The Wei family’s ancestral hall was a separate compound in the west of the Wei Manor. Its five vermillion gates were wide open this morning. The clan members of the Wei family had all gathered here and were waiting in the rooms on either side, men and women standing in separate rooms, all holding their voices and not making a sound.

Xiao Qiao stepped into this dark and cold courtyard for the first time.

She followed Mrs. Xu and Wei Shao under the gaze of many pairs of eyes and entered the ancestral hall. The pines and cypresses looked lush and imposing. On either side of the doorway were two huge, half-human-high, ancient-colored bronze burning stoves. Two puffs of green smoke curled up from the mouth of the stoves, and the strong smell of incense air floated.

The Wei family clan’s deacon had already led people to wait for them. They welcomed Mrs. Xu and the master and his wife into the hall respectfully. The candlelight inside makes the room bright. A horizontal plaque, ‘Ancestral Virtue Flowing,’ hung above the altar with a divine couplet on the left and right. There was a table of offerings under the altar. At the back of the table lies the tablets of the Wei family’s ancestors. The first ancestor was in the middle, followed by the younger generations.

Xiao Qiao saw two familiar names at the end of the second row: the deceased First Lord Yan and the deceased brother, Wei Bao.

These two tablets omitted all the honorific titles, as ordered by Wei Shao.

Xiao Qiao quietly glanced at Wei Shao beside her.

His expression was solemn. Nearly expressionless. Xiao Qiao’s eyes passed over the back of Mrs. Xu, who was praying to her ancestors with incense and fell on the two black and heavy wooden tablets.

After Mrs. Xu finished her offering of incense, it was time for Wei Shao and Xiao Qiao. Xiao Qiao kneeled on the mat in front of the altar, performed a salute without distracting thoughts, and respectfully offered incense to honor the deceased. She closed her eyes and sincerely prayed.

After the rituals were over, and when she finally walked out the door of the family temple, Xiao Qiao subconsciously looked back.

The first sunrise of New Year’s Day was coming out from behind the clouds, shining on the main ridge of the hall, expelling the feeling of darkness and coldness that Xiao Qiao had left in her heart.

……

On the first day of the year, after Wei Shao paid his respects to the ancestral temple, he went to the government office to be congratulated by the governors of the counties and the generals.

Xiao Qiao was as busy as him on this day.

Mrs. Zhu has not yet been released from her grounding and did not attend the morning ancestral worship.

Mrs. Xu does not see many guests nowadays. Furthermore, when she returned from the morning visit to the ancestral temple, she was not in her best spirits.

Xiao Qiao took over the duties of Mrs. Zhu as the head mother of the Wei family. From morning to evening, she entertained all the women who came to pay their respects in Yuyang City. It was not until late afternoon that Xiao Qiao was free. After taking a sip of tea, she went to the north house to serve Mrs. Xu.

Mrs. Xu asked her about her trip to Yanzhou. Xiao Qiao told her what she could say. Mrs. Xu was happy to hear that Mrs. Ding’s illness was no longer a problem. After she finished her meal, she looked at Xiao Qiao and said, “You had a hard time on the journey. You arrived late last night, and you were busy until now. Go back. When Shao’er returns, ask him not to come to me. Rest early.”

Xiao Qiao promised. After Mrs. Xu urged her again, she got up and came out. After returning to the west house, she bathed, changed her clothes, and felt relief.

Wei Shao finished the banquet and returned at the end of the eleventh period.

He should have drunk a lot of wine. His footsteps are floating and swaying.Xiao Qiao had been waiting for him in the room. When she heard the servant’s voice outside, she went out of the room to welcome him.

Wei Shao took her shoulders and entered the room. He leaned back on the bed with his eyes closed.

Xiao Qiao saw he was very drunk. His face was red, and he reeked of alcohol. She didn’t bother to complain. She helped him take off his boots and socks, wrung a hot wet towel, and wiped his face carefully. After wiping his face, hands, and feet, she covered him with the quilt. She got up and asked Chun Niang and the servants to withdraw. After that, she returned to the room, closed the door, undressed, got into the quilt, and gently lay beside him.

The faint smell of alcohol from his breath gradually flowed in the air, and Xiao Qiao slowly closed her eyes.

Later in the night, Xiao Qiao was awakened by the man beside her.

In the darkness, Wei Shao touched her body with his hot palms, then pressed against her and eagerly opened her legs without foreplay, entering her.

The two have become more familiar with each other’s bodies day by day. But every time he first entered, even if she was already moist, it took her a while to fully adapt to his invasion.

He became more attentive to her feelings, and he would always make her warm first before entering.

But now, in the darkness, he seems to have changed back to the uncaring Wei Shao from the beginning.

His breath hit her face, and Xiao Qiao could smell a whiff of wine. His hot skin ironed her skin like a furnace. As his chest pressed against her soft breasts, Xiao Qiao heard a low moan of comfort in his throat.

He entered her fiercely. His palms squeezed her waist. She felt like her waist was going to break, and she cried. When he finally finished, his panting slowly calmed down, and Xiao Qiao stopped sobbing. She felt her face and body, all glued with tears and sweat. She felt very uncomfortable, so she moved from his arms, sat up, and wanted to go down to clean up herself.

Wei Shao suddenly reached over again and pulled her back into his chest.

“From the first day you married me, you became a member of my Wei family. In the future, don’t communicate with Yanzhou again. I will protect you for the rest of your life.”

Xiao Qiao heard Wei Shao say these words in the darkness.