The Prisoner of Beauty - Chapter 57

Chapter 57

When Wei Yan returned home from the Wei manor, Zhu Quan had already packed his simple luggage for him.

Wei Yan’s three concubines were currently already waiting in the covered veranda.

In the past when he went out, sometimes he traveled alone, and sometimes he would select one person to take along. Thus, seeing that he was about to depart this morning, all three women had dressed up meticulously, hoping to be chosen to accompany him. After a short while, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed. The three women shifted their gazes and looked over together, but they did not see Wei Yan's figure; instead, it was Zhu Quan who walked out from within. Holding a long casket that seemed rather weighty in his hands, he stopped before the three women and said, "The Lord said that there is no need for you to serve him anymore in the future. Take the gold inside this casket and divide it among yourselves, and leave today."

Zhu Quan placed the casket on the floor and opened the lid. Inside was a full casket of gold cakes, glittering and dazzling to the eyes.

Suddenly learning that they were to be dismissed, the three women were initially stunned and looked at one another. Once they reacted, they hastily knelt down to plead. Lady Zhu, who had just been taken in last year, wept and said, "I do not know what I have done wrong for the Lord to treat me with such a cruel heart?"

Zhu Quan shook his head. "According to the Lord’s words, you have done nothing wrong. It is merely that the Lord no longer requires your service now. Just take the gold and leave."

Lady Zhu and the other woman, Lady Wang, both originated from the entertainment quarters. In the past, they were music courtesans who could sing and dance beautifully before being favored and brought back by Wei Yan. Having served him until now, they knew his disposition was gloomy and that he was by no means a gentle man. Although they had tactfully pleased him during ordinary days, they actually harbored a bit of fear toward him in their hearts. Seeing that he would not even show his face, and hearing from Zhu Quan's tone that dismissing them was already a settled matter, they feared they might infuriate him if they bitterly and stubbornly forced themselves to stay. They could only wipe away their tears, take their respective gold cakes, and return to their rooms to pack their luggage. After some discussion, they could only return to the entertainment quarters to resume their old profession. Fortunately, both women were young and beautiful, and Wei Yan had also given them a generous amount of wealth and silk. In the future, if they met a good man they would marry, and if they could not find anyone to rely on, with this sum of wealth, they could live their entire lives without worrying about food and clothing.

Lady Zhu and Lady Wang departed, but the remaining favored concubine named Lan Yun still stood in her original place, refusing to leave.

She had come to Wei Yan’s side three years ago. At that time, Wei Yan was in a battle against a raiding band of Xiongnu. After the Xiongnu left, Wei Yan rescued a batch of plundered women, and Lan Yun was among them. She stated that both her parents were dead and begged Wei Yan to take her in. Seeing her delicate and touching beauty, Wei Yan took her to his bed that very night. Lan Yun was not only beautiful but also highly adept at figuring out a man's thoughts, and she assumed many postures within the bed curtains. Unknowingly, three years had passed; while the women around Wei Yan were changed again and again, this Lan Yun had managed to stay by his side all along.

Seeing her expression blank as she still stood there refusing to go, Zhu Quan shook his head.

A moment later, Wei Yan walked out of the room with hurried steps and reached the front of the gate. Receiving the horse reins from a follower, just as he was about to mount his horse, Lan Yun rushed out from behind. Blocking Wei Yan’s front, she said with flowing tears, "I have served the Lord for three years, and I consider myself never to have been negligent in any aspect. Why has the Lord changed his face in a single night and abandoned me without a care?"

Wei Yan looked toward Zhu Quan.

Zhu Quan’s face revealed embarrassment, and he hastily explained, "Just now I already conveyed the Lord’s intent, but she absolutely refuses to leave, and I am helpless as well."

Wei Yan said, "Give her some more gold and silk. If she has no place to go, find a family for her to marry into on her behalf." After speaking, he flipped himself onto his horse. Amid the rhythmic clatter of horse hooves, the party went away cleanly in the blink of an eye.

Lan Yun stared blankly at the receding backs of Wei Yan and his party, the tears in her two eyes flowing without ceasing.

...

Wei Shao personally escorted Wei Yan out of the northern city gate for more than ten miles before finally halting. The two men dismounted and stood by the roadside to bid farewell.

"At that time, Grandmother will also attend the assembly to witness the display of military might by our Youzhou braves. Brother must not be absent either."

Wei Yan said, "Second Brother, rest assured. Once the affairs of Dai County are concluded, I shall definitely rush over."

Wei Shao nodded. Seeing that he hesitated to speak, Wei Yan smiled and said, "Does Second Brother still have words to say?"

Wei Shao hesitated for a moment, turned his head to glance behind him, and seeing that the attendants were quite a distance away, said in a low voice, "It is nothing else. It is merely that I wish to consult Eldest Brother: what do women mostly prefer?"

Wei Yan was taken aback, but within a shift of his thoughts, he understood.

He also knew that Wei Shao was inexperienced in the matters of women. Suddenly asking him this, the one he wished to please must be the Qiao woman.

Wei Shao forced an air of unconcern to explain, "She has been married here for some time now. I see that she serves Grandmother and my mother quite thoroughly. As the saying goes, one should return a favor with a favor, so I thought of giving her some things. I see that she does not seem to care much for wealth and silk either. It is just that aside from wealth and silk, I cannot think of what else to give, which is why I am consulting Eldest Brother."

Wei Yan suppressed the thousands of twisting undercurrents surging in his heart. After pondering for a moment, he said, "Sister-in-law's disposition is gentle, and her heart must also be compassionate and charitable. Second Brother might as well give her a live animal hatchling that can be raised. Presumably, it ought to win her joy."

Wei Shao felt as if a sudden enlightenment had cleared his mind, and he repeatedly expressed his gratitude.

Wei Yan gave a smile. The two bade farewell to each other. Wei Shao watched Wei Yan’s party head north, then turned his horse around to return to the city.

...

Since the day Qiao Ci was caught red-handed on the spot by Xiao Qiao, he had put his whole heart and mind into rolling and crawling around the training field these past few days. After several days, he returned in the evening and entered Xiao Qiao's courtyard with great excitement. Xiao Qiao was in her room when she heard her younger brother calling her name, sounding quite thrilled. Going out, she saw Qiao Ci squatting on the ground, surrounded by several maids who were bending over and whispering as if they were observing something. She walked over.

"Sister, look!"

Qiao Ci picked up the object on the ground and walked quickly toward her.

Only then did Xiao Qiao see that he held a young cat in his arms. Its head was round with short little ears, and the pupil colors of its two eyes were extremely pure—one was blue and one was amber, as if two gems were embedded there. Its entire body was fluffy like a ball of flesh. Held in Qiao Ci's arms, it seemed frightened, continuously clawing with its pink paws and letting out faint meowing sounds, looking exceedingly adorable and pitiable.

Xiao Qiao asked in surprise, "Where did this come from?"

Qiao Ci said, "Brother-in-law brought it. He said this thing was abandoned on the road right after it was born and no one wanted it. Brother-in-law just happened to encounter it, and finding it quite pitiable, he picked it up and let me bring it to hand over to Sister to raise."

The moment Xiao Qiao heard this, she knew it was absolute nonsense. The breed of this cat ought to come from Persia, which was currently very rare in the Central Plains. Only Western Region merchants would bring them to Luoyang to sell at high prices to noble women for rearing. A thing is valued for its rarity; looking at the appearance of this cat, it could not be obtained without a heavy sum of money. Where did Wei Shao get such stroke of dog-shit luck to let him pick up one out of the blue while walking on the road?

However, the kitten was truly cute. Seeing Qiao Ci hand it over to her, Xiao Qiao could not resist receiving it into her arms to hold. Hearing the commotion, the nursemaids and maids also gathered around to watch. Learning that it was given to the Lady by the Lord, each praised it, and they busied themselves finding cloth to make a nest and piling sand for it. The courtyard of the western chambers bustled for a while, and it only quieted down until nightfall.

The kitten was initially shy around strangers, hiding in the room for a while, but gradually grew bold enough to come out. Xiao Qiao played with it for a brief moment before carrying it to its nest.

Wei Shao did not return to eat dinner. Xiao Qiao had already eaten by herself and bathed, and at this time, the sky had just barely darkened.

The summer night was long and without events, so Xiao Qiao brightened the candle flame, sat down, and continued copying scriptures. Having copied only a few lines, she heard footsteps arise outside. Turning her head, she saw that Wei Shao had already returned. Just as she was about to lay down her brush and rise to welcome him, Wei Shao had already reached her back. Leaning his head over to take a look, he praised, "Indeed fine calligraphy!"

Xiao Qiao smiled faintly, laid down her brush, and turned toward him. Wei Shao seemed to suddenly remember something, looking around left and right: "The cat I picked up today, do you still like it?"

Seeing him emphasize with a straight face that the cat was "picked up," Xiao Qiao could not help but feel a bit amused in her heart, but she suppressed it on her face, merely giving a murmur of assent.

Wei Shao said he wanted to take a look. Xiao Qiao then brought him to the corner in the outer room where the cat nest was temporarily placed. The kitten was curled up in the nest, sleeping.

The moment Wei Shao went in, he immediately let out a sneeze. Coming before the cat nest, he stared at the kitten for a moment, finally extended a hand to touch its back, and nodded, saying, "It is good as long as you like it. When I am not at home, it can keep you company to play..."

Before he could finish speaking, he let out another sneeze.

Xiao Qiao could tell by now that Wei Shao probably possessed an allergic constitution. He himself was completely unaware; having sneezed twice in succession, he felt a bit perplexed and rubbed his nose.

Xiao Qiao hastily said, "I understand. Do not touch it anymore. Hurry and leave!"

Wei Shao was pushed out by her. Xiao Qiao let the nursemaids come in to serve him for his bath. Thinking about it, she had no choice but to first move the cat nest into Nanny Chun’s room. Just as she returned to the room, she heard Wei Shao’s voice drifting out from the bathhouse, loudly calling for her to enter as if some major event had occurred.

Startled, Xiao Qiao hurriedly went to the door of the bathhouse and lifted the curtain: "What is the matter, Husband?"

Wei Shao clamored, "It itches!"

Xiao Qiao was taken aback. She walked inside to take a closer look and saw that on the skin of his arms and shoulders, some red, needle-sized dots had unexpectedly appeared.

Wei Shao clamored about the itch unceasingly. Xiao Qiao hastily stopped him from scratching, telling him to come out and put on his clothes first. She sought an anti-itch ointment from Nanny Chun herself, and returned to let him lie down.

Wei Shao lay down obediently, watching her apply the ointment to him.

Sitting by his side, while smearing the ointment, Xiao Qiao said, "You clash with the cat. It cannot be raised at home anymore. Wherever you bought it from, if it can be returned, return it tomorrow—"

Wei Shao shook his head, stating with an air of awe-inspiring righteousness, "As long as you like it, it matters not even if I itch to death!"

In her heart, Xiao Qiao rolled her eyes at him, letting out a snort: "I do not possess such a grand face to cause the Lord to have no peace every day just to raise a cat..."

Before Xiao Qiao could finish speaking, her hand was tugged by Wei Shao, and her person tumbled onto his chest. Wei Shao clamped his arms around her, rolled over, and pressed her onto the pillow.

Leaning to her ear as if blowing air, Wei Shao said, "Is it permissible tonight? I have not touched you for several nights!"

How could Xiao Qiao not understand his meaning? A knot was actually still blocked in her heart, yet her mouth truly could not utter a refusal. Moreover, her body was already clean today, and she reasoned that even if she said no, Wei Shao would no longer comply with her.

Xiao Qiao casually smeared the slight remnant of ointment left on her finger onto his face, letting out a snort: "Does the Lord’s body no longer itch?"

Having his cheek scraped by this finger of hers, Wei Shao's mind rippled with desire. Utterly disregarding that her finger still carried the smell of medicine, he opened his mouth to bite it in one snap, licking her finger as he said indistinctly, "It still itches fiercely. Only if you give me a good stroke can I get well—"

...

This night, Xiao Qiao was tossed back and forth by Wei Shao for a long time again, her waist practically about to break.

She had not known before that once Wei Shao let himself fly, whatever shameless words and brazen demands could be spoken by his mouth, and spoken without a change of expression. Not only did he speak them himself, he even absolutely forced her to speak them for him to hear.

During that final time, she was handled by him until she was already weeping softly in whimpers, yet he still would not let her off. Looking excited to death, he absolutely forced her to answer his foolish question of "Whether you like me treating you like this?"

Xiao Qiao did not wish to speak with him at all, nor did she possess the strength to speak further. It would be best if she could throw another lump of something that could paste over his mouth, which would be even better.

But she lacked the backing. If she did not comply with his meaning, given his posture, it looked as though he would endure until dawn.

"I like it—" Xiao Qiao wept.

"Like what?"

"Like... Husband treating me like this—"

"Will you let me touch you next time?"

"Yes—"

"What if you do not let me?"

"I do not know—"

"You must listen to me in everything! I am your husband!"

"Mm, mm—" Xiao Qiao wept.

Thanks to Lord Wei obtaining immense satisfaction in both physiological and psychological aspects, he finally showed a benevolent heart and brought the scene to a close at last. Before Xiao Qiao closed her eyes and was able to drift off to sleep, a thought leaped into her mind in a blur.

In the past when she was in Xindu and had just met him, she often saw him entering and exiting on the Sandalwood Terrace during the day, and she even felt that he was as busy as a dog.

Now it was just wonderful; it was her turn to be tired like a dog at night.

When exactly could such days reach an end!