The Marquis Is Innocent

The next day Wei Shao became a limp shrimp.

In the morning, Gongsun Yang, Li Chong, Zhang Jian, and Wei Liang came one after another. At first, Xiao Qiao was embarrassed and suspicious they had heard last night’s noise. However, they looked the same as usual. Gongsun Yang was smiling with his friendly and respectful attitude. Li Chong, Zhang Jian, and Wei Liang adhere to the same pattern as Wei Shao, the ‘Marquis,’ who have a solemn expression and call her ‘Lady’ without glancing at her. After exchanging pleasantries, they looked no different from usual.

Xiao Qiao gradually calmed down. When they were there, Wei Shao sat straight in high spirits, talking and laughing. Once they left, he hung limply on Xiao Qiao’s body as he had exhausted.

Xiao Qiao panicked and hurriedly helped him to lie down. Once he lay down, Wei Shao wrapped his arms around her and wouldn’t let go. Xiao Qiao fought to remove his hand and lectured him with a stern face, saying, “You are not well yet! You should recuperate. I came here to take care of you to get better sooner. If you do that again, I’ll leave!”

Last night, Wei Shao was fierce, but today he became a limp shrimp. It was partially to tease her, but now he indeed felt weak.

Wei Shao also wanted to be healed as soon as possible. He did not understand why one should not indulge in sex during illness. Before Gongsun Yang left that night, he reminded him subtly.

He could not control himself when he saw her arrive. Now being lectured by her with a stern face, he did not get annoyed but felt comfortable instead. Afraid she would be annoyed, he stopped teasing her and nodded in agreement. He finally became more honest. When Xiao Qiao saw his eyes were dark because last night, she sympathized and served him more attentively.

For the next few days, Wei Shao leisurely read military books or lay in bed. He watched her adding incense, handing him water, and feeding him medicine. Suddenly he felt if he had her with him all the time, not doing anything, it would be excellent.

Wei Shao was young and vigorous. After taking medicine regularly and being restrained from having sex, combined with a happy mood and recuperating for a few days, his body slowly recovered.

It was a military camp, and Wei Shao almost healed. Xiao Qiao was not convenient to stay. Coincidentally, the scout reported that Feng Zhao’s troops seemed to move forward to the West River. The atmosphere in the barracks immediately became tense. On this day, Wei Shao personally escorted Xiao Qiao and sent her 100 miles away from the barracks. After Xiao Qiao repeatedly asked him to stop, Wei Shao stopped his horse at the side of the road to watch her carriage fade away, then turned around and sped back.

Xiao Qiao was escorted back to Jinyang by Mr. Jia. Jinyang City was still peaceful. People filled the streets without being half aware of the war clouds ahead in Xihe County.

However, Mr. Jia did not dare to be slack. Wei Shao ordered him to protect the safety of the Lady. He placed 500 soldiers around the government office and patrolled the area in shifts, guarding strictly, day and night.

Because of the rough journey, Xiao Qiao rested early that night. The next day she slept until she woke up naturally. Soon after she got up, the steward came to report that a man claimed to be the clan member of the Qiang boy whom Xiao Qiao bought at the market came to see her, wanting to take him back.

Xiao Qiao was a little surprised. After thinking about it, she asked the steward to let him in and waited in the outer hall. Then she ordered someone to call the Qiang boy named Yuan.

Yuan arrived quickly in front of Xiao Qiao. He had recovered. These days, the steward saw the Lady seemed to be taking good care of the boy, so he didn’t arrange for him to do anything.

Yuan respectfully bowed to Xiao Qiao. Xiao Qiao smiled and said, “The steward said that a member of your clan has come outside and wants to take you away. I will lead you there to see if you recognize him.”

Yuan showed a faint look of excitement and hurriedly followed Xiao Qiao to the outer hall. When he saw the young man waiting, his eyes showed surprise, and his footsteps paused for a moment.

……

Diao Mo waited a long time before hearing the sound of footsteps coming. A middle-aged servant woman came in and stood at the side. Then, a young woman appeared, followed by the boy, Yuan.

The woman was very young, only fifteen or sixteen years old. She dressed up as a married woman, in a gorgeous purple dress, very beautiful. Her bright eyes cast at him made Diao Mo fall into contemplation and be stunned.

That day at the market, the woman who bought the Qiang slaves did not show her face, but Diao Mo knew that this beautiful young woman was the woman that day. She was Wei Shao’s wife.

He hurriedly collected his mind and turned his gaze to the boy who had come with the young woman. The boy stood and cast a surprised glance at him. He smiled and nodded, then turned to the young woman and said respectfully, “Please accept my greeting, Madam. My name is Bolian, and I am his clan’s uncle. A few years ago, I moved from Huanzhong to Jinyang to become a merchant. I was at the market that day and vaguely recognized him as my nephew. But I was afraid to recognize him after several years of separation. When I finally recognized him, Madam had bought him. Originally, it was his good fortune to have such a kind benefactor as Madam. But I thought about it again, thinking that my nephew’s family only has his grandfather, and they depend on each other. If he becomes a slave, how can his grandfather live at home? That’s why I couldn’t let him go, so I asked around and came here. I am willing to buy him for ten times the price the Lady bought him that day. I’m asking for your kindness to allow me to send him to reunite with his grandfather.”

After saying that, he took out a money bag and brought it up respectfully.