The Prime Minister’s Daughter and the Marquis’s Fool – Chapter 86

You Eat Too, Jiejie. We’ll Share a Bowl.

Lin Xizhao didn’t answer Qu Sheng’s question. The two returned to the Marquis Qu Residence, and Qu Sheng went to bathe, ordering someone to bolt the door.

After her own bath, Lin Xizhao sat alone in the room, resting her forehead on one hand and staring blankly at the candlelight.

Half an hour later, Qu Sheng returned, and Lin Xizhao took over for the maidservant.

“Would you like some tea?” Lin Xizhao asked, leading Qu Sheng toward the table.

Qu Sheng let out a soft “En” and said, “Alright.”

Lin Xizhao handed the prepared, lukewarm tea to Qu Sheng’s lips. The moment Qu Sheng smelled the tea’s fragrance, she lowered her head and began to drink.

When the tea was finished, Lin Xizhao watched Qu Sheng’s water-stained lips, which glistened as she pressed them together. Lin Xizhao lowered her gaze for a moment, banishing her wild thoughts and random ideas. She took a handkerchief, gently wiped the corners of Qu Sheng’s mouth, and then led her back to the inner room.

Once they were both on the couch-bed¹, Lin Xizhao helped tuck the thin quilt around Qu Sheng before lying down on her own side. Lin Xizhao couldn’t quite come to terms with what had happened today. If it weren’t for the fact that Qu Sheng’s eyes couldn’t see, she never would’ve been so bold.

Qu Sheng lay down and closed her eyes. Today, Lin Xizhao had held nothing back from her, and she believed that if she had pushed further, Lin Xizhao wouldn’t have refused her. She just didn’t understand why Lin Xizhao had suddenly become like this. Could it really just be to convince me to go to the Haichao Kingdom and let that traveling doctor² treat my eyes?

The two on the bed were each lost in their own thoughts. After a while, Lin Xizhao pushed her worries aside. Lin Jianhai was certainly a problem, but Qu Sheng was the most important person in her heart. Even if it meant defying Lin Jianhai, she wouldn’t regret it.

Lin Xizhao turned and reached out, pulling the still-overthinking Qu Sheng into her arms and placing a soft kiss on her forehead.

Feeling the softness of Lin Xizhao’s embrace, Qu Sheng also set aside her speculations. After a moment, she stirred in Lin Xizhao’s arms and spoke in a low voice, “I know Jiejie wants me to go to the Haichao Kingdom, but you should also know that my eyes can’t be cured.”

Hearing this, Lin Xizhao looked down at Qu Sheng. She gazed at Qu Sheng’s open eyes; aside from being vacant, they looked perfectly fine, yet they simply couldn’t see. “That’s not true. Sheng’er’s eyes will definitely get better,” Lin Xizhao said with conviction.

“And what if they don’t?” Qu Sheng asked, looking up.

Lin Xizhao had worried about this possibility herself. She gently pursed her soft lips and said, “They will get better.”

“Lin Xizhao, are you even listening to me?” Qu Sheng’s question was met with an instinctive reply that seemed to lack any thought, which made her a little impatient.

Hearing the hint of fire in Qu Sheng’s tone, Lin Xizhao froze for a second. “Jiejie is listening to Sheng’er, but haven’t we still not seen the traveling doctor in the Haichao Kingdom?”

Qu Sheng heard Lin Xizhao circle back around to wanting her to go to the Haichao Kingdom. She decided to just voice her fears directly. “What if we go to the Haichao Kingdom, see that traveling doctor, and it’s still no good?”

Lin Xizhao was taken aback. She had considered this question before. If Qu Sheng’s eyes truly couldn’t be healed, then she would stay by her side for a lifetime.

“Jiejie has said it before. If Sheng’er’s eyes don’t get better, Jiejie will take care of Sheng’er for a lifetime.”

Qu Sheng was moved by Lin Xizhao’s words, but then she remembered what Lin Jianhai had said to Lin Xizhao recently about a marriage with the Lingyi Jin Family. She let out a sudden, cold scoff. “You might be willing, but would Uncle Lin be willing?”

If my eyes could see, I would fight for this no matter what. But now I can’t even take care of myself, so how could I possibly protect Lin Xizhao? She could completely ignore the scorn and gossip from outsiders about a union between two women, but she couldn’t ignore Lin Xizhao’s safety. For now, the Qu Family was here to protect them, but what about in the future?

“I’ll find the right way to explain things to my father. Sheng’er doesn’t need to worry,” Lin Xizhao said. She hadn’t figured out how to say it yet, but if things truly came to that, circumstances would force her to take a stand even if she didn’t want to.

Lin Xizhao’s voice was always gentle. Even with Qu Sheng’s current anger, she treated her with tenderness. How could Qu Sheng bear to truly hurt or burden the Jiejie who had been by her side for over a decade?

“Fine, we’ll go to the Haichao Kingdom,” Qu Sheng relented. I’ve figured it out. I’m going to lose Lin Xizhao sooner or later. If that day comes a little sooner, then I won’t have to keep dragging her down.

She would only take Lin Xizhao’s promise of a lifetime together as something that applied after her eyes were healed. If her eyes never recovered, she would never let Lin Xizhao stay by her side.

I’ll just treat the road to the Haichao Kingdom as my last chance to travel and enjoy the scenery with Lin Xizhao.

Hearing Qu Sheng agree to go to the Haichao Kingdom, a smile immediately bloomed across Lin Xizhao’s face. She stared at Qu Sheng’s pressed lips, her eyes shining with a brilliant light.

The next morning, Lin Xizhao told everyone the news. By noon, the residence’s guards had been assembled. A carrier pigeon had already been sent to Shoulin, instructing them to lead troops to welcome Qu Sheng’s party.

Since Qu Sheng had agreed to go, her Second Uncle and Second Aunt from the Qu Family decided to accompany them, and Qu Ting joined as well. Qu Yu had wanted to go too, but since Zhao Jiayu was pregnant and also clamoring to come along, he had to give up the idea.

Outside the Marquis Qu Residence, half of its guards were gathered. Because the Qu Family’s second son, Qu Ming, had been murdered, the Jingcheng Capital City Patrol turned a blind eye to such a large mobilization.

Lin Xizhao returned to the Prime Minister Lin’s Residence and stayed for half an hour before hurriedly rushing back with Feng Qi.

Qu Sheng was standing outside the gates of the Marquis Qu Residence. When Lin Xizhao stepped down from her carriage, all eyes turned to her. After greeting everyone, Lin Xizhao took Qu Sheng’s hand and helped her into the Marquis Qu Residence’s carriage.

The people of the Marquis Qu Residence escorted them to the city gates. Lin Xizhao lifted the carriage curtain to bid them farewell, but Qu Sheng sat inside, motionless.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to say goodbye; it was that her unseeing eyes couldn’t find the location of the crowd that was already growing distant.

Lin Xizhao watched the crowd shrink into the distance before lowering the curtain and sitting back down, taking Qu Sheng’s hand in hers.

Qu Sheng’s brow twitched as her hand was held. Lin Xizhao smiled, her lips pressed together, and gazed at Qu Sheng’s beautiful face for a few moments before her eyes drifted down to her warm lips.

The way I acted so wantonly these past two days was just to make Qu Sheng believe I wouldn’t leave her and to convince her to go to the Haichao Kingdom. Now that I’ve accomplished both, I don’t dare to be so reckless and abandon my modesty anymore.

“Now that you’ve achieved your goal, do you feel like you don’t have to pretend anymore?” Although Qu Sheng couldn’t see, she could feel Lin Xizhao’s gentle gaze, because Lin Xizhao’s slender fingers were already caressing her cheek.

For so many days and nights, whenever Lin Xizhao touched her cheek, the care in her eyes was as gentle as water. She thought today would be no exception. But Qu Sheng had overlooked one thing: Lin Xizhao was no longer deliberately restraining her emotions. At this moment, her eyes, filled with love, were more moving than shimmering waves.

At first, Lin Xizhao didn’t understand what Qu Sheng meant, but when she saw Qu Sheng’s throat move as she swallowed, she understood immediately. Lin Xizhao leaned in, tilted her head slightly, and kissed the warm lips that had been waiting for so long.

Lin Xizhao sucked gently for a few moments before slowly pulling away. They were outside now; they had to be restrained. If someone saw them, it would cause trouble.

“That’s it?” Qu Sheng seemed a little dissatisfied after Lin Xizhao pulled back.

Lin Xizhao froze for a second. Seeing Qu Sheng’s feigned impatience, she thought for a moment and then curved her lips into a helpless smile. “We’re outside.”

“What’s wrong with being outside? Didn’t Jiejie say you’d stay with me for a lifetime? Does that mean we have to hide and sneak around for a lifetime too?”

“Sheng’er,” Lin Xizhao said, a hint of helplessness in her voice. What is she even talking about? Even a man and a woman couldn’t act like this in public.

Hearing the tone in which Lin Xizhao said her name, Qu Sheng knew she had gone too far, but she couldn’t help being greedy.

Seeing Qu Sheng pouting and sulking, Lin Xizhao felt a pang of pity. In the end, she leaned over and kissed her again.

As Lin Xizhao’s soft lips drew near, Qu Sheng’s breath hitched. She had already given up hope, but she knew Lin Xizhao would always spoil her.

Lin Xizhao kissed Qu Sheng gently, lingering for a few extra moments. But just as she was about to pull away, Qu Sheng wrapped her arms around Lin Xizhao’s slender waist, lifted her from her seat, and settled her right onto her lap.

The carriage was spacious. Startled by being lifted, Lin Xizhao broke the kiss for a second. When she realized she had just been pulled into Qu Sheng’s lap, she looked down to see Qu Sheng’s face tilted up, clearly asking for another kiss. Her eyelashes trembled, and she had no choice but to kiss her again.

The intertwining of their soft lips and tongues put Qu Sheng in an excellent mood, and the desire in her heart swelled rapidly. Their breaths mingled, one advancing and one retreating, until they became a chaotic, rapid mess, impossible to tell apart.

Since they had set out at noon, the group entered the first county town off the official road³ before nightfall. Making good time was secondary; they had plenty of it. Safety was the top priority.

Agreeing to bring Lin Xizhao out like this was already a huge risk. I have to ensure she remains completely unharmed, no matter what.

After helping his wife out of the carriage, Qu Ting walked over to the carriage of his Second Uncle, Qu Jixian. “Second Uncle, Second Aunt, let’s rest at this inn for the night.”

Their party was too large for a courier station⁴ to accommodate, and they couldn’t all be housed within the city. So, Qu Ting had sent someone ahead to book the entire inn.

Qu Jixian and his wife got out of the carriage, exchanged a few words with Qu Ting and his wife, and then looked toward Qu Sheng and Lin Xizhao.

Lin Xizhao emerged from the carriage, still holding Qu Sheng’s hand. After they both stepped down using the stool, Lin Xizhao greeted Second Uncle Qu Jixian and the others.

The group entered the inn. Since Qu Sheng couldn’t see, it wasn’t convenient for her to stay in the main hall, so Lin Xizhao led her up to a room on the second floor.

The inn’s waiter first brought them some food and then hurried to boil hot water for the two young ladies. After Lin Xizhao fed Qu Sheng, she ate a little herself and then instructed the people outside to bring the hot water.

Since the two of them were sharing a room, Qu Sheng didn’t want the maidservants they’d brought along to attend to her. Every day she spent with Lin Xizhao was one day less they’d have together.

Because of her blindness, Qu Sheng had slowly started to become less self-conscious about her body. She was still a little shy, but for some reason, she wanted Lin Xizhao to help her bathe.

The hot water was brought in, and the maidservants ladled it into the tub, slowly adjusting the temperature. A moment later, a maidservant stood up, looked at Qu Sheng, and said, “Young Miss, it’s ready.” The maidservant who usually attended to Qu Sheng knew what water temperature she preferred.

“En, you can go out first,” Qu Sheng said curtly, not explicitly stating that she wanted Lin Xizhao to help her.

The maidservant looked at Lin Xizhao with suspicion. The other day, their Young Miss had ordered the washroom door bolted because Lin Xizhao had entered without permission. She didn’t know what was different today.

Lin Xizhao met the maidservant’s gaze, seeming to understand that Qu Sheng wanted her to stay.

Lin Xizhao gave the maidservant a nod. The maidservant immediately understood, curtsied, and left, closing the door behind her.

Lin Xizhao walked over to Qu Sheng’s side. Seeing the nervousness on Qu Sheng’s face as she heard her footsteps, her eyes curved into a smile.

Lin Xizhao took Qu Sheng’s hand, pulled her up from the chair, and then led her behind the screen where the bathtub was placed.

They were both silent. The moment Lin Xizhao placed her hands on Qu Sheng’s waist, Qu Sheng went from hesitant to slowly spreading her arms.

Lin Xizhao skillfully untied the sash at Qu Sheng’s waist, removed her outer robe, and draped it over the screen before moving on to her inner clothes.

Qu Sheng was like a marionette, letting Lin Xizhao peel off her final layer of undergarments. As the clothes came off, Lin Xizhao’s gaze never left Qu Sheng’s face.

In the past, I wouldn’t have had to worry about this. But ever since Qu Sheng confessed her love for me, I knew that seeing each other naked like this would no longer be so innocent.

“Alright, I’ll help you in.”

“En,” Qu Sheng’s voice trembled slightly.

Lin Xizhao’s gaze flickered for a moment as she helped Qu Sheng into the tub. Although she didn’t mean to look, Qu Sheng’s movements forced the sight into her eyes.

The scene before her was breathtaking. Lin Xizhao’s mind went blank for a second, and it was only when Qu Sheng was submerged in the water, her full figure hidden, that she managed to tear her eyes away.

“Is the water temperature okay?” Lin Xizhao asked softly.

Hearing her voice, Qu Sheng’s racing heart steadied. She gave a soft “en.”

Lin Xizhao picked up the towel hanging nearby, dipped it into the tub, and pushed aside the chaotic thoughts in her mind, focusing on washing Qu Sheng’s body.

Qu Sheng’s skin was as fair as pale white jade, and firm from her martial arts practice. When Lin Xizhao’s fingertips brushed against it, she could feel its elasticity.

The sensation was so pleasant it was hard to let go.

Qu Sheng could feel Lin Xizhao’s fingers brushing against her body, sometimes there and sometimes not. She endured it for a while before finally speaking up. “Jiejie, do you want to get in too?”

Lin Xizhao had been lost in her own beautiful fantasies about Qu Sheng. The sudden question startled her, and she let out a dazed, subconscious, “En?“

“Sheng’er wants to bathe with Jiejie,” Qu Sheng said. She knew Lin Xizhao had understood her by now; she just couldn’t see the bashful flush that was surely on her face.

After a moment of shock, a blush spread across Lin Xizhao’s cheeks. She suddenly felt like the room was getting stuffy.

It was true that it wasn’t very well-ventilated, and the steam from the bath made the room a bit humid, but that wasn’t the cause of Lin Xizhao’s stuffiness. Her breathing was labored because her heart was pounding.

“Jiejie?” Qu Sheng prompted.

Hearing Qu Sheng’s repeated request, Lin Xizhao lowered her eyes for a moment and came up with an excuse. “This tub is too small. It’s not very convenient.”

Qu Sheng was skeptical. She raised a hand and felt the edge of the tub. An inn’s bathtub would naturally be small, but this was the one they had brought from the Marquis Qu Residence.

“It’s not small,” Qu Sheng said, puncturing Lin Xizhao’s excuse.

Lin Xizhao watched as Qu Sheng ran her smooth arm along the rim of the tub, droplets of water trickling down from her elbow, making the view of her chest all the more tantalizing.

Qu Sheng waited for a moment. She thought Lin Xizhao wouldn’t listen to her, but when she heard the rustling sound of Lin Xizhao taking off her clothes, her expression became a little unnatural.

Qu Sheng waited with a nervous heart until she felt the water level in the tub begin to rise. She knew Lin Xizhao had gotten in.

Qu Sheng listened closely, and the moment she sensed Lin Xizhao was near, she felt a softness on her lips.

The instant Lin Xizhao entered the water, she sought out Qu Sheng’s lips and pressed against them. Qu Sheng’s invitation to bathe together wasn’t just about getting clean. She knew what Qu Sheng was thinking, and it was what she wanted, too.

Qu Sheng was startled by the kiss at first, but then she began to respond to Lin Xizhao’s gentle kiss.

The water in the tub rippled with the slight movements of their bodies. When Qu Sheng’s hand touched Lin Xizhao’s body, her brow furrowed in annoyance.

Lin Xizhao was still wearing her undergarments.

I can’t see anything, so why is she still cheating like this?

Qu Sheng’s kiss grew more forceful, her tongue tangling with Lin Xizhao’s until it had nowhere to rest. She slid her hand down to Lin Xizhao’s slender waist and, in a single motion, pulled off the annoying little garment.

What should have felt cool was instead a wave of warmth from the water. A moment later, something even hotter covered the spot, drawing an involuntary moan from Lin Xizhao’s throat.

Qu Sheng smothered the sound with her lips and tongue, and soon began to explore elsewhere. Lin Xizhao held Qu Sheng’s head, feeling both shy and annoyed, but a voice deep inside her held her back, unwilling to let her stop Qu Sheng.

She had always indulged Qu Sheng, even in things like this.

After their bath, though they had only stopped after a shallow taste⁵, Qu Sheng was immensely satisfied. But this intimacy with Lin Xizhao made her want to overturn the decision she had made in her heart.

She had lost her sight and fallen into a dark abyss, a place of unbearable pain, but Lin Xizhao’s arrival had brought light to it.

I can’t bear to part with her. I want to pull Lin Xizhao in with me, even if this place is nothing but mud.

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After coming to her senses, Qu Sheng held the soft, warm body in her arms and slowly began to suppress the terrifying thoughts in her mind.

I shouldn’t let someone as wonderful as Lin Xizhao suffer with me.

After a night of wrestling with her own mind, Qu Sheng woke up yawning constantly. As Lin Xizhao helped her dress, she looked confused. I was asleep last night. Is Qu Sheng sick again, yawning so much?

Worried, Lin Xizhao had the accompanying doctor check Qu Sheng’s pulse after breakfast.

The doctor reported that Qu Sheng was just sleep-deprived and there was nothing seriously wrong. The others wanted to stay for another day, but Qu Sheng refused.

Their large group was already conspicuous, and staying for one night had already disturbed the locals. Qu Sheng just said she could sleep in the carriage and urged everyone to set off.

Once in the carriage, Qu Sheng leaned against Lin Xizhao’s shoulder and neck. Though her eyes were closed, the battle in her heart raged on. But even after such intense deliberation, she still couldn’t reach a conclusion.

And because there was no conclusion, Qu Sheng became even more fixated on the hope of her eyes recovering.

If they stayed today, she would have one more day with Lin Xizhao. But because she wanted to see that traveling doctor as soon as possible, she would rather sleep in the carriage than delay their journey.

She had gone from disbelief to slowly pinning her hopes on this doctor she had never met.

Seeing that Qu Sheng looked uncomfortable leaning on her neck for so long with her eyes closed, Lin Xizhao shifted slightly. She supported Qu Sheng’s head, moved to the side, and gently laid Qu Sheng’s head on her lap.

The rocking of the carriage made Qu Sheng’s head move around. Worried it would wake her, Lin Xizhao reached out and cupped both sides of Qu Sheng’s face…

“Is Jiejie taking advantage of me?” Qu Sheng’s face, cupped by Lin Xizhao’s warm hands, turned red from the stuffiness.

Lin Xizhao had been tilting her head, admiring Qu Sheng’s adorable face. But when she heard her speak, the unconscious smile on her face vanished.

Lin Xizhao froze for a second, feeling more and more that Qu Sheng was being unreasonable. If we’re talking about taking advantage, she’s the one who took full advantage of me last night.

Lin Xizhao didn’t say anything, but she slowly started to pull her hands back. She was afraid that moving too suddenly would make Qu Sheng wrench her neck, but her slowness gave Qu Sheng time to raise a hand and press down on one of hers.

Qu Sheng knew Lin Xizhao was angry, even if it was the smallest bit of anger imaginable, and she felt her joke had gone too far. She held Lin Xizhao’s soft, white hand in place and rubbed her cheek against it.

Seeing Qu Sheng with her eyes still closed, looking completely captivated by her hand, Lin Xizhao’s annoyance dissipated, and the corners of her lips slowly curved upward.

At noon, they set up a simple canopy in the wild. Because the wind was blowing outside and Qu Sheng couldn’t see to avoid getting dirt in her eyes, Lin Xizhao used a handkerchief to cover them.

“I can just keep my eyes closed. This looks so ugly,” Qu Sheng said, a little reluctant.

Lin Xizhao tied the handkerchief and said, “It’s better to tie it.” Since when did Qu Sheng care so much about her appearance?

In the past, Qu Sheng had never deliberately picked out her own hair ornaments or clothes; she always wore whatever was given to her. Today, she was reluctant just to have her eyes covered. It gave Lin Xizhao a new understanding of her.

Lin Xizhao led Qu Sheng to sit under the simple canopy, took the soup and rice from her Third Sister-in-law, Qian Shuangying, thanked her, and began to feed Qu Sheng.

“You eat too, Jiejie. We’ll share a bowl,” Qu Sheng said. She knew Lin Xizhao always fed her first before eating herself. But that meant everyone else had to wait longer, and Lin Xizhao would end up just hastily eating a few bites so they could get back on the road.

Lin Xizhao glanced down at the food in the bowl. It wasn’t that she found Qu Sheng’s leftovers disgusting, but sharing a bowl of food would surely attract suspicion if anyone saw.

There was a pause while Qu Sheng chewed, but switching bowls back and forth would be a hassle.

“I ate your lips last night, Jiejie. Don’t tell me you find Sheng’er disgusting?” Qu Sheng was already being restrained. She had eaten more than just Lin Xizhao’s lips.

Qu Sheng’s words made Lin Xizhao’s cheeks burn. She looked up at Qu Sheng in disbelief for a second, then glanced sideways at Qu Ting and Qian Shuangying.

They were only two steps away. Qu Sheng’s explicit words made Lin Xizhao so embarrassed she wanted to drag her back to the carriage and hide immediately.

But leaving now would only make her look more guilty. After a moment of awkwardness, Lin Xizhao said nothing and continued to feed Qu Sheng.

Qu Ting and Qian Shuangying exchanged a look, utterly dumbfounded, and pretended they hadn’t heard anything as they continued to eat.

After Qu Sheng was full, Lin Xizhao finished the little that was left in the bowl. She had indeed listened to Qu Sheng; the two of them had shared, eating two bowls in total.

The accompanying guards began to pack up the tents, and Lin Xizhao helped Qu Sheng back onto the carriage to wait.

Once inside, Lin Xizhao untied the handkerchief from Qu Sheng’s eyes. Qu Sheng blinked, and Lin Xizhao noticed that a few of her fluttering eyelashes were clumped together. Without thinking, she reached out and used her thumb to smooth them out.

“Jiejie.”

The moment Lin Xizhao’s hand moved away, Qu Sheng called her name in the same seductive tone she had used in the water last night.

Lin Xizhao stared at the look of anticipation on Qu Sheng’s face and chose not to ignore it. She satisfied her. As Lin Xizhao’s soft lips pressed down, Qu Sheng began to respond.

Qu Sheng kissed Lin Xizhao’s lips and tongue. They were always sweet, but not cloying, just like Lin Xizhao herself.

“Protect the Mistress!”

Just as the two were kissing, hard to separate, hard to part, Feng Qi’s roar came from outside.

The sound brought them back to their senses. After they separated, Lin Xizhao quickly lifted the carriage curtain to look outside. A dense crowd of people in ragged clothes surrounded them, holding all sorts of weapons. Lin Xizhao had never seen these people before, but she knew they were what merchants and caravan guards often called bandits⁶.

“It’s bandits,” Lin Xizhao stated.

“Don’t worry, Jiejie. Feng Qi will protect us,” Qu Sheng comforted her, having heard the worry in her voice.

They weren’t on an official road; they had taken this route to avoid any potential ambushes, but they hadn’t expected to run into bandits instead.

This place wasn’t far from the Jingcheng Capital City, only a few counties away. It was truly baffling that bandits would dare to rob people in the open here.

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The author has something to say:

Qu Sheng: “Besides her lips, her milk⁷ is sweet too.”

Lin Xizhao: “……”

If this gets locked frequently, I’ll delete the previous parts, and a new section will be added below. Remember to come back and check.

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