The Prisoner of Beauty - Chapter 66

Chapter 66

In the midst of Xiao Qiao's bewilderment, Wei Shao suddenly bent his waist, raising a hand to support his lower abdomen as he knit his brows slightly, his face revealing a look of agony.

Xiao Qiao was startled and hastily went up to support him in a firm grip. Just as she was about to call someone to come in, her wrist was tightly caught by Wei Shao's counter-grip.

"Do not let anyone know!" Wei Shao said. "If it is transmitted before Grandmother and my mother, it will merely add to their worry for nothing. Furthermore, I am in no great trouble either, just some flesh wounds. It will be fine for you to help me attend to them."

Xiao Qiao exchanged a glance with him. Her line of sight subsequently fell onto his bruised and swollen forehead, his broken lip corner, and the back of his hand where the blood had condensed. She exhaled a long breath slowly.

...

Aside from suffering some injuries, the garments upon his body were also covered completely in mud and grass, making him look just as if he had newly rolled around in a field.

Xiao Qiao first sent him into the bathhouse to wash up, and when he came out, she had him sit upon the couch. Seeing that the broken opening at his forehead had begun to slowly ooze bloodstains again, she took a clean cloth and raised her hand to dab at it gently.

Wei Shao let out a slight hiss, wrinkling his nose and baring his teeth, appearing to be in great pain.

Xiao Qiao's hand stopped instantly: "I am clumsy of hand and foot, fearing I might hurt you. I shall have Chunniang come in..."

Wei Shao shook his head immediately: "I can endure it."

The back of his right hand had split open with a gash that was not considered shallow, appearing to have been scraped out by a stone; after washing the wound clean, it looked somewhat shocking to the eye.

Xiao Qiao carefully helped him apply medicine, then wrapped it well with a bandage.

"Does it hurt?" she asked him.

Wei Shao sat quietly, his two eyes looking at her as he shook his head. Suddenly, he raised his uninjured left hand, carrying a trace of tentativeness as he gently encircled her waist.

Xiao Qiao cast a glance at him. She did not block him either. Taking a jade rod, she scooped up some injury medicine meant to reduce swelling and stop bleeding, continuing to gently and evenly apply it upon his forehead and the injured place at his lip corner, rubbing and massaging it softly.

His palm then pressed against her slender waist across her garments, rubbing a few times, and as he contracted his arm slightly, Xiao Qiao fell and sat upon his thighs.

"Your neck is also broken with a gash, not yet wiped..."

Xiao Qiao struggled slightly, wanting to stand up.

"Do not move," Wei Shao said.

Xiao Qiao then did not move anymore.

Wei Shao took away the small jade rod in her hand, bringing his face close toward her as one side of his cheek rubbed gently against her soft face.

Before he came back, she had just finished bathing. Her entire body still carried a fresh and fragrant sweetness.

Wei Shao closed his eyes, inhaling deeply a breath of the fragrance coming from her hair and neck.

He smelled it for a while, then lowered his head to begin kissing her. It was exceptionally gentle.

Xiao Qiao did not refuse either, leaning against his chest while her head also rested upon his shoulder, letting him kiss her.

After a moment, she asked, "Just what happened during these past two days? You must give me a word after all, right?"

Wei Shao was currently lowering his head to kiss her neck when he suddenly heard her question. He paused for a moment.

"Nothing else. I have already resolved it. It is nothing."

He uttered a phrase indistinctly, continuing to kiss her. That hand also gradually moved upward, finally covering the front of her chest, which had been nurtured to be a bit plumper than when she first married over.

Xiao Qiao took away his hand and stood up from his embrace, saying, "You have been busy for a day, drinking wine and fighting a match with someone, so you must be fatigued. Go to sleep a bit earlier yourself."

A hand extended from behind, grabbing her arm.

Xiao Qiao turned her head. She saw him slightly tilting his face up, gazing at her.

She and he locked eyes for a moment.

With a gentle tug from Wei Shao, Xiao Qiao sat back upon his thighs once more.

This time from behind, his two arms held her lower abdomen, fully embracing her and causing her back to press tightly against his front chest.

But he simply did not say a single word.

Xiao Qiao struggled a few times, unable to break free from his arms.

"If you do not wish to mention it again, I shall not force you either. But when you treated me like that back then, I was very afraid and also very sorrowful. I am still sorrowful up to this moment. It is just as if in your eyes, it is entirely my fault."

Xiao Qiao suddenly turned her head on her own, gazing fixedly at him as she spoke slowly.

Wei Shao continued to remain silent. Just as a trace of disappointment gradually arose in Xiao Qiao's heart, he suddenly picked her up, turning her entire person around to let her kneel and sit upon his thighs.

When Xiao Qiao straightened her torso, she could look straight into his eyes at a level view.

"In the future, if I fail to control my temper again, you may just strike me as you did before."

He finally said. His face slowly turned a bit red from holding it in, and speaking also appeared to take some effort.

Xiao Qiao was startled, then let out a huff, curling her mouth slightly: "The Lord is high and mighty. Last time was merely a stroke of luck, receiving the favor of your not choosing to bicker with me. Afterward, I felt endless lingering fear. From where would the courage come next time for me to dare strike the Lord again?"

"I tell you to strike, so you just strike."

"You truly will not blame me?"

Wei Shao shook his head.

"And you also guarantee you will not strike back?"

"How could you withstand my striking back?" He thought nothing of it.

"I also cannot bear to strike you."

He paused for a moment, then added another phrase in a soft voice.

Xiao Qiao looked at him. He also looked at her. The two of them locked eyes.

The candle fire inside the room swayed gently, and the surroundings were so quiet it was as if they could hear each other's heartbeats.

...

When he spoke this phrase, the look in his eyes at this moment appeared to be genuine.

But this man, how proud he must be.

He was unwilling to speak more before her regarding the private matters between the men of his Wei family, which she could also understand.

But she hoped to hear him admit a mistake to her, yet he stubbornly would not say it.

Xiao Qiao hesitated.

Although she still did not know how he had come to blows with Wei Yan tonight, judging from the various signs after his return tonight, she felt this problem should be resolved.

At least, it would not blow up further like she had previously worried.

Originally, her expectation had actually been nothing more than this. Now without waiting for her to speak, he had already resolved the matter.

Particularly when compared to his attitude from the past two days, the him of tonight was actually already an unexpected, pleasant surprise.

Xiao Qiao thought about it, finally deciding for the time being to stop pressing him further.

"This is what you said yourself. You must remember it. This is the final time. Next time if you recklessly lose your temper with me again and provoke my anger, I shall absolutely show no light mercy to you!" she said.

Wei Shao let out an unh-huh. Lowering his head slightly, the two of them then touched forehead to forehead together.

His breathing was a bit hot, mixed with the wine air, and there was also a bit of the scent of the medicine she had just helped him apply.

Yet she did not feel aversion. When he opened his mouth to contain her lips, she closed her eyes, submissively leaning upon his shoulder as she tilted her head to cooperate, letting him kiss her lips for a while. Finally she held him, her other small hand quietly passing through his collar to press against his skin.

In truth, his muscles were tight and firm, his skin smooth, filled with the sense of power of a young male, and he was even more sexy once his clothes were off. No matter his chest, back, abdomen, buttocks, or thighs, they all felt very comfortable to touch, the hand-feel being super good.

Wei Shao also liked her touching him. Furthermore, his reaction was exceptionally intense. Every time she caressed him—particularly when caressing his sensitive spots—he would reveal an excited expression that looked as if he were about to die.

This actually gave Xiao Qiao quite a sense of accomplishment as well.

But Xiao Qiao had not been very active in caressing him in the past. She would just touch him a few times in accordance with his requests, basically belonging to the passive side.

Tonight it was possible that his bruised and battered appearance had stimulated her maternal love. Although his attitude in admitting his mistake did not make her feel satisfied, at any rate, he could be considered to have softened up in a roundabout way.

Therefore, Xiao Qiao decided to touch him as a token of encouragement.

Her soft small hand shifted slowly inside his collar. Caressing across his chest, it then reached his lower abdomen.

Wei Shao's breathing gradually became heavy and coarse.

...

"Lord, the Madam has arrived!"

Suddenly, a voice from a servant woman came from outside the door.

Xiao Qiao was startled. Her hand then stopped upon Wei Shao's lower abdomen.

Wei Shao paused, slowly opening his eyes. A look of displeasure revealed itself within his expression.

Xiao Qiao cast a glance at him.

She had arrived at the Yuyang Wei family for over half a year now as well. In the past when there was any matter, Lady Zhu would always dispatch people to summon her or Wei Shao to go over.

This was the first time Lady Zhu had run over to the western rooms on this side in person.

It was unknown what matter had arisen either.

Xiao Qiao hastily climbed down from his thighs, tugging at her skirt and gown. Seeing that Wei Shao was only wearing a single layer of inner clothing, his collar even having been made a bit open by herself just now, she hurriedly helped him arrange it back, then swiftly fetched his outer clothing over.

Wei Shao rose his body lazily, letting Xiao Qiao serve him as he donned his outer clothing.

Xiao Qiao helped him arrange his collar. He raised his hand, touching her hanging fine hair. A burst of hurried footsteps came from outside the door, and following that, Lady Zhu's voice was heard ringing out: "Shao'er, come out." It carried anxiety and worry.

Wei Shao turned around, going to open the door.

Lady Zhu stood at the doorway, taking a look at Wei Shao by the lamp fire, and instantly cried out in alarm: "As expected! Who beat you into such a state?"

Wei Shao said, "I drank too much wine, and when riding my horse back, I accidentally tumbled off, taking a fall..."

"Nonsense!" Lady Zhu grew enraged. "Do you take me for blind? Is this from taking a fall? Just now I heard a servant woman in the house say she saw you return with wounds on your face, and I still did not believe it. To think it is actually true! Just which audacious creature actually dared to beat you into this state?"

Lady Zhu's two gazes shot instantly toward Xiao Qiao inside.

Xiao Qiao received a fright.

"If he does not speak, could it be that you do not ask either? Not going to my place to give a word?" Lady Zhu scolded.

Xiao Qiao did not make a sound.

Wei Shao's face revealed a look of irritation: "Mother, stop making a scene without reason! It is merely some flesh wounds; why go so far as to make a great fuss over a trifle? I had better escort Mother back to her room to rest early."

Wei Shao stepped out of the room door, urging Lady Zhu to return to her room. Lady Zhu, seeing her son already striding outward with large steps, had no choice but to follow up.

Wei Shao escorted Lady Zhu outside the door of the eastern rooms, saying, "Mother go inside to rest. Your son is somewhat fatigued today, so I shall also go to sleep early." After speaking, he turned around.

Lady Zhu gazed at her son's gradually distancing back silhouette, remembering a scene that had been continuously revolving inside her mind during the daytime. Her feelings of care and anxiety for her son finally overrode the pressure Madame Xu had brought upon her for these past twenty years. Unable to restrain herself, she walked out with rapid steps to call Wei Shao to a halt.

Wei Shao stopped his steps once more in helplessness, turning his head as he said, "What commands does Mother have?"

Lady Zhu looked around the surroundings, and seeing no one, lowered her voice: "Shao'er, I have a phrase that has already been hidden in my heart for many years, originally being unwilling to speak it out either. It is merely that nowadays, I see that person becoming more and more incorrect. Thinking it over back and forth, it is still better to quietly speak it for you to know, letting your heart have awareness to make a precaution early. Otherwise, in case a mishap arises in the future, it will be too late for regrets!"

Wei Shao let out a sigh: "What matter does Mother still wish to speak of?"

"That cousin-brother of yours, he and we are different. He is not a Han native! He is a Xiongnu child!"

Lady Zhu ground her teeth, uttering it word by word.

Wei Shao was startled, doing his utmost to suppress the increasingly heavy unpleasantness in his heart as he said coldly, "Why does Mother speak such words?"

Lady Zhu let out a cold laugh: "Do you suppose his father truly was a son-in-law who married into my Wei family? Listen well: it is entirely nothing more than ghost words pinched out by that good grandmother of yours! Regarding the matters of that year, I am the most clear about it. At that time, I had just been married to your father for no more than a few years. That aunt of yours was abducted by the Rizhu King of the Xiongnu when she was at the border city, and when your father snatched her back three years later, she already had the seed of a Xiongnu person inside her belly! At that time it was only five months old, and I bitterly advised her not to keep it. Yet she would not listen, bent on having her own way and insisting on giving birth to it. The one born was that good cousin-brother of yours! That aunt of yours was gone after giving birth to him!"

A look of disgust revealed itself upon Lady Zhu's face: "I knew it from the start; this half-breed child was a sin from the moment he entered the world. I also said at the time, since his mother is gone, it would be better to send him back, returning him to that Xiongnu person to raise. That grandmother of yours stubbornly insisted on keeping him to raise herself. One raising has lasted for so many years. She even hid this matter to the absolute death, not permitting you to be told either! Shao'er, your mother is entirely doing this for your own good. It is not that I cannot tolerate him. That cousin-brother of yours is no Han native of mine; sooner or later he will give birth to an alien mind! If you are unaware of the situation and do not add precautions against him, it will certainly cause boundless disasters in the future! Today at the Luli Assembly, why was he so impatiently anxious to ascend the stage to contend and show off his presence? Is it not still that he wishes to suppress you by a head, plotting for your title of Lord in the future? Shao'er, think about it: from our Wei family's late grandfather onward, several generations have guarded Youzhou, being irreconcilable adversaries with the Xiongnu people, yet layout-wise, a Xiongnu child is raised inside the home. If this were to spread out..."

While Lady Zhu was narrating, Wei Shao's face gradually became rigid, and suddenly leaving Lady Zhu behind, he turned his head to depart with rapid steps.

Lady Zhu was stunned, hastily chasing up: "My son! This matter your grandmother does not permit me to speak out; you must under no circumstances mention it before her, saying I have already informed you..."

Before her voice fell, Wei Shao's back silhouette had already swiftly vanished into the night scene.

Lady Zhu stopped her steps slowly, standing alone upon the dark corridor path as she was lost in thought for a brief moment.

This secret that had been buried deep within her heart, she had finally spoken it out toward her own son tonight.

Lady Zhu's state of mind at this moment was just like having given birth to a freakish fetus she had carried in pregnancy for thirty years, carrying an unspeakable relaxation. But after the relaxation passed, she felt a bit afraid again.

She was afraid of it being known by Madame Xu.

But very quickly, that instinct of a mother conquered the fear once more.

I am entirely doing this for my son. As long as he is well, what is there that I cannot cast aside?

Lady Zhu spoke to herself in this manner within her heart.