As night fell, the Wei mansion was brightly lit.

After a bustling day, Madam Xu, being elderly, was inevitably tired by this hour. Having fulfilled her social obligations, she had retired to her northern chamber to rest. The female guests had also gradually dispersed, leaving only the men to continue their social engagements.

Wei Shao had been busy greeting and seeing off guests since morning. It was now nearly the end of the xu hour (around 9 PM), and he hadn’t even had time for dinner. After escorting the last few distant guests out, he was hurriedly returning when, at the steps of the Chuihua Gate, he suddenly heard someone call out, “Marquis Wei, please wait.” Turning around, he recognized a clerk who had come with the envoy from the State of Zhongshan, so he stopped.

The clerk approached Wei Shao respectfully and bowed. Wei Shao acknowledged him perfunctorily. The clerk offered a few flattering words, and noticing Wei Shao’s apparent distraction, he smiled and said, “Marquis Wei might not remember me. Years ago, I served in the Su family of Zhongshan. When Madam Yulou was still unmarried, I had the honor of seeing Marquis Wei several times. I wonder if the Marquis recalls?”

Wei Shao paused slightly, staring at the clerk for a moment before asking, “What is it?”

The clerk glanced around, and seeing no one nearby, stepped closer. He took out a sachet sealed with fine silk from his bosom and presented it with both hands, saying in a low voice, “Marquis Wei may not know, but my purpose in accompanying the envoy to Yuyang, besides congratulating the old madam, is also to deliver a message on someone’s behalf. Madam Yulou heard of Marquis Wei’s joyous wedding and was deeply pleased. She had originally intended to come to Yuyang personally to pay respects to the old madam and congratulate Marquis Wei on his marriage. However, being in Luoyang and unable to break free from worldly affairs, she asked me to deliver this letter on her behalf as congratulations.”

Wei Shao stared at the exquisitely embroidered purple silk sachet in the clerk’s hands without speaking or moving.

Seeing that he didn’t take it, the clerk glanced up discreetly.

Two lanterns hung by the door, their red glow flickering in the night breeze. Wei Shao’s face was cast in a vague, uncertain red light.

He seemed slightly lost in thought, his gaze dark, blending into the surrounding dim night, making his expression hard to discern.

The clerk gently placed the sachet on the side of the steps, bowed to Wei Shao, and retreated a few steps. As he was about to turn and leave hurriedly, he heard Wei Shao’s voice suddenly rise: “Convey my message: Shao thanks Madam Yulou for her kind intentions, but nothing more is necessary.”

His voice was somewhat deep. After speaking, he stepped over the sachet on the steps and strode away.

……

After seeing off the last guest, Wei Shao met Wei Yan, who had just returned from the same task. He handed over the remaining matters to the household manager, exchanged a few words with Wei Yan, and they parted ways after saying goodbye.

Wei Yan left the Wei mansion’s main gate, took the horsewhip from his long-time personal attendant Zhang Lan, mounted his horse, and returned to his residence. It was already midnight.

Busy all day without eating much, Wei Yan entered the bathhouse, changed into loose clothing, and came out to pour himself a drink by the window. Half a jug of wine later, the image of Lady Qiao inevitably floated before his eyes.

During the day in the birthday hall, she had been incomparably radiant. Not only was she beautiful, but unexpectedly intelligent, which surprised him. In the evening, when escorting Madam Xu back to the northern chamber, she was also attending to Madam Xu’s side. At that time, the corridor lights were dim, and she stood far away among a group of women, yet he still spotted her at a glance. In the hazy night, his gaze was difficult to move away from, but Lady Qiao, goddess-like and inviolable, never once looked his way.

Wei Yan gradually felt a heat in his belly, as if an unnamed fire had been lit inside him. Though wine was before him, his mouth was dry and hot. Turning his face, he saw his favored concubine looking at him with tender, affectionate eyes. He smiled, pushed away the wine cup, and casually pulled her onto his lap. Closing his eyes and lowering his head, he deeply inhaled the faint orchid fragrance emanating from behind the concubine’s collar. In his mind, the image of the jade-like neck he had glimpsed when first meeting her at the mounting shop reappeared, the skin fresh and tender, even showing the fine down like a newborn’s on her ears. Suddenly, his body became unbearably hot, no longer able to restrain himself. He roughly pulled open the front of the concubine’s robe from behind, heavily kneading the fullness within.

The concubine, not knowing why he was so fierce tonight, was hurt by his pinching but dared not resist. She could only feign sounds of pleasure to please him.

Wei Yan’s expression was tense as he laid the now-disrobed concubine on the edge of the table and lifted his robe. Suddenly, he stopped and slowly raised his head.

A dark figure had appeared by the window, tall. Wei Yan recognized the outline of the newcomer at a glance.

His gaze immediately turned gloomy, the desire from moments ago instantly receding, replaced by a hint of murderous intent.

The concubine, who had been closing her eyes waiting for his favor, was puzzled when he suddenly stopped. She opened her eyes and saw him staring out the window. Curiously, she turned to look and was startled to see a dark figure standing there, letting out a sharp scream.

“Get out,” Wei Yan said slowly as he straightened up.

The concubine knew he was talking to her. She hurriedly pulled her clothes back to cover herself and left the room with her head lowered, scurrying away.

The dark figure from outside climbed through the window. He was dressed in Han clothing and removed his hat to reveal the bearded face of a middle-aged man. He bowed deeply to Wei Yan and said, “Thousand Horses Commander Hu Yanlie has come to pay respects to the young master. Are you well?”

Wei Yan coldly replied, “What are you doing here? This is Yuyang. Do you think there’s no one in the city and that I won’t kill you?”

The man said, “The Rizhuwang misses the young master. I was ordered to risk my life to come and invite the young master back. I was fortunate to avoid the sentries. If the young master wishes to kill me, I willingly accept death.”

Wei Yan said word by word, “You’re asking for death.” Before he finished speaking, accompanied by a clang, a white flash of light appeared as Wei Yan drew his sword, its tip piercing straight into the man’s left chest.

The sword entered the flesh inch by inch. Soon, dark red blood surged from the man’s chest, slowly spreading and dripping onto the ground.

The man’s face gradually turned pale as he knelt on one knee, but his eyes stared straight at Wei Yan, his shoulders not even trembling.

“If I push in another inch, do you think you’ll still live?” Wei Yan’s gaze was stern.

“Everyone dies eventually. Dying by the young master’s sword, Hu Yanlie has no regrets,” the man said in a deep voice.

The Hu Yan surname was one of the prestigious clans of the Xiongnu, known for their bravery and fierceness, with many family members holding high positions in the royal court.

Wei Yan narrowed his eyes slightly. After a moment, he slowly withdrew his sword, took a cloth, and wiped the blood from the sword tip. Without raising his head, he coldly said, “Before I change my mind, get out immediately. Don’t let me see you again.”

The man tore off a piece of his clothing, roughly bound the wound that was still bleeding profusely, and finally pressed his palm against it. He slowly stood up from the ground and looked at Wei Yan, saying, “Thank you, young master, for sparing my life. I risked my life to come here today with no other intention. The King knows that today is the birthday of the late Queen’s mother and specially ordered me to come and offer congratulations on his behalf. If the young master is willing to convey this, twenty ingots of gold, twenty bolts each of red and green silk, and twenty fine horses have been prepared and are waiting outside the city of Dai Prefecture.”

Wei Yan sneered. “Is his intention to make the Wei family aware that I know my origins, so they will doubt and no longer accept me?”

“The King has no such intention,” Hu Yanlie bowed to him. “If the young master is unwilling to convey this, the King can only let it be. I have brought a letter personally written by the King, please take a look.”

Hu Yanlie took out a roll of parchment from his robe and placed it on the corner of the table, then stepped back.

“I dare not disturb the young master’s peace any longer. I’ll take my leave now.”

Hu Yanlie knelt and bowed to Wei Yan again.

“The blood of our bow-drawing tribe flows in the young master’s veins. The King thinks of you day and night. Now the Chanyu is old, and the Left Wise King is wary of our King at every turn. The King urgently needs the young master to return and assist him. Moreover, with the young master’s great talent, you should soar like an eagle in the sky. Are you content to serve others all your life, unable to fulfill your ambitions?”

Hu Yanlie suddenly said, then climbed out of the window as before, his figure quickly disappearing into the darkness of the deep courtyard.

Wei Yan stood with his sword tip touching the ground, staring at the roll of parchment on the corner of the table, lost in thought for a long while.

……

Wei Shao walked towards the western chamber.

He had been busy from early morning until now, greeting and seeing off guests, which was even more mentally taxing than leading troops in the field.

It was already very late, and the Wei mansion, which had been bustling with noise and excitement all day, had finally regained its tranquility in the night.

Wei Shao reached the fork in the path and looked towards the western chamber on his left. In the distance, he could see the faint flickering of lantern light. As he quickened his pace, he suddenly noticed that Maid Jiang was still standing by the roadside near the eastern chamber.

Seeing him approach, Maid Jiang hurriedly stepped forward, bowing as she said, “My Lord, have you finished your affairs? Madam instructed me to wait here for you and request that you go to speak with her.”

Wei Shao furrowed his brow, pondered for a moment, and then turned to walk toward the eastern room. He entered the inner chamber and glanced around from the doorway. He saw his mother, Madam Zhu, kneeling on the couch with a few servant women accompanying her. Zheng Shu was not present.

“Zhonglin, you’ve come?” Madam Zhu was still in her daytime attire for receiving guests. Upon seeing Wei Shao, her face lit up with joy, and she hurriedly rose from the couch to greet him personally.

Wei Shao entered the room and knelt, saying, “Mother, why are you still awake so late? What did you call me for?”

Madam Zhu gazed at her son, a hint of melancholy in her eyes. “I missed you, my son, that’s why I called for you. I just wanted to see you and talk for a bit, like when you were little. You’ve grown up, but you’ve become distant from your mother. Zhonglin, can I not call for you if there’s nothing urgent?”

Wei Shao was slightly taken aback and finally looked directly at Madam Zhu. Though her appearance hadn’t changed much from before, upon closer inspection, he noticed a few strands of white hair at her temples and crow’s feet at the corners of her eyes. Without realizing it, she had aged more than she had ten years ago.

He remembered how, when he was young, his mother always favored him over his elder brother, and his heart softened a little.

His expression finally became gentle as he said, “It’s your son who has been unfilial. Mother, you are right to admonish me. From now on, I will visit you more often.”

Madam Zhu smiled and picked up a folded set of undergarments from beside her. “I made these clothes for you with my own hands. I used your old clothes that you left here as a reference. Try them on when you get back, and if anything doesn’t fit, let me know, and I’ll alter them for you.”

Wei Shao hastily accepted the clothes with both hands, set them aside, and knelt to thank Madam Zhu. She held her son and sighed, “Why so formal with me? You’re my son. Didn’t you wear clothes I made for you when you were little? Did you have to kneel and thank me every time? Now that you’ve grown up, you’ve become so distant.”

Wei Shao smiled without speaking.

“You’ve been busy all day today, and I haven’t seen you rest for a moment. I’m sure you haven’t had time to eat properly, and you must be hungry. I’ve prepared something for you just now, and I cooked it myself. It’s the sweet glutinous rice porridge you loved so much as a child. It’s still hot.”

Madam Zhu turned and called for a servant to bring the food. The servant quickly brought it up. Madam Zhu personally removed the bowl’s lid and smiled, “It’s been a long time since I’ve cooked. I don’t know if it still suits your taste. Try it and see.”

Wei Shao took the bowl and quickly finished eating.

“Was it good?”

Wei Shao put down the bowl and met his mother’s expectant gaze. “It was good,” he said.

Madam Zhu sighed in relief. “I’m glad you liked it. I’ll have them bring you another bowl.”

Wei Shao stopped her, smiling, “I’m full already. Thank you for your care, Mother. I was indeed a bit hungry.”

Madam Zhu smiled and said, “Since you like it, I’ll make it for you more often. I know it’s my fault. These past few years, I’ve been pressuring you about Chu Yu’s matter, which has caused you to grow distant from me.”

Wei Shao replied, “Mother when you say such things, I feel deeply ashamed.”

Madam Zhu was lost in thought for a moment, then looked at Wei Shao and slowly said, “I know I come from humble origins. For half my life, I’ve done my best to please your grandmother, but she still looks down on me. After your father passed away, my situation became even more difficult. I don’t blame anyone. I only blame myself for being foolish and not fulfilling my duties well. Now she has decided that you should marry the Qiao girl from Yanzhou. You know the blood feud between the Qiao family and our Wei family, so I initially disliked her.

The day you brought her home to pay respects, I did give her the cold shoulder. But after you left, Chu Yu advised me, saying that since the Old Madam had made this decision, she must have her reasons. Since you’ve married her, we’re family now, and Chu Yu urged me to treat her well to avoid putting you in a difficult position. I thought it made sense, and what’s done is done. My opposition would be useless, and if we got along well, I’d have someone to keep me company in the future. So the next day when she came, I intended to treat her kindly, but unexpectedly, she…”

Madam Zhu paused.

“That morning when she came to pay her respects and kneel before me, her behavior wasn’t improper, but I could tell she was upset about how I had treated her the day before. After she got up, she wanted to leave, and I couldn’t bring myself to ask her to stay. As it happened, I had risen early that day and hadn’t eaten yet. It was also Maid Jiang who meddled and asked her to cook a bowl of soup for me. I didn’t need it, and I was afraid she would think I was still making things difficult for her. I was about to stop her when she suddenly changed color and used your grandmother to pressure me, saying she had to go back to copy scriptures for her. She’s so filial to your grandmother, how could I dare to keep her? So I let her go.”

Madam Zhu looked at her son with a bitter smile. “Zhonglin, your mother is just such a useless person. Not only does your grandmother dislike me, but even my newly married daughter-in-law doesn’t respect me. Do you know why I insist on you taking Chu Yu as a concubine? You’ve been away from home for years, and I have no one to keep me company. Only Chu Yu can ease my worries…”

Her eyes slowly reddened, and she took out a handkerchief to wipe the corners of her eyes.

“A feudal lord is entitled to one wife and eight concubines. I’m not asking you to fill your household with that many women, just to take Chu Yu as a concubine. Chu Yu isn’t a monster. If she enters your household, she can not only keep me company but also bear children for our Wei family. Is it too much to ask for you to do this small thing for me?”

Wei Shao remained silent.

Madam Zhu’s expectant gaze fell on his face, holding her breath as she waited.

Wei Shao hesitated for a moment, then finally looked up at Madam Zhu and said, “I understand Mother’s intentions. Please allow me to consider it further.”

Madam Zhu had been worried he would outright refuse, but hearing him agree to consider it, she was overjoyed. Not daring to push further, she quickly nodded and said, “It’s good that you’re willing to consider it. Take your time, I won’t pressure you anymore.”

Wei Shao smiled slightly and said, “It’s late, Mother. Let me escort you to bed.”

Madam Zhu nodded. Wei Shao helped her up and escorted her to her bedroom door.

Wei Shao took his leave, carrying the clothes his mother had made for him.

“Aunt, did Cousin agree?” As soon as Wei Shao left, Zheng Chu Yu emerged from behind the screen in the room and asked.

Madam Zhu smiled, stroking Zheng Chu Yu’s arm. “I didn’t pressure him, but appealed to his emotions, and it worked. Zhonglin agreed to consider it. Chu Yu, your method was indeed good and clever.”

Zheng Chu Yu was surprised. “Aunt, did you say everything as I instructed?”

“I didn’t miss a single word.”

Zheng Chu Yu frowned slightly. “Aunt, you said all that, and Cousin still said he needed to consider? I’m afraid he might just be placating you, and in a few days, he’ll refuse again. What should we do then?”

Madam Zhu was taken aback, then said, “Don’t worry. If he refuses again, I still have a method I obtained from the great shaman. Once the rice is cooked, it can’t be uncooked. When the time comes, Zhonglin won’t be able to refuse to take you as a concubine.”

…

Wei Shao pushed open the door and stepped over the threshold. Chun Niang followed him in and asked if he was hungry. After exchanging a few words, they heard footsteps. Turning around, they saw the curtain move as Xiao Qiao emerged. Although her clothes were still neat, her eyes were watery and slightly hazy, looking as if she had just struggled to wake up from a nap.

“Husband, you’re back?” Xiao Qiao stood before him, smiling.

Wei Shao didn’t even raise an eyelid. He turned back and handed his clothes to Chun Niang, telling her to take them for washing and starching. “I just had a late-night snack in the eastern room, so I’m not hungry. Prepare water for my bath.”

The servants hurriedly made preparations. Soon everything was ready. Wei Shao went into the bathroom. Chun Niang noticed Xiao Qiao’s eyes fixed on the clothes in her hands and pursed her lips, whispering, “They say Madam made these.”

The sound of running water could be heard from the bathroom. Xiao Qiao turned her head to look.

“I wonder what Madam said…”

Chun Niang looked somewhat worried.

Xiao Qiao didn’t say anything. She changed her clothes, rubbed her eyes, and waited.

After a while, Wei Shao came out. The servants tidied up and left, closing the door behind them. As on previous nights, Xiao Qiao waited for him to get into bed, then blew out the lamp and carefully climbed in to lie down.

Although she hadn’t done any physical labor during the day – the task of receiving and seeing off female guests of the Wei family wasn’t her responsibility yet, and she had just been accompanying Madam Xu – she was still exhausted. Earlier, while waiting, she had dozed off. Now she could finally sleep.

Xiao Qiao closed her eyes, and as her consciousness began to blur again, she suddenly heard Wei Shao’s voice near her ear: “I heard you wouldn’t even make a bowl of soup for my mother. That excuse about copying scriptures was just a pretext, wasn’t it?”

Xiao Qiao startled awake, her eyes snapping open.

In the darkness, Wei Shao got out of bed and went to relight the lamp.

The room brightened. Xiao Qiao saw him get back into bed and lie down, half-leaning against the headboard, turning to look at her.

Although she had been almost asleep, she could hear a hint of accusation in his tone.

But at this moment, his gaze seemed quite calm, with no discernible emotion.

It was so late, why wasn’t he sleeping? How could he still be so alert?

Xiao Qiao slowly sat up, looking into his eyes.

“Yes, copying scriptures was indeed an excuse. But not making the soup wasn’t my true intention,” she said softly.

Wei Shao stared at her. “What do you mean?”

“As a new daughter-in-law serving her mother-in-law, even if I were lazy, it’s just a bowl of soup. How could I refuse when she asked? The truth is, I was a bit afraid at the time…”

“Afraid of what?” Wei Shao’s brow furrowed slightly.

Xiao Qiao lowered her eyes. “Mother-in-law deeply dislikes me. You saw it yourself during our first meeting. If you hadn’t been by my side to protect me in the end, I wouldn’t have known what to do. That morning, you had left early, and I had to go alone. Seeing my Mother-in-law’s stern expression, I felt even more uneasy. Suddenly, Maid Jiang asked me to go to the kitchen to make soup. It was all my fault. When I was at home, I was lazy and had never set foot in the kitchen. I couldn’t tell millet from rice and had no idea how to start. There was no one to guide me. If I had tried to make it, the result…”

She bit her lip and glanced up furtively. “I was foolish at the time. If I had just said I didn’t know how to cook, Mother-in-law might not have done anything to me. But I was afraid she would dislike me even more because of it, so… so I came up with that excuse…”

She finished speaking and stopped, looking pitifully at Wei Shao.

As she spoke, Wei Shao’s brow had furrowed, and by the time she finished, it was so deeply creased it looked as if it could trap a mosquito. He stared at her for a long while, then finally raised his hand and, closing his eyes, pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Alright, I understand! Don’t do this again in the future, do you hear me?” His voice was still cold.

“I understand! Starting tomorrow, I’ll diligently practice my culinary skills. In the future, I’ll serve Mother-in-law well,” Xiao Qiao nodded vigorously.

Wei Shao continued to frown at her. After a moment, she heard him let out a long sigh.

“Go to sleep,” he uttered two words.

Xiao Qiao felt as if she had been granted a great pardon. She sighed in relief and hurriedly got out of bed. She slipped on her shoes and went to the lampstand. Just as she was about to blow out the lamp, she suddenly heard Wei Shao’s voice behind her: “You know my mother wants me to take Chu Yu as a concubine, don’t you? I just agreed to it.”

Xiao Qiao froze, slowly turning around. She saw him lounging there, half-lying and half-leaning, his eyes fixed on her.