuang Pengtian, but they had not yet found any connection between him and that deputy general.

Qu Sheng had told Qu Ming to investigate Kuang Pengtian’s recent movements; perhaps they could find some spider silk and horse tracks.¹²

Qu Sheng took a handkerchief to wipe her mouth, straightened her clothes, and got into the carriage outside the residence.

When she left this morning, Lin Xizhao had kissed her. Although it was a light kiss, it was the first time she had initiated it. And soon after, she had Feng Qi send her water chestnut cake. Her heart was filled with sweetness, and the smile on her face was the brightest it had been in years.

Qu Sheng sat in the carriage, looking at the pedestrians outside. Before, she had found these people ordinary, but today, every one of them seemed pleasant to the eye.

She recalled the reluctant look in Lin Xizhao’s eyes when she left this morning. Her feet had felt rooted to the spot. But thinking of the long future she and Lin Xizhao would have together, she had to return to the residence first, worried that Qu Ming might make a mistake.

She would not say she was smarter than her brothers, but when it came to these clandestine matters, she had more ideas than anyone. Since her brothers trusted her, she naturally had to share her thoughts.

The carriage moved at its usual speed, but to Qu Sheng, it felt exceptionally slow today. Upon entering the Prime Minister’s residence, she went straight to Lin Xizhao’s courtyard. Seeing only a few servants cleaning, she went inside the room. After a quick look, she felt that something was slightly different from when she had left, but she could not put her finger on what it was.

Qu Sheng went into the inner room and saw the neatly folded bedding on the bed. The memory of her and Lin Xizhao on the bed last night brought an irrepressible smile to her lips, her eyes crinkling at the corners.

Qu Sheng left the room and went to Lin Xirui’s courtyard, but a servant told her that Lin Xirui had left the residence with Lin Xizhao after breakfast.

Qu Sheng was a bit surprised. What did she need to buy that required bringing Lin Xirui along?

But it was good that he was with her. Her brother could go to places that were inconvenient for Lin Xizhao. As long as it was good for Lin Xizhao, anything was fine.

Qu Sheng sent a few people out to search while she waited in Lin Xizhao’s room.

Half an hour later.

Feng Qi came in from outside, reporting that Lin Xirui had returned, and the guards were back with him.

“Where is Xizhao?” Feng Qi had mentioned everyone else, but not the person she was waiting for.

“I did not see her.”

What do you mean, you did not see her? Were the guards not with her? Qu Sheng shot up from her seat, her brow furrowed, and her heart tightened with tension.

Without waiting for Feng Qi to say more, Qu Sheng went directly to find Lin Xirui.

Seeing Qu Sheng approaching at a brisk pace, Lin Xirui’s mind echoed with Lin Xizhao’s words, ‘Do not tell Sheng’er where I have gone.’

“Sheng-meimei—” Lin Xirui tried to start with some polite pleasantries, but he was cut off by Qu Sheng’s cold tone before he could finish.

“Where is Xizhao?”

Seeing Qu Sheng’s stern expression, Lin Xirui was stunned for a moment, then quickly pulled the letter Lin Xizhao had written for Qu Sheng from his sleeve.

“Jiejie asked me to give this to you.” Lin Xirui held the letter out to Qu Sheng.

Qu Sheng glanced down at it, took it, and tore open the unmarked envelope in front of everyone.

Qu Sheng quickly scanned the contents of the letter. Her furrowed brow twitched, and she looked up at Lin Xirui with icy eyes, asking, “Where did Xizhao go?”

---

The author has something to say:

Qu Sheng: “Jiejie has legs, legs that can run, legs that run towards me.”

---

---