The Marquis Is Innocent - 156.2
Chapter 156.2
Before the carriage stopped, Xiao Qiao had already got out. Wei Shao had already dismounted and helped her down. He released her hand and silently watched her stride toward a middle-aged man whose under assistance. He stood still and did not follow.
“Father!”
Xiao Qiao ran and took hold of Qiao Ping’s hands. Borrowing the light from the lantern at the entrance, she saw that her father looked good, and joy filled her heart.
“Man Man is back!” Mrs. Ding came up, smiling broadly.
“Auntie! Sister!”
Xiao Qiao lets go of Qiao Ping and catches up with Mrs. Ding and Da Qiao, cheerful as they can be.
Chun Niang came up with Fei Fei, who had fallen asleep on the road.
Mrs. Ding knew that Fei Fei had fallen asleep and regretted it so much that she couldn’t lift the cloak to look at her. She called the servants to lead Chun Niang and her group into the house.
After a moment of chaos at the door, Qiao Ping stretched out his hand and groped in the air. Xiao Qiao was busy catching his hand.
“I heard that my son-in-law also came. Where is he?” Qiao Ping smiled.
Xiao Qiao raised her eyes, looking towards the figure not far away. When she was still in hesitation, Qiao Ping spoke, “Man Man, you take me over.”
Xiao Qiao paused but finally held her father and slowly walked to Wei Shao.
“My father.” Xiao Qiao said softly to Wei Shao.
Wei Shao looked towards the emaciated face of this middle-aged man who seemed to resemble Xiao Qiao and was still hesitant. But Qiao Ping had already taken a step forward, held his hands tightly, and laughed aloud, “I have long been looking forward to meeting my son-in-law, and today I finally saw him, so I am very relieved! Quick, follow me! I set up a banquet in the evening. You and I, father and son-in-law, don’t rest without getting drunk!”
Wei Shao did not intend to stay for the night, so he entered the city and left Lei Yan and others outside. Suddenly, he heard Qiao Ping’s generous invitation and froze. His mouth was slightly open, looked at Xiao Qiao subconsciously.
Seeing that she was smiling at him, he could not say the word ‘no’ no matter what.
“Man Man, my son-in-law shouldn’t have come alone. Where is his entourage?” Qiao Ping asked.
“All are still outside the city.” Xiao Qiao said.
Qiao Ping frowned and said unhappily, “After the arduous journey and having arrived home, how can you leave people outside the city like this?”
Wei Shao hurriedly said, “Father-in-law, don’t blame Man Man ……”
These words unintentionally blurted out, and Wei Shao was shocked to realize that he had called the Qiao man before him ‘father-in-law.’
He paused for a moment and subconsciously looked at Xiao Qiao again.
Seeing her eyes wide open as she looked at him, his heart suddenly trembled, and he didn’t care to weigh about it, saying: “I’m the one who left them outside the city. Many things waiting in Luoyang, but I wanted to send Man Man mother and daughter home, so I’ll return— this night.”
Qiao Ping immediately said, “If there are urgent matters, I will not force you to stay. But if you don’t have to leave tonight, and since you’ve already arrived home, how can you not come in? It’s not too late to rest for the night and leave tomorrow.”
Wei Shao looked at Xiao Qiao again.
Xiao Qiao softly said, “If Husband is not in a hurry, it would be better to rest for the night. General Lei and the others must be tired.”
Wei Shao finally nodded, “Okay.”
Qiao Ping was overjoyed, hurriedly turning back and calling someone to welcome Wei Shao’s entourage into the city, placing them in the post house and guiding him inside.
Wei Shao raised his feet and followed Qiao Ping inside. When he arrived at the steps, he put his hand on Qiao Ping’s arm and whispered, ‘Be careful,’ then led him up the steps with himself.
……
Lei Yan waited outside the city, and after waiting for a long time, he saw someone out of the city gates. He thought it was the Marquis, but unexpectedly, the Qiao family’s servant passed a message, respectfully saluted, and said that the Marquis stayed in the Qiao family this night, so they should enter the city and rest in the post house.
Lei Yan and others traveled through the dust and were thirsty for sleep, but since it was necessary to comply with the Lord’s order, they were ready to go on the road overnight. When they suddenly heard the news, they were all happy, and a line of people hollering into the city to settle down.
That night, Qiao Ping set up a banquet to welcome Wei Shao. At first, Wei Shao excused himself but could not resign from the elder’s enthusiasm and thus accepted.
After Xiao Qiao put her sleeping daughter in place, she met the now-three-year-old Li’er and caught up with Mrs. Ding and Da Qiao.
On the eleventh period of the night, she returned to her room, but Wei Shao wasn’t there yet. When she thought that he and her father seemed to be drinking more than an hour, and his father’s eye condition wasn’t suitable for too much wine, she didn’t feel at ease and then sought them, only to find two drunk men.
She heard her father say: “…… My family Man Man, I’m not boasting, oh. She was beautiful and intelligent. Only a few people can compare to her. She was only ten years old, but people that asked her for marriage reached the threshold ……”
Wei Shao “bang” put down the wine cup: “Who dares to steal her from me?”
Xiao Qiao hurriedly interrupted and said to Qiao Ping: “Father, you are drunk. Please go rest.” She called for someone to send him back to his room.
Today, Qiao Ping finally met Wei Shao, witnessed him send his daughter back to the Qiao family, and called himself ‘father-in-law.’ His mood had never been pleased like this, and he drank too much wine. When he heard his daughter’s voice, he laughed and no longer insisted to be carried away.
Wei Shao seemed intoxicated. Seeing Xiao Qiao, he stood up and swayed a little. Xiao Qiao helps him, but feeling his heavy body and afraid of being crushed by him, she hurriedly calls a servant. When they arrived at the room, she stumbled to the bed with him, and as soon as she released her hands, Wei Shao collapsed on the bed with a ‘thud.’