As Xiao Qiao noticed Madam Xu’s slight bewilderment and gaze upon her, she said, “I know this is an unreasonable request. My husband is away at war, and Grandmother, advanced in years, has just recovered from an illness. I should rightfully stay at home, waiting with Grandmother for my husband’s triumphant return. However, there’s a compelling reason for this. This morning, I received a letter from my younger brother in Dongjun, saying that our aunt had been bedridden for some time.
My mother passed away early, and during my time in Dongjun, my aunt cared for me as if I were her daughter. She has no sons, only my elder sister. Last year, when I got married, something happened to my sister, and she wasn’t at home. Now, suddenly learning of my aunt’s illness, I’m very concerned. Although I know I shouldn’t ask, I still came to plead before Grandmother. I beg Grandmother to allow me to return home for a visit. Once I’ve seen my aunt, I’ll hurry back as soon as possible.”
After speaking, Xiao Qiao looked at Madam Xu with hopeful eyes.
Madam Xu’s expression was full of concern. As soon as Xiao Qiao finished, she immediately said, “This is a normal human emotion, how can it be unreasonable? What I hate most in life is the saying ‘Marry off a daughter like splashing out water.’ If after raising a daughter and marrying her off, one cuts off all ties with her maternal family for the rest of her life, where is the human sentiment in that? You should go, there’s no problem here. Delegate the household matters that need to be handed over, and leave the rest to the internal steward. Set off as soon as possible.”
After a moment’s thought, she added, “My only concern is your safety on the road. Fortunately, from Youzhou south to Jizhou, it’s all under Shao’er’s control, so the journey should be safe. Once you leave Jizhou, I’ll send a message to the prefect to dispatch troops to escort you across the river, taking you directly to Yanzhou. After visiting your sick aunt, return as soon as you can.”
Yanzhou and Youzhou, separated by the Yellow River, were more than a thousand li apart. Xiao Qiao had only been married for a year, and now she wanted to return to her maiden home. She knew it was difficult to bring up.
However, this thought had been lingering in her mind for a long time, and now with the news of her aunt’s illness, she took the opportunity to voice it.
Xiao Qiao also knew that by choosing this moment to speak up, given Madam Xu’s understanding nature, even if she wasn’t entirely pleased, she would likely allow it.
She didn’t expect her to agree so readily and consider everything so thoroughly. Xiao Qiao felt guilty for the thoughts she had been harboring that absolutely must not be known to the Wei family.
But every time she thought of that past life’s ending that had haunted her countless times and which she dared not relax her guard against even now, she told herself that taking some precautions wasn’t wrong.
Grandmother was truly good. With this incident added, if she could continue to live well, she would be like an anchor for herself and the Qiao family.
But Grandmother was after all advanced in years. However this time, thanks to her foreknowledge of the past life and some good luck, they escaped calamity. But for future events, she couldn’t be certain.
If one day Grandmother passed away, leaving only Wei Shao behind. Judging from her experience of living with him this past year, who knew if he might change his attitude once Madam Xu was gone, and what would happen if he did?
One could hope for the best and act optimistically, but one must never fail to prepare a way out.
Even if Wei Shao had shown how infatuated he was with her in bed, she would never forget this point.
Xiao Qiao then showed a grateful and joyful expression, bowing to thank Madam Xu.
Madam Xu nodded with a smile, “Go and pack your belongings. I hope your aunt recovers soon, and that you return quickly. I’ll prepare some things for you to take and give to your elders on my behalf.”
The last time Qiao Ci and his group came, the Qiao family had prepared generous gifts for Madam Xu and Mrs. Zhu. It was customary to reciprocate, and since she was going back, it was only natural for Madam Xu to return the gesture.
Xiao Qiao bowed in thanks again.
…
Bustling with activity. As she was rushing to return home to visit her sick aunt, there wasn’t much fuss. After a day of preparation, the next day, at the beginning of the eleventh month, Xiao Qiao bid farewell to Madam Xu and set off from Yuyang with Chun Niang, taking the southern road.
Wei Liang had gone on a military campaign with Wei Shao this time. Madam Xu chose Tiger Warrior Captain Jia Si to lead thirty-two men to escort Xiao Qiao on her journey. All thirty-two men were selected from the Wei family’s personal Tiger Warriors, specially tasked with protection and extremely trustworthy. After leaving the city, they traveled by day and stayed at post houses by night. They took the same route that Xiao Qiao had taken a year ago when she was sent north as a bride.
She remembered how uncertain the future had seemed then, how anxious she had felt. Now, a year had passed in the blink of an eye, and although the future remained unknown, her state of mind was vastly different from a year ago. They passed through Fanyang, Renqiu, and Hejian in turn. After seven or eight days, they entered Jizhou, and after about half a month more, they arrived at Guangping.
The Prefect of Guangping had already received Madam Xu’s express message and continued to escort Xiao Qiao’s group southward, gradually approaching the great crossing of the Yellow River.
By now, they had been traveling for over half a month, and this area was no longer Wei Shao’s territory. As they neared the Yellow River basin in the Central Plains, the effects of years of war and unresolved conflicts became more apparent. Armies came and went like bandits, plundering everything in their path, and the people’s lives grew increasingly desolate. The main roads were in disrepair, the surrounding fields were gradually abandoned, and bones were even exposed in the wilderness. Except for walled towns, one could travel for half a day without encountering a village with crowing roosters. Even where there were still signs of human habitation, only the old, weak, sick, and disabled remained.
Compared to what Xiao Qiao had seen when she traveled north a year ago, it was even more desolate now.
Coming from Youzhou, which seemed like a peaceful and prosperous world, seeing such scenes of desolation was impactful. Although she knew that in times of chaos, such sights were not uncommon, it was still difficult not to feel moved. It wasn’t until they went further down, gradually approaching Jibei, that things began to improve. Although these areas were also turbulent, the various warlord forces were in a stalemate. Even when conflicts broke out, they didn’t persist year after year. The villages and towns along the way showed signs of gradual recovery.
A month later, at the beginning of the twelfth month, Xiao Qiao’s group finally entered the territory of Yanzhou.
The next evening, before reaching Dongjun, while still on the road, they saw in the distance a group of people carrying the Qiao family banner approaching from the opposite direction.
Qiao Ci had come to welcome his elder sister.
Jia Si had sent a fast horseman ahead several days ago to deliver a message to the seat of Yanzhou, Dongjun. When Qiao Ping received the letter and learned that his daughter was unexpectedly returning at this time, he was overjoyed and immediately sent Qiao Ci to welcome her.
The siblings finally met.
Over the past month, the journey had been long and dusty. Xiao Qiao had been worried about Aunt Madam Ding’s illness and also wondering about her father’s reaction to her letter, so she hadn’t been at ease.
But from the moment she stepped onto Yanzhou soil yesterday, all of Xiao Qiao’s fatigue from the journey was swept away.
Although Qiao Ci had only returned from Yuyang two or three months ago, he was equally delighted that his elder sister was unexpectedly coming home. In fact, given his temperament, he would have preferred if his sister could stay and not return to Yuyang at all. The siblings exchanged a few words. Xiao Qiao then asked about Madam Ding. Learning that although she wasn’t in good spirits, her condition hadn’t worsened, Xiao Qiao felt somewhat relieved. As night was falling and they were hurrying to return to the city, they set off again. Qiao Ci even told the carriage driver to get down and took the driver’s seat himself, personally driving the carriage for Xiao Qiao.
The journey went smoothly, and late at night, the group entered the city gates of Dongjun and returned home.
A servant rushed inside to announce the arrival of the young master and young lady. Qiao Ping, who had been eagerly waiting, personally ran out to the main gate to welcome them.
The moment he saw Xiao Qiao, noticing a glimmer of tears in his daughter’s eyes and hearing her call him “Father” in her familiar sweet voice, Qiao Ping’s heart was filled with a mixture of joy and sorrow. However, in front of the servants, he strived not to show it, only receiving his daughter as if welcoming a treasure, and personally escorting her inside.
As it was late, Uncle Qiao Yue in the main house had already retired, and it wasn’t appropriate to disturb Aunt’s rest at this hour. Qiao Ping told his daughter she could pay her respects in the morning, which wouldn’t be too late. Although he had many things to say, he was concerned about his daughter’s fatigue from the journey and told her to rest. He escorted her to the door of her former boudoir.
Pushing open the door, Xiao Qiao looked around the familiar room she had once lived in. Seeing that the furnishings hadn’t changed at all, even the faded and old beautiful woman kite she had painted herself still hung on the wall. Feeling gradually moved, she turned back to look at her father and thanked him.
Delighted that his daughter had returned from afar, Qiao Ping laughed heartily, “Silly girl, what is there to thank for? Although you’ve carried out, how could your father not keep a room for you here?”
After a year apart, her father seemed to have grown thinner than Xiao Qiao remembered. When he smiled, although his appearance was still suave and dashing, living up to his youthful reputation as the “Young Lord of Dongjun,” the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes had become more pronounced.
He was truly not yet forty, originally at the age when a man is most charming with the accumulation of years and should be displaying his grand ambitions. Yet, to assist his elder brother, he had been working tirelessly and diligently, toiling to this extent.
In Yanzhou, Xiao Qiao’s uncle Qiao Yue inherited the position of family head, holding power and overseeing general affairs, with his subordinates responsible for strategic planning. The implementation of various complex practical matters such as grain levies, tax collection, attending to people’s livelihoods, training troops, and fortifying defenses were almost all carried out by Qiao Ping. He did his duty well; if not, it would be considered dereliction of duty.
Xiao Qiao felt distressed and couldn’t help but say, “Father should take care of his health and not overwork himself. I see you seem to have aged more than when I left last year.”
Qiao Ping looked at his daughter. In the candlelight, he saw that she had grown even more striking than when she was in the boudoir before, her beauty radiant. Adding to this, the last time his son returned from Yuyang, from what he said, although her husband Wei Shao was aloof, it was unclear how he truly treated his daughter. But the old madam of the Wei family seemed to be a very understanding person, and from what Qiao Ci implied, she appeared to care for his daughter quite well. This had somewhat put his mind at ease. Now, seeing his daughter looking at him with concern in her expression, he smiled and said, “Father understands. But daughter, you are alone over there, you must take even better care of yourself.”