The Prisoner of Beauty - Chapter 99

Chapter 99

At first, Wei Shao still carried Xiao Qiao forward in his grip. Seeing that she refused to cooperate, pounding her fists against his body until it made thumping sounds, he let that slide; but her feet were also digging in with all her might, refusing to move forward. Gradually growing impatient, he simply tucked her horizontally under his arm, completely disregarding how she struggled and thrashed, and strode out the door. Once they reached the carriage, under the wide, staring eyes of Jia Si, he threw her inside all at once and shut the door with a loud bang.

The carriage was lined with thick pelts and fur cushions. When Xiao Qiao was thrown down like that, she rolled over, and though it did not particularly hurt, she felt thoroughly disheveled. By the time she sat up and caught her breath, she discovered that one of her shoes had been lost somewhere, leaving one foot bare.

Suddenly the door opened again. Wei Shao showed his face once more, flung a shoe inside with a whoosh, and closed the door again with another bang.

Xiao Qiao heard him exchange a couple of low words with Jia Si, and then the carriage started moving, heading forward. After traveling at a steady pace for a stretch of road, Xiao Qiao heard voices outside, appearing as though they had reached the western city gate. Pulling herself up, she parted the small viewing window to take a look, seeing two city guards opening the city gates amidst the light of torches.

Once the carriage cleared the city gates, its speed became faster and faster, completely leaving behind the pitch-black wilderness on both sides of the postal road and the city of Yuyang behind them.

They traveled through the night, and remained on the road throughout the following day, only stopping briefly at a courier station to take a minor rest before continuing their journey. It was not until another deep night arrived that they reached Zhuo Commandery and finally halted, saying they would spend the night here.

Xiao Qiao felt truly indignant in her heart. To be handled like a toy, hauled out of bed in the dead of night whenever he felt like it, thrown into a carriage, and carried away. She could only resent that she possessed absolutely no voice before him. Now that her person was already inside the carriage and they had traveled such a long distance, what else could she do? Throwing a tantrum further would merely be bringing humiliation upon herself. Her mood was low, and added to the fact that she had ridden in the carriage for so long with virtually no pause in between, she felt somewhat dizzy the moment she stepped down. It was also deep in the night, the surroundings pitch black and completely silent, as she followed Wei Shao into the courier station.

Zhuo Commandery was a major commandery, and the conditions of its courier station were excellent. Not only was the room attached to a bathhouse, but when the station master learned that the Marquis had doubled back and actually brought the Young Mistress along to lodge tonight, he immediately switched in a brand-new, large fragrant-wood bath barrel and filled it with hot water for the Marquis and his wife to dissolve their exhaustion and relieve their fatigue.

For two consecutive days and nights, Xiao Qiao had spent nearly all her time inside the carriage. The early spring weather in the north was dry and cold, and the dust on the roads flew everywhere. Although the carriage was enclosed, it was inevitable that dust would find its way into the inner compartment. Xiao Qiao felt thoroughly covered in grime and soot. Seeing a large barrel of hot water available for a wash could be considered the sole comforting matter on the road over these past two days. Thereupon, she shed her garments and entered the bath barrel.

Before a moment had passed, a silhouette flickered at the entrance of the bathhouse, and Wei Shao followed her inside. Removing the garments on his body in a couple of swift motions, he stepped into the bath barrel with one stride, sitting directly opposite her.

The moment his physique entered the water, the water splattered and overflowed outward along the rim of the barrel. Furthermore, the inside instantly became cramped.

Xiao Qiao felt a hairy leg touch her own calf beneath the water, so she drew her legs back, pressing them close to her chest and abdomen, and lowered her head to speed up her washing, wanting to hurry out and yield the space to him.

Whether he was being unintentional or doing it on purpose, that hairy leg actually extended over again beneath the water. This time, it pressed against the skin of her thigh.

Xiao Qiao raised her head, looking toward Wei Shao opposite her.

His shoulders moved, parting the water as he leaned somewhat closer toward her. Raising a dripping wet hand, he slowly cupped her chin and said in a low voice, "If you behave and be obedient, I shall naturally treat you well too."

This was the first sentence he had spoken to her over these past two days since she was thrown into the carriage by him in the dead of night.

Xiao Qiao locked eyes with him for a brief moment, the corners of her lips slowly curving into a slight smile as she said, "I understand. Does my husband have any other instructions?"

Wei Shao's gaze gradually traveled downward from her mist-filled eyes, passing over her lips, jade-like neck, and fragrant shoulders, before finally landing upon the half of her bosom whose increasingly full contours were outlined by the water's surface. His throat bobbed up and down, yet he did not speak.

Xiao Qiao waited for a brief moment, then turned her head to slip free from his hand. Grabbing the edge of the bath barrel, she climbed out of the water on her own, swiftly covering her body with her garments as she exited the bathhouse.

Once she finished tidying herself, she lay down upon the bed. A good while passed before Wei Shao emerged, his face looking somewhat sour.

That night, the two of them slept in the same bed. He behaved exactly like the time they were giving each other the cold shoulder at home previously, not touching her.

The next morning, when Xiao Qiao woke up, unfamiliar maids entered holding a full set of brocade robes and formal ceremonial skirts to serve her in washing up and dressing.

After having her clothes in disarray for two days, Xiao Qiao was finally able to dress fully today; she supposed she had to thank Wei Shao for his great grace and virtue.

Once she finished combing her hair and washing up, the servants carried in a dining table. Wei Shao entered right after it.

He did not speak, and she did not speak either. The two of them sat opposite each other, staring with wide eyes as they ate a meal of breakfast.

After the dining table was carried away, Wei Shao finally spoke: "I shall set out first today to head for Jinyang. You stay behind in the courier station for now, and wait until Chun Niang arrives before you hit the road. There is no need to rush; just come over slowly. I will have Jia Si lead five hundred soldiers to escort you."

Xiao Qiao said, "Thank you for my husband's thoughtful arrangements."

Seeing that she had not even raised her eyes to look at him, and thinking of the scene last night where she refused to bathe with him, Wei Shao stood up abruptly. Just as he was about to storm off, he ultimately restrained himself, turning his head to add, "It is not that I do not wish to travel with you. Rather, something has come up over in Jinyang that requires my presence. I also do not wish for you to suffer too much hardship from rushing the journey, which is why I am leaving General Jia of the Huben guards to lead five hundred elite troops to escort you over. Do not worry, the journey will surely be without mishap."

Xiao Qiao said, "Official business takes priority. My husband may go ahead without concern."

Wei Shao suppressed the roiling indignation in his chest, turned his head, and departed.

……

Wei Shao indeed left Zhuo Commandery in the morning, leaving Xiao Qiao behind at the courier station. The Governor's wife came to visit Xiao Qiao during the day, keeping her company and serving her. By evening, Chun Niang and two maids arrived in a carriage, finally catching up from behind to join Xiao Qiao. After spending another night in the courier station, on the following day, Xiao Qiao switched to riding in a comfortable large carriage whose inner compartment could easily accommodate ten or so people. Under the escort of Jia Si and five hundred soldiers, she took to the road toward Jinyang.

The vast region extending from You Province to Jinyang currently fell under Wei Shao's jurisdiction, so their journey was entirely smooth and unimpeded. Passing through Dai Commandery, entering Pingcheng, and crossing Yanmen Commandery, they reached Bing Province. Xiao Qiao did not rush on the road either; they traveled by day and lodged when darkness fell. Moving along at this leisurely pace, they traveled for roughly twenty-five or twenty-six days. By the time it reached the beginning of the third lunar month, they finally drew near the city of Jinyang.

On the day Xiao Qiao arrived at the ancient city of Jinyang, the weather was excellent. The wind blowing against her face already carried a hint of spring.

Although she had traveled at a leisurely pace throughout this journey, she had nonetheless been on the road every single day, which inevitably entailed jolts and bumps. After nearly a month, her person had long since felt fatigued, and she gradually wished they would arrive sooner rather than later.

Today they were finally going to enter the city. Sitting together with Chun Niang inside the carriage compartment, she pushed open the viewing window to gaze out at the fields outside the window that were bursting with new green. Her mood gradually grew somewhat cheerful as they smoothly crossed the moat and passed through the city gates.

The carriage traversed the orderly streets and marketplaces, delivering her to the front of a residence with strictly guarded gates located directly north of the city walls, where it came to a halt.

This place was the Jinyang government office, the residence where Wei Shao resided and governed after coming over.

A steward had already learned that the Young Mistress would arrive today, and had brought the servants to wait outside the gates early on. Seeing a beautiful young woman step down from the carriage and knowing her to be the Madame of the Marquis of Yan, he welcomed and escorted her inside.

Upon entering, Xiao Qiao learned that Wei Shao was not in the city of Jinyang; he had gone to Xihe County.

"The Marquis left the city five or six days ago. Presumably within these next two days, he should be returning soon."

Fearing she might be disappointed upon seeing that the Marquis was absent just as the Young Mistress arrived, the steward specially offered an explanation.

Xiao Qiao nodded with a smile. Throughout that day, she kept busy settling her luggage. After night fell, she took a bath and went to rest early. Sleeping through the night, she woke up naturally the next day, feeling clear-headed and refreshed, the fatigue from the entire journey completely wiped out.

With Wei Shao away and Xiao Qiao being a newcomer, she had nothing much to do. For the first few days, she ate and slept, slept and ate, strolled around the estate, or spent time in a daze, and a day's time would pass just like that.

After two days had passed, Chun Niang mentioned that when they entered the city that day, she had seen a shop by the street displaying lambskins for sale that looked quite good. At that time, she had thought that buying a few pelts to make winter kneepads would be excellent. Afraid that they might be packed away as the weather grew warmer, she wished to take the opportunity today to go over and make a selection.

Xiao Qiao had nothing to do anyway, so she changed into ordinary garments, put on a veiled hat, and stepped out the door together with Chun Niang.

Knowing that the area the Young Mistress wished to visit in the south of the city was a densely populated area for commoners, the steward feared any mishaps and personally led the way to escort them.

Xiao Qiao rode in the carriage to head out, and after gradually drawing near the marketplace, she stepped down to walk on foot. Strolling along slowly, she found the stall selling lambskins that Chun Niang had spotted that day. They picked out four or five pelts, paid the money, and collected them, then continued to stroll back slowly, buying some miscellaneous items along the way. Just as they were preparing to leave, she suddenly saw a large crowd gathered by the side of the marketplace road. A middle-aged fellow was beating a bronze gong while shouting loudly to solicit customers. It turned out to be a stall for selling slaves. Among those being sold were both men and women. The men had disheveled hair and the women had their hair tied in awl-shaped buns; all of them were Qiang people abducted from who-knows-where. Every single one of them was unkempt and grimy, their hands bound securely. The clothes on their bodies were tattered, and several of the women were practically exposed, revealing chests and abdomens covered in grey-black streaks of grime. They were stared and pointed at by the surrounding passersby, whose gazes were filled entirely with lewdness. Yet those few Qiang women had blank expressions, resembling clay dolls or wooden carvings, without the slightest bit of reaction.

Jinyang served as the administrative seat of Taiyuan Commandery. It had anciently been the capital city of the State of Zhao, and alongside Fanyang, Yuyang, and Xindu, it was one of the renowned northern metropolises. Aside from Han people, the residents also included a mixed population of Qiang and Hu people whose ancestors had submitted to the Han court.

Since ancient times, the Qiang people were capable of enduring hardships and tolerating toil. Even when women gave birth to children, they did not avoid the wind and snow; their disposition was steadfast and fierce. They regarded dying in battle as auspicious and passing away from illness as ominous, making them a brave and vigorous ethnic group. It was only that over this past century, conflicts with the Han court had been continuous. Now, these Qiang and Hu people who had already submitted possessed low social status, mostly falling to the level of slave households or dependent households. Especially previously, during the several decades when Chen Xiang occupied Bing Province, they were either forcibly dispatched for military campaigns or subjected to widespread plundering, leaving their situation wretched.

Seeing the Young Mistress's footsteps slow down, the steward hurriedly moved to block her view, not wishing for Xiao Qiao to look, saying, "These are all low and cheap Qiang and Hu. They must have offended their master to be sent to the marketplace for public sale. The Young Mistress should not look, lest it defile your eyes."

Xiao Qiao asked, "Do they always openly call out and sell Qiang slaves in the marketplace like this here?"

The steward said, "It has always been thus; it is an established custom."

Xiao Qiao furrowed her brow, cast another glance at those few sparsely clad Qiang women, and after a moment's hesitation, ultimately turned to depart. Having just walked a few steps, she suddenly heard a burst of commotion behind her, seeing a Qiang youth of about ten or so years old scramble up from the ground. He rushed forward and fiercely bit the wrist of a man who had made a move to step up as if to buy, but had actually reached out his hand to pinch a young Qiang woman's breast. He bit down dead-tight, refusing to let go.

The man yowled in pain, howling loudly, until they were finally separated, his wrist already bleeding. The middle-aged man calling out the sales flew into a tremendous rage, ordering people to pounce on the youth and pin him to the ground. He drew out his whip, cursing loudly while lashing down mercilessly upon the youth's head and face without interruption.

That youth was exceedingly stubborn, his eyes shooting fires of fury, shouting out at the top of his lungs in rather unpolished Han speech, "We have no master! My elder sister and I were herding sheep on the mountain behind our house when we were captured by this bad man..."

The middle-aged man was furious. He stopped lashing his whip, stepped forward, and delivered a heavy kick straight to the youth's head, cursing through gritted teeth, "Vile slave! Dare you spout nonsense again!"

The youth's head broke and bled, his head pinned firmly to the ground by that man's boot, yet his torso still kept twisting and struggling non-stop. To the side, that young Qiang woman who had originally possessed a wooden expression suddenly broke into loud wailing and rushed over as well, kneeling on the ground and incessantly kowtowing to that middle-aged man to beg for mercy.

More and more people gathered around. Among them was a party of four or five people, all dressed in the ordinary attire of local residents. In their midst was a young man of about twenty-five or twenty-six years of age, his brow carrying an aura of heroism, his gaze bright. Looking upon this scene, the gloom within the depths of his eyes gradually grew heavy.

Several of his attendants near him had long since become unable to contain their fury.

Among the followers, Jiang Meng possessed the most violent temper. The blue veins on his forehead bulged, and he said through gritted teeth, "The Han people actually bully our clansmen to this extent!" He fiercely clenched his fist, just about to go forward, but was restrained by that young man, halting his steps.