The Prisoner of Beauty - Chapter 50

Chapter 50

Before Wei Shao had even closed the distance to within half an arrow's shot, Wei Yan urged his horse forward to meet him, calling out in a booming voice, "Second Brother, what a coincidence! I have just returned from hunting and happened to run into you here!"

Wei Shao had long since spotted Wei Yan and his group. He slowly reined in his horse in the middle of the imperial highway. As the two large steeds stood head to tail, a smile also appeared on his face. "How went the hunt today?"

"See for yourself, Second Brother!"

Wei Yan turned his head, pointing toward the quarry hanging and swinging from the sides of his retinue's horses behind him.

Wei Shao cast a glance over and praised, "A bountiful harvest indeed!"

Wei Yan laughed and said, "If Second Brother is free, come over to my residence again. Our brotherhood drank to our hearts' content last time, and taking this wild game to wash down the wine will surely enhance the pleasure of drinking!"

Wei Shao replied, "That matches my intention precisely." Even as he spoke, his gaze had already swept past Wei Yan to settle on Qiao Ci behind him.

Qiao Ci had at first been sitting blankly on his horse. Hearing these few lines of dialogue between Wei Yan and this young man, no matter how dull he might be, he could guess that the newcomer must be the Marquis of Yan, Wei Shao—his own brother-in-law. Seeing those two eyes sweeping toward him, though the man's face still bore the smile from speaking with Wei Yan, the gaze thrown over carried not a shred of warmth. He hastily flipped himself down from his horse and stood upon the ground.

Wei Yan turned his head following Wei Shao's gaze, then smiled and said, "He is the younger brother of my sister-in-law, the young master of the Qiao family of Yanzhou, and your brother-in-law, Second Brother. These past two days you happened to leave the city, so I followed Grandmother's words to take Young Master Qiao out to fulfill the duties of a host. We have just returned from hunting at Yushan and happened to run into each other here."

As Wei Yan spoke, Qiao Ci saw that Wei Shao's gaze remained fixed on him, somewhat cold. He could not help but recall the words his elder sister had repeatedly and strictly cautioned him with yesterday, saying his brother-in-law was mature, solemn, and eccentric by nature. Seeing him now, it was indeed the case. His demeanor grew constrained, and after a slight hesitation, he took two steps forward, offered a formal greeting to Wei Shao, and called out, "Brother-in-law." After that, he ran out of words and stood there completely motionless.

Wei Shao had followed his father to draw bows and practice archery since the age of four, achieving exquisite marksmanship and developing eyesight as sharp as an eagle's. In truth, he had spotted this youth riding alongside Wei Yan from afar. Seeing that his facial features and the contours of his brows closely resembled Xiao Qiao's, he immediately guessed that it must be his brother-in-law, Qiao Ci, who had arrived.

As far as Wei Shao was concerned, regarding this northern journey of the envoy sent by Yanzhou, far from harboring any anticipation, he actually felt a faint, lingering annoyance.

In his subconscious mind, he did not wish to have any further interactions or involvements with any member of the Qiao family besides Xiao Qiao.

But this was merely a thought. After all, whether out of his grandmother's command or for the purpose of utilizing Yanzhou's geographical position, he had already married the Qiao daughter. Furthermore, no one had held a sword to his neck during the wedding that day. Only so much time had passed, and at least for the present, it was impossible for him to completely sever ties with the Qiao family.

Therefore, a few days ago, when the Yanzhou party was about to arrive in Yuyang, word suddenly came from Zhuo County that an unexpected matter had arisen requiring his personal and prompt handling. He had naturally, and without any psychological burden, left to attend to what he deemed a more important matter.

On the night before his departure, when he told Xiao Qiao this news in the study, he had not failed to notice the fleeting look of disappointment in her bright eyes.

At that time, he had indeed hesitated for a moment, wondering whether he should offer her an explanation. But this hesitation vanished in a flash.

He disdained to explain, and felt it completely unnecessary to give her an explanation for such a coincidence.

Subsequently, he went to Zhuo County. Everything was normal during the day on the first day, but when night fell, for some unknown reason, the moment he closed his eyes, his mind would always conjure up her eyes from the previous night looking at him with that touch of disappointment, as well as the way she smiled at him in the end. His heart felt a bit empty, and he found it difficult to sleep on his lonely pillow.

On the second night, which was last night, during the hour when sleep eluded him most, he arose and went out alone to ride his horse for a lap. It was midnight by the time he returned. Pushing open the door and entering, he found a beauty added to his bed. It turned out that the Commandery Governor of Zhuo County, who had only been promoted a few months prior, was quite "tactful." After Wei Shao left his room, the governor had personally sent her into his chamber.

In the past, Wei Shao had been nicknamed the "Little Tyrant." Aside from his tyrannical and overbearing conduct, his tendency to change his face faster than flipping the pages of a book was also a defining trait. Entering the room and staring at the beauty lying on his bed, it was unknown which raw nerve had been touched, but he flew into a thunderous rage on the spot. Drawing his sword, a single strike severed the bedpost, causing half of the bed's canopy to collapse with a loud crash. The beauty screamed in terror, scrambling and crawling out of the room.

Early this morning, Wei Shao dismissed the governor who had flubbed his sycophancy, quickly wrapped up the business, and immediately set off to rush back. It was not until evening that he arrived here, unexpected to run into his brother-in-law. Seeing him just now riding alongside Wei Yan from afar, looking exceedingly close and chatting and laughing with him, only to turn distant upon seeing himself, it felt as if his nerve had been pricked again for some inexplicable reason. His expression naturally could not turn pleasant. He did not dismount either, merely nodding slightly toward Qiao Ci as he asked, "When did you arrive?"

"Yesterday at noon," Qiao Ci replied, thinking to himself that his elder sister's words were indeed correct. This brother-in-law was indeed high and mighty, arrogant, and unapproachable, completely different from Cousin Wei. Fortunately, he had received his sister's prior warnings; otherwise, had he been unaware, he would likely have drawn annoyance upon himself by now.

He also thought that for his sister to live her days with such a man must be quite difficult.

He was, after all, still young, and his face could not conceal the thoughts in his heart. Looking at Wei Shao, his expression grew increasingly estranged.

The brother-in-law and the youth ran out of words. Wei Shao paused for a moment, then turned his face to Wei Yan and said, "It is getting late. Let us head back together. Tonight a banquet shall be prepared to welcome him; Elder Brother should come along as well."

Wei Yan agreed with a smile. Wei Shao cast a sidelong glance at Qiao Ci, tugged his reins, and urged his horse forward. Wei Yan followed, and the numerous retinue members rose from the ground one after another to mount their horses and follow. Seeing this, Qiao Ci hastily mounted his horse as well. The troop of riders, grand and imposing, headed straight through the city gates toward the Wei estate.

...

Upon entering the gates, Wei Shao gave orders to prepare a banquet for the guests, then went straight to the western chambers.

His footsteps appeared hurried at first, but once he entered the inner courtyard, he resumed his customary pace. Finally pushing open the door and stepping over the threshold, he raised his eyes to look ahead, yet he did not see Xiao Qiao coming out to meet him as she usually did. He walked a few steps further inside and drew aside the curtains, but she was not on the bed either.

Wei Shao turned his head, seeing that a maidservant had followed him in, and asked, "Why is the Lady not here?"

The maidservant bowed and said, "The Jinlong Temple held a Buddhist assembly today. The Old Madam took Madam and the Lady there early this morning, and they have not yet returned."

Wei Shao paused for a moment.

...

As darkness fell, the side hall of the Wei estate was already brightly lit, with roaring torches burning in the four corners. A long, rectangular banquet table was laid out in the center of the hall. The Marquis, Wei Shao, who had returned from Zhuo County that evening, was entertaining his brother-in-law Qiao Ci and the envoy Yang Feng, who had traveled from afar. Accompanying the guests, besides Wei Yan, were Li Dian, Wei Liang, and a host of others. Wei Shao sat squarely in the seat of honor, with Qiao Ci at his left hand, followed by Yang Feng. Wei Yan was seated to Wei Shao's right, directly opposite Qiao Ci, while the remaining accompanying hosts took their seats according to seniority and rank. The guests and hosts gathered together, filling the long banquet table. The table was laden with a sumptuous spread of dishes, featuring beef, mutton, pork, and venison in abundance, while beautiful maidservants held fine wine, constantly refilling the guests' cups. To enhance the merriment, warriors with bare, muscular upper bodies stepped to the thudding beats of drums across from them, performing a ghost-mask dance. The hall could truly be called splendid, and the feast a magnificent banquet.

Yet the atmosphere of this magnificent banquet table was somewhat stifling.

When the banquet commenced, the Yanzhou envoy Yang Feng held up his wine vessel with both hands, most respectfully conveying Qiao Yue's words of gratitude to Wei Shao. He claimed that the previous dispatch of troops to assist them was like rescuing them from being hung upside down, relieving them from the peril of a raging fire, receiving the virtue of the high heavens, and feeling gratitude that would endure beyond death. And so forth, an endless torrent of words.

In truth, speaking strictly on the facts, Wei Shao's alliance with Yang Xin to attack Xuzhou had broken the siege of Yanzhou. Calling it a rescue from being hung upside down or relief from a raging fire was not an exaggeration. But delivered in such a tone by Yang Feng, it sounded like a song of praise, and the air of sycophancy practically rushed at their faces.

Qiao Ci's face burned red as he listened. He saw that Wei Shao's ministers and generals opposite were all staring at him and Yang Feng. Silence reigned all around, save for Yang Feng's voice ringing continuously in his ears. His seat was right at Wei Shao's hand, and he noticed that when Yang Feng first began speaking these words, a look of distaste had clearly manifested in Wei Shao's eyes. As Yang Feng's long-winded speech dragged on, the man looked to be exerting forceful restraint just to avoid voicing an interruption. Qiao Ci could not help but recall the words his sister had spoken to him yesterday when they met—that it was better to rely on oneself than to beg others. His shame deepened, and though the front of his table was filled with rare delicacies and fine wine, how could he have any heart to feast and drink?

With great difficulty, Yang Feng finally concluded his words of gratitude. Wei Shao merely raised his cup perfunctorily and offered a flat response. The scene instantly grew awkward. Fortunately, Wei Yan, who sat opposite, spoke up to smooth things over, allowing the banquet to continue.

From beginning to end, apart from responding to a few necessary questions, Qiao Ci uttered not a single word.

Wei Shao's expression also remained guarded throughout, and his words were few.

With the brother-in-law and the youth coincidentally turning into a pair of tight-lipped gourds, the remaining accompanying hosts naturally felt little inclination for merriment. It relied entirely on Wei Yan discoursing eloquently by the side, with Li Dian, Wei Liang, and the others echoing his words, to prevent the banquet from turning entirely cold.

Even so, it broke up early.

...

Wei Shao returned to the western chambers once more. The candles in the room had long since been lit by the servants, yet his grandmother had still not brought Xiao Qiao back.

Wei Shao changed his course to the study. Sitting before his desk, he took into his palm the scroll of documents he had not had time to finish reading on the night before his departure for Zhuo County, perusing it with concentration.

After a short while, he suddenly turned his head to glance outside the window. With a click, he set down the document, stood up, and walked out with quick strides.

Since he had nothing to do anyway and it was getting late, he decided it would be best to personally fetch his grandmother back.

Just as Wei Shao stepped over the threshold of the study, he heard the faint voices of women speaking from the end of the corridor leading to the bedchamber, among which Nanny Chun's voice was mixed.

Wei Shao thus stepped back inside. Taking his seat once more, he finally finished reading the scroll of documents in his hand, rolled it up neatly again, and returned it to its original position. Only then did he rise and return to the bedchamber.

...

Xiao Qiao had followed Madame Xu to the Jinlong Temple north of the city early in the morning.

Born into chaotic times, Buddhism, Daoism, and even sorcery and immortality flourished with unprecedented vigor. The assembly at Jinlong Temple lasted from morning until night, with devout men and faithful women listening to the lectures with reverence. Throughout the entire day, they had only taken a brief rest at noon. By this hour, to say nothing of Lady Zhu whose heart was not in it, even Xiao Qiao found it grueling.

She stole a glance at Madame Xu beside her, only to find that the elder woman remained completely absorbed; at the very least, not a shred of fatigue could be discerned from her expression.

Finally, the assembly concluded. Madame Xu offered incense oil money and was respectfully escorted out by the Zen master, whereupon they finally set off to return to the Wei estate.

Having been out for the whole day, Xiao Qiao had just changed out of her outer robe and was sitting before the dressing table to wash her face and remove her makeup. As she was undoing her hair chignon, the door behind her was pushed open. Turning her head, she saw Wei Shao enter.

She did not reveal any particular expression. Because her chignon was only half-undone, she did not rise, merely offering him a slight smile as she spoke in her usual tone, "Husband has returned? Wait a moment and I shall serve Husband to change his robes."

Wei Shao walked in, stopping a few paces behind her. His gaze fell upon her face reflected in the bronze mirror, and he waved his hand. The several maidservants who had originally been gathered around Xiao Qiao rose one after another, bowed to Wei Shao, and then exited the room.

Wei Shao came behind Xiao Qiao and sat on his knees, raising his hand to draw out a golden hairpin inserted into her hair chignon.

A head full of dark hair instantly tumbled down like a waterfall. Wei Shao opened his other palm to catch it, grasping a strand of the cool, smooth hair within his hand and slowly smoothing it a few times.

Wei Shao's frame was tall and majestic; with the two of them sitting one behind the other like this, he still rose more than half a head taller than her.

Xiao Qiao did not turn around, nor did she move. She merely raised her eyes, gazing at the reflection of Wei Shao sitting behind her in the bronze mirror.

The surface of the bronze mirror was polished as smooth as water, clearly reflecting the two faces, one in front and one behind. Even the direction of each individual hair on his brow could be seen with perfect clarity.

Wei Shao brought the handful of hair in his palm to his nose, inhaling deeply, and then pressed his lips to her ear, murmuring, "I only returned this evening. I hosted a family banquet to welcome your younger brother."

Xiao Qiao lowered her eyes, offering a soft murmur of assent, "I knew it upon my return."

Wei Shao's hands then gripped both sides of her waist, lifting and turning her entire body like a doll to face him. He lowered his head, his lips brushing against her forehead, which was as bright and clean as moonlight, before slowly moving downward.

His lips were slightly dry. Brushing against her soft cheek, which had just been moistened with water, they brought a slightly rough, rustling sensation.

He took her two arms, placing them over his shoulders on either side, and gazed into her eyes, commanding her to hold his neck tightly.

Xiao Qiao's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she closed her eyes.

Her body grew light as she was lifted into the air by him.

...

In truth, they had only been separated for two nights.

Yet Xiao Qiao could feel his urgency, as though he had not touched her for a very long time.

Somewhat different from the forceful and sweeping manner he was accustomed to before, tonight he seemed to carry a touch of a pleasing intent. Although his urgency could be felt, he did not forcefully couple with her at the start. It was only when she was slowly roused by him until her face flushed red and her breath carried a delicate gasp that he finally took her.

Throughout the process, Xiao Qiao kept her eyes closed for most of the time. She felt her head turning somewhat dizzy and faint, but her limbs and bones felt immensely comfortable. In the end, as if washed over by a warm current, her entire body shuddered slightly, and her toes curled tightly.

It could even be said that this was the best she had felt since they consummated their marriage.