The Prisoner of Beauty - Chapter 93
Chapter 93
Aside from the Emperor, the most important activity for the common people on New Year's Day was the clan's sacrificial offering to their ancestors in the family temple.
The Wei family was no exception.
On the first Xin day of the tenth lunar month, the winter wine brewed specifically for the New Year's ancestral rites had already finished fermenting and was ready.
Three days prior, Madame Xu had begun bathing, changing her garments, and purifying her mind and body.
The ritual directors of the clan had also fully arranged all the matters concerning the sacrificial rites, merely waiting for the day to arrive.
On New Year's Day last year, Wei Shao had been delayed by military campaigns and remained in Xindu with the newly married Xiao Qiao, missing the sacrificial rites.
Madame Xu had originally assumed they would miss New Year's Day again this year. She had not expected them to finally return home a day early, just in time. She was exceedingly joyful.
They had arrived home late last night, deep into the midnight hours. After entering the western chambers, making a few hasty arrangements, and taking a quick bath, Xiao Qiao and Wei Shao had gone to sleep. Because the journey had been quite grueling and bumpy, Xiao Qiao fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow. Early the next morning, while it was still pitch black outside the window—not yet even the fifth watch—Xiao Qiao, burdened with thoughts, suddenly jolted awake from her dreams. Opening her eyes, she saw the silver candles in the room burning quietly, but Wei Shao was already missing from her side.
Since the ancestral temple rites were to take place early in the morning, he had much to attend to today; he must have risen quietly at some unknown hour.
Xiao Qiao crawled up into a sitting position, wrapping the quilt around herself as she lost herself in thought.
On this day last year, she had been in Xindu and had not participated in the Wei family's clan rites.
Logically speaking, now that she had returned this year, as Wei Shao's wife, she ought to take part in this family event today.
However, Xiao Qiao had not forgotten that when she first arrived at the Wei household last year as a new bride, Wei Shao had not brought her to pay respects at the ancestral temple at all.
According to ritual propriety, her wedding back then was actually still missing the final and most important step: paying respects to the husband's ancestral temple as a new bride.
Only after paying respects to the ancestral temple would one be truly recognized and accepted by the husband's family.
Naturally, Xiao Qiao herself did not care for such empty formalities. A whole year had passed, and she had long since forgotten about this matter.
Yet today was a special day. Facing once more the question of whether she would be barred from the threshold of the ancestral temple, she could not help but recall what had happened before.
Because they had arrived so late the previous evening, when the news of her and Wei Shao's return reached Madame Xu, the two of them had merely kowtowed before her, given a brief summary of their journey, and returned to the western chambers to rest. Consequently, Madame Xu had not mentioned anything about this morning's events at the time.
By Xiao Qiao's estimation, Madame Xu would likely intend to bring her along to participate in the temple sacrifices.
But regarding Wei Shao's side, Xiao Qiao was somewhat uncertain.
Seeing that he had risen and left quietly early in the morning without leaving her a single word of instruction, she increasingly felt that he was perhaps still unwilling to allow someone bearing the surname Qiao to step into the Wei family ancestral temple.
While Xiao Qiao was hesitating, a flurry of light, quiet footsteps suddenly sounded outside the door. Then, the door was pushed open, and Chun Niang stepped around the screen, leading the maids inside.
"My Lady, it is time to arise. If you sleep any longer, I fear you will miss the ancestral temple rites."
Chun Niang approached the bedside with a beaming smile, pulling back the bed curtains and gesturing for the maids to set down the garments they carried.
Xiao Qiao stole a glance at them.
It was a set of pale blue silk ceremonial robes—the female attire used for sacrificial rites.
Chun Niang said, "The Lord Master arose during the fourth watch. He told me not to wake you and to let you sleep a bit longer. Seeing that the hour is almost upon us, I came to call My Lady to get up."
Xiao Qiao remained silent as she threw off the quilt and stepped out of bed. After washing and combing her hair, she changed into the pale silk robe and ate a few bites of the breakfast brought to her. At this moment, the sky was still dark. Just as she was about to head to the northern chambers, she heard the servant women at the door call out, "Lord Master." Turning her head, she saw Wei Shao walk in.
He too was dressed in a full set of black sacrificial robes. He wore a tall ceremonial hat, a dark black formal outer robe, and an inner robe trimmed with deep crimson collars and sleeves.
The ceremonial attire was solemn, making his tall figure appear even more imposing and erect. His eyes shone with piercing brilliance, full of vitality, and an undeniable aura of a majestic family head swept over her.
Xiao Qiao walked forward to meet him, calling out, "Husband."
Wei Shao looked her up and down, offering a faint smile. "Grandmother's side should be nearly ready as well. It is time for us to head over."
Xiao Qiao nodded. She followed him out the door, and the two of them made their way toward the northern chambers.
From the fifth watch onward, all the primary entrances of the Wei Manor—the grand gates, the ceremonial gates, and the inner gates—had been flung wide open. Starting from the main gates, lanterns were lit along the pathways like a fiery dragon snaking into the estate, casting the entire Wei Manor in a brilliant glow.
Upon reaching the festooned gate of the western chambers, Xiao Qiao could see from afar that the inner courtyard was also brightly illuminated. As she climbed the steps, she habitually lowered her head to lift her skirt slightly, only to see a hand stretch out toward her from the side. Looking up, she saw that Wei Shao had halted his steps and was turning his head to look at her.
The early dawn was dark and cold. Yet Xiao Qiao felt a touch of warmth in her heart as she placed her hand into his equally warm palm.
Wei Shao grasped her hand, leading her up the steps and across the threshold, releasing his grip only when they arrived before the door of Madame Xu's main room.
The two entered the room. Madame Xu had long since risen. She accepted their formal greetings, her gaze sweeping across their faces before she nodded in satisfaction. She smiled and said, "Very good. Let us go then. The kinsmen must all be waiting by now."
...
The ancestral shrine of the Wei family was located in an independent, large courtyard directly to the west of the Wei Manor. Its vermilion main gates, five bays wide, were usually kept firmly shut, but this morning they were thrown wide open. The clansmen of the Wei family had already gathered here, waiting in the side chambers flanking the entrance. Separated into lines of men and women, they filled two whole rooms, all holding their breath in hushed reverence, without making a single sound.
This was the first time Xiao Qiao had stepped into this courtyard, which gave her an initial impression of being dark, gloomy, and desolate.
Following behind Madame Xu and Wei Shao under the scrutiny of numerous gazes, she walked along the wide, grey-paved path toward the ancestral hall. The surrounding pines and cypresses stood green and lush, adding to the solemnity and majesty. On either side of the steps leading to the hall's entrance stood two massive, half-man-high bronze incense cauldrons mottled with ancient patterns. Inside the cauldrons, incense burned abundantly, and two plumes of green smoke curled gently upward from their mouths, filling the air with a dense, heavy scent of burning incense.
The ritual directors of the Wei clan had long been waiting with their attendants. They respectfully welcomed Madame Xu, the Lord Master, and the Lady inside. The interior blazed with candle fire. High above the ancestral tablets hung a horizontal plaque inscribed with "The Ancestors' Virtue Leaves a Fragrance for Generations." Flanking it on either side was a pair of ritual couplets: "Revere and respect the brilliant spirits to consolidate their blessings; align the ancestors in proper order to carry forth their glorious light." Beneath it sat the altar table. Behind the table stood the spirit tablets of the successive generations of the Wei family. The primordial ancestor occupied the central position, while the generations below were arranged in order, fathers and sons following the proper generational sequence to the left and right.
At the very end of the two densely packed rows of tablets, Xiao Qiao spotted two names that were all too familiar to her: "The Spirit Tablet of the Late Father, the Honorable Lord Wei, Taboo Name Jing" and "The Spirit Tablet of the Late Older Brother, Wei Bao."
These two spirit tablets had been erected in Wei Shao's name; they omitted all grand titles of honor, remaining simple and direct.
Xiao Qiao stole a quiet glance at Wei Shao beside her.
His expression was solemn, nearly devoid of emotion. His gaze bypassed the back of Madame Xu, who was currently holding incense and offering pious prayers to the ancestors, and fell directly onto those two dark, heavy wooden spirit tablets painted in pitch-black.
Once Madame Xu finished offering incense and prayers, it was Wei Shao and Xiao Qiao's turn. Xiao Qiao knelt upon the cushion placed before the spirit tablets. After performing the full prostrations, all stray thoughts vanished from her mind. Steeling her heart and calming her breath, she respectfully offered incense and raised the ceremonial wine goblet, closing her eyes to pray with absolute sincerity.
When the sacrificial rituals concluded and they finally walked out the gates of the ancestral temple, Xiao Qiao instinctively cast a glance backward.
By then, the sky was completely bright. The first ray of the morning sun on New Year's Day burst forth from behind the clouds, shining directly upon the ridge-end ornaments atop the grand hall's roof. Radiant and magnificent, it instantly dispelled every trace of the dark, gloomy coldness that had previously lingered in the depths of Xiao Qiao's heart.
...
Following his worship at the ancestral temple on New Year's Day, Wei Shao went straight to the government office, where he received the congratulatory greetings and respects of the various commandery and county officials, as well as his personal military officers and commanders who had rushed there.
Xiao Qiao was not a single bit more at leisure than he was on this day.
Madame Zhu's confinement had still not been lifted; under the pretext of being too ill to see people, she had not even shown her face for the morning rites at the ancestral shrine.
Madame Xu rarely received guests these days. Furthermore, because she had risen so early to pay respects at the ancestral shrine, her energy flagged upon her return, and she retired to rest. Xiao Qiao therefore completely took over Madame Zhu's responsibilities as the mistress of the Wei Manor. From morning till night, she remained fully occupied with hosting the noblewomen of Yuyang City who came to offer their New Year greetings. It was not until dusk that she finally found a moment of leisure. After sipping some tea, she went to the northern chambers to serve Madame Xu her evening meal. Madame Xu inquired about her journey back to Yanzhou. Xiao Qiao shared what was appropriate to tell. Hearing that Lady Ding's illness was no longer an issue, Madame Xu was also pleased. When the meal was finished, she scrutinized Xiao Qiao and said with deep affection and concern, "Your journey was grueling enough to begin with, and you arrived so late last night, only to be busy from early morning until now. Go on back. When Shao'er returns from outside, tell him he doesn't need to come see me either. The two of you should turn in early."
Xiao Qiao assented. Seeing Madame Xu urge her repeatedly, she finally rose and left, returning to the western chambers. Only after bathing and changing into comfortable everyday clothes did she exhale a long breath, letting her entire body relax completely.
Wei Shao finished his banqueting and did not return until the end of the Xu hour, when the sky was pitch black.
He must have drunk a significant amount of wine, for his footsteps were unsteady and swaying.
Xiao Qiao had been waiting for him in the room the entire time. Hearing the voices of the servant women outside, she hurriedly went out to receive him.
Wei Shao leaned heavily on her shoulder as he entered the room, throwing himself face-up onto the bed, closing his eyes without moving an inch.
Seeing that he was heavily intoxicated, his face completely flushed and his breath reeking of wine, Xiao Qiao had no time for complaints. She helped him remove his boots and socks, personally wrung out a warm, damp towel, and meticulously wiped his face. Once that was done, she wiped his hands and feet, pulled the quilt over him securely, and stood up to go outside. She told Chun Niang and the servant women to disperse for the night, then returned to the room, shut the door, undressed, and slid into bed, gently lying down by his side.
Breathing in the air within the bed curtains, which had gradually grown heavy with the faint scent of mellow wine from his breath, she slowly closed her eyes.
During the latter half of the night, she was shaken awake by the man beside her.
In the darkness, Wei Shao groped her body with his burning palms, then pinned her down, urgently forcing her legs apart without any foreplay whatsoever as he entered her.
The two had grown increasingly familiar with each other's bodies. Yet every time he first entered, even if she was already slick and damp, it usually took a moment for her to fully adapt to his invasion.
He had gradually learned to consider her feelings, always engaging in tender intimacy with her beforehand.
But at this moment, in the darkness, he seemed to have reverted to the Wei Shao of the very beginning, completely heedless of her.
His breath came in ragged gasps, and as it brushed against her face, Xiao Qiao could still smell the sharp scent of wine. His skin was incredibly hot, scorching her tender flesh like a furnace. When his chest pressed tightly against her soft breasts, Xiao Qiao heard him let out a low groan of utter gratification from the depths of his throat.
He possessed her continuously, his actions remarkably fierce, his palms gripping her waist so tightly it felt as if it might snap. He panted like a bull. In the end, Xiao Qiao was driven to let out low, soft whimpers of weeping. When he finally finished and his ragged breathing gradually stabilized, Xiao Qiao's sobbing also slowly subsided. Feeling her face and body completely coated in a sticky layer of indistinguishable tears and sweat, which felt highly uncomfortable, she removed the arm he had wrapped around her and sat up from his embrace, intending to go down and wash herself.
Yet Wei Shao's arm suddenly reached out once more, pinning her flat back against his chest with a single motion.
"From the very first day you married me, you became a person of my Wei family. Do not associate with Yanzhou ever again. I will protect you for the rest of your life."
In the darkness, Xiao Qiao heard Wei Shao speak these words.