The Marquis Is Innocent

The days are short in winter. It was already dark when the soldiers returned to camp and Wei Shao entered the city.

There are fire sticks in front of the gate of the Xindu. Wei Shao is wearing a heavy armor with a layer of ice. When he steps on the creaking snow and ascends the steps, Wei Liang, who comes to the city gate to welcome him and walking with him at the moment, suddenly remembered. He hurried to catch up with him. Attached himself to him and whispered: “Lord, Qiao’s daughter has arrived! It has been more than half a month since she lived in Yu Yang House.”

“According to Old Zhong, Miss Qiao is quiet, and she stays at home during the day. She occasionally stays on the Tantai at sunset for a moment. There is nothing unusual about her, so she does not stop her.”

After he said the first sentence, he added this sentence.

Wei Shao only faintly sounded. Without stopping his footsteps, he crossed the threshold and went to the Sheyang house where he lives.

Wei Liang watched his figure walk several steps and paused, turned his head to look toward the Yu Yang House behind him.

Wei Shao only could see the huge black shadow of the nearby Tantai rising towards the sky, as a giant beast crouching on the ground may rise at any time.

“Order the Old Zhong to prepare for the wedding tomorrow.”

He withdrew his gaze and blurted.

“Tomorrow?” Wei Liang was stunned.

“I’m afraid it’s not ready …….”

“Keep it simple.”

Wei Shao turned around and continued towards the front, without stopping.

Wei Liang watched his back, hesitated, turned back and went to find Old Zhong to discuss.

……

The two tight-lipped servants, after half a month of getting along with Chun Niang, became familiar with her and Chun Niang could get some information out of them.

According to the maids, Old Zhong is a person close to Mrs. Xu, Wei Shao’s grandmother, and has not been in Xindu long enough. The purpose of her visit is to prepare for Wei Shao and Xiao Qiao’s wedding. Wei Shao was not in the city was because there was another war in Boling, and now he had returned with victory.

This year, the world is chaotic, and the local warlords have their own power. Except for the former Governor Jizhou, Gao Tang, who jumped out and be used as a target before he had enough strength, the other marquis, such as Wei Shao, were still Han Dynasty’s officials, and had to follow the Emperor’s order. As for the rivalry between them, it is a matter of power, and the court cannot control it.

Xiao Qiao is not interested in what Wei Shao has been doing. After half a month, he finally showed up. She was worried about what would happen next.

Normally, as agreed by the two families, it was time to move to the last step: the wedding.

“Lady, please be at ease. Since the Marquis has returned, things will be easier to discuss. Tomorrow, I will go to find Old Zhong and ask her when the wedding is scheduled.”

Chun Niang saw Xiao Qiao in a dazed, thought she was anxious, so she comforted her.

“Open the door, Lady!”

A voice came through the door.

Chun Niang shook Xiao Qiao’s hand and opened the door. She was surprised to see the old woman who hadn’t shown her face for some days coming in. After she came in, she bowed to Xiao Qiao, straightened up and said, “The marquis has returned, and the wedding will be tomorrow. This servant especially came to let the Lady know.” After that, she bowed again, turned around and left.

……

Wei Shao just returned, and a notice has come down that they will hold the wedding tomorrow!

This is too fast!

While Xiao Qiao was still confused and stunned, Chun Niang and the maids became joyful and congratulate her.

Xiao Qiao understood what they were thinking.

She has arrived here, waiting for a marriage ceremony. Only with the ceremony, she became the Wei family daughter-in-law, Wei Shao’s wife. Less this step, even if she has gone through the red tape, her identity is always hanging on.

So they were relieved to hear this news.

Xiao Qiao smiled and accepted their congratulations one by one, but she felt uncomfortable in her heart.

There were no changes before the wedding. Being married meant that her fate would be tied to a man named Wei Shao.

Will he treat her the way he treated Da Qiao, as he did in the previous life?

If so, how should she handle herself?

This question has been on her mind since she left Yanzhou. But until now, there is no answer yet.

……

Chun Niang’s joy did not last long. The wedding, as she soon learned, was not thoughtful and grand as she expected a daughter of an official should deserve.

It was only one night’s work. What could be prepared?

Chun Niang held back the sourness in her heart, not daring to show it in front of Xiao Qiao for fear of making her sad. She said with a smile while serving her in the bath that they would hold the wedding in Shaoyang Hall. There would be many distinguished guests attending the ceremony. The most important thing is Marquis Wei is young and handsome, brave and determined, and there are countless girls in the city who would fall in love with him just by glancing at him from afar, but he does not have a favorite concubine around him.

“Lady, you are so beautiful. How can Marquis Wei not love you?”

Chun Niang rubbed her soft skin with the fragrant balm. Her eyes falling on her beautiful body. Chun Niang’s tone was full of praise and encouragement.

Under the service of Chun Niang and the maids, Xiao Qiao once again repeats the procedures from the beginning she had done before leaving home.

Take a bath, get dressed, comb her hair, and dress up. She stood in front of the mirror. She looked at the woman in the mirror and felt strange.

……

The sun was setting in the west, and the Tantai in the Xin Palace was lit up. And under the night curtain, from afar, it looked like a pagoda with brilliant lights, appearing even more majestic.

The people in the city looked up and spread the news of the Marquis’ big wedding, which was tonight.

In the corridor of Shaoyang Hall, red lanterns were raised one by one. The hall was lit up as brightly as daylight. In the middle, on the large black and gold-painted table, there were neatly arranged millet, grain, meat dishes, minced meat, and fermented rice for the wedding. The guests who came to watch the ceremony were sitting on the couch behind several tables in order.

They whispered to people beside them while waiting for the auspicious time to come.

Most of these people were ministers who had followed Wei Shao here, as well as local officials from Xindu. They had only just learned of the wedding during the day. Although some of them knew that Wei Shao was going to marry the Qiao’s daughter of Yanzhou, but it was still surprising the wedding came so quickly. After all, Wei Shao had just returned from the war in Boling last night.

Most of the people here have heard about the past relationship between the two families in Yanzhou.

As a result, the marriage between Wei Shao and Qiao 10 years later attracted a lot of attention and curiosity, and they were waiting for her to show up a few moments later.

When the auspicious time came, Xiao Qiao entered the ceremony hall.

When she appeared in front of the guests with her hands flat on her belly and her wide sleeves stretched, the auditorium, which was still ringing with a slight buzz, suddenly fell silent. Many pairs of eyes fell on her in unison, with scrutiny, amazement, and unknown ill intentions.

Xiao Qiao did not feel nervous. With her eyes lowered, her gaze fell on the ground in front of her feet. With the sound of the ritual officer’s praise in her ears, she was guided by two attendants under the gaze of those around her, and walked forward. She came to the front of the table in the hall and stopped when she was a few feet away.

Across from her stood a man.

She felt the gaze from the other side – different from those on the side that she could ignore. This person’s gaze looked at her, without hiding, with a kind of oppressive force that she could not describe.

The skin beneath her heavy clothing seems to sense this oppression. The pores around her body stretched.

She lifted her eyes and met the man’s gaze.

……

Compared to his status and prestige, Wei Shao is still quite young; but compared to herself, he is a grown man, with broad shoulders and straight back. As they stand opposite each other like this, she becomes petite. She has to tilt her head to meet his direct gaze.

As Chun Niang described, he was a very handsome man, dressed in the luxurious imperial robe. He was wearing a black coat and crimson clothes, calm and majestic. At the sound of the saluting officials, he looked straight at Xiao Qiao, who was just an arm’s length away from him. His eyes unblinking. His gaze was dark as the deepest part of the black night.

Xiao Qiao’s eyelashes trembled, and once again lowered her eyes.

After the official finished singing the praises, someone brought a red scarf. They placed one end in Xiao Qiao’s hand and the other in Wei Shao’s hand. They both held the red scarf and walked to the table. The red scarf was taken away. They sat opposite each other on both sides of the table. Under the guidance of the official, they performed the rituals.

After the long series of first rites, there was the last rite of hair tying, which signified their marriage.

The attendant cut a strand of hair from each of them and knotted them together.

The surrounding people are smiling and congratulating.

On the other side of the table, the man was straight. His body did not move, but Xiao Qiao saw the corners of his lips hooked slightly.

If she is not mistaken, this is a hint of impatience with a bit of a casual smile.