The Prisoner of Beauty - Chapter 69

Chapter 69

Wei Yan departed Yuyang on the evening of that very day.

He was born here, and he grew up here, for twenty-eight years. Yet now as he departed, there remained only one person and a single horse.

He rode alone until he arrived before that great bronze double-lion gate of the Wei Estate in the north of the city. Facing the main gate, he fell to his knees on both knees, and after knocking his head, he rose his body and departed.

The curtain of night gradually descended. Wei Yan led his horse, walking past the streets of Yuyang. The two sides of the street were entirely filled with pedestrians in a hurried manner, anxious to return home. Before a half-open door by the roadside, a woman’s shouts calling her child to enter the house for dinner traveled out. That child was four or five years of age; he had originally been squatting before the door gripping pebbles to play, but hearing his mother’s call, he responded and got up, lowering his head as he ran. Exactly at this moment, he ran headfirst straight into Wei Yan's body, rebounding and falling to a sitting position upon the ground. Because his backside was hurt from the fall, he was just about to cry, but seeing that this adult who had stopped to gaze at himself possessed a somewhat peculiar expression, appearing different from the people he usually saw, he felt fear within his heart. He abruptly stopped his crying, merely using a frightened gaze to look at him.

Wei Yan’s gaze locked fixedly upon the child's body for a brief moment. Squatting down, he extended a hand toward him.

The child became increasingly frightened, scrambling up in a haste to run. He saw this man appear to be slightly startled. Subsequently, the man grabbed a large handful of coins out from the pouch on his body, placed them upon the ground, and pulled at his mouth stiffly toward him, appearing as if he were smiling at him.

The mother, unable to call back the child, came out to search. Suddenly seeing him sitting upon the ground with an unfamiliar man squatting before him, she instantly barked, "Who are you?" Sensing the man was strange, appearing to carry a wicked aura, she felt uneasy in her heart, and hastily turned her head back to loudly call her husband to come out again.

Wei Yan stood up, leading his horse to continue forward.

The child forgot his fear, sitting upon the ground as he turned his head, staring blankly at this person's back silhouette gradually receding into the distance.

The dark night grew heavier, and the lights of every household were lit one by one in succession.

At the moment when the lights of ten thousand homes illuminated half the city, Wei Yan stopped opposite that framing and mounting shop.

The shop was just about to close its doors. It was still that same shopkeeper from before, currently putting up the wooden door panels one by one at the doorway. The arrangement within could be faintly seen, just like the scene when he first encountered her that day.

Wei Yan gazed fixedly for a brief moment. Suddenly, he flipped himself up onto his horse, urging the horse to gallop rapidly toward the direction of the city gates.

He had sought to depart. He said to them that what he sought was a piece of peace of mind and gratification.

The Wei family also granted his request, releasing him to go.

Only he himself knew that with his heart having nowhere to belong, drifting and wandering, what was peace of mind, and what was gratification? Even he himself did not know. He only knew that for this second half of his life, no matter where he went, he would never obtain true tranquility.

...

Two days later, Wei Yan arrived by the banks of the Sangan River.

Wading across this sandy river that was tacitly accepted as the border would lead to the territory of the Xiongnu.

Wei Yan saw that on the meadow ground by the bank of the river mouth, a person was sitting on horseback from afar, letting his horse loose, appearing as if he had already waited here for some time.

He gradually slowed his horse's pace, riding toward that person, and finally stopped. Gazing at that person, a trace of a smile slowly revealed upon his face: "Second Brother, I had not expected you would still be willing to come to escort me for one final stretch of the journey."

Wei Shao was expressionless, raising his arm to give a wave. Behind him, two soldiers then carried a large sack over, placing it upon the meadow ground.

The mouth of the sack was tied shut, and inside there appeared to be a not-small living creature, twisting and struggling within the bag.

"Do you know why I set a single fire to burn your residence?" Wei Shao said coldly, "I did not desire our brotherhood to generate any rift. Someone, however, wished for you and me to turn against each other. Unfortunately, the villain's treacherous plot succeeded, and right now I have nothing to say either. This Lan Ji, I originally desired to kill her, but remembering she is your woman, I still kept her, leaving her to your own disposal. I come here to escort you for a final stretch of the journey, which can be considered as completing twenty years of brotherly association. How it will be in the future, let each obey heavenly mandate."

The sack mouth opened, and from within revealed a struggling woman with disheveled hair and a wretched appearance; it was precisely Lan Yun, the favored concubine who used to be by Wei Yan's side.

Lan Yun's two hands were bound and her mouth was also stuffed, rendering her unable to speak. Suddenly catching a glimpse of the sky and sun and seeing Wei Yan actually right before herself, sitting upon his horse, her face revealed pleasant surprise. Just as she was about to seek rescue, she saw that although he cast a gaze over, his two eyes were ice-cold and ruthless, and she instantly generated fear once more, gazing blankly at him.

Wei Yan slowly raised his eyes, finally falling upon Wei Shao's face. The two of them each sat upon their horses, locking eyes, and no one uttered a single sound further.

Wei Shao's gaze was gloomy, and after locking eyes with Wei Yan for a brief moment, he suddenly pulled up his horse reins, let out a shout, and turned his horse to depart.

Not far away, his crowd of attendants instantly followed up. The silhouettes of the line of horses and men gradually disappeared at the far end of the meadow.

...

Her younger brother had departed, and three days had already passed up to now. Yet after Wei Shao escorted her younger brother out of the city that day, he had subsequently not returned again.

Xiao Qiao knew that Madame Xu had also gone out that day. Afterward she returned to the estate, and lay down on that very day.

When Xiao Qiao went to see her, she saw her spirit was weary, appearing as if she did not even possess the strength to speak, lying upon the bed as if she had suddenly aged by countless degrees.

Xiao Qiao's mood was exceptionally heavy.

She faintly guessed that it ought to be that a problem had arisen on Wei Yan's side.

But what problem had arisen in the end, why Madame Xu became bedridden as soon as she returned, and where Wei Shao had gone these past few days, she had not a single bit of inkling.

The only point that could be determined was that during these past few days, not only had something happened to the Wei family, but furthermore, the matter that occurred was very severe.

Since it was related to Wei Yan, Xiao Qiao's reaction was that the matter of Wei Yan harboring adoration for herself—which she had originally thought was uncovered and past—had been brought entirely to light.

Otherwise, she truly could not figure out what it could be.

Her mood was anxious and heavy, just as if she herself were a guilty person. On the evening of this day, Wei Shao had still not returned. She went to the northern rooms to serve Madame Xu.

The setting sun sank downward. This room whose light was always very good during the daytime was at this moment also gradually shrouded by a layer of gray and dark shadows. Nanny Zhong came inside to light the lamps, and Madame Xu upon the bed moved, appearing to have woken up. Xiao Qiao hastily went forward, supporting her up along with Nanny Zhong.

Madame Xu sat up leaning back, her gaze falling upon Xiao Qiao's face, appearing to be thinking of something.

Xiao Qiao's heart thumped fiercely, and she was somewhat afraid to lock eyes with her. After a brief moment, she heard her say her stomach was hungry and she wished to eat something. Xiao Qiao hastily rose her body, but Madame Xu said, "Tell Nanny Zhong to go ahead."

Nanny Zhong then departed. Within the room, only Xiao Qiao remained. Madame Xu let Xiao Qiao sit by her bedside, asking about Wei Shao. Xiao Qiao said he had been out for three days without returning. Madame Xu was lost in thought for a moment, then said, "He has gone to escort his elder brother."

"His cousin-brother has gone to the land of the Xiongnu." Madame Xu said again.

Xiao Qiao was greatly shocked.

Madame Xu was silent for a moment: "You are Shao'er's wife; there are some matters that you ought to be let to know. Yan'er's life origin is special; his father is a Xiongnu person. Right now he wishes to go over there, and I cannot keep him anymore, so I could only release him to go."

Xiao Qiao stared blankly at Madame Xu.

Madame Xu gazed fixedly at Xiao Qiao within the shrouding of the twilight.

"What a beautiful child! No wonder..."

She let out a sigh.

Xiao Qiao's heart instantly thumped frantically, and she immediately knelt before the bed, lowering her head as she said, "It is entirely my fault, I beg Grandmother for forgiveness!"

Madame Xu turned her head, gazing at her silhouette kneeling before her bed for a moment, and slowly shook her head.

"Why should I blame you? You are not at fault either. It is merely that the root of disaster I buried myself thirty years ago has borne its fruit today, that is all. It is dictated by fate."

Xiao Qiao slowly raised her head, looking toward Madame Xu.

Her expression was fatigued, and her gaze no longer fell upon herself either, but rather crossed over the top of her head, casting toward that wisp of the setting sun outside the western window.

"When Shao'er returns, console him a bit."

Madame Xu said at the very end. Her tone was gentle.

...

Madame Xu ate some food, sat for a moment, and lay down once more.

Xiao Qiao kept accompanying her by her side, until she fell asleep, and only then did she return to the western rooms.

These past few days she had continuously not seen Lady Zhu. Her side did not require her to go over right now either. Xiao Qiao did not have the mind to care about her that much either. After returning from the northern rooms, while she was dazed inside the room, she suddenly heard the familiar sound of footsteps ring out in the courtyard outside. Her heart gave a leap, and she hastily ran out.

Wei Shao had returned!

He was travel-worn, and on the road he had probably not taken care of his appearance either; a layer of light blue beard stubble had sprouted upon both cheeks, and the person appeared fatigued and distressed.

Xiao Qiao welcomed him into the room. She asked him whether he would eat food first or bathe first. He said bathe. Xiao Qiao then had people prepare the water. It was prepared very quickly, and she followed inside, serving him in person.

Wei Shao was soaked within the bath barrel, the water reaching up to his shoulders on both sides. His two arms were spread and resting upon the edges of the bath barrel, his head tilting backward, his two eyes closed.

Xiao Qiao knelt and sat behind him, loosening his hair, using fresh water to drench it, applying hair cream that emitted the fragrance of roses, her fingertips pressing his scalp, gently rubbing out lather with her palms, rinsing it clean with fresh water, then taking a dry cloth towel to wipe away the damp moisture. Finally, she helped him bind his hair back up once more, pinning it securely with a jade hairpin.

He appeared to have fallen asleep, his two eyes closed, his expression peaceful, completely motionless.

Xiao Qiao cast a glance at him. Seeing that his cheek was still stained with a bit of the rose lather she had accidentally wiped on just now, she extended her hand to wipe it away.

The pad of her finger touched his cheek, his eyelashes trembled for a moment, and he opened his eyes, standing up from the water with a huala sound.

Xiao Qiao then silently served him to dress.

He wore a set of casual clothing, telling Xiao Qiao that he was going to the government office to handle the official business that had piled up these past few days, telling her to rest early and that there was no need to wait for him. Having finished speaking, he left.

Xiao Qiao kept waiting for him. Waiting until near the hour of the dog. Remembering his face full of fatigue when he returned, she hesitated for a moment, yet still changed her garments, ordered the carriage to be prepared, and had herself carried to the government office. Arriving at the entrance, the guarding soldiers recognized her and hastily came over to welcome her. Xiao Qiao asked if the Lord was present, and the soldiers said that after the Lord entered during the evening, he had continuously never come out.

Xiao Qiao lifted the food box in her hand and entered within, arriving at that study of his located in the rear hall which she had been to once last time.

The doors and windows of the study were tightly closed, revealing the light of lamps.

Xiao Qiao stopped before the door, took a deep breath of air, raised her hand to gently knock on the door, and said, "Husband, may I come in?"

After she finished speaking, she pushed open the half-closed door, encountering a view of Wei Shao sitting upright behind that large desk. With his brush suspended in his hand, he was currently bending over the desk writing rapidly. The corners of the desk were piled with high and low scrolls of silk and bamboo slips. Seeing him raise his eyes to look over, his expression appearing to be slightly startled, she then revealed a smile, walked over, knelt and sat opposite him, and said, "Seeing Husband failing to return for a long time, I feared the files and documents were onerous, and feared your stomach was hungry. Thinking that the road is not far anyway, and there ought to be few people in the government office at night, I came over to bring you some food."

She opened the food box, brought out the bowl that still emitted residual warmth and hot steam, opened the lid, placed it before him, and further took a spoon to pass over.

A segment of slender and moist jade fingers gently pinched the spotless white spoon, delivering it before Wei Shao.

Wei Shao raised his eyes, casting a glance at her once more. Initially, he did not take it.

Xiao Qiao met his gaze, offering a slight smile toward him: "I shall leave once you have eaten, and will not disturb your business."

Wei Shao took the spoon, lowering his head to begin eating. He finished eating very quickly. Xiao Qiao passed a handkerchief over. He took it and wiped. Xiao Qiao retrieved the empty bowl and placed it inside the food box, rising her body as she said, "This being the case, I shall return first. Husband should also return earlier, do not be overly fatigued."

She bowed her body slightly toward Wei Shao who was still sitting behind the desk, bent down to lift the food box, and turned her body to head toward the doorway.

Having merely walked a few steps, she suddenly heard a slight movement arise behind her. Turning her head, she saw that Wei Shao had already risen from behind the desk to catch up, his arms extending out, instantly gathering her into his embrace from behind, clamping tightly, subsequently lifting her up as he strode rapidly back to the side of that couch where he had sat just now, laying her down.