The Marquis Is Innocent

Mr. Jia escorted the Lady out of Xindu to the north during the day. He did not dare to be lax during the whole journey. Although the route was under the territory of the Marquis, the lesson from the previous incident with Chen Rui was still fresh in his mind. When he thinks about it, he still has palpitations.

When they sent the Lady back to Yuyang after the wedding, it was also on this road that an accident occurred. They kidnapped the Lady, and finally, the ruler ended up attacked on Shiyi. He knew that her departure today was not at the ruler’s will. If an accident happened, he would have to be responsible. Therefore, he arranged guards near the Lady’s room and personally guarded it in the second half of the night. On the journey during the day, he secretly guessed whether the Marquis would send someone after he knew the news.

The answer came so soon. The Marquis came up personally to chase over a hundred miles from Jinyang to here on such a late night with thunder, lightning, and wind. He arrived at the deepest part of the night.

With a rain hat and a straw raincoat, he stepped out of the watery road with both feet and went straight into the hall. He left a water stain behind him.

Mr. Jia was stunned and knelt on one knee before the Marquis. He bowed his head, waiting for the Marquis to scold him, but he only asked, “Where is the Lady?” His voice was indistinguishable from happiness or anger.

Mr. Jia replied. A breeze swept across his face, and when he looked up again, the Marquis had already walked past his side.

……

Xiao Qiao slowly sat up from the pillow.

Chun Niang draped a coat over Xiao Qiao’s shoulders, looked toward the door, could not hide her uneasiness, and said in her ear: “Master is soaked and looks bad.” After saying this, she went outside to Wei Shao, who stood outside the door.

Wei Shao did not look angry, but his face was void of other expressions too. There was an aura of oppression emanating from his body.

Chun Niang suppressed the uneasiness that was welling up in her heart. She wanted to make an explanation for the Lady’s unannounced departure today that would make the Master calm down. But she couldn’t think of one.

“Lady is awake ……” Wei Shao’s figure shifted and then crossed the threshold. The door creaked shut in front of Chun Niang’s face.

……

The candlestick fire was dim. Wei Shao was wet from head to toe. He has been under the roof for some time, but at the moment, the water droplets continue to fall from his water-soaked hair along his forehead to his handsome face. His clothes are clinging to his chest, and the water drops are falling. He stood on the dry ground for only a while, but a puddle of water stained under his feet.

Xiao Qiao’s gaze from his face slowly fell to the puddle of water stains at his feet.

“Take off your clothes! You’re soaking wet!” She said.

Wei Shao remained silent. He did not move.

Xiao Qiao waited for a while and then coldly hummed: “If you catch a cold tomorrow, do not blame people!” After saying that, she twisted around and laid on her back facing him. She closed her eyes but didn’t hear any sound behind her. Finally, she could not resist, opened her eyes, and turned back slightly. She saw Wei Shao was still like a few moments ago, standing there with two hands hanging straight. His figure was cast by candlelight on the wall behind him, motionless, like a hanging shadow.

He seemed hesitant.

She suddenly got annoyed and sat up, lifted the blanket out of bed, and walked straight to him, frowning: “Since you and I can’t get together, I’ll return to Yuyang. You stay and continue to do your great work as a ruler. Isn’t it a good deal for both sides? You came up here in the middle of the night to disturb my dream. Is it because yesterday was not enough?”

Wei Shao was still standing stubbornly. Only water droplets from his forehead rolled down, dripping on his straight nose.

Perhaps it was because of the wind and rain in the middle of the night, his face was slightly pale, and his eyes were bloodshot with a trace of fatigue between the eyebrows.

Xiao Qiao raised her hand with hatred and stripped him of his clothes: “I don’t want you to get sick in my place. I don’t want grandmother to find out later and blame me!”

He obediently let her strip him naked. Xiao Qiao pulled a large towel from the suitcase and threw it at him. Wei Shao caught it and began wiping his head, face, and body.

Xiao Qiao took his wet clothes and gave them to Chun Niang at the door.

Chun Niang was attentive and already get a set of clean clothes from Mr. Jia and was waiting outside. Xiao Qiao took the clothes, returned to him, and handed them over: “Put them on.” Wei Shao took it and put it on silently.