Chapter 140: The Third Escape
In the afternoon, Sun Shangxiang came to visit Xu Wei.
There was still accumulated snow in the back garden, and the two good friends slowly strolled along the garden’s stone path.
“How can you… You’re the Xu Family legitimate daughter, and he can’t guarantee you’ll be the main wife, so why marry him?”
Xu Wei shook her head, “I’m not marrying a status, I’m marrying the man himself. I also think Older Sister Da Qiao is more suitable to be the main wife. She’s tolerant, kind, and considerate of others. Although her personality is a bit soft, General Gan is already strong enough. If the family had another strong main wife, it definitely wouldn’t work, and everyone would have a hard time.”
“But you’re the Xu Family legitimate daughter! That Da Qiao, she’s just the daughter of a great general under Yuan Shu. Can her family’s status compare to yours?”
Xu Wei still shook her head, “In fact, I’m not a legitimate daughter. My mother was a continuation wife, not the main wife. But even if I were the Xu Family legitimate daughter, compared to the entire world, what is the Xu Family? I heard a saying that Cao Cao wants to marry his daughter to General Gan. Can I compete with Cao Cao’s daughter for the main wife position?”
Sun Shangxiang understood in her heart and angrily said, “So that’s how it is. He wants to reserve the main wife position for Cao Cao’s daughter.”
“That’s not it!”
Xu Wei shook her head, “I understand General Gan. He wouldn’t care about Cao Cao’s daughter at all. He actually wants Older Sister Da Qiao to be the main wife, and I know it in my heart!”
“Hmph! Luckily I didn’t agree to marry him. If he wanted Sun Shangxiang to be a secondary wife, he’d might as well kill me!”
Xu Wei walked slowly with her head down and said softly, “Shang Xiang, there are some things you don’t understand. Status isn’t important. Marrying a gentleman you like is the most important thing. Being able to see your favorite gentleman every day, and giving birth to a child for your favorite gentleman—how happy that is. For a woman to taste this kind of happiness, she’d be content for life.”
Sun Shangxiang also pouted and said, “Maybe you’re right! Anyway, I’ll also seek a husband I like. If I can’t find one, I’d rather not marry.”
At this moment, Xu Wei suddenly felt how fortunate she was. She could seek her own happiness, but Sun Shangxiang could not—her fate was never in her own hands.
…………
Xu Qiu paced back and forth in the main hall with his hands behind his back, extremely irritated in his heart.
After a good while, he said to his son Xu Peng, “I absolutely cannot let my daughter marry Gan Ning as a concubine!”
“Father, it’s not a concubine, it’s a secondary wife!”
“Secondary wife won’t do either!” Xu Qiu raised his voice, “The legitimate daughter of the esteemed Xu Family, my Xu Qiu’s only daughter—she wouldn’t even be the main wife. If word gets out, won’t people laugh?”
“Father, didn’t you agree to it this morning?”
“That was my momentary confusion. Now I’m clear-headed. No, this absolutely won’t do.”
Xu Peng was truly helpless and said, “Then what should we do? You know Yun Qing’s temper—she’s more stubborn than anyone. Once she sets her mind on something, ten oxen couldn’t pull her back.”
Xu Qiu thought for a moment and said, “In a couple of days, I’ll go to Xuchang. I can’t take the water route, so I’ll take the land route. I’ll first take her to Xuchang, then slowly arrange a marriage for her there later.”
Xu Peng hesitated, “But Yun Qing is leaving tomorrow.”
“I know. We have to keep her here.”
Xu Qiu pondered and said, “How many trusted subordinates do you have?”
“Over a dozen!”
“I have over twenty subordinates. Assign them, gather them together to surveil Wei’er’s mansion. If it really comes to it, detain her by force and don’t let her leave.”
Xu Peng was utterly helpless and could only agree and go.
At dusk, Xu Wei was sitting alone in her room eating when Qin Yan hurriedly came and said, “Miss, we’ve been put under surveillance.”
Xu Wei’s face turned cold, “The Xu Family again?”
“It doesn’t seem like it. I saw someone deploying, and it looked a bit like your elder brother.”
Xu Wei was suddenly stunned, “Are you sure?”
“It should be. Several people are your father’s subordinates. I’ve seen them.”
Xu Wei felt a wave of sadness in her heart. Father had gone back on his word after all. He had said it was fine that morning, but when it came to the moment, he reneged. She had guessed right—Father wouldn’t agree to her marrying General Gan. He must want to take her to Xuchang.
“Miss, what should we do?”
Xu Wei sighed and said, “I didn’t want to run away for the third time, but they’re forcing me!”
Xu Wei steeled her resolve. No one could stop her—not even her father.
She immediately said to Qin Yan, “My figure is similar to Dong Gu’s. I’ll swap clothes with her. You escort her out for a walk to draw away the surveillance. I’ll disguise myself as a little maidservant and leave through the small door. Then, we’ll meet at the Jingkou dock.”
Qin Yan was about to cry, “Miss, I won’t feel at ease if you go alone.”
Xu Wei said irritably, “Who said I’m going alone? Older Sister Sang Zhi is with me!”
Qin Yan suddenly remembered—Sang Zhi was with them too! She immediately went from tears to laughter.
“That’s right, I forgot about her. Then I’m relieved. Miss, you arrange it. I’ll follow your lead.”
Xu Wei immediately swapped clothes with her personal maidservant Dong Gu, and even changed hairstyles. Dong Gu took Xu Wei’s carriage and went out. Qin Yan and the guards closely followed. Xu Qiu’s subordinates surveilling outside all knew Qin Yan—her figure was too distinctive. Everyone thought the young lady had gone out and hurriedly followed to surveil.
Shortly after, Sang Zhi disguised herself as an old lady, while Xu Wei disguised herself as a little village girl, carrying a basket on her arm. They exited through the kitchen’s small vegetable door. There were a few people surveilling here too, but no one paid them any mind. Plus, with night falling and faces unclear, Xu Wei and Sang Zhi successfully slipped away.
Taking advantage of the city gate not yet closed, they went straight out of the city and rented a passenger ship at the dock, setting off overnight for Jingkou.
Xu Wei’s carriage circled around and returned to the mansion. The main gate was tightly shut, with dozens of surveilling warriors outside.
The next morning, Xu Wei’s carriage went out, followed by a large group of servant women.
Xu Peng hurried over upon hearing the news. He blocked the carriage and called out loudly, “Yun Qing, I want to talk with you again!”
The carriage stopped, and Qin Yan jumped down from it, laughing, “Second Young Master, the young lady has already returned to Yuzhang Commandery.”
“Nonsense!”
Qin Yan beckoned, took Maidservant Dong Gu’s hand, and got off the carriage.
“Second Young Master, is this the young lady?”
Xu Peng looked closely and was immediately shocked. He rushed to the front of the carriage, peered inside, and found nothing. He even lay on the ground to look underneath, but still nothing.
“Where’s my younger sister? Where did she go?” Xu Peng asked sternly.
Qin Yan sighed and said, “I just told you. She left yesterday. She didn’t want to run away for the third time, but you all forced her, and she had no choice.”
Xu Peng was dumbfounded for a moment.
In Jingkou, Xu Wei reunited with Qin Yan and the attendants, then set off by ship again for Yuzhang Commandery. It was the same large ship from the journey there, the same attendants, and five warships escorting.
