The Prisoner of Beauty - Chapter 157

Chapter 157

Wei Shao did not know why he had become drunk so quickly.

Before tonight, he had no way of knowing that the threshold of the Qiao family in Dongjun was not, as he had once thought, an impassable barrier for the rest of his life. And that title, "Father-in-law," once spoken aloud, was not as difficult to utter as he had imagined.

Everything that happened felt so natural and expected.

When he was supported by Xiao Qiao into the room and collapsed onto the soft bed, he felt a faint awareness that this room was the boudoir Xiao Qiao had occupied before marrying him. The days of her girlhood—time he had never been able to reach—had been spent in this room that radiated a faint, lingering fragrance. He felt deeply intoxicated.

With his eyes closed and his mind hazy, he seemed to hear the low voices of her and Chun Niang. He felt her sit by his side, using a warm, damp cloth to wipe his face and palms.

He felt like a traveler who had carried a heavy burden, walking alone on a long road; tonight, he had finally reached his destination. Though he was covered in dust and exhausted, at the journey's end, she was there, waiting and keeping him company.

The sense of unease that had haunted him since the day he learned she was returning to Dongjun—the fear that she would abandon him—vanished completely in this moment.

His heart felt incomparably stable and satisfied. His entire being, inside and out, relaxed completely, and he fell asleep immediately.

The next day, it was late morning before Wei Shao finally slept off the wine.

He opened his eyes to see a canopy of silver-red brocade. The curtains were half-drawn, and a pair of purple fish-shaped sachets hung from the golden hooks, emitting a faint scent that echoed the bouquet of purple chrysanthemums in the white porcelain vase on the table by the window.

He sat up slowly, looking around at the elegant furnishings of her room. Shortly after he got up and opened the door, Chun Niang, who had been waiting outside, entered with servant women to assist him.

"Where is the Lady?" Wei Shao asked.

"The weather is beautiful today, and the little mistress couldn't stay indoors, so the Lady took her to play in the garden. Shall this servant go call for her?"

Wei Shao told her it was unnecessary and set out to find her himself. As he turned a corridor, the sound of laughter drifted toward him on the breeze.

He stopped before a lattice window. Through the hollowed-out carvings, he saw Xiao Qiao and the young woman who had greeted him at the gate the night before—her sister, Da Qiao—sitting side-by-side in the shade of the flowers. A mat was spread out before them, with Fei Fei crawling on it. Opposite her sat a boy of about two or three years old, surrounded by four or five servant women.

Wei Shao knew the young woman must be her sister, Da Qiao. He saw Xiao Qiao leaning in very close to her, looking exceptionally intimate. They seemed to be whispering, and whatever was said caused Xiao Qiao to laugh and collapse softly against Da Qiao.

Sunlight sifted through the gaps in the foliage, falling in dappled spots on Xiao Qiao’s face and body. Her eyes were bright, her laughter like silver bells, and her cheeks as rosy as flowers. For a moment, Wei Shao caught a glimmer of a carefree spirit in her smile—the kind he had only ever seen in Fei Fei, a smile that made one instinctively want to laugh along with her.

She had been by his side for several years, and he had tasted her water-like gentleness and understanding. But only now did he realize that she could also be so lively and spirited, full of the myriad charms of a young maiden.

Wei Shao stopped behind the window and watched her silently, not drawing any closer.

...

After the midday meal, Lei Yan and the others arrived, waiting outside the Qiao residence.

Wei Shao prepared to depart.

Xiao Qiao saw him out to the front gate, stopping by the decorative screen. Wei Shao held Fei Fei, kissing her cheeks several times, filled with reluctance.

Xiao Qiao smiled. "Husband, you need not worry. I will take good care of Fei Fei."

Wei Shao gazed at his daughter with infinite tenderness. Finally, he gently ruffled her soft hair and handed her back to Chun Niang. His gaze then shifted to Xiao Qiao’s face, as if he had something to say.

"Is there something more you wish to instruct, Husband?" Xiao Qiao asked with a faint smile.

Wei Shao paused for a moment. "Since you have returned, settle in peacefully. You may stay for a while. If I have time, I will come here to see you and Fei Fei. If you wish to return, wait for me; I will personally come to escort you."

Xiao Qiao pursed her lips and smiled. "Very well, thank you, Husband."

"War is dangerous. You must take care of yourself while out there," she said, gazing intently at him.

Wei Shao nodded. His fingers twitched, and as he was about to raise his arm, he heard Xiao Qiao add: "Thank you for last night. I know my father hasn't been this happy in a very long time."

Wei Shao remained silent for a moment, then said, "Father-in-law is blind, but perhaps the Elder Baishi of this age can treat it. I will send people to search for him as soon as possible."

"Thank you for your trouble, Husband," Xiao Qiao said.

All this time, whenever he did anything for her, no matter how small, she never forgot to thank him.

Wei Shao had grown accustomed to this way she spoke to him and had never thought there was anything wrong with it before.

For some reason, at this moment, he suddenly felt that her repeated "Thank you, Husband" sounded incredibly piercing.

His mind couldn't help but summon the image of her lively, blooming smile under the flowers that morning. He hesitated briefly, leaned slightly toward her, and lowered his voice. "Manman, we are husband and wife... From now on, when you are with me, be yourself. You do not need to be so formal with me, and certainly, you do not need to thank me for every little thing..."

He felt he was becoming clumsy with words, as if he were unable to express what he truly thought. He stopped abruptly, looking at her.

Xiao Qiao seemed startled, then smiled, looked up, and said softly, "Very well. I will remember that."

...

Qiao Ping, Lady Ding, and Da Qiao accompanied Wei Shao out of the main gate.

Wei Shao asked Qiao Ping to stay behind.

Qiao Ping had drunk too much the night before and had only just risen this morning, but his spirit looked excellent. He was beaming, laughing as he said, "It is a rare occasion that you have come; originally, I would have insisted you stay much longer, but I heard from my daughter that matters in Luoyang are pressing, so I cannot force you to remain. I can only hope that the next time you come, you will stay for a longer duration. But today, no matter what, I must see you out of the city."

Wei Shao tried to decline, but Qiao Ping insisted.

Lady Ding smiled. "The Lord has traveled far and stayed only a night, but before he leaves, do not disregard the Governor's heartfelt intentions. It is inconvenient for him to ride, but the carriage is fine. It is already prepared outside."

Wei Shao looked at Xiao Qiao. Seeing her smiling and nodding slightly, he could only say, "I apologize for the trouble, Father-in-law."

Xiao Qiao helped her father into the carriage and gave instructions to the accompanying steward. She stood at the entrance to see them off, watching as Wei Shao turned his head on horseback several times. The figures of the group gradually grew smaller, until finally, they disappeared from sight along with the carriage carrying her father.

...

Qiao Ping saw Wei Shao out past the western city gate, continuing for another dozen miles. Wei Shao dismounted and repeatedly asked him to return to the city. Qiao Ping finally stopped, ordered people to help him out of the carriage, and smiled. "There are some things I have long wanted to tell you face-to-face, but I never found the opportunity. Yesterday, we finally met, but I didn't expect you to be on your way again today. Could we take this opportunity to talk?"

"Father-in-law, please, there is no need for such formality. This way," Wei Shao said. He took Qiao Ping’s hand and led him to the side of the road.

Lei Yan saw that Qiao Ping intended to speak with their lord in private, so he ordered his men to return to the formation and waited at a distance.

"Whatever instructions you have, Father-in-law, please speak freely," Wei Shao said.

Qiao Ping turned his face, asking Wei Shao to lead him to face the north.

Wei Shao was confused but complied.

Facing the wind blowing from the northern wildlands, Qiao Ping knelt on both knees, bowed his head to the ground, and performed a deep, respectful kowtow.

Wei Shao was stunned. "What is the meaning of this, Father-in-law?"

Qiao Ping finished his kowtow, rose from the ground, and spoke solemnly. "On behalf of the Qiao family, I offer this ritual to the spirits of the former Tiger Tooth General and your late brother. I do not dare ask for forgiveness. The kowtow just now was out of my gratitude—for the Dowager Lady, and for the magnanimity of the Lord."

Wei Shao turned his head to look at the vast, desolate northern wilderness. He kept his lips pressed together, silent, his expression turning grave.

Qiao Ping spoke slowly. "In those years, it was the Qiao family's fault that the former Tiger Tooth General and his son suffered such tragedy. The old pain has not yet faded, and now, due to my lack of oversight, the General Wei Liang nearly met with disaster as well. The shame in my heart is truly beyond words. Your magnanimity, my Lord, makes me feel as though I have no place to hide my face. You first returned my brother’s head so that he could be buried whole..."

"Father-in-law, please do not burden yourself with this," Wei Shao said quietly. "I have never been a magnanimous person. The only reason you and I can stand here and speak today is entirely because of Manman."

Qiao Ping let out a long breath. "That is exactly what I wished to say to you. In those days, my brother made the decision to seek an alliance with the Wei family through marriage. It was intended to erase the grievances of the past, and even more, to use the strength of the Lord to protect Yan Province from the powerful enemies surrounding us. My brother was a calculating man, but at the time, I was reluctant to marry my daughter off so hastily. She is the only one I have; after her mother passed, I had no other desires. I only hoped that she would one day find a marriage of her heart’s desire, be cherished by a husband, and live a smooth and happy life. That was my greatest wish. Later, the situation became something I could not control. I had no choice but to marry her to you..."

Wei Shao turned slowly and fixed his gaze on Qiao Ping.

Qiao Ping, unaware, continued. "I will not hide it from you. The enmity between the Wei and Qiao families was so deep that if I were in your shoes, I doubt I would have been able to treat the daughter of the opposing family well. Therefore, when Manman was first married off, for a time, I was extremely anxious..."

"You might not know, my Lord, that she was spoiled by me and her mother since she was small. After her mother’s unfortunate early passing, I treated her like the pearl in my palm. In my upbringing of her, I may have failed in my duties. I feared that after she married, she would not be able to perform her wifely duties well, nor would she be able to get along with your family. What I did not expect was that Lady Xu would be so kind and loving, caring for her so much, and that you, my Lord, would not abandon her for her perceived dullness, but instead treat her with such meticulous care. Today, because of a single word from her, you set aside your duties to personally send her home. All of this makes me feel not only comforted but ashamed. I feel I must speak: all my initial worries were merely me measuring your heart by my own!"

Wei Shao remained silent.

Qiao Ping sighed. "I was a useless man, and now I am left with only a broken body. Life and death, honor and disgrace—they are but passing smoke to me. The only thing I cannot let go of is my daughter. She is naturally forbearing; even if she has troubles in her heart, she never utters a word in front of me, fearing she will cause me anxiety. It is precisely because of this that I cherish her all the more. Today, though I cannot see your face, my Lord, I know your noble bearing and broad-mindedness in my heart. Therefore, I use this opportunity to solemnly entrust the rest of my daughter's life to you. I know you are not a person destined for a shallow pond. If one day the golden scales turn into a dragon, I hope you will remember your first-marriage vows and shield Manman, ensuring her a life of joy. For this, I would be eternally grateful!"

After speaking, Qiao Ping offered a deep, long bow to Wei Shao.

Wei Shao was startled and hurriedly helped him up.

Qiao Ping stood straight and smiled. "I shall send you off here. I hope the Lord will pacify the world soon and return a peaceful, prosperous age to the common people."

...

Wei Shao sat on his horse, watching the carriage carrying Qiao Ping slowly disappear from sight. He was lost in thought for a long time before turning his horse’s head to the west.

By evening, they were still several dozen miles from the next inn. If they pushed on, they could make it before dark.

However, Wei Shao rode slower and slower, as if he were absent-minded.

Lei Yan had long sensed something unusual about him, but although he held doubts, he did not ask, simply slowing his own pace to match.

About ten miles from the inn, Wei Shao suddenly stopped his horse by the side of the road. "Take the men to the inn ahead and settle in. Wait for my return!"

With that, he offered no explanation. He turned his horse around, tightened his knees against its flanks, and gave a low command. His prized steed, having been speed-restricted for half a day, finally felt the restraint lift. With a joyous neigh, it broke into a gallop and flew forward.

Under the astonished gazes of Lei Yan and his men, Wei Shao and his horse vanished into the thick twilight at the end of the road.

...

When Wei Shao returned to the gates of Dongjun, it was already pitch black. The gate captain heard the request to open the gate and ascended the wall. By the light of a torch, he recognized Wei Shao, who had been sent off by the Governor that very day. Greatly shocked, he ordered the locks to be opened.

Wei Shao passed through the slowly opening gates, galloping along the empty, moonlit streets toward the Qiao residence.

...

After dinner, Lady Ding and Da Qiao carried Li'er into Xiao Qiao’s room.

Lady Ding and Chun Niang were doing needlework. The two sisters talked while playing with Li'er and Fei Fei.

The room was filled with laughter and warmth when, suddenly, footsteps sounded outside the door. A maidservant pushed the door open and poked her head in. "Madam! Lady! The Lord has returned—"

The voices in the room died down instantly. Lady Ding and Da Qiao turned their heads.

Xiao Qiao was surprised and looked up as well.

The door opened, and Wei Shao stood on the threshold.

Lady Ding was pleasantly surprised. She quickly set down her needlework, stood up, and went to welcome him. "Come in! You haven't eaten yet, have you? Wait a moment, I will go prepare something for you." She hurried to leave to ready a meal.

Wei Shao stepped inside, bowed to Lady Ding and Da Qiao in greeting, and then smiled. "Thank you, Aunt. I am not hungry. I have returned because I have something I wish to say to Manman."

He looked at Xiao Qiao.

Lady Ding was startled, then nodded with a smile. "Very well, very well. Then you two talk first; I shall not disturb you. If you need anything, just call."

Da Qiao gathered her son, and Chun Niang hurriedly picked up Fei Fei, who was making excited sounds upon seeing her father.

The people in the room quickly withdrew, leaving only Wei Shao and Xiao Qiao facing one another.

Xiao Qiao’s heart beat faster. She stood up slowly.

"You..."

She hesitated, just about to ask what brought him back, when Wei Shao suddenly walked toward her with long strides. Once he was close, he opened his arms and pulled her into his embrace.

"Manman, all this time, I have wronged you!"

Wei Shao held her tightly, whispering into her ear.