In the Southern Palace’s Xuanshi Hall.

During the prosperous times of the Han dynasty, this palace near the Taiji Hall was used as the daily residence for several generations of emperors to handle state affairs after court sessions.

Later, Emperor Huan spent a vast fortune, taking over a decade to construct the Northern Palace. Once completed, its splendor and luxury far surpassed the Southern Palace.

From Emperor Huan onwards, the daily court sessions and living quarters of Han emperors were moved to the Northern Palace.

The Southern Palace gradually fell into disuse, and the Xuanshi Hall was converted into the office of the Grand Ceremonial.

After Wei Shao occupied Luoyang, he reactivated the Xuanshi Hall as his temporary residence.

Xiao Qiao knew that in the days since returning from Yanzhou, Wei Shao had been extremely busy.

Yue Zheng Gong had returned from his northern campaign unsuccessful. On the way back to Hanzhong, he had coughed up blood. Upon his return, he was dispirited and dejected, causing his old injuries to flare up, and he soon passed away.

Hanzhong was in mourning. After the funeral, not long ago, his eldest son Yue Zheng Kai ascended to the throne, establishing the Great Liang dynasty. He posthumously honored Yue Zheng Gong as the Founding Emperor, then issued a proclamation denouncing Wei Shao, vowing to avenge the founding emperor of Great Liang.

Yue Zheng Gong had governed Hanzhong for generations, centered on Liangzhou. From west of Hangu Pass, he had widely occupied Qinzhou, Jingzhou, Yizhou, and other areas. With numerous troops and generals, and the natural barriers of Mount Hua and the Shu roads, although he had died, his sons were all capable men. After seizing the opportunity to claim the throne, they gathered a large army, showing signs of wanting to engage in a decisive battle with Wei Shao.

Xiao Qiao waited for a long time in the corridor outside the Xuanshi Hall.

A feeling of breast engorgement began to bother her again.

It reminded her once more that her daughter, Fei Fei, was still at home waiting for her return.

Finally, the sound of footsteps was heard.

She saw Li Dian, Wei Quan, and others hurriedly exiting, looking rushed.

When they saw Xiao Qiao, they paused briefly and then approached to greet her.

Li Dian asked, “When did you arrive in Luoyang, my lady?”

“I just arrived today.”

Xiao Qiao glanced at the red palace gate ahead, “Is the Marquis inside?”

“Yes, he’s inside.”

Xiao Qiao nodded slightly and entered.

…

Gong Sun Yang, who had come out last with Wei Shao, remembered something and said to Wei Shao, “My mentor had already returned to the mountains, but hearing of an epidemic in the south, he went south. Passing near Luoyang, he learned of the public notice seeking a physician and thus entered the city. General Wei is now out of danger, and my mentor left early this morning. I tried hard to keep him but to no avail…”

As Wei Shao stepped over the threshold, he suddenly saw Xiao Qiao approaching from the opposite direction. He paused, his gaze falling on her for a moment, then his face darkened.

Gong Sun Yang looked up, hurriedly went forward, and said, “My lady, you must be tired from your journey. You’ve just arrived in Luoyang today, why not rest first?”

Xiao Qiao stepped onto the stairs, stopping in front of the two men, and said with a smile, “Thank you, Military Advisor, for sending someone to receive me. I’m not tired.”

She turned her gaze to Wei Shao and said, “My lord, could you spare a moment?”

Wei Shao coldly said, “Why have you come here instead of returning to Yuyang?”

Xiao Qiao said, “I have something I wish to discuss with you, my lord.”

Wei Shao took a step to leave.

Xiao Qiao reached out and grasped his sleeve.

Wei Shao looked down at her small white hand tightly gripping his sleeve, then raised his eyes to stare at her, showing annoyance.

But those two small hands still held his sleeve tightly.

“It’ll only take a moment of your time, it won’t delay anything important,” she said, her voice low but firm.

Gong Sun Yang swallowed and quickly turned his face, saying, “My lord, why not hear what the lady has to say? I’ll take my leave first…”

He hurriedly bowed to the two and turned to leave.

Wei Shao stood rigid on the threshold, motionless.

All around was empty. Only the large fragrant tree in front of the hall, its canopy spreading over the path, rustled softly as a breeze passed through.

Xiao Qiao slowly released her grip.

“I just visited General Wei Liang. My younger brother came with me to apologize to General Wei Liang on behalf of my father.”

Wei Shao’s gaze fell on the fragrant tree beside the path in front of the hall.

Xiao Qiao gazed at his rock-like face: “Fortunately, General Wei bears no grudge. As we were leaving, I asked General Wei if he could take my brother under his command for training. General Wei kindly agreed, but he dared not decide without your approval.”

Wei Shao suddenly turned his head.

“Is this also something you can decide on your own?” His tone was heavy.

“That’s why I’ve come to inform you, my lord,” Xiao Qiao said. “I have no other intention. It’s just that now that the affairs at home have passed, I expect there won’t be much to do for some time. My brother is young and shouldn’t waste his youth. Our family owes General Wei, so it’s only right for my brother to serve under the General, whether it’s leading horses or assisting with the saddle.”

Wei Shao stared at her.

Xiao Qiao met his gaze: “Of course, whether to keep him or not, and for how long, will all be decided according to your will.”

Wei Shao was silent for a moment, then suddenly stepped forward, his sleeves brushing the air as he swiftly descended the stairs, already under the fragrant tree.

Xiao Qiao hurried after him, stopping in front of him, and blocking his path.

Wei Shao finally stopped: “What else do you want?” His tone carried accusation and impatience.

He was half a head taller than Xiao Qiao. Standing face to face like this, Xiao Qiao tilted her face slightly upward, gazing at his features.

“I know you hate my family for repeatedly breaking promises, and you hate me even more for deceiving you, being your wife in name but secretly guarding against you. Just now, I said I wanted to tell you what’s in my heart, so whether you listen or not, I must say it.”

“Long ago, I repeatedly had a terrible nightmare. In the dream, the Qiao and Wei families were joined by marriage, with our Qiao family marrying a daughter to you as a wife. However, it failed to resolve the hatred between the two families. You were bent on revenge, and in the end, none of my family was spared. They either died directly by your hand or indirectly because of you.”

She closed her eyes briefly, then opened them.

“I married you carrying such a nightmare that felt like a past life experience. After marriage, I was extremely cautious, afraid to make a single misstep. Gradually, as our relationship began to thaw, even when you were good to me, your words and actions always made me feel intense pressure. It seemed as if the life, death, fortune, and misfortune of myself and my family were all at the mercy of your whims. Moreover, I couldn’t shake off that prophetic dream.”

“Under such circumstances, I hoped my family would grow stronger. It wasn’t to oppose you, but thinking that if one day the affection between us as husband and wife could no longer maintain the status quo, my family could protect themselves. Even if it was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, it would be better than waiting passively for death as in my dream.”

Wei Shao had not been looking at her initially.

Slowly, he fixed his gaze on her face.

He stared at her, his eyes dark, his brows furrowed.

“All I sought was peace of mind,” she said slowly.

“Today, our relationship has come to this point. You accuse me of being calculating, and you’re not wrong. But my lord, under those circumstances in the past, how could we have opened our hearts to each other? Without that openness, how could there be trust, allowing me to feel secure in entrusting my life and the lives of my family entirely to you?”

“Even at this moment, I still don’t think what I did then was wrong. I just didn’t anticipate that later, you would make such concessions for me, giving me the promise I so desperately wanted. Now that you hate me, it’s only natural.”

“I have indeed failed you, failed the sincerity you showed that night when you pursued me to the courier station outside Xindu.”

As she said these words, her chest felt tight, and her breasts seemed to respond to her emotions, suddenly feeling as if milk was surging forth, causing pain.

She turned to the side, letting out a long breath, waiting for her emotions to settle slightly.

“I’ve come to apologize to you. For drawing out your true feelings towards me in the past, which you gave, but I didn’t reciprocate equally.”

“If in the past, I entered your family with the heart of a Qiao daughter, then from now on, I am your wife, Fei Fei’s mother.”

After she finished speaking, the surroundings fell silent.

Cream-colored fragrant wood flowers floated down from the tree canopy in the wind, silently landing on her hair and his shoulders.

Wei Shao remained motionless.

“Fei Fei is almost three months old now, extremely lovable. I think of her day and night. I’m leaving now to return to Yuyang.”

Xiao Qiao suddenly said, nodding slightly to him before turning to leave.

That face, pale and unable to completely hide its haggard appearance even with a smile, turned away from him in an instant.

Wei Shao seemed to come back to his senses, watching the slender figure in sky-blue disappearing before him.

She walked very quickly, her steps getting faster and faster.

It seemed that in the blink of an eye, she had vanished at the end of the palace path.

…

The carriage was still waiting outside the Vermilion Bird Gate of the imperial palace.

Xiao Qiao, accompanied by Chun Niang, quietly left Luoyang, just as she had arrived.

In early June, she safely returned to Yuyang.

As soon as she entered the house, disregarding her travel fatigue, she changed her clothes, quickly washed her face and hands, and immediately went to the north room.

After more than a month of separation, Fei Fei seemed to have grown a bit. She opened her beautiful round eyes wide, at first seeming not to recognize Xiao Qiao, just looking at her.

“Little lady, your mother has returned!” the wet nurse anxiously kept reminding her.

But Fei Fei still seemed not to recognize her.

Xiao Qiao reached out to Fei Fei. Her finger was immediately grasped tightly by the baby.

Her grip was very strong, mother and daughter’s skin touching.

“Fei Fei—”

Xiao Qiao gazed at her daughter’s plump, tender cheeks without blinking, calling her name.

Fei Fei suddenly recognized the soft, familiar voice that only her mother had. She immediately became joyful, making cooing sounds, waving her little arms, and reaching out her other hand to Xiao Qiao. The old silver bell with auspicious patterns on her wrist made a pleasant, gentle tinkling sound.

Xiao Qiao immediately took her daughter, holding her small body in her arms, greedily inhaling the familiar faint milky scent emanating from her.

All fatigue and sorrow instantly vanished. Her heart was filled with tender love and remorse.

After giving birth, she had abundant and sweet milk, and Fei Fei seemed to prefer her mother’s milk. So although Madam Xu had prepared two wet nurses, Xiao Qiao had always nursed her herself.

When she left, unwilling to wean her daughter, under Chun Niang’s guidance, she had regularly expressed milk to prevent engorgement and maintain her supply.

Now, finally holding her daughter in her arms again, her milk began to flow.

As if smelling her mother’s milk, Fei Fei immediately nuzzled towards her chest.

Xiao Qiao took a warm cloth, undid her clothes, and gently wiped before nursing her daughter.

Fei Fei’s chubby little hands tightly grasped Xiao Qiao’s clothes, eyes closed, swallowing large gulps with audible sounds. After she was full, she fell asleep in Xiao Qiao’s arms.