The Prisoner of Beauty - Chapter 32

Chapter 32

An ice house had been constructed beneath the Wei family estate, specifically designed to store ice for relief from the summer heat.

As winter had only recently passed, the ice house was currently filled to capacity with stored ice. Upon receiving the order, the maidservants immediately went to locate Nanny Zhang, the domestic manager of the Wei household, to request the ice. Hearing that it was the western wing requesting ice, that it seemed to be an urgent matter, and furthermore that the quantity could not be too abundant, Nanny Zhang was momentarily at a loss as to the reason. Nevertheless, she immediately took the keys, unlocked the door, and descended into the subterranean vault to retrieve the ice. Having extracted two massive tubs, she ordered people to hoist them and personally delivered them to the western wing, where Xiao Qiao directed them to be placed by the doorway of the bathhouse. The maidservants retreated, and as Xiao Qiao followed them out to close the door, the sound of footsteps arose behind her. Knowing it was Wei Shao retrieving the ice and recalling that he was stark naked, she dared not turn her head to look back for the time being.

A moment later, she heard two distinct "splashing" sounds of hard objects hitting water echo from within the bathhouse, knowing that the blocks of ice had presumably been dumped into the water. Following this, the interior fell into silence.

While awaiting the ice blocks moments ago, Xiao Qiao had been speculating on his purpose for requesting such items.

Initially, she assumed he intended to take a cold bath to fortify his physique. Upon second thought, it seemed unlikely; moreover, it was far too nonsensical. Having returned in perfectly fine condition from consuming a meal in the eastern wing, why would he suddenly think to take a cold bath to fortify his physique? While filled with perplexity, she suddenly recalled that although his steps had been hurried when he entered moments ago, she had nonetheless indistinctly glimpsed an abnormal protrusion below. It was merely that she had been forcefully pushed aside by him at the time and was left somewhat flustered, so she had not pondered further in other directions.

Reflecting upon it carefully now and associating it with his anomalous behavior, Xiao Qiao suddenly experienced a flash of realization, and her entire person instantly became flushed with embarrassment...

Yet a fresh question arose: why had he suddenly become like this out of nowhere?

One required no exceptionally profound knowledge to recognize that this was absolutely not the normal state of a man.

Having comprehended this matter, Xiao Qiao originally intended to venture outside to avoid him for a while, waiting until his fire had dissipated on its own before returning.

This was not merely a consideration for her own safety; Xiao Qiao surmised that he would presumably also be unwilling to have her remain by his side to witness his wretched appearance.

However, the duration he had been inside was not brief either, and aside from those initial sounds of ice blocks being dumped, there had been no other movement whatsoever, leaving her somewhat uneasy. Holding her breath, she pricked up her ears to listen intently once more. There was no sound at all.

Ultimately, Xiao Qiao still approached, inquiring through the curtain: "How... are you?"

There was still no movement within.

Xiao Qiao became increasingly unsettled. Hesitating briefly, she parted the curtain to look inside.

His entire frame was submerged within the water, exposing only his head and neck. The thick layer of ice blocks floating upon the surface of the water had already slowly melted and dwindled. His head was tilted slightly backward, his brows tightly knit and his eyes closed, his expression still appearing exceptionally rigid and tormented.

Hearing her movement, he slowly opened his eyes.

Seeing that he was still alive, Xiao Qiao exhaled a sigh of relief. Daring not look further upon his appearance, she lowered her eyelids, fixing her gaze solely upon the pile of garments he had previously torn off and discarded onto the ground before her feet. Speaking in a tone that sounded as normal as possible, she said: "Then I had better venture outside first. I shall remain just outside the room door. If you are well, or if there are other matters, you need only call out." Having spoken, she hastily turned on her heel to depart. After she had taken two paces, his voice drifted over from behind: "I am thirsty... help me pour water..."

His voice sounded fractured and hoarse.

Xiao Qiao startled slightly, offering an "oh" in response, and hurriedly went to pour water before returning.

"The water is here," she said softly, presenting the water to him as she gazed at him.

Wei Shao's eyelashes fluttered gently, like two thin butterfly wings, actually causing Xiao Qiao to sense a kind of fragile beauty amidst torment.

He slowly raised his eyelids to cast a glance at her, sat up slightly, and lifted a dripping arm from the water to accept the teacup from her hand.

Her hand was inadvertently brushed by him.

Although it was merely an exceedingly brief brush, Xiao Qiao nonetheless distinctly sensed the scalding temperature originating from his skin. The water infused with ice seemed to have failed to lower his body temperature by much.

Wei Shao tilted his head back to drink the water. Xiao Qiao heard the distinct, resonant gulping sounds he made as he swallowed, his throat moving violently up and down with the swallowing action. A few floating blocks of ice bumped against his chest, were bumped away again, and slowly engaged in directionless rotations upon the surface of the water.

He finished the water in a few gulps. Accepting the teacup back, Xiao Qiao hesitated briefly: "If you are truly uncomfortable... how about I head over to the northern wing to inform Grandmother..."

"Do not let Grandmother know!"

He interrupted her immediately.

Xiao Qiao startled slightly, then nodded her head: "Understood. Is there anything else you require my assistance with? If not, I shall venture outside."

Wei Shao's gaze fell upon her person, lingering for a brief moment, his throat moving once more.

"Pour another cup of water, more..."

Ultimately, he murmured, his voice hoarse as a whisper. Having spoken, he closed his eyes, resting his head backward against the wall of the tub.

Xiao Qiao offered an "oh" sound, saying, "Wait a brief moment." She somewhat reproached herself for being muddled moments ago in failing to carry the entire teapot inside for him to drink. Hastily turning around to stride out, she was nearly at the doorway of the bathhouse and raised her hand to part the curtain when she suddenly heard a loud splashing sound behind her as water was spilled onto the floor, intermingled with the slight bouncing sound of ice blocks hitting the ground.

It was Wei Shao suddenly snapping his eyes open and emerging from the water, his bare feet treading upon the ground as he strode forward to chase after her. The water adhering to his shoulders and back rapidly coalesced into thin streams along his movements, rolling down the subtle contours of his muscles, leaving a wet trail upon the ground behind him.

Xiao Qiao froze. Before she could even turn her head, a wave of heat assailed her back, and her person was already enveloped by the hard, towering frame of the man pressing against her from behind.

Wei Shao clasped her from behind, his arms passing beneath her armpits to bind her within his embrace, forcing her to press tightly against his skin.

She was swathed in a light, thin silk spring tunic. The moment she was pressed against his chest, Wei Shao sensed a jade-like coolness that was completely distinct from the ice water, moreover incredibly soft; it felt as though if he merely exerted a fraction more force, he could cause her jade-like coolness and softness to fully blend into his skin inch by inch.

His tormented body finally felt a fraction more comfortable. The region that had already grown so numb that he was consistently unable to achieve release on his own also suddenly seemed to come back to life, and his blood began to flow anew.

A groan escaped his throat, and he could not resist lowering his head, wrapping his lips around one of her cool earlobes and rolling his hot tongue to bite and gnaw at it repeatedly.

Suffering such an unprovoked violation from Wei Shao entirely off her guard, it felt as though the flesh of her earlobe was about to be swallowed and bitten off by him. Experiencing a flash of pain, she was thoroughly alarmed and let out an "ah" cry. The teacup also slipped from her hand and fell to the ground, smashing into two halves with a sharp crack. She hastily struggled, wishing to break free from his arms.

Wei Shao, however, could no longer endure it. With one hand, he easily scooped Xiao Qiao up horizontally, disregarding her struggles and buffeting as he carried her straight onto the bed and lunged over her.

Wei Shao also had no idea what manner of aphrodisiac his mother had given him to drink; it was incomparably vicious. After that initial surge of torrential medicinal property was forcefully suppressed by him, it actually proved impossible to dissipate thoroughly. Although it no longer flared up violently as it had initially, it transformed into a numb, lingering dull sensation—an exceptionally uncomfortable torment that he was likewise unable to release on his own.

Moments ago, he felt as though he had already died once. At this moment, however, he came back to life once more, desiring only to thoroughly achieve release upon her body. Disregarding her struggles and resistance, he tore away her garments in a couple of strokes, stripping her as bare as himself. The sight of her skin—smooth as congealed lard at every inch—served to further scorch his eyes. Just as he gritted his teeth to possess her, a sharp pang of agony suddenly flared across his shoulder; Xiao Qiao had opened her mouth to bite him fiercely, her sharp, fine teeth clamp onto him without letting go like a fishhook catching a fish's mouth, embedding deeply into his flesh and drawing blood.

Following this, she began to weep, massive tears rolling down continuously from both corners of her eyes, her weeping indistinct and exceedingly sorrowful, also carrying a trace of agony.

Wei Shao ground to a sudden halt, panting heavily. After hovering over her body for a brief moment, he suddenly rolled over and down, lying face-up on the outer side of the bed, entirely motionless.

Upon the deltoid muscle of his left shoulder, a row of deep teeth marks was left behind, with dark red streaks of blood slowly oozing out from the skin, shaped like a crescent moon, carrying a bizarre sense of beauty.

...

He had actually merely made a beginning, yet Xiao Qiao was already in unbearable pain, making it impossible to imagine what it would be like if he were to forcefully penetrate deeply. Pain coupled with panic, moreover pinned down by him so that she could not move, she had delivered a fierce bite to his shoulder. Finally obtaining liberation at this moment, as if granted a grand amnesty, she grabbed her garments, scrambling and crawling over his thighs. Upon reaching the floor, she had no time even to don her shoes, running barefooted.

"Where are you going?"

Wei Shao's voice rang out from behind, carrying a trace of dejection.

Xiao Qiao ignored him, running in a single breath to the screen beside the door, frantically wrapping the garments back around herself.

Wei Shao pulled the quilt from the side, carelessly pressing it over his lower abdomen as he slowly sat up.

Xiao Qiao stared at him warily.

"Just now at my mother's quarters, I inadvertently consumed an aphrodisiac."

He gazed at Xiao Qiao, speaking slowly. His expression was dejected, even listless.

Xiao Qiao froze.

"As you saw initially, I assumed I could resolve it myself. But..."

He ground to a halt, his eyes falling upon Xiao Qiao's person.

Xiao Qiao recovered her senses, hurriedly clutching the collar of her tunic tightly before her chest as she stepped back a pace, her mouth uttering random words: "Whom do you wish to summon over? I shall summon them for you immediately! If one is insufficient, I shall summon two!"

Having spoken, seeing that his eyes were still fixed upon her, his gaze flickering, she fell into an even greater state of panic.

"Or else you wait! You endure a bit longer! I shall head over to inform Grandmother to request a physician for you once I have dressed..."

She turned around, about to depart. Wei Shao stepped off the bed and caught up with large strides, reaching out to carry her back onto the bed once more, ripping down the curtains with a single yank.

The light upon the bed instantly dimmed, becoming hazy and indistinct.

That place of his... although she had not dared look closely moments ago, Xiao Qiao had nonetheless glimpsed it. Before he had even entered moments ago, she was already in agonizing pain. He had furthermore consumed that manner of medicine. Under such circumstances, if she were truly to be... by him like this, it would absolutely become a lifelong shadow in the future.

Xiao Qiao struggled once more, only to be pinned against the pillow by him with a single hand. Opening her eyes wide, she watched with terror as his hand extended toward her, and tears immediately welled up once more, pattering down continuously.

He grasped one of her hands.

"I am in great discomfort. Assist me."

He lay down, turning his face to gaze into her eyes as he spoke in a low voice.

Xiao Qiao froze, suddenly comprehending his meaning.

"Can you not do it yourself?" Tears still clung to the corners of her eyes as she sobbed.

"It is numb; it will not come out. If you assist me, I shall perform nothing else upon you. I am a man of my word."

He spoke slowly.

Xiao Qiao ceased her weeping, looking toward him.

The foreheads of the two of them were nearly pressed together.

His forehead was scalding hot, as though he had developed a fever, his countenance like one who had consumed wine, his expression heavy and vexed.

Gazing into Xiao Qiao's beautiful eyes, which still contained tears, he slowly brought that hand of hers over, finally placing it beneath the quilt and pressing down upon it.

Xiao Qiao's countenance instantly turned crimson, and she closed her eyes tightly, her eyelashes trembling continuously.
 
Wei Shao also closed his eyes, emitting a long, comfortable sigh.

Wei Shao's mother was simply courting death; it was bad enough that she harmed her own son, but she had furthermore caused Xiao Qiao to suffer this collateral disaster. Were she not her mother-in-law, Xiao Qiao truly wished nothing more than to rush over and dump a massive chamber pot straight over her head. She had no idea what manner of thing she had fed her son, for the medicinal potency was actually so powerful that a single instance was entirely insufficient. Subsequently, it lingered and recurred, tossing and turning for several more bouts. It was not until dawn was approaching that Wei Shao—who had thoroughly vented and become utterly exhausted—finally went to sleep in a well-behaved manner.

Xiao Qiao slept straight through until the afternoon of the following day. When she awoke, she was the sole person remaining upon the bed.

That wretched hand of hers had not only lost its innocence, but her arm was furthermore so sore she could barely lift it.