The Prisoner of Beauty - Chapter 148

Chapter 148

It was only the middle of the dawn hour.

Xiao Qiao slowly sat up from the bed. After a moment of dazed silence, she climbed down to dress herself. Walking to the side of the crib, she checked on Feifei, straightening the corners of her quilt before quietly stepping outside toward the study.

The night was thick and heavy, and the dim, yellow glow of a lamp filtered through the windows of the study.

The door was not tightly shut. Peering through the crack in the door, Xiao Qiao saw Wei Shao sitting behind the desk. Placed before him was that rosewood box she had not seen for a very long time.

The lid of the box was open, and spread across the desk was a partially unrolled war flag with a black background and white trim.

From her angle, the center of the banner seemed to be embroidered with a golden tiger face bearing fierce fangs.

Years ago, it must have looked exceptionally majestic. Now, the flag was tattered and torn, one corner stained and marred, exuding the dullness of bygone years.

The stain was ancient, yet one could still discern that it was likely a bloodstain.

Wei Shao's gaze was fixed unblinkingly upon this remnant banner.

The candlelight cast his shadow onto the wall.

A massive mass of black shadow, utterly motionless.

He was so deeply absorbed, looking as though he had fallen into a world entirely of his own, such that despite his usual keen alertness, he failed to sense Xiao Qiao standing right outside the door.

...

Xiao Qiao held her breath and quietly retreated.

In the room, Feifei was still sleeping soundly.

Xiao Qiao blew out the lamp, climbed onto the bed, and lay down once more.

She closed her eyes.

Gradually, something damp escaped from the corners of her eyes.

Before it could stream down, she swiftly wiped it away.

After a long while, Xiao Qiao finally heard the sound of his light footsteps returning to the room.

He passed by the edge of the crib, lingering for a brief moment.

In the dim nocturnal light, Xiao Qiao saw him extend his hand, seemingly caressing Feifei's cheek. Then, following a faint rustling of clothes being removed, the bed beside her sank slightly as he slowly lay back down.

Knowing he did not want to wake her, Xiao Qiao closed her eyes and remained utterly still.

...

Sometimes, people perhaps just need time and the right opportunity to truly let go of the past.

Take herself, for instance—was she not the exact same?

The words that needed to be said, she had said them all.

The things that needed to be done, she would do them too.

She was willing to wait.

...

The fourth day of the month was Lady Zhu's birthday.

Ever since Wei Shao's father died, for over a decade, Lady Zhu had steadfastly refused to celebrate her birthday.

Every year when this day arrived, Madam Xu would send someone to Jinlong Temple to donate incense oil and burn meritorious incense in Lady Zhu's name, and then have a bowl of longevity noodles delivered to the eastern quarters.

For more than ten years, it had always been this way.

This year, as Lady Zhu’s birthday approached, Wei Shao happened to be home, and the household had recently welcomed Feifei. Thus, Madam Xu proposed preparing a birthday banquet for Lady Zhu so the family could gather. She also suggested inviting a few clan relatives they were close with on ordinary days to join in the festive occasion.

In Lady Zhu’s mind, since her husband was gone, cutting off all superficial entertainment from then on was the only true manifestation of her grief for him.

Having persisted in this for over a decade, if she made an exception to celebrate her birthday this year, her past acts of mourning would feel as though they had been entirely undone.

Therefore, she was rather reluctant.

Naturally, since it was a rare occasion for Madam Xu to enthusiastically make such a suggestion this year, Lady Zhu offered a few initial excuses but did not dare to defy her too openly. In the end, she reluctantly agreed.

For this reason, Wei Shao stayed at home for a few more days, scheduling his departure for the fifth day, right after Lady Zhu's birthday had passed.

In the blink of an eye, the fourth day arrived. On this day, the Wei household hosted a few tables for the birthday banquet. Madam Xu, Lady Zhu, Wei Liang’s mother, and several other elderly elders of the clan sat at the primary table, while the rest of the guests distributed themselves among the remaining tables.

Xiao Qiao held a low seniority in the family, so she originally could not sit at the main table. However, because Feifei was with her and everyone loved vying to tease and hold the baby, she sat at the foot of the table, cradling Feifei.

Lady Zhu wore a brand-new outfit of peacock blue patterned with dark gold characters of good fortune, sitting right beside Madam Xu.

Joyous laughter and cheerful chatter filled the banquet as everyone raised their glasses one after another to toast and congratulate her. The smile on her face was somewhat detached, and she only gave Feifei a perfunctory, superficial embrace.

Only when Wei Shao presented her with a birthday toast and words of congratulation did she look at her son, her eyes instantly igniting with genuine delight.

In truth, after the poisoning incident the year before last, Madam Xu had not punished her severely. She had merely spent some time in solitary contemplation reflecting on her faults, and not a single word of it had been leaked to the outside world.

Yet Lady Zhu’s spirit had nonetheless seemed to lose its anchor from that moment onward. For a period of time, she became terribly listless, and her disposition grew even more eccentric and reclusive.

Only within the past half a year had she gradually shown signs of improvement, turning to Buddhist worship and occasionally showing her face before Madam Xu every few days.

Even so, the Wei clan members had more or less caught wind of some subtle rumors. Therefore, seeing her behavior tonight, none of them found it strange. Knowing that Madam Xu intended to make things lively, everyone joined in the fun, chiming in one after another so that there was never a dull moment.

Gradually, Feifei grew impatient with being passed around and teased, beginning to fuss and cry. Madam Xu then instructed Xiao Qiao to take Feifei back first to settle her down.

Xiao Qiao excused herself from the banquet and returned to the western quarters accompanied by Chun Niang and the wet nurse.

The weather was turning quite warm. Upon returning, she first helped Feifei to take a bath. Afterward, Chun Niang carried the baby out first while Xiao Qiao proceeded to bathe.

After she finished her bath and came out fully dressed, neither Chun Niang nor the wet nurse remained in the room.

Wei Shao had returned at some unknown point. He was currently lying face up on the daybed with one leg crossed over the other, holding Feifei so she sat on his belly, playing with her to keep her amused.

Feifei was four or five months old now and had just learned how to sit up by herself. Over the past few days, she had gradually grown a bit familiar with this father of hers. Sitting on his belly while Wei Shao cupped her with both hands and rocked her left and right, she giggled incessantly with excitement.

She then crawled further up his belly until she reached Wei Shao's chest, extending her tiny hand to touch the bridge of his nose.

Wei Shao opened his mouth, letting out a playful "Awoom!" as he gently nipped her hand.

Feifei’s giggles grew even louder.

Wei Shao flashed a row of white teeth, lightly holding his daughter's fingers in his mouth as he laughed along with her.

Feifei was having the time of her life playing with her father. Spotting Xiao Qiao coming out, she turned her head toward her, babbling happily.

Wei Shao then released his teeth, sat up while cradling Feifei, and cleared his throat. "I've broken a sweat. I will go rinse off."

Xiao Qiao took Feifei from him. "Your clothes have all been prepared. They are right inside."

Wei Shao cast a glance at her and flipped himself off the daybed.

Normally at this hour, Feifei would already be asleep. After Wei Shao left, she was cradled in Xiao Qiao's arms. After taking a few gulps of milk, drowsiness gradually overcame her, and she closed her eyes.

When Wei Shao emerged, Xiao Qiao had just coaxed Feifei to sleep. Hearing the sound of his approaching footsteps, she placed a finger to her lips and gave a soft hiss to quiet him.

Wei Shao lightened his steps, slowly drawing near.

Xiao Qiao cradled Feifei, gently laying her down into the crib and pulling up her blanket.

Standing beside her, Wei Shao lowered his head, seemingly scrutinizing Feifei's sleeping face with great care. Finally, he straightened his posture and said, "I must still set out early tomorrow morning. Shall we turn in?"

Xiao Qiao smiled. "Alright. Let us rest early."

...

The lamps in the room were extinguished, plunging their vision into a blanket of darkness.

Wei Shao’s hand reached out, pulling her into his embrace.

His powerful palm firmly gripped her slender waist.

Terrified of waking Feifei, they completed this long, passionate encounter in an almost entirely suppressed, silent manner.

After the two parted, Xiao Qiao was drenched in sweat, and Wei Shao lay flat on his back beside her, panting heavily.

Although the light in the room was dim, Xiao Qiao could still discern the sharp contour of his chest heaving violently.

Later, the two of them went to the bathhouse separately to wash up before returning to lie down once more.

Wei Shao seemed to fall asleep very quickly; she did not see him move again.

Xiao Qiao, however, remained entirely unable to sleep. Keeping her eyes wide open, she listened to the steady breathing of the man beside her and that of Feifei from the nearby crib, completely unable to drift off.

Ever since that fateful night, the relationship between Xiao Qiao and Wei Shao had remained exactly as it was tonight.

One could not say it was bad.

Yet when there was no one else around and only the two of them remained, even when engaging in an intimate act like the one just now, they could never return to the sheer closeness of their past days.

Over the past few days, the topic they discussed the most was anything regarding Feifei.

Beyond that, Wei Shao seemed to intentionally avoid any other subjects, possessing no desire to converse further with her.

Tomorrow early in the morning, he would be leaving once again.

With his departure from home this time, there was no telling how long it would be before he could return.

In the three-plus years since her marriage to him, she had transformed from a fourteen-year-old maiden into Feifei's mother, yet she and he had spent far more time apart than together.

Perhaps this state of affairs would continue indefinitely.

...

Late into the night, Xiao Qiao finally grew exhausted as well. Just as she was in a daze and on the verge of drifting off to sleep, a sudden knocking sounded at the door.

Likely out of fear of waking Feifei, the knocking was extremely light.

Yet Xiao Qiao woke up instantly, propping herself up by her shoulders.

Wei Shao also seemed to wake at the very first moment, getting up on his own to open the door.

The one calling at the door was the elderly maidservant on night duty. With a trace of panic, she said in a low voice, "Master, Nanny Huang from the Madam's quarters just came knocking. She said that not long after the Madam returned from finishing her birthday wine, she went missing. They have searched everywhere but cannot find her. Because it is late at night and they feared disturbing the Old Madam, they had no choice but to seek out the Master."

Wei Shao froze slightly, immediately turning back into the room.

Xiao Qiao had heard it as well; she had already thrown on a robe, slipped out of bed, and lit the lamp.

Wei Shao quickly dressed himself and departed in a hurry, arriving at the eastern quarters. A whole roomful of people there had not slept, and upon seeing Wei Shao arrive, their faces betrayed deep alarm.

Wei Shao stepped into Lady Zhu’s chambers and cast a look around.

The quilts were spread open; it appeared she had already gone to bed but had gotten up midway and walked away.

Nanny Huang dropped to her knees. "The birthday banquet dispersed around the middle of the evening hour. When the Madam returned, she seemed a bit intoxicated, so I attended to her as she went to sleep. The Madam has a habit of waking up in the middle of the night wanting to drink warm water, so I came in to add water, only to discover she was gone. I just led some people to search everywhere, but we found no trace of the Madam. Fearing that disturbing the Old Madam would be inappropriate, I informed the Master. This is entirely my negligence; please grant me clemency, Master..."

Wei Shao inquired about several locations, but Nanny Huang shook her head to each, saying they had already checked there.

Wei Shao’s brow knitted slightly. After a brief moment of abstraction, he suddenly seemed to recall something, turned around, and swiftly departed.

...

Wei Shao pushed open the partially ajar, red-lacquered main gate.

Incense and candles were kept burning day and night within the ancestral temple, which was guarded by specialized attendants.

However, under normal circumstances, only two candles and incense sticks—one on the left and one on the right—were offered before the sacrificial table.

In the dead of night, coupled with the vast and profound expanse of the ancestral hall, the candlelight swayed wildly in the night breeze. Rather than dispersing the shadows, it added a distinct layer of eerie gloom.

Wei Shao stepped inside with rapid strides, seeing his mother kneeling before the cluster of spirit tablets behind the sacrificial table, mourning and muttering sorrowfully.

"...Husband, ever since you let go and departed, this Wei family has long ceased to be the Wei family of old... Why did your mother insist on marrying in a daughter of the Qiao family, who harmed you and our eldest son back then... That Qiao family girl is a calamity! One day, even my son will be ruined by her..."

She sobbed intermittently, her voice echoing beneath the vast, pitch-black ceiling of the temple in a way that made one's skin crawl. Suddenly, as if sensing something, she snapped her head around. Spotting Wei Shao standing beyond the threshold, she seemed to take a severe fright. A look of terror instantly flooded her face as she frantically waved her hands. "Shao'er, do not take it to heart! I merely drank a few extra cups of wine and started spouting utter nonsense. Do not blame me, I stopped hating the Qiao girl long ago..."

Wei Shao, gazing at his mother, who was terrified of his reproach, an inexpressible and complex mixture of emotions slowly welled up within his heart.

Stepping inside, he said, "Before Mother comes out, you should inform the servants. It is late at night; your son will escort you back."

...

It was already the latter half of the night. Feifei woke up once, and even after she drifted back to sleep, Wei Shao had still not returned.

Xiao Qiao dispatched Nanny Lin to inquire at the eastern quarters. She returned with word that the Master had found the Madam back at the ancestral temple. The Madam appeared to be heavily intoxicated, and the Master was staying by her side to keep her company.

Xiao Qiao stopped waiting for him, dismissing the servants to return to their respective rooms to sleep. She stared at her daughter's sleeping face for a long moment, bent down to gently plant a kiss on her forehead, extinguished the lamp, and climbed into bed.

Feeling rather exhausted, she closed her eyes and gradually fell asleep. Yet her slumber was highly fitful, and she constantly drifted into dreams.

The dreamscape was hazy at first, but gradually, the scene became terrifyingly distinct.

A wild gale violently lashed against the windows. A young man clad in imperial dragon robes—his countenance twisted, his gaze manic and filled with absolute despair—held a longsword that dripped incessantly with fresh blood as he advanced toward her step by step.

Overcome with utter terror, she curled up on the ground, retreating unceasingly, yet there was nowhere left to retreat.

Suddenly, that young Consort Liu's eerie gaze, which had stared at her even after death, seemed to overlap with Zhang Pu's severed head.

A torrent of blood surged violently toward her, swallowing her whole in an instant. She could scarcely breathe, trembling and weeping uncontrollably, constantly telling herself that this was merely a nightmare and urging herself to wake up quickly.

Yet no matter how violently she struggled, she could never break free to wakefulness.

The tip of the blade had already pierced its way to her chest.

She seemed to feel once more that horrific sensation of her warm heart being pierced through by an icy, sharp blade.

She had experienced this countless times within her dreams, and she never wanted to endure it ever again.

"No—!"

Just as she let out a hoarse shriek, her face drenched in tears, an anxious voice suddenly drifted into her ears: "Manman! Manman!"

Following that, she felt herself tightly locked within a pair of firm, powerful arms. In an instant, the nightmare was entirely warded off, scattering and fading away.