Chapter 27

The ideal answer is that she prefers to remain single. Only a few days ago, she realized that she still lacked a sense of belonging in this world.

It’s hardly surprising that without parents, relatives, or familiar close friends (not even those she might despise are around), the vastness of the world descended upon her when she was completely unprepared, leaving her utterly alone. Even though she loves life and has always struggled to survive amid danger, that is merely an instinct. Under these circumstances, she hopes to remain a lifelong single aristocrat.

Unfortunately, Wei Jing disagrees; he becomes extremely alert when she shows even the slightest hint and presses relentlessly.

Speaking of Wei Jing, he is the only person in this world who has ever accepted her, and the bond they share—supporting each other through life and death—is irreplaceable, whether in this life or a past one. Yet that does nothing to stop her from preferring to be single.

Unfortunately, the other party’s stance was so resolute—suppose she refused to be his spouse, she would have no choice but to leave quietly without a backward glance.

Shao Qing cherished this one and only companion dearly; she never wished to hurt him. Moreover, in this tumultuous world, as a single woman—young and beautiful—where could she possibly go on a whim?

Originally, her ideal plan was to come to an understanding with Wei Jing so that she could continue living in Pingtao. With their old bond ensuring his support, she believed she could live peacefully.

Alas, that path was now completely blocked. In front of Shao Qing lay only two roads—one to the left and one to the right—with no room for maneuver, and she had to choose one.

She set the pen aside, sighed deeply, and rested her chin on one hand as she gazed out through the lattice window.

On this late summer day, the back courtyard of the county office was adorned by artificial hills and lake rocks, trickling water, a slowly turning waterwheel, and a few pink lotus buds peeking out from the lotus basin.

Wei Jing acted swiftly— the gardener arrived that very day and, within a few days, tidied up the small garden, which indeed exuded a wild charm.

He also said that the craftsmen for renovating the house would arrive in a couple of days. At that time, he planned for her to move to the front temporarily until the renovations were completed, after which they would move back.

“Sigh.”

“Madam?”

Shao Qing had just sighed again when she heard Wang Mi’s voice. Turning around, she saw her holding a tea tray with a small white porcelain cup, smiling as she walked slowly toward her.

Once the white porcelain cup was set down, she noticed it contained sweet soup.

“It’s been cooling for a while—perfect for drinking.” Wang Mi sat down next door and exchanged a few light remarks before noticing Shao Qing pick up the ladle. Suddenly recalling something, she quickly asked, “Madam, about the female household matter the other day…”

That day, Wei Jing, his face as calm as still water, had taken Shao Qing away. Wang Mi had been trembling with anxiety for quite some time, but soon, the dispute from the main house faded into quiet. It wasn’t until the next day, when Wei Jing and Shao Qing resumed their normal interactions, that she finally felt at ease.

Regarding the establishment of the female household, Shao Qing had been very decisive; however, Wei Jing’s reaction hadn’t quite matched her expectations. Therefore, Wang Mi hadn’t mentioned it to her husband and intended to confirm the matter with Shao Qing first.

But Wang Mi’s little daughter, Ah Bi, had fallen ill in recent days. Busy taking care of her, Wang Mi only found a moment today to inquire.

“Female household?”

This sensitive matter was not something Shao Qing dared to pursue at the moment, yet she couldn’t help but ask, “Sister Wang, how does setting up a female household work? In today’s world, for a single woman to establish her own household is bound to be very difficult, isn’t it?”

“Of course,” Wang Mi shook his head and sighed, “These are hard times—it’s not easy for an ordinary man to establish himself, let alone a woman.”

“Even an old crone or someone with physical deficiencies can manage, but an ordinary woman running a household is nothing more than duckweed floating in the wind.”

The notion of male superiority over females isn’t just idle talk. Even in times of sound governance, it was hard for a woman to support a household, let alone in today’s world.

If you think that men like Sun Zong and Qu Qian are mere anomalies, you’d be gravely mistaken. The Great Chu Dynasty has endured several generations of foolish rulers, with bureaucratic corruption deeply rooted and powerful, corrupt officials aplenty—a murky wind flowing from the top down.

Yizhou fares a bit better, sheltered in a remote corner. In the Central Plains, plagues and natural disasters occur frequently, the common folk are impoverished and struggling to survive, and rebellions break out regularly. How is a single woman supposed to survive in such an environment?

You might say that there must be some safe havens—after all, these large and small cities aren’t so easily overrun by insurgents.

That may be true, but powerful strongmen, corrupt officials, and local bullies are everywhere. A single woman—especially one who is relatively proper in appearance—is bound to fall prey to being exploited.

If she has no reliable backing or support, imagine: local hoodlums would dare scale the walls in broad daylight—and even worse, some unfortunate souls might end up being forced into clandestine prostitution.

Wang Mi shook his head once more and said, “My father and ancestors died long ago. I followed my mother to seek refuge with our relatives, and I was so disheveled and unkempt that I dared not show my true face.”

Her background was much better than Kou Xuan’s, but unfortunately, her family fell into decline, so she is well aware of these matters. Don’t think that merely having a higher status will do—without power or influence; one can’t even safeguard the money in one’s hands; one simply must have reliable backing. Her mother, unwilling to remain, hurriedly gathered some personal valuables and brought her daughter to Yizhou.

“So you left quietly—what about your mother?”

“She passed away from illness years ago.” Wang Mi felt a twinge of sadness and, after a moment, smiled as she said, “But that old lady passed away with a smile on her face.”

Although she encountered many setbacks and lived an impoverished life, she managed to secure a reliable future for her daughter.

“In today’s tough world, when finding a good man is difficult, madam, you truly have been blessed. Having a man like our master as your husband—you must cherish him dearly.”

Even though her status changed drastically, Shao Qing’s attitude toward the Kou family never wavered. Grateful in her heart, Wang Mi, after speaking, couldn’t help but add, “Isn’t it tough to find a good man?”

In these times—when brothers are as indispensable as one’s own limbs and wives as common as clothing—it is indeed almost impossible to come by a husband who cherishes his wife as Wei Jing does. Wang Mi insisted that treasuring him is only natural.

“Yeah, I know.” Shao Qing smiled, sipped the sweet soup, and bid Wang Mi farewell. She wasn’t even in the mood to look over the accounts; instead, she lay on her desk and idly picked up an ink stick, intermittently grinding it.

Alas, just as expected—even if she were to establish a separate household as a single woman, it would be tough for her to survive without solid backing.

Perhaps, unbeknownst to Wang Mi, there might occasionally be someone lucky? But when Shao Qing thought about everything that had happened to her since arriving here, she realized she was utterly out of luck—it was best to give up on gambling with fate.

In fact, she had already investigated the matter, and the final conclusion was exactly what she had thought: living independently was unrealistic.

She had no relatives or close family; without being independent, she had no choice but to marry someone.

Given that, there was no hesitation—this person could only be Wei Jing. They had shared a bond of life and destiny; she trusted only him, and he felt the same, treating her very well—and most likely, that would continue for a lifetime.

The two of them were getting along remarkably well now; continuing to live together as a couple would certainly be fine. If even he weren’t suitable, then probably no one would be.

After careful analysis, Shao Qing concluded that becoming Wei Jing’s true wife was her only best option. She set the ink stick aside. “Alright, no more worries. Let’s just go with it.”

Sigh.

…

“Ah Qing?”

It was Wei Jing’s voice.

After coming to her conclusion, Shao Qing was able to look over the ledger. She quickly organized the large book of accounts in her hands, and just as she stretched lazily, she heard Wei Jing call her. She turned around to see him already stepping into the room.

“Why are you here so early today?” she asked, even though it was only mid-afternoon.

“Everything has been sorted out; there’s no hurry.” Wei Jing lifted his robe and sat down beside her. “The new desk is ready—I’ve had it placed in the front.”

The desk in the west wing was a bit too high for Shao Qing; using it for a long time would easily cause back pain and neck stiffness. He had ordered a new desk early on. Tomorrow, craftsmen would come to repair the house in the backyard, and the two of them would move to the front temporarily. With the new desk ready, he placed it right at the front.

While speaking, Wei Jing reached out and began to massage Shao Qing’s waist. In these past few days, he had persisted with such gestures as if it would further cement their marital bond.

Shao Qing stiffened for a moment. After a while, she silently sighed and forced herself to relax.

Since their argument a few days ago, when Wei Jing had resolved to truly become her husband—a fact she could not avoid—Shao Qing had found his touch increasingly awkward, no longer as natural as before.

Moreover, actions such as checking her shoulder for bruises and massaging her waist—things he had never done before—were completely unfamiliar to her at first, and she kept making every effort to avoid them.

Alright then, stop dodging. Isn’t the conclusion already clear?

Since the decision had been made, Shao Qing tried to adjust her mindset actively; she slowed her breathing and endeavored to relax.

Those large hands had, in fact, embraced her many times before, but now, after their roles had shifted, they felt different in many ways. The hands, with their distinct knuckles, rhythmically massaged and pressed against her; his strength was just right, and his warmth seeped through her thin summer attire, permeating her skin.

Trying to keep herself inwardly focused, Shao Qing did her best to ignore the strange sensations and remain still—when she heard Wei Jing ask, “Ah Qing, do you think June 29 or the first day of August would be a more auspicious date?”

Earlier, Wei Jing had remarked that the sooner, the better, and in fact, he personally favored June. But then again, it was already mid-June, and with only about ten days left, it was rather tight. He feared there might be some oversight.

This made him uneasy. In this remote border county, performing the supplementary wedding ceremony to pay respects to Heaven and Earth had already left Shao Qing feeling extremely aggrieved; he was unwilling to compromise any further. But July wasn’t suitable for holding the ceremony; if it were postponed, it would have to be in August. And August was simply too far away.

Although Shao Qing had explained everything and they were about to perform the supplementary wedding rites, Wei Jing still harbored a lingering unease. In a way, the ceremony of paying homage to Heaven and Earth served as a sort of insurance—only once it was completed could his inner anxiety finally subside. He wanted to make Shao Qing his true wife as soon as possible.

“Auspicious date?” Shao Qing called over her shoulder.

He was tall—so much so that even when seated, he towered over her by about a head. What first caught one’s eye was his clean, refined jawline that exuded a refreshing air; with his sword-like brows and starry eyes, his looks were strikingly handsome. Years of military life had not only given him a wheat-colored tan but also endowed him with an unforgettable, commanding presence. He was an exceptionally outstanding young man, and as a partner in life, she would certainly not be at a disadvantage. With that in mind, she smiled and said, “You decide.”

Having come to terms with the situation, she found that accepting this arrangement wasn’t as difficult as she had imagined, and she answered him briskly.

Wei Jing was momentarily stunned. Her attitude had become so much more open, and the subtle avoidance she had displayed in recent days quietly melted away. Being extremely perceptive, he felt an even stronger urgency because of her previously less enthusiastic stance.

After that brief pause, his face lit up with delight as he grasped the hand resting on her desk and asked, “How about the first day of August?”

“There’s plenty of time, so we can prepare more thoroughly,” she replied. Her heart eased a little, and the decision was made naturally.

Wei Jing had been practicing martial arts since childhood and had spent years wielding weapons. Despite his princely status, his palms were not delicate at all but rather rough. His broad, dry palms completely covered her hand, evoking a peculiar sensation.

The prominent ridges on his palms provided a strong, almost caressing feel, and the warmth was pervasive—seeping through the thin skin as if it could penetrate deep into her flesh and bones. Strangely enough, even though he had taken her hand many times before, this unusual feeling was entirely new to her.

Shao Qing knew this sensation was due to their shifting roles. Sigh—accepting the new arrangement was one thing, but having a comrade-in-arms suddenly become a husband meant she would have to readjust.

She stifled the impulse to immediately withdraw her hand, telling herself rationally that she must strive to adapt to this new relationship. Since the decision had been made, there was no room for being overly fussy.

As for choosing August 1 as the date, she felt it was better than June. With over a month at their disposal, she believed she would have ample time to adjust her mind.

She smiled and replied, “Mm.”