The Prisoner of Beauty - Chapter 124

Chapter 124

Whenever the two of them fell out and quarreled, Wei Shao had a long-standing tradition of fleeing in anger.

Xiao Qiao had long since grown used to it.

He ran off immediately after throwing out his final words. Xiao Qiao's legs, however, turned so weak that not a shred of strength remained in them. Her back pressed against the wall as she slowly slid down to sit upon the floor.

The palm she had used to slap his face remained numb, as if countless needles were densely piercing it, accompanied by a residual, dull ache.

It felt exactly like the sensation in her chest where her heart lay at this moment.

She felt stifled—stifled to the point of panic—so much so that she could barely draw a breath.

A moment ago, she had indeed failed to control her emotions for a time and had slapped him across the face.

But Wei Shao had also returned the blow with a fierce slap of his own, thoroughly slapping her awake.

Once, when their affection was at its peak, she had optimistically fantasized that even if it was difficult for Wei Shao to dissolve the hatred in his heart for the Xiao family, his hand might perhaps be stayed to some degree due to her presence.

Or, at the very least, it would not happen now.

Their relationship at present was so intimate! To describe it as a passionate romance would not be an exaggeration.

Yet she had never expected that even now, he would behind her back plot to eliminate her brother-in-law, a man who posed absolutely no practical threat to him.

In the future, when his affection for her faded and his love waned, what kind of deed would he be incapable of committing?

Within Xiao Qiao's mind, the scene of Su Ehuang being subjected to the punishment of nose slicing could not help but surface once more.

Even though she had not witnessed it with her own eyes, she could well imagine it.

Xiao Qiao shuddered, hastily expelling that terrifying scene imagined by her mind.

Do not think about it, think no more of these things, she repeatedly told herself in her heart. What she ought to think about now was how to find another way to see if she could first dissolve the predicament of Lingbi.

In the future, she would do what needed to be done and harbor no more illusions toward Wei Shao.

She finally settled her mind. Slowly supporting herself against the wall, she stood her body straight. Her gaze slowly swept a circle around this study, and she finally walked toward that broad desk placed in the very center.

Da Qiao's letter stated that the Marquis of Yan must have harbored a misunderstanding toward Bi Zhi, which led to the current situation of Yang Xin's attack.

Bi Zhi had already sent a letter to the Marquis of Yan, wishing to dissolve the misunderstanding and defuse the conflict.

Da Qiao said that she originally did not wish for her younger sister to know about this matter. But if her younger sister saw this letter of hers, it indicated that the Marquis of Yan had failed to accept Bi Zhi's intention for reconciliation.

She hoped her younger sister could assist a bit from the side.

This was also the final hope for reconciliation.

Since the Wei and Xiao families had formed a marriage alliance, and she had previously displayed her mutual affection with Wei Shao in front of Da Qiao, in Da Qiao's view, it must have been as if Wei Shao had already dissolved the hatred between the two families. Therefore, she believed some misunderstanding must have existed to cause the situation of Yang Xin's attack.

It was no wonder Da Qiao would think this way.

Even Xiao Qiao herself, when she first learned of this news, had once found it difficult to believe.

...

Xiao Qiao came behind Wei Shao's large desk. She rummaged through the pile of bamboo slips that had fallen to the floor, and then searched the remaining bamboo slips and silk scrolls on the surface of the desk.

They were all briefs and military intelligence sent from various places, not what she was looking for.

She searched through every place in the study where letters could be kept, and instead happened to unearth the very first letter she had written to Da Qiao.

It was pressed by him right in the middle of a stack of battle reports.

Only the item she wished to find was nowhere to be seen.

She surveyed the study once more, her gaze falling upon the waste paper basket placed on the floor beside the large desk. Flying over quickly, she rummaged through it and finally retrieved a completely untouched letter cylinder from within.

Xiao Qiao opened the letter cylinder, extracted the contents inside, and unfolded it to sweep a glance over it.

She had finally found that letter sent by Bi Zhi.

...

Gongsun Yang was in the office of the government affairs bureau drafting a document, his brush flying across the paper, when an attendant came running inside from the outside in a flash, announcing that the Lady had arrived.

Gongsun Yang was startled. Hastily putting down his brush, he rose, intending to go out to greet her. Lifting his head, he saw a flash of a cherry-purple figure at the doorway; the Lady had already entered. He quickly went up to her, concealing his astonishment, and bowed, saying, "I did not know the Lady was coming and have failed to welcome you from afar."

He still had the latter half of his sentence unsaid, which was "what brings you here."

For the Lady to suddenly leave the temporary palace to come here, she naturally would not have thought to visit him for no reason; there must be a matter at hand.

Xiao Qiao smiled slightly and said, "There is no need for such formality, Mister. I have come for a single matter: to seek council from you regarding the situation at Lingbi."

Gongsun Yang was startled.

Xiao Qiao took out the letter she had brought along.

"This is a letter transmitted to the Lord Marquis by Bi Zhi."

Gongsun Yang was startled yet again. Hastily receiving it, he unfolded it to browse through, falling into deep thought after finishing it.

Xiao Qiao said, "Bi Zhi's intention is stated very clearly in the letter. He has no intent to become an enemy of the Lord Marquis, much less any intent to contend for Xuzhou. Guarding Lingbi now is solely to have a place to stand in this troubled world. To show his sincerity, he is willing to cede back the territory of Xiao. Yet that Yang Xin acts on the Lord Marquis's commands to raise troops and launch an assault once more. It is not that my brother-in-law fears him, but rather that this battle has truly come out of nowhere, and he also is unwilling to cause me to be caught in the middle, facing a dilemma. I know Mister possesses great foresight and sees things as clearly as a burning flame; whether a place like Lingbi, at this juncture, is truly worth the Lord Marquis making such a grand fuss to seize, Mister ought to know better than I. I implore Mister to prioritize the grand scheme of things and speak up to advise the Lord Marquis again, urging him not to persist in his obstinate ways and lose the greater prize for a small gain. I do not speak to intimidate; Bi Zhi's capabilities are obvious to all. If he is truly driven to the point where there is no path of retreat left, and vows to contend to the very end, no one can predict what the future situation of Xuzhou will turn out to be."

After Xiao Qiao finished speaking, she watched Gongsun Yang intently.

Gongsun Yang rose from his seating couch. With one hand behind his back and the other stroking his beard, he slowly paced back and forth several times before suddenly looking toward Xiao Qiao. "Since the Lady is unwilling for the Lord Marquis to become enemies with Bi Zhi, why not personally advise the Lord Marquis? The Lady's words ought to enter the Lord Marquis's ears more easily than mine."

"Since I have come to plead before Mister Gongsun, there are likewise no words that cannot be spoken. As for why I originally married the Lord Marquis, Mister must know a great deal. I came harboring a heart that wished to cultivate good relations; though I have always exerted my strength to do so, there are ultimately areas where I have not done enough. To tell you the truth, just this morning, due to the matter of Lingbi, I incensed the Lord Marquis, and he flicked his sleeves and departed. Yang Xin acts on the Lord Marquis's commands to attack Bi Zhi; while this stems from the private grievance between my Xiao and Wei families, it does not, however, stem entirely and solely from private grievance—it also concerns the Lord Marquis's grand strategy for the realm. Now, Bi Zhi has sent a letter actively seeking peace, hoping to dissolve the misunderstanding, yet the Lord Marquis pays it no heed, actually refusing to cast even a single glance at it. Such behavior is far removed from the word 'rational.' He cannot let go of the hatred between the two families and has been incensed by me; I expect that even if I say more on this matter, he will no longer be able to listen to it. Therefore, I have turned to plead with you, Mister, requesting that you once more clarify the pros and cons for the Lord Marquis and analyze the threads of the situation. Regardless of whether the conflict can be defused, I shall be endlessly grateful."

Xiao Qiao rose from her seat, walked to stand opposite Gongsun Yang, stopped her steps, and gave him a deep bow. Startled, Gongsun Yang hastily supported her with both hands, returning the courtesy: "The Lady's courtesy is too heavy!"

Pondering for a moment, he said, "To tell you the truth, what I think coincides exactly with the Lady's thoughts. For the Lord Marquis to drive Yang Xin to attack Bi Zhi at this time indeed defies common reason. I previously advised him once regarding this matter as well. Unfortunate as it is, the Lord Marquis refused to listen. Now that there is Bi Zhi's personal letter, and I have been honored by the Lady thinking highly of me to personally come here, I ought all the more to exert my strength and try yet again. If it can succeed, it will both dissolve the Lady's worries and prevent extra complications from cropping up."

Xiao Qiao thanked him deeply once more, saying, "If Mister sees the Lord Marquis, you may speak directly of my having been here, and that it was I who passed Bi Zhi's letter over to Mister."

Gongsun Yang gave his assent.

Right at this moment, the sound of rapid, heavy footsteps carrying over from the outside echoed, and a tall, black-robed figure entered straight inside. The newcomer blanked upon seeing Xiao Qiao, and immediately following that, his face turned cold. His two sword-like brows knit deeply together, yet he uttered not a single sound, merely standing by the side of the door. He turned his face away haughtily, presenting her with only half of his profile.

It was none other than the Lord Marquis Wei Shao, who just a moment ago had received two slaps from Xiao Qiao.

Looking at that half of his handsome face turned toward them on the right side, perhaps because his skin was rather thick, the finger marks left behind previously had already faded, leaving no signs to be discerned.

Xiao Qiao performed a final gesture of gratitude toward Gongsun Yang, saying, "I shall thus respectfully entrust this to Mister." With that, she passed by Wei Shao's side and went out the door.

Gongsun Yang saw her out the door.

Xiao Qiao requested that he stay his steps.

Wei Shao twisted his head, staring at Xiao Qiao's gradually receding figure. Waiting until Gongsun Yang returned and paid his respects to him, he then asked coldly, "What did she come here for?" His face was completely masked in a look of dislike.

Gongsun Yang merely requested that Wei Shao take a seat. He first inquired about his purpose in coming here.

"Yang Xin has been attacking Lingbi for nearly a month now; is there any new intelligence?" Wei Shao's brows were furrowed, his face full of impatience.

"There are temporarily no rapid couriers. Presumably, the situation of confrontation remains maintained."

With Yang Xin's one hundred thousand troops, combined with Xue An's Xuzhou army—such a grand display, yet they actually failed to take down Lingbi. Although it could not be called a defeat, it was also sufficient to lose face.

Wei Shao's face was dark and gloomy. After a moment of silence, he let out a cough, shifted his body, and asked coldly once more, "What did she come for just now?"

Only then did Gongsun Yang say, "It is also a coincidence; the Lady likewise came for the situation at Lingbi. Just now, she passed a letter from Bi Zhi to me, saying it was originally addressed to the Lord, but unfortunate as it was, the Lord refused to receive it, so she transferred it here to me."

With a loud thud, Wei Shao's palm slammed heavily upon the surface of the desk: "Absurd!"

The slam caused the brush, ink, and inkstone to give a slight hop.

Gongsun Yang hurriedly stood up to apologize for his offense: "It is my encroachment! May the Lord forgive my sin!"

"What I spoke of was not you!"

Wei Shao said introducing resentment, "She, a mere woman, actually dares to be so bold! To dare privately touch my letters!"

...

Emerging from the government office, Xiao Qiao went straight back to the temporary palace.

A month ago, she had originally planned to leave. Although her itinerary had been temporarily changed later, her baggage had already been packed up at that time, and most of it had not been unpacked. The daily articles, clothing, and miscellaneous goods used during these days had just been tidied up by Nanny Chun together with the female servants and handmaidens, all fully packed away.

When Xiao Qiao returned, Nanny Chun went up to meet her, asking uneasily, "Lady, are we truly leaving? Not waiting to set out together with the Lord?"

Xiao Qiao said indifferently, "He intends to remain here to sit and wait for Yang Xin to take down Lingbi. I, however, cannot afford to wait. I shall leave first." With that, she ordered people to carry out the chests and other items to be loaded onto the carriage. She herself went up as well, seating herself inside.

Jia Si's heart felt anxious. Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he came to the side of the carriage window, hardening his heart to advise, "The Lady should still wait..."

Just as he opened his mouth, seeing Xiao Qiao reveal half of her face from inside the window with two streams of gaze casting toward him, he immediately closed his mouth in embarrassment.

Xiao Qiao said indifferently, "If General Jia is unwilling to escort me, I shall call upon someone else."

Jia Si hastily said, "How can the Lady utter such words? My men have all been selected and checked; everything shall be done according to the Lady's commands. We shall hit the road right this instant."

Xiao Qiao closed the window and sat back down.

Helpless, Jia Si could only give the command to prepare to hit the road.

Before departing, he quietly dispatched a subordinate once more, ordering him to swiftly go find the Lord Marquis to pass on the word that the Lady had already hit the road to return to Yuyang first.