The Prisoner of Beauty - Chapter 81

Chapter 81

The father and daughter conversed for a few more phrases. Seeing that the night was deep, Qiao Ping feared his daughter would be exhausted, so he urged her to enter her room to rest.

Although Xiao Qiao had countless words to speak to her father, since she had finally arrived home, there was no rush to do everything at this single moment. She nodded and obediently complied. That night, sleeping upon the very bed she had occupied before her marriage, the tides of her heart surged back and forth, making it difficult to fall asleep for a long while. She woke up early the next morning. Just like in the days before she was married, Chunniang entered with a smile on her face to attend to her rising and dressing. Once her combing and washing were finished and she had consumed her morning meal, she repaired to the main branch's quarters, accompanied by her father and younger brother.

When Qiao Yue arose early in the morning, he heard the news of his niece's return to her maiden home. At first, he was startled. His very first reaction was that his niece must have offended the Wei family, or perhaps the Wei family intended to break the marriage alliance, which was why they had suddenly sent her packing back to her maiden home at this time. If that were the case, it would be catastrophic to the extreme! Turning the thought over in his mind, when Yang Feng—whom he had previously dispatched to foster good relations—returned, according to his words, the Wei family's etiquette had been thorough, and they treated them as maternal kin at every turn without the slightest negligence. It had only been a few months, and his own side had done nothing to give offense, so how could they suddenly break the alliance and send his niece back? Pacing restlessly and feeling trepidation in his heart, he heard that Qiao Ping had brought his niece to pay her respects to him. He hurriedly called them in. Just as he accepted Xiao Qiao's formal greeting, the very first sentence out of his mouth was: "It has only been a year since you were married, niece, and the road between north and south is long and distant. For what reason have you returned to Dongjun at this time?"

Xiao Qiao discerned what was in her paternal uncle's mind at a single glance, so she said, "There is no other matter. It is merely that last month I received a family letter from my younger brother and learned that my aunt is bedridden with illness. Deeply concerned in my heart, I begged a favor of Grandmother to return and visit Aunt regarding her illness."

Only then did Qiao Yue let out a sigh of relief. He said disapprovingly, "Your aunt's condition is of no great consequence. It is nothing more than an irregular diet and some physical discomfort. The household has never ceased inviting physicians and procuring medicine. There was absolutely no need for you to return home from afar at this time, neglecting your duty to serve your husband's parents and giving rise to petty friction."

With his daughter returning from afar to visit her maiden home, his elder brother not only showed no joy but instead adopted a tone of reproach. Qiao Ping felt displeased in his heart, so he said, "Manman's filial piety is where her heart resides. Furthermore, the Wei family is no small, insignificant household. How could they take offense at even this? Brother, you are inevitably overthinking matters!"

Having been contradicted by his younger brother, Qiao Yue was originally displeased. Casting a glance at his niece, he saw her standing gracefully before him, and suddenly recalled that when the envoy Yang Feng returned, he mentioned that the Wei family's grandmother, Madame Xu, seemed to hold this niece of his in quite high regard. If that were truly the case, then the future peace of the entire family would be bound to her person.

Thinking of this, his expression softened, and he nodded, saying, "It is fine that you have returned. Since you are already home, go and visit your aunt now. She has undoubtedly missed you for a long time as well."

Xiao Qiao truly harbored no good impressions of this paternal uncle, so whatever he said, she naturally would not take it to heart. However, seeing her always respectful and fraternal father open his mouth just now to gainsay his elder brother solely to protect her, her heart felt warm. She smiled and nodded to her father, then turned to go with Qiao Ci to Madame Ding's quarters.

...

When Madame Ding woke up early in the morning, a serving woman informed her that Xiao Qiao had returned to her maiden home last night.

Qiao Yue had several concubines. Therefore, aside from the eldest daughter, Da Qiao, whom Madame Ding had given birth to and raised, she had also successively borne other children in her early years, but they had failed to survive and met with untimely deaths. Currently, Qiao Yue was not yet fifty, but several years ago, due to an accidental fall from a horse while traveling abroad, he had injured his groin. Although he sought medical treatment from many quarters, the injury had damaged his kidney essence, and he had no further offspring after that. Qiao Yue could only gradually abandon all thoughts of a male heir and raised Qiao Ci as his own son. As for his relationship with Madame Ding, the husband and wife originally had little to say to each other, and they had rarely shared a bed in recent years. Coupled with the incident concerning Da Qiao last year, Qiao Yue directed his resentment and anger onto Madame Ding as well, making the relationship between the husband and wife even colder.

Madame Ding had long since ceased to harbor any expectations toward her husband. She merely missed and worried about her daughter in secret, gradually losing her appetite for food and tea, and her nights were restless. Furthermore, a few months ago, she inadvertently caught a bout of wind-cold, which left her lingering upon her couch, bedridden and unable to rise. It was not until Qiao Ci returned from Youzhou last time and secretly met her one day, saying that his elder sister Xiao Qiao had asked him to convey a message that Da Qiao was currently well and that she need not worry, that Madame Ding finally learned Xiao Qiao and her daughter were in communication. Although her suspended heart eased a bit and her illness took a slight turn for the better, her longing never ceased.

At this moment, hearing that Xiao Qiao had returned home, Madame Ding was overcome with pleasant surprise. Her spirit, which had been listless for several months, seemed to be roused considerably all at once. She hurriedly called people to dress her and comb her hair. Before she had even stepped down from her couch, she heard a flurry of footsteps outside the door, and turning her head, she saw that Xiao Qiao had already entered.

Upon meeting, Madame Ding tightly grasped Xiao Qiao's pair of delicate, smooth hands, scanning her up and down. Seeing that her face was full of vitality, her eyes bright like polished obsidian, and that she wore a lavender-colored skirt underneath with a casual, begonia-red quilted brocade short shawl over it—which further brought out her delicate beauty, making her resemble a bud of begonia just beginning to bloom upon a branch in the third month—and hearing her call her "Aunt," Madame Ding could not help but think of Da Qiao again. Calling out "Manman, my child," her eyes reddened, and she pulled her tightly into her embrace all at once.

During the first few years when Xiao Qiao had just arrived in Dongjun, Madame Ding had indeed treated her like her own daughter. Whatever Da Qiao had, she would certainly not leave Xiao Qiao without it, showing her care and affection everywhere. Xiao Qiao had always harbored gratitude toward her in her heart. Not having seen her for a year, seeing her countenance haggard and how she had suddenly aged quite a bit, Xiao Qiao was also grieved in her heart. She allowed her to hold her, listening as she asked how she was faring in the Wei family. After murmuring a few words, Madame Ding gradually wiped away her tears. Knowing that she must be thinking of Da Qiao, Xiao Qiao told Qiao Ci and the others to leave, closed the bedroom door, sat up from Madame Ding's embrace, and said in a low voice, "Aunt, my younger brother must have told you that my elder sister is currently well. Some time ago, I also received a letter from Elder Sister."

She picked out the contents of Da Qiao's letter to tell Madame Ding, omitting the matter of Bi Zhi seizing land to establish himself, and finally said, "Elder Sister is currently pregnant, and everything is well. The letter says she also frequently misses you, Aunt. Furthermore, because she fled behind her parents' backs back then, she fears she cannot be forgiven by Uncle, and does not dare return to visit her loving mother, her heart also filled with guilt. My return home this time is both to visit you, Aunt, and to convey a message on behalf of Elder Sister, asking you to put your mind at ease and cease worrying over her constantly. Given an opportunity in the future, Elder Sister will surely come to visit you, Aunt, to personally implore you to forgive her crime of filial impiety back then."

The last time Qiao Ci brought word, it was nothing more than a simple sentence or two; when Madame Ding wanted to ask further, Qiao Ci was also ignorant of the details. Xiao Qiao, however, spoke with great thoroughness this time. Hearing that her daughter was already pregnant, Madame Ding was stunned for a long moment. Her heart was filled with joy, yet slowly filled with sorrow as well. Even that very last shred of resentment she originally held vanished instantly into nothingness. She said, "Though I am still entirely unable to understand why she threw away her parents back then to elope with a horse groom, now, hearing you say this, I understand as well. As long as she herself is willing and content, and that Bi Zhi treats her well, what else is there for a mother like me to be unable to let go of? The next time you communicate with her, remember to convey a word for me. Tell her to take good care of her body; as long as she is well, I shall be well too. Do not worry about me, and there is even less need to return at this time. Before her father, I still cannot mention a single word regarding her even now."

Xiao Qiao took a handkerchief to wipe away the tear stains on Madame Ding's face and whispered in her ear, "Aunt, to tell you the truth, since I have journeyed south, if it is convenient, I will likely also find a way to meet with my brother-in-law and elder sister. Whatever items you wish for me to bring along, you may prepare them in advance. If I can make the journey, I shall help you deliver them to Elder Sister."

Madame Ding was startled, then came to her senses. Overjoyed, she hurriedly nodded: "Your aunt shall prepare them in secret right away!"

The stagnation in Madame Ding's heart was dissolved in a single morning, and knowing that her daughter was already pregnant, her illness was mostly cured on the spot. She immediately stepped down from her couch and stood up.

When the serving women saw that she had still been sickly upon waking early in the morning, yet after a single meeting with the returning Xiao Qiao, her spirit became robust and she required no one to support her while walking, they were all dumbfounded, to say nothing more.

...

Xiao Qiao returned after finishing her visit with Madame Ding. Learning that her father was still remaining in his study and had not gone out, she knew he ought to have words to say to her as well, so she repaired there.

In the study, Qiao Ci was also present. The father and son were currently speaking of the military affairs of Juye City. Xiao Qiao knocked on the door and entered. Qiao Ping let his son step out temporarily, saying, "How is it? Is your aunt any better?"

Xiao Qiao smiled faintly and said, "Aunt is much better."

Qiao Ping nodded: "That is well then. She treated you like a daughter in the past. Your cousin is not here; since you have returned home this time, you ought to accompany and console her more."

Xiao Qiao complied. The father and daughter spoke a few more words of family matters. Qiao Ping then retrieved from his desk drawer that very letter Xiao Qiao had previously instructed Qiao Ci to bring back, placed it upon the desk, and said, "Your letter, your father has read it."

His expression was somewhat grave.

Xiao Qiao knew they were about to enter the main topic, so she watched her father intently.

With his hands behind his back, Qiao Ping paced slowly across the room for a few steps before suddenly saying, "Manman, speak the truth to your father. Has Wei Shao mistreated you?"

Xiao Qiao was taken aback: "He has not. He... he treats me reasonably well."

As if unable to believe it, Qiao Ping's gaze landed upon her face, and he frowned, saying, "Manman, if you truly suffer mistreatment from Wei Shao in private, do not conceal it. Though your father is incompetent, I will not sit by and watch without intervening, allowing you to suffer bullying!" His tone sounded quite heavy.

Xiao Qiao knew it must be her letter that had caused her father to harbor such suspicions. She hurriedly said, "Father, there is absolutely no such matter! The marquis treats me... entirely in accordance with etiquette everywhere. I am living very well in the Wei family now."

Qiao Ping scrutinized her for another moment before finally letting out a long sigh slowly: "That is well then. When Yang Feng returned back then, he also told your uncle that during the trip to Youzhou, the Wei family received them with the etiquette due to matrimonial kin, and Madame Xu treated people with magnanimity. What Ci'er said was also much the same. Therefore, when I saw the letter you asked Ci'er to bring back last time, I could not avoid harboring doubts. Since the Wei family accepts our Qiao family as kin now, and your husband does not maltreat you either, why are you so full of anxieties, daughter, forcefully urging your father to provide against a rainy day and guard against the Wei family acting to our Qiao family's detriment in the future? Could it be that you have caught wind of some rumors?"

...

The shock that Xiao Qiao's letter from two months ago had caused Qiao Ping was actually not small.

Although prior to this, he also knew in his heart that marrying his daughter over might not truly dissolve the Wei family's resentment toward them, he had never genuinely considered whether there would come a day when the Marquis of Yan, Wei Shao, would disregard the existence of the marriage alliance and execute an act of vengeance against the Qiao family.

He had been awakened by his daughter's letter; in particular, her tone in the letter was extraordinarily solemn.

Pondering carefully, Qiao Ping thought of the scene of Wei Shao dealing with another enemy, Li Su, who had fallen into his hands when Wei Shao was eighteen, and he felt a cold shiver run down his spine.

At that time, Li Su's entire household was executed on the shores of the Eastern Sea, and Li Su himself suffered death by a thousand cuts; after a thousand slices, he was chopped into minced meat to be fed into the bellies of fish.

Ten years ago, although the father and son Wei Jing had directly lost their lives at the hands of Li Su, at that time, the Qiao family could also hardly evade blame.

Since Wei Shao hated Li Su so intensely and employed such shocking, brutal measures, there was no reason for him to turn shields and spears into silks and jade merely because the Qiao family had married a daughter to him.

His daughter was Wei Shao's bedfellow, facing each other morning and night, so her understanding of the man was naturally greater than that of outsiders.

Since she not only harbored hidden anxieties but also spoke out to warn him, it was absolutely not a groundless worry; she must have perceived something.

From the first day after receiving the letter, Qiao Ping had been turning it over in his mind repeatedly. Now that his daughter had returned home, he naturally opened his mouth to inquire.

...

Xiao Qiao said, "Father, in my heart, Father and my younger brother cannot be abandoned. Therefore, I dare not conceal it from Father any longer. On the night before I was married, I once had a nightmare. The nightmare was extraordinarily realistic, just as if I had personally experienced the rest of my ensuing life. In the dream, my husband Wei Shao dominated the world in the future, yet he remained deeply resentful over the old grievances between the Wei and Qiao families. He exacted vengeance, and the Qiao family's end was much the same as Li Su's back then. I awoke from the dream filled with terror, deeply feeling as though a single dream had run through an entire lifetime, and felt even more that it was like an omen from the unseen world. At that time, I did not dare tell Father. After marrying into the Wei family, over this past year, I have been trembling with fear at every moment. Although I have received the deep affection of the Wei family's grandmother, who has advanced me in many ways, and Grandmother also harbors benevolence in her breast, letting go of the past affairs of the two houses, when I observe my husband, his hatred runs deep and I fear it can hardly be thoroughly dissolved. Moreover, marrying me back then was also not out of his original intent. If Grandmother passes away one day in the future, what the situation will be is truly unknown. The more I think on it, the more worried I become, fearing the nightmare of that day will become a prophecy in the future. Therefore, I made up my mind to write this family letter to Father. The intent was to remind Father that even if the Wei family does not hate us, our Qiao family must provide against a rainy day and make more preparations; it is always without error."

Qiao Ping stared blankly at his daughter. To say that a tempest swept through the depths of his heart at this moment would not be an exaggeration in the slightest.

He had never expected that this daughter of his, who was not yet full sixteen years of age, would possess such heavy thoughts and speak such a succession of words.

Like a dawn of sudden enlightenment, he was frozen there on the spot.

"Father, in this current troubled world, you ought to know better than I that only strong soldiers and robust horses are the sole path to self-preservation. All other things, such as alliances, are nothing more than a passing cloud. As for a marriage covenant, it is even less worth mentioning. Being a wife in the Wei family, I shall naturally do my utmost to foster good relations between the two houses. But starting from now, Father ought to find ways to recruit talent and strengthen our troops and horses. In this way, in the event that there is a change in the future, we can also devise a fallback strategy, so as not to be left to the mercy of others."

Qiao Ping's eyebrows knit tightly, and he paced the room once more, his footsteps heavy, emitting a thudding sound as they hit the floor.

Xiao Qiao held her breath, intently watching her father's figure.

He paced for a long while before suddenly halting, turning around, and saying word by word, "Daughter, what you say is precisely correct! Regardless of what that nightmare of yours entails, if a man does not contemplate what is distant, he will certainly encounter sorrow near at hand. Our Yanzhou Qiao family once dominated a region as well, yet now we have degenerated to such an extent that we must rely on sending a daughter in marriage to sue for a precarious peace. Every time your father thought of this in the past, I felt there was no place to hide my shame. Being awakened by you in this manner today, your father is like one awakening from a great dream. Daughter, there is something you do not know: the numerous personal troops, generals, and officials of our Qiao family in Yanzhou are also not entirely devoid of the desire to make progress. It was simply that in the past, your uncle was content with the current state of affairs, and your father also failed to strive forcefully, which caused us to waste time day after day, and the people's hearts to scatter! Your father knows what must be done!"

Xiao Qiao finally let out a sigh of relief.

"Father! Your son has finally waited for you to say these words! I know not how long I have been waiting!"

The door of the study was suddenly thrown open by someone.

Xiao Qiao turned her head and saw her younger brother rushing in like a whirlwind, incomparably excited. He ran straight before Qiao Ping and dropped to one knee.

"Father! Your son is willing to lead the charge! Recruiting talent, strengthening our troops and horses, for the revitalization of our Yanzhou—if there is any use for me, I await your orders!"

Qiao Ping let out a snort: "I was speaking with your elder sister; how could you eavesdrop outside?"

Qiao Ci let out an "er," only then coming to his senses, and hurriedly made eyes at Xiao Qiao on the side.

Xiao Qiao let out a smile, stepping forward to help her younger brother up. She said, "Father, I only fear that Uncle will obstruct matters from within again, leaving Father bound hand and foot."

Yanzhou had been weak and accumulated decline for a long time. At the side of her paternal uncle, Qiao Yue, aside from those retainers and strategists who did no practical work on ordinary days and constantly poured the sycophantic words he loved to hear down his throat, he had actually lost the people's hearts long ago. It was simply that Qiao Ping had previously always been constrained by Qiao Yue's status as both his elder brother and the family head, making it difficult to take the lead when matters arose.

Qiao Ping said, "It is best if he approves. If he does not approve, your father will absolutely never follow blindly again this time!" Every single word and phrase was deafening.