Xiao Qiao felt as if she had slept for a very long time.
In her dream, she felt empty and incredibly light. As if she had returned to her previous life, she wasn’t Qiao Nu, but just a cherished daughter by her parents’ side, without burdens or responsibilities. She was free to do as she pleased, she was simply herself.
It had been so long since she had felt this way.
She almost didn’t want to wake up, wishing to remain in this dream.
But deep in her heart, she felt a vague sense of attachment, entangled by countless threads, ultimately unable to fully let go.
She kept telling herself that she must wake up.
Struggling, she finally awoke, hearing anxious voices nearby.
At first, the voices were muffled but gradually became clearer.
It was her brother’s voice.
“How is my sister?”
“Young Master Qiao, please don’t worry. The Lady seems to be suffering from extreme fatigue. With a few days of good rest, she should recover…”
Xiao Qiao’s eyelids fluttered.
So it had only been a moment, yet the feeling in the dream had been so long…
“She just fainted! Didn’t you see?”
Concerned and flustered, Qiao Ci raised his voice.
Xiao Qiao slowly opened her eyes to find herself lying in bed. Qiao Ci was beside her, red-faced and shouting at the flustered military doctor.
“Young Master Qiao, look! The Lady has awakened!” the doctor exclaimed, wiping sweat from his brow.
Qiao Ci turned to see that Xiao Qiao had indeed regained consciousness. He rushed over and tightly grasped her hand. “Sister, you’re finally awake! How are you? You suddenly fainted earlier, you scared me to death…”
Xiao Qiao felt very weak. She gathered her thoughts and said, “I’m fine. It’s probably as the doctor said, I was just tired. I’ll rest a bit more and I’ll be alright. Don’t worry…”
Qiao Ci finally relaxed a little. “Sister, you rest well. Brother-in-law is personally leading the pursuit of the Xiongnu. He should be back soon.”
After lifting the siege, Wei Shao led the army to continue pursuing the Xiongnu northward, while the Qiang troops Qiao Ci had brought and Lei Yan’s defensive forces remained stationed in place.
Xiao Qiao smiled faintly and nodded.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps were heard outside, followed by Jia Si’s voice: “My Lady, urgent news from Yuyang. Something has happened at home!”
…
In the middle of the night, a fire broke out in the ancestral temple. Madam Zhu was trapped inside and severely burned, tightly clutching the spirit tablets of her husband and eldest son. When servants risked their lives to rescue her from the flames, she was still muttering incessantly: “The Xiongnu are coming! I must protect the family temple! The Xiongnu are coming! I must protect the family temple!”
Madam Xu had previously fallen ill and been sent to recuperate in Wuzhong City, which was closer and more familiar to her. The servants didn’t dare disturb her with this news, so they sent it to Xiao Qiao instead.
…
The timeline needs to be rewound to seven or eight days earlier.
Madam Zhu finally couldn’t bear the torment any longer and returned to the Wei family home in Yuyang from Fanyang.
Qiao Nu’s demeanor and tone when she left Fanyang that day had put immense pressure on Madam Zhu.
A thought formed in her mind: whatever Qiao Nu could do, she could do better. She was the true mistress of the Wei family, and she absolutely couldn’t let Qiao Nu outdo her, nor could she allow Madam Xu and her son to look down on her.
It was because of this thought that she suppressed her fear and, in a moment of impulse, set out on the return journey, posturing as the guardian of the Wei family, willing to live and die with them.
When she returned to the Wei family, the news about the siege of Shangu in Yuyang was getting worse by the day.
Of course, she hated the Xiongnu and hoped that the Wei family soldiers in Shangu could hold out until her son returned with reinforcements.
But soon, when the people of Yuyang spread the news that it was Qiao Nu who had taken Madam Xu’s place, staying in Shangu to inspire the soldiers to defend the city and that it was Qiao Nu’s brother who had brought the Qiang troops as reinforcements, Madam Zhu was stunned, suffering another heavy blow.
She understood that her son had always treasured Qiao Nu like a precious jewel, and after this battle, if Shangu was successfully defended, then in her son’s heart, Qiao Nu would likely squeeze her out completely, not leaving even half an inch of space.
She felt desperate, angry, and pained. She couldn’t sleep at night, and deep in her heart, eventually, a dark thought emerged that terrified even herself.
She hoped that Shangu would fall, that Yuyang would fall. This way, all of Qiao Nu’s schemes would be in vain, and she could forever remain in her son’s heart as the guardian of the Wei family. Even if she died, her position as a mother in her son’s heart would never be shaken again.
Madam Zhu was completely consumed by this thought, as if possessed, unable to break free. She repeatedly fantasized about Yuyang falling, imagining the moment when the beast-like Xiongnu would break through the city gates, pillaging and killing. At that moment, she would use her body to firmly guard the doors of the Wei family temple, letting her son, Madam Xu, and all the Wei family soldiers see that she, Madam Zhu, was the true mistress who could live and die with the Wei family.
That moment would be the most glorious and radiant moment of her life.
She no longer felt fear, but instead grew increasingly fervent in anticipating that moment. She made all the preparations.
Just two days ago, news of the difficult defense of Shangu reached Yuyang once again. Since the Xiongnu invasion from the south, the oppressive atmosphere hanging over Yuyang had reached unprecedented tension. In the middle of the night, Madam Zhu suddenly began screaming from a nightmare.
Old Nurse Huang said that she ran out of her room disheveled, rushing towards the family temple, constantly shouting “The Xiongnu are attacking!” When she reached the family temple, she drove everyone out, bolted the main door, and soon after, flames began to rise from within the ancestral hall.
…
When Xiao Qiao rushed back to Yuyang, the news was already spreading everywhere that the Marquis had returned with his troops to Shangu, and the Xiongnu had been defeated and retreated. The tense and oppressive atmosphere that had enveloped the entire city for days was swept away, and everyone was smiling with joy.
Madam Zhu, severely burned and almost unrecognizable, lay there barely breathing, her gaze vacant.
Xiao Qiao brought a bowl of medicine and called to her at the bedside. At first, Madam Zhu did not react, but after a long while, she seemed to regain consciousness. She slowly focused her gaze on Xiao Qiao’s face, staring at her for a moment. Suddenly, she sat up straight in bed and grabbed Xiao Qiao’s neck with both hands.
“Xiongnu! Xiongnu! I am the mistress of the Wei family! As long as I’m here, you dare not step foot in our Wei family ancestral temple—”
Her eyes shone with a strange light as she mumbled and gritted her teeth.
Old Nurse Huang and others nearby were shocked, crying out “You mustn’t!” and hurriedly rushing forward to stop her.
Madam Zhu’s strength was unusually great. It took three or four people pulling and tugging to finally pry her hands from Xiao Qiao’s neck.
Madam Zhu’s hands clawed at the air for a moment, her eyes rolled back, and she suddenly collapsed, her body curling up in pain, her mouth emitting constant moans.
The medicine bowl shattered on the ground, and Xiao Qiao lay on the floor coughing.
Old Nurse Huang hurriedly came to help her up.
Xiao Qiao covered her neck and waved her hand: “Go take care of her…”
Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside, and then the door was pushed open.
Xiao Qiao turned her head to see Wei Shao appearing in the doorway.
He was still in his battle armor, the hem of his robe stained with blood.
“My Lord!”
Old Nurse Huang and the others were startled, then hurriedly went to greet him, kneeling on both sides, lowering their heads and not daring to make a sound.
Wei Shao’s eyes fell on Madam Zhu on the bed. He paused for a moment, then strode in quickly, brushing past Xiao Qiao and almost rushing to the bedside.
“Mother!”
His voice was trembling slightly.
“Where’s the doctor? Where’s the doctor? Where is everyone?” he shouted hoarsely.
“My Lord, the doctor was by Madam’s side all night. He just went out for a brief rest. This servant will go call him right away—”
Old Nurse Huang hurriedly got up from the ground and rushed out to call for the doctor.
“Shao’er, is that you? You’re back—”
Madam Zhu slowly opened her swollen eyelids, her gaze lingering on Wei Shao’s face for a moment as she struggled to raise her hand, wanting to caress his face.
“Mother, your son has been unfilial. I came too late, allowing you to suffer such pain!”
Wei Shao grasped Madam Zhu’s bandaged hand, his voice low.
“I’m fine, Shao’er, don’t worry about me…” Madam Zhu’s eyes showed a glimmer of comfort, and the corners of her mouth curled in a satisfied smile as she murmured, “The Xiongnu came, they broke through Yuyang’s gates. They wanted to harm our Wei family ancestors, so I swore to protect the family temple with my life, never letting the Xiongnu succeed…”
Wei Shao lowered his head, his shoulders slightly shaking, his voice choked: “Your son knows… I know, Mother, please don’t say more. Recovering from your injuries is most important now…”
“No, no, I’m fine! I’m very well!” Madam Zhu’s gaze suddenly fell on Xiao Qiao behind Wei Shao. Her whole body tensed up as she pointed at Xiao Qiao and said, “Tell her to get out! I don’t want to see her—”
She frowned, gritted her teeth, and let out a series of moans from her throat.
“Mother, please calm down!” Wei Shao tried his best to soothe her.
“Shao’er! You’re still protecting her— She’s a Xiongnu! A Xiongnu! Our Wei family can’t tolerate Xiongnu!”
Madam Zhu’s eyes rolled back, her whole body shaking constantly.
Wei Shao turned back, casting a glance at Xiao Qiao that seemed to carry a pleading meaning.
His eyes were red, seemingly holding back tears.
Xiao Qiao nodded to him, slowly backing away until she reached the doorway, then turned and stepped out.
She returned to the west room and sat alone by the candlelight for a long time.
Spring Maiden and Fei’er were still in Fanyang, and without someone going to fetch them, they wouldn’t return for a while.
…
The next morning, when Wei Shao returned to the west room, it was already empty.
The maidservant said that the Lady had left for Wuzhong overnight.
The Lady had also left a message, asking the Lord not to worry, saying she would take good care of the Grandmother.
…
Wuzhong was a good place for recuperation. After Madam Xu was sent there, her condition gradually improved.
When Xiao Qiao arrived, her spirits were much better than before.
Half a month later, when news of Madam Zhu’s death arrived, Madam Xu was already able to take walks in the courtyard with Xiao Qiao’s support.
Upon hearing the news, she remained silent for a moment before saying, “A confused person, yet also a pitiful one.”