Xiao Qiao slowly opened her eyes.
Wei Shao suddenly took her hand, leading her off the bed.
Xiao Qiao was brought to his study.
He entered and lit the lamps.
Xiao Qiao watched with slight confusion as he retrieved a box from a secret drawer.
It was the very box she was extremely familiar with, having seen it just a few nights ago.
Wei Shao placed the box on the desk, sat down behind it, and skillfully opened the lid, gesturing for Xiao Qiao to come closer.
Xiao Qiao slowly walked over.
Inside, as she had glimpsed from outside the door that night, was the old banner.
It was neatly folded and placed in the box.
“Manman, you’ve always wanted to know what was in this box, haven’t you? It’s my father’s old command flag. The blood on it is from when my father died. I’ve kept this relic for many years…”
Wei Shao’s gaze lingered on the old banner as he spoke slowly.
Xiao Qiao held her breath, slowly raising her eyes to look at Wei Shao.
His gaze was distant and hollow as if lost in memories of the past.
“Years ago, my father and your grandfather were ordered by the imperial court to attack Li Su together. Li Su was powerful. Both sides swore an oath before the battle, agreeing to attack simultaneously from the east and west. My father, trusting your grandfather completely, deployed his troops as if he would have support. When the agreed time came, my father sent out his troops as planned, still believing your grandfather would be in position as promised…”
His gaze fell on Xiao Qiao’s face, his hand slowly clenching into a fist, the veins on the back of his hand gradually bulging.
“The one who killed my father and brother was Li Su. Your Qiao family merely broke their promise. In war, there is no righteousness; to be defeated and die is not cause for blame. But do you know, if at that time, your grandfather had even sent word that he was withdrawing before the battle, my father could have changed his strategy? Even if he still lost in the end, it might not have been as disastrous as it was! My father and brother, isolated and outnumbered, died in a hail of arrows. The 50,000 Wei family troops with them were almost completely wiped out, with only a few thousand wounded soldiers returning in the end.”
He closed his eyes and let out a long breath.
“Manman put yourself in my shoes. As a son, if it were you, could you remain unmoved?”
He spoke each word deliberately.
Xiao Qiao slowly walked towards him, kneeling beside where he sat, and grasped his hand, murmuring, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry—”
Wei Shao’s tightly clenched fist gradually relaxed.
“It has nothing to do with you. You don’t need to apologize.”
He was silent for a moment.
“Manman, I don’t want to hide it from you. I know that what happened back then had nothing to do with your father, but even to this day, I still can’t rid myself of hatred for the Qiao name. Even when I sent Wei Liang to Yanzhou with congratulatory gifts for your father in your name, what I thought about most was making you happy…”
“The main culprit of that incident, your grandfather, is already dead. I guess Grandmother saw that I was consumed by resentment and obsession, and hoped I would become a more magnanimous person. It just so happened that your Qiao family sought reconciliation through marriage, which is why she agreed to the marriage back then.”
“Whether my guess is correct or there are other hidden reasons, Manman, my nature seeks quick vengeance and to act as I please. For you, I can endure. But to ask me to completely let go of my hatred, you must know, is too difficult for me. Perhaps in my entire lifetime, I may never be able to reach the level of openness that Grandmother has.”
He removed Xiao Qiao’s hands and stood up.
Xiao Qiao’s hands slid from the back of his, her gaze following his figure as she watched him walk to the window, push it open, and stand with his back to her.
“Manman, I am not a good husband. I know you’ve been trying your best since you married me, and you’ve already done all you can. Recently, you’ve suffered great shock and grievances. I also know that as long as I can’t let go of my hatred, there will always be a barrier between us.”
“Give me more time to think it through slowly.”
He turned his head, looking at Xiao Qiao, his gaze solemn, and spoke slowly.
…
Wei Shao left Yuyang the next day.
At the end of July, Wei Shao appointed Li Dian as the Military Governor of Taishan, and stationed troops in Zhangqiu, targeting Qingzhou; Li Chong and Zhang Jian were appointed as Military Governors of Pei and other areas, targeting Xuzhou; he led troops in Qiao Commandery, aiming at Langya. Dividing into three routes, they planned to attack simultaneously and defeat each separately.
When the news spread, the world was shocked. No one had expected Wei Shao to launch such an open attack on the Han court in Langya.
The Langya court hurriedly dispatched troops and generals, focusing all military efforts on defense. Meanwhile, Wang Ba, Dong Cheng, and others continuously issued proclamations, eloquently written and beautifully phrased, announcing to the world, bitterly denouncing Wei Shao for acting against Heaven, accusing him of treason, calling him a rebel no different from Xing Xun, and calling on the lords of the realm to come to the aid of the emperor and attack Wei Shao together.
While the Langya court was issuing proclamations throughout the land, in mid-August, Li Dian captured Changyi, quickly cutting off the Langya court’s connection with Qingzhou.
At the end of August, Li Chong and Zhang Jian in the south took Xuzhou.
In early September, Wei Shao broke through Yangdu, with his troops directly threatening the Langya court.
The final battle was imminent.
…
This war that took place in the ancient land of Qi and Lu shook the Nine Provinces.
Defenders of righteousness bitterly denounced Wei Shao as a treacherous minister and rebellious son, saying Heaven would surely punish him.
In the south, Gai Zhao of Yuzhou, Song Ling of Lujiang, Liu Quan of Jiangxia, Wu Fan of Changsha, and many other local lords, within a short month, followed the example of Le Zheng of Hanzhong, taking the opportunity to declare themselves emperors and establish their states.
The plague in the south had not yet passed, and Huangzhou and Pengze were hit by famine. Even ten thousand coins couldn’t buy a hu of white rice, and the people were destitute. Chen Ying, a pirate on the Yangtze River, used occult practices to claim he was the reincarnation of the Heavenly King. Raising the banner of the Way of Heaven, he gathered refugees. Wherever they attacked, they were like a plague of locusts. Those who didn’t submit were all accused of violating heavenly law and massacred. They even used human corpses as military rations, calling it “attack the city early, eat meat late” to encourage their troops. In just a few months, they gathered tens of thousands of followers. Chen styled himself as the Heavenly King Chen crossed the Yangtze River, and threatened the wealthy Huaiyang region, coming on with great momentum.
The south was in great chaos.
But in Yuyang, everything remained as usual. People worked at sunrise and rested at sunset. After meals and tea, they would casually discuss the lord’s attack on Langya.
The influence of the so-called legitimate Liu family of the Han Dynasty had long since declined in the north.
For ordinary people, who cared about the surname of the ruler? All they wanted was enough food and warm clothes.
In the years since Wei Shao unified the north, he had appointed capable officials, abolished harsh laws, and reduced taxes and corvée labor. In these chaotic times, he provided them with food to eat and a stable life. They regarded the Wei lord as their heaven.
It was as simple as that.
…
In the Daming Temple in Luoyang, there was a famous high monk named Gadam. In his youth, he had come from India to Luoyang and stayed for decades, engaging in the translation of sutras and preaching Buddhism.
Last year, after Wei Shao occupied Luoyang, Madam Xu heard of Gadam’s reputation and sent someone to invite him to Yuyang to preach. Gadam gladly accepted the invitation.
On the fifteenth day of September, coinciding with the annual Dharma assembly at Jinlong Temple, High Monk Gadam opened a platform to preach. The event was even grander than in previous years, lasting for seven days.
Madam Xu took Madam Zhu to Jinlong Temple to listen to the teachings.
Xiao Qiao didn’t go, staying at home to take care of Fei Fei.
Fei Fei was six or seven months old now, with her milk teeth coming in. Last month, Xiao Qiao started to wean her gradually, introducing supplementary foods.
At first, Fei Fei strongly resisted, but after a month, she was gradually getting used to the new food.
That evening, at Fei Fei’s mealtime, Spring Lady brought a bowl of meat porridge mixed with goat’s milk. After feeding Fei Fei until she was full, Xiao Qiao played with her for a while.
At the hour of Xu (7-9 pm), seeing that Fei Fei was getting drowsy, she put her to sleep. Feeling tired herself, she dismissed the wet nurse and maid, closed the door, and went to bed, leaving only Spring Lady to keep watch for the night.
She slept for a while and woke up in the middle of the night.
Everything around was quiet.
Her daughter was sleeping soundly, and Spring Lady’s even breathing could be heard.
Xiao Qiao closed her eyes, trying to go back to sleep, but found she couldn’t fall asleep no matter what.
When Wei Shao first attacked Langya, he was branded a traitor, but as he progressed smoothly and many lords in the south declared themselves emperors, the accusations gradually died down.
If nothing unexpected happened, by the end of this month at the latest, the Langya court would surely fall to Wei Shao.
At that time, out of ten parts of the world, seven or eight would be in Wei Shao’s grasp.
What could stop his imperial ambitions then?
Compared to her dream of the previous life, Wei Shao was becoming emperor nearly a decade earlier in this life.
The day he would proclaim Fei Fei a princess was probably not far off.
He wouldn’t move against the Qiao family anymore. Yanzhou was now stable. Even if the city gates were wide open without a single soldier, no one would dare to attack.
Although her father’s eyes were still blind, from the last communication, it seemed he was very open-minded and accepting of this.
And her younger brother, now in Bingzhou, was also doing well.
Xiao Qiao felt content.
She had gained Wei Shao’s love and the tolerance born from that love, protected her family, and had a lovely daughter. Given the situation at the beginning, to have come this far, she couldn’t think of anything more she could ask for.
But tonight, waking up like this, just like many nights before, although she still felt tired.
She just couldn’t fall back asleep no matter what.
Finally, she climbed out of bed, slipped on a pair of soft embroidered shoes, and by the white moonlight shining through the window, went to her daughter’s small bed, checked her covers, tucked her in, then silently went to the window and gently pushed it open.
A bright moon hung high overhead, its clear light illuminating the world. In the courtyard, the flowers and trees cast intertwining shadows. From some corner came the occasional chirp of autumn insects, making the autumn night seem even more serene.
Xiao Qiao leaned against the window, looking up at the bright moon overhead. As her jade arms began to feel cold, she suddenly realized she had forgotten to put on a robe when she got up. She clasped her arms, gently rubbing them, and was about to close the window when her gaze suddenly fixed on something.
About ten steps away from the window, in the southeast corner, there was an osmanthus tree.
Under the shadow of the osmanthus tree, there seemed to be a vaguely human figure standing there.
The corner was dimly lit, and she hadn’t noticed it before.
Madam Xu and Madam Zhu had gone to Jinlong Temple and wouldn’t return for a few days. Jia Si had arranged the household guards very carefully, with guards on duty at night.
But at this time in the middle of the night, there definitely shouldn’t be any guards in the inner courtyard of the west room.
This shadow must be an outsider.
Xiao Qiao’s hair stood on end, and she was about to cry out when she saw the shadow move slightly, rushing towards her.
In the blink of an eye, he was in front of her.
The moonlight revealed a man’s face, half in light and half in shadow, with deep-set eyes and prominent cheekbones.
Although it had been years since she had seen him, she recognized him immediately.
It was Wei Yan!