The Marquis Is Innocent

It was hectic. Due to the rush to go back to visit the patient, there was less attention to detail preparation. At the beginning of November, Xiao Qiao bid farewell to Mrs. Xu, leaving Yuyang with Chun Niang, and went on the South Road.

 Wei Liang was with Wei Shao in the war. Mrs. Xu chose General Jia Ying to escort Xiao Qiao with thirty-two men. The thirty-two men were from the Wei family’s Huben soldiers. After leaving the city, they rushed during the day and stayed at the post house at night. They took the same road  Xiao Qiao took a year ago when she married.

At that time, she remembered the future was uncertain and was worried. But a year passed, and although it was still unknown what the future would be, her state of mind was very different from a year ago. After passing Fangyang, Renqiu, and Hezhang, seven or eight days later, they entered Jizhou. Then after traveling for almost half a month, they arrived at Guangping.

Guangping County magistrate had already received the report from Mrs. Xu, picked up and guarding Xiao Qiao and her group to the south, approaching the Yellow River crossing.

At this point, the travel had been half a month, and it was no longer Wei Shao’s territory. When they were closer to the Central China area of the Yellow River, people’s livelihoods increasingly withered because of years of military turmoil. Abandoned fields on both sides and exposed white bones in the wild. It was hard to meet the rooster and village houses. Even if there are still people, the remaining are only the old and the sick.

More desolate than Xiao Qiao saw last year.

 From the peaceful and prosperous Youzhou to saw such a desolate city. In this chaotic world, these scenes are not strange, but she inevitably feels something. Further down the road and close to the Jibei, each warlord holds forces. Even if there was war, but not last for years and months. She saw the village houses and towns along the way.

A month later, at the beginning of December, Xiao Qiao’s group finally entered Yanzhou.

In the evening of the next day, before reaching East County, while walking on the road, she saw a group of people with Qiao family banners coming from far.

 Qiao Ci had come to greet his sister.

Jia Ying had sent a fast horse a few days ago to send a message to Yanzhou’s capital, East County. Qiao Ping received the letter and was overjoyed to learn that his daughter had returned, so he sent Qiao Ci to meet her on the road.

 The siblings finally met up.

 It had been a long and dusty journey for a month. Xiao Qiao was worried about her Aunt Ding’s condition and guessed how her father would react after receiving her letter.

 But from the moment she arrived in Yanzhou yesterday, all her fatigue was gone.

Although Qiao Ci had just returned from Yuyang three or two months ago, his sister’s sudden return made him happy. In fact, in his heart, he would like to have his sister not to return to Yuyang in the future. Sister and brother exchanged a few words. Xiao Qiao then asked Mrs. Ding.

 Xiao Qiao had asked Qiao Ci to tell Mrs. Ding that Da Qiao was well and that she hoped her mother would be relieved and not worry about her. She found out she was not getting better, but not worsening. She was just sickly all day, so she was relieved.

Since it was getting late and they were in a hurry to reach the city, they went on their way. Qiao Ci asked the coachman to go down and personally drove the carriage for Xiao Qiao.

 The journey went smoothly, and late at night, the group entered the city gates of East County and returned home.

 The servant handed in the news of the arrival of the son and daughter.

Qiao Ping, who had been waiting for them, ran to the gate to welcome them.

He saw his daughter’s eyes seemed to have tears in them and heard his daughter call him ‘father’ in a familiar voice.

Sadness and joy mixed in his heart at that moment. But in front of the underlings, he tried not to show it and took his daughter in as if she was a treasure.

It was late at night, the eldest uncle Qiao Yue’s side had rested, and it was not good to disturb the aunt’s rest at this hour. Qiao Ping asked his daughter to go over to pay her respects tomorrow morning. Although he had a lot of things to say, his heart ached for his daughter on this bumpy road, so he let her rest. He sent her to the door of her boudoir.

Xiao Qiao opened the door and looked around the familiar room she had lived. The furnishings inside had not changed at all. Even the faded and old beautiful kite drawn by her hand was still hanging on the wall. She moved and looked back at her father, thanking him.

His daughter returned home from a long journey. Qiao Ping was in a happy mood and laughed loudly: “Silly girl, what is there to thank? Although you married out, didn’t Father leave a room for you here?”

Although his posture was elegant and dashing, living up to his reputation as the “East County Gentleman” when he was young, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes became clear.

He was barely forty years old, the most attractive age for a man, and had a lot of ambition, but he had to work hard to support her uncle.

In Yanzhou, Xiao Qiao’s uncle Qiao Yue inherited the position of the family head. The power was in his hands, and his subordinates were responsible for guiding the government. The implementation of requirements for food, people’s livelihood, the whole army, and many other complicated practical matters were almost all implemented by Qiao Ping. If it is good, it will become their merit. If not, it is a dereliction of duty.

 Xiao Qiao was distressed and couldn’t help but say, “Father should pay attention to your health and not work too hard. You seem to have aged more than last year.”

Qiao Ping looked at his daughter. He saw she had grown up to be more outstanding than before. Her appearance was beautiful. Listening to his son’s words, although his son-in-law, Wei Shao, was cold and how he treated his daughter was unknown, the old madam of the Wei family was tolerant. His daughter seemed to care for her, so his heart was relaxed. Seeing her daughter looking at him with concern, he smiled and said: “I know. But daughter, you are alone over there. Take care of yourself.”

T/N : Advanced Chapters available on my kofi page ^^