Xiao Qiao immediately rushed to the side room of the North Chamber to wait for her audience.
Old Madam Xu had just arrived home. If she truly disliked Xiao Qiao, she wouldn’t have summoned her so quickly. However, she had to maintain appearances. While waiting in the side room, Xiao Qiao could see through the window that people were constantly coming and going along the corridor leading to the main hall, their footsteps echoing incessantly. Besides servants, there were also some stewards from the Wei family and what appeared to be military officials from the city.
She waited for some time. As dusk approached and the footsteps in the corridor gradually diminished, a maidservant finally appeared at the door of the side room, bowing and inviting Xiao Qiao to enter.
Xiao Qiao suddenly felt a twinge of nervousness. She composed herself and followed the maidservant towards the main hall.
In her previous life, during the last meeting between the Qiao sisters, Xiao Qiao had learned from Da Qiao that Wei Shao’s grandmother was the only person in the Wei family who hadn’t mistreated her and would remember to send things to her room during festivals and special occasions. Unfortunately, Madam Xu’s time had come to an end. Within a year of Da Qiao marrying into the Wei family, she passed away due to an accident, after which Da Qiao’s situation became increasingly difficult.
It was precisely for this reason that Xiao Qiao placed such importance on this audience with Madam Xu. She didn’t hope to win her favor, but as long as Madam Xu was different from Wei Shao’s mother, it wouldn’t be a bad thing for her in the coming year.
The layout of the North Chamber was similar to the West Chamber where Xiao Qiao lived, though more spacious. However, the furnishings were extremely simple, bordering on austere. It was in stark contrast to the East Chamber where Madam Zhu resided. In this main hall, the only thing that hinted at the status of the Wei family’s Old Madam was a raised purple sandalwood couch that required ascending three steps to reach. On either side of the couch were square tables with various implements, and behind it stood a long lacquered screen decorated with cloud patterns. Wei Shao’s grandmother, Old Madam Xu, was seated in the center of this raised couch.
When Xiao Qiao entered, there were few people left inside. Only a handful of maidservants stood in attendance, with Madam Zhong at the side. Madam Zhu and Zheng Shu were nowhere to be seen. Wei Shao was present, seated to the side and slightly below his grandmother, with his ever-present long sword laid horizontally within reach at the front of the couch.
Wei Shao’s grandmother was thin and withered, dressed in black with graying hair. She had a broad forehead and a round chin, with slightly sunken cheeks. Her appearance was unremarkable, looking like an ordinary old woman. What surprised Xiao Qiao slightly was that she only had one eye. Her left eye was completely clouded over, a milky white color, while her remaining right eye was exceptionally sharp and full of spirit. Seated on the high couch, when that single eye swept over, one could hardly bear to meet its gaze.
After Xiao Qiao entered, she noticed Madam Xu’s lone eye fall upon her, with an expression that was difficult to discern. She immediately lowered her gaze, walked to the raised couch where several kneeling cushions had been laid out on the ground, knelt on both knees, and bowed to Wei Shao’s grandmother opposite her, finally presenting a pair of embroidered silk shoes with soft soles.
The room was silent, without a hint of sound.
Madam Zhong came forward to collect the shoes. Then, a maidservant brought out a red lacquer tray containing a four-spirit white jade bi disc and a string of gold-inlaid jade beads with a recurring pattern.
The four-spirit jade bi symbolized good fortune, while the jade beads were a welcoming gift from an elder to a junior.
“These are Old Madam’s tokens of goodwill. The Young Madam may accept them and rise,” said Madam Zhong.
Xiao Qiao expressed her gratitude and stood up, lowering her head and standing properly behind Wei Shao.
After a moment, she sensed that Madam Xu on the couch seemed to still be looking at her. She couldn’t help but raise her eyes slightly, meeting the old woman’s gaze for a brief instant.
…
Earlier, when Madam Zhong had returned from Xin Du, Madam Xu had inquired about the Qiao girl. Madam Zhong had recounted how she had been abducted by Chen Rui of Bing Zhou on the way, and how the Marquis had captured Shi Yi. She said that the Qiao girl was of rare beauty, her conduct was proper, and her character was good.
“What a pity,” she had added at the end.
Madam Zhong had served Madam Xu for most of her life and was known for her caution, rarely expressing her own opinions directly to Madam Xu. For her to do so was unusual.
Madam Xu had then asked what she meant by “What a pity.” Madam Zhong replied that the Old Madam would understand once she saw for herself.
At the time, Madam Xu had been somewhat skeptical. But now, seeing the Qiao daughter in person, she suddenly seemed to have an epiphany. She hadn’t expected the Qiao family to have raised such a rarely beautiful girl. Indeed, her radiance was captivating. When she first entered, even the worldly-wise Madam Xu felt her eyes brighten.
Beauty aside, the Qiao girl’s demeanor greatly impressed Madam Xu.
In life, the more one possesses and the more complex one’s experiences in the first half of life, the more one’s thoughts tend to change with age, favoring simplicity and tranquility.
This applies to both objects and people. It’s why the elderly often prefer the company of children.
As Madam Xu watched the Qiao girl, she noticed her suddenly raise her eyes, exchanging a glance.
Madam Xu’s single eye immediately captured her gaze. It wasn’t timid, just slightly uncertain. Beyond that, it was bright and candid.
When Madam Xu assessed people, she often focused on their eyes at first glance. Judging by appearance wasn’t without reason. The spirit in one’s eyes was also part of one’s countenance.
She instinctively felt favorably towards people with such a gaze.
Conversely, there were some people, like her daughter-in-law Madam Zhu, whom Madam Xu could never bring herself to like. This too began with the first glance at their eyes.
Years ago, when her husband wanted to arrange a marriage between their son and Zhu, Madam Xu had reservations about her background and was somewhat unwilling. However, her husband insisted, and Zhu’s father had once saved her husband’s life. Madam Xu reluctantly accepted in the end.
At first sight of Zhu, although she was properly dressed and her every move showed the manners of a well-taught lady from a good family, Madam Xu was still dissatisfied with this daughter-in-law.
When Zhu looked at her, her eyes revealed a lack of confidence and an eagerness to please her.
No matter how proper the attire or how correct the manners, paired with such a gaze, it inevitably lowered one’s standing.
This disapproval has continued to the present day.
The only thing that could make Madam Xu view Zhu more favorably was that her womb had been productive, giving the Wei family an exceptionally outstanding grandson. A mother’s status is elevated by her son. This was probably why Madam Xu had been able to tolerate Zhu all along, turning a blind eye and letting her be.
When Madam Xu arranged for her grandson Wei Shao to marry the Qiao girl, she naturally had her considerations.
Informed outsiders, including her grandson Wei Shao himself, thought it was for the sake of Yan Zhou.
She had her separate considerations. Others simply didn’t know.
…
Madam Xu looked at Xiao Qiao again, seeing that she had once more lowered her eyes, standing behind her grandson Wei Shao, the two of them like a perfect pair.
She spoke for the first time since Xiao Qiao had entered: “Zhong Lin, I’ve met your wife and I like her very much. We’ve traveled all day, and I’m weary. I want to rest. You may take her back now.”
Wei Shao rose from the couch and respectfully said, “Grandson takes his leave. Grandmother, please rest early. I’ll come to see you again in the morning.”
Madam Xu nodded with a smile.
As Wei Shao descended from the couch and walked towards the exit, Xiao Qiao bowed to Madam Xu to bid farewell. As she turned to follow Wei Shao out, suddenly footsteps were heard from the corridor outside, followed by a voice: “Maternal Grandmother has returned, yet I couldn’t go out of the city to welcome you, and I’ve arrived late as well. It’s truly unfilial of me! Please don’t blame me for my lack of respect—”
Along with this voice that Xiao Qiao seemed to have heard somewhere before, a man appeared at the doorway and then strode across the threshold.
Xiao Qiao looked up and was slightly startled.
What a coincidence! It was the Wei surname man she had encountered at the picture-mounting shop earlier that day! However, this time, he seemed not to notice her at all. His eyes fell on Wei Shao in front, and his face lit up with a smile as he quickly walked towards him.
Wei Shao’s face also broke into a smile as he strode forward to meet the man. The two appeared to be very familiar with each other.
Xiao Qiao stopped where she was, watching as the two men greeted each other, their laughter constant, looking every bit like good brothers.
“Shi Yuan, you’ve finally returned! Grandmother thought you might have taken root in Dai Commandery and wouldn’t come back!” Madam Xu on the couch seemed very pleased to see this man arrive and said with a laugh.
The man’s name was Wei Yan. Hearing Madam Xu speak, he let go of Wei Shao and walked to the front of the couch, smiling as he said, “For Maternal Grandmother’s sixtieth birthday, even if both my legs were broken, Shi Yuan would crawl back.”
Madam Xu laughed. Wei Yan knelt on the same cushion where Xiao Qiao had knelt earlier, paid his respects to Madam Xu, and then, as if just noticing Xiao Qiao, glanced at her before turning to Wei Shao with a smile, “Second Brother, when I was in Dai Commandery, I heard the news of your marriage. Could this be…”
He paused, looking at Xiao Qiao.
Wei Shao returned to Xiao Qiao’s side and smiled, “Indeed, she is.” Then he said to Xiao Qiao, “He is my cousin, who has been leading troops in Dai Commandery. He’s a few years older than me, and I’ve always regarded him as an elder brother. You can call him Elder Uncle.”
Xiao Qiao glanced at Wei Yan, seeing him standing before her with a smile, his gaze fixed on her face, showing no sign of recognition. Recalling their chance encounter outside earlier in the day, she felt somewhat uncomfortable for reasons she couldn’t explain. However, her face betrayed nothing. She simply smiled and followed Wei Shao’s instructions, greeting him as “Elder Uncle.”
Wei Yan returned a slight bow, still talking to Wei Shao. The two exchanged a few more words before bidding farewell to Madam Xu together. As they walked out, the pair of good brothers walked side by side in front, laughing and talking about something, while Xiao Qiao followed at a distance. When they reached the fork leading to the West Chamber, they stopped. Wei Yan said, “Second Brother, we haven’t seen each other for so long, now that we’ve finally met, how can we not share a drink? Come, let’s have a cup together, what do you say?”
Wei Shao hesitated briefly, then smiled and said, “That’s exactly what I was thinking.”
Wei Yan laughed heartily, “You’re probably reluctant to leave your newly wedded wife, as beautiful as a flower! But I’m in high spirits today and won’t let that stop us. Let’s go and drink to our heart’s content!” He then turned to Xiao Qiao, “Sister-in-law, I haven’t seen Zhong Lin for a long time, so I’m going to drag him off for a few drinks. Don’t worry, I won’t keep him out all night. I’ll send him back to you later.”
Xiao Qiao felt slightly embarrassed. She glanced at Wei Shao, who stood there without looking at her, his expression somewhat stiff.
“Elder Uncle is joking. Please, go ahead,” Xiao Qiao responded.
“As long as Sister-in-law doesn’t mind. Zhong Lin, let’s go!”
Wei Shao smiled and walked a few steps with Wei Yan towards the front courtyard, then suddenly turned back and glanced at Xiao Qiao.
Xiao Qiao had already turned and was heading towards the West Chamber.
…
It was very late, and Wei Shao had not yet returned.
Since he hadn’t come back, Xiao Qiao naturally couldn’t go to sleep alone. She could only sit and wait.
She sat by the lamp, chin in hand, thinking about the people and events of the day.
Wei Yan had left a particularly strong impression on her. If nothing else, his surname alone was puzzling.
Since he and Wei Shao were cousins, why did he also have the surname Wei?
…
What Xiao Qiao later learned was that Wei Yan’s background was quite complex and mysterious.
Wei Shao once had a young aunt named Qing Yun, who was Madam Xu’s daughter. Thirty years ago, due to an accident, she was abducted by a high-ranking Xiongnu man while in a border town. It wasn’t until three years later that Wei Shao’s father managed to rescue his sister. But upon her return, they discovered she was already five or six months pregnant. The family wanted her to terminate the pregnancy, but she refused, threatening to take her own life. Madam Xu had no choice but to let her have her way. Unexpectedly, she died of hemorrhage during childbirth.
Madam Xu had been very fond of this youngest daughter, and having lost her beloved child, she looked upon the child she left behind with special consideration.
People of that time might accept a Han woman who had been abducted by the Xiongnu, but they would never treat a child with Xiongnu blood equally. Madam Xu naturally didn’t want to send the child to the Xiongnu. After much deliberation, she had the child take his mother’s surname and raised him herself, telling others that his father had married into the Wei family but had already passed away.
Few people knew about this history, and Madam Xu had never mentioned a word of it to Wei Yan.