The Prisoner of Beauty - Chapter 94

Chapter 94

His chest was also drenched in sweat, as if every single pore on his skin was continuously steaming with heat.

Xiao Qiao rested her equally burning cheek against it, clearly feeling against her ear the rapid, steady thumping of his heart, which had yet to calm from its intense pounding.

She closed her eyes.

"And if I don't?" she asked, her voice slightly raspy.

Wei Shao made no reply.

The silence in the darkness stretched out inch by inch, like an invisible yet palpable undercurrent, quietly enveloping Xiao Qiao's entire body.

She suddenly felt a chill and shivered slightly. Small goosebumps erupted across the skin of her arms and back, making her realize that her sweat-dampened body was still completely naked.

Just a moment ago it had been wet and hot, but now the sweat had turned cold.

Moving Wei Shao's heavy arm off her lower back, she groped around in the dark to put back on the clothes that had been stripped away, then climbed out of bed and lit the candle.

Wei Shao still lay on his back on the bed. His forehead glistened with sweat. In the reflection of the candlelight, his deep eyes stared intently at her.

Xiao Qiao slowly knelt by his side, looking directly into his eyes.

"I am afraid my answer will disappoint my husband. Yanzhou means nothing to me. But the grace and love of my parents can never be severed just because I am married. Even if my husband is you, it is something I can never do."

Her tone was calm, yet every single word fell clearly from her lips.

Wei Shao did not move an inch. The light in his eyes seemed to freeze, locking onto her face.

"I have no desire to hide anything from my husband. When I first opened my eyes upon waking this morning and did not see you by my side, Manman felt rather anxious. Do you know why, husband? Because I recalled how, when I first arrived at the Wei household a year ago, you refused to take me into the ancestral temple to pay respects to your ancestors. Manman thought that even now, you still held the same sentiment. It was only when you appeared and took my hand to lead me to Grandmother's room that my heart finally found peace, and I felt even more grateful to you. I never expected that before the lingering warmth of our intimacy could even dissipate, you would make such a demand of me..."

She paused, calming the indescribable bitterness that welled up within her.

"There are some things Manman only dared to think about in her heart, never daring to bring them up before my husband, for fear of accidentally treading on your taboos. But since my husband has just bared his thoughts to me, I presume you would not want to hear me speak against my own heart either. Thus, Manman will speak plainly."

She took a deep breath, once more meeting the twin gazes Wei Shao directed at her.

Perhaps because the intense tide of passion from moments ago had gradually receded, the light in his eyes was now somewhat hollow and detached—so detached it verged on cold indifference.

Xiao Qiao said, "I dare not claim that I can fully comprehend my husband's feelings when you paid respects before the ancestral spirit tablets this morning. My Qiao family did indeed fail the alliance back then, causing you to suffer the agonizing pain of losing your kin. This is something my father has never denied; he too feels a profound sense of guilt. When my Qiao family initially took the initiative to seek a marriage alliance with you, it was certainly to resolve Yanzhou's predicament at the time, but was it not also a desire to mend relations with the Wei family through this marriage? After all, the people of the past are long gone, and my grandfather, who was involved in the events of those years, has long since returned to the earth. For those of us remaining Qiao family descendants who are still alive, what other way is there to make amends besides doing our utmost to cultivate good relations, in hopes of dissolving the generational feud between our two houses?"

Her voice gradually grew tinged with emotion. "I know full well that I am of humble status and significance, merely a lone woman. Even if I serve you with my body, it is not enough to offset even a fraction of the pain you felt from losing your family. Yet a marriage is an alliance of goodwill between two clans. Since the Wei family accepted the marriage back then, in my father's eyes, it meant the Wei family agreed to the marital covenant, as if a mutual understanding had been reached. Naturally, I did not dare to think so presumptuously myself. But ever since marrying into my husband's home, I have walked on thin ice, trembling with caution, exercising self-restraint, and adhering strictly to propriety. My sole desire has been to serve my husband and the elders of the household well, so as not to betray the sincere wish for reconciliation that my father held when he married me off. I can say with a clear conscience that I have committed no major faults in my daily conduct. To tell you the truth, though I was busy and utterly exhausted today, being treated so tenderly by my husband this morning filled my heart with genuine joy. I truly believed that as long as I persevered, though I wouldn't dare extend my hopes to my husband loving my family for my sake, the day would eventually come when you could slowly let go of the generational feud between our houses—that it wasn't just an idle pipedream. I never expected that you would suddenly demand I sever all contact with my maternal clan! I know my husband has treated me exceptionally well, and I ought to be grateful. However, everyone is born of parents. Forgive my bluntness, but Manman cannot understand this, nor can I accept it."

With that final breath, Xiao Qiao finally finished speaking the words that had been stifled deep in her heart for so long. Suddenly, the sour, suffocating pressure in her chest that had nearly driven her to tears felt completely released, and her entire being felt lightened.

Her appearance was actually still quite disheveled: her clothes were untidy, her long hair was tangled, and stray traces of tears still clung to her cheeks and eyelashes. On the patch of snowy skin exposed where the collar of her robe had not been pulled tight, there were even numerous pitiful marks left behind from the fierce passion he had just inflicted upon her.

Yet, the gaze she directed at Wei Shao gradually grew extraordinarily calm.

...

Xiao Qiao know she must have offended Wei Shao. Not only had she offended him, but she had done so severely.

Certain words, no matter how tactfully expressed, perhaps should have remained buried forever in the depths of one's heart.

Even if one wished to speak them, it was best to never let a man know.

But this time, she had spoken them aloud. For the first time since marrying him, she was not merely playing along, speaking against her heart, or using sweet, honeyed words. Instead, she had given him a response straight from her true thoughts.

Every time Wei Shao entered the ancestral temple, his heart likely endured a painful torment that others could never fully empathize with. That was why his mood had turned foul again today, driving him to come back drunk and take her so forcefully.

If she were clever enough, she should have done as she always did—finding a way to coax him into a good mood, steering him toward her way of thinking until he ultimately took back the words he had uttered.

Though it would not have been easy tonight, it wouldn't have been impossible either.

But she no longer wanted to do that.

Moreover, regarding those matters, even if both of them already understood them perfectly well, if they were never spoken aloud, a thin layer of window paper would always separate them no matter how intimate they became.

It was like nursing an abscess that appeared intact on the surface but was actually festering with pus underneath.

Since he had finally, starkly expressed the deep-seated, unresolvable hatred he had buried in his heart right before her, she would give him the exact same response, letting him know her true thoughts.

Tonight might not necessarily be the best timing. But who could say what kind of moment truly constituted a proper time?

She truly wanted to say it. So, she did.

...

Wei Shao's gaze lingered on her face at first, staying there continuously, as if he had never known her or seen this face before.

Then, as if struck by a headache, Xiao Qiao saw him close his eyes, raise his arm, and rub his forehead a few times with rigid, sluggish movements.

Next, he suddenly sat up, rolled out of bed, and began putting on his clothes.

Xiao Qiao knew his consciousness was fully alert now, for his eyes were clear.

Yet his body still seemed unable to fully wake up from the hangover and the fierce intimacy of moments ago.

He dressed carelessly, not even grabbing his belt, and stepped outside. His footsteps faltered, causing him to stumble into a nearby clothes rack.

The feet of the rack scraped against the floor, letting out a sharp, harsh screech.

Xiao Qiao hurriedly scrambled out of bed, rushed after him, and supported his arm from behind.

"Where is my husband going?"

Wei Shao halted his steps and slowly turned his head to cast a glance at her.

The gaze she directed at him was filled with concern.

Wei Shao felt increasingly frustrated and conflicted. Astonishment, disappointment, and anger were mixed with a trace of shame from being so mercilessly contradicted yet unable to refute her; his head was now throbbing violently.

He felt that he simply could no longer tolerate this daughter of the Qiao family.

Women really shouldn't be treated too well, he thought to himself in a daze.

He stared down at Xiao Qiao's hand tightly gripping his arm, expecting her to have the sense to let go. Yet to his surprise, she held on firmly, refusing to loosen her grip.

"I know my husband is angry with me. But anger aside, it is only the fourth watch and you haven't slept off the wine yet. It is cold outside, so please do not leave."

She spoke, tilting her face up to look at him.

Wei Shao looked at her coldly for a moment, then reached down to pull her hand off his arm. He rasped, "Since your heart and mind hold nothing but your Qiao family people, why bother keeping me here? I shall go to the study, so as not to disturb your peace."

With that, he turned and quickly strode out of the room.

Xiao Qiao pursued him to the doorway, only to see his figure quickly vanish into the very end of the corridor leading to the study.

...

On the fifth day of the new year, Wei Shao rewarded the officers and soldiers who had distinguished themselves in the Battle of Shangdang before the year's end, hosting a grand feast to entertain the troops.

On the seventh day, Wei Shao left Yuyang to inspect the borders. He did not return to Yuyang until the Lantern Festival had passed.

Xiao Qiao was also fully occupied during these days, only gradually finding some free time after the Lantern Festival had concluded.

This morning, Xiao Qiao accompanied Wei Shao, who had just returned to Yuyang the previous day, to the northern chambers to join Madame Xu for breakfast.

After finishing the meal, they chatted idly for a few moments. Just as they were about to take their leave, Wei Shao suddenly spoke up, "Grandmother, I will likely be departing for Jinyang within the next few days. I wanted to let you know first."

Xiao Qiao threw a calm, subtle glance at him. She saw his gaze fixed on Madame Xu, his expression solemn.

Madame Xu was slightly surprised and remarked, "Wasn't it originally said that you would leave after the first lunar month had passed? Why the sudden haste?"

Wei Shao replied, "Jinyang spans a vast territory with complicated affairs. Zhang Jian and Li Chong sent another message just yesterday, urging me to head over as soon as possible. Many matters remain hanging and unresolved."

Madame Xu pondered for a moment and said, "Since you have official business to attend to, it is only proper to go early. Once you leave this time, how long before you return?"

"Two or three months at the shortest, or half a year at the longest. It is not yet certain."

Madame Xu let out an "oh" and nodded. "Since it will be a considerable length of time, and your trip to Jinyang isn't for leading troops into battle, why not have your wife accompany you? That way, you will have someone to look after you by your side."

Wei Shao said, "It is better for her to remain at home. Grandmother is well advanced in years, so prioritizing your care should come first. Your grandson will be fine."

Madame Xu glanced at Xiao Qiao, thought it over, and said, "Very well. It is just as well to leave her at home. It isn't that Grandmother requires her service, but rather that I do not wish for her to travel such a great distance again just to suffer hardships alongside you. Let her stay at home!”