Although Wei Shao had long planned to take Shiyi, this attack was sudden and without thorough preparation, and his forces were not numerically superior. The fierce battle at the city walls was won only through the combat prowess of his troops, honed through years of large and small engagements, combined with his leadership. After securing the city, there were countless urgent matters to attend to. So despite his suspicions about the details of Xiao Qiao’s abduction, he had been too busy to give it much thought and had set it aside.
The matter came to a head today. A group of prisoners was escorted from Shiyi, among them one of Chen Rui’s confidants who had luckily escaped Chen Pang’s blade. Seeking self-preservation, he spoke without reserve, revealing how they and Chen Rui had intercepted Wei Shao’s wife from Liu Yan of Langya along the way. Upon receiving this report, Wei Shao made some inquiries and immediately learned of Xiao Qiao’s former betrothal to Liu Yan, the heir of Langya.
The marriage alliance with the Qiao family had been a mere formality for Wei Shao, something he had never taken to heart. He had never entertained thoughts of sharing a life or death with the Qiao girl. Thus, during the marriage negotiations, he hadn’t asked a single question, nor had he sent anyone to inquire whether the Qiao girl was beautiful or ugly, or what her virtues and skills were. He didn’t care at all; as long as it was a girl from the Qiao family, it was fine. So he did not know Xiao Qiao’s hidden history with Liu Yan. Learning of it suddenly was already displeasing, but he hadn’t expected the additional twist of Liu Yan abducting her first before she fell into Chen Rui’s hands.
His newly wedded wife was so openly abducted into Shiyi – even if Wei Shao didn’t care about his wife’s life or death, as long as he drew breath, he couldn’t remain indifferent. He was forced to hastily mobilize his troops to attack Shiyi without thorough preparation. Although he ultimately recovered her and captured the city, his losses exceeded his original estimates and were not insignificant. Thinking of Xiao Qiao’s lingering connection with Liu Yan and how the Qiao family had so humiliated him, given his usual arrogance, how could he swallow this anger? He immediately flew into a rage, abandoning other matters to confront her directly.
He had expected the Qiao girl to defend herself, but what he hadn’t anticipated was that he would listen to her defense. As she spoke, the anger that had initially flared in his heart gradually subsided without him realizing it, and his gaze unconsciously fell upon her.
Because Xiao Qiao had hurriedly emerged from her bath earlier, she was wearing only a white undergarment. Her long hair, still ungroomed, fell over her shoulders, the ends continuously dripping water. The water stains gradually spread, soaking her shoulders and the front of her garment, clinging to her body and faintly revealing the outline of her slender shoulders and gently undulating curves.
Wei Shao’s gaze lingered for a moment, and suddenly the scene from moments ago in the bathhouse, when he had leaned down to question her, flashed before his eyes. Although she had immediately sunk into the water, he had already caught a glimpse. Seeing her current intimate appearance, so different from her usual public demeanor, he suddenly felt a faint sense of strangeness. He immediately banished the image from his mind, raising his gaze to see her tear-stained cheeks, like a pear blossom in the rain. He also detected a hint of resentment in her last words, realizing that his lack of self-control when bursting in earlier must have truly frightened her. Feeling a twinge of regret, he frowned and said gruffly, “Where did all these wild thoughts come from? Did I say I was sending you back home?”
Xiao Qiao turned her face away, quickly wiping away the tears with her hand, and remained silent.
The room fell into silence.
Seeing that she no longer faced him, her eyes fixed on the candlestick on the side table as if it were a fascinating flower, Wei Shao suddenly felt somewhat at a loss. After a moment’s hesitation, he said, “Dry your hair and get some rest early.” Then he turned and quickly left.
As soon as he left, Xiao Qiao’s tense shoulders slowly relaxed. She let out a long sigh and leaned weakly against the edge of the table beside her.
…
After that night’s disturbance, everything remained much the same as before. However, two days later, Matron Zhong brought Xiao Qiao some gold and silk, along with two plates of rarely seen Qiang peaches and An shi pears, and crystal pomegranates that were usually only available as tribute to the imperial court. Matron Zhong said these were sent on the orders of the Marquis.
Xiao Qiao was slightly surprised. Guessing that this was Wei Shao’s way of making amends for that night, she smiled appropriately and said to please convey her gratitude to the Marquis.
Chun Niang hurriedly had the maids receive the gifts, expressing thanks repeatedly.
“My lady, the old madam is advanced in years and needs servants to attend to her. I will set out tomorrow to return, so I can no longer serve you. Please stay here for a few more days, and when you travel north with the Marquis, you can pay your respects to the old madam then,” Matron Zhong suddenly said before leaving. Her attitude was much the same as before, still maintaining a cold demeanor. But this was the longest sentence Xiao Qiao had heard her speak in all this time. She also noticed that Matron Zhong’s words made no mention of the other woman in the Wei family in Yuyang – Wei Shao’s mother, Madam Zhu.
Xiao Qiao said a few words wishing her a safe journey.
Matron Zhong gave her a slight bow and turned to leave.
…
Chun Niang, though not inexperienced, showed a slight look of pleasure at the pile of gifts sent by Wei Shao. She said she would use the silk to make a new set of clothes for Xiao Qiao in a few days.
“I already have more than enough clothes that I can’t wear. There’s no need to make more,” Xiao Qiao said somewhat absent-mindedly, casually picking up two Qiang peaches and rolling them in her palm.
“Very well, we’ll wait for some time then,” Chun Niang instructed the maids to put away the gold and silk. “Let me peel the peaches and pomegranates for you. The Marquis is quite thoughtful. Even in Dongju, it was rare to see such delightful peaches and pomegranates in winter…”
“I don’t like eating these!” Xiao Qiao tossed the peaches in her hand back onto the plate.
One peach rolled off the plate and spun on the table.
“You all can share them,” she said to the surprised Chun Niang and the maids, patting her palms.
…
Although they lived in the same place, Wei Shao hadn’t visited Sheyang Residence since that night. Sometimes when Xiao Qiao was walking in the courtyard and they happened to meet, she saw that he was always in a hurry, and his attitude was naturally cold. If she couldn’t avoid greeting him, he would merely grunt a casual “Mm” in response, never saying more.
Wei Shao didn’t restrict Xiao Qiao from going out, but she never did. Her life remained monotonous, with her only pleasure being the daily climb to the sandalwood platform at dusk to gaze at the city or the distant view beyond the city walls in the setting sun.
Sometimes, standing atop the platform, Xiao Qiao would catch glimpses of what seemed to be Wei Shao and his entourage entering or leaving the city.
He seemed truly busy, working like a dog, Xiao Qiao thought to herself.
Days slipped through her fingers like this, and the weather gradually warmed. Although she still couldn’t shed her heavy winter clothes in the mornings and evenings, the wind no longer cut like a knife when it blew. The ice on the river began to thaw, and faint spots of tender green began to appear in the previously dull, gray courtyard of Sheyang Residence.
The day Xiao Qiao noticed new buds sprouting on the branches of the crabapple tree outside her window, Wei Shao sent a message asking her to prepare for the journey. They would be heading north in a couple of days.
Madam Xu’s sixtieth birthday was approaching.
He needed to return to celebrate his grandmother’s auspicious birthday.
…
Three days later, the carriage carrying Xiao Qiao rumbled over the bluestone road, leaving Xindu and heading north towards Yuyang.
The journey was smooth, without any further incidents.
Half a month later, the group arrived in Yuyang Commandery.
Yuyang City had a mountain to its northwest called Yu Mountain, with the city lying to the mountain’s south, hence the name Yuyang. It was also anciently known as Wuzhong County. About a hundred li to the northeast, there was a small ancient city called Wuzhong, which, though small, was surrounded by mountains on three sides. Unlike other places, it wasn’t as dry and bitterly cold in winter, feeling almost like the south. The Wei family had a villa in Wuzhong City where Madam Xu had been staying since last winter and hadn’t yet returned to Yuyang.
Yuyang had long been a military stronghold. Hundreds of years ago, when Yan built the Great Wall to resist the Xiongnu, the wall passed by the side of Yuyang.
Since Wei Shao’s grandfather’s time, to strengthen the northern defenses and intimidate the Xiongnu, the Wei family had moved the provincial capital from Fanyang to the more northerly Yuyang. Over generations, the city’s defenses were continuously reinforced. In Wei Shao’s generation, even the powerful Yizhemodu Chanyu king didn’t dare to directly confront Wei Shao’s army. The Baitan and Shanggu areas, which had previously suffered frequent raids by Xiongnu cavalry, had now been free of major conflicts for many years. People had resettled, and the population was gradually growing.
The day Xiao Qiao arrived, the spring sun shone brightly. As the carriage approached the city gate, she curiously peeked out of the window. In the distance, under the clear blue sky, she saw towering city walls that seemed to touch the clouds, like two enormous black dragons sprawled on the ground, winding east and west as far as the eye could see. As they drew closer, she could see that the entire wall was built with huge blocks of bluish-black stone, each nearly three feet high, as solid as the Great Wall itself.
The tower above the city gate wasn’t the usual decorative style she was accustomed to, but rather a massive square fortress-like structure. Similar towers, only slightly smaller, were spaced every few dozen zhang along the wall. Flags fluttered at the four corners of the towers, where armored soldiers stood watch with long spears, the spearheads glinting dazzlingly in the sunlight.
News of the Marquis’s return had just reached the city through scouts. The city gates immediately opened wide, and a large contingent of armored soldiers poured out from within the city, lining both sides of the road. Li Dian, Zhang Jian, and over a dozen other deputy commanders who had remained to guard Yuyang rode out on horseback to welcome him. Wei Shao exchanged brief greetings with his officers before leading the group into the city. Along the way, soldiers saluted in unison, shouting “The Marquis returns!” in voices like rolling thunder that shook one’s eardrums. After entering the city, civilians who had heard the news rushed out of their homes to line the streets in welcome. Finally, they arrived at the Governor’s mansion located in the center of the northern part of the city.
Wei Shao hadn’t sent word ahead about the exact date of his return to the city, so his mother, Madam Zhu, was unaware and happened to be away from home. The steward said that Madam Zhu had taken Zheng Shu to the shaman temple on Yu Mountain two days ago and was still there. He had already sent someone to notify her, and she would likely return soon.
Madam Zhu was a devout believer in shamanism, and in recent years had become even more obsessed, frequently interacting with the shamans at the temple. Previously, she often invited them to the house, revering them like deities. Wei Shao had encountered this twice, and seeing his displeasure, she had reduced her invitations to the house and instead began visiting the temple herself. Although Wei Shao despised this, he saw that his mother wouldn’t listen to repeated advice, and being busy with military affairs and rarely at home, he was unable to do much about it. He reluctantly turned a blind eye and let her be. Upon entering the house and hearing that his mother had gone to the shaman temple again, he frowned slightly, then immediately instructed the steward to escort the lady to the rear courtyard for accommodation.