The Marquis Is Innocent

Zhu Quan used to be a Wei family servant. Since Wei Yan was a child, he began to serve his life and living. After Wei Yan married at 17 and moved out of the Wei family, he followed him out. Wei Yan lost his wife after a year and did not remarry.

In this military and border affairs, Wei Yan managed the army well. The border was clean, and there was no fault. But after being single, he began to live a wanton private life, quite loose in the matter of men and women. The women around him change like a walking light. He stayed in Yuyang not many days in a year, like a rootless floating weed. Mrs. Xu was concerned and sometimes would call Zhu Quan and ask about Wei Yan. After Zhu Quan returned, he occasionally advised Wei Yan to renew his marriage and settle down.

Wei Yan was not irritated and only laughed it off.

This time Wei Yan went to Dai County in a hurry. Before leaving, he dismissed the concubines. Zhu Quan recalled during this period, Wei Yan seemed to be depressed, and his heart was restless.

An old acquaintance called Zhu Quan to have a drink. He could not refuse, followed to a restaurant a few streets away, sat down, and drank a few cups. He noticed people running in the road outside the restaurant, shouting ‘fire.’ He went out to check and saw in the direction they came from a fire rushing in the sky. His heart couldn’t rest and hurried back. He ran to the street and saw that his house was on fire, and the fire was raging.

Zhu Quan was shocked and panicked. He hastily called people to put out the fire. But the summer in the north was dry, though now gradually entering autumn, the weather was still hot, coupled with days without rain. The fire has burned up. How can it be suppressed? He could only watch the fire gradually engulf the whole house. Fortunately, when Wei Yan chooses a house, he does not like to be adjacent to the neighbor. No people lived near, and the fire did not spread. The house was unrecognizable when the fire was extinguished. The roof collapsed, and there was only an empty shell. The interior of the artifacts and household items were all burned to the ground.

Zhu Quan remembered before he left the house, the house did not leave a fire. Not sure how the fire started. The only possibility was the residual sparks in the stove, which spread out and ignited the fire.

Zhu Quan regretted and blamed himself for going out to drink and doing things wrong. While he cleaned up the fire, he sent someone to report to Mrs. Xu.

……

When Wei Shao went out early in the morning, he was reluctant to part with Xiao Qiao and made an appointment to come back for dinner in the evening.

In the evening, Xiao Qiao bathed and changed into a new dress of cherry color with a mild fragrance and slightly applied fragrant rouge in the mirror.

The person in the mirror had two beautiful eyebrows, and her face was as beautiful as a hibiscus. She was happy to see it.

Xiao Qiao began to wait for Wei Shao to return. She waited until it was dark, but Wei Shao did not return.

Xiao Qiao gradually became a little uneasy. She was about to send someone to the government office when one of Wei Shao’s soldiers sent a message the marquis had something to do and would not be back for dinner. The lady should not wait any longer.

Wei Shao was usually busy with his business, so it was not uncommon for him to have an urgent problem. Xiao Qiao did not doubt it and went to eat first.

Wei Shao was sensitive to cats. Although the cat had not been sent away, Xiao Qiao had bathed and did not dare to play with it again. Lest she accidentally gets cat hair or cat saliva which causes Wei Shao discomfort.

The room was quiet. A slight crackle sounded from the bursting of the lamp occasionally.

Xiao Qiao concentrated. Her right hand holding a pen. The pen tip hook picks and presses on the delicate white silk surface, gradually filled with lines of elegant words. She wrote ‘ For example, if the ocean was measured by one person, it could still be exhausted after many calamities. If a person seeks the Tao with sincerity and diligence, he would be a key, so why not.’ When she saw this line of words, she slowly stopped and finally put the pen on the shelf and gradually out of her mind.

Wei Shao was undoubtedly fond of her. Recently even made her feel the degree of infatuation. As for whether he likes her face or her person, Xiao Qiao does not know. Because when they were together, the most things Wei Shao did to her were ‘male and female things.’

Other than that, Xiao Qiao couldn’t think of any others conversations between the two.

Sometimes when they are on passion, she wants to ask but does not dare. Even less courage to probe: when the day comes, will he let the Qiao family go?

Xiao Qiao knew this idea was both childish and ridiculous. Hoping the man put down the hatred in his heart because of a woman. How great was the woman to be able to dissolve the unbreakable hatred in the man’s heart?

It was only Buddha who had the power to bring all beings together.

“The mind always abides in the way of the world. In all ten thousand things, do as you please.”

She remembered when she copied it a few days ago, there was another sentence like this in the scripture.

She was just a simple human being, who did not know the meaning of the heart dwelling in the way of the world, but always reminded herself the heart always dwells in the ways of the world. Being able to measure herself and think about a lifetime commitment to this man, perhaps it was not too late.

……

Wei Shao was late in returning.

The night was late. Xiao Qiao left the light on in the room and went to bed first.

She was upset about Wei Shao. Sleeping and waking up, waking up and sleeping. She hazily dreamed of Da Qiao and Bi Zhi.

The dream was fragmented. When she woke up and opened her eyes, she saw a pair of eyes shining faintly.

Wei Shao returned to the room without making any noise. He did not go to bed but stood in front of the bed, staring at her.

Xiao Qiao was startled, gently patted her chest, exhaled a breath, crawled from the pillow, and sat up. She looked at him and complained with a delicate voice: “Are you trying to scare me to death? Why did you come back without a sound?”

Wei Shao retracted his gaze from her, turned around, began to undress, and said: “I saw you asleep, so I didn’t wake you up. You can go to sleep.”

He took off his clothes and went to the bathing room. He came out a few moments later. Xiao Qiao asked him if he was hungry, and he said no. Then he blew out the light and went to bed and lay down.

When he turned around just now, Xiao Qiao noticed his expression was different. It looked different from the morning before he left home.

When he looked like this, Xiao Qiao felt he was strange. After lying side by side with him for a few moments, he didn’t embrace her, only lying on his back as if he had fallen asleep, which was unusual. She finally couldn’t help but ask: “What happened at the government office today? You don’t come back at dinner.”

“Small matter. But it’s complicated, so it took some time.” Wei Shao answered.

Xiao Qiao heard that he sounded tired and had something on his mind. She hesitated and leaned over to him, asking softly: “What’s wrong with you? I feel like you are not happy. It’s not like this when you go out in the morning.”

“Nothing.” Wei Shao said, “I have a lot of things to do today, and I’m a little tired now. It’s late. You should go to bed early.”

Xiao Qiao heard he did not seem willing to talk to her, so she was silent.

That night Xiao Qiao has a few additional thoughts and sleeps shallowly. Wei Shao remained motionless. Not like before, touch and hug her in his sleep. Not sure if he was too deep in sleep. The two of them got up early the next day. Xiao Qiao felt less energetic. She looked at Wei Shao, who seems not good. They packed up and went out to Mrs. Xu’s place. As they walked down the steps, the cat ran happily down the corridor to Xiao Qiao’s feet, got under her skirt, and rubbed around, meowing and pouting softly.

Wei Shao stopped in his tracks.

Xiao Qiao saw him staring at the cat as if he remembered something and showed some stiffness in his expression. She suspected he felt disgusted with the cat.

But this disgust was the same as the silence after he returned to his room last night. She could not figure it out.

She hadn’t seen him like this two days before.

Xiao Qiao hurriedly picked up the cat and handed it to a maid who caught up with her, urging her to keep an eye on it.

Wei Shao already lifted his feet and went forward. Xiao Qiao followed him. They went to the north house together.

Today was the 15th day. Mrs. Zhu also came. She arrived earlier than Wei Shao and Xiao Qiao. She was about to leave after greeting Mrs. Xu but stopped when she saw her son coming.

After entering the north house, Wei Shao changed his silence from last night and looked normal. He smiled as he dealt with Mrs. Xu. He and Xiao Qiao bowed to Mrs. Xu. After a few words of casual conversation, Mrs. Xu said, “You don’t know yet, but last night your cousin’s house somehow caught fire, and Zhu Quan said it burned to the ground. Fortunately, no one was hurt, and it did not affect the neighborhood. He is back in the next two days. Let him live at home. I was not happy to see him move out, and after this incident, it’s the right time to ask him to come back.”

Xiao Qiao felt surprised and looked at Wei Shao. He was expressionless and slightly averted his eyes.

But Mrs. Zhu, hearing that Wei Yan was coming back to the house, there a look of disgust on her face. Although trying to conceal it, she still can not hide it.

Mrs. Xu coldly swept her a glance. She was a bit embarrassed and lowered her head.

This scene fell into Xiao Qiao’s eyes. Xiao Qiao’s heart was a bit moved.

After spending so much time with Mrs. Zhu and having dealt with her many times, she had gotten to know Mrs. Zhu’s temperament a bit.

One’s vision and mentality have a lot to do with the origin and the education one received in childhood. But this was not a certainty. If you have an open mind, the narrow vision caused by the lack of education will slowly open up with experiences that accumulate to a certain point and change your bones.

Unfortunately, this was not the case with Mrs. Zhu. Even now, she does not seem to have found her identity as the marquis’ wife.

Xiao Qiao was certainly not qualified to pity her. To this mother-in-law, there is no deep hatred.

She just doesn’t like her.

“In a couple of days, there will be Lu Li Conference. I heard your brother will participate in the riding and shooting?”

Mrs. Xu turned to Xiao Qiao and asked her, looking excited.

Xiao Qiao replied: “I didn’t want him to be in the spotlight. But it’s rare to meet such an event, and it’s inevitable for young people to aspire to it. So I didn’t stop him.”

Mrs. Xu laughed and said, “Why should you stop? Young people should have a competitive spirit. The only way to win is to be victorious. I used to go to the conference in person every year. This year, you should also show up since you are new to the family. Come with me then.”

Xiao Qiao bowed under Mrs. Zhu’s gaze and thanked her.

“By the way, does your brother-in-law have a satisfactory mount?” Before saying goodbye, Mrs. Xu remembered and asked Wei Shao, “If not, you can choose a good horse for him and practice it while there are still two days left.”

“Grandmother, cousin has already given him a Qingmang horse.”

Wei Shao answered. The tone of voice was light.

Mrs. Xu was relieved, nodded, and smiled: “I knew he was attentive. When your brother-in-law first arrived, you were away for two days, and he was taking care of everything for you. When everything is over this time, you have to thank your eldest brother.”

Wei Shao smiled faintly.

Qingmang Horse