Qiao Jingjing understood what her mother meant.
She turned back to find Qiao Manman.
“What Mother said is not entirely unreasonable. General Sun is powerful now, but he is so far away from Lujiang City, and I heard from my elder sister that he has already taken a wife.”
"Sister, with your temperament, I'm afraid you couldn't bear such injustice."
Qiao Manman's pure and clear eyes.
The most personal and practical.
Qiao Manman took Qiao Jingjing's hand in hers.
“Sister, I know best how hard you’ve had it all these years. Mother always says we’re not like ladies from a good family, that we don’t have the poise and elegance of others. But sister, when someone’s life hangs in the balance, when they’re starving and have to fight for every grain of rice and every sip of water, how can they talk about elegance? Sister, I hope you’re happy.”
Perhaps General Sun is a brave and heroic man, but if her older sister has any doubts, she will support her.
After all, we've been through so much over the years.
"This Wei Cheng, I think, is truly sincere. Sister, isn't this the kind of ordinary, simple life you've always wanted?"
After speaking with Qiao Manman, Qiao Jingjing returned to the house.
It was another quiet, cold night.
Yu Mei stood guard at the door, with a bedding draped over a bamboo chair.
Lü Meng slept in a narrow room next door.
Qiao Jingjing lay on the bed, gazing at her bed curtains.
She suddenly remembered that Sun Quan had entered her boudoir that day to bring her medicine for her wounds.
Then he remembered that she had crippled Li and Zhu. Sun Ce upheld justice in front of everyone and beheaded the two men with a single sword stroke.
She recalled the look in Sun Ce's eyes when he was leaving.
Qiao Jingjing thought:
As Qiao Jingjing, did she fall in love with Sun Ce here?
Perhaps I was once moved.
When Sun Ce used his Fire-Patterned Overlord Spear to save her from Zhang Zhao's sword.
When Sun Ce exchanged the lives of Lu Ji and Lu Xun for Qiao Jingjing at the foot of the city wall of Lujiang.
I was moved!
She was also moved. Moved by Sun Ce's special trip to see her, moved by Sun Ce's desire to protect her and take responsibility for her, and even more moved by Sun Ce's lack of disgust for the fine mark on her face.
And she was just as her mother had said.
Right now, an ordinary man has extended an olive branch to her.
She simply waited at home for Sun Ce to arrive.
Or perhaps you should take that first step and reach for that ordinary olive branch.
If she were to pursue Sun Ce, it could be seen as a way of returning the favor and expressing gratitude for his affection. However, the price would be that she would be a concubine with no status, disliked by Sun Ce's mother, Lady Wu, and also face the inevitable death of Sun Ce, who seemed destined for her fate.
If she were to accept this ordinary olive branch.
Will she be able to live the ordinary life she wants?
Qiao Jingjing thought of Wei Cheng again.
According to people at that time, the Wei family was indeed poor and destitute. They had no relatives to support them, nor any members of the same clan or lineage, and relied solely on their own two hands.
Qiao Jingjing thought about it for three long nights.
No choice has been made yet.
All of this stems from her lack of courage to confront her personal issues.
Fearing wolves in front and tigers behind.
Later, Wei Cheng came again to bring Qiao's mother an old hen to nourish her body.
Qiao's mother asked Qiao Jingjing what she thought, but didn't give her a chance to answer.
The elderly mother said she would make the decision.
Qiao Jingjing had to listen to her.
Lü Meng did not hear these words.
He was outside the house.
Since Old Madam Qiao took her medicine to control her emotions, she has not scolded or beaten Qiao Jingjing for a long time, and she speaks with such a frail and elderly demeanor.
Lu Meng gradually lost his guard against this old woman.
Every day, he simply stood guard at the door of the house.
Because Qiao Jingjing talks to her mother a lot every day.
Lu Meng didn't take every word to heart.
He just happened to miss some of the most important things being said.
Since making this decision, Mrs. Joe's appetite has improved that day.
He felt better a few days later.
She began to feel happy.
She regained her spirits and was able to direct the servants and maids in cleaning the yard, as well as inquire about the family's harvest this year.
Because they missed the spring planting season, the harvest this winter was as dismal as expected.
Mrs. Joe still took out the last bit of gold she had left to pay the servants' wages and prepare winter clothes for everyone.
They even took out a very small portion.
Prepare a dowry for Qiao Jingjing.
"I am so happy that Da Qiao is finally getting married."
Mrs. Qiao stood on the porch, leaning on her cane, watching the winter wind.
Lu Meng assumed that the old woman had finally gotten the hang of the medicine.
They thought the dowry was prepared for Qiao Jingjing's marriage to Sun Ce.
Given Sun Ce's current momentum...
Given the Qiao family's dire circumstances, even their meager winter food supplies had to be purchased.
What difference does it make whether we're prepared or not?
Lu Meng also said to Qiao Jingjing:
“Miss, the sentiment is enough. Your family isn’t exactly well-off these days. Just the gesture is enough. Our general won’t say anything more.”
Qiao Jingjing looked at the several baskets of cotton cloth and two bolts of brocade in her room.
"How is Madam Gu, the wife of General Sun, doing?"
Qiao Jingjing asked about her love rival, whom she had never met, for the first time.
Lu Meng thought Qiao Jingjing was worried about her future.
"Young lady, don't worry. This Madam Gu is a true lady of high birth, virtuous and gentle, and she listens to General Sun's every word."
The implication is...
Qiao Jingjing is the most beloved person in Sun Ce's heart.
Once Qiao Jingjing went to Sun Ce's side, even though Madam Gu was the principal wife and the head of the household, she could not bully Qiao Jingjing by taking advantage of her power.
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