The Prisoner of Beauty

The next day, Wei Shao turned into a limp noodle.

In the morning, Gongsun Yang, Li Chong, Zhang Jian, and Wei Liang came by one after another.

At first, Xiao Qiao felt a bit embarrassed, suspecting that they might have overheard the sounds from the previous night. Fortunately, they all seemed no different than usual: Gongsun Yang wore a smile, his demeanor warm yet respectful. Li Chong, Zhang Jian, and Wei Liang, all cut from the same cloth as their "Lord" Wei Shao, maintained their usual serious expressions, addressing her as "Madam" without a sideways glance and exchanging a few polite words. Everything appeared normal.

Gradually, Xiao Qiao began to relax.

While they were present, Wei Shao sat up straight, full of energy, chatting and laughing with ease.

But as soon as they left, he slumped weakly onto Xiao Qiao, looking like he had overindulged and was now utterly drained.

Panicked, Xiao Qiao quickly helped him lie down.

Once he was lying down, Wei Shao clung to her and wouldn’t let go.

Xiao Qiao struggled to push his hands away and scolded him sternly, saying, "You’re still recovering from your illness and need to rest. I came here to take care of you and help you get better. If you keep this up, I’ll leave!"

Wei Shao had indeed been full of vigor the previous night, but now, half of his limpness was to tease her, and half was because he genuinely felt a bit weak today.

He, too, was eager to recover quickly and understood the principle of not overexerting oneself while ill. Moreover, before Gongsun Yang left that night, he had subtly reminded him out of concern.

But last night, upon seeing her, he had been unable to control himself. Now, being scolded by her with a stern face didn’t upset him; instead, it made him feel incredibly comfortable. However, fearing he might truly anger her, he stopped teasing and nodded in agreement.

Finally, he settled down. Seeing the dark circles under his eyes, Xiao Qiao felt a pang of guilt for how much he had exerted himself the previous night and redoubled her efforts to care for him.

Over the next few days, Wei Shao either leisurely read military books or rested, watching her by his side, tending to him with care, handing him water and medicine. He suddenly felt that if she could always accompany him like this, even if they did nothing, time would be very, very good.

Young and strong, he took his medicine on time, restrained himself from further intimacy, and with a cheerful mood, he gradually recovered after a few more days of rest.

However, this was still a military camp. As Wei Shao was nearly fully recovered, Xiao Qiao couldn’t stay much longer. Coincidentally, that day, the Meteor Swift Horse reported that Feng Zhao’s troops were making unusual movements, gathering as if heading toward Xihe.

The atmosphere in the camp immediately grew tense.

That same day, Wei Shao personally escorted Xiao Qiao out of the camp, accompanying her for nearly a hundred li. Only after Xiao Qiao repeatedly urged him to stop did Wei Shao finally halt his horse by the roadside, watching her carriage gradually disappear into the distance. When it was completely out of sight, he turned and galloped back.

Xiao Qiao, under the escort of Jia Si, safely returned to Jinyang.

Jinyang city remained peaceful as ever. The streets were bustling with people and carriages, showing no sign of the impending war clouds over Xihe.

But Jia Si didn’t dare relax for a moment. Following Wei Shao’s orders, he was solely responsible for Madam’s safety. He stationed five hundred soldiers around the government office, organizing shifts for patrols and maintaining strict security day and night.

Exhausted from the journey, Xiao Qiao retired early that night.

The next day, she woke up naturally. Shortly after rising, the steward came to report that someone had arrived outside, claiming to be a relative of the Qiang boy Xiao Qiao had bought at the market that day. The person had come to request an audience, hoping to take the boy back.Xiao Qiao was somewhat surprised. After a moment of thought, she instructed the steward to let the visitor in and wait in the outer hall. She also sent someone to fetch the young Qiang boy named Yuan.

Yuan was quickly brought before Xiao Qiao.

His injuries had completely healed. Over the past few days, the steward, noticing that the lady seemed to take special care of the boy, had not assigned him any tasks.

Yuan bowed respectfully to Xiao Qiao.

Xiao Qiao smiled and said, "The steward just mentioned that one of your clansmen has come to take you away. I’ll take you to see if you recognize him."

Yuan showed a hint of excitement and hurriedly followed Xiao Qiao to the outer hall. When he saw the young man waiting there, he paused briefly, a look of mild surprise in his eyes.

……

Diao Mo had been waiting for a long time when he finally heard footsteps approaching. He looked up and saw a middle-aged maidservant enter and stand still, followed by a maid with an air of elegance. Then, the boy Yuan appeared from behind the door, accompanied by a woman.

The woman was very young, only about fifteen or sixteen years old, but she was dressed as a married woman, wearing a luxurious purple robe. Her beauty was striking. In a fleeting moment, her bright eyes met his, and Diao Mo felt as if a dazzling light had fallen upon him, momentarily stunned.

Although the woman who had bought the Qiang slave at the market that day had never shown her face, based on her height, figure, and the vague impression of her features behind the thin veil, Diao Mo immediately knew that this beautiful young woman before him, who was likely the wife of Wei Shao, was the same woman from that day.

He quickly composed himself and turned his gaze to the boy Yuan, who had followed the woman. Seeing Yuan standing there, looking at him with surprise, Diao Mo smiled and nodded at him. Then he turned to the young woman and said respectfully, "Madam, I offer you my respects. My name is Bolian, and I am his uncle. Several years ago, I moved from Huangzhong to Jinyang and have been making a living as a merchant. That day at the market, I happened to be there and vaguely recognized him as my nephew. However, having been separated for several years, I was hesitant to confirm it at the time. By the time I finally did, he had already been bought by you, Madam. It would have been a blessing for him to have a kind and generous mistress like you. But after much consideration, I thought of his grandfather at home, who relies on him for support. If he were to remain a slave, how would his grandfather survive? So I couldn’t let it go and eventually found my way here. I am willing to pay ten times the price you paid for him to redeem him. I humbly ask for your mercy, Madam, to allow me to take him back and reunite him with his grandfather."

As he spoke, he took out a money pouch and respectfully presented it.

While the man was speaking, Xiao Qiao was also observing him. He appeared to be a few years older than Wei Shao, dressed in ordinary Han clothing, with his hair tied up in a topknot like a Han man, wrapped in a blue headband. He spoke fluent Han language, his eyes were sharp, and there was a hint of heroism in his demeanor. He didn’t seem like a typical merchant.

After he finished speaking, Xiao Qiao looked at the boy Yuan and smiled, "Is he your uncle? If so, and if you are willing to go with him, you may leave now."

Yuan looked at Diao Mo, hesitated for a moment, but remained silent.

Diao Mo turned to Xiao Qiao and said, "Madam, may I have a few words with him?"Xiao Qiao nodded. Diao Mo expressed his gratitude and led Yuan outside. Seeing no one around, he patted Yuan on the shoulder with a smile and spoke in Qiang language, "Don’t you recognize me? Two years ago, on your grandfather’s sixtieth birthday, I specially came to congratulate him. You were sitting right next to me at the time."

Yuan had actually recognized him at first glance and now said, "Leader Diao Mo, how did you know I was here?"

Diao Mo replied, "I brought a few followers to Jinyang for some business. That day, I ran into you at the market. At first, I didn’t recognize you. Later, when I did, you had already been bought by Madam. So I came looking for you. You don’t know this, but two months ago, I visited Clan Leader Yuan Wang and found out that you had been missing for several months. The clan leader was so anxious that he fell ill and sent people everywhere to search for you, but to no avail. I never expected you to end up here. That’s why I came to take you back."

Yuan had initially been hesitant, but upon hearing that his grandfather had fallen ill due to his disappearance, he grew anxious. He glanced back at Xiao Qiao in the inner hall and said, "This Madam has a very kind heart. On the day she bought me, she let go of those who wanted to leave. She also told me I could leave whenever I wished. A few days ago, she wasn’t here, so I couldn’t just leave on my own. I was planning to ask her to let me go when she returned. Leader Diao Mo, will you really take me back to Huangzhong?"

Diao Mo gazed at the young man and smiled slightly, "Although the Shaodang and Beihe tribes live separately, we are both Qiang people, descendants of our ancestor Wuyi Yuanjian. Given my friendship with the old clan leader, how could I stand by and do nothing after running into you?"

Yuan no longer hesitated and said, "Thank you, Leader! I’ll go and plead with Madam to let me go."

……

After waiting for a moment, Xiao Qiao saw Yuan and the man enter together. Yuan’s eyes were slightly red, and she guessed that he was willing to leave with this man. Without waiting for him to speak, she said, "You may go. Be careful on the road." She then ordered the Qiang woman who had been with him that day to be called out to leave with him.

Yuan followed Diao Mo away. Before leaving, he kept looking back at Xiao Qiao with a look of admiration and affection.

Diao Mo solemnly thanked Xiao Qiao and once again offered her a money pouch.

Xiao Qiao instructed Chun Niang to accept it, took the amount she had spent to buy Yuan and the Qiang woman, and returned the rest, saying, "I hope you can return him to his family soon."

Diao Mo looked at Xiao Qiao for a moment, then bowed deeply to her and said, "I will remember your words, Madam. Please rest assured."

After saying this, he took one last look at her and led Yuan and the Qiang woman away.

……

Xiao Qiao had actually noticed that Yuan didn’t seem to be an ordinary Qiang youth. She guessed he came from a good background. But since he didn’t volunteer his origins, she didn’t ask further.

The reason she had taken special care of him was entirely because of the familiar, brotherly feeling he had given her when he protected the Qiang woman, reminiscent of her younger brother Qiao Ci.

As for the man who took him away, though he spoke little, Xiao Qiao also felt that he must have a different background and wasn’t truly a merchant living in Jinyang as he claimed.

But it was clear that the two of them had known each other before. Since Yuan was willing to leave with him, she naturally wouldn’t stop him.

Xiao Qiao quickly put the matter out of her mind.

She was somewhat concerned about Wei Shao.Although Jinyang appeared peaceful, Xiao Qiao knew that Wei Shao's situation was likely on the brink of war. Moreover, the involvement of Feng Zhao from Liangzhou and various Qiang tribes in the middle regions created a complex and intertwined situation with multiple forces at play. Although Wei Shao had left a contingent of troops stationed in Jinyang, it was likely a mixed bag of individuals. To avoid any unnecessary incidents, Xiao Qiao had not stepped outside since her return, spending her days quietly in the inner residence.

Unexpectedly, a few days later, in the afternoon, the steward hurriedly came to report that the Qiang woman who had left a few days ago had returned, kneeling and pleading as if she wanted to see the lady of the house, as if something had gone wrong.

Xiao Qiao was surprised and immediately instructed the steward to bring the Qiang woman in.

Knowing that the Qiang woman did not speak Han Chinese, the steward summoned a servant who could interpret.

The Qiang woman waited anxiously, and as soon as she saw Xiao Qiao, she knelt down in front of her and quickly spoke a string of words.

The servant hurriedly translated for Xiao Qiao.

The Qiang woman's name was Xia Gu, and she was not the biological sister of the Qiang youth but his maid. Having served him since childhood, they were close, and he always called her "elder sister." The youth, Yuan, was no ordinary Qiang either; he was the grandson of Yuan Wang, the chief of the Beihe Qiang tribe by the Huangshui River. Half a year ago, Xia Gu and Yuan were returning home when they were unexpectedly separated from their entourage and targeted by a group that specialized in kidnapping Qiang people to sell as slaves.

Xia Gu said that Yuan knew the Han people harbored hatred towards the Qiang and feared that revealing his identity would bring harm to his grandfather and tribe. Therefore, he had kept it hidden, hoping to find an opportunity to escape secretly. This was how they ended up in Jinyang.

The man who had come that day, Bolian, was the leader of the Shaodang Qiang, who revered him as Diao Mo, meaning "peerlessly brave."

The Shaodang and Beihe tribes had always maintained close relations, and Diao Mo had a significant connection with Yuan's grandfather, Yuan Wang. That day, when Diao Mo appeared and told Yuan that the old chief had fallen ill from missing him, Yuan was heartbroken and believed him, thinking he would truly take him home. However, Diao Mo had secretly colluded with some unknown Han people. The Han wanted to kill Yuan, but Diao Mo stopped them, leading to a conflict. Eventually, the Han temporarily backed down, but Diao Mo did not take Yuan back to Huangshui. Instead, he headed towards the Shangjun area.

Xia Gu knew Yuan was in grave danger and that Diao Mo did not truly intend to take him back. So, when they stopped for the night, she seduced one of Diao Mo's guards and escaped, returning here to plead for Xiao Qiao's help.

Xia Gu kept kowtowing to Xiao Qiao, weeping bitterly.

Xiao Qiao was utterly shocked.

She had guessed that Yuan's background was not ordinary, but she had never imagined he was the grandson of the Beihe tribe's chief.

Immediately, she recalled another matter related to the Beihe tribe.

Just the day before Wei Shao sent her back to Jinyang, Gongsun Yang had left the military camp.

Wei Shao had not said much to her at the time. Only that night, when they were lying together, Xiao Qiao, out of concern, asked a few questions about the current war situation. Wei Shao casually mentioned that Gongsun Yang had gone to Huangshui that day with the aim of conveying a message of appeasement to bring the Qiang people under their control.

And the target of Gongsun Yang's mission was the Beihe Qiang.Xiao Qiao helped Xia Gu to her feet and inquired about the places Diao Mo had passed through. Upon learning that he had only about a dozen men with him, including those Han Chinese, she pondered for a moment. She then summoned Jia Si and instructed him to take some men and follow Xia Gu to pursue Diao Mo, ensuring that Yuan was rescued at all costs.