The Prisoner of Beauty - Chapter 40

Chapter 40

Xiao Qiao had not even possessed time to properly don her shoes; slipping them on, she met him almost at a small trot. Having only run a few steps, she saw Wei Shao's silhouette already turn inside from behind that screen. The two individuals encountered one another face-to-face; encountering four eyes, they consequently halted their steps by a common accord, a distance of several arms' length still separating them in the middle.

The cause for her behaving with such attentiveness, aside from being inadvertently infected by that manner of parting atmosphere prior to setting out on a campaign from Madame Xu and Lady Zhu, was likewise harboring a fraction of gratitude.

From the moment he entered inside, Wei Shao's gaze landed upon Xiao Qiao's face, his eyes failing to blink a single time, carrying a manner of bare, un-concealed staring. Xiao Qiao turned slightly ill at ease under his gaze; seeing that he additionally merely looked upon her without speaking, she promptly sought words to speak in a soft voice: "Husband has returned? May you have gone to Grandmother's and Mother's places? Grandmother and Mother ought to both be sleepless awaiting you..."

"Gone." Wei Shao's eyes still perennially looked upon her in that manner, responding at random.

Xiao Qiao bit her lip: "Is your abdomen hungry? I still possess here..."

Wei Shao stared at her charming appearance with snowy-white shell teeth biting her red lip, and suddenly arrived before her frame with a few grand steps. Prior to her words even concluding, she was scooped up in his embrace by a single grasp.

The soles of Xiao Qiao's feet turned vacant, and her person was directly carried by him to the bedside and set down. Wei Shao followed by kneeling upon a single knee atop the bed edge, dropping his head to gaze fixedly upon her.

"I am not hungry."

He murmured a single phrase, pressing down to kiss her mouth.

...

The Lord-Marquis was setting out on a campaign tomorrow morning; late last night, words had furthermore been transmitted back stating that when he returned a fraction later, he would proceed to bid farewell one by one. Consequently, not only the northern and eastern wings, but the entire cohort of servants upon Xiao Qiao's side here had likewise all followed without retiring to rest as yet at this hour.

Moments ago he finally returned; Nanny Chun and two alternate maidservants consequently entered inside to serve as per customary times. Yet with wide-open eyes, they witnessed the Male Lord, beneath the eyelids of several individuals, unexpectedly scoop the Female Lord onto the bed to kiss her, rendering the several individuals all struck with shock. Nanny Chun reacted with the absolute greatest speed; turning her head to witness the two maidservants behind her with eyes rolled round as though transfixed by the sight, she emitted a light cough, signaling to exit outside. Only then did the maidservants follow to react; without exception their hearts leaped and their faces turned hot, hastily dropping their heads to retreat outside in a hurry.

Nanny Chun retreated at the absolute rear; fearing to startle the two individuals upon the bed, she eased her footsteps, finally bringing the door closed with lightness.

...

Xiao Qiao was pressed upon the pillow by him to be kissed. At the start he kissed her mouth; kissing for a brief period, he shifted to her cheeks, nose, eyelids, and subsequently kissed her mouth anew.

Xiao Qiao initially closed her lips, but subsequently her lip petals were forcibly bullied open by him, deeply sucking her tongue without releasing just as on the previous night. She closed her eyes to permit his kissing; gradually she again perceived herself incapable of breathing through, shaking her head to struggle and emit "wu-wu" sounds out of a conditional reflex.

Wei Shao suddenly released her mouth. Both hands cupped her face as he panted heavily: "Rest your mind; I have already issued arrangements to extend a hand to assist Yanzhou..."

Xiao Qiao's eyelashes shivered a light fraction, slowly snapping her eyes open. She witnessed his face situated precisely above her own face.

Xiao Qiao hummed: "I guessed it..."

Her cheeks were boiling hot; she herself likewise knew they must be red to the limit.

Wei Shao consequently appeared to laugh with gratification, gazing fixedly upon her anew, both eyes extraordinarily bright.

"The grand army sets out at the hour of Mao; I must additionally muster the generals early, and not many hours remain..."

He stated anew.

Xiao Qiao had perennially dropped her eyelids initially. Suddenly hearing him utter such a phrase beside her ear, she heard out the meaning contained within his words. Hesitating a fraction, both hands boarded his shoulders, pushing him to sit up.

Wei Shao was unwilling. Yet he nonetheless accorded with her hand to sit up, only then turning cognizant that she unexpectedly turned out to loosen his sash and strip his garments on his behalf. Within his chest cavity, a single heart leaped wildly, excited to the point of being on the verge of crashing out from his chest.

He turned never like the present hour so compliant, dropping his head to watch her loosen the sash on his behalf, shedding his garments piece by piece.

The garments of the two individuals were finally both shed to a near extent, sitting upon their knees opposite one another upon the bed. Xiao Qiao saw him remain motionless, both eyes merely lingering across her body without departing. Although she had previously been naked before him, she knew not for what cause, but on this occasion it appeared to possess a fraction of differentiation, rendering her unable to resist becoming shy. Crossing both hands to block before her chest desiring to conceal herself, they were nonetheless taken away by his lifted hand.

Wei Shao's gaze landed upon her charming, snowy breasts for a brief moment; closing his eyes, his Adam's apple rolled a fraction, and opening his eyes, he dropped his face to promptly kiss down upon them.

...

The bed curtains dropped down.

Xiao Qiao closed her eyes, perceiving the immense impact brought to her person by that manner of startling strength implied within this young and strong man's body currently pressing and covering upon her person.

His actions, inadvertently carrying urgency, in reality rendered her not exceptionally comfortable. Yet she was likewise capable of perceiving that his treatment tonight appeared to possess differentiation from prior times; consequently she once more relaxed herself as much as possible, the better to proceed to receive his arrival.

Xiao Qiao closed her eyes tightly; at the hour her body out of a conditional reflex strung tight to resist the external item, she suddenly perceived her earlobe being harbored within his mouth, hearing his whisper carrying suppression and nearly shifting in tone: "...I cannot hold out further... if it hurts exceptionally, inform me a word... refrain from kicking my face..."

Xiao Qiao appeared to fundamentally have as yet prepared nothing when he emitted a muffled groan, and the affair consequently arrived in a matter-of-course manner.

Following the delay of a brief moment, her body finally reacted completely, perceiving the inevitable manner of pain.

Fortunately he appeared excited to the absolute limit, turning out unexpectedly to be much speedier than Xiao Qiao's anticipation, concluding the affair in no more than a few strokes.

Yet even thus, a layer of cold sweat nonetheless emerged upon Xiao Qiao's forehead from the pain, and her two legs likewise appeared as though drifting within the clouds, her person turning a fraction dizzy and muddled. Only after a brief period did she collect her spirit anew; opening her eyes to turn her head, she promptly witnessed his face full of dejection, appearing as though in disbelief.

Xiao Qiao herself was still experiencing a burning pain, yet her natural disposition turned unalterable; the moment she caught sight of this expression of his, she unexpectedly turned out to emit a "chi" sound to laugh out anew.

The moment she laughed out loud, she knew it was bound to turn into ruin. Sure enough, Wei Shao's eyes leaked a fierce light; lifting his hand to grasp her leg, he promptly dragged her across, heavy pressing upon her person in a single flip.

Very swiftly Xiao Qiao perceived that he had arisen once more, aggressive and fierce, and she instantaneously turned panicked. He dropped his head desiring to kiss her mouth anew; Xiao Qiao hastily shook her head stating it hurt. Wei Shao, however, reverted no more to that initial single fraction of a tender mannerism, biting her mouth viciously in a single mouthful, biting her to the point of being on the verge of shedding tears, perceiving the actions of his hands likewise turning rough along with it.

Within her heart Xiao Qiao regretted to the point of death, tightly closing her legs without relaxing, struggling with "wu-wu" cries. Wei Shao nonetheless refrained from letting her pass; the entanglement was presently occurring upon the pillow when they heard a maidservant's voice transmit across from outside: "Is the Male Lord present? The Madame awaits the Male Lord, remaining sleepless throughout the night; moments ago her chest cavity pained, and she dispatched this maidservant to come take a look."

Wei Shao halted.

Xiao Qiao, however, let out a massive sigh of relief. Suddenly she felt something was amiss anew.

Moments ago when he entered inside, she had inquired of him whether he had gone to the northern and eastern wings; he clearly stated he had returned from viewing them.

Yet listening to this tone of voice from the maidservant arriving from the eastern wing, he appeared to have fundamentally failed to go.

It was merely that possessing that lesson moments ago, on this occasion she truly learned to turn well-behaved; seeing him halt, she followed by halting her resistance as well, let alone daring to urge him further, lying beneath his person without a single movement.

Following the passage of a brief period, Wei Shao slowly climbed off her person, commencing to don his garments.

Xiao Qiao pulled a corner of the quilt to obscure her body, inquiring in a soft voice toward his back: "Mother is indisposed; shall I proceed along in a single cohort?"

Wei Shao responded nothing. Concluding his donning of garments, he only then stated: "You sleep. Devoid of necessity for you to proceed."

Xiao Qiao emitted an "oh." Lying upon the pillow she watched him. Believing he was about to depart, she anticipated not that he halted, casting a glance back at her person, and suddenly returned his person to sit upon the bed edge, leaning down to approach.

Xiao Qiao recalled her having inadvertently offended him moments ago; knowing not what he still desired to execute at this hour, out of a conditional reflex she pulled the quilt corner upward a fraction, widening two grand eyes to stare at him.

"Your infant name is Manman?"

Wei Shao's face was pressed exceptionally low, suddenly arriving with such a phrase.

Xiao Qiao startled, nodding her head.

"For what cause did you fail to inform me perennially in the past?"

"You... failed to inquire..."

Wei Shao looked upon her, suddenly laughing a single fraction; extending his hand beneath the quilt corner, he pinched her breast with a touch of light frivolousness.

"Sleep!"

Withdrawing his hand, he arose and turned his person to depart straightway.

On this occasion he was truly gone.

Xiao Qiao slowly exhaled a long breath. At the hour she lay there falling into an abstraction, Nanny Chun entered inside; while tucking the quilt on her behalf, she murmured in a low voice: "Never have I witnessed an elder behave in this manner... where exists the logic to summon the Male Lord away at this manner of hour..."

She suddenly halted, her expression struck with shock.

Xiao Qiao looked toward the direction of her line of sight.

Upon the silken quilt was stained a fraction of her own fallen red from moments ago.

Xiao Qiao's face turned hot in a single wave. Witnessing Nanny Chun collect her wits to look toward herself with surprise, she pulled the quilt to cover her head.
...

Lady Zhu failed to close her eyes throughout the night; at this hour leaning against the bedhead, hearing the sound of Wei Shao's footsteps approaching, she closed her eyes to hum in a soft voice.

Wei Shao arrived beside her bed, witnessing her countenance yellow like wax, her appearance truly extremely haggard. Recalling that upon the road coming over, the maidservant dispatched to summon him had stated the Madame encountered difficulty sleeping upon entering the night these days, and her spirit was all the more lacking in sufficiency during the day, that displeasure from having his interest interrupted mid-course by her dispatched personnel moments ago consequently dissipated straightway, and he hastily leaned across to inquire.

Lady Zhu opened her eyes, struggling to sit up as she stated: "I am devoid of consequence. Merely an old ailment, and incapable of dying either. Son, do you refrain from worry."

That Nanny Jiang beside her person was as yet incapable of descending to the ground at present. Already an alternate maidservant presented the medicinal pills perennially paired for her. Wei Shao personally cupped the water to serve Lady Zhu to swallow down the medicinal pills, and additionally supported her to lie down slowly, sitting to one side to accompany her.

Lady Zhu stated: "Moments ago I was merely slightly uncomfortable, yet the servants made a massive fuss to proceed to summon you to arrive. My son, you blame not your mother for meddling to disturb you?"

Wei Shao hastily stated: "Mother's body is paramount; how dare your son? Let alone that it is devoid of consequence."

Lady Zhu leaked a look of gratification: "At what hour does your grand army set out? I waited throughout the night last night, solely fearing you still harbored resentment toward my muddled foolishness from the previous occasion, departing without farewell on this occasion..."

Wei Shao stated: "May Mother refrain from wild thoughts. Your son was merely slightly busy and chaotic some time prior. Not only Mother's place here, but Grandmother's place there was likewise seldom visited. For the grace of Mother's breast milk, how dare I as a son anchor anger upon Mother?"

Lady Zhu leaked a look of gratification, grasping Wei Shao's hand: "Thus I consequently rest my mind. Son, you set out on a campaign tomorrow; I know you are bound to possess the Imperial Heavens protecting your body. Initially on the night prior to my giving birth to you, I witnessed a golden dragon circling upon the roof ridge; I consequently knew you would boundlessly turn extraordinary in the future..."

Wei Shao had already listened to her mention this item—which ought to be her dreaming or possessing blurred eyes—called the omen of the golden dragon he knew not how many times, enduring his disposition to permit her rambling. A brief period later, seeing the efficacy of the medicine she had swallowed down take effect, she slowly closed her eyes; he consequently eased that single hand out from within his own palm, covering it with the quilt. About to arise to depart, unexpectedly Lady Zhu snapped her eyes open with a fierce motion, grasping his hand tightly with a single clutch, clamoring from her mouth: "The Qiao woman is an evil disaster! The Qiao woman is an evil disaster! She turns out to come to my household to harm people!"

The strength of her hand suddenly appeared to surge violently, deathly grasping Wei Shao's hand without releasing. Wei Shao hastily pacified her. Only then did Lady Zhu close her eyes anew, slowly appearing to fall into a comatose sleep once more.

Wei Shao sat perennially beside her person; for a long duration, seeing her breathing even, appearing thoroughly asleep, only then did he release his hand anew to arise. Moving with light steps to the outside, he instructed the maidservants to apply care in looking after her. Emerging from the eastern wing, he stood at the fork road; walking a few steps toward Xiao Qiao's direction, he turned his head to cast a glance at the East, hesitating a fraction, then turned his person to proceed toward the northern wing anew.

Madame Xu knew her grandson was deploying troops at the hour of Mao, and was bound to emerge from the door early. Failing to await him last night, returning she had merely narrowed her eyes for a light glimpse, and by this hour had already arisen. Sure enough, in no more than a brief moment, he promptly arrived.

Throughout these years, the scene of escorting her grandson to set out on a campaign had already been repeated many times. Yet on this occasion, Madame Xu knew the significance possessed differentiation.

This constituted the decisive battle between the two absolute greatest powers across the North. Supposing her grandson secured victory, it consequently implied he would truly turn into the hegemonic lord of the North, stepping forward by a grand stride toward the magnificent grand enterprise as well.

Wei Shao knelt to bid farewell to his grandmother, drinking a cup of robust wine for the journey poured full by Madame Xu personally. Madame Xu personally escorted him to the outside of the western wing, smiling as she stated: "Bid your wife assist you with your garments and armor, and proceed to lead my Wei family's majestic and robust sons to set out on the campaign! Grandmother quietly awaits my grandson's victorious return!"

Wei Shao watched his grandmother's figure propping her cane disappear gradually until she could no longer be witnessed, only then turning his person to enter the western wing.
...

Following Wei Shao's being called away by Lady Zhu, Xiao Qiao additionally refrained from sleeping further. Knowing he would still return to don his combat garments, she called personnel to deliver water inside, arising to proceed to the bathhouse to be served by Nanny Chun to cleanse her lower body.

Nanny Chun originally believed she had long since shared a room with the Male Lord. Anticipating not that only on this occasion did she drop her red, her heart was fraught with uncertainty. At the start she was unable to resist inquiring a word, yet Xiao Qiao merely closed her mouth without responding, and when inquired further she acted with spoiled playfulness toward her. Nanny Chun knew she was unwilling to speak further, and could only let it drop. Emerging to don her garments, she called the maidservants inside to arrange her makeup; a brief period later, Wei Shao consequently returned.

The armor was heavy and grave. Xiao Qiao alongside the maidservants served him to complete his donning and wearing. By this hour the grand gates of the Wei estate had already thrown wide open; outside the door upon both sides, the fire torches resembled fire dragons illuminating all around as bright as day. Grand General Li Dian led the personal troops to welcome the Lord-Marquis to set out on the campaign.

The low and powerful sound of the combat horn, blending with the personal troops' majestic shouts of "Combat bound to win," "Combat bound to win," transmitted faintly from outside the door into the room.

Xiao Qiao assisted Wei Shao to fasten the absolute final clasp upon one side of the combat armor shoulder-guard; withdrawing her hand, she lifted her head to look toward him.

He was originally born extremely handsome; donning this set of fine armor combat garments that had once been stained with countless blood—the clasps upon it additionally faintly leaking out the stale blood coloration—his entire frame consequently possessed a murderous aura leaking out in a hidden manner.

 

Xiao Qiao retreated a single step, stating: "Husband is bound to win the combat."

The expression upon Wei Shao's countenance reverted to his customary gravity, nodding his head slightly, appearing as though desiring to speak something yet failing to speak, before finally merely casting a single glance at her person. Grasping that sword presented and placed beside the desk at his hand moments ago, he turned his person to stride out the room door with grand steps.