Wei Shao’s “in a few days” turned into half a month of anticipation for Xiao Qiao.
Finally, at the end of the month, they were ready to depart.
Xiao Qiao had long since prepared both her own and Wei Shao’s luggage.
They set out early in the cool morning. Xiao Qiao, dressed and ready, was in high spirits as she left with Wei Shao.
Before leaving, Wei Shao told her that he usually disliked sitting in carriages, finding them slow and stuffy.
But from Xinyang, they would travel east through Le Ping County, the ancient Zhao state’s Julu, and finally enter Ji Province’s An Ping County to reach Xindu. The journey would take at least ten days, with daytime travel and nighttime lodging. Fearing Xiao Qiao would be bored alone on the road, he decided not to ride horseback but to join her in the carriage.
He made it sound like a great sacrifice.
Xiao Qiao touched but resolute, shook her head, “Husband, you don’t need to inconvenience yourself for me. Please ride as you prefer. Chun Niang will keep me company; I won’t be lonely.”
She meant it sincerely. Riding with Chun Niang would be both effortless and comfortable.
If she were to ride with him…
Not to mention having to attend to his needs, Xiao Qiao could already imagine the indescribable things that would happen on the journey.
She wasn’t keen on that at all.
Wei Shao looked at her earnestly, “For Manman’s sake, I don’t mind a little discomfort.”
And so it was happily decided.
The large carriage was already waiting outside the main gate.
Chun Niang, naturally perceptive, rode in another carriage with the maidservants.
Xiao Qiao boarded the carriage first and sat down. Through the window, she watched Wei Shao bidding farewell to Li Chong, Zhang Jian, Wei Liang, and others who had come to see them off.
Gong Sun Yang had already left for Xindu earlier.
Li Chong, Zhang Jian, and Wei Liang would remain here.
Xiao Qiao waited for a while until finally, Wei Shao turned and entered the carriage, “Did you wait long?”
Xiao Qiao nodded, “Mm.”
Wei Shao smiled at her, sat down beside her, put his arm around her, and ordered the departure.
Amidst the unified farewells of Wei Shao’s subordinates, the carriage moved forward, carrying Xiao Qiao away from the city she had called home for over half a year.
The events that had transpired in this city seemed to have finally concluded.
Su E’huang had written a blood letter of repentance. Last night, she had left Jinyang under cover of darkness, returning to Lunu.
As the carriage passed through the east gate and gradually left the city behind, Xiao Qiao leaned into Wei Shao’s embrace, not looking back.
She was a person who adapted easily to her circumstances.
Living in a place for a long time usually fosters some emotional attachment.
But for this city, she felt not a trace of nostalgia.
She only wanted to leave quickly.
…
The procession of carriages and horses headed north from Jinyang, towards Lunu, the capital of the Zhongshan state.
They traveled slowly.
This procession had been splendid when heading south.
Now, returning north, it was lackluster.
The accompanying servants and maids were as silent as cicadas in winter, their expressions as if mourning their parents.
They were all servants and followers of Lady Su, the wife of the Duke of Zuofengyi, dependent on her for their livelihood.
Lady Su was their world.
Everyone knew that the daughter of the Su family from Zhongshan state was born with an auspicious sign, destined for extreme nobility.
How noble “extreme nobility” could be was an unspoken understanding.
They believed this without doubt, loyally following her from when she married and moved to Luoyang over a decade ago until now.
Just last month, when they left Lunu to head south, they were still full of excitement.
The lady, who had been living in seclusion in Lunu for half a year, was finally heading south to Luoyang again.
They still vividly remembered her glory days in the Jade Tower in Luoyang, the honors she enjoyed, and the adoration she received. Even today, mentioning it still filled them with pride.
At that time, the lady had been so close to fulfilling that prophecy.
Unexpectedly, Liu Li died, and the lady became a widow.
Even so, they hadn’t lost faith.
Because the lady was still there.
No matter what setbacks they encountered, just seeing her raise her chin with that eternally proud, queenly expression they couldn’t quite understand, they would willingly prostrate themselves at her feet, their confidence swelling once again, filled with strength.
Today, that beautiful dream of over a decade has shattered in an instant, like a broken illusion.
Everyone’s future looked bleak.
After more than ten days, as they approached Lunu in Changshan County, this group of people gradually began to feel uneasy.
In their hearts, seeds of doubt about the lady’s legendary “extremely noble destiny” began to sprout and spread.
No one knew clearly what had happened to the lady during those final days in Jinyang.
But it was said that the lady had deeply offended Marquis Yan Wei Shao and suffered his cruel punishment.
Although the exact nature of the punishment was unknown, rumors had already begun to spread secretly.
The lady’s face had been disfigured!
Everyone understood what this meant for a noblewoman famed for her beauty in Luoyang.
Moreover, since that night when the lady had left Jinyang with her face covered, boarding the carriage in the dead of night, she hadn’t shown her face once during the journey.
All messages were relayed through Su Ao, who stayed by her side.
The carriage she rode in kept its windows and doors tightly shut, exuding a heavy, deathly air. Like an ornate coffin, it was unsettling to look at even in broad daylight.
They began to doubt, worry, and fear.
If this were true, what future and hope could they have?
A few days ago, Su Ao had severely punished two maids she caught gossiping about their mistress behind her back.
But even this couldn’t stop the rumors.
Until this day, when they stopped in Changshan County.
They stayed for three days. The lady still didn’t show her face at the courier station.
After three days, just as people were becoming increasingly anxious, the lady who hadn’t appeared for days suddenly presented herself before them.
When they saw her, they were all stunned.
The Lady of the Jade Tower wore an elaborate hairstyle and magnificent clothes, her makeup exquisite, every bit as radiant as before.
On her face, she wore a butterfly wing-shaped half-mask.
The butterfly mask was made of red gold, inlaid with jewels, incredibly delicate, covering the middle of her face, revealing her beautiful eyes and cherry-red lips, but concealing her nose.
Far from detracting from her beauty, it added a touch of mystery.
Her piercing gaze swept over the servants from above the golden butterfly mask, making everyone shudder and lower their heads.
“We’re going to Luoyang,” Su Ao, who stood beside her, announced.
…
After traveling for over ten days, Wei Shao’s group entered Xindu on this day.
Gong Sun Yang had arrived a few days earlier. The Xindu garrison commander and the Xindu magistrate naturally knew that Wei Shao would arrive in the coming days.
But Wei Shao hadn’t informed them of his exact itinerary, nor had he ordered them to welcome him outside the city.
So when they entered the city this evening, it was just two carriages with several dozen guards before and after.
Although it attracted some sidelong glances from passersby, it didn’t cause much of a stir, and no one knew the identity of the newcomers.
It wasn’t until that night, when the people of Xindu looked up and saw the Tan Tower in Xin Palace, usually dark after nightfall, lit up with lamps as it had been during the Marquis’s grand wedding, that they realized the Marquis had entered the city.
…
As soon as Wei Shao entered Xin Palace, Gong Sun Yang, Xindu garrison commander Pei Jian, and the Xindu magistrate, upon hearing the news, rushed to pay their respects.
Wei Shao naturally went to meet them.
Xiao Qiao, long accustomed to this, knew that once he started talking with them, it would be at least half an hour before he returned. She entered Sheyang Residence, where she had lived before, and began settling in.
The palace maids all came to pay their respects.
After a busy period of settling in, at the lamp-lighting time, Chun Niang came to inform her that dinner was ready.
Wei Shao hadn’t returned yet.
Xiao Qiao instructed them to wait for him before dining together.
With nothing else to do while waiting, Xiao Qiao sat down to review the previous letters from Da Qiao.
It had been over half a year since her trip south at the end of last year.
Although Xiao Qiao and Da Qiao hadn’t had the chance to meet again, they had exchanged letters once.
The journey was long, spanning north to south, and passing through numerous divided territories, making the exchange of letters very difficult.
In March, when Xiao Qiao was in Jinyang, estimating that Da Qiao had given birth, she had written a letter out of concern, regardless of other matters, and had Jia Si send someone to deliver it to Lingbi. She inquired about the child’s condition and also about the war situation along the Huai River.
Two months ago, Xiao Qiao finally received Da Qiao’s reply.
Da Qiao wrote that she had successfully given birth to a son at the beginning of the year, and Bi Xin was overjoyed.
When she wrote to Xiao Qiao, her son had just passed his full month and was incredibly adorable.
Bi Xin treasured the child like a precious jewel and remained unchanged in his love for her. She was doing very well.
But regarding the war situation, Xiao Qiao had asked about, although Da Qiao’s tone was light and she only mentioned it briefly, Xiao Qiao could still read some of Da Qiao’s hidden worries between the lines.
Da Qiao said that after Xue Tai’s death at the beginning of the year, Xue Tai’s eldest son, Xue An, had raised an army to seek revenge. The first two times, he was repelled by Bi Xin.
The third time, the two sides were at a stalemate for many days, finally battling on the plains of Pengcheng. Just as Bi Xin was about to achieve complete victory, Yang Xin suddenly led his troops to attack Lingbi from behind.
Bi Xin was forced to hastily return his troops to defend Lingbi.
Yang Xin, who had always been an enemy of Xue Tai, had somehow allied with Xue An this time, besieging Lingbi from north and south.
However, Da Qiao also said that fortunately, Bi Xin’s defenses were tight, and Yang Xin and Xue An couldn’t do much to him for the time being, eventually withdrawing their troops.
The Huai River area had temporarily formed a three-way standoff between Yang Xin, Xue An, and Bi Xin.
She and Bi Xin were both doing well, Da Qiao assured Xiao Qiao, telling her not to worry.
…
Now, several more months had passed.
As Xiao Qiao read through Da Qiao’s letter again, lost in thought, she suddenly heard Chun Niang outside calling “My Lord,” and looked up to see Wei Shao striding in. She quickly put away the letter.
“What were you reading?” Wei Shao asked as he approached her.
Xiao Qiao hadn’t intended to say much, but seeing his eyes fixed on her, she thought there was nothing to hide and said, “Just a letter from my sister from a few months ago. I had nothing to do, so I took it out to read again.”
Xiao Qiao finished speaking and put the letter back in its box.
Wei Shao’s gaze fell on her face, “What did it say? You seemed lost in thought just now.”
“Nothing much,” Xiao Qiao smiled, “My sister gave birth to a son at the beginning of the year. He should be five or six months old now. Just thinking about it makes me want to dote on him. It’s a pity the journey is so long, otherwise I’d like to go to Lingbi again to hold my nephew.”
Wei Shao raised an eyebrow slightly, “What’s so special about other people’s babies? You can give birth to my child, then you’ll have someone to hold.”
Xiao Qiao was a bit displeased, “How is my sister’s child ‘other people’s baby’? He calls me an aunt!”
“Alright, alright, I misspoke!” Wei Shao chuckled.
“My sister also mentioned in her letter that Yang Xin seems to have allied with Xue Tai’s son now, actually attacking my brother-in-law from both sides. Yang Xin had been at odds with the Xue family for a long time, how did they ally now? Do you know about this, husband?”
Since she had already brought it up, Xiao Qiao casually asked.
He naturally knew more than her.
Wei Shao’s expression remained unchanged.
“The leader of the wanderers…” he glanced at Xiao Qiao and corrected himself, “Bi Xin killed Xue Tai, making enemies with the Xue family. It’s not surprising that Xue An might seek an alliance with Yang Xin to seek revenge.”
After speaking, seeing Xiao Qiao’s slightly furrowed brow, he rubbed his stomach, “Manman, they kept me talking about a bunch of things earlier. I’m hungry.”
Xiao Qiao knew he had always looked down on Bi Xin. Moreover, that time when he came to pick her up, he got into a fight with Bi Xin as soon as they met. Seeing that he seemed unwilling to say more now, she didn’t press further, lest he misunderstand and think she wanted him to help Bi Xin. She said, “We’ve been waiting for you to have dinner.”