sjar Chapter 1187 Posthumously Honoring His Deceased Wife Resolves Conflict
Chapter 1187 Posthumously Honoring His Deceased Wife Resolves Conflict
After Dong Bai returned to his room to rest, Ma Chao sat alone under the lamp. The tea on the table had been changed three times, and all the cups had gone cold. Outside the window, the autumn wind swirled fallen leaves against the windowpane, like a series of questions, disturbing his peace of mind.
He remembered the Dong family's contributions to Xiliang. Although Dong Zhuo was long gone, the Dong family members had fought alongside him for many years, shedding blood and sweat; this bond was as heavy as Mount Tai. Li Ru was his trusted ally, and countless perilous situations were averted thanks to this gentleman's ruthless planning. But Li Ru was notoriously stubborn—he was not driven by fame or fortune, but firmly believed he was continuing Dong Zhuo's cause, with only the Dong family's survival in his eyes and heart.
Ma Chao tapped his fingertips on the table, producing a dull thud. Dong Huang, the second generation of the Dong family, was mediocre, and the third generation of collateral branches had no outstanding figures. Only Dong Bai, intelligent and decisive, was worthy of the Dong family's reputation. Li Ru had placed all his hopes on Dong Bai, even before their marriage, he was already thinking about their future child. This eagerness sent a chill down Ma Chao's spine.
He recalled how Li Ru, for the sake of the Dong family's interests, would even scheme against children. If that ruthless method were used against his own children… a chilling glint crept into his eyes. If Li Ru knew his place and behaved himself, all would be well; but if he insisted on sowing discord among the children, even attempting to undermine Ma Yue's position as heir apparent, then even the Dong family's illustrious achievements might not guarantee their longevity. To be so greedy for more when already at the height of wealth—then one has no one to blame but oneself.
But the thought had barely formed when Dong Bai's earnest eyes appeared before him. Her unwavering resolve when pleading for Li Ru, her steadfastness in protecting the Dong family, and her unconditional trust in him… Ma Chao slowly closed his eyes, suppressing his ruthlessness. How could he, because of Li Ru's stubbornness, betray Dong Zhuo's lifelong trust and let Dong Bai's deep affection fade away?
Her thoughts turned to Ma Yue. The child had grown up in Jiangdong, possessing a stubborn, aloof nature, and harbored a deep-seated resentment towards Dong Bai. How could she and her son be brought closer? This wasn't just about maintaining harmony within the household, but also about the future—if Ma Yue could genuinely accept Dong Bai and the Dong family, perhaps this potential crisis could be resolved.
Thinking of Li Ru, Ma Chao frowned again. Perhaps there was no need to rush into action; it would be better to observe their actions first. As long as the Dong family remained content with their wealth and status and did not harbor any improper ambitions, he would treat them well. If it truly came to an unavoidable situation… He looked out at the deep night, a resolute glint in his eyes. Even if Ma Yue had to step in to salvage the situation in the future, that was a matter for later; at least for now, he couldn't let Dong Bai down.
The lamp wick snapped open with a "pop," startling him from his reverie. Dawn was approaching. He took the last sip of the chilled tea on the table; its bitterness washed over his tongue, but it gradually cleared his mind. No matter how many twists and turns lay ahead, protecting those around him and safeguarding the foundation of Xiliang was the most important thing.
Moonlight streamed through the windowpane, casting a cool, clear band of light on the ground. Ma Chao sat on the edge of the couch, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the jade pendant at his waist. Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind, like a spark igniting in the darkness, stirring his heart.
Sally's grave has been moved to Chang'an, buried at the foot of the green hills on the outskirts of the city. His marital status with Sally had long been established; back in Jiangdong, she was treated with the respect due to a principal wife, and Ma Yue was their legitimate child. However, Sally passed away too soon, and now that he intends to remarry Dong Bai, if he directly makes Dong Bai his principal wife, Ma Yue's status will inevitably be awkward—though the eldest son, he will become "illegitimate." How can he face Sally in the afterlife, and how can he ensure Ma Yue's foothold in the household?
He recalled how Sally had died protecting Sun Shao, solely out of brotherhood with Sun Ce. That fierce courage and sense of righteousness still warmed his heart. She deserved a respectable title.
"Perhaps...we should first posthumously confer the title of principal wife on Sally," Ma Chao muttered to himself, the idea growing clearer and clearer. "Then we can marry Dong Bai as our second wife, and make her a queen as well."
In this way, Ma Yue would be the eldest son born to the principal wife, his status unshakeable, and no one could find fault with him. Although Dong Bai was a second wife, she would still be the mistress of the household, rightfully in charge of the inner quarters. This would satisfy Sally's feelings, protect Ma Yue's dignity, and allow Dong Bai to gain a firm foothold in the household—after all, although the second wife and the first wife were born first, they were both legal wives and there was no distinction of rank between them.
However, this matter must be explained to Dong Bai first, and her consent must be obtained. Dong Bai comes from the Dong family and has a noble status. If she goes from being the "first wife" to the "second wife," it may seem slightly different to outsiders. With her pride, can she accept it?
Ma Chao stood up and paced a few steps in the hall. He understood Dong Bai; she wasn't a woman who cared about empty fame, but rather valued the stability of the household and his affections. If he were to clarify the crux of the matter—not only for Ma Yue, but also for the future peace of the inner quarters, to prevent the children from being misled and creating discord between the legitimate and illegitimate children—with Dong Bai's insight, she would surely understand his good intentions.
He recalled Dong Bai's earlier statement that she "treated Ma Yue as her own son," and remembered the effort she had put into resolving the conflicts between the children, which gave him more certainty. What Dong Bai cared about was never the title of "first wife" or "second wife," but whether he truly cared for her and whether he could bring peace and harmony to the family.
"Let's do it this way." Ma Chao made up his mind, the hesitation in his eyes disappeared, leaving only determination.
After meeting his parents tomorrow and washing away the dust of his journey, he will first have a detailed talk with Dong Bai. He wants her to know that this arrangement is not to wrong her, but for the sake of all of them—to comfort Sally's spirit, to allow Ma Yue to stand upright, and even more so to ensure that their future days will be less turbulent, so that the foundation of Xiliang, starting from this inner courtyard, will be as solid as a rock.
As the morning light just began to stream through the window, Dong Bai tiptoed into the inner room. Ma Chao was sitting on the edge of the bed, letting her come forward to straighten his clothes. Dong Bai's movements were gentle and graceful; her fingertips brushed against the brocade robe embroidered with subtle patterns, smoothing out each wrinkle.
“My lord, you woke up early today.” When she looked up, her eyes were filled with the morning light, reflecting a gentle smile. “I have prepared breakfast, which is your favorite lotus seed porridge and crystal buns.”
Ma Chao grasped her hand as she adjusted her clothes, her fingertips still carrying the coolness of the morning: "Bai'er, there's something I want to tell you."
Dong Bai stopped what she was doing, looked up at him, her eyes full of gentleness: "Please speak, my lord."
“Sally died protecting me, and I cannot fail to repay this kindness.” Ma Chao’s voice deepened. “I would like to ask Mr. Wenyou and the others to discuss posthumously granting her a title, so that she may rest in peace in the afterlife.”
Upon hearing this, Dong Bai's smile remained unchanged, but she gently patted the back of his hand: "My lord's kindness is appreciated; Sister Sally in heaven will surely remember it." She lowered her head to continue tying his jade belt, her tone as natural as if discussing ordinary family matters, "Being able to stay by my lord's side is already a great blessing; I've never thought of anything else. If we were to be petty about everything, we would lose our affection for each other, and how could we live such a peaceful life as we do now?"
When she looked up, her eyes reflected Ma Chao's image, and she said earnestly, "Sister Sally was willing to die for my lord, which shows how deep her affection for him is. Let alone just bestowing a posthumous title, I would be willing to do anything you ask of me, as long as you ask."
"Besides," Dong Bai smiled, her fingertips brushing against the stray hairs on his shoulder, "what does it matter whether I have a title or not when I follow you, my lord? I am content as long as I can serve you every day."
A surge of emotion welled up in Ma Chao's chest, and he abruptly pulled her into his arms. Dong Bai's gentle honesty flowed through his heart like a warm current, soothing away all his petty concerns. He looked down at the dark hair of the woman in his arms, his voice filled with barely suppressed emotion: "Bai'er..."
“My lord,” Dong Bai gently snuggled against him, her voice muffled, “Let’s have breakfast first, it won’t taste good if it gets cold. After we’ve eaten, it’s not too late to go and discuss it with Mr. Wenyou and the others.”
Ma Chao tightened his arms, holding her even closer: "Okay, I'll listen to you."
Morning light streamed through the carved window lattice, casting dappled shadows on the blue brick floor. Dong Bai leaned against him, listening to his steady heartbeat, a quiet smile playing on her lips. She never cared about empty titles; as long as she could stay by his side like this, even without any official recognition, she felt as if her days were steeped in honey, sweet enough to bring her peace of mind.
Ma Chao lowered his head and kissed the top of her head, thinking to himself: This kind of insightful and sensible woman is the one I should protect.
A moment later, Dong Bai gently nudged him: "Hurry up, the lotus seed porridge will taste bitter if it gets cold."
Ma Chao released her hand and led her outside. The moment their fingertips touched, it felt as if they had grasped the most secure happiness in the world.
“Once we’ve reached an agreement, we need to inform Father, Mother, and the elders of your Dong family,” Ma Chao said solemnly as he walked. “This matter concerns Sally’s posthumous reputation, so we can’t be hasty. We also need to ask Xu Shu and Lu Su to think about it together and decide on a suitable title.”
Dong Bai nodded and obediently replied, "You've thought of everything, sir."
The breeze under the eaves carried the coolness of the morning, but it couldn't dispel the warmth in their clasped hands. Some feelings never need to be spoken; a single glance or a gentle touch is enough to convey a thousand words.
When Ma Teng and his wife heard Ma Chao mention that he wanted to posthumously honor Sally, and that this was also for Ma Yue's future—after all, Ma Yue was currently the only son in the family, and having a respectable title would make his future actions more legitimate—the old couple exchanged a glance, their faces full of satisfaction.
“You’ve thought this through,” Ma Teng stroked his beard, his voice booming. “Sally is a good girl. She lost her life protecting Yue’er, so it’s only right that she be given a title. And Yue’er…” He glanced at Ma Yue, who was playing in the middle of the room, “With this relationship between us, it will be more respectable when we talk about his mother in the future.”
Madam Ma nodded in agreement: "Yes, let's do it your way. You decide who to invite and what procedures to follow. We, the old couple, have no objections." Now that Ma Chao is the overlord of Xiliang, he is in charge of family affairs. Moreover, this matter is clearly for the benefit of the next generation of the Ma family, so they naturally agreed without hesitation.
When the news reached the Dong family, the elders didn't hesitate. The Dong family was no longer what it once was, relying entirely on the Ma family's support to maintain its dignity. Ma Chao could have chosen not to consult the Dong family, but the fact that he was willing to give Dong Bai face and involve her was already a tremendous favor. The elders of the Dong family held Dong Bai's hands, repeatedly instructing her, "Bai'er, you must follow your husband closely and not let him down."
Dong Bai nodded, her face flushed, but her heart was filled with sweetness. Ma Chao thought of her in everything he did, even consulting her before posthumously bestowing the title of Sally. This thoughtfulness made her feel very secure in her life.