Wei Shao had been preoccupied lately. Despite his shrewdness and years of service, he still found it difficult to fathom the thoughts of his lord, the Marquis.
Originally, the plan was to depart for Jinyang in early spring, around this time. Unexpectedly, the Marquis suddenly decided to leave earlier, right after the Lantern Festival. Gong Sun Yang naturally had no objections. As soon as the Marquis gave the order, his subordinates scrambled to prepare, selecting troops and readying the army. The officers and soldiers who were to accompany the Marquis westward bid tearful farewells to their wives, children, and warm homes, awaiting departure.
Everything was set, but after a trip to Wuzhong City, the Marquis suddenly stopped mentioning Jinyang. Instead, he began arriving at the government office at dawn every day, never leaving before nightfall. In reality, there wasn’t much work to be done at the beginning of the year. To ensure good fortune, there was an ancient custom of avoiding military conflict in the early days of the new year. So, after New Year’s Day, there weren’t many urgent matters in the office that required the Marquis to personally toil over documents.
Gong Sun Yang was puzzled. Since everyone was waiting for the Marquis’s orders, he had previously inquired about it. The Marquis had said that he was being considerate of the soldiers’ hardships and decided to give everyone more time off during this rare New Year period. This announcement was met with cheers and gratitude from the ranks below.
Gong Sun Yang, relying on his instincts, didn’t quite believe this explanation. But he sensed that the Marquis simply didn’t want to leave yet, so he stopped pressing the issue.
However, now he had no choice but to urge action. Because a situation had arisen.
Three days ago, Zhang Jian and Li Chong sent an urgent report stating that the Shao Dang Qiang people in Longxi had rebelled, attacking the Upper Commandery area. Fortunately, the rebellion was suppressed. They requested the Marquis to come quickly to determine the next course of action.
Last night, another urgent report arrived from Bing Province, which was now in Gong Sun Yang’s possession. Though he was waiting for the Marquis to open it, he guessed it was likely a follow-up to the Upper Commandery rebellion.
So, he had been waiting for the Marquis since early morning. Yet today, the Marquis was unusually late in appearing. Gong Sun Yang had grown impatient and was about to send someone to the Wei Mansion with a message when the Marquis finally arrived. He hurriedly handed over the urgent report and gently urged him to address the matter.
Wei Shao opened the report, glanced at it briefly, then handed it to Gong Sun Yang. Zhang Jian reported suspicions that Feng Zhao, the Governor of Liang Province, was secretly instigating the Shao Dang Qiang to cause trouble, possibly with ulterior motives. He requested the Marquis to come quickly.
The Shao Dang Qiang were the most powerful Qiang regime in the western regions. Like the Xiongnu, they originally lived a nomadic lifestyle but gradually integrated with the Han people and transitioned to agriculture. In the eyes of the Han people, the Qiang were “terrifyingly unlike living humans.” About a decade ago, this Qiang group, with a population of several hundred thousand, had submitted to the Han dynasty, but later suffered under the cruel rule of Chen Xiang. Chen Xiang treated the Qiang people as cattle and horses, brutally oppressing them. He not only demanded tributes for himself but also enslaved the men and forced the women into prostitution. The new Qiang leader, Diao Mo, rebelled against this treatment, breaking away from Han rule and once even capturing Xihe Commandery.
Last year, when Chen Xiang lost Bing Province, Wei Shao immediately tried to pacify Diao Mo. However, Diao Mo did not respond and merely retreated to Qiang territory.
At the time, Wei Shao was in a hurry to return to Youzhou. Seeing the border peaceful, he temporarily set aside the matter and rushed back.
Unexpectedly, so soon after the new year, the Shao Dang Qiang attacked the Upper Commandery again. Moreover, it now involved Feng Zhao, the Governor of Liang Province.
“What is your decision, my lord?” Gong Sun Yang asked.
Pacifying the Western Liang and subduing the Qiang people to eliminate future threats for a southward campaign – this was Wei Shao’s military objective for going to Jinyang at the start of the year. Gong Sun Yang was well aware of this.
Wei Shao frowned and said, “I’ll depart tomorrow morning. The main army can set out within three days, advancing at normal speed towards Jinyang.”
…
Wei Shao returned from the government office just before noon. He rarely came home at this hour, surprising the servants and maids in the western quarters. They hurried to prepare a meal.
However, Xiao Qiao had still not returned.
Wei Shao felt restless and didn’t eat. He mounted his horse and rode out of the city towards the direction of the Tai She Shrine.
The Tai She Shrine sacrifice at the beginning of the second month was of great significance to farmers who lived off the land. Early in the morning, villagers from various hamlets brought leeks, eggs, and newly brewed wine from the previous year, gathering from all directions at the Tai She Shrine in the Mulberry grove east of the city to participate in the sacrifice.
At the auspicious hour, the sound of leather drums rose. The Magistrate of Yu Yang led the participating villagers in a ritual of one kneel and three kowtows to the Earth God. They offered wine, food, and seeds of the five grains, recited prayers, and finally handed the incense to Xiao Qiao, who had purified her hands. She inserted the incense into the agricultural altar and offered another prayer, completing the sacrificial ceremony.
As local lords, the Wei family had long been beloved by the people. In previous years, when Madam Zhu led the ceremony, she would hurriedly leave by carriage as soon as it was over. This year, with the new mistress of the Wei family, the people saw that she was young, beautiful, and had a friendly smile. They were all captivated. After the ceremony, they flocked around her, surrounding her and asking the lady to taste the new wine, judge the best, and enjoy the festivities with the people.
This was also a traditional entertainment event of the Tai She sacrifice. Each clan and hamlet offered their new wine, and after tasting, one would be chosen as the offering wine to be placed on the agricultural altar. If selected, it was considered a great honor for the clan and hamlet.
Faced with such enthusiasm from the people, Xiao Qiao couldn’t refuse. She went to the wine-tasting platform with the Magistrate of Yu Yang.
On a long shelf, wine jars were neatly arranged. The red paper was pasted on the belly of each jar, clearly marked with the clan and hamlet identifiers.
Noble women, like men, enjoyed drinking wine. Madam Xu, for instance, had an excellent capacity for alcohol. Even at her age, she would rinse her mouth with warm wine after every meal.
Xiao Qiao, however, had a low tolerance for alcohol and rarely drank. Seeing such a long row of wine jars waiting for her to taste one by one, she felt intimidated. But having arrived at this point, surrounded by expectant gazes, she felt like a duck being forced onto a perch. She could only steel herself and join the Magistrate of Yu Yang at the platform, starting with the first unsealed wine jar.
Fortunately, only one cup was taken from each jar, and she only needed to take a small sip to discern the taste.
Since these were all new wines carefully brewed and selected by the clans, with the honor of each hamlet at stake, she dared not be perfunctory.
She tried to savor the taste of each sip of wine. Whether strong or mild, astringent or smooth, she gradually tasted all several dozen jars from start to finish.
Finally, after discussing with the Magistrate of Yu Yang, she selected one as the winner.
The villagers from that hamlet cheered and rejoiced, ladling out wine for others to taste, and then offering the new wine on the agricultural altar. Next came the village opera and dance performances.
In the mulberry grove, drums and music resonated. People celebrated joyously, with young men and women chasing each other around the mulberry trees, leaving behind bursts of cheerful laughter.
Although she had only taken a small sip of each wine, the cumulative effect of so many different wines began to take its toll. As they seeped into her stomach, she gradually began to feel the heat. When the Magistrate of Yu Yang came to invite her to watch the village opera, Xiao Qiao’s heart was already pounding, and her cheeks had reddened. Fortunately, with Chun Niang and Lin Ao supporting her on either side, she managed not to show signs of intoxication.
Xiao Qiao, aware that she was likely to succumb to the effects of alcohol, feared making a fool of herself if she were to collapse here. She smiled and said, “Thank you, Your Excellency, and all the villagers for your kindness. Today is an auspicious day, marking the beginning of agriculture. May it bring blessings to all the people. Your Excellency, please enjoy the festivities with the people. I will take my leave now.”
The Magistrate of Yu Yang, noticing her slightly flushed cheeks and realizing she couldn’t handle more alcohol, didn’t dare to keep her any longer and bowed respectfully to see her off.
Xiao Qiao left the shrine and exited the mulberry grove. All along the way, countless villagers lined up to pay their respects and bid her farewell. Among them were the young scholars from the commandery school who had once tried to catch a glimpse of her beauty at the Queen Mother of the West Temple.
These young men had come today merely for the excitement. If they could present a sprig of orchid to a beautiful young woman, it would be a bonus. Many of them had been to the mulberry grove last year and knew that the Wei family matriarch who attended the sacrifice was a middle-aged woman, so they naturally had no expectations this year.
However, they were surprised to find that the young mistress who appeared this morning was the same one they had unsuccessfully tried to catch a glimpse of last year. She was indeed as beautiful as a celestial maiden. At first sight, their eyes lit up, and their legs froze to the ground, unable to move.
From the moment Xiao Qiao appeared, this group of young scholars from the commandery school had been following her closely. Wherever she went, they followed. Now that she was leaving, constrained by her status, they didn’t dare to get too close. Instead, they all crowded around, following at a distance, just to catch one or two more glimpses of her.
As Xiao Qiao came out, a group of frivolous young scholars from the commandery school crowded behind her, jostling each other, their faces wearing expressions that looked as if they were about to drool, making the scene particularly eye-catching.
Wei Shao, arriving on horseback at the entrance of the mulberry grove, witnessed this scene. He neither appeared nor showed himself. He simply stopped his horse and watched from afar as Xiao Qiao was escorted to her carriage by the Magistrate of Yu Yang. Chun Niang and Lin Ao helped her into the carriage.
The carriage departed.
…
Sitting in the carriage, Xiao Qiao felt the effects of intoxication growing stronger as they traveled. Even her head was spinning. With her eyes closed weakly, she leaned against Chun Niang’s embrace and gradually fell into a drunken sleep. She was unaware of when they entered the city and returned to the Wei Mansion, or how they got back.
In her hazy state, she vaguely felt as if Chun Niang had carried her down from the carriage, then carried her while walking, and finally placed her on a bed.
Feeling the touch of what seemed to be a bed beneath her, she immediately relaxed and sank completely into a drunken slumber.
Chun Niang and Lin Ao stood nearby, watching the lord who had just carried the lady from the carriage, all the way in, and placed her on the bed.
Seeing his expression wasn’t particularly pleasant, they both felt uneasy.
Wei Shao shifted his gaze from Xiao Qiao’s soundly sleeping face and said to Chun Niang, “Since the lady cannot drink, you are her trusted attendant. Why didn’t you advise her against it? Getting so drunk in public, what kind of example does that set?”
Although his tone was level, the reproach in his words was evident.
While the lord had always had a somewhat difficult temperament, this was the first time since coming to the Wei family that Chun Niang had heard him speak to her in such a severe tone. Feeling ashamed, she didn’t dare to defend herself and only said, “My lord is right. It was indeed my negligence. Next time, I will be extra careful in serving the lady.”
Lin Ao didn’t even dare to breathe loudly, keeping her head lowered and motionless.
Wei Shao waved his hand dismissively. Chun Niang and Lin Ao exchanged a glance before turning to leave the room.
Wei Shao stood by the bed for a moment, gazing at the soundly sleeping, intoxicated Xiao Qiao.
…
Xiao Qiao hadn’t expected that participating in the sacrifice today would lead to her accidentally getting drunk.
Now, deep in her drunken state, she had a strange dream.
In the dream, it felt as if her body was being brushed by a soft brush, incredibly comfortable, so comfortable that it made her shiver, her jade feet curling their toes tightly, but every pore on her skin slowly opened up.
Her entire being felt light, as if supported by water waves, or floating in a cloud, gently swaying.
She felt so comfortable that she couldn’t help but let out a soft moan in her dream.