The Prisoner of Beauty - Chapter 11

Chapter 11: The Beautiful Lady

From Xindu northward to Yuyang, the journey would take more than half a month. Nanny Zhong had previously been dispatched here by Lady Xu to prepare for the wedding; now that the ceremony was complete and the young lady was heading north, she naturally traveled back with them.

 

The person escorting the young lady north was still Wei Liang.

 

Wei Liang harbored a deep and bitter hatred for the Qiao family. Years ago, when Xiao Qiao’s father, Qiao Ping, had come to the Wei estate to offer his condolences, it was Wei Liang who had led the charge, drawing his blade in anger right in the mourning hall. Naturally, he had no affection for the current Xiao Qiao either. The first time he saw her and realized his master was to marry such a woman, he had instantly labeled her a "temptress" in his heart. Now, being ordered to escort her to Yuyang, he was entirely unwilling. However, this task had been assigned to him by Military Advisor Gongsun, so he could not refuse. Furthermore, he understood in his heart that although this Qiao family daughter was destined to be despised by everyone in the future, since his master had married her, it meant she still possessed a modicum of utility. Therefore, he could only reluctantly accept the assignment once again.

 

Wei Liang prepared the carriages and horses, selected the attendants, and ordered men to carry out Xiao Qiao's dowry chests and secure them. He then waited outside the gates of the Xin residence.

 

Xiao Qiao did not keep anyone waiting long. By the time she finished preparing, the sun had barely risen to the height of the rooftops.

 

Accompanied by Nurse Chun and several maids, she stepped out of the bridal chambers of the Sheyang Pavilion.

 

Nurse Chun had truly been holding in a breath of furious indignation all morning.

 

If Xiao Qiao's attire and cosmetics at last night's wedding had been meant to match her status as the Lord's wife—leaning toward a dignified elegance that was arguably a bit too mature for her actual age—then now, aside from the necessary poise, it was meant to highlight her natural beauty and the innate grace that flowed from her every gesture.

 

Xiao Qiao had been raised under Nurse Chun's watchful eye; no one knew just how breathtakingly beautiful she could be better than her nurse.

 

Nurse Chun styled her hair into a Wangxian chignon, gathering her long, dark tresses high atop her head and securing them with Xiao Qiao’s favorite jade comb. At her temple, she pinned a single dangling buyao hairpin inlaid with a Southern pearl the size of a fingernail, adding no other superfluous ornaments. In truth, her face required very little powder or paint; a heavy application would only mask her natural radiance. Yesterday, Nurse Chun had applied a thick layer of makeup solely to balance the weight of the grand ceremonial robes. This morning, her emerald-tinted brows were lightly touched, her crimson lips subtly stained, and her cheeks dusted with a faint layer of rosy, fragrant powder—rendering her face instantly radiant and captivating.

 

Nurse Chun had also long known that a quju (curved-hem robe), fitted tightly along the torso with a hem that swept the ground beneath the knees, was best suited to accentuate Xiao Qiao’s increasingly exquisite and graceful silhouette. Serving Xiao Qiao closely during her baths, no one was more aware of the changes in her body than her nurse. Ever since her first menarche the previous year, her form had been transforming day by day; her delicate chest had already begun to blossom quietly like budding flowers, possessing a unique texture and beauty distinct from mature womanhood that was difficult to describe without seeing it firsthand.

 

Her young mistress was merely delicate of frame, unlike most of the tall and robust women of the north. Furthermore, having just reached the age of fifteen, her stature had not yet fully matured. Combined with the six layers of inner and outer ceremonial robes last night, her actual slender yet curvaceous figure had been completely obscured. It was absolutely not because she was "as skin and bones" as those gossiping women whispered behind her back this morning, claiming that was why she failed to please the Marquis.

 

It was your precious Marquis who missed his chance to find out, alright?

 

Nurse Chun could not help but criticize internally once more. She selected a light, pale rose quju for Xiao Qiao. After wrapping it securely around her torso three times, she fastened it at the waist with an embroidered sash, revealing a pleated skirt of soft silver silk that trailed elegantly beneath. After straightening the sleeves, as the weather was freezing and the wind fierce, she added a peach-blossom-colored, fur-lined hooded cloak. The cloak bore no extravagant decorations save for a single branch of blooming plum blossoms embroidered along one side of the hem. If the wind grew too harsh, she could pull up the hood for warmth—an ensemble that was simple and elegant, yet subtly opulent.

 

This travel attire, which drew heavily upon her natural charm, was flawless from head to toe. It was neither too plain to diminish her status as the newlywed wife of the Lord, nor too extravagant to appear gaudy. As she walked gracefully into the wind, her dark hair gleamed against the green jade, moon-shaped pearls dangled from her earlobes, her skirts swayed rhythmically, and her bright eyes shone like crystals. The buyao at her temple shimmered with light. Seen from afar, she looked like the Goddess of the Luo River rising from the waters—breathtakingly beautiful beyond measure. Even the stark, gray courtyard behind her, dulled by the winter chill, seemed suddenly enlivened by a vibrant scenery of early spring. Along her path, the servants they encountered turned to stare, some even forgetting to bow in their daze. Long after she had passed, they remained rooted to the spot, unable to pull their gazes away from her retreating figure.

 

Nurse Chun finally felt the knot of indignation in her chest ease slightly.

 

Passing through the front gate led to the main entrance of the estate, where a few stone steps descended. It had been bitterly cold the previous night, and fearing there might be residual ice on the steps, Nurse Chun reached out to support Xiao Qiao. Gathering her skirts slightly, Xiao Qiao lowered her head to descend, only to feel Nurse Chun suddenly freeze beside her. Immediately after, her sleeve was gently tugged.

 

Xiao Qiao looked up and saw Wei Shao standing by the roadside not far ahead. Beside him stood a slightly thin, middle-aged man with a three-pointed beard. His face was lean, his eyes sharp and bright, though his complexion carried a slight air of chronic illness, making him look like a civil official under Wei Shao's command.

 

Nurse Chun had previously inquired and learned that Wei Shao had a trusted strategist named Gongsun Yang, who was heavily relied upon and frequently accompanied him. Seeing this middle-aged man walking with him now, she guessed it must be him. From their appearance, they seemed to have just been passing by, only to cross paths with them by pure coincidence.

 

Seeing Wei Shao’s eyes sweep over her with an expressionless gaze, Xiao Qiao paused her steps for a fraction of a second before continuing forward as if nothing were amiss. Upon reaching him, a serene smile graced her face as she softly greeted him, "Husband."

 

The middle-aged man beside him had already bowed deeply in greeting, introducing himself as Gongsun Yang, the Lord’s Campaign Chancellor. As he spoke, a warm smile touched his face, and his demeanor was exceptionally respectful.

 

Xiao Qiao returned the smile, giving Gongsun Yang a slight nod of acknowledgment. Turning back to Wei Shao, she added softly, "Then your concubine-wife shall take her leave. As I will not be able to serve my Husband in the days ahead, I pray you take good care of yourself." With that, she offered a graceful curtsy, turned on her heel, and walked away without casting another glance at him.

 

Wei Shao seemed momentarily taken aback. His brow furrowed slightly as his gaze locked onto her back.

 

Although Nurse Chun harbored immense resentment toward Wei Shao, she dared not show any disrespect on the surface during such an encounter. Seeing that Xiao Qiao had already walked ahead, she hurriedly bowed to Wei Shao, offered a respectful glance to the man named Gongsun, and turned to quickly catch up with her mistress.

 

"My Lord, will you truly not escort the Lady out of the city?"

 

Once Xiao Qiao’s figure had drifted into the distance, Gongsun Yang advised once more, "In this servant's opinion, it would be best for my Lord to escort her out of the city. According to the Rites of Zhou, a marriage ceremony is a sacred covenant. Though the moral standards of the world are declining these days, a harmonious marriage between leaders is still something the common people rejoice to see; such is the natural order of human relations. You wed yesterday and the Lady departs north today—this can still be excused by the urgency of military affairs. However, no matter how overwhelmed my Lord is with administrative duties, this brief path to see her out of the city gates should not be omitted. If you do not escort her, I fear it may arouse suspicion among the citizens in the city."

 

...

Upon stepping outside the grand gates, Wei Liang and Nanny Zhong stepped forward to welcome Xiao Qiao. She boarded the lead carriage, while Wei Liang, Nanny Zhong, and the others took their respective positions. Just as the procession was about to depart, they suddenly saw Wei Shao emerge from the estate and hurried over to greet him.

 

"Prepare my horse. I will see her out of the city."

 

Xiao Qiao was already securely seated inside the carriage when Wei Shao’s voice suddenly drifted over from behind. Out of curiosity, she couldn't resist parting the window curtain to steal a glance. She saw him standing on the steps of the main gate, waiting for someone to lead his horse over. His profile was turned toward her, appearing deeply lost in thought. Suddenly, as if sensing the surreptitious gaze from behind, he turned his face and directed his eyes straight toward her carriage.

 

Xiao Qiao instantly recoiled, letting the curtain fall back with a sharp pa.

 

...

The carriages and horses set off onto the main thoroughfare.

 

At this hour of the morning, the streets were gradually growing crowded. Seeing a procession of carriages and horses approaching from the direction of the Xin Palace—with a grand carriage in the center surrounded by armed guards and Wei Shao riding his horse alongside—the passersby slowly began to gather, hailing him as Lord. As they crossed another street, the crowd swelled further. Somehow, word began to spread among them that the person seated within the grand carriage was none other than the newlywed Lady of the Marquis. They whispered that due to the critical state of the war, the Lord had no choice but to send her north on the very day after their wedding; though loath to part, he was personally escorting her out of the city as a final gesture. The emotions of the citizenry slowly swelled with admiration. Someone raised their voice to shout respectful greetings toward the unseen lady inside the carriage, and the rest of the crowd quickly followed suit.

 

Sitting inside the carriage, Xiao Qiao could hear the citizens outside calling out their respects, some loudly wishing her a smooth and safe journey.

 

In this era, although Confucian rituals advocating male dominance and discouraging women from remarrying were beginning to be championed by the ruling class, the social customs were still vastly more open than in later dynasties. There were no strict restrictions forbidding noblewomen and elite ladies from showing their faces in public. Back in Yanzhou, while Xiao Qiao’s mother was still alive, she would take both of her daughters to the Temple of the Flower Goddess every March to celebrate the Shangsi Festival—one of the most important celebrations of the year. Under the bright and beautiful spring sun, they would ride in open-top carriages, accepting the warm greetings of the local citizens along the way and sharing in the people's joy. Hearing the clamor outside grow louder and louder, Xiao Qiao instructed Nurse Chun to roll up the curtains on both sides, allowing her to smile and nod in acknowledgment to the crowds lining the road.

 

The common people of the city naturally knew nothing of the dark history between the Wei and Qiao families. Because Wei Shao commanded immense public devotion, they harbored an equal measure of goodwill toward his newlywed wife, deeply moved by the tragic reality of a couple forced to separate the day after their wedding. When she finally revealed her face to return their courtesies, sitting poised and elegant in the center of the carriage with a divine, ethereal grace, her smile was like a warm breeze sweeping through an orchard of blooming peaches and plums—profoundly warm and approachable. As her gaze swept across them, every single person felt a distinct sensation that the Lord's Lady was greeting them personally. Thunderous cheers erupted from the crowd in their excitement. Regardless of age or gender, they began to chase after the carriage. The numbers swelled rapidly until the pathways on both sides of the road were tightly packed, everyone clamoring forward just to catch another glimpse of her.

 

Xiao Qiao's initial gesture of showing her face to greet the public had merely been out of her sense of duty as the Lord's wife. She had never expected it to draw such a massive, trailing crowd. Seeing even more people running toward them from the distance, she worried that the swelling numbers might inadvertently trigger a dangerous stampede. She waved her hands gently to signal the nearby citizens that there was no need to see her off any further, and then quietly lowered the carriage curtains.