The Marquis Is Innocent

Wei Shao’s hand lowered, with the sword pointing to the ground, but the man remained in his original posture, and his gaze fixed on Xiao Qiao’s face.

The two pupils in his eyes seem to be frozen. It may have just woken up, or because of the red candle’s reflection, his eyes turned into a light transparent glaze with russet, like the color of amber.

Being stared with such a pair of eyes, Xiao Qiao’s whole body tensed up. She did not dare to move, and her eyes widened and looked at him.

A slight breeze, not knowing from which corner of the gap, entered and the candle flame swayed. Xiao Qiao’s face cast a candle shadow and swayed.

Wei Shao seems to have returned to his senses. His shoulders moved. He did not look down and put the sword back into the scabbard. Put it on the bed and sat on the edge of the bed. Bent low to put on his boots, and then grabbed the sword, got up and walked out.

Xiao Qiao watched his back and let out a sigh of relief.

Wei Shao walked to the screen, stopped, and turned his head.

Xiao Qiao’s breath, which had not yet been relieved, was held in her chest again.

“This isn’t the right place for you to stay. Tomorrow I will ask someone to send you to Yuyang.”

He said faintly. Turned around and walked away. He turned past the screen. The door opened with a “yah”, then the sound of footsteps faded away and disappeared.

Xiao Qiao relieved the breath. Touching the edge of the bed, she sitting down. Her hands were trembling, and her back broke out in a cold sweat. The inner shirt clung to her skin. It’s chilly and uncomfortable.

……

Wei Shao went to the study. When he was almost there, he stopped and looked around.

In the daytime, when the palace is not crowded, it often feels empty and silent. It is only the fourth period of the night (*). The deepest hour of the night, when all is silent and the servants are still in their sleep.

T/N: (*) 四更 period between 1-3am.

His eyes fell on the Tantai behind him, which was outlined by the darkness.

A few moments later, he climbed this lofty building. Facing the night breeze, he looked far away from the city walls and the wilderness outside under the sinking night. When he was lost in thought, he heard a small footstep behind him. He turned his head, and by the starlight overhead, recognized it was Gongsun Yang, the military secretary.

“My lord, why are you here alone?”

Gongsun Yang saluted Wei Shao and smiled as he approached.

……

Gongsun Yang, a native of Zhangqiu in Taishan, was 40 years old.

In his early years, he served Wei Shao’s father, Wei Jing. Because of his humble origins and Wei Jing had many capable men under him, he was unknown. After Wei Jing’s death, Youzhou once fell into the predicament of enemies on all sides. He was very eloquent and had an excellent performance, and turned Youzhou into a safe place several times, so Mrs. Xu used him. After Wei Shao ruled the army, he accompanied Wei Shao on his conquests and battles and became the official army secretary. He was Wei Shao’s beloved strategist, and Wei Shao was quite attached to him. This time, the Qiao family in Yanzhou offered a marriage. When the envoy came, Wei Shao was away. When he returned and heard that his grandmother, Mrs. Xu, had agreed to the marriage on his behalf, he was reluctant. And since the envoy had just left, he planned to send someone to intercept him, but Gongsun Yang persuaded him with reason. Wei Shao accepted his advice and agreed to the marriage.

……

“Mister is not sleeping under a blanket. How come you are also here blowing the wind?”

Wei Shao asked a rhetorical question.

“I was drunk last night. When I woke up, I had no desire to sleep. I saw the stars shining, so I came here to watch the stars. I didn’t expect to meet the Lord.”

After Gongsun Yang said, he smiled and walked to Wei Shao’s side, and said: “I once heard a proverb in Yanzhou, ‘Luo Shui is ten points divine, the two Qiao takes eight points’. I was not convinced and thought it was an exaggeration. But when I saw her at the wedding tonight, she deserved such praise. I look at her demeanor. Under the eyes of everyone, without the slightest hint of fear of a fallen lady. My Lord has won the beauty, congratulations!”

In Wei Shao’s eyes appeared those frightened eyes. Her eyes were opened wide and he clearly see her eyelashes trembling, but she still tried her best to look calm in front of him. After a moment of silence, he said, “It was because I listened to your advice. I just did the appropriate thing to go with the flow. There is no need to say congratulatory. Tomorrow, just send her to Yuyang.”

Gongsun Yang was stunned and saw he looked unconcerned, then smiled. “Sure, Henan (south of the Yellow River) is suitable for a slow plan, not too hasty. The marriage is completed, the Lady will go to Yuyang to serve her elders and do her filial duty on behalf of My Lord, and My Lord will have peace of mind in planning his great work.”

Wei Shao did not answer, just a smile.

“I fear the world will soon be chaotic and the people will suffer.”

Gongsun Yang looked up at the starry sky and sighed.

Wei Shao looked up in the direction he was pointing and saw the stars hanging in the sky. Dotted with brilliance, and could not understand, so he said, “I always admire your divination, sir.”

Gongsun Yang shook his head: “Lord, you flatter me. I am just a good talker. If we talk about divine men, there is really one in the world who is half a teacher to me. His name is Wang Jin, called himself the White Stone Old Man, a direct disciple of the Mo family in the 20th generation. He is not only skilled in the arts and wise, but also good at medical skills. Compared with him, I like a stream of fireflies in the sky, not worth mentioning.”

Wei Shao raised his eyebrows: “Such a divine person. Where is he now?”

Gongsun Yang said: “When I was young, I searched all over the world and tried to join the Mo Sect. I was lucky enough to meet him. But I never admitted to the sect. I received the old man’s guidance for three months. Ten years ago, I meet the old man again by chance. Only then did I realize he cared about the world. He entered the world and traveled to save people. A decade has passed, and I don’t know where he is. If he is still alive, he should be very old.”

An icy wind blew, and Gongsun Yang suddenly coughed.

During his early years with the army, he had been accidentally injured. He later recovered from his injuries, but left behind the roots of his illness. His body had broken down and coughing from time to time.

“It is cold, and Mister is weak. I will send Mister back.” Wei Shao said immediately.

Gongsun Yang said he didn’t have to and he could go back on his own. Wei Shao did not force him, but took off his cloak and draped it over Gongsun Yang’s shoulders, and watched his back as he went downstairs.

After Gongsun Yang left, Wei Shao stood alone, subconsciously once again looked at the piece of the constellation that Gongsun Yang had just pointed out to him.

When Qin loses its deer, the world will fight for it.

In Wei Shao’s wild ambition, a picture of the future was slowly being drawn out more clearly.

The Yellow River divides the north and south, Central China in the south, and the ancient Yan and Zhao Wei land in the north. Ten years ago, his father was still alive. There are less than ten warlords in the north. To this day, most have been swallowed and annexed. The remaining is not enough to worry about. Now in the vast northern land, there is only Chen Xiang of Bingzhou can still compete with them.

His first goal now is to devour Bingzhou, seize this piece of land known as Longxi. Unify the north, and then re-draw Henan’s map, and move to the west to achieve great things.

The Yanzhou terrain is a convenient way for him to go south in the future. The two families are united in marriage, and the Wei family is protecting the Qiao family’s position in Yanzhou, which is the same as the Qiao family is guarding the southward route for itself. His grandmother, Mrs. Xu, who was far-sighted, realized this and accepted the Qiao family’s offer on his behalf. Of course, this is the only reason. Although he was reluctant, he listened to Gongsun Yang’s advice and agreed to the marriage.

From the age of ten, he sat on horseback and followed his father, who was the governor of Youzhou, in the battle against the Xiongnu who came across the border, reaching as far as Yunzhong and Shuofang, beyond the Great Wall. In his mind, his father was like a god. Ten years ago, the Qiao family broke their promise, causing him to lose his father and elder brother. He never believed the Qiao family’s explanation that “the messenger was killed halfway”. The people who are worse than dogs and pigs are the same as Li Su of Chen County, and one day, he will destroy them. Now, marrying Qiao’s daughter is just a way to return the favor to others. Apart from the psychological disgust this marriage brings to him, he feels nothing off.

As for the daughter of the Qiao family ……

He turned his eyes and looked down toward the new room in Sheyang he had just walked out of a few moments ago.

Looking from afar, the window lattice still transmits a red haze of candlelight, which is conspicuous against the surrounding pitch black.

She can only blame her own bad luck. When Wei Shao was thinking about this, he could not help but once again recall the scene when he first saw her being led towards himself at the wedding.

Her appearance was barely acceptable; but the meat on her body was not much.

He subconsciously pulled the corner of his mouth.

……

After Wei Shao left, Xiao Qiao no longer wanted to sleep, and she wrapped herself in a blanket and sat in her room until dawn.

He did not show his face again. When Chun Niang and the maids came to serve her, there was news in the residence. The marquis was not pleased with the bride. And he sent her away to Yuyang the day after the wedding.

Yuyang is the place where the Wei family’s foundation is located, and where Wei Shao’s grandmother, Mrs. Xu, and widowed mother, Mrs. Zhu, are now located.

Originally, the daughter-in-law went to the old home to serve her husband’s elders in filial piety, is a human duty. However, it was on the second day of the wedding ……

This is too humiliating!

Chun Niang forced herself to look fine in front of Xiao Qiao, but then she couldn’t stand it any longer and sent the maid out, holding Xiao Qiao’s hand and saying with tears on her face, “Lady, I heard early in the morning that a servant saw Marquis when he got up at the 4th hour of the night. Why did he leave his room so early in the morning? Could it be that you forgot my previous advice and angered him, so he sent you to Yuyang today?”

Chun Niang’s meaning, to put it frankly, means now the servants in the residence are all spreading the rumor last night’s bridal chamber was not in harmony, and the Marquis was not satisfied with the bride, so he is sending her back home today.

Xiao Qiao also can not say out loud those kinds of aggression and depression in her heart.

She couldn’t tell Chun Niang that the groom, Wei Shao, had come back drunk and slept on his own without even looking at her. And she had stayed until the middle of the night when she woke up freezing and tried to get a blanket to warm herself, and was almost killed by him, could she?

In the end, how many heartless things he had done, that even in his sleep, he was alert like that?

“I have not offended him, and he did not touch me last night. He just doesn’t like me. The marriage between uncle and the Wei family has its own agenda. Since I am willing to get married, I have already prepared for it in my heart. There is no harm in going to Yuyang, eventually I have to go, so why bother? As for what people say, let them say it. I don’t care, so don’t be upset.”

Situation like this will never be the last time. There are bound to be similar occurrences in the future. She did not want Chun Niang to be disappointed again with empty hopes. So she took this opportunity to explain to her.

“Chun Niang, you are known as a maidservant, but I regard you as my half-mother. When I married into the Wei family, you are the only person I can trust completely. I hope you can also be firm in your mind and help me in the future.”

Chun Niang was dumbfounded and looked at Xiao Qiao steadily.

The sun was shining through the window and cast onto the side of the dressing table. The golden sunlight gave her tender skin a warm hue, and even the tiny hairs on her earlobes could be seen. She looked at her and smiled, her eyes glowing, as if there were precious pearls flowing in them.

This kind of lady is both familiar and unfamiliar to her. But for some reason, Chun Niang slowly gathered strength and a desire to protect her at all costs.

“Lady, you are right! I’ll take note of it! I’m going to comb your hair and dress you properly.”

Chun Niang quickly wiped away her tears, climbed up and stood behind Xiao Qiao, and combed her hair and dress her up.

She has a pair of skilled hands that can comb and dress people’s hair, a talent she learned later. When Xiao Qiao’s mother was still alive, she often praised her hands, saying she could turn a woman’s five points of appearance into eight points.

Last night she was worried the Marquis did not know what to do and made the lady suffer. Unexpectedly, he didn’t touch her.

The discontentment and depression in her heart are difficult to express. Just like the precious pearl she hid in a box, and did not want to show others, but now she has sent it to him, and he still dislikes it?

She originally had a great respect for Wei Shao, but after this morning, she had become dissatisfied.

This marquis, exactly how blind are his eyes that he would ignore her precious Xiao Qiao to such an extent? He even humiliated her by sending her away on the second day of her wedding.

Last night’s heavy makeup for the wedding occasion was beautiful, but it concealed Xiao Qiao’s most beautiful charm. Today, she must dress up the lady again. Even if she had to leave, she would have to leave beautifully, and couldn’t leave a laughingstock for these people!

T/N : the chapter getting harder to translate TT, do you readers need glossary or footnotes? Or is it already clear enough? Post a comment!