Chapter 136: Parting Again With Xu Wei
The next morning, Gan Ning received Xu Peng in the official residence. Xu Peng was about twenty years old, he was Xu Qiu’s second son, and Xu Wei’s elder brother from the same father but different mother, but he had the best relationship with Xu Wei and was the closest to her.
“Is the Second Young Master still serving as an official by the Marquis of Wu’s side?”
Xu Peng nodded, and Gan Ning smiled and asked again: “What exactly do you do?”
“I serve as Grain Officer, supervising Jiangdong’s granaries.”
“I see!”
Gan Ning smiled and asked: “Are you here this time to take Xu Wei back?”
Xu Peng gave a wry smile and said: “We brothers sat down with Father to discuss Yun Qing’s matter. Father hopes to bring her back to Kuaiji, but I know my younger sister’s personality; she definitely won’t agree. Then we discussed two plans. The first plan is, if she’s willing to go with me, of course that’s best, but if she really refuses to go with me, then I must talk with you.”
Gan Ning nodded. “What do you want to talk about with me?”
“Of course, it’s about my younger sister!”
Xu Peng spoke slowly: “I’ve talked with her twice, and she clearly stated she won’t go back with me. There was no arguing, but her attitude was very firm. We can’t even quarrel. I hope you can persuade her to return to Father’s side.”
“Even you, her elder brother, couldn’t persuade her; I might not be able to convince her either!”
Xu Peng shook his head. “You’re different. If you persuade her, she’ll definitely listen.”
At this point, Xu Peng sighed and said: “Actually, you know as well that Yun Qing fleeing from the Xu Family to your place is essentially eloping. The matter has already spread in Jiangdong aristocracy circles. Father couldn’t stand the criticism behind it, so he called us two brothers to discuss. Yun Qing also told me she’s been living in the guest courtyard of your residence. I respect you as a man of boldness for not taking advantage of her vulnerability to bring her into the inner residence.
Our family no longer cares if she’s your concubine or main wife; we really don’t care anymore. But we only hope Yun Qing can marry openly and properly, so she doesn’t become a laughingstock in Jiangdong. Do you understand what I mean?”
Gan Ning nodded. “I’ll try! But I can’t guarantee it.”
“No! You must guarantee it. Her reputation is already ruined. Letting her marry openly and properly would also give our family an explanation.”
“Alright! I promise you; I’ll definitely persuade her to go back with you.”
At noon, Gan Ning returned to the manor and went straight to the guest room. He walked into the courtyard and saw Xu Wei squatting on the ground, transplanting the flowers she had planted into pots. She was preparing to move to Chaisang soon.
Gan Ning silently watched her slightly frail figure. He truly didn’t know how to tell her. She was full of anticipation for moving, yet he had to persuade her to leave.
Xu Wei suddenly sensed something. She turned her head and saw Gan Ning, joyfully standing up. “General, when did you arrive?”
“Just now. What are you doing?”
“Transplanting flowers! Of course I can’t abandon the crabapple I planted; I have to take it to Chaisang.”
Gan Ning took her small hand covered in soil and smiled: “You can have the maidservants transplant them into pots for you; no need to dig them up yourself!”
“Qin Yan wanted to dig them for me too, but I didn’t agree. I’m afraid they’ll damage them. I’d better do it myself!”
“You’re right; doing it yourself is most reassuring.”
Gan Ning smiled, paused for a moment, and then said: “This morning, I met your elder brother?”
Xu Wei was startled and took a step back. “Why did you meet him? Did he come looking for you?”
“Not exactly. Da Qiao told me last night that your elder brother had arrived. Since your elder brother came, I had to meet him! I sent someone to fetch him.”
“What did he say to you?” Xu Wei asked nervously.
“What he said to me, you know—it’s those things he said to you.”
Xu Wei didn’t care about being shy anymore and hugged Gan Ning, pleading: “I don’t want to go back. Please, don’t make me leave.”
Gan Ning sighed and said: “Yun Qing, I have to tell you the truth. When I marry someone as main wife, it’s not about her status or family background. I rose step by step through my own struggles; I don’t care about those things at all. I choose someone as main wife for the sake of my son. I don’t want my eldest son to be illegitimate. Do you understand what I mean?”
“I understand, but I also want to tell you that I didn’t come to you to become some general’s wife. I came because I like you. I don’t care about titles at all. If Older Sister Da Qiao becomes the main wife, I’d be even happier. She’s my older sister, and I don’t want her to call me Older Sister in the future.”
Gan Ning was moved in his heart and held her in his arms, saying: “I promise to marry you, but you must first return to your father’s side and marry out openly and properly. I’ll establish you as Madam Xu. If you bear a son first, then you’ll be the main wife.”
“No!”
Xu Wei anxiously burst into tears. “I don’t care about being main wife or marrying openly and properly. I just don’t want to leave you. I know the distance is so far; in another two years, you’ll forget me.”
“How could that be? It won’t even take two years. You go back to Kuaiji first. Next spring, I’ll send Qiao An to propose marriage on my behalf. Though I can’t share a room with you yet, at least I’ll give you a title, just like Xiao Qiao.”
Xu Wei shook her head repeatedly. “It’s not like that. Father won’t agree to you. He insists you marry me as main wife before accepting the proposal. He won’t agree to me marrying you as a concubine, so I’m not leaving. Just like with my most beloved flower that I must transplant myself, I must take my fate into my own hands.”
“Your father will agree. Don’t worry. If he doesn’t, I’ll send troops to snatch you back. You’re my woman. If I can’t marry you, I’ll still snatch you back.”
Gan Ning patted his chest and guaranteed solemnly.
“Really?”
“I guarantee it, but you must go back with your elder brother. I don’t want to become estranged from my father-in-law forever, nor do I want your father to never forgive you.”
Xu Wei hugged Gan Ning, tearfully looking up and saying: “I want you to kiss me and keep me in your heart forever.”
Gan Ning slowly lowered his head and kissed her deeply.
Two days later, Xu Wei finally boarded the ship and departed. Gan Ning brought the Qiao sisters to see Xu Wei onto the three thousand stone large passenger ship, with several mengchong warships escorting her behind.
Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao bid farewell to Xu Wei in the cabin. On the dock, Gan Ning said to Xu Peng: “I keep my word. I persuaded Xu Wei for you. I hope you’re not deceiving me and secretly forcing her back to the Xu Family behind my back. If so, your Xu Family will become my Gan Ning’s greatest enemy.”
“I guarantee I won’t deceive the General. Father has nearly fallen out with the family over Yun Qing’s matter. I guarantee I’m taking her to see Father and won’t force her back to the family. If Father can persuade her to return to the family for a proper talk, that’s another matter. Everything will follow her own wishes.”
Gan Ning nodded. “Next spring, I’ll send someone to Kuaiji to propose marriage. I’ll establish Xu Wei as Madam, but I can’t guarantee her as main wife. I can only guarantee her as second wife, not concubine. As for whether she can become main wife, it depends on whether she bears my eldest son. I must ensure the eldest son is legitimate.”
Xu Peng nodded. “I think second wife is acceptable too. I’ll persuade Father not to do anything foolish again and force Yun Qing away once more.”
Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao came down from the large ship. Xu Peng cupped his fists in salute, boarded the ship, and the ship slowly set off. Xu Wei hurriedly ran to the ship’s rail, waving and shouting loudly: “General, don’t forget what you promised me—next spring!”
“Don’t worry! I won’t forget.”
Gan Ning smiled and waved goodbye to her. Everyone parted reluctantly, and the large ship gradually sailed away under the escort of five mengchong warships.
