Chapter 72: Reluctant Parting
Da Qiao would of course not neglect her husband. She found an opening and quietly sat beside her husband, holding his hand with a coquettish smile as she asked: “What were you just talking about with Qin Yan?”
Gan Ning gently put his arm around her waist and smiled: “I also want to hire a few female guards for you. I wanted to ask if she has any connections?”
Da Qiao’s beautiful eyes lit up. She was also worried about her younger sister’s safety. She herself liked to stay quietly at home, but her younger sister liked to go shopping and didn’t like soldiers following her. If there were female guards, the safety issue would be solved.
“Do you have any connections?”
“Yes! They’re at Longhu Mountain. I’ll send someone to invite them today, and female guards will arrive soon.”
Da Qiao simply nestled in her husband’s arms and coquettishly said: “If there are female guards, I also want to go out for a walk, to buy some cosmetics and such.”
Gan Ning lowered his head and kissed her pretty face, smiling: “Of course!”
The two of them sat in the back, being affectionate. The two young ladies in front had no more sounds; both were peeking back sideways, covering their mouths and secretly laughing.
At this moment, Xiao Qiao had some ideas. Gan Lang was also her husband, so why should only Elder Sister have him? She could too!
………..
In the afternoon, three large ships from Jiangdong arrived at Nanchang. This was not Zhu Zhi; Zhu Zhi had come early and reached a written agreement with Lu Su. Jiangdong recognized Gan Ning’s legitimate possession of Yuzhang Commandery and promised that the Marquis of Wu would not order an attack on Yuzhang Commandery within three years.
Why emphasize the Marquis of Wu? Because Sun Quan temporarily couldn’t control Sun Ben. If Sun Ben attacked Yuzhang without authorization, they had no way to stop it. Sun Quan could only guarantee that he himself would not attack Yuzhang Commandery.
The agreement had Sun Quan’s signature and official seal. Gan Ning had not yet returned from Wuchang County, so Lu Su used the authorization given by Gan Ning to stamp the Prefect of Yuzhang Commandery’s official seal on the agreement.
Zhu Zhi had finally taken Sun Fu away.
The large ship arriving that afternoon was sent by Madam Sun, Xu Zhen’s wife, to pick up Xu Wei. Xu Qiu had already fled back to Wu County. He had also received his daughter’s letter, and Madam Sun immediately scolded him harshly and sent a ship at once to pick up Xu Wei.
Madam Sun was of course furious. Xu Wei was Sun Yi’s fiancée; how could she stay in Gan Ning’s Mansion? If word got out, would the Sun Family still have any face?
The moment of parting finally arrived. Xiao Qiao and Xu Wei were reluctant to part. Ever since learning that Xu Wei was betrothed to Sun Yi, Xiao Qiao’s hostility toward her had vanished. The two had an extremely good relationship, inseparable all day, eating together, shopping together, and even sleeping together at night.
“Xiao Qiao, why don’t you come with me to Wu Commandery! Come to my home as a guest; I’ll entertain you well.”
Xiao Qiao gently shook her head and pointed north: “He won’t allow me to go.”
“That’s true too! You’re so beautiful; if a Sun family disciple saw you, he’d definitely have bad intentions.”
“Are Sun family disciples that unworthy?”
Xu Wei sighed: “Except for big brother Sun Ce, who’s decent, the others are no good, including Sun Quan. That man is very hypocritical, one thing on the surface and another behind the scenes.”
“Since that’s the case, then don’t go back. Just stay here; wouldn’t it be nice to be happy every day?”
Xu Wei’s pretty face reddened: “I’m not anyone to General Gan; how can I keep staying in his residence.”
Xiao Qiao slyly smiled: “You’ve already stayed a month and you’re saying this? If you really want to stay, he absolutely won’t drive you away. You could stay a lifetime.”
Xu Wei immediately blushed bright red and stamped her foot: “You little rascal, what kind of talk is that? What do you mean stay a lifetime? I’m not his….”
Xiao Qiao giggled: “Actually, you want it very much in your heart, don’t you? At meals, I saw you secretly looking at him, and not just once.”
Xu Wei’s pretty face turned even redder. At this moment, Qin Yan called from the door: “Miss, the female butler is urging!”
Xu Wei gave a low sigh, her gaze dimming: “Then I’m leaving. Tell General Gan for me that I… I won’t go say goodbye to him.”
Xiao Qiao tightly hugged her: “Xu Sister, we’ll meet again.”
Xu Wei’s eyes reddened slightly. She tightly hugged Xiao Qiao and turned to leave.
The Xu Family had sent a group of people, led by the female butler Jin. She was Madam Sun’s accompanying maidservant and was now the inner residence butler of the Xu Residence, wielding great power in the Xu Residence.
Besides her, there were over a dozen maidservants and dozens of warriors.
Xu Wei bid a reluctant farewell to Da Qiao again. As the group reached the door, Gan Ning hurried back.
“Miss Xu, are you leaving already?”
Xu Wei gently nodded: “I’ve imposed on the general for a month; it’s time for me to go.”
“Has there been any news from your father?”
“He safely arrived in Wu County. Thank you for your help, General.”
Gan Ning smiled: “Then I’m relieved.”
At this moment, the female butler said with a long face: “Miss, it’s time to go!”
Xu Wei glanced at the female butler outside the door. Her face was extremely sullen. Suddenly, Xu Wei felt an indescribable disgust. She bit her lip and said to Gan Ning: “I want to tell you something in private.”
Gan Ning lowered his head. Xu Wei whispered softly in his ear: “Gan Lang, I like you!”
Xu Wei’s pretty face reddened. She turned, lowered her head, and quickly left, directly boarding the carriage.
She pulled back the carriage curtain and waved to everyone: “Little Qiao sister, Elder Sister, we’ll meet again later.”
She looked at Gan Ning with deep affection and gently waved to him.
Gan Ning silently watched her. Only then did he understand that this intelligent and beautiful Young Lady Xu had come to Nanchang for him.
……….
Watching several carriages depart, Da Qiao walked to Gan Ning’s side and shook her head: “The Xu Family is truly rude. That female butler didn’t even greet my husband, let alone thank him. Poor Xu sister.”
Gan Ning said indifferently: “She represents Madam Sun’s attitude. Xu Wei is to marry her nephew, yet she stayed alone in my residence. You can imagine her anger.”
Da Qiao suddenly sensitively noticed the issue: “It seems their generations don’t match! Sun Yi is a generation above A Wei.”
“That’s their family matter, none of our business. Let’s go back!”
Da Qiao turned and walked into the residence. Xiao Qiao deliberately slowed her step. She seized the chance to whisper to Gan Ning: “Did A Wei just say she likes you?”
Gan Ning shook his head: “Don’t guess wildly!”
Xiao Qiao grinned: “I understand her! Her thoughts can’t be hidden from me. Did she call you Gan Lang?”
Gan Ning patted her head and smiled: “What goes on in that quirky little head of yours all day?”
Xiao Qiao pouted her bright red little mouth: “From now on, I won’t call you brother-in-law. I want to call you Gan Lang too.”
Gan Ning looked at her for a moment and gently nodded. Xiao Qiao joyfully hugged Gan Ning’s arm at once and coquettishly said: “Gan Lang, I want to move in with you too, okay?”
“Not now!”
Gan Ning glanced at Da Qiao and firmly shook his head: “Absolutely not now. Wait until you’re a few years older.”
With no choice, Xiao Qiao pouted and followed her sister.
Gan Ning watched the sisters enter the residence, then turned and walked out. He mounted his horse and instructed his personal guard: “Have Wang Xiaoman come to the dock to see me!”
…………
Xu Wei sat in the cabin, gazing at the gradually shrinking Nanchang City, her heart filled with endless sorrow. She knew her grandmother was truly angry this time and would absolutely not allow her to come to Nanchang again.
“Farewell, Gan Lang. When will I see you again?”
A string of teardrops slid down Xu Wei’s face. It was last year when she first saw Gan Ning doing archery. Gan Ning had tied his hair up high, looking dashing and unrestrained—that moment captivated her, and from then on, the girl’s heart awakened to love.
After parting at Xuchang, she had always thought of him incessantly. This time, she used the opportunity of her cousin Xu Shu coming for a job interview to come to Nanchang City and boldly stayed in Gan Ning’s Mansion, finally fulfilling her long-held wish.
But a month was so short. Her status was like shackles binding her, forcing her to leave. Did she really have to marry that brutal and violent Sun Yi?
Xu Wei was suddenly overwhelmed with worry, frantic with irritation, wanting to shout, “I don’t want to!”
In extreme sorrow, she took out three copper coins. Drawing on her irrepressible emotions, she silently recited a few phrases, shook them with the technique, and scattered the copper coins on the table.
After carefully looking for a moment, her beautiful eyes gradually brightened. She could hardly believe it. How could the result be this? Why?
………
Gan Ning stood at the dock, watching Xu Wei’s ship sail away. He turned calmly to Wang Xiaoman, who had just arrived, and said: “Xiaoman, I have a personal matter. I need you to go to Xuchang and kill someone for me!”
Wang Xiaoman nodded: “My lord, please speak. I will certainly complete the mission!”
