It was normal for citizens to see off the marquis’s new bride as she left the city. Wei Liang initially paid no mind, but as the crowd grew larger and began to chase the carriage, with people packed on both sides like a bustling market, he became anxious. If not for the soldiers with spears flanking the carriage, the crowd might have pressed even closer. He glanced back at Wei Shao, who was riding a bit behind and noticed a hint of displeasure on his face.
This scene was not what he had anticipated either.
Wei Liang couldn’t help but blame the Qiao woman for causing trouble. Looking back at the carriage, he was relieved to see she had lowered the curtains. He quickly rode closer, personally escorting the carriage while loudly ordering people to disperse. Finally, they exited the city and increased their pace, stopping at the roadside several li beyond the city gate.
Wei Shao’s face remained as impassive as still water, his thoughts unreadable. He didn’t dismount. When Wei Liang and the others came to bid farewell, he gave a few instructions, reminding them to be careful on the journey. Then he raised his gaze, glancing at the lead carriage whose curtains had remained closed since leaving the city, and turned his horse to ride back to the city.
Wei Liang stood by the roadside, watching Wei Shao’s figure on horseback gradually disappear. He turned to the escorts and shouted, “Let’s move out! The sooner we deliver the Lady to her hometown, the sooner we can return!”
…
The New Year’s Day passed while they were on the road. Four or five days later, they reached a place called Qiu Ji. After passing through a winding mountain road a few li ahead, they would enter the territory of Hejian. It was nearly dusk, dark and gloomy, with a knife-like wind that suggested impending snow. Considering the difficult mountain path ahead, they decided to stop and lodge at a nearby post station for the night.
Xiao Qiao’s carriage had brazier and padded mats, but even so, after a full day’s journey, her toes were numb with cold. It was even worse for Madam Zhong and the maids who rode in ordinary carriages without braziers. Her compartment could accommodate a few more people, and during the midday rest, she had Spring Niang invite Madam Zhong and the maids to warm up in her carriage. Madam Zhong refused, saying that masters and servants should not be mixed. The maids, somewhat afraid of her, had no choice but to grit their teeth and continue sharing her carriage. Now that they had finally found lodging, even though the post station was dilapidated, it was much warmer than outside. Everyone relaxed once inside.
Xiao Qiao offered to pay for pork head meat and wine for Wei Liang and the soldiers who had escorted her, to warm them up. The station keeper, learning that she was Wei Shao’s family member, wouldn’t dare accept payment. Xiao Qiao, of course, wouldn’t let him bear the cost, so she had Spring Niang pass him the money. The keeper went out personally to make the purchase and returned with the food heated and served. The soldiers, grateful for their considerate lady, sat down to eat and drink. Wei Liang, however, stood at the entrance of the station, gazing at the gloomy sky outside, his expression showing some concern.
The severe cold of the northern twelfth lunar month was not to be underestimated.
Xiao Qiao had soft, plump feet with round toes and light pink nails adorned with neat little moons, quite adorable to look at. Back in Yanzhou, she had never suffered from chilblains in winter. But after just a few days here, her feet began to itch. Last night, the itching had been unbearable, and she had rubbed and scratched inside her blanket. Fortunately, Spring Niang had thoughtfully brought along some chilblain ointment before they left. She applied some and helped massage Xiao Qiao’s feet. After tossing and turning for half the night, Xiao Qiao finally fell asleep in the early hours, only to be woken early the next morning by Spring Niang, who informed her that it was snowing outside. General Wei had risen early and was waiting in the main hall for her to set out, having just sent someone to hurry them along.
Xiao Qiao was still deep in sleep, yawning and suppressing her irritation at being roused. She was painfully extracted from her warm blankets, her eyes half-open and bleary as Spring Niang helped her dress. After a hasty wash and a few bites of the food brought to her, the maids had packed up the bedding, and they all went out to the main hall together.
Wei Liang had been waiting for some time and was growing impatient. When he finally saw her leisurely approach, he was displeased but dared not be too presumptuous with the marquis’s wife. He gave a perfunctory bow and gruffly said, “The mountain road is difficult to traverse. I fear the snow will only get heavier. We should set out early to cross it sooner.” With that, he loudly called for the attendants to prepare for departure.
Xiao Qiao knew he was eager to get her to Yuyang quickly. Stepping out under the eaves of the inn, she saw that overnight, the world had been transformed into a silver-white landscape. The ditches by the roadside were filled with snow deeper than her calves, and in the distance, all was a vast expanse of white. A gust of wind swept by, making her whole body shiver.
The carriage was already waiting at the door. Just as Xiao Qiao was about to board, four or five people came hurrying down the opposite road. They looked like merchants who had set out early, and they ran to the entrance of the post station to escape the snow. Stamping the snow off their feet, they called out, “General, are you heading to Hejian? The mountain road ahead is blocked, it’s impassable!”
Wei Liang inquired about the situation. The merchants explained in a clamor. They said they had set out early and reached the foot of the mountain, only to find that rocks had fallen and blocked the path, making it completely impassable.
“It’s piled as high as a small mountain!” one merchant gesticulated.
“Alas, we might be stuck here. Who knows when it will be passable again,” another of his companions sighed.
Wei Liang was stunned, seemingly in disbelief. After a moment’s thought, he asked Xiao Qiao to wait inside while he took two men on horseback to investigate, braving the wind and snow.
When he returned, his brow was furrowed. He reported that the road was indeed blocked by fallen rocks and that they wouldn’t be able to leave today.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Qiao covered her face as she yawned, then turned and went back inside. The maids unpacked and laid out the bedding again, and she crawled in to catch up on sleep.
No one hurried her anymore. This time, she slept soundly and woke up feeling refreshed. Her cheeks were flushed from the warmth, and her feet, treated with chilblain ointment and covered with socks before sleep, felt comfortably warm. By the time she got up, ate, and was ready, it was already afternoon.
The main hall of the post station was much livelier than in the morning.
Those still traveling in such bad weather were mostly merchants, apart from a few unfortunate souls like Xiao Qiao who had no choice. The hall was full of people who had turned back due to the blocked road and were taking temporary shelter to warm up. The station keeper hadn’t driven them away, allowing the merchants to stay in the front hall temporarily, but forbidding them from entering the back hall.
Wei Liang, eager to deliver Xiao Qiao to Yuyang and complete his task, was frustrated that the road had become blocked after just a few days of travel. He worried that if it rained overnight, the fallen rocks might freeze together, making them even harder to clear. By noon, seeing that the snow was starting to let up, he immediately organized a group to go and clear the path.
The merchants, also eager to resume their journey, enthusiastically joined the general’s efforts. Wei Liang counted the men, gathered tools, and left two of his guards to look after the marquis’s wife. Then he led the group away.
…
In the back hall, the charcoal in the brazier burned brightly, filling the room with warmth.
Since they couldn’t leave today anyway, Spring Niang took out her sewing basket, and she and a few maids gathered around the brazier to do some needlework. Xiao Qiao lay on a nearby couch, lost in thought. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. It was the station keeper bringing a plate of freshly roasted chestnuts, their sweet aroma filling the air. Spring Niang gave the keeper some money and accepted the chestnuts. Xiao Qiao had a maid wrap some in a handkerchief to send to Madam Zhong in the adjacent room.
After a while, the maid returned, saying Madam Zhong had declined but asked her to convey her thanks for the lady’s kindness.
Seeing that she didn’t want them, Xiao Qiao didn’t insist and let the maids share the chestnuts among themselves. The maids were delighted, gathering around the brazier to peel and eat the chestnuts while chatting quietly.
Spring Niang set aside her needlework, washed her hands, and sat beside Xiao Qiao to peel chestnuts for her. She remarked, “This Madam Zhong is really hard to get close to. If even a servant is like this, who knows what that Madam Xu will be like when we get there? And what about your mother-in-law?”
She put a freshly peeled, golden chestnut into Xiao Qiao’s mouth and sighed.
Seeing Spring Niang worrying about her again, Xiao Qiao peeled a chestnut herself and forcefully stuffed it into Spring Niang’s mouth, laughing, “Do you think they’re going to swallow me whole over there? What are you fretting about, Spring Niang? Just eat your chestnuts!”
“Fire! There’s a fire!”
Just then, a commotion erupted outside, with someone shouting.
Spring Niang, startled, quickly got up and opened the door to check. She saw that a room in the corner, just a few doors down from them, was indeed on fire, with flames and thick smoke billowing out from the doors and windows. It seemed to have started from inside. Madam Zhong from next door had also come out upon hearing the noise. The station keeper ran over in a panic, ordering people to put out the fire while apologizing to Xiao Qiao, who had come out to see what was happening. He explained that it was a storage room and he didn’t know how the fire had started. Seeing how fierce the flames were and fearing they might spread, he asked the marquis’s wife to temporarily move to the front hall.
Spring Niang dashed back into the room to get a cloak for Xiao Qiao. Madam Zhong went back to her room with the maids to gather some valuables before coming out. The group then escorted Xiao Qiao to the front hall.
Most of the people at the station had gone with Wei Liang to clear the road, leaving insufficient hands to fight the fire. The keeper hurriedly ran back, pleading to borrow the two guards to help with the firefighting. Madam Zhong flatly refused, saying, “Each to their duty. These two have an important task – to protect the lady…”
Her words were cut short by a loud “bang” as the main door behind them was suddenly pushed open. Several men, dressed as merchants but wielding knives, burst in and charged straight towards Xiao Qiao without a word.
“Protect the lady!” Madam Zhong reacted swiftly, shouting as she rushed in front of Xiao Qiao, shielding her behind her body.
Spring Niang also reacted quickly, throwing herself beside Xiao Qiao.
The two guards, well-trained and undaunted despite being outnumbered, immediately drew their swords and swiftly formed a line at the front, facing off against the intruders.
“Who are you? How dare you accost the family of the Marquis of Youzhou?” Madam Zhong demanded sternly.
Just then, the sound of galloping hooves on snow came from outside. In the blink of an eye, a white horse burst through the main door. Atop it sat a man wearing a conical hat and a straw rain cape. The brim of his hat was pulled low, obscuring his face, but judging from his figure, he appeared to be a man. His horsemanship was superb. After charging in, he didn’t pause for a moment but rode straight towards Xiao Qiao, bringing a gust of snowy, cold air.
The guards couldn’t withstand the horse’s fierce momentum and could only dodge to the sides. The white horse reached Xiao Qiao in an instant, knocking aside Madam Zhong and Spring Niang in front of her. Amidst the maids’ shrieks, Xiao Qiao was scooped up onto the horse by the rider. The horseman then made a sharp turn, and the white horse, now carrying two people, galloped out through the main door. The men disguised as merchants let out a cry and swiftly retreated, vanishing as quickly as they had appeared.
It all happened so suddenly. From start to finish, it took no more than a few dozen seconds.
Madam Zhong and Spring Niang, who had been knocked aside by the horse, struggled to their feet despite their injuries and rushed to the door. The white horse had already galloped more than half a li away, becoming a white speck in the snowy landscape before disappearing into the vast expanse of white.