Tiger Owl

Chapter 136 Farewell to Xu Wei
The following morning, Gan Ning received Xu Peng in his official residence. Xu Peng was about twenty years old; he was Xu Qiu's second son and Xu Wei's half-brother, but he and Xu Wei were the closest and most intimate of them.

"Is the Second Young Master still serving as an official under Marquis Wu?"

Xu Peng nodded, and Gan Ning asked with a smile, "What exactly do you want to do?"

"He served as the Granary Attendant, in charge of the granaries in Jiangdong."

"I see!"

Gan Ning smiled and asked, "Did you come here to take Xu Wei back?"

Xu Pengchen gave a bitter smile and said, "My brother and I sat down with our father to discuss Yunqing's matter. My father wanted to bring her back to Kuaiji, but I know my sister's personality, and she definitely wouldn't agree. So we discussed two plans. The first plan would be best if she was willing to come with me, but if she really refused, I would have to talk to you."

Gan Ning nodded. "What do you want to talk to me about?"

"Of course, I'm talking about my sister!"

Xu Peng spoke slowly, “I’ve talked to her twice, and she made it clear that she wouldn’t go back with me. Although we didn’t argue, her attitude was very firm, and we couldn’t really argue. I hope you can persuade her to go back to her father’s side.”

"If even you, her older brother, can't persuade her, I'm not sure I can convince her either!"

Xu Peng shook his head. "You're different. If you advise her, she'll definitely listen."

At this point, Xu Peng sighed and said, "Actually, as you know, Yun Qing's escape from the Xu family to come here is essentially an elopement. This matter has already spread in the Jiangdong gentry circle. My father couldn't bear the criticism behind his back, so he consulted with my brother and me. Yun Qing also told me that she has been living in the guest courtyard of your mansion. I respect you as a man of great courage, and you did not take advantage of her vulnerability to bring her into your inner quarters."

Our family no longer cares whether she's your concubine or your principal wife; we truly don't care anymore. We only hope that Yunqing can marry with dignity, so she doesn't become the laughingstock of Jiangdong. Do you understand what I mean?

Gan Ning nodded. "I'll give it a try! But I can't guarantee anything."

"No! You must guarantee that her reputation is already ruined. Let her marry with dignity, and that will be an explanation to our family."

"Okay! I promise you, I will definitely persuade her to go back with you."

At noon, Gan Ning returned to the mansion and went straight to the guest room. He walked into the courtyard and saw Xu Wei squatting on the ground, moving the flowers she had planted into flowerpots. She was preparing to move to Chaisang soon.

Gan Ning silently gazed at her slightly thin figure. He really didn't know how to tell her that she was full of hope for moving, but he was the one who advised her to leave.

Xu Wei suddenly sensed something. She turned around and saw Gan Ning. She stood up in surprise, "When did the general arrive?"

"Just arrived, what are you doing?"

"They're transplanting flowers! Of course, I can't throw away the crabapple trees I planted; I have to take them to Chaisang."

Gan Ning took her mud-covered little hand and laughed, "You can have the maid move the pot for you, you don't have to dig it yourself!"

"Qin Yan wanted to dig for me too, but I didn't agree. I was afraid they would ruin it. I'd better do it myself!"

"That's right, it's most reassuring to do it yourself."

Gan Ning smiled, then hesitated for a moment before saying, "I saw your brother this morning?"

Xu Wei was startled and took a step back. "Why would you want to see him? Did he come looking for you?"

“No, it’s not that. Da Qiao told me last night that your brother has come. Since your brother is here, I have to see him, right? I sent someone to find him.” “What did he say?” Xu Wei asked nervously.

"What he told me, you know, is the same kind of talk he gave you."

Xu Wei, disregarding her embarrassment, grabbed Gan Ning and pleaded, "I don't want to go back, please, don't let me leave."

Gan Ning sighed and said, "Yun Qing, I have to tell you the truth. I don't choose my wife based on her status or family background. I worked my way up step by step, and I don't care about these things at all. I choose my wife for the sake of my son. I don't want my eldest son to be born out of wedlock. Do you understand what I mean?"

“I understand, but I also want to tell you that I didn’t come to you to become a general’s wife. I came because I like you. I don’t care about titles at all. If Sister Da Qiao becomes my legal wife, I’ll be even happier. She’s my sister, and I don’t want her to call me ‘elder sister’ in the future.”

Gan Ning was moved and embraced her, saying, "I agree to marry you, but you must first return to your father's side and marry out with dignity. I will make you Madam Xu, and if you give birth to a son first, then you will be the principal wife."

"do not want!"

Xu Wei burst into tears, "I don't care about being a legal wife or getting married in a respectable manner. I just don't want to leave you. I know the distance is so far, and in two years you'll forget me."

"How could that be? You won't need two years. Go back to Kuaiji first, and next spring, I will send Qiao An to ask for your hand in marriage. Although I can't share a room with you yet, I will at least give you a title, just like Xiao Qiao."

Xu Wei quickly shook her head, "That's not how it is. My father won't agree to it. He insists that you marry me as your legal wife before he will accept your proposal. He won't agree to me marrying you as a concubine. So I won't leave. Just like my most beloved flower must be transplanted by myself, I must take my own destiny into my own hands."

"Your father will agree, don't worry. If he doesn't, I will send troops to take you back. You are my woman. Even if I can't marry you, I will still take you back."

Gan Ning patted his chest and solemnly assured him.

"Really?"

“I promise, but you have to go back with your brother. I don’t want to become strangers with my father-in-law, nor do I want your father to never forgive you.”

Xu Wei hugged Gan Ning, her eyes brimming with tears, and looked up at him, saying, "I want you to kiss me and always keep me in your heart."

Gan Ning slowly lowered his head and kissed her deeply.

Two days later, Xu Wei finally boarded the ship and left. Gan Ning, along with the Qiao sisters, escorted Xu Wei onto a large passenger ship with a value of three thousand shi (a unit of currency), followed by several warships to escort her.

Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao bid farewell to Xu Wei in the cabin. On the dock, Gan Ning said to Xu Peng, "I kept my word and persuaded Xu Wei for you. I hope you are not lying to me and forcibly sending her back to the Xu family behind my back. If that is the case, your Xu family will become my number one enemy."

"I promise I will not deceive the general. My father has almost fallen out with the family because of Yun Qing. I promise I will take her to see my father and will never force her to return to the family. If my father can persuade her to return to the family for a proper talk, that's another matter. Everything will be based on her own wishes."

Gan Ning nodded. "I will send someone to Kuaiji next spring to propose marriage. I will make Xu Wei my wife, but I cannot guarantee that she will be my principal wife. I can only guarantee that she will be my secondary wife, not a concubine. As for whether she can become my principal wife, it depends on whether she will give birth to my eldest son. I must guarantee that my eldest son will be born of the legitimate wife."

Xu Peng nodded. "I think my second wife can accept it too. I will persuade my father not to do anything foolish again and drive Yunqing away once more."

Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao disembarked from the large ship. Xu Peng clasped his hands in a salute, boarded the ship, and the ship slowly set sail. Xu Wei hurriedly ran to the ship's side, waved, and shouted loudly, "General, don't forget what you promised me, next spring!"

Don't worry! I won't forget.

Gan Ning smiled and waved goodbye to her. Everyone bid each other a reluctant farewell, and the large ship gradually sailed away under the escort of five warships.

(End of this chapter)