Tiger Owl

Chapter 317 Cao Jie Enters the Mansion (Part 2)

Da Qiao was sitting in the inner hall drinking tea when she saw Cao Jie enter. She gestured to the empty seat next to her and said, "Miss Cao, please sit down!"

Cao Jie sat down and said softly, "Madam, you can just call me A-Jie."

"Then I'll call you A-Jie. You can call me the same way they do, call me Big Sister."

"Yes!"

Seeing that she was a little reserved, Da Qiao smiled slightly and said, "I always thought that your sister Cao Ya was going to be married off, but I didn't expect that it would be you in the end. I guess it's fate! We will be living together for a long time in the future, so you don't need to be so nervous. Relax and just chat like sisters."

Cao Jie relaxed a little and said softly, "Actually, I also thought it was my sister's marriage, but later I don't know why it was changed to me. My brother said it might be related to the Marquis of Wu. I... I naturally followed my father's arrangements."

"Ah Jie, how old are you this year?"

"Just turned fifteen!"

Da Qiao smiled and said, "You are indeed quite young. Have you been to school?"

"I started reading at the age of eight."

"Not bad. What are your hobbies?"

"I like painting, I like flowers, and I also like cooking delicious food."

Da Qiao chuckled, "A Yu knows your hobbies, she'll definitely like you."

After a few casual words, Da Qiao got down to business. "A-Jie, don't worry. No matter why you came here, once you enter this door, we will treat you as a sister and treat you well. You will understand in time. There aren't many rules in our household, but there are three principles that you must remember."

Cao Jie sat up straight, placed his hands on his knees, and listened attentively.

"The first principle is that no one is allowed to do anything behind the back to family members, including spreading rumors, talking badly, sowing discord, or practicing witchcraft. If there is any dissatisfaction between sisters, they can tell me and I will mediate. If they are dissatisfied with me, they can also say so directly. I will not only not be angry, but I will also be very happy because I am also afraid of being attacked from behind."

Cao Jie nodded silently; she remembered the first principle.

"Then there is the second principle: sisters can have a good relationship, but they are absolutely not allowed to form cliques. For example, Xiao Qiao and I are biological sisters, and Yun Qing and Shang Xiang grew up together. Although we have a deep affection for each other, there are no factions in our family. We are all sisters."

"I remember!"

"Finally, the third rule is to uphold the virtues of womanhood and not interfere in politics."

The latter half of Da Qiao's third point is actually specifically aimed at Cao Jie, Cao Cao's daughter. If her husband and father meet on the battlefield, what side should she take? Will she use her influence to affect her husband?
As for upholding the virtues of a woman, this is not a problem at all, nor does it need to be brought up. Its existence is only to make the "not interfering in politics" seem too abrupt, so this clause was added.

Cao Jie was incredibly clever; her face turned deathly pale, a flicker of fear flashed in her eyes, and she stared intently at the ground.

Da Qiao then said softly, "Although this is a political marriage, if you want to be a true wife, the best way is to stay away from politics."

Cao Jie nodded gently, "I understand, thank you, elder sister."

Just then, a maid ran up and said, "Madam, the Marquis has returned and is waiting for you in the study!"

Da Qiao nodded. "Alright, come with me!"

Da Qiao stood up, and Cao Jie quickly followed. Her heart was pounding, so nervous that it felt like it was going to jump out of her throat. Of course, she knew who she was going to see.

Upon entering the courtyard, a maidservant carried a tea tray with a cup of ginseng tea on it. Da Qiao glanced at Cao Jie, who suddenly understood and quickly stepped forward to take the tea tray, following Da Qiao into the inner study.

"My lord, Miss Cao has arrived!"

Cao Jie finally mustered up the courage to enter the study. She didn't dare to look up, her hands holding the tray were trembling, and her legs were shaking too.

Da Qiao noticed her nervousness, patted her shoulder, and reassured her, "Don't be nervous, just put the tray on the table!"

Cao Jie placed the tray on the table, then quietly raised her head to glance at Gan Ning. Unexpectedly, Gan Ning was staring intently at her. Their eyes met, and Cao Jie's face instantly turned red, even her neck. She quickly lowered her head, a strange feeling rising in her heart. General Gan was young, heroic, and had gentle eyes. Perhaps this marriage wasn't so bad after all.

"When did you arrive?" Gan Ning asked calmly.

"Afternoon!"

"Was the journey smooth? Did you encounter any trouble?" "No, we were escorted by warships, so it was very safe."

Gan Ning nodded. "The wedding ceremony won't begin until after spring, so it might take a while. Just stay here and relax. Your eldest sister will take good care of you. If you have any difficulties or needs, just let us know. We'll all be family from now on, so don't be shy."

"Thank you, General, I understand!"

Gan Ning then asked with a smile, "Have you met the other three sisters?"

"Greetings, Sister Shangxiang."

"Let's go get to know each other! We can have dinner together later."

"it is good!"

Cao Jie kept his head down and slowly retreated to Da Qiao's side.

"Husband, I've taken her there."

"Go!"

Xiao Qiao smiled and took Cao Jie's hand, "Let's go! I'll introduce you to Yun Qing and A Yu!"

Gan Ning watched Cao Jie's retreating figure and nodded secretly. As expected of the last empress of the Han Dynasty, her appearance and temperament were quite good. He was fairly satisfied.

Da Qiao first took Cao Jie to see Xu Wei. Cao Jie was really surprised to learn that Xu Wei was actually the daughter of the Imperial Censor Xu Qiu. First Sun Shangxiang, and now Xu Wei, it was truly unexpected.

Xu Wei was clearly pregnant and looked somewhat heavy. After saying only a few words, Da Qiao brought Cao Jie out.

Next, they went to Xiao Qiao's courtyard. As soon as Cao Jie entered the courtyard, he was stunned. In the middle of the courtyard was a very large and wide long table, which was covered with bottles and jars, as well as various sizes of millstones.

She spotted Xiao Qiao intently boiling sugar, and Cao Jie was once again amazed. She already thought Da Qiao was a beauty that could topple kingdoms, but after seeing Xiao Qiao, she realized what true beauty was. Even Diao Chan, the peerless beauty who was taken into her father's household, lacked a certain charm compared to Xiao Qiao's beauty.

Her skin radiated a glow, a glow that emanated from within, a glow that enveloped her from the inside out.

Cao Jie then realized that when she praised Xu Wei for her stunning beauty, Xu Wei told her that the most beautiful woman in Jiangnan was Xiao Qiao. It turned out that Xu Wei was not being modest.

"Ayu!"

Da Qiao called out, but Xiao Qiao waved her hand, "Don't bother me yet, it'll be ready soon!"

She stirred the pottery jar with a copper rod while staring intently at it.

Cao Jie mustered his courage and stepped forward to ask, "Sister Qiao, what are you doing?"

"Boil sugar!" Xiao Qiao answered casually without looking up.

"Success!"

She suddenly cheered, quickly grabbed the wooden handle of the pottery jar, and slowly poured a ball of golden liquid into each of the small wooden boxes.

Cao Jie also enjoys cooking, and her gaze was immediately drawn to it, fixed on the golden liquid as it slowly solidified and then turned red.

"This is brown sugar!"

Xiao Qiao broke off a small piece and handed it to her, "Try it!"

Cao Jie put the brown sugar in his mouth; it melted instantly, leaving a sweet and refreshing taste.

"So sweet!" Cao Jie's eyes lit up instantly.

"Ayu, let me introduce you."

Before Da Qiao could even speak to me, Xiao Qiao waved her hand and laughed, "I know, she is Cao Jie, our fifth sister. I've heard Shang Xiang mention her."

(End of this chapter)