The Prisoner of Beauty - Chapter 24

Chapter 24: Replaced

Wei Yan did not reside alongside the rest of the Wei family. He had moved out on his own long ago, maintaining a private residence within the city.
 
Over the past two years, Wei Shao had rarely been in Youzhou, leaving the region's defense largely in Wei Yan’s hands. Because Wei Yan stationed his troops in Dai County, this residence sat empty for the majority of the time. Now that he had returned, however, a full complement of servants and maids naturally stood ready. Having invited Wei Shao to his abode, they passed through the main gates, crossed the hanging flower gate, and arrived at a reception hall in the courtyard. On his orders, a bright array of candles was lit, and the servants quickly set a table with the finest delicacies and brought out wine. Wei Yan personally filled Wei Shao’s cup to the brim, saying, "By seizing Shiyi, it is as if the gateway to Bingzhou has been flung wide open. Marching west to swallow Jinyang is now well within our grasp. Truly cause for congratulation! I toast you, Zhonglin!"
 
"Youzhou is the very foundation of the Wei family, kept ironclad for many years. Eldest Brother’s contributions are, in truth, even greater than my own. I return the toast to Eldest Brother!"
 
The two men took their seats and drained a cup each. Noticing Wei Shao swirling the wine in his hand to catch its aroma, Wei Yan smiled. "Well? Do you know why I invited you to my home tonight? Since antiquity, it has been said that the wine of Zhao is fierce, the wine of Yan is mellow, and the wine of Qin is astringent. Some time ago, I acquired a wine slave whose ancestors were master brewers in the palace of Zhao. The vintage he brews is of a richness and potency rarely seen. Having such an exquisite thing, how could I enjoy it alone? Naturally, I had to invite Second Brother to share it." Filling the cups once more, he chuckled, "With fine wine, how could we lack beautiful women?" Having spoken, he clapped his hands. From behind the pearl curtain, the sounds of string and wind instruments rose in a melodious, layered cadence, and a line of beautifully adorned dancers filed out, swaying gracefully to the music. They were all courtesans reared by Wei Yan himself, their silhouettes lithe and supple, drifting as if they were immortals.
 
Wei Yan signaled for the most beautiful woman among them to accompany Wei Shao and serve his drinks, but Wei Shao dismissed her with a wave of his hand, indicating she should not draw near. Wei Yan paused in surprise, then burst into a hearty laugh, teasing, "Zhonglin, you are exactly the same as before—pure of heart and few of desires, avoiding beauty as though it were a vice! You were like this in the past, and now that you have a delicate bride at home, these common women are even less capable of catching your eye."
 
Wei Shao offered a faint smile but made no attempt to defend himself. He simply lifted the wine vessel on his own and poured the liquid into the cup before him.
 
"Very well, since you have come to my quarters, you are the guest. If the guest is displeased, we shall dismiss them, lest they clatter in front of us and disrupt the conversation between brothers!"
 
Wei Yan waved his hand. The steward attending the table immediately signaled the musicians to halt, and the dancers withdrew as swiftly as they had arrived. After the two had shared a few more cups, Wei Yan inquired about the defense of Shiyi, reminding him to guard against a counterattack by Chen Xiang.
 
Wei Shao replied, "For the moment, Mister Gongsun is holding it on my behalf, so there shouldn't be any major issues. The sole headache is that Chen Pang refuses to surrender to me. Chen Pang has governed the populace in Shiyi for many years and enjoys considerable support among the people. If he does not yield, I fear the citizens of Shiyi will continue to harbor allegiance to Bingzhou."
 
Wei Yan said, "It would be best if Chen Pang surrenders, but if he resolutely refuses, executing him to warn the populace is the only proper strategy. Keeping him alive like this will only breed calamity as time wears on. If he refuses the carrot, give him the stick! Balancing benevolence with authority is the true path of military command."
 
Wei Shao responded, "I harbor the same thoughts. It is only that Mister Gongsun urged me to exercise a bit more patience. For now, let us leave the matter as it stands. In a few days, I may very well pay another visit."
 
Wei Yan noted, "Do you know why you earned the moniker of 'Little Overlord' during your youth? You possessed a fiery temperament, were exceptionally strong-willed, and always insisted on having your own way. If this were a few years earlier, ten Chen Pangs would have already lost their heads. If I guess correctly, it is because you yourself do not yet wish to kill Chen Pang that his life has been spared. If a murderous intent had truly taken root in your heart, no amount of persuasion from Gongsun Yang would have been of any use. I see that your disposition has become far gentler than it used to be."
 
Wei Shao smiled faintly. "Let us not speak of the past. It has been a long time since we brothers last met; drinking is our only proper business tonight." Having said that, he poured a cup for Wei Yan.
 
Wei Yan smiled and raised his cup, bringing it to his nose to inhale the fragrance of the vintage. Suddenly, the scene of his initial encounter with that young lady at the mounting shop during the day floated into his mind.
 
Though it had been nothing more than a fleeting glance, he had indeed been utterly captivated at the time. A beauty of such countenance was something he had never before witnessed in his life. Although her form did not yet possess the voluptuous allure of a mature woman, with his extensive past experience in reading people, he knew at a single glance that she possessed an altogether different charm. The grace of her form, which blended the innocence of a young girl with the poise of a newly married woman, had struck him squarely in the eyes at that moment. Seeing that this young lady of unknown origin seemed to detest his scrutiny, she had turned her back to him. Yet she remained unaware that her dark, cascading hair and collar still failed to conceal a section of her jade-like neck. It lay half-revealed before him, as smooth as mutton-fat white jade, provoking countless fantasies. A sudden throb of desire had gripped him then; let alone a single specimen of "Vermilion Threads and Golden Borders," even if she demanded he pluck the stars from the sky to win her favor, he would have found a way to accomplish it.
 
In his earlier years, he had followed Madame Xu’s arrangements and taken a wife. Within two years, however, she had succumbed to illness, and he had not taken another wife since. Yet he was entirely different from Wei Shao; he never practiced abstinence, and there was no shortage of women by his side. Women were plenty, but none had ever touched his heart; as for those whose faces he failed to recall the morning after spending a single night together, they were by no means few.
 
Yet to feel so utterly captivated and restless upon encountering a young woman who appeared to have been wed only recently, as he did today—this sensation was entirely unprecedented.
 
Given his status and position, what manner of woman could he not obtain? Even if it were a married woman from a family of prominent officials in Luoyang, if he truly set his heart upon her, it was not impossible to get his hands on her. He had never imagined that after following her carriage from a distance, the door she ultimately entered would be the very gate of the Wei estate.
 
"Eldest Brother, on my way back with Grandmother, she spoke of you several times. She mentioned that you are currently living entirely alone, with no one by your side to tend to your daily needs. Yet you refuse to move back into the estate. Grandmother is rather anxious about you. Your unwillingness to return must be due to my mother, is it not?"
 
Madame Zhu did not like Wei Yan. Years ago, when they still lived under the same roof, though she did not go so far as to make life difficult for him, she appeared guarded at every turn. Wei Yan had sensed this, moving out to live on his own by the age of seventeen or eighteen, where he remained to this day.
 
While Wei Yan was caught in his brief reverie, he heard Wei Shao speak these words. Snapping back to the present, he chuckled, "What does it have to do with Aunt? It is simply that I have grown accustomed to my own unrestrained ways, and I have no desire to be bound beneath Grandmother's watchful eyes." He suddenly recalled something and added, "If Grandmother attempts to arrange some marriage alliance for me again this time, make sure to inform me once you find out, so that I may return to Dai County a bit earlier."
 
Wei Shao smiled. "Grandmother acts purely out of concern."
 
Wei Yan scoffed, "If an arrangement like the one made for you were given to me, I would gladly accept it."
 
Wei Shao had been mid-pour, but upon hearing this, the hand holding the vessel froze in midair. He raised his eyes to cast a glance at Wei Yan.
 
Realizing his slip of the tongue, Wei Yan covered it with a laugh, saying, "Sister-in-Law’s beauty is a rare sight in this world. You possess no small amount of good fortune, Zhonglin. You have secured a beauty, and you have secured Yanzhou. Grandmother's arrangement for this marriage could not possibly be any better."
 
Wei Shao offered a slight smile, filled the cup to the brim, and raised it toward Wei Yan in a silent toast before draining it slowly.
 
...
 
By the time Wei Shao returned, it was already past the hour of Hai. As he entered, his steps were slightly unsteady. When he crossed the doorframe and threshold—which had only just been repaired a few days ago after he cleaved it apart—a wave of intoxication seemed to surge over him. He paused for a brief moment, reaching out a hand to steady himself against the door.
 
Over the past two years, Xiao Qiao had already formed the habit of sleeping early. In truth, aside from sleeping early, there was little else to occupy her time. Normally at this hour, unless she had something on her mind that kept her awake, she would have long since fallen asleep. Unable to wait any longer just now, she had climbed onto the bed ahead of him and leaned there. The room was perfectly still, and as a hazy drowsiness gradually stole over her, she was jolted awake by the commotion Wei Shao made upon his return. Hastily throwing a robe over her shoulders, she stepped off the bed to greet him. Seeing him now halted at the entrance with a powerful reek of wine assailing her nose, she knew he was intoxicated and called for the maidservants to assist him inside.
 
Two or three maidservants outside hurried forward, attempting to support Wei Shao from either side.
 
Wei Shao raised his eyes, fixing his gaze upon Xiao Qiao, who stood before him yet had refrained from drawing too close. He saw that she was also looking back at him, her face filled with an expression of concern. Perhaps because the wine he had consumed tonight was indeed far fiercer than usual, a tightness gripped his chest, and another wave of intoxication washed over him. He violently shook off the maidservants who had approached to support his arms, lifted his feet to cross the threshold on his own strength, and strode inside.
 
Xiao Qiao had only been sharing a room with Wei Shao for a couple of days, yet she had already observed that he seemed to place a heavy emphasis on neatness. Although he predominantly wore black attire, he possessed a distinctly meticulous streak. The maidservants in the western wing had served him for a long time, and they were well aware of the Lord's habit of bathing and changing his clothes daily. Since Old Nanny Wang was no longer in the western wing, a newly appointed stewardess surnamed Lin had ordered water to be brought in the moment she saw him return, and everything was quickly prepared.
 
Old Nanny Lin also knew that the Lord disliked having anyone present while he bathed. Once the bathwater was ready, she led the servants outside to wait, intending to return later to tidy up.
 
"The bathwater is prepared. Does Husband wish to bathe?"
 
Xiao Qiao inquired of him.
 
Wei Shao acted as though he hadn't heard a thing. Turning his back to her, he unbuckled his sword, pressing it onto the sword table with a sharp pa. He then turned and walked directly toward the bathhouse.
 
Xiao Qiao was well aware that he required no assistance during his baths, much less any service from her. Seeing him unbuttoning his collar all the way inside until his silhouette vanished past the bathhouse doorway, she felt it improper to simply climb back into bed and sleep, so she sat down to wait.
 
She waited for quite some time. In the beginning, she could still hear the distinct splashing of water from within. Eventually, however, everything fell completely silent, without the slightest sound remaining.
 
Xiao Qiao hesitated briefly, sensing that something was amiss. Ultimately, she stood up, held her breath, and approached the bathhouse with light, cautious steps. Parting the hanging curtains from the corner to create a narrow slit, she sneaked a swift glance inside.
 
Wei Shao was leaning back in the tub, his arms stretched out to either side resting upon the wooden rim, his head tilted slightly backward with his eyes closed tight.
 
It turned out he had fallen fast asleep.
 
Xiao Qiao could naturally harbor no good feelings toward this individual.
 
At the present moment, however, she had no desire to see him slip beneath the water in his deep slumber. After a brief hesitation, she called out to him, "Husband."
 
He appeared to be sleeping very deeply, offering no reaction whatsoever.
 
Xiao Qiao raised her volume slightly.
 
He still offered no response.
 
Xiao Qiao stepped inside, picked up a wooden ladle used for bathing from the side, extended it forward, and nudged his arm, calling out once more, "Husband."
 
Wei Shao finally showed a reaction this time. His eyelids fluttered slightly before he slowly blinked his eyes open.
 
The signs of intoxication remained heavily etched upon his face. Droplets of water clung to his skin, making the dark ink of his brows appear even deeper. Because his head was tilted slightly backward, his masculine Adam's apple appeared exceptionally prominent. His broad shoulders, arms, and chest exposed above the water revealed a subtle hint of muscular definition, shimmering with a warm, copper-toned sheen beneath the candlelight.
 
The moment he opened his eyes, Xiao Qiao averted her gaze, shifting it instead to a bath towel draped over the edge of the tub beside him, and remarked, "You had fallen asleep just now."
 
Wei Shao closed his eyes briefly, raising a hand to rub his forehead as if suffering from a headache. He then shifted his shoulders, slowly sitting up straight as his eyes locked onto her.
 
Xiao Qiao turned around and walked outward.
 
A loud huala of rushing water echoed from behind her, indicating he had risen from the tub.
 
Xiao Qiao quickened her steps.
 
"Pass me my clothes."
 
His voice drifted from behind her, carrying a trace of hoarseness.
 
Xiao Qiao had no choice but to halt. Taking a set of clean garments from the rack, she walked back and handed them over.
 
He had already stepped out of the tub, his lower body loosely wrapped in the large towel. Accepting the clothes, he threw them on and tied the sash carelessly, allowing the large towel to drop to the floor. Barefooted, he strode outward.
 
Heaven only knew precisely how much he had drunk tonight, but he was thoroughly intoxicated. The light within the bathhouse was dim and shrouded in steam; as he turned around, he failed to notice a basin rack situated nearby, and Xiao Qiao watched openly as he walked straight into it.
 
Given his tall stature, a resounding bang echoed as his forehead collided solidly with the wooden crossbeam.
 
The timber of the rack was incredibly hard, and this collision was entirely direct.
 
His silhouette froze.
 
"Si—"
 
Xiao Qiao heard him let out a low hiss of pain, raising his hand to cover his forehead.
 
Although she couldn't see his expression, it was easily imagined.
 
She truly could not contain herself, letting out a sharp chi of laughter.
 
Though the sound was exceptionally faint—merely a brief bubble surfacing at the bottom of her throat before she instantly suppressed it—Wei Shao’s ears seemed to have suddenly become incredibly sharp. He snapped his head back instantly.
 
Knitting his brows together, he glared at her.
 
Xiao Qiao’s expression turned entirely solemn in an instant.
 
The hand covering his forehead slowly lowered.
 
"Who placed this rack here?" His voice sounded thoroughly displeased.
 
"It was originally kept in this spot," Xiao Qiao responded softly.
 
"If it blocks the path, I shall have them put it away."
 
she added.
 
Wei Shao glared at her once more.
 
"There is no need,"
 
he muttered coldly. Rounding the rack, he finally managed to exit the bathhouse successfully this time.
 
Xiao Qiao bit her lip, followed him out, and opened the door to allow Old Nanny Lin and the others inside to tidy up. The maidservants efficiently completed their tasks and departed the room.
 
Xiao Qiao shut the door, turning around to find that he had already stretched out upon the bed with his eyes closed.
 
She walked over, blew out the lamp beside the bed, and carefully climbed onto the bed in the darkness, ensuring she didn't touch him in the slightest.
 
Not long after she lay down, she heard Wei Shao speak: "I am thirsty."
 
His meaning was naturally for her to fetch him some water.
 
Xiao Qiao thus climbed back up, ensuring with absolute precision that she didn't touch him as she crawled off the bed. Lighting the lamp, she went to the table to pour a cup of tea, bringing it to the bedside.
 
Wei Shao sat up, accepted it, and drank. Xiao Qiao returned the empty vessel to the table, extinguished the lamp once more, and returned to the bed with the same degree of caution.
 
She had only just lain down and hadn't even adjusted her sleeping posture when Wei Shao’s voice echoed beside her ear yet again: "Still thirsty."
 
A wave of suspicion immediately gripped Xiao Qiao. She suspected that she had ultimately offended him inadvertently just now, and that he was deliberately using his intoxication as a pretext to order her around.
 
If this had been her past life, she would have kicked him off the bed on the spot, telling him to go and drink his fill himself.
 
But in this world, a wife serving her husband was an absolute matter of course.
 
Xiao Qiao crawled back down, lit the oil lamp, poured another cup of water, and brought it to the bedside.
 
Wei Shao opened his eyes, sat up sluggishly, took the water, and drank it down.
 
"Does Husband require more? Shall I fetch another cup?"
 
Xiao Qiao inquired of him.
 
Wei Shao handed the cup back, cast a glance at her, and knit his brows slightly. Without offering a reply, he lay straight back down.
 
Xiao Qiao remained standing beside the bed for a moment longer. Seeing that he had seemingly fallen asleep for good this time, she finally returned the tea vessel, blew out the lamp once more, and slowly climbed onto the bed.
 Before extinguishing the lamp, she had noted the position of his legs and feet, taking care to avoid them as she climbed up. She never expected that the moment she climbed onto the mattress, one of his legs would suddenly hook outward. Caught entirely off guard, she lost her balance and plunged forward, pinning his two legs beneath her body.
 
Xiao Qiao felt something entirely rigid beneath her chest and abdomen—it appeared she was pressing against his knee. Startled, she hastily braced her two hands against the mattress, attempting to scramble back up. Yet in the pitch darkness, she couldn't see clearly, and one of her hands pressed directly against the side of his thigh. Before she could even retract her hand, she felt him sit up with a sudden hu. A dark silhouette shifted before her, and his upper body leaned down, pressing toward her.

"You found it quite amusing just now, did you not?"

His breath was burning hot, accompanied by a powerful waft of wine, yet his voice was icy cold as it echoed right beside Xiao Qiao’s ear.