The Marquis Is Innocent

At night, the Wei Manor was lit up.

After a bustling day, Mrs. Xu was tired by this time because of her age. After the event was over, she went back to the north house to rest. The female guests had dispersed one after another, leaving only the men’s parties.

Wei Shao welcomed and sends the guests. He has been busy since the morning until now. It is almost the end of the eleventh hour. Without bothering to eat dinner, he send off a few distant guests and back in a hurry. He walking to the bottom of the steps of the flower gate. Suddenly, he heard someone behind called, “Marquis Wei, please stay.” He turned around and recognized it was someone who had come with Zhongshan King’s messenger, so he stopped.

When the official had arrived in front of Wei Shao, he saluted him respectfully. Wei Shao responded in vain. The official flattered Wei Shao a few times, and seeing that Wei Shao seemed distracted, he laughed and said: “I think Marquis Wei does not recognize me. Many years ago, I used to work for the Su family in Zhongshan. When Madam Yulou was still in her boudoir, I was fortunate enough to have met Marquis Wei a few times. I wonder if you still remember me?”

Wei Shao was stunned. He stared at the official and paused. He asked, “What is it?”

When the official saw no one was around, he took a step closer and took out a sealed incense pouch from his pocket. Presented it with both hands, and said in a low voice: “There is something that Marquis Wei does not know. I came to Yuyang with the messenger, not only to congratulate the old madam on her birthday but also to pass on a letter. Madam Yulou was very happy when she heard about Marquis Wei’s wedding. She wanted to come to Yuyang in person to pay her respects to the old madam and to congratulate Marquis Wei on his wedding, but she was in Luoyang and couldn’t leave her busy schedule. When she knew I was coming to Yuyang, she asked me to pass on this letter on her behalf as a congratulation.”

Wei Shao looked at the exquisite embroidered purple satin incense bag in the hands of the official. He said nothing and didn’t move.

The official saw he did not take it, raised his eyes and looked at him.

Two lanterns were hung in front of the door, and the night wind was sweeping the lanterns, swaying a red light. Wei Shao’s face was reflecting a layer of hazy red light.

He seems to be lost in thought. His gaze dark. Integrated in the surrounding dim night. It’s hard to see.

The official placed the incense bag on the edge of the steps. He bowed towards Wei Shao and took a few steps back. When he turned to leave, he heard Wei Shao’s voice sound: “Pass on the message on my behalf. Shao thanks Madam Yulou for her kindness, and there is no need for anything else.”

His voice was deep. After saying that, he walked past the incense bag on the steps and left with big strides.

……

Wei Shao sent off the last guest. He met with Wei Yan, who had just returned from sending off the guests. They left the rest of the matters to the family steward. The two of them had a few words, said goodbye, and parted ways.

Wei Yan come out of the Wei Manor’s gate and received the horsewhip from his subordinate, Zhang Lan, who has been with him for many years. He mounted his horse. It was already midnight when he returned to his residence.

He was busy during the day and ate nothing to fill his stomach. Wei Yan entered the bathroom and come out in loose clothes. Drinking under the window. After finishing half a jug of wine, suddenly before his eyes came Qiao girl’s appearance.

She was so bright and beautiful in the Longevity Hall during the day. It surprised him to see that she was not only beautiful, but also brilliant. When he sent Mrs. Xu back to the north house in the evening, she also accompanied Mrs. Xu. The corridor lights were dim, and she stood far away from the group of women, but he still saw her at a glance. Through the night daze, it was difficult to move his gaze away, but Qiao girl’s attitude was like a virtuous woman. From the beginning to the end, she never looked at him for more than half a glance.

Wei Yan’s body seems to be ignited by a nameless fire. Although his wine is in front of him, but his mouth is dry and hot. He turned his face to see his favorite concubine looking at him. Her eyes are so affectionate. He smiled, pushed away the wine bottle, and pulled her over to sit on his lap. Closed his eyes and lowered his head, and took a deep breath of the fragrance emanating from the neck of his favorite concubine. His mind recalled again the first time he met her in the store with her back turned to him. A jade neck exposed from behind. Her skin is smooth and tender, and he can even see the roots in her ears like a newborn child. His body is hot and dry, and he can’t stand it anymore. He ripped his concubine clothes from behind and kneaded the plumpness inside.

The concubine does not know why he is so fierce. His pinch hurt her, but she did not dare to resist, and could only pretend to moan for his pleasure.

Wei Yan looked intense. The topless concubine was already placed on the table. He raised his robe. But suddenly he stopped and raised his head.

There was a dark shadow in front of the window, with a tall figure. Wei Yan recognized the visitor’s silhouette.

His gaze became gloomy. The desire instantly faded. There was a killing intent surged out.

The concubine had closed her eyes and waited for him, but when she saw him stop, she was a bit puzzled and opened her eyes. Seeing him staring out the window, she curiously glanced and was shocked to see a dark figure standing, and screamed.

“Get out.”

Wei Yan stood up straight and said indifferently.

The concubine knew he was talking to her. She pulled back her shirt to cover her bosom. Bowed her head and trotted out of the room.

The black figure outside the window entered through the window. He dressed in Han clothing. He removed his hat to reveal a middle-aged man’s ragged face, bowed down towards Wei Yan, and said: “Thousand Cavalry Commander Huyan Lie is here to pay a visit to the young master. How are you?”

Wei Yan said coldly: “What are you doing here? This is Yuyang. Do you think there is no one in the city, and I will not kill you?”

The man said, “King Rizhu(*) misses the young master, so I was ordered to risk my life to come back to invite the young master. I was lucky to avoid the guard. If the young master wants to kill me, I will be willing to die.”

T/N: (日逐王) Rizhu Wang is the Xiongnu nobility title.

Wei Yan said word by word: “This is the death you seek.” Before the words fell, the white light flashed with a clanging sound. Wei Yan drew his sword, the tip of the sword stabbed straight into the man’s left chest.

The sword entered the flesh inch by inch, and soon, dark red blood gushed out from the lapel of the man’s chest, slowly seeping away and splashing onto the ground.

The man’s face turned white. He kneeling on one knee, his pair of eyes looking straight at Wei Yan, and his shoulders did not shake a bit.

“One more inch. You think you can still live?” Wei Yan’s gaze was stern.

“Eventually, people will die. To die under the young master’s sword, Huyan Lie has no regrets.” The man said in a deep voice.

Huyan surname is one of the Xiongnu prestige clan, known for its bravery and fierceness. Most of the clansmen occupy influential positions in the royal court.

Wei Yan narrowed his eyes and then dragged out the sword after a moment. He took a handkerchief, wiping the blood from the tip of the sword. He did not raise his head, only said: “Before I change my mind, go away immediately. From now on, don’t let me see you again.”

The man tore off a piece of his lapel, scribbled to bind the wound that was still gushing blood. He pressed it with his palm and stood up from the ground. He looked at Wei Yan and said, “Thank you, young master, for not killing me. The king knows that today is the late princess’s mother’s birthday, ordered this servant to come on behalf of the king to congratulate. If the young master will convey on behalf of the King, twenty ingots of gold, twenty bolts of red fabric, twenty bolts of green fabric and twenty sturdy horses. All have been prepared. It is outside the Dai County.”

Wei Yan laughed coldly.

“He means he wants the Wei family knows that I know my birth, and they will suspect me from now on?”

“Your Highness has no such intention.” Huyan Lie bowed towards him. “If the young master does not want to convey, the king can only stop. I have brought a handwritten letter from the king. Please read it.”

Huyan Lie took out a roll of sheepskin from his lapel. He placed it on the corner of the table and took a few steps back.

“I don’t dare to disturb the young master’s peace, so I will leave first.”

Huyan Lie kneeled towards Wei Yan again.

“The young master’s body carries the blood of our tribe. The king thinks about the young master day and night. Now King Shan Yu is old, and the Left King Xian is jealous of the king. The king desperately needs the young master to go back to help. With the young master’s talent, the young master should strike the sky. Do you want to be submissive to others in this way for the rest of your life without ambition?”

Huyan Lie got up and jumped out of the window. The figure disappeared into the deep darkness of the courtyard.

Wei Yan’s sword pointed to the ground in his hand, staring at the scroll resting on the corner of the table. He stood for a long time and lost in thought.

……

Wei Shao headed towards the west house.

From the morning until now, he has been busy. Welcomed and send the guests. It is more laborious than being on a military journey.

It was already late, and the Wei Manor, which had been bustling all day, had regained its tranquility in the night.

When Wei Shao arrived at the intersection, his eyes fell on the left side of the west house, and saw a lantern light flickering at the end. He speeding up his step. Suddenly, he saw Old Jiang from the east house, standing on the side of the road.

When Old Jiang saw him coming, she stepped forward and bowed. “Is Marquis finished? Madam ordered me to wait for you here and invite you to go over and talk.”

Wei Shao frowned and thought for a moment, but turned around and went to the east house. He entered the inner room and saw his mother, Mrs. Zhu, sitting on the couch with a few servants by her side. Zheng Shu was not there.

“Zhong Lin is here?”

Mrs. Zhu, still dressed as she had been during the day to meet the guests. Saw that Wei Shao had arrived. She revealed her joy. Hastily rising from her couch and descending to the floor to receive him.

When Wei Shao reached the inner room, he sat down and said, “Mother is not resting late at night. What did you call me for?”

Mrs. Zhu looked at her son, and her gaze showed a trace of despair. “Because I miss you. I called you here. I just want to see you and talk to you like when you was a child. But you have grown up and are distant from your mother. Zhong Lin, if there is nothing going on, can’t I summon you here?”

Wei Shao was stunned, and looked at Mrs. Zhu. Seeing that her appearance has changed little since before. But a closer look, her hair was mixed with a few white strands, and the wrinkles at the end of her eyes also came out. Somehow, she looked older than ten years ago.

He thought of his own childhood. His mother was always more partial to him than his eldest brother. His heart softened.

He looked gentle and said, “It is because I am unfilial. Mother is right to teach me a lesson. In the future, I will visit mother from time to time.”

Mrs. Zhu smiled and held up a set of folded clothes from her hand, saying: “This is the clothes I sewed for you with my own hands. It’s made according to the old clothes you left me before. You go back and try it on, and if it does not fit, tell me, I will change it for you.”

Wei Shao took it with both hands, put it aside, and then kneeled towards Mrs. Zhu to thank her. Mrs. Zhu held her son and sighed: “Why are you still so polite with me? You are my son. Didn’t you wear the clothes I made when you were a child? Do you have to kneel before me every time? When you grow up, you’re distant.”

Wei Shao smiled and said nothing.

“There are a lot of things to do today. I see you haven’t had a moment to rest. I guess you didn’t t have time to eat. You should be hungry, right? I prepared it for you, and I made it myself. It’s the sweet and glutinous soup you loved to eat when you were a child, and it’s still hot.”

Mrs. Zhu turned her head and asked the servant to bring the food. The servant brought it up. Mrs. Zhu opened the bowl with her own hands and said with a smile, “I haven’t cooked for a long time, so I don’t know if the food is still to your liking, so have a taste.”

Wei Shao took it and finished eating it with his head down.

“Is it delicious?”

Wei Shao put down his bowl, met his mother’s expectant gaze, and said, “Yes.”

Mrs. Zhu sighed with relief. “As long as it’s good. I’ll ask someone to bring you another bowl.”

Wei Shao stopped her and smiled. “I’m already full. Thank you, mother, for your care. I had some hunger in my stomach.”

Mrs. Zhu smiled and said, “If you like to eat, I will make more for you in the future. I know it’s my fault. In the past few years, I have always pushed you because of Chuyu’s affairs, and this has caused you and I to become distant.”

Wei Shao said, “Mother said that. I am very sorry.”

Mrs. Zhu was lost in thought for a moment, looked at Wei Shao, and said: “I know, I come from a lowly background. Half of my life, although I have done everything possible to flatter your grandmother, but she still does not like me. After your father left, my situation was even more difficult. I don’t complain. I just blame myself for being stupid and not doing my part. Now she wants you to marry a Yanzhou Qiao girl. The Qiao family and Wei family blood feud, which you know, so I was disgusted with her at first. That day you brought her home to visit. I gave her a scowl. But after you left, Chuyu advised me that since the old madam had made such a decision, she must have her intentions. Since you’ve married her, from now on she is a family. Chuyu advised me to treat her well, so you will not be caught in the middle. I feel it is reasonable. The wood has become an ark. It is useless for me to oppose. It’s good to get along. There will be one more companion in the future. When she came to me the next day, I wanted to treat her well, but I didn’t expect her to ……”

Mrs. Zhu paused for a moment.

“That morning, she came to me and kneeled down to pay her respects. Although there was no disrespect, but I could see that she should be angry with me for treating her badly yesterday. After she got up, she wanted to leave, and I couldn’t say anything to keep her. It coincided that I woke up a bit earlier that day, and hadn’t eaten yet. Old Jiang was busy, so I asked her to cook a bowl of soup for me. Actually, I didn’t want this. I was afraid she would think I was making things difficult for her. I was about to stop her, but she turned me down using your grandmother and said she wanted to copy the scriptures for her. She is filial to your grandmother. How dare I keep her? So, I let her go.”

Mrs. Zhu looked at her son and smiled bitterly, “Zhong Lin, I am such a useless person. Not only does your mother-in-law dislike me, even the new daughter-in-law does not regard me. Why do you think I want you to marry Chuyu? These years, you are always away from home. I have no one around, only Chuyu, can relieve my sorrow ……”

Her eyes reddened. She took out a handkerchief and wiped the corners of her eyes.

“The marquis position can have one wife and eight concubines. I didn’t want to put so many people in your house, but I just want you to take one Chuyu. Chuyu is not a beast. After entering your house, not only she can accompany me but also to spread the branches of Wei family. Why wouldn’t you do that for me?”

Wei Shao remained silent.

Mrs. Zhu’s expectant gaze fell on his face, holding her breath as she waited.

Wei Shao hesitated, raised his eyes and looked at Mrs. Zhu. “I understand what mother means. Please allow me to reconsider.”

Mrs. Zhu, who was worried that he would reject it, became delighted when she heard him agree to consider it. She didn’t dare to push him any further. She nodding her head and saying, “It’s good that you will consider it. Take your time to consider it. I won’t force you.”

Wei Shao smiled and said, “It’s getting late, so I’ll send mother to rest.”

Mrs. Zhu nodded her head. Wei Shao helped her up and brought her to the door of her room.

Wei Shao took the clothes Mrs. Zhu had made for him and withdrew.

“Aunt, has cousin agreed?”

As soon as Wei Shao left, Zheng Chuyu came out from behind the screen in the room and asked.

Mrs. Zhu smiled, stroked Zheng Chuyu’s arm and said, “I did not force him, but used my feelings to influence him, and it worked. Zhong Lin has promised to go back and think about it. Chuyu, this method of yours is excellent and clever.”

Zheng Chuyu was stunned: “Aunt, did you say everything I instructed you to say?”

“Not a single word was left behind.”

Zheng Chuyu frowned: “Aunt, you have already said that, but cousin still says he wants to consider it. I am afraid that if he is just making casual remarks and then refuses again after two days, what should I do?”

Mrs. Zhu was stunned, then said, “Don’t worry. If he refuses again, Aunt still has a method from the shaman here. When the rice is cooked, Zhong Lin cannot refuse you.”

……

Wei Shao pushed the door across the threshold. Chun Niang followed him in, asked him if he was hungry. He said a few words, then he heard footsteps. He twisted his face. The curtain moved, and Xiao Qiao stretched out. Although her clothes are still neat, but her eyes are watery with a bit of haziness. She looked like just woke up from drowsiness.

“Husband, you’re back?” Xiao Qiao stood in front of him with a smile on her face.

Wei Shao did not even raise his eyelids, turned back and handed his clothes to Chun Niang to be washed, and said, “I ate a supper in the east room, I’m not hungry. Prepare water for bathing.”

The servants hurriedly prepared. It was soon ready. When Wei Shao went into the bathroom, Chun Niang saw Xiao Qiao’s eyes looking at the clothes in her hands, pouted and said in a low voice: “Madam made it.”

The sound of water rushing in the bathroom. Xiao Qiao twisted her head to look at it.

“I don’t know what madam said ……”

Chun Niang looked a little worried.

Xiao Qiao said nothing. She changed her clothes, rubbed her eyes, and waited.

After a while, Wei Shao came out from the inside. The servants cleaned up and went out and closed the room. Like the other nights, Xiao Qiao waited for him to go to bed. She blew out the lamp, climbed up the bed and lay down.

Although there was no physical work during the day, and she was not responsible for welcoming the women guests of the Wei family, but she served beside Madam Xu, and she was tired of waiting and drowsy just now. Now she can finally sleep.

Xiao Qiao closed her eyes. When her consciousness was hazy again, she heard Wei Shao’s voice ringing in her ears: “I heard you refused to make a bowl of soup for my mother? Copying the scriptures is just an excuse, right?”

Xiao Qiao jolted awake and opened her eyes.

In the dimness, Wei Shao rolled out of bed and went over to relight the lamp.

The room was lit up. Xiao Qiao saw him get into bed, half leaned against the bed and lay down, turning his face to look at her.

Although she was almost asleep just now, but she could hear the tone of his words, with a bit of questioning.

But at this moment, his gaze seems quite calm, can not identify the joy or anger.

It’s already this late. Why isn’t he sleeping and still in such good spirits?

Xiao Qiao sat up and looked into his eyes.

“Yes. Copying the scriptures is indeed an excuse. But it is not my intention not to make the soup.” She whispered.

Wei Shao stared at her. “What do you mean?”

“The new wife serves her mother-in-law. Mother-in-law has asked for it. Even if I am lazy, it is just a bowl of soup. How can I refuse to make it? It’s just that I was a little afraid ……”

“Afraid of what?” Wei Shao frowned.

Xiao Qiao lowered her eyes. “My mother-in-law hates me so much. The first time we met, you saw it. If you hadn’t been right next to me and protected me at the end, I don’t know what I would do. That morning you left early, and I had to go there alone. When I saw mother-in-law looked stern, I was even more anxious. Old Jiang suddenly asked me to cook a soup. I’ve never been in a kitchen before because I was lazy at home, and I don’t know how to do it. There was no one there to guide me. If I really did it, the things I made ……”

She bit her lip and raised her eyes. “I was confused. Actually, if I say that I don’t know how to do it, mother-in-law may do nothing to me. But I was afraid that mother-in-law would become more disgusted with me, so …… I came up with that excuse ……”

After she finished her speech, she stopped and looked at Wei Shao pitifully.

When she narrated, Wei Shao frowned. When she finished, the frown was even more powerful, and was on the verge of killing a mosquito. He looked at her for a long time. He raised his hand, closed his eyes and pinched the brow.

“All right, got it! No more of this in the future, you hear me?” His voice was still very cold.

“I understand! I will practice my cooking skills diligently from tomorrow, and I will serve mother-in-law well in the future.” Xiao Qiao nodded her head energetically.

Wei Shao still frowned at her. After a moment, she heard his voice exhaling a long breath.

“Go to sleep.”

Two words came out of his mouth.

Xiao Qiao was relieved when she was pardoned, and hurriedly got out of bed. She slipped on her shoes and went to the candle stand. She was about to blow out the light when she heard Wei Shao’s voice behind her again: “My mother wants me to take Chuyu, you know that, right? I agreed to it.”

Xiao Qiao was stunned. She turned back to see him lying there in a loose posture, with his eyes focused on her.