Chapter 215: Temple Fair Uproar
The female butler hurried to the courtyard in front of Xiao Qiao’s place and happened to run into Xiao Qiao. She smiled and handed her a letter, “Third Madam, your letter!”
“My letter?” Xiao Qiao felt a burst of delight; unexpectedly, someone had written to her.
She quickly took the letter; it was from her cousin Yang Ping’er. She hurriedly asked, “When was it delivered?”
“This morning, delivered by a maidservant.”
Xiao Qiao quickly opened the letter and read it carefully. It turned out Yang Ping’er was inviting her to the New Year Temple Fair. Qiao Xingxing would go too. The New Year Temple Fair was from the first to the third day of the first lunar month. She had gone to it before in Nanchang County and remembered it being extremely lively. Yang Ping’er wrote that this year’s Chaisang Temple Fair was exceptionally grand.
Xiao Qiao felt a bit tempted, but
In the past, she would have agreed without hesitation, but now she was much more mature than before and had to consider it from all angles.
Xiao Qiao went to find Xu Wei. Xu Wei was in the room studying her physiognomy.
“Yun Qing, Ping’er invited me to the New Year Temple Fair. Let’s go together!”
Xu Wei shook her head. “I’ve never been interested in that kind of crowding. Crowds make me dizzy.”
“Alright then!”
Xiao Qiao had no choice but to turn and leave. Xu Wei called her back. “A Yu, you’d better tell your husband about the New Year Temple Fair, or ask Older Sister. There might be things to do during New Year.”
“You’re right. I’ll go ask if Older Sister has any plans.”
Xiao Qiao excitedly went to Older Sister’s room. In the room, Da Qiao was coaxing the child to sleep. Today, she had given the wet nurse half a day off.
As soon as Xiao Qiao entered, Da Qiao shushed her. “Keep your voice down; he just fell asleep!”
She carefully placed the child back in the cradle before asking, “What is it?”
“Older Sister, I have something to discuss with you.”
“Let’s talk in the outer room!”
Da Qiao had her personal maidservant watch the child and took Xiao Qiao to the outer room.
“What is it? Tell me!”
“Older Sister, Yang Ping’er wrote me a letter inviting me to the New Year Temple Fair on the first day of the first lunar month. What do you think?”
Da Qiao glanced at her. “You want to go?”
Xiao Qiao sensed her older sister’s tone was a bit cold and quickly explained, “Am I not asking for Older Sister’s opinion? If Older Sister doesn’t agree, I won’t go.”
“You won’t go because I oppose it, but you still really want to go, don’t you?”
Xiao Qiao lowered her head. “It’s been four years since I last went to a temple fair.”
Da Qiao looked at her younger sister for a moment and said coldly, “If you really want to go, I’ll give you freedom. I’ll have your husband write you a divorce certificate, and you’ll have no constraints. You can go anywhere you want!”
Xiao Qiao’s face turned pale, terror in her eyes. “Older Sister, what… what divorce certificate?”
“A divorce certificate is a document to divorce a wife, giving you freedom with no constraints. From then on, you’ll be Qiao Yu, with no relation to the Gan family.”
Xiao Qiao was so scared she was about to cry. She hurriedly grabbed her older sister’s hand. “Older Sister, don’t scare me. I won’t go, okay?”
“I’m not your Older Sister now; I’m General Gan’s main wife. I have the right and responsibility to maintain order in this family. I’m not saying going to the temple fair means you’re unvirtuous as a wife. I just think you’re not mature enough, don’t understand things yet, and can’t bear the responsibility of being a wife. I think you’re not ready for marriage.”
Xiao Qiao was so frightened she started crying and sobbed, “Older Sister, I was wrong. Please don’t do this. I really know I was wrong.”
Da Qiao was actually just trying to scare her. Seeing her younger sister cry from fright, she softened too. She pulled her younger sister to sit down and said, “In the past, when you went to temple fairs, I didn’t stop you because you were young and liked to play. I understood. But New Year’s Eve was your wedding night, and you’re still thinking of going to the temple fair on the first day of the first lunar month. Of course I’m angry.”
“I’m not saying you can’t go to the temple fair. You can, but your husband should accompany you. Once you’re married, your husband should always come first in your heart. If he doesn’t have time, he’ll arrange various safety measures so he can feel at ease, rather than you sneaking out to play behind his back. Do you understand?”
Xiao Qiao nodded repeatedly. Da Qiao continued, “We can’t anticipate many risks, but we can prevent them in advance. Do you still remember that year we went to the restaurant and encountered rogues? We were too careless. Going to a restaurant means encountering all sorts of people, but the risks there are still small. A temple fair is different—surging crowds, extremely crowded. I know many lecherous ruffians specifically go to temple fairs to take advantage of decent women, squeezing desperately in the crowds to pinch and grope. This happens every year. You’re so tall and so beautiful; do you think those lecherous ruffians will let you pass? If someone molests you and you can’t find who did it, your status in your husband’s heart will plummet. He’ll despise you for lacking self-respect and self-love. Do you understand?”
Xiao Qiao’s face was full of shame. “Older Sister, I understand!”
“The gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall. I remember this line from Mencius and hope you do too!”
At this moment, the cry of the child came from the room. The maidservant hurried out. “Madam, the young master is awake!”
Da Qiao nodded and said to Xiao Qiao, “The Imperial Court bestowed the title of Madam on you, so you must act like one. I’ve said all I have to say. Take good care of yourself. Go!”
Xiao Qiao turned and left with her head down. The back garden was very quiet. Xiao Qiao strolled alone in the back garden. If the accumulation of age is quantitative change, then Older Sister’s reprimand and advice today was the moment of quantitative to qualitative change, suddenly making Xiao Qiao understand what responsibility means. She grew up in an instant.
At this moment, she fully understood that if she were molested at the temple fair, it would hurt not only her but also her husband’s face and dignity. She was already Madam Xiao Qiao and had to bear the responsibility behind that title.
Xiao Qiao felt very ashamed for her past willfulness and ignorance. Older Sister had always been advising her, but she had treated it as wind past her ears. Only now did Xiao Qiao understand Older Sister’s good intentions over the years.
“Qiao Yu, you must thoroughly change your ways!” Xiao Qiao warned herself inwardly.
Back at her small courtyard, Xiao Qiao immediately wrote a letter to Yang Ping’er, telling her she was already married and could no longer act as freely as before. She also pointed out in the letter that temple fairs were very dangerous, with many lecherous ruffians lurking about. Even with guards, it would be hard to guard against them all. She advised Yang Ping’er and Qiao Jingjing to be careful and try not to go to such dangerous places.
After writing the letter, Xiao Qiao read it over. She then realized her handwriting was so ugly. Originally, her writing wasn’t as good as Older Sister’s. After practicing hard for a year, she could now write beautifully elegant characters. Yun Qing’s was even better, honed from childhood. Only hers was ugly like a plucked crow.
Xiao Qiao quickly handed the letter to the housekeeper and had a maidservant deliver it to Yang Ping’er. She herself returned to the room, spread out paper, and began practicing calligraphy seriously.
Gan Ning returned to the manor and specially went to Xiao Qiao’s small courtyard. Surprisingly, he found her seriously practicing calligraphy, her gaze so focused, a complete change from her usual restlessness. He stood by her window, and she didn’t even notice.
Gan Ning couldn’t help laughing. Xiao Qiao actually had such a quiet moment too.
