The Prisoner of Beauty - Chapter 108

Chapter 108

Although Feng Zhao had temporarily retreated to Hongnong, and the remaining Qiang tribes along the Huang River had, inspired by the Beihe, one after another sent word of their willingness to submit, the situation in this region remained incredibly complex. Feng Zhao had been entrenched here for many years and had Xing Xun backing him from behind; he could regroup his forces and launch a counterattack at any moment. Furthermore, the Shaodang Qiang were waiting on the sidelines, watching for an opportunity.

Wei Shao was exceptionally busy.

With the initial battle concluded, he had indeed intended to find a free moment to make a trip back to Jinyang as quickly as possible to see Xiao Qiao; after all, he missed her somewhat. However, he had not originally planned to set out immediately.

Hearing this piece of news from Gongsun Yang at this moment, however, instantly left him consumed by an unstoppable rage, to the extent that he could no longer delay for even a brief instant.

For such an event to have occurred, and for it to be deliberately concealed from him without a single report!

At the very moment he first heard it, had the person before him not been Gongsun Yang but any other individual under his command, he likely would have overturned the desk on the spot and flown into a towering fury.

Approximately a month ago, he had received a letter dispatched by her.

Only now did he realize that a mere few days before she wrote that letter to him, she had just experienced such a terrifying ordeal and severe danger.

Yet, even in her letter, she had not mentioned a single word to him about it.

She merely used a light, casual tone to inform him that she had inadvertently rescued the grandson of the Beihe chieftain and had already sent him back home.

Every single one of them kept him in the dark! Even she did not mention a word of it to him!

Fury, heartache, lingering fear, and a faint, subtle sense of disappointment—it was with such a tangled knot of emotions that Wei Shao set out on the road back to Jinyang that very day.

...

Several days later. On this night where the starlight shone brilliantly, a company of riders dashed through the gates of Jinyang on fast horses, heading straight toward the government office in the north of the city.

The Imperial Guard sentries currently standing watch before the gates of the government office were astonished to see a troop of horses split the hazy night, galloping furiously in their direction.

With the distance remaining at barely dozens of zhang, that company of horses showed absolutely no sign of turning aside.

The squad leader barked a command, and the guards instantly formed a bow formation, preparing to release arrows to force them to a halt, when the company of riders swept right up to their front in the blink of an eye.

The squad leader recognized them; the person leading on horseback was none other than the Lord. He hurriedly ordered the way to be cleared.

The double red doors of the government office swung wide open. The guards welcomed him with military protocol.

The warhorse beneath Wei Shao finally came to a halt, its body entirely drenched in sweat, letting out heavy, continuous snorts. The moment the reins were loosened, it could no longer support itself, its two front knees buckling as it knelt upon the ground.

During the half-month and more since returning from the Huang River, Jia Si had personally led his men to stand watch every single night. Tonight, just as usual, he patrolled outside the inner door that led to the inner courtyard when a subordinate flew over to report in a flash that the Lord had already entered the main gates and was heading straight toward the second gate.

Jia Si was startled, turning around to stride out to meet him. Just as he reached the second gate, he saw from a distance a familiar figure stroding inward with massive steps.

Jia Si immediately dropped to one knee beneath the five tiers of steps, declaring in a loud voice, "This subordinate, Jia Si, respectfully welcomes the Lord's return!"

Wei Shao acted as though he had not even heard him, failing to pause for even a fraction of a moment as he strode directly past him, putting a distance of ten paces between them in the blink of an eye.

Initially, Jia Si did not dare raise his eyes to look at him, merely feeling a slight breeze whipped up by the corner of the Lord's robe sweep across his face. Only then did he dare raise his eyes, watching his back hurry inward.

The heart that had been suspended in his throat settled down slightly.

He slowly let out a breath, and just as he climbed up from the ground, he suddenly saw the Lord's figure ahead pause and come to a halt. Following that, the Lord turned around and strode right back toward him. His heart leaped into his throat once more, and he hurriedly fell to his knees again.

Wei Shao returned to stand before Jia Si, asking coldly, "Is the Lady inside?"

"Reporting to the Lord, the Lady is inside."

"Before I left, how did I instruct you?" His voice sounded like a stone, completely unyielding.

Jia Si repeatedly kowtowed, saying, "The Lord instructed that protecting the Lady was to be the absolute first priority! This is entirely this subordinate's neglect of duty! I beg the Lord to punish me!"

Wei Shao took a deep, heavy breath, his voice growing even colder: "Tell me exactly what transpired that night in detail! Not a single word is permitted to be omitted!"

Jia Si was the direct superior of Lin the Imperial Guard. On that day, he had initially continued chasing forward in the wrong direction after Chen Rui. The following day, realizing something was amiss, he came to his senses and turned back, learning that an incident had occurred. Once the matter passed, he had naturally questioned Lin the Imperial Guard in exhaustive detail regarding the particulars of that night. Because it involved the intimate privacy of the Lady, those finer details were naturally inconvenient to voice before Gongsun Yang on that day. Now, being questioned by the Lord in this manner, how could he dare to conceal anything further? He recounted everything from the very beginning, down to the last detail.

Gongsun Yang's knowledge of that night had only been a rough outline to begin with. Conveyed through his mouth to Wei Shao, it had become even simpler.

Wei Shao had only known that Chen Rui utilized an underwater passage in the rear garden's pond to sneak into the inner courtyard in the dead of night, intending to abduct Xiao Qiao, before being intercepted and shot dead on the spot. He knew absolutely nothing of the other details.

Precisely because he did not know, he felt all the more uneasy, rushing back day and night. At this moment, as he gradually listened and understood that Chen Rui had actually broken into Xiao Qiao's bedchamber in the dead of night, that Xiao Qiao had delayed him for a time to deliberately rouse Chun Niang in the adjacent side room, and that when she was subsequently being forcefully dragged away by Chen Rui, she had fought with all her might to keep him outside the door before the night sentries rushed in to shoot Chen Rui dead—his palms became entirely drenched in cold sweat, and his shock and fury were practically beyond expression.

Once Jia Si finished his narration, his heart wavered slightly, hesitating over whether he ought to speak of that final scene. Raising his eyes, he collided with the two gloomy, dark gazes the Lord fixed upon him, causing him to shudder. He thought to himself, Even if I choose not to speak of it now and keep it hidden, others might not remain silent. Even if others do not speak, the Lady herself will surely inform the Lord of what she encountered...

Recalling the words "not a single word is permitted to be omitted" uttered by the Lord a moment ago, Jia Si no longer dared harbor any other thoughts. Hardening his heart, he added, "At the very end, there was also a slight mishap..."

Wei Shao's figure remained absolutely motionless.

Jia Si braced himself, saying in a low voice, "This subordinate was not present at the time and did not witness it with my own eyes. However, I heard from Vice General Lin that after Chen Rui was struck by over a dozen arrows and shot down to the ground, the Lady emerged from her room and approached him, likely intending to question him. Seeing that he had already drawn his last breath, the Lady showed benevolence and instructed Vice General Lin to dig a pit to bury him so as to leave his corpse intact. Who could have foreseen that right at that moment, Chen Rui actually flared back to life? The others were caught unprepared, and he actually lunged forward, catching and biting onto the Lady's foot, uttering a sentence before finally dying completely..."

"What did he say?"

Jia Si lacked the courage, temporarily not daring to voice it.

"What did he say?!"

Caught off guard by the Lord's ferocious, savage roar, the hot sweat rolled down Jia Si's forehead. "According to Vice General Lin, it seemed he said... that the Lady was beautiful... and that even if that scoundrel died beneath her... body... he was... completely willing..."

Jia Si finally stammered out this sentence which, ever since he heard it, had remained impossible to forget—a sentence both deeply shameful and incomparably offensive. His own heart pounded furiously, his face flushing hot with embarrassment, and he lowered his head, completely lacking the courage to look at the Lord's expression any further.

Wei Shao's figure stood frozen for a long moment. Suddenly, he violently drew his sword from its scabbard. Jia Si merely felt a fierce, sharp sword-wind rush past his face, and his ears rang with a piercing clatter that practically stung his eardrums as the precious sword hacked into a solid object. In an instant, sparks flew in all directions. The stone auspicious beast standing at one side of the second gate, meant to guard the inner residence, actually had its head hacked clean off right through the middle by the precious sword in his hand. With a heavy thud, it crashed to the ground, rolling seven or eight paces away before finally coming to a stop.

There was not the slightest sound left in the surroundings.

The air of the late spring night appeared to have completely solidified.

Jia Si knelt right near the headless stone beast, not daring to draw a loud breath.

"Go dig that scoundrel up for me! Wait until I personally hack him into ten thousand pieces!"

Each word seemed squeezed out from between Wei Shao's locked teeth.

Jia Si signaled his assent.

Wei Shao turned around, stroding inward with massive steps.

Jia Si had been dripping with hot sweat just a moment ago, yet now cold sweat continuously seeped outward, already thoroughly soaking his inner tunic. It was only when the Lord's back completely vanished from his line of sight that he cast a glance at the severed head of the stone beast on the ground and let out a long, heavy breath.

...

It was already the end of April.

Approximately a month had passed since that incident.

Even now, Xiao Qiao still required Chun Niang's company when sleeping at night.

The illness she had contracted from the fright had initially begun to improve steadily once Yuan was found, bringing her joy, coupled with several days of consuming spirit-soothing medicine. Who could have foreseen that just a few days ago, because the weather suddenly fluctuated between warm and cold—a time when noxious entities most easily invade the body—she suffered a nightmare while sleeping at night, to the point where she shrieked and could not be awoken, running a fever that very same night. Chun Niang had been driven to frantic anxiety, sending for physicians and tending to her, and it was only within these past two days that she showed some improvement. However, her body had still not fully recovered, and she felt listless, lacking any desire to move. Chun Niang was even less willing to leave her side, laying out bedding right next to her bed to accompany her personally when sleeping at night.

Xiao Qiao had taken her medicine this evening. Because the properties of the medicine had taken effect, she fell asleep very early.

Initially, Chun Niang remained in the room working on some needlework for knee-warmers. As she stitched, she would occasionally turn her head to cast a glance at her lying upon the bed.

The night grew steadily deeper. Chun Niang instructed the maidservants to go and rest. Having completed one knee-warmer, she put down her needlework, pounded her aching waist, and prepared to sleep as well. Suddenly, she recalled that she meant to boil some silver ear fungus for her to drink tomorrow, but had initially forgotten to instruct the cook-maid to soak it soft overnight. Turning back to glance at her once more and seeing that she was sleeping very deeply, she tiptoed out of the room, heading personally to the small kitchen to select and soak the silver ear fungus. Upon returning to the room, she closed the door and was just about to bolt it shut when she suddenly heard a flurry of footsteps coming from the courtyard.

At such a late hour, unless there was an urgent matter, it was impossible for anyone to enter the inner courtyard without being summoned. Furthermore, judging by the sound of these footsteps, it appeared to be a man.

Doubt and anxiety arose in Chun Niang's heart. Although she felt that with Jia Si and his men guarding day and night, it was highly unlikely for any further trouble to break out, the recollection of the accident a month ago still left her with lingering fear. Therefore, she paused, cracking open a slight sliver of the door to peer outside.

Lanterns were hung along the corridor, illuminating a figure currently walking rapidly up the steps of the eaves.

It was none other than Wei Shao.

Chun Niang was both startled and delighted. Casting a glance back at Xiao Qiao and seeing that she remained asleep, she gently opened the door and stepped out to meet him. She made a gesture for silence toward the approaching Lord, subsequently leading him to a spot slightly further away before begging his pardon, saying, "The Lady is asleep, and I am afraid of disturbing her; hence I have inconvenienced the Master to speak a few words over here. May the Master not blame this servant for her discourtesy."

Wei Shao glanced at the doors and windows where the lamplight shone, asking in a low voice, "How is she?"

Hearing his tone, Chun Niang guessed that he must already know of the incident that occurred a month ago. Thus, she said, "Initially, the Lady suffered a considerable fright and fell ill. She had originally recovered. Who could have foreseen that a few days ago, she suffered another terrifying dream while sleeping at night, running a fever that very same night. Fortunately, the fever subsided within these past two days, but she still has a bit of a cough, and her person remains listless. She took her medicine and fell asleep early tonight, and has not awoken yet."

"When did the Master return?" Chun Niang asked with the utmost respect.

Wei Shao did not answer. He stood there, appearing lost in thought for a brief moment, before saying, "I understand. These past days must have been grueling for you; go and rest." With that, he turned around to head inside.

Chun Niang hurriedly called out to stop him: "The Lady suffered a massive fright back then, and even now, her sleep at night remains quite unsettled. The Master must... must be gentle and mindful, and absolutely must not frighten her again."

She hesitated for a brief instant, but her affection and care for Xiao Qiao ultimately triumphed over all else, causing her to quietly whisper this reminder.

Wei Shao said nothing, merely turning his body around as he approached the door, gently pushing it open, and stepping inside.

...

Xiao Qiao was not sleeping very soundly. In her hazy state, a sudden itch arose in her throat, and after letting out a few coughs, she woke up. She felt a slight fullness in her lower abdomen. Without even opening her eyelids, she instinctively muttered in a muddled voice, "Chun Niang, I want to relieve myself..."

To this day, entering the washroom alone at night still left her feeling terrified. She required Chun Niang to accompany her right at the door even when relieving herself. At this moment, before the sentence was even fully out of her mouth, her mind suddenly jolted awake. She realized it was the dead of night. Chun Niang had attended to her for this entire month, doing everything with her own hands, and must be completely exhausted.

She rubbed her eyes, just about to quietly climb up by herself, when a pair of firm, solid arms suddenly extended from behind her, gently lifting her right out of the cozy quilt.

These could absolutely not be Chun Niang's arms.

Nor did she possess such strength.

Xiao Qiao froze, completely jolting awake. Her heart instantly began to pound frantically. Just as she was about to open her mouth to shriek in alarm, the low whisper of a man echoed by her ear: "It is me. I am back. Do not fear."

This voice was exceptionally familiar to her. Yet this tone possessed a gentleness she had never once heard before.

She slowly opened her eyes, meeting the gaze of Wei Shao's eyes as he looked down at her, their lines of sight thus intertwining together.