On the third day after Wei Shao left the city.
As the last troops accompanying him westward departed this morning, Yuyang City gradually regained its former tranquility after the bustle of breaking camp over the past few days.
The Wei Manor was unlike other aristocratic households. It had never been crowded, and after the incident ten years ago, it became even simpler. Madam Xu of the Zhu clan had left, and Wei Shao departed three days ago. Both the north and east wings were now empty. In such a vast manor, after nightfall, only the west wing remained lit, inevitably appearing lonely.
Xiao Qiao, however, had been quite busy these past few days.
On the first day after Wei Shao’s departure, the newly elected stewards and maidservants from late last year all came to her to report the accounts. Afterward, she inspected the storerooms, though not thoroughly, just randomly checking a few. This kept her occupied until dusk before she could finally rest.
Madam Xu had always enjoyed gardening, especially roses. Last winter, a sudden extreme cold front from the far north struck. Without adequate protection, the Jishan Zhongtai roses that Madam Xu had carefully cultivated for years all froze to death. Not only was Madam Xu heartbroken, but even Xiao Qiao felt deeply saddened upon seeing this. She suggested building a greenhouse in the courtyard. Madam Xu was initially enthusiastic about the idea. However, with the subsequent events involving Wei Yan and Zhu, followed by Madam Xu falling ill herself, the project was put on hold.
Now that spring had arrived and there was free time, it was the perfect opportunity to construct the greenhouse. Therefore, on the second day, Xiao Qiao called for the gardener to come and spent half a day surveying the north wing, selecting a location for the greenhouse. The next day, she summoned experienced carpenters and masons to begin work on the greenhouse project.
Another busy day passed.
Today, the carpenters presented the greenhouse design. Xiao Qiao was satisfied and assigned a capable steward to oversee the project.
The Lady’s initiative was sure to please the Old Madam. The steward naturally devoted herself wholeheartedly to the task, not daring to show any negligence.
Today was also the fiftieth birthday of Wei Liang’s mother.
Wei Liang hadn’t returned from Jinyang at the end of last year, and naturally couldn’t come back now to celebrate his mother’s birthday. Wei’s mother was of the same generation as Madam Zhu, so Xiao Qiao addressed her as “Aunt.” Thus, today she went to Wei Liang’s home to offer birthday wishes to Wei’s mother.
Wei Liang’s mother and wife were deeply honored by the Lady’s visit. After a round of courtesies, Xiao Qiao returned home quite late. After bathing, there was no need to wait for Wei Shao’s return as before. She had the courtyard gates closed early and climbed into bed, quickly falling asleep.
These past few days, she had been busy with various tasks. Though they were all trivial matters, they still taxed her energy. Additionally, at the birthday banquet, she couldn’t refuse a couple of cups of wine. As soon as her head hit the pillow, she quickly fell into a deep sleep.
At some point during her slumber, she was awakened by the urge to urinate. Reluctantly, she crawled out of the warm bed, not bothering to light a lamp. Putting on a robe, she went to the bathroom to relieve herself. After washing her hands, still half-asleep with eyes barely open, she felt her way back to the bed and snuggled back into the covers. Closing her eyes, she quickly fell asleep again.
Suddenly, a series of loud knocks on the door, accompanied by Chun Niang’s calls, startled her awake. It seemed as if something major had happened. Xiao Qiao, now fully awake and startled, opened her eyes and asked, “Chun Niang, what’s the matter?”
“My Lady, please get up quickly! General Jia of the Imperial Guards has arrived! He’s waiting outside the main gate right now, saying he’s been sent by the Master to escort you to Jinyang!”
General Jia of the Imperial Guards was Jia Si, who had previously escorted Xiao Qiao on her journeys south and north and was quite familiar to her.
Though Chun Niang tried her best to control it, the slightly raised pitch at the end of her speech betrayed her current excitement and joy.
Xiao Qiao paused for a moment, then turned towards the wall, lazily saying, “In the middle of the night, why would I go to Jinyang? Go tell General Jia. I’m not going.”
Chun Niang felt anxious and knocked on the door again forcefully. Seeing that the door remained closed, she was at a loss. Worried that General Jia might be getting impatient, she thought for a moment, then hurriedly rushed back to the main gate. Catching her breath, she said, “General, please wait a bit longer. It’s too sudden. The Lady needs time to rise, dress, and pack her belongings. It will take some time.”
Jia Si had rushed back from Zhuojun with the Lord in the dead of night. The Lord was now waiting at the city gate, having sent him to quickly fetch the Lady. He had already waited for some time since delivering the message, and seeing that the Lady still hadn’t emerged, he hastily said, “The Lord specifically instructed that we only need to bring the Lady herself for now. As for the rest of her belongings, Maid Chun, you can pack them and follow tomorrow at your leisure.”
Chun Niang, unaware that Wei Shao had personally returned, assumed he had just sent Jia Si back to fetch Xiao Qiao. At this moment, she only wanted to stall for time, so she quickly said, “Understood, understood. General Jia, please wait just a bit longer. I’ll go and urge her again.”
With that, she hurriedly ran back inside and once again knocked on the door, calling for Xiao Qiao.
Xiao Qiao knew that this time, Chun Niang wouldn’t give up until she opened the door. She had no choice but to get up, light a lamp, and open the door, only to return to bed and lie down again.
Chun Niang followed her to the bedside, catching her breath while pleading, “This is not the time to be stubborn! General Jia is still waiting for you outside! The carriage is ready! Please listen and get up quickly.”
Xiao Qiao just closed her eyes and shook her head: “I’m not going. I want to sleep.”
Chun Niang anxiously paced around the bed, wishing she could shake her disobedient mistress awake. Suddenly remembering something, she blurted out, heedless of propriety, “I didn’t tell you that day. When you were drunk, it wasn’t me who carried you in, but the Master himself who brought you to your room. Seeing you so intoxicated, he even scolded me a bit for not taking better care of you. You see, even if the Master seems angry with you on the surface, he still cares for you in his heart! Now that he’s been gone for three days, yet he’s sent General Jia back to fetch you, it means he wants you to join him. My Lady, please don’t indulge your little temper any more! Just go quickly. Avoid causing any more unpleasantness.”
Xiao Qiao, who had her eyes closed, suddenly opened them wide upon hearing this: “He brought me to my room? Chun Niang, why didn’t you tell me that day?”
Chun Niang hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice, “The Master instructed me not to tell you. Perhaps he couldn’t bring himself to face you directly. Since the Master has gone to such lengths, my Lady, you should…”
While Chun Niang continued her earnest persuasion, Xiao Qiao was no longer paying attention to what she was saying.
She slowly sat up. Lowering her head, she carefully recalled the strange sensations after getting drunk that day, gradually coming to a realization.
No wonder she had that peculiar feeling in her hazy state. She had struggled to open her eyes at the time, but she was too inebriated to fully wake up.
Finally, she understood completely. Why she had woken up feeling sticky and uncomfortable all over her body. And down there…
“Chun Niang, when he brought me to my room, how long did he stay?”
Xiao Qiao suddenly looked up, interrupting Chun Niang to ask her.
“The Master stayed for some time… My Lady, please just listen! Stop acting like a child. I’ll help you get up right away!”
Saying this, she turned her head and called loudly for others to come in.
With all the commotion, the maids and servants in the west wing had already been woken up. Hearing that the Master had suddenly sent someone to take the Lady away at this hour, they were all astonished and had gathered outside, waiting to be called. Hearing Chun Niang’s summons, they quickly entered the room.
Xiao Qiao’s mind was now clear, but she couldn’t help feeling a mix of melancholy and bitterness.
Although, if he had demanded she fulfill her wifely duties while she was fully conscious, she indeed wouldn’t have refused him.
But under those circumstances, that day, when she was completely unaware, he had taken advantage of her intoxicated state to satisfy his desires. She didn’t know what kind of despicable acts he had performed on her body at that time.
Most infuriatingly, he had even instructed Chun Niang to keep it from her, pretending as if nothing had happened afterward!
How could there be such a shameless, beastly man in this world?
“All of you, get out. Go back to sleep!”
Xiao Qiao suddenly raised her head and said.
The maids and servants were stunned, looking at each other in confusion.
Chun Niang was truly anxious now: “My dear child—do you want to worry me to death—”
Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps came from outside. Then, a figure strode in, coming around the screen.
“Chun Niang, why isn’t she up yet? How long have we been waiting?”
The voice preceded the person. Wei Shao had already walked in with large strides, stopping beside the screen.
His gaze flicked briefly to Xiao Qiao, still sitting on the bed. But his words were directed at Chun Niang, his tone seemingly displeased.
The maids and servants were surprised to see the Master, who had left three days ago, suddenly appear again.
Chun Niang was also taken aback.
She had thought Wei Shao had sent Jia Si back to fetch Xiao Qiao.
She hadn’t expected him to come himself.
But why hadn’t she seen him at the gate earlier?
“Master, please be patient!”
Chun Niang quickly recovered, seeing that the Master seemed a bit impatient. She hurried forward to placate him, “The Lady will be ready momentarily…”
“Chun Niang, tell him that Grandmother instructed me to stay at home. I’m not going anywhere.”
Xiao Qiao spoke calmly, not even glancing at Wei Shao who had suddenly appeared.
Wei Shao’s gaze turned to Xiao Qiao, his brows furrowing slightly.
The room was full of people, all staring wide-eyed at each other, no one making a sound. The atmosphere was eerily quiet.
Chun Niang felt like she could hardly breathe. Her palms were sweating profusely.
“Master, please don’t be angry!” She quickly tried to smooth things over, “The Lady doesn’t mean to disregard your kindness. It’s just that there are many complex matters at home, and she can’t leave at the moment…”
“All of you, get out!” Wei Shao interrupted.
The maids and servants immediately filed out in a flurry.
Chun Niang looked at the Master. His gaze was fixed on the Lady.
She then looked at the Lady. She was still sitting on the bed wrapped in her quilt, her eyes avoiding the Master.
Chun Niang was at her wit’s end, utterly helpless. She could only leave the room, looking back repeatedly as she went.
Once only the two of them remained in the room, Wei Shao walked to the bedside. Just as he was about to speak, he seemed to smell something. He leaned closer to her, sniffing a couple of times, his brows furrowing again: “You’ve been drinking again?”
Xiao Qiao said, “I have. What of it?”
Wei Shao’s frown deepened: “You get drunk easily, becoming unconscious when intoxicated. Now you’re alone at home. How could you not remember the lesson from the last time you got drunk?”
Xiao Qiao slowly turned her head, staring at him for a moment. The corner of her lips curled slightly: “Is the Lord afraid that I might again be dead drunk and unconscious, vulnerable to some beast of a man who might take advantage of me?”
Wei Shao was stunned, a flash of embarrassment quickly passing through his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. In a nonchalant tone, he said, “You think I wanted to? That day you were drunk, I kindly carried you back to your room. When I was about to leave after putting you down, you were the one who wouldn’t let me go. But you were drunk at the time, so you probably don’t remember now.”
Xiao Qiao’s pearly white teeth bit down hard on her lower lip. Finally, she said, “Now I know that I act wantonly when drunk. It was my fault. I truly wronged you, Lord. But why have you run back here in the middle of the night, disturbing people’s sleep? What are you trying to provoke me for?”
Wei Shao cleared his throat: “Earlier, when I escorted Grandmother to Wuzhong City, before leaving, she instructed me. After consideration, she felt it wasn’t appropriate to leave you alone at home and wanted me to bring you to Jinyang. I thought Grandmother’s arrangement had her reasons. That’s why I turned back to come get you.”
Xiao Qiao said, “Why didn’t Grandmother instruct me to go with you when she left? Besides, I’m doing just fine here. I’m not going.”
Wei Shao said, “Are you going or not?”
“Not going.”
“Are you going or not?”
Wei Shao paused, then asked again.
“I said, I’m not going. I want to sleep now.”
Xiao Qiao no longer paid attention to him, lying down facing the wall and closing her eyes.
Wei Shao stared at the back of her head, his expression gradually turning unpleasant.
Suddenly, he knelt on the bed with one leg, leaned over, and reached out to drag her out of the quilt like catching a chick. He grabbed a fox fur-lined cloak hanging on a nearby clothes rack, wrapped it around her, picked up her shoes from the floor, forcibly put them on her feet, and half-carried, half-dragged her out, striding away.
A trail of dropped jaws was left behind.