The Prisoner of Beauty - Chapter 58

Chapter 58

Wei Yan rushed to Dai County. That night, during the third watch, he departed the city and waited alone in the desolate wilderness. He gazed at the bright moon rising above the distant mountain mist into the deep blue night sky, his silhouette completely motionless.

Before long, from the direction behind him, two fast horses gradually galloped toward him. Upon drawing near, one of the men dismounted first and walked swiftly toward Wei Yan. Once close, he bowed his head in obeisance. This was precisely the Xiongnu Thousand-Rider Captain, Huyan Lie, whom Wei Yan had released previously.

Wei Yan said in anger, "You have grand audacity, actually leading troops to patrol along the border! If the moment truly comes where weapons cross, do you think I will show you mercy?"

Huyan Lie kowtowed in salute: "Young Master, please appease your anger. There is absolutely no intention to cause trouble. In truth, letters were dispatched to Young Master several times previously, yet unfortunately there was never a response. Out of sheer helplessness, this method was thought of to meet with Young Master. There are things Young Master does not know. The King was assassinated during the Tuhe Festival last month and was struck in the chest by a poisoned arrow. Fortunately, he wore protective armor underneath at the time, which allowed him to narrowly escape with his life, but he was also significantly injured and has not yet fully recovered to this day. The Worthy King of the Left is pressing forward step by step, wishing to put the King to death. Among the four great noble clans of the Xiongnu, aside from the Huyan clan who is loyal to the King, the Lan clan wavers, while the Xubu and He clans both take orders from the Worthy King of the Left. The King urgently requires Young Master to return and assist!" After speaking, he knocked his head against the ground.

Wei Yan fell silent for a moment, stating coldly, "It is not as if he has no offspring to assist him; why must he insist on forcing me to go over?"

Huyan Lie turned his head to look behind him. Wei Yan turned his face along with his gaze, and beneath the moonlight, he saw the other man on the horse flip himself down and walk toward him. As he drew closer, he could gradually see clearly; the other party wore black clothing and muntjac-skin boots, his build slightly thin. Although the man had passed middle age, the contours of his face remained sharp and elegant; he must have been even more handsome during his youth.

This person was naturally also a Xiongnu, yet if he were to change into Han robes, his demeanor and grace would presumably also be extraordinary.

Huyan Lie rose and took a step back, then performed a kneeling salute toward the middle-aged man, calling out, "My King."

Wei Yan was taken aback. He had not expected that this middle-aged man traveling together with Huyan Lie was unexpectedly the King of Rizhu, Wuzhuqu. Seeing him walk before him and halt, their eyes met, and his expression gradually turned rigid.

Beneath the moonlight, Wuzhuqu's complexion carried a slight trace of paleness. He gazed intently at Wei Yan without blinking a single time, his expression turning emotional. Suddenly taking a step closer toward him, he called Wei Yan "My son," extending his hand out toward him, seemingly wishing to grasp his palm.

Wei Yan took a step back, stating flatly, "I possess no Xiongnu father. My father had already passed away before I was born twenty-eight years ago."

Wuzhuqu's hand hanging in midair slowly lowered back down. After a moment of silence, he said, "I know it is difficult for you to accept me for the time being. My risky crossing of the border this time is also not for the sake of forcefully claiming you back. Years ago, your mother was indeed forcefully plundered to the Xiongnu by me. I lived together with her for three years, and in the third year, she finally conceived you. When she was five months into her pregnancy, the Da Yuezhi rebelled at the time, and I went forward to suppress the rebellion, leaving her with no choice but to remain at the Eastern Court. When I returned four months later, only then did I learn that Wei Jing had raided the Eastern Court and taken her back. I planned twice to snatch her back, but unfortunately Wei Jing obstructed it, and when I sent letters to seek peace, he also ignored them, instead killing my messengers. Considering that she was close to giving birth at the time, out of sheer helplessness, I could only temporarily slow down, thinking to wait until she finished bearing the child, and then seek an opportunity in the future to fetch her back along with the child. I never expected that afterward, I would unexpectedly receive news of her dying from a difficult labor..."

Wuzhuqu paused, tears faintly shimmering within his two eyes.

"When I met her, she was also merely eighteen years old at the time. Your mother was extremely beautiful; I was moved by her at first sight. She was my first wife. Five years after she passed away, only then did I follow my father's command to marry a woman of the Huyan family, bearing two other sons. You may hate me, but your mother—I know she definitely held affection for me. Otherwise, after she was brought back by Wei Jing, there was absolutely no need for her to bear you. Yet she gave birth to you, losing her own life!"

"During these twenty-eight years, I have not forgotten you for a single moment! I wished to fetch you back long ago. However, the Han state and the Xiongnu oppose each other, and I also suffer from constraints, my desires exceeding my power. Now that my age grows greater, I increasingly wish for your return. Aside from assisting me as an arm of support, I also hope that the son born of the woman I loved can return to my side. My son, years ago when your mother just conceived you, I had already chosen a name for you. Your name is Hutukun! The meaning is a dark eagle soaring in the sky. You are by no means a Han person! Your father is me, so you are also a dark eagle soaring in our Xiongnu sky..."

As Wuzhuqu spoke, his expression grew emotional. Suddenly revealing a look of pain, he raised his hand to cover one side of his chest and coughed violently, a trace of blood slowly hanging from the corner of his mouth.

The nearby Huyan Lie hastily supported him, turning his face to speak to Wei Yan, "Young Master! The King's injuries are not yet healed, yet he risked crossing the border to come here merely to see you for a brief moment. Can Young Master unexpectedly be iron-hearted to such an extent?"

Wei Yan's expression was tightly knit, his entire person just like a rigid stone. Staring at Wuzhuqu, he suddenly turned around to mount his horse, and spurring the horse, he galloped away rapidly. Beneath the moonlight, his silhouette very quickly shrank into a black dot, disappearing from sight.

Wuzhuqu's coughing gradually ceased, and he pulled out a handkerchief to wipe away the bloodstains at the corner of his mouth.

"King! Since the Young Master is unyielding to such an extent, why does the King not spread the news of the Young Master's true identity within Yuyang? Why instead go through such a vast amount of trouble, and even risk crossing the border yourself? So long as everyone knows the Young Master is not a Han person, the Wei family naturally can no longer retain him. At that time, aside from taking refuge with the King, the Young Master will have no other path left!"

Huyan Lie's expression carried helplessness amidst his anxiety.

Wuzhuqu gazed toward the direction where Wei Yan had departed, slowly shaking his head: "What I want is a son, not an enemy who hates me."

Huyan Lie fell silent.

Wuzhuqu was lost in thought for a brief moment, then suddenly asked, "That daughter of the Lan family dispatched three years ago to serve my son—is there any news of her now?"

...

At this time every year, so long as it did not encounter wartime, the Luli Grand Assembly would be convened on schedule at the Luli Terrace outside Yuyang City.

It was not merely for the sake of becoming famous in a single battle and subsequently rising rapidly in the world. After all, those with the backing and confidence to stand out and ascend the stage were still a minority. For the majority of lower and middle-ranking military officers and soldiers, the Luli Grand Assembly resembled a grand all-army entertainment activity that everyone anticipated. Even more unfortunately, at this time the year before last, Wei Shao's grand army was fighting a war in Jizhou; at this time last year, he was contesting land with Chen Xiang. It had already fallen through for two consecutive years, but this year they finally encountered a good juncture. Last month, Xin Xun of Luoyang and Yuan Zhe of Qingzhou were fighting each other, and they were currently locked in a chaotic, head-turning battle. Wei Shao closed his doors to recuperate from his illness; since his illness was not yet healed and he could not step out the door, he naturally placed his energy onto this grand matter of the all-army entertainment that was the Luli Grand Assembly.

There were still three days before the assembly would be held. Beginning from today, not only Yuyang, but the braves selected from military camps in various places such as Fanyang, Zhuo County, Gaoyang, and Xindu also arrived one after another. The streets grew increasingly lively, and what the citizens in the city discussed the most was also the assembly in a few days.

What they were interested in, aside from watching the military men compete in martial arts, was also the female family members in the Marquis's household.

For every assembly, Madame Xu would definitely attend in person to beat the drums and cheer for the competing braves.

This year, the Marquis had newly wedded a wife. Everyone in the entire city knew that the Lady was beautiful as a heavenly immortal. It was rare to have an opportunity to see her on ordinary days, so the Lady would presumably show her face on that day.

Having a good opportunity to satisfy one's eyes at a close distance, how could anyone miss it?

...

Wei Shao had been extremely busy recently.

Ever since he learned the taste of sleeping with her, his entire mind was filled with this matter.

The soul-dissolving satisfaction brought to him by holding her to sleep together even gradually came close to matching the sense of achievement after capturing a city.

To speak honestly, recently he indeed had no time left to think about how he used to dislike her and how he hated the Qiao family.

Even if he accidentally remembered it, he could also very quickly banish that thought from his mind.

Recently, he was only busy thinking about how to carve out more time so that he could lie on the bed using various postures to sleep with her.

However, Youzhou was inherently very large, and adding the subsequently captured Jizhou, as well as Bingzhou which had been newly acquired a few months ago, there were so many cities. Even if major events causing chaos did not arise in various places, there were always one or two matters that randomly required his decision every day. Sent together to Yuyang, it became a massive pile by the time it reached his hands.

Originally, when he was away fighting wars, the official documents within the Youzhou government office were handled by Wei Yan.

If Wei Yan was absent, there were Gongsun Yang and the Chief Secretary, Wei Quan.

Regrettably, Wei Quan had been dispatched to Jinyang. Gongsun Yang had recently suffered a relapse of his old ailment of coughing. Hearing him sit there coughing as if he were about to spit out his lungs, no matter how thick Wei Shao's skin was, he was also embarrassed to force him to report to the government office morning and evening. Handing it to others was inappropriate either. He could only handle it himself.

Grudging that the day was too long and grudging that the night was too short—this was Wei Shao's profound realization recently.

Therefore, on the evening of this day, when he finally extracted himself from the desks and documents and walked out the main gate of the government office, his steps were as swift as if he were flying.

Before stepping out the door this morning, he had agreed with Xiao Qiao that he would return a bit earlier in the evening to consume dinner together with her. Just now he had been slightly delayed by a certain matter, so his rising was later than anticipated.

Wei Shao descended the grand stone steps at the main gate of the government office in a few strides. Receiving the horse reins and about to mount his horse, he saw a young woman of exceedingly beautiful appearance walking over from the opposite side.

He had seen this woman before; a favored concubine of his cousin Wei Yan. She seemed to have been with him for three years as well. It was just that he did not know her name. Seeing her stop before him, he surmised she came to ask about Wei Yan, stating directly, "My brother ought to return within these two days." After speaking, he mounted his horse.

Lan Yun bowed toward Wei Shao and said, "Many thanks to the Marquis for informing me. My name is Lan Yun. I did not come to ask about Marquis Wei's return date. His return date has nothing to do with me anymore either. Before he went to Dai County this time, he already dismissed me and does not want me anymore."

Wei Shao glanced at her.

The women around Wei Yan frequently changed, and Wei Shao knew this as well. This woman calling herself Lan Yun had stayed the longest, which was why he had an impression.

Hearing her speak thus, Wei Shao nodded slightly, stating, "If you have matters, wait until he returns to look for him and speak." After speaking, he was about to strike his horse to leave.

Lan Yun said, "There are things the Marquis does not know. My coming to find the Marquis is to tell the Marquis a certain matter. Your eldest brother, Marquis Wei, is disrespectful toward your wife."

Wei Shao was slightly taken aback. Sitting upon his horse, he looked down and stared at her, his brows immediately knitting together, and his voice also turned cold.

"Do you know what crime it is to speak reckless and wild words?"

Lan Yun said, "What I speak is true in every word. Marquis Wei disregards human relations, yearning for a woman whom he ought to call 'Sister-in-law'!"

Wei Shao's two eyes surged with a strange, icy color. Staring at Lan Yun for a moment, he said word by word, "I think you are courting death, actually daring to sow discord like this!"

Lan Yun abruptly knelt down: "If the Marquis does not believe it, you may come with me. Once the Marquis sees a certain object, you will know whether what I say is true or false!"

Wei Shao's expression was gloomy. Paying no heed to Lan Yun, he bypassed her side and galloped away.

He had already galloped several rods away when he suddenly halted his horse once more and slowly turned his head back.

Lan Yun hastily scrambled up from the ground and pursued him.

"If there is the slightest untruth, I shall certainly cause you to be unable to seek life, and unable to seek death!"

Wei Shao's ice-cold voice echoed by Lan Yun's ear.

...

Wei Yan went to Dai County and dismissed the concubines in his household. Now, only Zhu Quan and a few servants remained.

With the master absent from the household, the servants had left for private matters one after another these past few days, leaving only Zhu Quan alone. Just now, someone came to call Zhu Quan to drink wine. Unable to decline, Zhu Quan locked the main gate and departed.

The sky grew slightly dark. Lan Yun opened the door lock with a key. Wei Shao uttered not a single word, striding inward with large steps. He went straight to the door of Wei Yan's bedroom.

Before Wei Yan departed, the bedroom door was also locked from the outside. An iron padlock kept guard upon the door.

He watched with cold eyes as Lan Yun fished out another key, smoothly opened the lock, and gently pushed open the door.

Wei Shao strode inside, finally halting before a wall.

Upon the wall hung a long scroll of a landscape painting. The brushstrokes were uninhibited, and the artistic conception was ethereal.

Lan Yun lit a candlestick, held it in her hand, and walked over to provide illumination from the side.

Wei Shao stared at that landscape painting for a moment, finally raising his hand slowly and extending it toward the hanging scroll.

His expression was exceptionally grave, his hand seemingly heavier than a thousand pounds. Pausing in midair for a moment, he suddenly pulled aside the landscape scroll.

The muscles on his face instantly turned rigid. His gaze locked onto the wall, his silhouette also as if frozen. Beside him, Lan Yun's voice softly arose:

"Marquis Wei has been very different from usual recently. He summoned me to accompany him to bed less frequently. Often upon returning, he would enter his room alone and not come out, sometimes drinking wine by himself. In the past, he was not like this. I consequently suspected that he had taken a fancy to another woman, and therefore paid a great deal of attention to his movements during ordinary days..."

As she spoke, a trace of resentment revealed itself in her expression.

"That night, Marquis Wei returned home. First, he drank wine alone in the courtyard without calling us to keep him company. Later, he suddenly returned to his room alone and closed the door, yet he forgot to close the window tightly. Suspicions arose in my heart, and I quietly sneaked beneath the window, catching sight of him painting this portrait of a beautiful woman upon the wall..."

"Once in the past, I happened to catch a glimpse of the Lady from afar on the street. Her grace was truly peerless; I found it difficult to forget upon a single sight. Marquis Wei's paintbrush is also lifelike; I recognized her at first sight. My alarm and dread were indescribable. Fearing being detected by him, just as I was about to leave, I unexpectedly saw Marquis Wei..."

Lan Yun paused. "I saw Marquis Wei hitch up the hem of his robe, and facing the wall, he released himself... His state at the time was as if intoxicated and obsessed..."

Wei Shao turned around abruptly, raising his hand to sweep away the candlestick in Lan Yun's hand with a single blow.

The candlestick tumbled to the floor, and along with a faint, strange clattering sound, it rolled to the corner of the wall.

At this time, the twilight outside the window was thick, yet it was still possible to discern human faces.

Lan Yun saw that Wei Shao's two eyes were icy cold, yet they also seemed to flash with furious light, his countenance distorted and his expression terrifying.

Even though this was what she had hoped for, truly facing such a scene, Lan Yun still felt her heart trembling with fear. Her two legs turning soft, she involuntarily knelt down, lowering her head and not daring to look at him.

Wei Shao froze in his original place. Within the dead-silent room, only his heavy panting sounds could be heard.