Bend Over [ 折腰 ] - Chapter 19

[Chapter 19 Returning to the North]

Although Wei Shao had been plotting against Shiyi for a long time, this attack happened suddenly, there was no comprehensive preparation in advance, and the number of people was not dominant. This fierce battle at the city head was won only by the combat effectiveness that the soldiers and soldiers had acquired through years of experience in large and small battles, plus the strength of their own leaders in the army. I had some doubts about the details of Xiao Qiao’s robbery that day, but I was so busy that I couldn’t be free all day long, so I suppressed it and didn’t pay much attention.

It happened today. A group of prisoners were escorted from Shiyi, and one of them was a close associate of Chen Rui who escaped from Chen Pang’s knife that day. Chen Rui kidnapped Wei Shao’s wife from Langya Liu Yan in the middle of the process. Wei Shao got the report, and after a little inquiries, he immediately knew that Xiao Qiao and Langya’s son Liu Yan had a marriage contract in the past.

The marriage with the Qiao family was just smooth sailing. , Qiao’s daughter is beautiful or ugly, and he doesn’t care about how the German worker is, as long as it is the daughter of the Qiao family who comes here, so he doesn’t know that Xiao Qiao and Liu Yan had such a secret relationship in the past. When I suddenly found out, I was already unhappy, and I didn’t expect that there would be this episode in which Lang Ya and Liu Yan robbed people first, and then fell into the hands of Chen Rui.

The newlywed wife was so blatantly hijacked into Shiyi, even if he Wei Shao didn’t care about his wife’s life or death, as long as he still had a breath, he could not remain indifferent, and he was forced to rush to attack without being fully prepared. Although he finally regained the people and occupied the city, he lost more than he originally expected, and it was not light. When he thought that Xiao Qiao was still disconnected from Liu Yan, the Qiao family humiliated him so much. Usually his eyes are higher than the top, how can he bear this breath, he was furious on the spot, left other things, and went straight to attack.

Qiao Nu defended herself, which was also what he expected, but what he didn’t expect was that he actually listened to her self-defense, and as she spoke, the anger that burst out of her heart unknowingly slowed down. It slowly faded away, and his eyes fell on her without realizing it.

Xiao Qiao just got out of the bath in a hurry, wearing only a white coat, and her long hair will not be able to be taken care of in the future. The shoulders and a piece of clothes on her chest were tightly clinging to her body, and if the shoulders were shaved and a slightly undulating curve outline was slightly looming.

Wei Shao’s eyes were fixed, and suddenly the scene that he had glimpsed when he leaned down and questioned her in the bathroom a moment ago appeared in front of him. Although she immediately shrank to the water, he had already caught a glimpse. Seeing that she looked private at the moment, and her mood was very different from the way she was in front of people, a faint strange feeling suddenly emerged in her heart, and she immediately drove out the scene imprinted in her mind, raised her eyes, and saw her cheek touching again. Tears, pear blossoms are raining, and I can hear it more or less. She seemed to be angry in her last sentence. She thought that she had not restrained herself for a while. When she broke in just now, she should have really scared her, and she couldn’t help but feel a little regret. With a frown, he said, “Where did you get so much nonsense? Did I say you should go back!”

Xiao Qiao turned her face sideways, raised her hand and quickly wiped away the tears on her face, without saying a word.

The room fell silent.

Wei Shao saw that she no longer turned her face towards him, her eyes were only fixed on the candlestick on the slanting table, as if it was a flower, she suddenly felt a little boring, hesitated for a while, said “You wipe your hair, go to bed earlier.” Turned around and walked quickly.

As soon as he left, Xiao Qiao’s tensed shoulders slowly loosened, he let out a long sigh of relief, and leaned against the table beside him a little weakly.

…

The turmoil of this night has passed, and everything is the same as before. Only two days later, Zhong Ni sent Xiao Qiao some gold and silk. In addition, there were also two plates of Qiang Tao and Anshi, which were rarely seen on weekdays, and crystal pomegranates that were only available for tribute from the country. Zhong Ni said that it was sent by Junhou’s order.

Little Joe was a little surprised. Guessing that Wei Shao wanted to make up for the evening, he smiled and said, please tell Junhou, she is very grateful.

Chunniang hurriedly asked the maid to take the gift and thanked her again and again.

“Madam, the old lady is old and needs a maid by her side. The maid will go back tomorrow and will not be able to serve the maid. The maid will stay here for a while in peace, and will return to the north with the prince. Greetings to the old lady.”

Before she left, she suddenly said this. The attitude of speaking is also similar to before, still the same indifferent. But it was the longest sentence Xiao Qiao had heard to herself in these days. And I noticed that in Zhong Li’s words, there was no mention of another woman in the Wei family in Yuyang, Wei Shao’s mother, Mrs. Zhu of the Zhu family.

She said a few words of greetings on the road.

Zhong Li bowed slightly to her and turned to leave.

…

Chunniang is not new to the world, but she showed a slight joy at the pile of things that Wei Shao sent. I said that I would use this brocade to make new clothes for her in two days.

“I already have enough clothes, so I don’t have time to wear them, so I don’t have to do it any more.”

Xiao Qiao said casually, grabbed two Qiang peaches in his palm, and rolled around for a while.

“Alright, then wait for a while.” Chunniang ordered the maid to put away the gold and silk, “The maid will help you peel the peach and pomegranate. Wei Hou has a heart. It was rare in Dongjun to see such a pleasant person in winter. The peach peach…”

“I don’t like to eat these!”

Xiao Qiao threw the Qiang peach in his hand back to the plate.

A Qiang peach jumped out of the plate and swirled on the table.

“It’s time for you to share.”

She clapped her palms and said to Chunniang and the maid who were looking at her in surprise.

…

Although they lived in the same place, Wei Shao never came to Sheyang Residence after that night. Sometimes Xiao Qiao is walking in the courtyard and meets him by chance. Seeing that he is always in a hurry, his attitude is naturally cold. If she really couldn’t escape and greeted him, he would just say “uh” at will, without much to say.

Wei Shao did not restrict Xiao Qiao from going out. But Joey never went out once. Her life is still very monotonous, and the only fun is to climb up the sandalwood platform to look down at the city in the sunset or the distance outside the city walls at dusk every day.

Sometimes, when Xiao Qiao stood on the top of the sandalwood platform, he would occasionally see a group of people who were suspected of Wei Shao entering and leaving the city.

He seemed really busy, as busy as a dog. Little Joe thought to himself.

Days passed through my fingers like this, and the weather gradually became warmer. Although he couldn’t take off his heavy winter clothes sooner or later, the wind was blowing, and it was no longer as threatening as a knife cut. The glaciers began to thaw, and some light greens began to appear in Sheyang’s once-grey and dull courtyard.

The day Xiao Qiao discovered that the branches of the begonia plant in front of the window began to sprout new shoots, Wei Shao sent someone to hand her a message, telling her to pack up, saying that she was going to leave for the north in two days.

Madam Xu’s 60th birthday is approaching.

He needs to go back and celebrate his grandmother’s birthday.

…

Three days later, the carriage that Xiao Qiao was riding in swayed over the bluestone pavement, and all outgoing letters took the road north toward Yuyang.

The journey was smooth and there were no accidents.

Half a month later, the group arrived in Yuyang County.

There is a mountain in the northwest of Yuyang City, called Yushan, and the city is in the south of the mountain, hence the name Yuyang. In ancient times, it was also known as No End Town. Because it is a hundred miles from the northeast, there is an ancient city called No End. Although the city is small, it is surrounded by mountains on three sides. In winter, it is not as dry and cold as other places. It is like living in the south of the Yangtze River. The Wei family built a garden in Wuji City. Mrs. Xu lived there last winter and has not returned to Yuyang yet.

Yuyang has been a place for military garrison since ancient times. Hundreds of years ago, Yan built the Great Wall to defend against the Huns, and the city wall passed from the side of Yuyang.

The Wei family started from the time of Wei Shao’s grandfather. In order to strengthen the northern defense and deter the Xiongnu, they moved the prefectural government from Fanyang to Yuyang, which is further north. After several generations, the city defense has been continuously strengthened. In Wei Shao’s generation, the powerful Iraqi power is just right. King Xie Mo Shanyu also did not dare to clash directly with Wei Shao’s army. In the past, the Baitan and Shanggu areas, which were repeatedly poisoned by the Xiongnu cavalry, have not had major wars for many years now.

On the day Xiao Qiao arrived, the spring sun was shining brightly. When the carriage approached the city gate, she curiously looked out of the car window. Seeing the distance ahead, under the clear blue sky, the city wall is towering and destroying the clouds, like two majestic huge black dragons, crouching along the east and west, and there is no end in sight. As we got closer, we could see that the entire city wall was made of huge blocks of blue-black stones that were nearly three feet high. It was as solid as the Great Wall. The tower above the city gate is not her usual archway style, but a huge square tower like a bunker. Along the city wall, there are such towers every few dozen feet, only slightly smaller than the one on the city gate. Flags were fluttering in the four corners of the tower, and there were soldiers in armour looking out.

The news of Junhou returning to the city was just brought to the city via the sentry post. The city gate immediately opened wide, and a large group of sergeants in armor poured out of the city and lined up on both sides of the road. Li Dian and Zhang Jian, the lieutenants who remained in the Yuyang garrison, rushed out of the city on horseback to greet them. Wei Shao had a brief exchange with his generals, and then led the crowd into the city. Along the way, the sergeants marched in the military salute and shouted “Jun Hou return”, the sound was like a deep thunder, shocking the ears. After entering the city, the people heard the news and rushed out of the house to welcome them.

Wei Shao’s specific date for returning to the city had not been communicated to his home in advance, so his mother, Mrs. Zhu, did not know that she was not at home today. The steward said that Mrs. Zhu took Zheng Shu to the Wuzhu Temple on Yushan two days ago, and she is still in the temple now. He has sent someone to inform him, and he will be back soon.

Mrs. Zhu believed in witches, and in recent years she was addicted to it. She often interacted with the witches in the temple. She used to invite her to her home and worship her like a god. I was met twice by Wei Shao. Seeing that his son was not happy, he came to the house less and went to the Witch’s Temple by himself. Although Wei Shao was disgusted, but seeing his mother’s repeated persuasion and disobedience, and he was busy with military affairs, he was young at home all the year round, and was beyond the reach of the whip, so he had no choice but to turn a blind eye and let her go. As soon as she entered the house, she frowned when she heard that her mother had gone to the Witch Temple again, and then ordered the steward to send the queen to the back house for resettlement.

[End of This Chapter]