Tiger Owl

Chapter 109 Xu Wei Returns
After Gan Ning allied with Jiangdong, the first major change immediately occurred: Sun Ben's army occupied the major salt fields along the coast of Guangling County, cutting off the salt supply to Yuzhang County.

Gan Ning had anticipated this. Their alliance with Jiangdong included a clause for unlimited salt supply. Yuzhang County quickly switched to purchasing salt from Kuaiji County, successfully evading Sun Ben's salt sanctions.

Lujiang County also calmed down temporarily. It was not that Sun Ben had given up and abandoned Wan County, but that he himself did not have enough troops to deal with the combined forces of Taishi Ci and Xu Sheng's 30,000 troops.

Sun Ben hoped to persuade Cao Cao to send troops to recapture Lujiang Commandery for him. To this end, Sun Ben specially sent his eldest son, Sun An, to Xuchang to deliver a letter to Cao Cao on his behalf.

That morning, Xu Wei's passenger ship finally arrived in Nanchang County. After bidding a reluctant farewell to the ship owner and his wife, Xu Wei and Qin Yan once again set foot on the land of Nanchang.

Although Xu Wei's marriage was blocked by her family, she was by no means a person who would accept her fate. For the sake of her lifelong happiness, she betrayed her family for the second time.

Xu Wei and Qin Yan arrived at the Wuchang Marquis's residence. Just as they reached the gate, they encountered Xiao Qiao carrying a cat as she came out of the residence.

"Oh~ Sister Xu! What brings you here?"

Xiao Qiao jumped up with joy. She dropped the cat, ran forward, grabbed Xu Wei's hand, and exclaimed with delight, "My sister was talking about you this morning!"

"What did you say about me?" Xu Wei asked with a smile.

"My sister said you're very likely to come!"

Xu Wei asked in surprise, "How did Sister Da Qiao guess I would come?"

"I do not know either!"

Xiao Qiao pulled Xu Wei and ran towards the mansion, "Sister, look quickly, who's here?"

Da Qiao was in the courtyard instructing the housekeeper about dinner when she turned around and saw Xu Wei. Her eyes lit up, and she went up to her and said, "What a coincidence! I was just wondering this morning if Sister Xu would come!"

Xu Wei was genuinely worried that Da Qiao wouldn't welcome her. But when she saw Da Qiao running up to her with great joy, she felt a little relieved and smiled shyly, "I'm here to visit again. Sister Qiao, you won't send me away, will you?"

Da Qiao took her hand and said sincerely, "What are you saying? I was even planning to persuade my husband to bring you here, but Jiangdong changed his mind. I'm really worried about you!"

Xu Wei sensed Da Qiao's kindness, and her nose tingled. She hugged Da Qiao and said, "Sister Qiao, thank you for your concern."

Da Qiao gently patted her back, "Let's go! Let's settle down first, we'll stay in the same place as before."

Da Qiao asked the housekeeper to settle Qin Yan, and she pulled Xu Wei to the guest courtyard.

Xu Wei saw that all the furnishings in the room were unchanged, exactly the same as when she left, even the quilts were folded by her before.

She sighed softly, "It feels like I just left yesterday, and half a year has already passed in the blink of an eye."

"I told the housekeeper to leave it as it is, and I'll get you a new one later."

"No need! No need! This is fine." Xu Wei quickly waved her hand.

Da Qiao touched the tent. "Let's change the tent! It's a bit dusty."

Xu Wei nodded gently, walked to the window and sat down, as if in a dream.

At dinner, Xu Wei finally met Gan Ning. She was really embarrassed, after all, her feelings were too obvious.

Gan Ning asked with a smile, "Does Grandmother know I'm coming this time?"

Xu Wei gently shook her head. "They don't know, but I left them a letter telling them I've gone home."

"Where is your own home?"

Xu Wei sighed, “Actually, I have no home. After my mother passed away, my father sent me to the Xu family. He himself went around taking up official posts, never staying in one place for more than a year. He was even placed under house arrest by Yuan Shu. I have never had a fixed home.”

Gan Ning nodded. "This is your home. You can settle down here and stay for the rest of your life!"

Xu Wei blushed, and after a long while, she mustered her courage and looked at Gan Ning, saying, "You'd better keep your word!"

Gan Ning smiled and said, "Would a dignified governor of three prefectures deceive a mere young woman like you?"

"Gan Lang, dinner's ready!" Xiao Qiao called from outside.

"Let's go! Let's eat first." Xu Wei nodded gently and followed Gan Ning to the dining hall.

Da Qiao was directing the housekeeper to arrange the seating. She smiled at Xu Wei and said, "Let's sit in our usual seats. Let's be casual and not stand on ceremony."

"Thank you, Sister Qiao!"

As everyone sat down, Xu Wei, being observant, noticed some changes. There were four more female guards around, and Xiao Qiao seemed more composed, not as talkative as before. The biggest change was in Sister Qiao; she was noticeably more mature, with a fuller figure and even more radiant beauty. Xu Wei suddenly realized that Sister Qiao and General Gan must have shared a room.

Gan Ning raised his glass and laughed, "Come on! Let's drink to our reunion today!"

"Cheers!" The three women raised their glasses together, their smiles radiant.

After dinner, Da Qiao instructed the housekeeper to prepare hot water for Xu Wei to bathe, and also recalled the two maids who had previously served Xu Wei to continue serving him.

She then returned to the west courtyard, where her mother and Xiao Qiao lived.

"Did Mother want to see me about something?"

Madam Yang put down her prayer beads, nodded, and asked, "I heard that Miss Xu has come again?"

"Yes, I just arrived today."

"Was she sent here by her family, or did she come alone?"

"It seems you came by yourself! Why is Mother asking this?"

Madam Yang nodded and smiled, "There are many connections involved here. If she is sent by the family, she will become the mistress of the house. But if she comes on her own, she will not be able to become the mistress of the house."

"why?"

“You are still too young and do not understand the relationship between you. You did not seize the opportunity of a good marriage alliance, but instead let your child elope to General Gan. Where will the Xu family put their face if word gets out? The Xu family will never let her marry General Gan again.”

Da Qiao felt uncomfortable. "If Mother has nothing else to say, I'll be leaving now!"

Madam Yang looked at her daughter and shook her head, saying, "This silly child, she doesn't think about herself but cares about others. She's really incredibly foolish."

As night fell, Da Qiao lay in Gan Ning's arms and murmured, "I didn't expect Sister Xu to actually come. I admire her courage so much. To follow the person she loves, she is willing to sever ties with her family. Will you marry her, my husband?"

Gan Ning put his arm around her smooth, delicate shoulder and laughed, "You seem to be really looking forward to me marrying her?"

"Of course, she is the mistress I can accept. If I find a mistress that I am familiar with, like, get along with, and who has a good temper, my life will be easier in the future. Otherwise, I will be like Bu Lianshi, who is always being glared at by the wife of the Marquis of Wu. That kind of life is difficult!"

"Not necessarily!"

Da Qiao was startled and quickly looked at her husband, saying, "Husband, aren't you considering her?"

“It’s not that we’re not considering her, but she might not be able to become our legal wife. There are too many variables involved. The attitude of the Xu family is crucial, as is the attitude of her father. Haven’t you noticed? She came to Nanchang this time to elope. If the Xu family takes a hard line and no longer approves of her, then we can’t have a proper marriage.”

Da Qiao suddenly remembered her mother's words, and her heart felt truly heavy.

"Husband, is there really no way?"

Gan Ning pondered for a moment and said, "Tomorrow I will write a letter to the Xu family to formally propose marriage and see how they react! If they agree, there is still room for reconciliation; if they refuse, then there is really no way to salvage the situation."

"Not really!"

Da Qiao shook her head stubbornly. "Xu Meimei's status does not lie in her family, but in the status her husband gives her. If her husband thinks she cannot be the principal wife, then I have nothing to say. But if it is because of her family's status, then I have to say something. Does the empire that her husband has worked hard for step by step need to be consolidated through marriage?"

Gan Ning gratefully hugged Da Qiao, "So, you can also be my legal wife!"

Da Qiao hugged her husband's neck and whispered, "I am not suitable to be a wife. If you love me, then listen to my opinion and let Xu Wei be your wife. Trust me, I will never make a mistake in choosing someone."

Gan Ning nodded. "No matter what, I still have to write a letter to her family. At least I should do my best!"

(End of this chapter)