The Prisoner of Beauty - Chapter 55

Chapter 55

Qiao Ci departed, yet Xiao Qiao remained standing there completely motionless, raising her eyes to gaze at Wei Shao with a lukewarm expression.

Wei Shao rubbed his chin, walking closer to her as he said, "Nanny Chun has already told me. It was merely that Cousin saw him rolling and crawling around the training field so painstakingly these past few days, so he called him over to loosen his muscles and bones slightly and have a couple cups of wine. Is it worth it for you to flare up in such grand anger, personally heading over to summon him back, and then throwing such a massive temper tantrum after returning?"

Xiao Qiao stared at Wei Shao for a long while before finally letting out a cold laugh. "So it turns out that when the Marquis is exhausted during ordinary days, the place you head to for loosening your muscles and bones is also that kind of establishment? Birds of a feather; no wonder you speak up to defend him, and even prevent me from teaching my own younger brother to behave well!"

Wei Shao said disapprovingly, "I rarely go. It is just that your younger brother is no longer small; in the future, socializing at such occasions will also be unavoidable. Done occasionally, how is it not behaving well? Furthermore, this does not count as a big deal either. You are inevitably making a mountain out of a molehill..."

He seemed to finally notice that the gaze Xiao Qiao directed at him did not look very promising. Pausing for a moment, he fell silent.

Xiao Qiao said indifferently, "It matters not if you say I am making a mountain out of a molehill. I care not how others are, and how others are is beyond my control. As for my own younger brother, he is currently not yet an adult, and I simply dislike him entering and exiting that kind of establishment. If such a matter occurs again next time, I hope Husband will not meddle again."

When she spoke the words "others" and "my own younger brother," she pronounced them word by word, her tone shifting slightly heavier.

Wei Shao looked at her for a long while, then suddenly leaned his face a bit closer toward her, stating out of the blue, "Having been with you for some time now, I always thought your disposition was gentle. This is the first time I have seen you throw such a rage..."

"Has Husband forgotten what my infant name is? When parents bestow a name, there is always a reason for it."

Xiao Qiao spoke flatly, dodging his face as it leaned close.

"I was unaware that Husband would return tonight, and Husband did not dispatch anyone to pass a message first either. I have already consumed dinner myself. Has Husband eaten? If you have not, I shall instruct people to prepare some."

"Prepare it. I have not eaten yet."

Wei Shao seemed to find it uninteresting. Standing straight up, he spoke, having also restored his expressionless appearance.

Xiao Qiao then walked past his side, opened the door, and passed down the instructions.

...

Wei Shao bathed first and changed his clothes. By the time he came out, the food was also ready.

He must have been truly hungry, consuming three grand bowls of rice in one breath.

Xiao Qiao sat by his side to accompany and serve him. Waiting until he finished eating and laid down his chopsticks, she handed him the warm water used for rinsing his mouth. Just then, she felt a burst of bloating pain arise in her lower abdomen. Her shoulders shifted slightly, and her raised arm consequently stagnated for a moment in midair.

Wei Shao received the cup, seemingly noticing that slight anomaly of hers, and glanced at her.

Xiao Qiao recovered very quickly. Waiting until he finished rinsing his mouth and set down the cup, he rose and walked out. Only then did her own hands support themselves against that dining table, propping up her upper body as she slowly stood up.

After she came here a few years ago and became Xiao Qiao, she discovered that with this current body, every time her monthly course arrived, her waist and knees would turn sore and weak. Not only that, but the first day or two of the monthly course would also bring abdominal pain. During the most severe instance, the pain in her lower abdomen was akin to cramping; her face turned pale, cold sweat popped up on her forehead, and her person simply could not straighten her waist at all, which was extremely tormenting. While at home, she had also discontinuously taken some medicines to regulate her Qi and blood, but no grand effect was seen. It was only during this past half year or so that the pain had alleviated somewhat, but every time her monthly course arrived, her body remained rather uncomfortable.

During these recent days, the bed affairs with Wei Shao had been extremely frequent. Once a start was initiated, given his tossing momentum on the bed, even if she wished to stop, it was impossible to stop.

Initially, Xiao Qiao had been faintly worried, utterly terrified that she might conceive right now.

It was not that she refused to bear children. Rather, no matter from which aspect one looked at it, conceiving and bearing a child immediately right now did not seem to be a good juncture. Disregarding everything else, purely from a physiological perspective, this body was not fully developed either, making it unsuitable for nurturing a child.

The reason women in ancient times did not possess long lifespans was partly because they bore children too early. Furthermore, even if a child was given birth to, it was not easy to raise.

She had worried for some days, and only upon finally seeing her monthly course yesterday did she breathe a sigh of relief.

That physical posture just now—which was called sitting but was actually practically the same as kneeling, and required her to support her waist and torso perfectly straight to serve someone else—was fine during normal times, but today she felt a bit exhausted.

Nanny Chun knew that Xiao Qiao's monthly course had arrived, and since she had just gone out for a trip a moment ago, her body was bound to be fatigued and weak. Waiting outside all along, the moment she saw Wei Shao exit, she hurriedly entered. Seeing her two hands supporting the dining table to rise, she rushed up to assist her in standing up.

"Is the Lady well?"

She glanced at Xiao Qiao's complexion.

Xiao Qiao nodded her head. "I am unharmed."

"Lady should return to the room to rest earlier." Nanny Chun accompanied Xiao Qiao back to the room.

Wei Shao spoke briefly, stating that he had matters to attend to at the government office and would return slightly later.

After he finished speaking, he glanced at Xiao Qiao.

Xiao Qiao said nothing, merely escorting him to the doorway.

...

Xiao Qiao waited until the hour of Hai, yet Wei Shao had still not returned. Feeling her lower back aching and bloating, she tidied up a bit and lay back against the bed with her clothes on first.

The room was very quiet. Today she indeed felt somewhat exhausted as well. Closing her eyes, just as her consciousness was gradually turning a bit blurry, Nanny Chun pushed open the door and entered with light steps, waking Xiao Qiao as she said, "The eastern chambers just dispatched a person over, stating that Madam is suffering from unbearable chest pain, and inquired whether the Lord has returned. This servant stated that the Lord has not returned."

When Nanny Chun spoke these words, her brows were knit, her expression somewhat displeased.

Xiao Qiao rubbed her eyes, slowly sat up, and after staring blankly for a brief moment, put on her shoes and stepped onto the floor, telling Nanny Chun to change her into another set of clothing.

Lady Zhu was her mother-in-law, and she had dispatched a person to summon her son in such a manner. Since the biological son was absent, even if she, the daughter-in-law, had one of her legs broken, she would still have to hop over there.

Seeing that her expression was calm without a single trace of resentment, Nanny Chun muttered a couple times to herself, but helplessly fetched the garments to help her change into them.

Before Xiao Qiao headed to the eastern chambers, she dispatched a person to the government office to locate Wei Shao, and subsequently arrived at Lady Zhu's room in the eastern chambers.

Lady Zhu did not appear to be faking illness. Her hair was disheveled, and she lay there clutching her chest while groaning and whimpering. Her eyes were closed, and her face was indeed a bit pale. By her side was that Nanny Jiang; looking askance and seeing Xiao Qiao arrive, she leaned close to Lady Zhu's ear and gave a word.

Xiao Qiao knelt down in salute and said, "Husband returned at evening, and after consuming his meal, he exited again, not yet having returned at this moment. My coming is also late, leaving my heart uneasy. I wonder how Mother-in-law is faring?"

Lady Zhu did not utter a sound, so Xiao Qiao remained kneeling all along. After a long while, only then did she hear her state coldly, "Your body is precious and noble; how could I labor you to come and serve me?"

Xiao Qiao said, "Mother-in-law speaks too heavily. Mother-in-law's body is unwell, and as a member of the younger generation, so long as there is an occasion where I can fulfill filial duties, provided Mother-in-law does not dislike my clumsiness, I certainly dare not be negligent."

Lady Zhu said, "Where is my son? Whither did he go?"

Xiao Qiao said, "Before Husband stepped out the door, he did not speak of it for me to know. He ought to have gone to the government office. Just now, upon hearing the summons stating that Mother-in-law's body was unwell, I dispatched someone to the government office to notify him. The government office is not far from home either, so presumably Husband will return very quickly."

Lady Zhu stared at Xiao Qiao who was kneeling on the floor. After a long while, she snorted, "You leave. My place does not require your service."

Xiao Qiao then performed a parting salute toward her, scrambled up from the floor, and withdrew.

She returned to her own room, utterly devoid of any sleepiness as well, leaning against the head of the bed while letting her mind wander. After roughly two quarters of an hour, Nanny Chun entered, stating that the Lord had been called back and had already headed over to the eastern chambers just now.

Xiao Qiao did not sleep further either. Sitting and waiting for not long—roughly the time it took to consume two cups of tea—she heard footsteps arise outside the door. Wei Shao had returned.

Supporting herself against the head of the bed, Xiao Qiao stepped onto the floor, welcoming him as was customary.

Wei Shao looked as though he no longer intended to head out. Unfastening his belt himself, he casually tossed it onto the nearby clothes-resting table, looking at Xiao Qiao as he asked, "Did my mother make things difficult for you just now?"

Xiao Qiao came before him, receiving the outer garment he had removed himself. Raising her eyes level with his chest, she said, "Never. Just now you were absent, and Mother-in-law's side dispatched a person to call you, stating her chest pained. Since you were absent, I went. Mother-in-law did not require my service either; I merely stood for a brief moment before returning."

That response of hers before Lady Zhu just now sounded simple, but in truth, it had also been considered. Knowing that Lady Zhu disliked her son being close to her, she stated that Wei Shao had not told her his whereabouts before stepping out, only surmising that he had gone to the government office. Then she mentioned that she had already dispatched a person to call him, so he would be back very quickly.

Given Lady Zhu's psychology, when her son returned to visit her, she would certainly be unwilling to see her daughter-in-law performing filial duties before her as well. Sure enough, as she had expected, Lady Zhu had released her to return very quickly.

"How is Mother-in-law?"

After Xiao Qiao finished speaking, she inquired.

"An old ailment. She has just fallen asleep now." Wei Shao responded briefly, his two eyes remaining fixed upon her face all along.

Xiao Qiao nodded her head, avoiding the stare of his two eyes. Fetching the clothing, she turned around intending to leave, yet her shoulders sank slightly. Halting her steps, she saw that he had raised his hand to rest upon them, and his person had also taken a step over toward her. The distance between the two of them instantly pressed close.

"My mother..." he hesitated for a moment, "her disposition now is increasingly difficult to get along with compared to the past. If I am not at home and she gives you grievances to suffer, bear with it more."

Xiao Qiao raised her eyes, glanced at him, and smiled slightly. "Husband, rest assured, I know what to do."

At the end of the hour of Hai, this day finally managed to conclude. After blowing out the lamp, Xiao Qiao lay down, curling her body into a ball. After a short while, sure enough, Wei Shao leaned over toward her once more, and a hand also probed into her clothing.

Closing her eyes, Xiao Qiao said, "Do not touch me today. My body is not clean."

...

With Qiao Ci being called away in such a manner by the suddenly arriving Xiao Qiao, Wei Yan had no heart to remain any longer either. Watching that carriage disappear into the night scene, he turned around to enter, greeting the remaining people at the same table to say that he had other matters and would depart first. He requested everyone to enjoy themselves to their hearts' content, stating that tonight was on him, and subsequently returned home.

That carriage bearing Xiao Qiao had long since receded into the distance, presumably having delivered her back home by this moment.

Holding a wine flask in his hand, Wei Yan leaned against the railing while being blown by the night wind, yet that appearance of hers when she revealed her face in the vehicle and spoke with him just now kept continuously surfacing before his eyes.

That row of lanterns before the main gate of Luozhong Workshop was brilliant, illuminating her face within the viewing window. Though it was merely half a profile, her expression also carried anger, her two brows slightly knit. Yet it was precisely this kind of expression that instead made him feel increasingly incapable of restraining himself.

Even up to this moment, closing his eyes, he still continuously reminisced.

When facing him, aside from the aversion at the very beginning, every time they encountered each other afterward, there remained nothing but coldness and courtesy.

This was the very first time Wei Yan had seen her display her original true nature before him.

Even her anger made him find it sweet as nectar, counting even as obtaining an unexpected joy.

...

She was his sister-in-law; Wei Yan also remembered this point. His maternal grandmother treated him with kindness higher than mountains, and Wei Shao had grown up together with him.

Wei Yan was in truth a conceited person as well, and his capabilities were indeed extraordinary.

He was older than Wei Shao. When Wei Shao was still a mere child, he, having grown into a youth, was already galloping his horse behind Wei Jing.

But he had always known that the mission he shouldered was to assist the successor of the Wei family to achieve grand undertakings. Toward this, he had never possessed any doubts.

Until one day—that was a certain day three years ago—a Xiongnu person located him, and he finally learned of his true origins. It turned out that his biological father was not, as his maternal grandmother had told him, a warrior who had married into the Wei family and unfortunately met an early demise in his prime.

His father was the younger brother of the current Xiongnu Chanyu, the King of Rizhu, Wuzhuqu. Within his body, aside from the blood of the Wei family, there also flowed Xiongnu blood. And that King of Rizhu was currently yearning for him to return.

The disturbance this realization caused him had once made him feel utterly tormented. The Xiongnu people whom he had opposed for many years and hated from the very marrow of his bones turned out to unexpectedly be his own clansmen. While his always revered maternal grandmother had concealed his life origins!

After a period of torment, Wei Yan finally calmed down gradually.

He did not intend to acknowledge his Xiongnu father back.

But it was also from that time onward that he gradually felt the unfairness of destiny.

Occasionally, such a thought also popped up within him: merely because of the difference in birth, his younger brother Wei Shao was destined to be the master of the Wei family, while he could only exist as an assistant by Wei Shao's side, even if his capabilities were not beneath his.

But very quickly, he was always able to suppress this improper thought within his heart.

Until now, when he encountered this Qiao woman again.

He had grown up receiving a Confucian education. His maternal grandmother had not abandoned him back then and possessed the grace of raising him, while Wei Shao was furthermore a brother of flesh and blood whom he had associated with for many years.

How could a single woman match against the bond of brotherhood?

But Wei Yan was simply unable to control himself from thinking of her.

He had felt shame because of this, but at the same time, deep down in his heart, because of adoring this woman whom he could not obtain, it also gave him a kind of pleasure that he simply could not suppress at all.

The night was already deep. Perhaps it was the wine continuously consumed into his stomach playing tricks, but Wei Yan only felt that his love for her loved her practically to the bone. Finally unable to resist, he tossed away the wine flask, walked with rapid steps back to the room, and commanded the concubines who were still waiting for him in the room to exit. Grinding the ink and dipping his brush himself, he stood by the bedside, and began to splash and smear upon the wall.

Sweat gradually popped up on his forehead, his entire body generating heat, and the brush tip in his hand was even more like a nimble serpent roaming upon the wall, accomplished in one breath. Very quickly, the silhouette of a lady wearing a hairpin flower leapt vividly onto the wall. That lady seemed to be walking against the wind, the lapels of her clothing fluttering; she must have heard someone calling from behind, turning her head back with a smile, her expression charming and coquettish, moving beyond compare.

Having finished painting, Wei Yan cast away the paintbrush with one sweep, his two eyes staring at the wall surface without blinking a single time. His entire person was just like having consumed wine to drunkenness, his face crimson, his breathing hurried.

He suddenly hitched up the hem of his robe, the sound of his breathing turning increasingly turbid. That silhouette cast upon the painted wall by the candlelight behind him seemed to be trembling slightly. A moment later, following a long sound of exhaling as if finally obtaining release, everything quieted down.

"In this room of mine, no one is permitted to enter from now on! If it is known by me that someone entered without permission, they shall be executed without mercy."

A moment later, Wei Yan exited, speaking toward the concubines outside.

His expression was extremely flat, yet the harshness within his voice was ready to appear at the first call.

Although it was a summer night, the concubines seemed to feel a trace of bone-penetrating coldness, hastily lowering their heads to assent.