The Prisoner of Beauty - Chapter 97

Chapter 97

Xiao Qiao woke from a long and heavy slumber.

Outside, the sky had already turned black, and lamps were lit within the room. The bed curtains hung quietly in low folds, and not a single breath of sound reached her ears.

She was the only one lying on the bed.

She had not expected to be so severely intoxicated that she would sleep until this very moment before waking.

Xiao Qiao slowly pulled herself up, wrapping the blanket around her as she sat on the bed.

Her head was still somewhat dizzy. Her mouth was incredibly thirsty, feeling both parched and dry.

Furthermore, her body did not feel quite right either.

She felt sticky and uncomfortable all over. Even...

Between her two legs felt damp and sticky...

Xiao Qiao could not help but lower her head to take a look.

She was still wearing the same set of inner garments from the daytime; only her outer robe was missing.

The outer robe must have been removed by Chun Niang for her. Although the place where the lapels of her inner tunic met was slightly disarrayed, it was largely quite neat.

After sleeping for such a long duration, this was only normal.

Xiao Qiao pressed her forehead, parted the bed curtains, and crawled down. The moment her feet touched the ground, she felt a wave of soreness and weakness penetrate her limbs to the bone. Her knees buckled slightly, and her body leaned forward. She grabbed the bedpost in a hurry, only managing to prevent herself from collapsing weakly onto the ground on the spot.

She composed herself and called out "Chun Niang" toward the outside. Hearing her own voice sound exceptionally soft and hoarse, she called out several times with effort before the sound of footsteps approached from outside the room.

"The Young Mistress is finally awake?"

Before her was Chun Niang's familiar smiling face, which brought peace of mind upon sight.

With one hand still gripping the bedpost, Xiao Qiao slowly sat back down on the edge of the bed, dazed.

She had never been drunk before this.

She never expected that after being intoxicated, not only would her head ache, but even her limbs and her most private area would actually harbor this kind of feeling that seemed vaguely familiar, as if...

Xiao Qiao bit her lip. She could not help but feel a slight tinge of shame.

"Chun Niang, I want to bathe."

Her body truly felt rather uncomfortable. She raised her eyes and spoke.

……

Within the bathhouse dense with swirling steam, Xiao Qiao submerged her entire body into the bath barrel. Gradually, she finally began to feel comfortable. She let out a long, deep sigh.

She soaked for a while, and the delicate, tender skin over her entire body slowly flushed with a faint shade of pink. Her cheeks resembled two petals of a peach blossom. Her dark hair cascaded over her shoulders, floating slowly upon the water's surface like aquatic weeds. Above her pitch-black eyebrows and eyelashes, a few fine droplets of condensed, translucent water clung tightly.

Chun Niang stood behind her, washing her long hair for her.

Xiao Qiao closed her eyes. Suddenly remembering the events of the morning, she rested her pair of lotus-root-like arms upon the rim of the barrel and said, "Was I already drunk on the way back today? Was it you who carried me inside, Chun Niang?"

Chun Niang recalled the scene from that time.

The young master had carried the intoxicated Young Mistress inside and placed her onto the bed, dismissing both her and Old Madame Lin.

Then, it was unknown what had transpired, but by the time he showed his face from the room once more, the sun was already slanting toward the west.

He said to Chun Niang, who had been waiting outside the room the entire time, that the Young Mistress was still drunk and had not yet awoken, instructing her not to disturb or wake her up.

Then he seemed to hesitate for a brief moment, further instructing her not to let the Young Mistress know that he had returned during this daytime.

The young master had a completely expressionless face, and after speaking, he departed.

Chun Niang was completely mystified at that time. After the young master left, because she felt uneasy, she quietly entered the room to inspect.

There was nothing of major abnormality.

The Young Mistress was indeed exactly as the young master had described, still deeply intoxicated and not yet awake. The garments on her body were also neat, and a peach-red brocade blanket was tidily covered over her shoulders. The only visible abnormality was that her two cheeks were crimson, a layer of fragrant sweat had accumulated on her forehead and neck, and her breathing was uneven as well. The breath she exhaled was thick and fragrant like an orchid. As she slept intoxicated without waking, the enchanting nature of her posture was such that even a sleeping begonia in spring could hardly compare to one or two tenths of it.

……

Chun Niang served Xiao Qiao closely. Whether she and the young master were close or estranged was something that could never be concealed from her, even if she could not see the inside across a room door.

From the day after New Year's Day onward, before Chun Niang could even emerge from the joy of the Young Mistress finally being able to step into the ancestral temple with open dignity, she detected that the two of them seemed to have grown estranged again.

Although the young master stayed overnight in the room as before, and the Young Mistress also saw him off in the morning and welcomed him back in the evening as was customary, Chun Niang could discern a difference in the looks they exchanged.

Not to mention, in the past when the two of them were on affectionate terms, the Young Mistress would often right the lapels of his tunic once more before sending the young master out the door, or smooth out the silk cords hanging down from his waist ornaments.

And the young master would take the opportunity to squeeze that small hand. He did not avoid her presence in the slightest.

During this past half-month, from the time the young master returned from patrolling the city after the Lantern Festival until now, Chun Niang could no longer catch sight of such scenes.

……

Chun Niang hesitated, offering no answer.

Xiao Qiao, however, did not pay attention to her expression. Assuming she had acquiesced, she wrapped her jade-like arms around her and said, "Chun Niang, you are truly so good to me. Fortunately, I have you by my side. Otherwise, I don't know what kind of fool I would have made of myself. It's embarrassing to death. I remember I didn't drink much, yet I actually became so severely intoxicated. Next time, I will never dare to do it again..."

How could Chun Niang withstand the Young Mistress acting in such a spoiled manner before her, revealing the disposition of a young daughter? Her chest overflowed with softness, and the words were just about to escape her mouth when she suddenly recalled the young master's expressionless instruction before leaving during the day. Ultimately, she swallowed the words back down.

The long hair had already been washed. She instructed the Young Mistress to turn around and lean against the rim of the barrel, then fetched a jade hand-massager adorned with rounded, raised bumps to push and knead her back for her, dissolving her fatigue.

Chun Niang's technique was proficient, and she knew how to control the strength. Xiao Qiao closed her eyes, just feeling completely comfortable throughout her body, when she suddenly heard her say from behind, "The young master will likely leave Yuyang within these few days as well. Is the Young Mistress truly going to remain behind all alone, instead of traveling together with the young master?"

Xiao Qiao opened her eyes slightly, but then closed them once more, remaining silent.

Unlike in the past, those thoughts of hers, or her relationship with Wei Shao, were things she would always reveal to Chun Niang without any concealment.

Now, however, she did not wish to speak of them. She also did not know how best to open her mouth.

Chun Niang continued to use the jade hand-massager to rub and stroke that snow-white back of hers with its graceful contours, letting out a sigh: "On New Year's Day, this servant clearly saw that the Young Mistress and the young master were perfectly fine. The Young Mistress even went to the ancestral temple to pay respects and offer sacrifices. This servant felt happy in her heart. Yet I do not know how, when everything was perfectly fine, the Young Mistress and the young master grew estranged again? The Young Mistress now seems unwilling to speak certain words to this servant as well. But from what this servant thinks, if you can go together, it is naturally best to go together. If the Young Mistress is truly left all alone like this to spend a half-year at home..."

"Chun Niang, I am finished."

Xiao Qiao turned her head, offering a smile toward Chun Niang.

……

It was very late, and Wei Shao had still not returned.

Xiao Qiao had nothing to do. Seeing that he delayed his return for so long, she went to bed herself.

Having slept intoxicated during the day and taken a bath, her body felt much more comfortable. But at this moment, she possessed absolutely no desire to sleep. She closed her eyes, thinking over her thoughts. It was nearly the end of the hour of the pig when she finally heard the footsteps of Wei Shao returning.

"I will leave tomorrow morning."

After Wei Shao lay down, he suddenly uttered such a sentence.

Xiao Qiao opened her eyes and turned her face toward him. She met those eyes of Wei Shao.

Deep within his eyes, a sliver of darkness was faintly concealed. His gaze locked tightly and became woven together with the gaze of her eyes.

"I was thinking that my husband would likely be leaving within these few days as well. May my husband have a safe journey. Tomorrow morning, I shall see my husband off on his departure."

Xiao Qiao spoke in a soft, gentle voice.

……

Wei Shao instructed Gongsun Yang to accompany the main army at a normal pace toward Bing Province. He himself traveled with light cavalry.

His speed of travel was very fast.

Having just departed Yuyang yesterday morning, he had already arrived at Zhuo Commandery tonight.

He would halt for one night tonight, and tomorrow morning he would continue westward.

According to this kind of speed, it would take no more than eight or nine days before he could arrive at Jinyang.

The current Governor of Zhuo Commandery had previously learned from his retainers the reason why his unlucky predecessor had been dismissed from office.

It was said that on one occasion, the Marquis came to Zhuo Commandery on official business. When he stayed overnight, his predecessor, wishing to curry favor with the Marquis, sent a beautiful woman into his room. This originally was a matter altogether too common. In the end, however, the Marquis flew into a tremendous rage. The beautiful woman fled out of the room in terror, and the following day, that Governor was also dismissed.

After passing through this matter, the people of Zhuo Commandery secretly rumored behind his back that the Marquis did not favor female beauty. He supposedly harbored a fondness for male beauty.

Possessing this warning from the past, the current Governor naturally would not commit the same foolish mistake again.

He welcomed the Marquis, arranged a banquet, and escorted the Marquis to the courier station to lodge. He specifically borrowed a prudent, steady servant woman from his wife to go over and serve his daily needs.

He neither sent beautiful women nor sent male favorites; in this manner, an error could surely not occur.

……

Wei Shao lay down to sleep that night, yet he tossed and turned, finding it difficult to sleep.

Closing his eyes, that scene from two days ago surfaced before his eyes.

Even when recalling it at this moment, he still felt his ears turn hot and his heart pound wildly, his palms breaking out in sweat. His entire person seemed to be seized by a deep sense of shame that was blended with an intense, intoxicating stimulation.

……

Wei Shao admitted that he liked this woman. At times, he even felt he loved her to the very bone, to a degree that verged on being utterly infatuated and entranced.

He was willing to make some concessions for her, if these concessions could win her favor.

For instance, the promise of allowing her to strike him and the like.

However, the Marquis also possessed his own bottom line.

He could not tolerate that on the night of New Year's Day, relying on his kindness toward her, she had actually challenged his bottom line so wantonly.

At that time, he felt both awkward and embarrassed, as well as furious, added together with just a tiny bit of heartache.

Therefore, from that night onward, he had truly made up his mind to thoroughly give her the cold shoulder for a good while.

He had not touched her for an entire month, yet he had gotten through it just the same, and he had passed the time quite decently too.

However, at that moment, she who lay upon the bed was simply too different from her usual awake appearance.

She was drunk to the point of being unconscious of human affairs, her two eyes tightly closed, her eyelashes curled upward, and her face flush red.

When he leaned close to smell her breath, he detected that even within her breath, there was a sweet, intoxicating fragrance.

Wei Shao originally possessed no interest in touching her again. However, he must have also become intoxicated from smelling her breath. He could not control his hands. So he unfastened her garments. A piece of gleaming white, jade-like flesh that he had not seen for an entire month was laid out flat right under his eyelids.

Exceedingly beautiful. He looked until he truly could bear it no longer.

This jade-like body could be enjoyed by him at his pleasure, and she would not even know. What temptation could be greater than this?

Moreover, he was originally her husband, so what was there that could not be done?

Thereupon, the Marquis no longer hesitated. At that time, not only did he gather her into his embrace, but he also knelt before her body, parted her pair of jade-like legs, and performed a private matter that had previously surfaced as a thought in his mind more than once, yet which he had always been too ashamed to do...

……

Wei Shao startled awake abruptly from his slumber, feeling his heart accelerate its beat, and his mouth was moreover parched to an extreme, as if his throat were about to burn up.

Without lighting any lamps or fires, he stepped onto the ground, groped his way to the front of the table, lifted the entire teapot, and poured half a pot of water into his mouth in one breath.

The tea water had already cooled completely. The ice-cold water followed his throat downward, finally suppressing his dry thirst.

He let out a long, deep sigh, placed the teapot back onto the table surface, and was just about to turn over and lie back down when he suddenly caught sight of a faint appearance of firelight outside the window. Stepping over, he pushed it open with one shove, seeing a civilian residence roof not far from the courier station emitting bursts of firelight upward.

A fire had broken out.

Wei Shao immediately exited the room, calling for the courier station master to summon people to suppress the fire.

For a fire to break out in the middle of the night near the residence where the Marquis was lodging caused the courier station master to be greatly alarmed. While calling for people to fight the fire, he simultaneously dispatched someone to notify the Governor.

Receiving the news, the Governor did not even have enough time to put on his clothes properly, immediately mobilizing a large contingent of manpower to rush over urgently.

Fortunately, the fire situation was discovered early, added together with a turn of rain that had just fallen a few days ago. After half a quarter of an hour, the fire was extinguished, yet it still affected several neighboring households.

In the streets and alleys of the deep night, the noisy din continued without interruption, interspersed with the faint sounds of crying and wailing.

The Governor was deeply afraid of offending the Marquis, his face turning the color of earth. Once the fire situation was extinguished, he immediately rushed over to beg for his forgiveness.

Wei Shao had already lost all desire to sleep. He inquired about the fire situation.

In the deep night of early spring, the chill remained biting.

The Governor, however, was covered in sweat all over. Wiping his forehead with his sleeve, he said, "Right in the center of the fire grounds, a woman was burned to death. The neighbors said the woman's husband went out to engage in commerce and has not returned for years. The woman was home alone and enticed a fellow to commit adultery. At dusk, a neighbor had seen the woman inviting the adulterer to stay overnight in her room. For some reason, a great fire actually broke out. Just now in the fire grounds, only that woman's burned corpse was seen; the adulterer has presumably escaped on his own..."

As the Governor spoke, seeing Wei Shao's expression turn dark and gloomy, he trembled with even greater fear, hurriedly adding: "This woman took advantage of her husband's absence from home to entice an adulterer to stay overnight and cause a fire, not only burning down her own house but also affecting her neighbors; she can be considered to have died with deserved ruin. Regarding that adulterer, this lower official has already dispatched people to go forward and apprehend him. Once he is captured, he will surely be severely punished to rectify the social mores..."

Wei Shao stood up, walked to the side of the window, facing the pitch-black night outside the window, his silhouette completely motionless.