The Prisoner of Beauty - Chapter 27

Chapter 27: Night Talk

As night fell, the Wei estate blazed with brilliant lamplight.
 
Having been bustling with excitement for an entire day, Madame Xu, advanced in years as she was, could not help but feel fatigued by this hour. Once her appearances at the various gatherings were concluded, she returned to the northern wing to rest ahead of the others. The female guests had also dispersed one after another, leaving only the men's social engagements remaining.
 
Wei Shao had been occupied with receiving and seeing off guests continuously from morning until the present moment. It was now nearly the end of the hour of Xushi, and he had not even found the time to eat dinner. After sending off several long-distance guests, he retraced his steps with hurried strides. Just as he reached the bottom of the stone steps of the festooned gate, he suddenly heard someone call out from behind him, "Lord Wei, please stay your steps." Turning his head, he recognized the speaker as a subordinate clerk who had accompanied the envoy from the Kingdom of Zhongshan, and thus he halted his pace.
 
The subordinate clerk arrived before Wei Shao and bowed to him with deep respect. Wei Shao offered a perfunctory acknowledgment. The clerk offered a few words of flattery, but noticing that Wei Shao seemed somewhat distracted, he smiled and said, "Lord Wei likely does not recognize this humble servant anymore. Many years ago, I served the Su family of the Kingdom of Zhongshan. When Madame Yulou was still unmarried in her boudoir, I had the fortune of catching sight of Lord Wei on several occasions. I wonder if Lord Wei still retains an impression?"
 
Wei Shao startled slightly, fixing his gaze upon the clerk for a moment before asking flatly, "What is the matter?"
 
The clerk glanced to the left and right, and seeing no one around, he stepped closer. From his robes, he extracted a sachet sealed with fine satin and presented it with both hands, lowering his voice: "Lord Wei may not be aware, but my journey to Yuyang alongside the envoy this time was not only to celebrate the Old Matriarch’s longevity, but also because I was entrusted by someone to convey a letter on her behalf. Upon learning the joyous news of Lord Wei’s grand wedding, Madame Yulou felt deeply gratified. Originally, she intended to journey to Yuyang in person this time to both pay respects to the Old Matriarch and celebrate Lord Wei’s marriage. Regrettably, she is currently in Luoyang, entangled in mundane affairs from which she cannot extricate herself. Knowing that I was coming to Yuyang, she requested that I deliver this letter on her behalf to convey her congratulations."
 
Wei Shao stared at the exquisitely embroidered purple satin sachet in the clerk's hands, remaining silent and making no move to take it.
 
Seeing that he did not accept it, the clerk raised his eyes to steal a cautious glance.
 
Two lanterns hung before the gate, the night wind catching them and sending a flickering expanse of red light dancing across the area. Wei Shao’s face was also illuminated, shrouded in a hazy, shifting crimson glow.
 
He appeared to be lost in a brief abstraction, his gaze dark and obscure as it blended into the surrounding dimness of the night, making his expression difficult to discern.
 
The clerk gently deposited the sachet upon the side of the steps, bowed deeply toward Wei Shao, and took a few steps back. Just as he turned hurriedly to depart, he heard Wei Shao’s voice suddenly ring out: "Convey my words on my behalf: Shao expresses his gratitude for Madame Yulou's kind intentions, but anything further is unnecessary."
 
His voice carried a heavy resonance. Having spoken, he strode past the sachet resting upon the steps and walked away with large strides.
 
...
 
After seeing off the final guest, Wei Shao crossed paths with Wei Yan, who had just returned from seeing off other guests himself. Leaving the remaining closing duties to the household stewards, the two shared a brief conversation before bidding farewell and parting ways.
 
Departing from the main gates of the Wei estate, Wei Yan accepted the horsewhip from Zhang Lan, a trusted attendant who had followed him for many years. Vaulting onto his horse, he returned to his residence; it was already the middle of the night.
 
Having been occupied throughout the day, he had not eaten anything substantial to fill his stomach. Wei Yan entered the bathhouse, changed into a loose set of robes, and emerged to sit beneath the window, pouring and drinking wine by himself. After half a jar of wine had gone down, the image of the Qiao daughter inadvertently flitted across his vision once more.
 
During the day in the birthday hall, she had been radiantly peerless. He had never expected that beneath her beauty lay an intellect that surpassed the ordinary, which left him somewhat astonished. In the evening, when seeing Madame Xu back to the northern wing, she had also attended by Madame Xu’s side. At that time, the lanterns beneath the corridor were dim, and she stood at a distance amidst a throng of women, yet he had still spotted her at a single glance. Availing himself of the blurry night, his gaze found it difficult to pull away from beginning to end. Yet the Qiao daughter’s bearing was like that of a goddess, entirely inviolable, and from start to finish, she had not cast so much as half a glance in his direction.
 
A warmth gradually kindled within Wei Yan’s abdomen, as though an nameless fire had been lit inside his body. Despite the wine sitting before him, his mouth felt dry and his body flushed with heat. Turning his face, he saw his favored concubine who was attending beside him gazing at him with a tender, affectionate look. He let out a low smile, pushed aside the wine vessel, and casually hauled her over to sit upon his thighs. Closing his eyes, he lowered his head and took a deep breath of the faint scent of orchids drifting from the collar and the back of his concubine's neck. In his mind, the image surfaced once more of that section of jade-like neck she had revealed when her back was turned to him when they first crossed paths at the mounting-board shop—the skin was so fresh and tender that one could even discern the fine, downy hairs at the root of her ear, like those of a newborn infant. His entire body suddenly became unbearably hot and restless. Unable to endure it any longer, he ripped open the front of his concubine's garment from behind, heavily kneading the fullness within.
 
The favored concubine did not understand why he was so fierce from the very start tonight. Swept with pain from his grip yet daring not resist, she could only counterfeit sounds of pleasure to curry his favor.
 
Wei Yan's expression was taut. He pinned the already disrobed concubine against the edge of the table, and lifting the hem of his robe, he suddenly came to a halt, slowly raising his head.
 
A dark shadow had appeared before the window, its stature tall and imposing. Wei Yan recognized the silhouette of the newcomer at a single glance.
 
His gaze instantly turned grim, the desire from moments ago vanishing in a flash as a surge of killing intent welled forth.
 
The favored concubine had originally closed her eyes to await his favor, but seeing him suddenly come to a halt, she felt somewhat bewildered. Opening her eyes, she noticed he seemed to be staring outside the window. Curious, she turned her head to look, and caught entirely off guard by the sight of a dark shadow standing there, she let out a sharp cry of terror.
 
"Get out,"
 
Wei Yan slowly straightened his body, speaking in a flat tone.
 
Knowing he was addressing her, the concubine pulled her garments back in a flurry to cover the front of her chest, lowering her head as she hurriedly scurried out of the room.
 
The dark shadow outside the window vaulted inside. He wore the attire of a Han Chinese, but removing his hat, he revealed the bearded countenance of a middle-aged man. He bowed deeply before Wei Yan, speaking aloud, "Commander of a Thousand Troops Huyan Lie comes to pay respects and inquire if the Young Master is well?"
 
Wei Yan said coldly, "What have you come here for? This is Yuyang. Do you truly believe there is no one within this city, or that I will not kill you?"
 
The man responded, "The Rizhu King misses the Young Master deeply. This servant was ordered to risk death to come and invite the Young Master to return. Having fortunately evaded the sentries, if the Young Master wishes to slay this servant, I shall willingly accept death."
 
Wei Yan enunciated each word: "This is you seeking your own death." Before his voice could fully fade, accompanied by a sharp qiang sound, a white light flashed across the room. Wei Yan drew his sword, the tip piercing straight into the man's left chest.
 
The blade entered the flesh inch by inch. Very quickly, dark red blood welled from the fabric covering the man's chest, gradually spreading outward and splashing onto the floor.
 
The man's face grew progressively pale, and he dropped to one knee upon the ground, yet his eyes remained fixed straight upon Wei Yan, his shoulders not wavering in the slightest.
 
"If I plunge it another inch, do you reckon you can still live?" Wei Yan’s gaze was stern and terrifying.
 
"A man must die sooner or later. To die beneath the Young Master's blade leaves Huyan Lie with no regrets," the man said in a deep voice.
 
The Huyan surname belonged to one of the prominent clans of the Xiongnu, renowned for their ferocity and valiance, with many family members occupying high positions within the royal court.
 
Wei Yan narrowed his eyes slightly. After a brief silence, he slowly withdrew the sword, retrieved a handkerchief, and wiped away the stained blood from the tip of the blade. Without raising his head, he merely said coldly, "Before I change my mind, get out immediately. Do not let me see you ever again."
 
The man tore away a strip of fabric from his own garment, crudely binding the wound that was still continuously gushing blood. Finally pressing his palm against it, he slowly rose from the floor, gazing at Wei Yan as he said, "This servant thanks the Young Master for the mercy of sparing my life. My risky arrival today carries no other intent; the Prince knows that today is the grand birthday of the late Princess's mother, and specially ordered this servant to offer birthday congratulations on his behalf. If the Young Master is willing to convey the message, twenty ingots of gold xupi, twenty bolts each of red dyed silk and green silk, and twenty sturdy steeds have all been prepared, situated just outside the walls of Dai Commandery."
 
Wei Yan sneered.
 
"His intention is to let the Wei family know that I am aware of my true lineage, so they will harbor suspicion and find me intolerable?"
 
"The Prince harbors no such intent." Huyan Lie bowed toward him. "If the Young Master refuses to convey the message, the Prince can only let the matter rest. This servant has brought a personal letter written by the Prince’s own hand; please look it over, Young Master."
 
Huyan Lie extracted a scroll of parchment from his robes, placed it upon the corner of the table, and took a few steps back.
 
"This servant dares not disturb the Young Master's peace any further; I shall take my leave first."
 
Huyan Lie knelt and bowed toward Wei Yan once more.
 
"Within the Young Master's veins flows the hot blood of our bow-wielding race. The Prince thinks of the Young Master day and night. At present, the Chanyu is advanced in years, and the Worthy King of the Left guards against the Prince at every turn. The Prince urgently awaits the Young Master's return to lend assistance. Furthermore, with the Young Master's grand talents, you ought to soar like an eagle striking across the vast sky; are you truly content to spend your entire life submitting to others in this manner, unable to display your ambitions?"
 
Huyan Lie spoke suddenly, then rose and vaulted back out through the window just as he had entered, his silhouette rapidly vanishing into the darkness deep within the courtyard.
 
With the tip of his sword resting against the floor, Wei Yan stared at the parchment scroll deposited upon the corner of the table, standing lost in thought for a long while.
 
...
 
Wei Shao walked in the direction of the western wing.
 
Having been occupied from morning until this very moment with receiving and seeing off guests, the endeavor was a fraction more mentally exhausting than commanding an army in the field.
 
It was already very late. The Wei estate, which had been boisterous and lively for an entire day, had finally recovered its tranquility beneath the shroud of night.
 
Arriving at the fork in the path, Wei Shao’s gaze drifted toward the western wing on his left-hand side. Seeing the faint glimmer of lantern light flickering at the far end, he quickened his pace slightly, only to suddenly notice Nanny Jiang from the eastern wing still standing by the roadside.
 
Seeing him arrive, Nanny Jiang hastily stepped forward, bowing as she said, "Has the Lord concluded his affairs? The Mistress ordered me to await the Lord here, requesting that the Lord go over to share a conversation."
 
Wei Shao knit his brows. After a brief consideration, he ultimately turned around and walked toward the eastern wing. Entering the inner chambers, he cast a glance inside from the doorway, seeing his mother, Madame Zhu, kneeling upon the couch with several maidservants attending beside her. Zheng Shuyu was not present.
 
"Zhonglin has arrived?"
 
Madame Zhu was still dressed in the attire she had worn to receive guests during the day. Seeing Wei Shao arrive, a look of delight surfaced on her face, and she hastily rose from the couch, stepping down onto the floor to greet him in person.
 
Entering the room, Wei Shao knelt and sat down, saying, "Mother has still not rested at this deep hour of the night; for what matter have you summoned me?"
 
Madame Zhu gazed at her son, a trace of melancholy surfacing within her eyes: "A mother misses her son, which is why she summoned him here, merely wishing to see his face and share a few words just as we did during your childhood. Yet now that my son has grown, he has become distant from his mother. Zhonglin, if there is no specific matter, am I forbidden from summoning you to my side?"
 
Wei Shao startled slightly, finally looking Madame Zhu directly in the eye. He noted that although her features had not undergone any grand alterations from before, upon closer inspection, a few strands of white had already woven into her hairline, and crow's feet had crept into the corners of her eyes. Unwittingly, compared to ten years prior, she had aged significantly.
 
He recalled his childhood; compared to his elder brother, his mother had always favored him more, and his heart gradually softened a fraction.
 
His expression finally turned gentle, and he said, "It is your son who has been unfilial. Mother's reprimand is correct. In the future, your son shall come to visit Mother frequently."
 
A smile broke across Madame Zhu’s face, and she lifted a neatly folded set of inner garments from her side, saying, "This is a set of garments I stitched for you with my own hands, measured against the old clothing you left behind in my quarters. Take it back and try it on; if any part fits improperly, inform me, and I shall alter it for you."
 
Wei Shao hastily accepted it with both hands, placed it aside, and knelt to express his gratitude to Madame Zhu. Supporting her son, Madame Zhu let out a sigh: "Why display such formality with me? You are my son. Did you not wear the garments I fashioned for you constantly during your childhood? Did you have to kneel and bow to me on every occasion? Now that you have grown, we have instead become estranged."
 
Wei Shao smiled but remained silent.
 
"There were many affairs today, and I saw that you did not pause for even a brief moment; you likely had no opportunity to eat properly, so your stomach must be empty. I prepared something for you moments ago, also fashioned by my own hands in the kitchen—the sweet glutinous soup you loved best during your youth. It is still warm at this moment."
 
Madame Zhu turned her head, instructing the maidservants to bring out the food. A servant delivered it very quickly. Madame Zhu personally uncovered the bowl, smiling as she said, "I have not entered the kitchen in a long while, so I know not if the flavor still suits your palate. Taste it and see."
 
Wei Shao accepted it, lowering his head to finish it rapidly.
 
"Is it delicious?"
 
Wei Shao set down the bowl, meeting his mother's expectant gaze as he responded, "It is delicious."
 
Madame Zhu breathed a sigh of relief: "As long as it is delicious, that is fine. I shall have someone fill another bowl for you."
 
Wei Shao stayed her hand, smiling as he said, "I am already full. Thank you for Mother’s care. In truth, my abdomen did feel somewhat famished moments ago."
 
Madame Zhu laughed and said, "Since you enjoy it, I shall fashion it for you more frequently in the future. I know it is my own fault. These past few years, for the sake of Chuyu's matter, I have constantly pressed you, which is what caused you and me to grow increasingly distant day by day."
 
Wei Shao said, "For Mother to speak in such a manner leaves your son deeply ashamed."
 
Madame Zhu fell into a brief abstraction, then fixed her gaze upon Wei Shao, speaking slowly: "I am well aware that my background is humble. For this half of my life, though I have exhausted my capabilities to flatter your grandmother, she still views me with disdain. After your father passed away, my predicament grew even more arduous. Yet I harbor no resentment; I merely blame my own stupidity and failure to fulfill my duties properly. Now, she has taken it upon herself to make you marry the Qiao daughter of Yanzhou. The blood feud between the Qiao family and our Wei family is something you are well aware of, which is why I loathed her at the very beginning. On the day you brought her home to pay respects, I did indeed offer her a cold countenance. Yet after you departed, Chuyu comforted me, stating that since the Old Matriarch had made such a decision, she must carry some profound intent. Since you have already wed her, you shall be a family in the future, and she urged me to treat her well, lest you be caught in the middle and face difficulty. I felt there was reason in her words; the timber is already turned into a boat, and my opposition carries no weight. If we get along well, I could also gain an extra companion by my side in the future. Therefore, when she arrived the following day, I originally intended to treat her with benevolence, but I never anticipated that she..."
 
Madame Zhu paused briefly.
 
"Early that morning when she arrived to offer her morning respects and prostrate herself before me, though her conduct lacked any breach of etiquette, I could discern that she must have been harboring resentment over my cold treatment of her the previous day. The moment she rose, she wished to depart, and I could not find the words to stay her. It so happened that I had risen somewhat early that day and had not yet dined, and Nanny Jiang also meddled, requesting that she enter the kitchen to fashion a bowl of soup for me. Originally, I did not truly lack that single mouthful from her, but fearing she might believe I was still making things difficult for her, I was just about to intervene when she unexpectedly underwent a change of countenance on the spot. Invoking your grandmother to suppress me, she claimed she had to return to copy sutras for her. Since she possessed such a heart of filial devotion toward your grandmother, how could I dare to retain her further? Thus, I let her depart."
 
Gazing at her son, a bitter smile surfaced on Madame Zhu’s face, "Zhonglin, your mother is precisely such a useless individual. Not only does my mother-in-law look down upon me, but even the newly wedded daughter-in-law holds no regard for me in her eyes. Do you know why I absolutely insist on you taking Chuyu as a concubine? These past years you are constantly away from home, and with no one by my side to accompany me, there is only Chuyu who can dissolve my sorrows..."
 
The rims of her eyes gradually turned crimson, and she retrieved a handkerchief to dab at the corners of her eyes.
 
"A lord takes one wife and eight concubines. I have not placed a multitude of people into your chambers; I merely require you to take a single Chuyu. Chuyu is no torrential beast; once she enters your quarters, not only can she accompany me by my side, but she can also spread the branches and scatter the leaves for our Wei family. Can it be that you refuse to perform even this fraction of a matter for my sake?"
 
Wei Shao remained silent.
 
Madame Zhu's expectant gaze descended upon his face, holding her breath as she waited.
 
Wei Shao hesitated briefly, finally raising his eyes to look at Madame Zhu as he said, "Mother's meaning, I have understood. Please permit your son to consider it further."
 
Madame Zhu had originally worried he would offer a flat refusal; hearing him agree to consider it brought her immense joy. Daring not press him further, she hastily nodded and said, "As long as you are willing to consider it, that is fine. Consider it at your leisure; I shall press you no longer."
 
Wei Shao offered a slight smile and said, "It is deep into the night; your son shall escort Mother to rest."
 
Madame Zhu nodded. Supported by Wei Shao, she was escorted to the doorway of her chamber.
 
Carrying the garments Madame Zhu had fashioned for him, Wei Shao took his leave and departed.
 
"Aunt, did Cousin give his consent?"
 
The moment Wei Shao departed, Zheng Chuyu emerged from behind the screen within the room and inquired.
 
A smile surfaced on Madame Zhu’s face, and stroking Zheng Chuyu’s arm, she said, "I did not press him, but moved him with emotion, and it indeed bore fruit. Zhonglin has agreed to return and consider it. Chuyu, this method of yours is truly splendid, exceedingly clever."
 
Yet Zheng Chuyu startled briefly: "Aunt, did you speak precisely as I instructed?"
 
"Not a single word or phrase was omitted."
 
Zheng Chuyu knit her brows slightly: "Even with Aunt speaking in such a manner, Cousin still claimed he needs to consider it. I fear that if he is merely offering a perfunctory agreement only to refuse again in a couple of days, what should we do then?"
 
Madame Zhu froze for a moment, then immediately said, "Rest your mind. If he pushes it away again, Aunt still possesses the method I entreated from the Grand Shaman. Once the raw rice is cooked into a meal, by that time, it will not do for Zhonglin to refuse to take you."
 
...
 
Wei Shao pushed open the door and stepped over the threshold. Chun Niang followed him inside, inquiring if he was full or famished. After sharing a few words, the sound of footsteps echoed across the room. Turning her face, the curtains shifted, and Xiao Qiao parted them to emerge. Although her garments remained orderly, her eyes were watery and carried a trace of haziness, looking for all the world as though she had just struggled to wake from a slumber.
 
"Husband has returned?" Xiao Qiao stood before him, a smile surfacing on her face.
 
Wei Shao did not raise his eyelids in the slightest, turning his head to hand his garments to Chun Niang, instructing her to take them for washing, and said, "I have already consumed a midnight snack over at the eastern wing just now; I am not famished. Prepare water for a bath."
 
The maidservants hastily made preparations. Everything was soon in order. Wei Shao entered the bathhouse. Seeing Xiao Qiao’s eyes fixed upon the garments in her hands, Chun Niang pouted her lips and lowered her voice: "It is said the Mistress fashioned it."
 
The sound of rushing water echoed from the bathhouse, and Xiao Qiao turned her head to cast a glance.
 
"I know not what the Mistress spoke of..."
 
Chun Niang appeared somewhat anxious as she watched.
 
Xiao Qiao said nothing. Changing her garments, she rubbed her own eyes and waited.
 
After a brief moment, Wei Shao emerged from within. The maidservants cleared the items and departed, and the chamber door was closed. Just as she had on the preceding nights, Xiao Qiao waited for him to mount the bed, personally blew out the lamp, and carefully climbed up to lie down.
 
Although she had performed no physical labor during the day—and the public appearances of receiving and seeing off the Wei family's female guests did not fall to her at present—she had spent the entire time attending by Madame Xu’s side. Even so, it was incredibly exhausting. While waiting just now, unable to endure the fatigue, she had begun to doze off. At this moment, she could finally sleep.
 
Xiao Qiao closed her eyes, and just as her consciousness was gradually turning hazy once more, she suddenly heard Wei Shao’s voice ring out beside her ear: "I heard that you refused to fashion even a single bowl of soup for my mother? Those explanations regarding copying sutras were merely pretexts, were they not?"
 
Xiao Qiao shuddered, instantly snapping wide awake as she opened her eyes.
 
Amidst the dimness, Wei Shao flipped over and descended from the bed, walking over to relight the lamp.
 
The room brightened. Xiao Qiao saw him mount the bed, reclining halfway against the headboard as he turned his face to look at her.
 
Although she had been on the verge of falling asleep moments ago, she had still discerned that the tone of his words carried a trace of interrogation.
 
Yet at this precise moment, his gaze appeared quite tranquil, making it impossible to discern joy or fury.
 
It was already so late; why did he refuse to sleep, and why was his spirit still so robust!
 
Xiao Qiao slowly sat up, meeting his eyes.
 
"Yes. Copying the sutras was indeed a pretext. Yet refusing to fashion the soup was by no means my original intention," she said softly.
 
Wei Shao stared at her, "What do you mean?"
 
"When a new bride serves her mother-in-law and the mother-in-law speaks, no matter how indolent she might be, it is merely a single bowl of soup; how could she refuse to fashion it? In truth, at that moment, I felt somewhat afraid..."
 
"Afraid of what?" Wei Shao’s brows knit slightly.
 
Xiao Qiao lowered her eyes: "Mother-in-Law loathes me to the utmost depth. When we paid respects for the first time, you witnessed it as well. If you hadn't been right beside me and offered me a fraction of protection at the end, I wouldn't have known what path to take. That morning you departed early, and I could only venture over alone. Seeing Mother-in-Law’s stern countenance, my heart grew even more apprehensive. Nanny Jiang suddenly required me to enter the kitchen to fashion a bowl of soup. It is entirely my own fault; when I was at home previously, due to my laziness, I had never entered the kitchen in the slightest, unable to distinguish between grains, and completely ignorant of how to begin. Furthermore, there was no one beside me to offer guidance. If I had truly gone to fashion it, the item produced..."
 
She bit her lip, secretly raising her eyes: "At that moment, I was also muddled. In truth, if I had simply spoken the truth and stated that I knew not how to fashion it, Mother-in-Law might not have done anything to me. Yet I feared that Mother-in-Law would harbor an even greater aversion toward me because of this, so... so I devised such a pretext..."
 
Having concluded her words, she paused, looking at Wei Shao with a pitiful expression.
 
As she recounted the tale, Wei Shao’s brows had knit together, and by the time she finished, they were furrowed even tighter, enough to pinch a mosquito to death. He stared at her for a long while before finally raising his hand, closing his eyes as he pinched the space between his brows.
 
"Enough, I understand! In the future, you are forbidden from acting in this manner again, do you hear me?" His voice remained quite cold and detached.
 
"I hear you! Starting tomorrow, I shall diligently practice my culinary skills, and in the future, I shall certainly serve Mother-in-Law properly," Xiao Qiao nodded forcefully.
 
Wei Shao continued to look at her with furrowed brows. After a brief moment, she heard the sound of him exhaling a long, deep breath.
 
"Sleep."
 
He spat out these two words from his mouth.
 
Feeling as though she had received a grand amnesty, Xiao Qiao breathed a sigh of relief and hastily descended from the bed. Slipping into her shoes, she arrived before the lampstand. Just as she was about to blow out the light, she suddenly heard Wei Shao’s voice ring out from behind her once more: "My mother wishes for me to take Chuyu as a concubine; you are aware of this, correct? Just moments ago, I gave my consent."
 
Xiao Qiao startled briefly, slowly turning her head back. She saw him reclining there in a relaxed posture, his pair of eyes cast straight toward her.