The Prisoner of Beauty - Chapter 56

Chapter 56

Wei Shao was slightly taken aback. Finally, his hand slowly withdrew from her body.

The light inside the bed curtains was dim, but it was not difficult to see that her body was curled like a bow, making him feel that she was somewhat different from usual.

"Are you unwell anywhere in your body?"

He finally asked.

"No."

"Are you... still angry with me?"

A moment later, he asked again.

"How could I be? As I said just now, it is merely that my monthly course has arrived, so I cannot serve Husband."

Xiao Qiao answered, her voice exceptionally calm.

Wei Shao opened his mouth, but in the end, he closed it anyway.

The room then fell silent. Wei Shao, however, was unable to sleep, just like during those nights earlier when he had fled to Fanyang.

It should be said that his mood at this moment was very low. He felt that it would have been better to continue staying in Fanyang and not return at all; out of sight, out of mind.

He also knew she had been angry with him that night. That was why later, when he wanted to use intimacy with her to patch things up, he was rejected by her. Although her tone had been very gentle at the time, a rejection was a rejection, and he could naturally feel it.

He found it somewhat unacceptable that she would treat him like this, yet for a time, he did not know how to respond appropriately. Therefore, the next morning, while she was still asleep, he got up early and left. Once the affairs at the government office were finished and it was time to return home, he hesitated. Ultimately, he made a temporary decision to head to Fanyang first to spend a few days before doing anything else.

In any case, before he married a wife in the past, he frequently ran here and there like this; his grandmother and the others had long since grown accustomed to it.

Thus, his sudden departure lasted for three days.

These three days had passed quite slowly, but they had finally gone by. He reckoned that even if she possessed a massive temper, it ought to have dissipated by now.

Most importantly, he truly had not done anything to her back then; it was merely that he could not control his temper for a moment and flared up at her briefly.

He was her husband! When encountering such a matter, there probably were not many husbands who could display the level of tolerance toward a wife that he had shown.

So, he returned today.

What he did not expect was that she was unexpectedly still acting the same as before! She looked as though she served him thoroughly, leaving no faults to be picked apart, but in truth, from the moment he stepped inside the door, he instantly felt a wave of coldness washing over him from her. Most notably, she had actually contradicted his words right in front of Qiao Ci.

In all his years growing up, this was the very first time Wei Shao had encountered someone speaking to him in such a manner!

Toward this, Wei Shao felt highly displeased and extremely perplexed. But reflecting upon that day, he had probably indeed been fierce toward her; she was just a woman after all, so he would not argue so much with her.

Who could have anticipated that she would unexpectedly still fail to appreciate his kindness?

She had touched the object he forbade her to touch, and after he discovered it, he had merely chided her for a few sentences. Three days had already passed, yet when he returned home today, he had even lowered his face to actively seek a reconciliation with her again!

Lying on the bed, Wei Shao felt the tight frustration in his heart growing heavier and heavier. Finally unable to endure it, he slowly sat up, lifted the curtains to step onto the floor, pulled on a garment, and went outside.

He needed to go out to clear his head. Otherwise, while he was unable to sleep like this, the woman by his pillow appeared to have drifted off; he was truly going to be stifled to death.

...

The Lord and the Lady had fallen into discord three days ago because of the matter regarding that casket. Nanny Chun had been trembling with fear at the time. Early the next morning, the Marquis went out, only returning tonight after three days. Most unfortunately, the moment the Lord returned, the Lady seemed to enter into a brief dispute with him again because of the young master's matter.

Nanny Chun felt even less secure in her heart. She did not know how the two of them were getting along tonight either, and at this hour, she was unable to sleep. Tossing and turning, she simply got up to go outside and relieve herself. Upon returning, she indistinctly saw what appeared to be a human form pacing about in the courtyard. Initially startled, she took another look and recognized it as the Lord's silhouette from behind. Her heart instantly thumped violently, utterly terrified that the Lady had entered into a dispute with him, causing the Lord to leave the room deep in the night without sleeping. She hurriedly went forward and called out to the Marquis.

Wei Shao was currently standing with his hands clasped behind his back, staring lost in thought at the half-moon in the sky. Turning his head, he saw it was Nanny Chun.

Suppressing the anxiety in her heart, Nanny Chun probed in a soft voice, "Deep in the night like this, why has the Lord not yet returned to the room to rest?"

Wei Shao exhaled a breath of tight air from his chest, stating flatly, "The room is stuffy, so I came out to get some air."

Seeing that his expression was displeased, Nanny Chun did not dare inquire further about anything. Bowing toward him, she was about to return. After taking a few steps, she heard Wei Shao speak behind her, "I have words to ask you."

Nanny Chun hastily halted her steps and turned around. She saw the Marquis take a few steps over toward her, halt, and then fall silent again.

"Whatever the Marquis wishes to ask, please speak freely. This servant shall disclose everything without exception," Nanny Chun said.

Wei Shao nodded his head, finally saying, "Is her body unwell today? Just now I asked her, but she refused to tell me."

Nanny Chun's heart, which had originally been hanging in midair, instantly dropped back into place upon hearing the Marquis ask such a sentence. She hastily said, "The Lady's monthly course arrived today, so her body is indeed uncomfortable. If there was any place where she contradicted the Marquis, I ask the Marquis to bear with it more."

Wei Shao remained silent without speaking.

Seeing that he did not appear to be angry, Nanny Chun thought to herself that since the topic had been opened, she might as well seize this opportunity to speak a few more sentences. She took a step forward and said in a low voice again, "There are things the Marquis does not know. My Lady's body has always been delicate and weak. In the past when we were in Dongjun, every time her monthly course arrived, she would suffer from unbearable abdominal pain, clutching her belly and unable to step onto the floor; such occurrences were frequent. Now during this past half year or so, it has been somewhat better, but every time it arrives, she inevitably still suffers from a sore waist and a bloated abdomen, and originally it would be most appropriate to rest in bed. Today, the Lady learned of the young master's matter and rushed over herself. Upon returning, this servant saw that she was exhausted, and just as she was about to rest, a summons came from the Madam's side. Hearing that the Madam was suffering from chest pain, the Lady did not dare be negligent, heading over there immediately..."

As Nanny Chun spoke, she halted.

Seeing her stop, Wei Shao knit his brows slightly: "Why do you not continue?"

Nanny Chun glanced at him, saying in a low voice, "As for what follows, it is inappropriate for this servant to say."

Wei Shao snorted: "Speak!"

Nanny Chun complied, stating falteringly, "This servant accompanied the Lady to the Madam's place. On the way, the Lady required me to support her arm. Upon arriving before the Madam, the Madam... was somewhat displeased with the Lady, so the Lady knelt for a long while before being able to rise. This servant saw that the Lady had great difficulty scrambling up, and harbored intentions to step forward to offer a hand of assistance, yet feared bringing fault upon the Lady, so I did not dare... Later we came out, and this servant accompanied the Lady back to her room. Seeing her extremely fatigued, my heart pained for her greatly, so I advised her to rest earlier. It was merely that the Lord had not yet returned to the room at that hour, and the Lady refused to rest first herself, insisting on sitting there to wait for the Lord..."

Before Nanny Chun could finish speaking, the figure in front of her flashed. She saw that Wei Shao had already taken a step to pass by her side, hurriedly heading toward the direction of the main chambers. She hastily followed. She watched him stride up the steps in two or three bounds, push open the door, and enter.

Nanny Chun slowly exhaled a breath of air.

...

Although Xiao Qiao's body was fatigued, her waist and abdomen were aching and throbbing, and with Wei Shao lying beside her, she actually could not sleep either. She was merely closing her eyes. After Wei Shao went out, she slept alone for some time, slowly regulating her breathing, and gradually her mind finally quieted down, with drowsiness attacking along with it. Just as she was dozing off, she felt as though a cluster of bright light was swaying before her eyelids. Finally awakened by the swaying light, she opened her eyes slightly in a blur, seeing that it was Wei Shao who had returned. He climbed onto the bed, holding a candlestick in his hand, seemingly illuminating her face. She closed her eyes once more, raising an arm to block her eyelids, and spoke in a mumble with a trace of slight grievance, "What are you doing..."

Wei Shao pulled away her hand that was obscuring her eyes, continuing to scrutinize her closed-eye form for a brief moment. Suddenly, with a "puff," he blew out the lamp. Following a flurry of rustling sounds, Xiao Qiao felt him lie back down. That arm extended over once more, cradling her waist, shifting to her belly where his palm pressed flat, gently stroking and rubbing.

Having been disrupted by him like this, the bit of drowsiness Xiao Qiao possessed just now had long since vanished.

Her person was already uncomfortable to begin with, and seeing that he still would not let her off even when she was like this, irritation arose in her heart again. Grasping his wrist, just as she was about to reject him, she heard Wei Shao speak in a low voice right by her ear, "Since your person is uncomfortable, why did you not tell me when I returned? You even forcefully endured to serve me my meal? It is not as if I absolutely require your service."

Xiao Qiao was taken aback.

After Wei Shao finished speaking, he fell into silence, only that palm of his continuing to gently stroke and rub upon her lower abdomen.

"Is it very uncomfortable?"

A moment later, she heard him ask softly by her ear again. His tone was unexpectedly somewhat gentle.

Xiao Qiao shifted her body slightly with a bit of awkwardness: "...I am already much better. Sleep yourself."

Wei Shao gathered her into his embrace a bit more, letting her press completely against him.

"In the future, if your body is uncomfortable anywhere, you are not permitted to conceal it from me. If you do not speak, how am I to know?"

In the darkness, his tone seemed to carry a trace of a displeased flavor.

Xiao Qiao bit her lip, giving a soft murmur of assent.

...

Wei Yan awoke from a nightmare of being pursued by hungry wolves, the heart inside his chest cavity still thumping violently and fiercely. Snapping his eyes open, he discovered that it was slightly white outside the window; the sky had already brightened, while he himself had fallen drunk onto the floor before the bed inside the room, having slept facing upward like this for a whole night.

His head suffered from a bit of throbbing pain. He raised his hand to rub his temples. The events of last night flooded onto his mind scene by scene.

He remembered that yesterday evening, he had taken Qiao Ci to Luozhong Workshop. Not long after they sat down, the Qiao woman arrived, calling Qiao Ci away. He had gone out himself to explain to her, but she was extremely angry, gave him a lecture, and left. After he returned, he drank wine alone in the courtyard, and while in a daze of drunkenness, he returned inside the room...

He sat up abruptly, seeing that on the opposite wall, the beautiful woman he had painted last night was unexpectedly still there. Her beautiful eyes were filled with expectation, her clever smile captivating.

He had not touched a paintbrush for many years, but last night when painting her, half-drunk and half-awake, the blood throughout his body boiling and surging, he had actually accomplished it in one breath.

Wei Yan remembered everything. His pair of bloodshot eyes stared at the woman on the wall whose skirts were fluttering and whose appearance was lifelike, his heart beating even more furiously.

He vaguely recalled that later last night, he seemed to have gone out to give orders that no one was permitted to enter this room.

But even so, he could not allow her to remain on this wall like this.

He had actually committed such an abominable deed, behaving worse than a beast toward his brother's wife. If someone were to lay eyes upon it...

Wei Yan felt as if he had been pricked by a needle. Instantly covered in cold sweat, his heart beating until it nearly leapt out of his throat, he vaulted up from the floor in one motion, drew the sword that had been cast onto the floor, and walked with rapid steps to the front of the wall. Raising his sword, just as he was about to scrape it away, the tip of the sword pointing at the person on the wall froze instead.

He truly could not bear to use the sword tip to mar her flower-like countenance just like this.

While he was hesitating, he suddenly heard footsteps approaching from outside. Zhu Quan, the attendant who had followed him for many years, spoke across the door, "Lord, a letter report was delivered from Dai County this morning. Please inspect it, Lord."

Wei Yan's gaze shifted slightly. Responding with a "wait a moment," he sheared his sword and dashed over rapidly, moving several chests and wardrobes that originally rested against the western wall to stack them up one by one, until they blocked the beautiful woman on the wall. Subsequently, he closed the window. Looking around a circle and seeing no anomalies, he went out and opened the door.

"Lord, the letter report is here."

Zhu Quan handed over a letter pouch.

He was nearly forty years old, a cautious and meticulous man who had watched Wei Yan grow up, and Wei Yan trusted him highly.

Wei Yan received it.

...

Xiao Qiao slept through this bout, and upon waking, it was already the morning of the next day. Wei Shao had not gotten out of bed either. The two of them remained in that posture from last night, with him cradling her and her curled in his embrace. They also snapped their eyes open practically at the same time. Because she had merely shifted a tiny bit, he consequently woke up along with her.

When their eyes met, both of them seemed to feel a bit embarrassed.

Xiao Qiao lowered her eyes, rolling out of his embrace. Wei Shao gave a dry cough, jumped down from the bed, and entered the bathhouse.

Xiao Qiao had actually already caught sight of the tent pitched down below him. Naturally, she pretended not to see. The two of them subsequently rose individually. Once they tidied themselves up, they headed together to the northern chambers to see Madame Xu.

Wei Shao was tall with long legs, and his steps were habitually very large when walking. In the past when Xiao Qiao walked with him, she was always left behind, falling back by a large section.

This morning, however, he acted contrary to his usual behavior, continuously following at an unhurried pace right by her side. When the two of them ultimately entered Madame Xu's room together, they unexpectedly saw that Wei Yan was present as well, currently kneeling by Madame Xu's side, accompanying Madame Xu to consume breakfast together.

Seeing Wei Shao and Xiao Qiao arrive together, Madame Xu was very happy, telling the two of them to take seats together to consume breakfast as well.

When they came out just now, because they rose slightly late, the two of them had not consumed breakfast yet. Having arrived here, Wei Shao naturally would not stand on ceremony with his own grandmother, walking over and sitting opposite Wei Yan. Glancing at Wei Yan and seeing that there were still remnants of bloodshot lines inside his eyes, he remarked casually with a smile, "Did Brother perhaps fail to sleep well last night?"

Madame Xu glanced at Wei Yan, saying in an affectionate tone that carried a trace of blame, "You are good in every aspect; it is merely that you love to drink wine. In the future you are not permitted to engage in a hangover again, harming your own body."

Wei Yan said, "Maternal Grandmother's lecture is correct. This grandson keeps it firmly in mind. I shall not dare in the future."

"It will only be good if you truly remember it!" Madame Xu raised her eyes, and seeing that Xiao Qiao could not decline, she beckoned her to sit opposite herself, while simultaneously commanding people to add a bowl and chopsticks, smiling as she said, "What rules are there to speak of at my place? We are all family."

Xiao Qiao had no choice but to express her gratitude to Madame Xu. Stepping onto the couch, she smoothed the pleats of her skirt and knelt down as well. To her right side was precisely Wei Yan.

In her heart, she still held a bit of a grudge against Wei Yan for taking her younger brother to Luozhong Workshop last night. After sitting down, right before Madame Xu's face, it was naturally inappropriate to show him a cold face again. Seeing him look over, she called out "Brother-in-law" with a normal expression.

Wei Yan nodded his head slightly, somewhat daring not look at her further, and averted his gaze.

Breakfast was consumed in silence. After each rinsed their mouth and the dining table was also removed, Wei Yan bowed toward Madame Xu, saying, "This grandson came this morning intending to temporarily take leave of Grandmother. Previously, for Grandmother's grand birthday, this grandson came to Yuyang and has stayed for several months already. Before leaving, there are still a few matters hanging in Dai County, so I thought it would be better to take advantage of these two days of leisure to return first to deal with the matters. I shall depart today, which is why I came early in the morning to take leave of Grandmother."

Madame Xu nodded: "If you have matters, feel free to return. I am very well; there is no need for you to worry too much."

Wei Shao said, "Why is Brother returning at this time? In a few days it will be the Luli Grand Assembly. We cannot do without Brother."

Wei Yan smiled and said, "After the affairs of Dai County, I shall rush back as quickly as possible. How could I miss the Luli Grand Assembly?"

"That is excellent!" Wei Shao nodded. "When does Brother depart? I shall escort you out of the city.”