Wei Yan left Yuyang at dusk that day. Born and raised there for twenty-eight years, he now departed alone with only his horse. He rode to the north of the city, stopping before the bronze double-lion gates of the Wei mansion. Facing the gates, he knelt on both knees, kowtowed, then rose and left.
As night fell, Wei Yan led his horse through the streets of Yuyang. People hurried home on both sides. From a half-open door came a woman’s voice calling a child in for dinner. The child, about four or five years old, had been squatting and playing with pebbles. Hearing his mother’s call, he got up and ran with his head down, accidentally colliding with Wei Yan. He fell backward, his bottom sore from the impact. About to cry, he looked up at the strange adult standing before him. Frightened by Wei Yan’s unusual demeanor, the child stopped crying and stared at him fearfully.
Wei Yan’s gaze lingered on the child for a moment. He crouched down and reached out his hand. The child, even more scared, scrambled to his feet to run away. Seeing this, Wei Yan seemed to hesitate slightly. Then he took out a handful of money from his satchel, placed it on the ground, and attempted an awkward smile at the child.
Unable to call her son back, the mother came out looking for him. Seeing him on the ground with a strange man crouching nearby, she shouted, “Who are you?” Sensing something odd about the man, she hurriedly called for her husband to come out.
Wei Yan stood up and continued on his way, leading his horse. The child, forgetting his fear, sat on the ground and turned to watch the man’s figure fade into the distance.
As darkness deepened, lamps in homes began to light up one by one. When half the city was illuminated, Wei Yan stopped opposite the red-decorated mounting shop. The shopkeeper, the same as before, was closing the shutters. The interior layout was still visible, reminiscent of the day he first met her there.
Wei Yan stared for a moment, then suddenly mounted his horse and galloped towards the city gate.
He had asked to leave, saying he sought peace of mind and satisfaction. The Wei family granted his request and let him go. Only he knew that with his heart adrift, what could be considered peace or satisfaction? He didn’t know himself. He only knew that for the rest of his life, no matter where he went, he would never find true tranquility.
…
Two days later, Wei Yan arrived at the banks of the Sanggan River. Crossing this sandy river, considered the border, would take him into Xiongnu territory.
Wei Yan saw a figure on horseback in the meadow by the river mouth, as if waiting for some time. He slowed his horse, approached the person, and finally stopped. Looking at the man, a faint smile appeared on his face. “Second Brother, I didn’t expect you’d come to see me off one last time.”
Wei Shao’s face remained expressionless. He raised his arm and waved. Two soldiers behind him brought forward a large sack and placed it on the meadow grass.
The sack was tied shut, but something sizeable inside seemed to be struggling and moving.
“Do you know why I burned down your residence?” Wei Shao said coldly. “I didn’t want us brothers to harbor ill feelings. Yet someone hoped we would turn against each other. Unfortunately, their scheme succeeded, and now I have nothing more to say. This Lan Ji, I originally intended to kill her, but remembering she was your woman, I spared her life and left her fate to you. I’ve come here to see you off one last time, fulfilling our twenty years of brotherhood. From here on, let fate decide.”
The sack was opened, revealing a struggling woman with disheveled hair and a wretched appearance. It was Lan Yun, Wei Yan’s former favored concubine.
Lan Yun’s hands were bound and her mouth gagged, unable to speak. Suddenly seeing daylight and finding Wei Yan before her on horseback, she looked joyful and about to beg for help. But seeing his cold, emotionless eyes, she froze in fear, staring at him.
Wei Yan slowly raised his eyes, finally meeting Wei Shao’s gaze. The two men sat on their horses, eyes locked, neither speaking a word.
Wei Shao’s gaze was dark. After a moment of silent confrontation with Wei Yan, he suddenly pulled his reins, shouted, and turned his horse to leave.
Not far away, his entourage immediately followed. The group’s silhouettes gradually disappeared at the edge of the meadow.
…
Three days had passed since Brother Wei left, and Wei Shao hadn’t returned since seeing his brother out of the city that day.
Xiao Qiao knew that Madam Xu had also gone out that day. Upon returning to the mansion, she was immediately taken to her bed.
When Xiao Qiao went to see her, she found Madam Xu in low spirits, seemingly too weak even to speak, lying in bed, suddenly aged beyond measure.
Xiao Qiao felt deeply troubled.
She vaguely guessed that something must have happened with Wei Yan.
But what exactly had occurred, why Madam Xu had taken to her bed immediately upon returning, and where Wei Shao had been these past few days, she had no idea.
The only thing certain was that something serious had happened in the Wei family during these days.
Since it was related to Wei Yan, Xiao Qiao’s first thought was that the matter of Wei Yan’s supposed affection for her, which she had thought resolved, had come to light.
Otherwise, she couldn’t imagine what else it could be.
Her mood was anxious and heavy, feeling as if she were a sinner. That evening, with Wei Shao still not back, she went to the north room to attend to Madam Xu.
The sun was setting. The room, usually well-lit during the day, was gradually enveloped in a gloomy shadow. Zhong Mao came in to light the lamps. Madam Xu on the bed stirred, seeming to wake up. Xiao Qiao hurried forward, and together with Zhong Mao, helped her sit up.
Madam Xu leaned back, her gaze falling on Xiao Qiao’s face as if pondering something.
Xiao Qiao’s heart was racing, and she barely dared to meet her eyes. After a moment, she heard Madam Xu say she was hungry and wanted something to eat. Xiao Qiao quickly rose, but Madam Xu said, “Let Zhong Mao go.”
Zhong Mao left, leaving only Xiao Qiao in the room. Madam Xu asked Xiao Qiao to sit by her bedside and inquired about Wei Shao. Xiao Qiao said he had been gone for three days without returning. Madam Xu was lost in thought for a moment, then said, “He went to see off his elder brother.”
“His cousin has gone to Xiongnu territory,” Madam Xu added.
Xiao Qiao was shocked.
Madam Xu was silent for a moment. “You are Shao’er’s wife, there are some things you should know. Yan’er has a special background, his father was Xiongnu. Now that he wants to go there, I couldn’t keep him, I had to let him go.”
Xiao Qiao stared at Madam Xu, dumbfounded.
Madam Xu gazed at Xiao Qiao, enveloped in the twilight.
“What a beautiful child! No wonder…”
She sighed.
Xiao Qiao’s heart suddenly raced wildly. She immediately knelt before the bed, lowering her head, and said, “It’s all my fault. I beg for Grandmother’s forgiveness!”
Madam Xu turned her head, looking at Xiao Qiao’s kneeling figure for a moment, then slowly shook her head.
“Why should I blame you? You’ve done no wrong. This is the fruit of the seeds I planted thirty years ago. It’s fate.”
Xiao Qiao slowly raised her head to look at Madam Xu.
Her expression was weary, her gaze no longer on Xiao Qiao but past her, towards the last ray of sunlight beyond the western window.
“When Shao’er returns, comfort him a bit,” Madam Xu finally said, her tone gentle.
…
After eating a little, Madam Xu sat for a while before lying down again.
Xiao Qiao stayed by her side until she fell asleep, then returned to the west room.
She hadn’t seen Madam Zhu these past few days. She wasn’t required to go over there now. Xiao Qiao didn’t have the heart to worry about her much either. After returning from the north room, she was lost in thought in her room when she suddenly heard familiar footsteps in the courtyard outside. Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly ran out.
Wei Shao had returned!
He was travel-worn, apparently not having groomed himself on the road. A light blue stubble had grown on both cheeks, and he looked tired and dejected.
Xiao Qiao welcomed him into the room. She asked if he wanted to eat first or bathe. He said he would bathe. Xiao Qiao had water prepared. Soon it was ready, and she followed him in to attend to him personally.
Wei Shao soaked in the bathtub, water reaching his shoulders. His arms rested on the edges of the tub, his head tilted back, eyes closed.
Xiao Qiao knelt behind him, undid his hair, wet it with clear water, applied rose-scented hair balm, massaged his scalp with her fingertips, gently lathered with her palms, rinsed with clear water, then used a dry cloth to absorb the moisture. Finally, she helped him tie his hair back up, securing it with a jade hairpin.
He seemed to have fallen asleep, eyes closed, expression peaceful, motionless.
Xiao Qiao glanced at him. Seeing a bit of rose lather she had accidentally left on his cheek, she reached out to wipe it off.
As her fingertip touched his cheek, his eyelashes fluttered, and he opened his eyes. With a splash, he stood up from the water.
Xiao Qiao silently helped him dress.
He put on a set of casual clothes and told Xiao Qiao he was going to the government office to handle the official business that had piled up over the past few days. He told her to rest early and not wait for him. Then he left.
Xiao Qiao waited for him anyway. She waited until nearly the hour of Xu (7-9 PM). Remembering his tired face when he returned, she hesitated, then changed her clothes, had a carriage prepared, and went to the government office. At the entrance, the guard recognized her and hurried to greet her. Xiao Qiao asked if the Marquis was in, and the guard said the Marquis had entered earlier in the evening and hadn’t come out since.
Xiao Qiao entered with the food box in her hand, coming to his study in the back hall, which she had visited once before.
The doors and windows of the study were tightly closed, with light seeping through.
Xiao Qiao stopped at the door, took a deep breath, and gently knocked, saying, “My lord, may I come in?”
She opened the half-closed door and saw Wei Shao sitting behind the large desk. He was writing rapidly, brush in hand. The corner of the desk was piled high with scrolls and wooden slips. Seeing him look up, seemingly startled, she smiled, walked over, and knelt opposite him, saying, “I saw you hadn’t returned and feared you were busy with official matters. Worried you might be hungry, and since it’s not far and the office should be quiet at night, I came to bring you some food.”
She opened the food box, took out a still-warm bowl, removed the lid, placed it before him, and handed him a spoon.
A slender jade finger lightly held the white spoon, offering it to Wei Shao.
Wei Shao looked up at her again. At first, he didn’t take it.
Xiao Qiao met his gaze and smiled slightly at him. “I’ll leave after you eat, so as not to disturb your work.”
Wei Shao took the spoon and began to eat, finishing quickly. Xiao Qiao handed him a handkerchief. He took it and wiped his mouth. Xiao Qiao put the empty bowl back in the food box, stood up, and said, “I’ll head back now. Please return early too, my lord, and don’t overwork yourself.”
She bowed slightly to Wei Shao, who was still sitting behind the desk, then bent to pick up the food box and turned towards the door.
After just a few steps, she suddenly heard a slight movement behind her. Turning her head, she saw Wei Shao had already risen from behind the desk and rushed over. His arm reached out, suddenly pulling her into his embrace, holding her tightly. Then he lifted her, quickly walked back to the couch where he had been sitting earlier, and laid her down.