The Marquis Is Innocent

Xiao Qiao smiled: “Father, you should not ask where the hero came from, but you must be aware of the source of wealth. Chen Shou was a fieldman, but he became a nobleman, and the Marquis of Changping was born as a slave and granted ten thousand households. Although he is from a lowly background, how do you know he won’t have some great deeds in the future? Besides, you said my brother would be in danger if he hadn’t come to the rescue that day.”

Qiao Ping was silent and said, “What my daughter said is true! I saw Bi Zhi’s power that day, which is rare in this world. He lived on my horse farm like a dragon trapped in shallow water. He will soar to the sky if he gets the wind and waves!”

Xiao Qiao said. “I dare not hide from Father, but I came south this time because I wanted to meet with them. I received a letter during the day, and he is now waiting for me in Su City to pick me up and meet with my sister. I would go north immediately once I met my sister.”

Qiao Ping let out a sound: “So, that’s how it is!”

After a moment of silence, he said, “Since your cousin is willing to follow him, the matter will be over. I was grateful he saved your brother’s life on the battlefield and regretted I couldn’t find that person. Now that he is in Yanzhou, I will go there with you tomorrow and thank him in person.”

Bi Zhi saved Qiao Ci. But he took Da Qiao and left Yanzhou as the Qiao family’s horse slave, which was a capital offense according to the current law. If Uncle Qiao Yue had known about it, he probably would have grunted, thinking that it was only natural for a slave to save his master.

But her father was as open-minded as she had hoped. Not only did he not mention the old incident, he even said he would personally thank him. Xiao Qiao’s heart felt more respect and love for her father. She smiled and shook her head: “I told Father about this just to let you have a number in mind. Bi Zhi saved my brother, not to win Father’s gratitude. I have not told him you will be going with me, so if you show up suddenly, I’m afraid it will be inconvenient. When I meet him, I will pass on your gratitude. If there is a suitable opportunity in the future, it is not too late for Father to meet with him again.”

When Qiao Ping heard that, he thought it was reasonable. After thinking about it, he said, ” Fine. If you see him, tell him the Qiao family has released him from slavery. From now on, he will be no different from a commoner. I hope he will treat your sister well and make great achievements in the future to live up to your sister’s affection for him.”

Xiao Qiao was happy and thanked her father repeatedly.

……

On the day the temple of the Great Witch of Mount Yu was burned down, the Great Witch was beheaded at the entrance of the downtown street. Yu Yang Magistrate issued a document and posted it at the city’s entrance, saying witchcraft was an evil path designed to confuse people’s minds. It was harmful and let people not indulge in it.

The incident was so sudden the whole city was talking about it. A few days later, this sensation of the city’s big event slowly calmed down.

It was already dark when Wei Shao returned from the government office.

He entered the gate, went straight to the north house, and walked to that three-way intersection, but his feet habitually paused to look in the direction of the west house. He continued to walk forward again.

Mrs. Xu was sitting on a couch, looking at a small copper stove with two ears for heating, and seemed to be thinking about something. She heard a servant outside the door call out ‘Master’ and saw Wei Shao come, wrapped in cold air.

When Wei Shao came close, he greeted her. She asked if Wei Shao had eaten dinner. When she heard him say he hadn’t eaten, she felt distressed and asked Old Zhong to send in the food.

Under the scrutiny of Mrs. Xu, Wei Shao silently finished his dinner in a couple of minutes. After they removed the food tray, Wei Shao said, “How is Grandmother’s health these days? Since I came back, I have been busy with my affairs, and I have not been able to pay my respects to Grandmother. Please don’t blame me.”

Mrs. Xu said, ” Grandmother is very well. You don’t need to worry.”

After saying that, she looked at her grandson carefully. He seemed to have a faint trace of weariness between his eyebrows.

After thinking about it, she sighed: “Shao’er, I did not let you know about the troubles at home to not add to your worries. The rear of the house was the business of us, mothers, and if there was any disturbance, it was my failure to notice it. If you want to blame, blame me. Since your mother is in confinement, I must give you an explanation. Your mother has gone too far this time. If you let her go on like before, we don’t know what kind of trouble she will cause in the future. Grandmother knows you are a filial son. You won’t blame grandmother in your heart, right?”

Wei Shao said: “Why did you say that, grandmother? My mother was so confused that she committed such a crime, and her confinement was a great deal of leniency on her part. Even if I am stupid, I am not so confused I can’t tell right from wrong.”

Mrs. Xu nodded: “It’s good that you think so. This time, the matter of the rear house stops here. You don’t need to worry about it anymore. Grandmother knows what to do.”

Wei Shao said: “Although the incident occurred in the rear house, I feel the danger still lingers. If she had not ……”

He paused and jumped over, “If it is not for Grandmother’s fortune, I can’t imagine ……”

Mrs. Xu looked at him and smiled, “Yes, if not for your wife’s vigilance and releasing the cat, I’m afraid you would not have seen me this trip back ……”

Wei Shao leaned over, raised his arms, holding one of Mrs. Xu’s hands tightly with his own, and refused to let go for a long time.

Mrs. Xu looked at him with a smile, her other hand over the back of his thick hand, soothingly patting it, saying, ” Grandmother is fine. It’s over ……”

Wei Shao released Mrs. Xu’s hand, sat up straight again, and said. “Grandmother, I heard from Yuyang Magistrate that Old Jiang got the poison from the dead country marquis’ wife. How did Old Jiang get the medicine from that woman? Where did that woman originate? Did my mother instruct her? It’s not that I defend my mother. There are many doubts in the process. I will feel uneasy if we don’t investigate this matter properly.”

Mrs. Xu looked at Wei Shao for a moment and said: ” I am old, but I am not confused. This time the ghosts have walked in front of the gate. I also had the same thoughts. Leave this matter to Grandmother! As always, you do your job well outside. These back house demons and ghosts, Grandmother deal with them myself. You don’t need to be distracted anymore.”

Wei Shao hesitated.

Wei Shao thought for a moment and said, “Since Grandmother has said so, I will listen. Please let me know if there’s any progress, and I can rest assured.”

Mrs. Xu smiled, nodded, looked at him, and said, “Do you miss your wife? It’s my fault. She said she was going back to visit her sick Aunt, so I let her go in a moment of weakness. But I did not ask about her return date. You’ve come home, but you’re all alone. Grandmother felt distressed.”

Wei Shao froze, a trace of wretchedness swept across his eyes, and said with a straight face, “Not at all! Grandmother misunderstood! She can go back. I don’t mind if she stays at Qiao’s house for a year and a half if it pleases her. I’m a big man. Why would I care about that?”

Mrs. Xu raised her eyebrows as if relieved: “That’s good. I was worried you missed your wife. That’s good.”

Wei Shao smiled and accompanied Mrs. Xu for a few more words, instructing her servants to serve her with care and respectfully excused himself.

……

Wei Shao returned to the west house alone, a little sullen. When he entered the inner courtyard, he raised his eyes and saw the candlelight in the room. There seemed to be a slender figure shaking in front of the window. His heart jumped, immediately speeding up his steps, and push open the door. A maid replacing the candle in front of the desk jumped, turned around to see Wei Shao, bowed, and called him marquis.

Wei Shao looked upset, listened to the maid’s explanation, and impatiently brushed his hand. The maid did not dare to stay and retreated.

Wei Shao went to the study and returned late at night. Lay down, but he couldn’t sleep. Xiao Qiao appeared before his eyes, and he touched the empty side of the bed. His heart and head gradually seemed to have a fire. Suddenly, he thought, “I was away on a war trip, and my fate was unknown. That night she wanted me to stay, but she did not stay in the home to await my return. She left me and went back to Yanzhou without leaving a single word! They say women are jealous, and she left me like that. If I slept with someone else, wouldn’t she be bothered?”