The Prisoner of Beauty - Chapter 96

Chapter 96

Recently, Gongsun Yang had been harboring a persistent doubt in his heart. Even though he considered himself a shrewd judge of character and had served the Marquis for many years, he still found his master's thoughts somewhat impossible to fathom.

Originally, according to the plan, they were supposed to head to Jinyang early in the spring, which was right around this time.

Unexpectedly, the Marquis suddenly moved the departure forward. Just after the Lantern Festival, he announced that they were leaving.

Gongsun Yang, naturally, had no objections either way.

With one word from the Marquis, his subordinates immediately ran themselves ragged. They selected generals, assembled the troops, and those officers and soldiers who were to accompany the Marquis westward tearfully bid farewell to their wives, children, and warm beds, waiting only to set out.

Everything was ready, but to everyone's surprise, after the Marquis made a trip back from Wuzhong City, he suddenly stopped mentioning Jinyang altogether.

Instead, he was seen arriving at the government office every day just as dawn broke, and he absolutely would not leave until the sky turned dark.

In truth, right at the beginning of the year, there really were not that many official matters to attend to.

To seek good fortune for the year, it had been a custom since ancient times not to engage in military conflict at the start of the year.

Therefore, after New Year's Day, there were truly no critical matters in the government office that required binding the Marquis to toil behind his desk in person.

Gongsun Yang was perplexed.

Since the subordinates below were all waiting for the Marquis to give the word, Gongsun Yang had previously asked him about it.

At that time, the Marquis said he was showing consideration for the hardships of the vast number of officers and soldiers. Since it was a rare start to the year, he had temporarily changed his mind to allow everyone to enjoy a bit more leisure.

A wave of cheers erupted below, everyone deeply grateful for the Marquis's consideration.

Gongsun Yang, relying on his intuition, did not quite believe it. But he did discern one thing: the Marquis simply did not want to leave yet.

So, he stopped pressing the matter as well.

But at this moment, it was truly a situation where he had to press him.

Because something had happened.

Three days ago, an urgent report arrived from Zhang Jian and Li Chong, stating that the Shaodang Qiang people of Longxi had staged an uprising and attacked the Shang County area. Fortunately, it was suppressed. They requested the Marquis to rush over as quickly as possible to determine the subsequent strategy.

Last night, Bing Province sent another urgent report by express courier, which was currently in Gongsun Yang's hands.

Although he was still waiting for the Marquis to come and open it, he could guess it must be the aftermath of the unrest in Shang County.

Therefore, from early morning, he had been waiting for the Marquis to arrive.

Yet, for some reason, the Marquis had delayed showing his face today.

Gongsun Yang waited until his neck grew stiff. Just as he was about to send someone to the Wei Estate to deliver a message, he finally saw the Marquis arrive. He hurriedly handed over the urgent report and casually pressed for an update.

Wei Shao opened the urgent report, glanced through it, and handed it to Gongsun Yang.

Zhang Jian reported that he suspected Feng Zhao, the Inspector of Liang Province, was secretly instigating the Shaodang Qiang to cause trouble in order to plot treasonous designs. He requested the Marquis to come with haste.

The Shaodang Qiang was the most powerful Qiang political force in the west. Like the Xiongnu, they originally made a living through livestock herding, but later gradually integrated with the Han people and turned to agriculture. In the impression of the Han people, the Qiang people "looked extremely terrifying, unlike living human beings." Over a decade ago, this branch of Qiang people, numbering as many as hundreds of thousands, had submitted to the Han court, but they later faced the brutal rule of Chen Xiang. Chen Xiang viewed the Qiang people as cattle and horses, treating them cruelly. Not only did he demand that the Qiang pay tribute to him personally, but he also abducted their men to reduce them to slaves and took their women to serve as camp prostitutes. Diaomo, the new leader of the Qiang, refused to submit, renounced his allegiance to the Han, and revolted once more, even capturing Xihe County at one point.

Last year, Chen Xiang lost Bing Province. Wei Shao immediately extended a hand of pacification and surrender to Diaomo. However, Diaomo did not respond and merely retreated into the Qiang lands.

Wei Shao had been anxious to return to You Province at that time. Seeing that the border was peaceful, he temporarily set the matter aside and rushed back.

He did not expect that so quickly, just at the beginning of the year, the Shaodang Qiang people would actually attack Shang County again. Moreover, it even involved Feng Zhao, the Inspector of Liang Province.

"What is the Lord's decision?"

Gongsun Yang asked.

Pacifying West Liang and absorbing the Qiang people to eliminate any future troubles before heading south one day—this was precisely Wei Shao's military objective for going to Jinyang at the start of the year. Gongsun Yang was naturally well aware of this.

Wei Shao frowned and said, "I will set out tomorrow morning! The main army will mobilize within three days and march toward Jinyang at a normal pace."

……

When Wei Shao returned from the government office, it was not yet noon.

He rarely returned home at this hour under normal circumstances. Consequently, the servant women and maids left in the West Room were surprised. They served him his meal.

Xiao Qiao, however, had still not returned.

Wei Shao felt somewhat unsettled. Without even eating his food, he rode his horse out of the city, heading in the direction of the Grand Altar of the Soil and Grain.

The sacrifice at the Grand Altar of the Soil and Grain at the beginning of the second lunar month held profound significance for the farmers who relied on agriculture for their livelihood. Early in the morning, villagers from various neighborhoods and townships brought chives, eggs, and the new wine brewed at home the previous year, flooding from all directions to gather before the Grand Altar of the Soil and Grain in the eastern suburbs' mulberry forest to participate in the sacrifice.

At the auspicious hour, the sound of leather drums arose. The Magistrate of Yuyang led the villagers participating in the sacrifice behind him to perform the ritual of one kneeling and three kowtows to the God of the Soil, offering wine, sacrificial food, and the seeds of the five grains, while reciting prayers of supplication. Finally, he handed the incense to Xiao Qiao, who had cleansed her hands, for her to personally insert it into the agricultural altar and offer another prayer, completing the sacrificial ceremony.

As the lords of the land, the Wei family had always been loved and esteemed by the populace. In previous years, Lady Zhu, who came to lead the sacrifice, had been haughty; once the ritual concluded, she would invariably board her carriage in a hurry and depart. This year, it was replaced by the Young Mistress. Seeing that the new mistress of the Wei family was young, beautiful, and possessed an approachable smile, the populace was universally enchanted. After the ceremony concluded, they stepped forward one after another, surrounding her in a tight circle, requesting the Young Mistress to taste the new wine, judge the finest brew, and share in the people's joy.

This was also a traditional entertainment program of the Grand Altar sacrifice. Each clan and neighborhood would present their new wine, and after evaluation, one variety would be chosen as the sacrificial wine to be placed upon the agricultural altar. If selected, the clan and neighborhood would universally consider it a supreme honor.

The people's enthusiasm was difficult for Xiao Qiao to refuse, so she accompanied the Magistrate of Yuyang to the front of the wine-tasting platform.

On a row of shelves, wine jars were arranged neatly. Red paper was pasted onto the bellies of the jars, each bearing the mark of a specific clan and neighborhood, clear at a single glance.

Noble women, like men, enjoyed drinking wine.

Madame Xu's tolerance for alcohol was exceptionally good. Even at her advanced age, after every meal, she would rinse her mouth with warm wine.

Xiao Qiao's tolerance, however, was light, and she rarely drank wine on ordinary days. Seeing such a long row of wine jars arranged there waiting for her to drink through them one by one, her heart immediately felt a pang of dread.

Yet since she had already arrived here and was surrounded by expectant gazes, it was like being forced to do something beyond her capacity; she could only steel herself and step up alongside the Magistrate of Yuyang to taste the wines one by one, starting from the first unsealed wine jar.

Fortunately, only one small cup was taken from each wine jar. She only needed to take a shallow sip; it was enough as long as she could discern the flavor.

Because these were all new wines carefully brewed and sent over by the clans, and it concerned the honor of each neighborhood, she did not dare to perform the task perfunctorily.

With every sip of wine, she did her best to savor the flavor. Strong or mild, astringent or smooth, slowly across dozens of wine jars from beginning to end, she actually tasted every single one of them.

In the end, after consulting with the Magistrate of Yuyang, she selected one of them as the winner.

Immediately, the villagers of that neighborhood cheered and leaped with joy, ladling out the wine to invite others to appreciate it, and placing the new wine upon the agricultural altar. Following this were the community theatrical performances and dances.

In the mulberry forest, bursts of drums and music resounded. The people were joyful and celebratory, and young men and women chased and played around the mulberry trees, leaving behind waves of cheerful laughter.

Just now, with so much wine, although she had only taken a shallow sip of each variety, it added up to quite a substantial amount. Furthermore, the various wines were mixed together, and after sliding down the back of her tongue and seeping into her stomach, a burning sensation gradually arose. By the time the Magistrate of Yuyang came to invite her to watch the community play together, Xiao Qiao's heart was already thumping wildly, and her cheeks were somewhat flushed. Fortunately, she was supported by Chun Niang and Old Madame Lin by her side, so she did not reveal a state of drunkenness.

Xiao Qiao also knew she was probably about to succumb to the power of the alcohol. Fearing she would lose her composure and make a fool of herself if she passed out drunk here, she smiled and said, "Many thanks to the Magistrate and all the villagers for your profound kindness. Today is a day of great fortune, initiating the sowing of crops, which will surely bring blessings to the common people. The Magistrate may enjoy the festivities with the people; I shall take my leave first."

Seeing her cheeks slightly flushed, the Magistrate of Yuyang knew she probably could not handle her wine, so he did not dare to detain her further and hastily bowed to send her off respectfully.

Xiao Qiao left the altar and exited the mulberry forest. Along the way she passed, countless villagers lined the path to express their regards and send her off. Among them were even that previous batch of young disciples from the commandery academy who had once gone to the Hall of the Queen Mother of the West to steal a glimpse of her beauty.

These people had come here today originally just to join in the excitement. If they could encounter a beautiful young maiden of sixteen to present with thoroughly fragrant orchid grass, it would be an even greater bonus. Many among them had come to the mulberry forest last year and knew that the mistress of the Wei family who came to participate in the sacrifice was that middle-aged woman, so naturally, they had no expectations this year.

Yet they never anticipated that the one showing her face this morning would actually be that young mistress whom they had desired to glimpse last year but failed to see. She was truly as beautiful as a heavenly immortal. At first sight, every single one of their eyes gleamed, and their two legs became pinned to the ground, unable to take a step forward.

From the moment Xiao Qiao made her appearance, this gang of disciples from the commandery academy followed her closely without leaving a single step. Wherever she went, these people followed. Seeing that she was about to leave at this moment, restricted by her status, they did not dare to draw too close, but they all crowded around, following beside her just to catch one or two final glimpses of her.

As Xiao Qiao came out, a crowd of frivolous disciples from the commandery academy swarmed behind her, vying to push and jostle one another, their faces bearing expressions as if they were about to drool, appearing exceptionally eyesore.

Wei Shao arrived on horseback at the entrance of the mulberry forest, and what he witnessed was precisely this scene.

He neither revealed himself nor showed his face. He merely stopped his horse and watched from afar as Xiao Qiao was escorted to the carriage by the Magistrate of Yuyang. Chun Niang and Old Madame Lin assisted her into the carriage.

The carriage departed.

……

Xiao Qiao sat inside the carriage, and after traveling for a stretch of road, the drunkenness became increasingly intense. Even her head felt dizzy. Closing her eyes somewhat weakly, she leaned crookedly into Chun Niang's embrace and gradually fell into a drunken sleep. She was utterly unaware of when they entered the city, returned to the Wei Estate, or how she returned to the Wei Estate.

Hazy and confused, she only felt as if Chun Niang had carried her down from the carriage, then carried her walking inside, and finally placed her onto the bed.

Feeling that what she touched beneath her body seemed to be a bed, she relaxed instantly, sinking completely into the realm of drunken dreams, and drifted off to sleep.

Chun Niang and Old Madame Lin stood to one side, looking at the young master who had just carried the Young Mistress down from the carriage, carried her all the way inside, and placed her onto the bed.

Seeing that his expression seemed rather poor, each of them felt uneasy.

Wei Shao's gaze shifted away from Xiao Qiao's face as she slept soundly, and he said to Chun Niang, "Since the Young Mistress cannot drink wine, and you are a capable person by her side, why did you not dissuade her a bit? To become drunk to this extent outside, what kind of decorum is this?"

Although his tone was flat, the meaning of interrogation within his words was palpable.

Although the young master's temper had always been rather poor, this was the very first time since she arrived at the Wei family that Chun Niang had heard him speak to her in such a heavy tone. Inevitably, she felt ashamed in her heart and did not dare to defend herself, only saying, "What the young master says is true. It was indeed a negligence on my part. Next time, I will certainly double my care to serve the Young Mistress well."

Old Madame Lin did not even dare to breathe a single heavy breath, merely keeping her head lowered, completely motionless.

Wei Shao waved his hand. Chun Niang and Old Madame Lin exchanged a glance, turned around, and exited the room.

Wei Shao stood before the bed for a moment, gazing intently at Xiao Qiao, who was sleeping soundly from the alcohol.

……

Xiao Qiao had not expected that by participating in the sacrifice today, she would unexpectedly become drunk.

She had now sunk into the realm of drunkenness, yet she dreamed a strange dream.

In the dream, her body felt as if it were being brushed by a soft bristle brush, which was exceedingly comfortable—so comfortable that it even caused her to shiver. The toes of her pair of jade-like feet also curled tightly together, but every single pore on her skin slowly relaxed and opened up.

Her entire person felt light and airy, as if lifted above the ripples of water by something, or floating amidst a pile of clouds, swaying incomparably.

She found it deeply comfortable and could not help but let out a soft moan in her dream.