Wei Shao’s eyebrows twitched as he quickly stepped inside, and Mrs. Xu beckoned for him to come when she saw him.

He leaned over and sat down: “Aunt Zhong said that Grandmother is going to Wuzhong City?”

Mrs. Xu nodded: “I called you to talk to you about this. You know that I like the comfortable weather there. It’s warm in winter and cool in summer, and I usually spend half of the year there. The Lantern Festival is over, and you will go to Jinyang, so I want to spend time in Wuzhong City.”

Wei Shao said, “When will Grandmother leave? I’ll send Grandmother there first. After you have settled down, then I’ll go to Jinyang.”

Mrs. Xu said, “I don’t need you to send me there. I’ll take your mother with me on this trip. Since the matter in Jinyang is urgent, you can go there as soon as possible. I’ll get someone to escort me.”

Wei Shao was startled and hesitated, asking, “Grandmother only take my mother?”

Mrs. Xu nodded and sighed: “After that incident last time, although I grounded your mother, I have not felt better in my heart. She was your mother, and I know you also want her to be fine. So, I thought I would take her with me on this trip to Wuzhong City. Perhaps a change of place will give people a change of heart.”

Wei Shao then bowed to Mrs. Xu and thanked her solemnly.

Mrs. Xu smiled and said, “There was nothing to thank. I remember that in earlier years, your mother used to be a little less difficult than she is today. Although it was her fault, as a mother-in-law, I had failed to guide her and should take the blame. I’ll take her over there this time to try to get along with her.”

Wei Shao thanked Mrs. Xu again. Mrs. Xu smiled and said, “I called you here to tell you this. You must be tired after a busy day, so go and rest early.”

Wei Shao answered, got up from the chair, and started to go, but after a few steps, he stopped and said, “Grandmother is not bringing her along?”

Mrs. Xu said, “Who? Is it your wife?”Seeing Wei Shao looking at her, Mrs. Xu shook her head: “She won’t go.”

“Our family is small,” Mrs. Xu explained, “Once you and I left, there was no need for her to stay. I wanted to take her with me and leave the household chores to the new steward. But as you know, in February, the villagers will offer sacrifices to the Taishe Temple and pray for the harvest. We have to hold the ceremony. It was your mother who held the ceremony in the previous years. Your mother went away with me this time, so naturally, your wife has to do it. It is only one of the reasons. Second, I had a bit of selfishness and worry about you. I want her to stay at home to wait for you. You will have someone to welcome you when you arrive home.”

Wei Shao said, “No need. Grandmother, you can bring her with you to Wuzhong City.”

Mrs. Xu said: “I was also afraid that she was alone at home and lonely. When I called her, I asked her about it, but she said it was fine. So, I didn’t press her. Eventually, she would have to take on the responsibility of being the mother of our Wei family, so it would be good for her to have more experience while she was young.”

Wei Shao opened his mouth but finally closed it. Finally, he said, “I understand. I will leave first. Grandmother should rest early.”

……

Wei Shao returned to the West House. Xiao Qiao was in the room with Chun Niang packing his clothes for the trip.

Wei Shao stood by the side, looked coldly for a few moments, and went to the study. When he returned later, Chun Niang had disappeared.

Several large and small boxes of his clothes lay on the floor, just like in the north house.

Xiao Qiao was sitting at the edge of the bed, folding some of his clothes. When he came in, she didn’t get up to welcome him but said, “I had asked people about the climate in Jinyang. It’s dry and cold in winter and hot in summer. Because you said you were going for more than half a year, I helped you pack more for this trip. Other than robes and coats to wear this winter, there are ten sets of middle clothes and ten sets of underwear for change. The undergarments are all made of fine cotton. Also, I prepared plain cotton clothes for the summer ……”

Wei Shao swept his eyes around the boxes on the floor and impatiently said, “You can deal with these as you see fit. Why are you telling me about this?”

Xiao Qiao did not make a sound, lowered her head to spread the last few pieces of clothing on the bed and folded them into the box, pressed them, covered them with a lid, turned back, and said, “It’s late, let’s go to bed then.”

They went to bed separately and not as sweet as before, with each other having their own thoughts.Xiao Qiao closed her eyes and suddenly heard Wei Shao say in her ear, “You should talk to Grandmother tomorrow and ask her to take you to Wuzhong City with her!”

Xiao Qiao was stunned, opened her eyes, and turned her face to look at him.

“Tell her that you will be lonely if you stay at home alone. Afraid!” He said again.

Xiao Qiao said faintly, “I’m not afraid. Why would I be afraid? Grandmother took Mother-in-law to Wuzhong City, and it’s my duty to stay home and guard.”

Wei Shao’s brows furrowed, staring at her.

Xiao Qiao then turned her face back and closed her eyes.

……

Two days later, after Mrs. Xu finished packing, she asked a maid to carry her increasingly fat cat, then took Mrs. Zhu with her.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law left the city in a carriage for Wuzhong City.

Wei Shao personally escorted her, despite Mrs. Xu’s refusal. They traveled during the day and stayed at the post house in the evening. The journey was leisurely and unhurried. It took three days to travel to Wuzhong City from Yuyang, traveling hundreds of miles.

The Wuzhong city’s Magistrate welcomed them outside the city gates. After Wei Shao entered the city’s gate and settled everything, he left a team of family guards but did not stay that night. He rushed back overnight and returned to Yuyang at noon the next day.

Xiao Qiao thought he would leave after he sent Mrs. Xu, but he returned from this trip and never mentioned going to Jinyang again. She observed and saw that he was busy day and night. Of course, Xiao Qiao will not take the initiative to ask him when he leaves. She only asked the servants to gather up the several boxes of his clothes have been temporarily stored away. When one day he wants to go to Jinyang, they will only need to carry it out.

In a flash, the end of the first month passed, and today was the beginning of February, the day of the Taishe Festival.

In Taishe Festival, the villagers used leeks and eggs as offerings to the God of Earth, begging for a year of fruitful produce and bountiful harvests. After the ritual, villagers gather together to dance, and some young men and women take the opportunity to give each other orchids to convey their feelings. It was the most auspicious festival of the year, other than the New Year’s Festival.

Xiao Qiao got up early and changed into her ritual clothes. Then, she was escorted out of the city in a horse-drawn carriage to the Taishe Temple.

Wei Shao waited for Xiao Qiao to leave and went to the government office. As soon as he entered, Gongsun Yang asked him, “Lord, when will you leave for Jinyang?”