The Marquis Is Innocent

Wei Shao’s eyes didn’t shift from Mrs. Xu’s bed, leaned down, and asked her about her condition and medication this morning.

Old Zhong said the chest pain she had two days ago had improved, and she had taken her medicine this morning, and a doctor would come in later for a follow-up.

Wei Shao looked at his grandmother’s complexion. She looked like she was in good spirits. He turned his head to Old Zhong and said, ” Thanks for your efforts, Aunt.”

Old Zhong smiled slightly and said, “I don’t dare to take credit for it. These days when the master is away, the lady serves the old madam at her bedside morning and night. Yesterday she guarded the medicine in front of the stove. She was very attentive.”

Xiao Qiao saw him lift his eyes and look at her since he entered the room.

She met his gaze and turned to Mrs. Xu on the bed.

Mrs. Xu said: “I’ve been quite good. You do not need to worry. Since there is a lot of work in the government office, go ahead and get busy.” She looks at Xiao Qiao and smiles, “These two days, you are also tired. I see when you came in the morning, your little face pale and your eye sockets sunken. I think you did not sleep well last night. I don’t need you here for now. Go back and rest.”

Xiao Qiao did not want to leave.

Before Mrs. Xu’s illness healed, she wished she could move in with her and watch over her day and night to feel at ease. But Mrs. Xu had asked for this, and she looked fine this morning, so if she insisted on staying, others would be suspicious she was deliberately filial. After thinking about it, she said: “I’m not tired. Thank you, grandmother. I’ll go back to my room now. When the doctor arrives, I will come back.” After saying that, she and Wei Shao said goodbye. As soon as they stepped out of the room, she looked ahead without looking at Wei Shao. Without waiting for him, as she usually did, and went straight.

At first, Wei Shao stopped at the door and spoke to Chun Niang, who was waiting to talk to her. With a turn of the head, he saw Xiao Qiao did not wait for him. She lifted her dress, down the steps, and left. He stared at her back and was stunned.

Xiao Qiao quickly went from the north house and walked unhurriedly along the corridor. Chun Niang saw the master was there, so she slowly walked and fell behind.

Wei Shao walked a few steps closer and caught up with Xiao Qiao, side by side with her, looked at the side of her face, and said, “These days have been hard on you.”

Xiao Qiao said, “It’s my duty. And I didn’t do anything.”

Wei Shao saw her eyes were always looking ahead, and although she was talking to him, she did not turn her head to look at him. He felt ignored by her and inevitably felt uninterested. No more words, and speed up the pace to cross and walk in front of her. He intended to return to the government office but hesitated and turned to the west house.

Xiao Qiao entered the room and saw Wei Shao standing, expressionlessly saying, ” Help me to change my clothes.”

He was still wearing the same casual clothes as last night. It was inappropriate to appear in front of the public in the daytime.

Recently, Xiao Qiao has been doing this kind of thing for him. What he wears to the government office, even the inner garments, outer boots, and socks with the belt, Xiao Qiao had known by heart. Seeing him standing there motionless and acting like a grandfather, she was disinterested. She turned around to ask the servant to go inside but heard him say: “I don’t want anyone else. The smell of greasy hair is too heavy.”

Old Lin, including Chun Niang, and several other young maids used scented hair oil. They are not as regular as Xiao Qiao in washing their hair and bathing. The hair oil was mixed with sebum, and the aroma was nasty when you got close. Xiao Qiao used to smell it and did not feel anything. He was fussy. Xiao Qiao stared at him and went over to take out a set of his suits.

When Xiao Qiao went to him to help him change, Wei Shao kept gazing down at her and suddenly said, “I haven’t seen you smile since this morning.”

Xiao Qiao said coldly, “Grandmother is not well. How can I be in the mood to laugh?”

Wei Shao snapped.

Xiao Qiao ordered him to turn around. Wei Shao complied and turned around. When he turned back, he looked at her and said, “When did you leave last night? I didn’t see you when I woke up.”

This time he lowered his voice and spoke with some caution.

Xiao Qiao still did not raise her eyes to look at him and said indifferently: “You slept. If I do not leave, should I stay there until you wake up and continue to serve?”

Wei Shao instantly remembered the frenzy in the study room of the government office last night, swallowed his saliva, and had nothing to say.

Xiao Qiao helped him to change his clothes. She took a black leather belt with blue, yellow, brown, red, and green stones. Put a goldfish charm that represented his identity together with the sword and hung it on his waist.

“It’s done ……”

Xiao Qiao said while stroking his sword tassel at last. Wei Shao suddenly lifted one arm, lifting her face towards him, gently rubbing the skin of her cheek on one side with his thumb. Leaning down, bringing his face closer to hers, and saying in a low magnetic voice: “Last night was my fault for causing you to suffer. Your face is pale, and your eye sockets are sunken. Grandmother could see it. There are people in the north house, so you don’t have to go there again during the day. You can sleep again.”

Xiao Qiao raised her eyes and saw him looking down at her with two eyes. The dark gaze inside seemed quite concerned. She twisted her face and moved away from his hand. She smiled and said, “Thank you, husband. I know.”

Wei Shao stifled. He finally waited for an opportunity to say the words he thought were gentle, but she was indifferent without a reaction. It was like a passionate face to a cold ass. He felt bored. The moment the clothes changed, there was no reason to stay in the room. He was away for several days. Many people are waiting at the office. There was no time to delay. He straightened up, back to his usual cold face of the Marquis, turned around, and went out.

Xiao Qiao sent him a few steps. After he left the room and watched his back out of the courtyard, she returned.

……

Wei Shao took his horse to the government office.

When he was in Yuyang, he usually spent his day between Wei Manor and the government office in the morning and evening. If there were nothing unexpected, he would pass this street accurately. Usually, it would not exceed a quarter of an hour. The residents and merchants recognized the Marquis. When they saw him this morning sitting high on his horse, followed by his entourage, they stopped what they were doing and stood to salute him.

Wei Shao’s mood was low and absent-minded, without pushing the horse. He passed the way unhurriedly. The government office was right after this street. Suddenly a crisp tinkling sounded, and a gorgeous carriage came. A purple veil covered the carriage’s front, and gold bells hung on the left and right corners. On the faintly visible purple veil, sat a woman. As the carriage moved forward, the gold bells made a constant tinkling sound, attracting many stares on the road.

Wei Shao as a ruling marquis was used to walking in the center of the road in Yuyang. The carriage traveled in the middle of the road. It was going to meet in the middle of the road when it came closer.

Wei Shao’s soul, which had drifted to an unknown place, was finally called back by the sound of the golden bell. He looked at the carriage blocking his way. He felt displeased and frowned. Suddenly the carriage stopped. A hand-wearing ring with a ruby as large as a pigeon egg on the middle finger gently swept up the veil. The carriage revealed a bright young woman’s face. Her face looked like a hibiscus, her eyes watery with emotion, and her hair exquisitely set on the side.

This young woman dressed beautifully with outstanding posture. As soon as her head peeked out, many eyes on the road cast to her. Her eyes looked at Wei Shao, surprised, and actually called out, “Erlang!”

Wei Shao’s eyes fell on the young woman. His gaze paused, slightly surprised, and stopped the horse for a time.

As soon as the words came out of her mouth, the young woman seemed to realize something was wrong and changed her mouth: ” Many years have passed since I saw you. I didn’t know I would meet an old friend today. I am very lucky. I hope you won’t blame me for being rude.”

While she was speaking, a servant girl came and tied up the veil. The young woman decided to pay her respects to Wei Shao, who was on the horse, and then got up with a pair of bright eyes.

Such a beautiful young woman, but she had a sandy voice that did not match her appearance. When a man heard this, he couldn’t help but pity her in his heart, wanting to know the story behind her haggard vicissitudes.

Wei Shao looked at the beautiful young woman in front of him, who seemed to be a shadow from his youth. After a moment, he nodded and said, “When did you arrive in Yuyang? I don’t know.”

Su E Huang said, “It was a few days ago at the Lu Li Conference. I have a nephew named Su Xin who came to the conference. I came with him to support him.”

When Wei Shao heard the word Su Xin, he seemed to remember something and frowned slightly.

Su E Huang tilted her face slightly, looked at him, and said: “My nephew was so eager to win that he lost all his manners and hurt Mr. Qiao. I was sitting at the viewing platform and saw it. I was ashamed of myself and wanted to take my nephew to apologize the next day. Unfortunately, I had a headache and could only stop at the post house to recuperate. Yesterday, when I was feeling better, I learned that Mr. Qiao had returned to Yanzhou, and I felt even more guilty. I didn’t sleep last night, so I’m here today to pay my respects to Grand Aunt and to apologize to the lady.”

A young man came down from a horse behind the carriage. It was Su Xin.

Su Xin’s face was ashamed, and when he arrived at Wei Shao’s horse, he blamed himself and confessed his mistakes, looking apologetic.

Wei Shao glanced at Su Xin and said indifferently, “Apologies are unnecessary. My wife is not concerned at all.”

“Thank you for your generosity. I am very grateful.”

Su E Huang’s eyes moved slightly and fell on Wei Shao’s face: “Then I will pay my respects to my Grand Aunt.”

Wei Shao said, “My grandmother has been ill for the past two days. I’m afraid it is not convenient to see guests. Please come back on another day, Madam.”

Su E Huang showed concern: ” How did your grandmother get sick? Is it serious? In that case, I have to visit the elders. I remember when I was a child, when I was in Yuyang, my Grand Aunt took care of me. I went in and out of your house like my own house. All the old things in the past were as if they were yesterday. I remember them in my heart. I have arrived in Yuyang and know she is not feeling well. How could I not enter the house?”

Wei Shao hesitated and said: “If you want to visit, you can go for a while. Just don’t stay too long. Lest you disturb my grandmother’s rest.”

Su E Huang was relieved, replied, and thanked him profusely.

Wei Shao nodded slightly to her and passed by the carriage on his horse.

Su E Huang turned her head and watched Wei Shao’s figure through the window, then lowered her veil and gave an order.

The carriage continued with the accompanying sound of jingling golden bells.

In front of the Wei Manor, Su E Huang took out a bronze mirror under her seat and wiped away a layer of rouge from her lips with a handkerchief. She pulled out her hair. She looked at the mirror and then put it back.