The Prisoner of Beauty

The journey from Xindu to Yuyang in the north would take more than half a month. Zhong Ao, who had been sent here earlier by Madam Xu to prepare for the wedding, naturally accompanied the lady on her journey north now that the wedding was completed.

The person escorting the lady north was still Wei Liang.

Wei Liang harbored a deep hatred for the Qiao family. Back when Xiao Qiao's father, Qiao Ping, came to the Wei family to offer condolences, it was Wei Liang who led the charge in drawing his sword in anger at the funeral hall. Naturally, he had no fondness for the current Xiao Qiao either. The first time he saw her, when he learned that his lord was to marry such a woman, he immediately labeled her as a "troublemaker" in his heart. Now, he was being sent to escort her to Yuyang, a task he was reluctant to undertake. However, this mission was assigned to him by Military Advisor Gongsun, and he couldn't refuse. Moreover, he understood in his heart that although this Qiao family woman would surely be disliked by everyone in the future, since the lord had chosen to marry her, she must have some use. Thus, he could only reluctantly agree to this task once again.

Wei Liang prepared the carriages and horses, selected the attendants, and had Xiao Qiao's personal belongings carried out and arranged properly. Then, he waited outside the gates of the Xindu residence.

Xiao Qiao didn't keep anyone waiting for long. By the time she finished packing, the sun had just risen to the height of the rooftops.

She emerged from the bridal chamber at Sheyang House, accompanied by Chun Niang and several maidservants.

Chun Niang had been holding her breath all morning.

If last night's wedding attire was meant to match Xiao Qiao's status as the wife of the lord, leaning towards a dignified and luxurious style that might have seemed a bit too mature for her actual age, then today, while maintaining the necessary grace, the focus was more on highlighting her natural beauty and the elegance that flowed effortlessly in her every movement.

Chun Niang had watched Xiao Qiao grow up, and no one understood her beauty better than Chun Niang.

Chun Niang styled Xiao Qiao's hair in a "Wangxian" bun, with all her long hair piled high on top of her head, adorned with Xiao Qiao's favorite jade hairpin. A hair ornament with a southern pearl the size of a fingernail was placed on the side of her temple, with no other excessive decorations. Her face, in truth, needed little makeup. Too much powder would only mask her natural radiance. Yesterday, Chun Niang had applied heavy makeup to balance the grandeur of the wedding attire. This morning, with a light sweep of green on her brows, a touch of red on her lips, and a faint layer of rosy powder on her cheeks, her face was already radiant enough to captivate.

Chun Niang had long known that the close-fitting, floor-length "quju" robe best showcased Xiao Qiao's increasingly delicate and beautiful figure. She had personally attended to Xiao Qiao's baths and was well aware of the changes in her body. Since Xiao Qiao's first menstruation last year, Chun Niang had watched her transform day by day, her chest blossoming like a flower, exuding a unique texture and beauty that was different from the fullness of a mature woman—something that was hard to describe without seeing it firsthand.

Her young mistress was merely petite in frame, unlike the taller and more robust women of this region. Having just reached the age of fifteen, her body had not yet fully developed. Combined with the six layers of wedding attire she wore last night, her already delicate and well-proportioned figure was completely concealed. It was not, as those gossiping women had whispered this morning, that she was so thin and bony that she failed to please Marquis Wei.

It was your Marquis Wei who missed the chance to find out, wasn't it?Chun Niang couldn't help but silently criticize once again. She had chosen a light pink quju dress for Xiao Qiao, which was wrapped around her body three times and secured with an embroidered belt at the waist. The lower part revealed a soft silver light gauze skirt. After arranging the sleeves, due to the cold and windy weather, she added a soft fur-lined cloak in a heavenly fragrance color. The cloak was simple, with only a branch of blooming plum blossoms embroidered on one side of the hem. If the wind was strong, the hood could be worn for warmth, elegant yet not lacking in richness.

This outfit, mostly in her natural colors, was perfectly balanced from head to toe, neither too simple to degrade the status of the newlywed Lord's Madam, nor too extravagant. As she walked gracefully against the wind, her black hair shimmered like jade, her earrings sparkled like the moon, her skirt swayed, her eyes glistened, and the hairpins at her temples shone brightly. From a distance, she looked like a goddess emerging from the water, so beautiful that it was beyond description. Even the gray, square courtyard, dulled by winter, seemed to be brightened by a touch of early spring. As she walked, the servants she encountered couldn't help but stare, some even forgetting to bow. Even after she had passed, they still gazed at her retreating figure, unable to look away.

Chun Niang finally felt a bit of relief in her heart.

Beyond the next gate lay the main entrance, with a few steps leading down. Fearing that there might still be residual ice on the steps from the previous night's cold, Chun Niang reached out to support Xiao Qiao. As Xiao Qiao slightly lifted her skirt and stepped down, she noticed Chun Niang suddenly stop and gently tug at her sleeve.

Xiao Qiao looked up and saw Wei Shao standing not far ahead on the path, accompanied by a slightly thin, middle-aged man with a three-strand beard. The man had a lean face, bright eyes, and a somewhat sickly appearance, resembling one of Wei Shao's civil officials.

Chun Niang had already inquired and learned that Wei Shao had a trusted advisor named Gongsun Yang, who often accompanied him. Seeing this middle-aged man with him, she guessed it must be him. It seemed they had just passed by and happened to run into them.

Xiao Qiao noticed Wei Shao's eyes scanning her, his expression impassive. She paused slightly, then continued walking as if nothing had happened. As she approached, she smiled and called out, "Husband."

The middle-aged man beside Wei Shao bowed and introduced himself as Gongsun Yang, the Lord's military advisor. He spoke with a smile, his attitude quite respectful.

Xiao Qiao also smiled, nodding slightly to Gongsun Yang in acknowledgment. Then she turned to Wei Shao and said, "I will be leaving now and will no longer be able to serve you. I hope you take good care of yourself." After a slight bow, she turned and walked away without another glance.

Wei Shao seemed momentarily stunned, his brow furrowing slightly as his gaze fixed on her retreating figure.

Although Chun Niang harbored much dissatisfaction with Wei Shao, she dared not show any disrespect on the surface. Seeing that Xiao Qiao had already left, she quickly bowed to Wei Shao and glanced at the man with the surname Gongsun before hurrying after her.

"My Lord, will you not see Madam off out of the city?"As Xiao Qiao's figure gradually faded into the distance, Gongsun Yang advised once more, "In my opinion, my lord, it would be best to escort her out of the city. According to the Zhou rites, marriage is a covenant. Although the current social customs have declined, the marriage and harmony of the lord are still cherished by the people, as it is the principle of human relations. Yesterday was the grand wedding, and today the lady is heading north. While we can attribute this to the urgency of the war, the few steps to escort her out of the city should not be omitted, no matter how busy you are with affairs. If you do not escort her, it may arouse suspicion among the city's populace."

……

Xiao Qiao exited the main gate, where Wei Liang and Zhong Ao came to greet her. She boarded the carriage at the front, and Wei Liang, Zhong Ao, and others took their respective positions. Just as they were about to depart, they suddenly saw Wei Shao emerge and hurried to welcome him.

"Prepare the horse. I will escort her out of the city."

Xiao Qiao had already settled in the carriage when she suddenly heard Wei Shao's voice from behind. Out of curiosity, she couldn't help but lift the curtain and glance back. She saw him standing on the steps of the main gate, waiting for someone to bring his horse. His profile was turned towards her, seemingly lost in thought. Suddenly, as if sensing the peeking gaze from behind, he turned his face, his eyes falling on Xiao Qiao's carriage.

Xiao Qiao immediately shrank back and "snapped" the curtain shut.

……

The carriage and horses set off onto the main street.

At this hour, the streets were gradually filling with people. Passersby noticed a procession of carriages and horses coming from the direction of the Xingu Palace, with a large carriage in the middle, surrounded by attendants and guards, and Wei Shao riding alongside. Slowly, they began to gather, calling out to him as "Lord." After crossing one street, the crowd grew larger, and soon, somehow, the news spread that the person sitting in the large carriage in the middle was the newlywed Madam of the Marquis. Due to the urgency of the war, the lord had to send her north the day after their wedding. Though reluctant to part, he had no choice but to personally escort her out of the city. The emotions of the people gradually stirred, and some began to loudly offer their respects to the unseen lady in the carriage, with others following suit.

Sitting in the carriage, Xiao Qiao could hear the passersby outside addressing her with respectful words, and some even wished her a safe and smooth journey.

In this era, although Confucian teachings of male superiority and the discouragement of women remarrying were beginning to be promoted by those in power, the social customs were still much more open compared to later times, and there were no strict restrictions on noblewomen appearing in public. In Yanzhou, when Xiao Qiao's mother was still alive, she would take both Xiao Qiao and her sister to the Flower Goddess Temple every March to participate in the Shangsi Festival, which was considered one of the important holidays. On those warm and sunny days, they would ride in open carriages, accepting the greetings of the local people along the way, sharing joy with the populace. Hearing the growing clamor outside, Xiao Qiao called for Chun Niang to roll up the curtains on both sides, and she herself smiled and nodded in acknowledgment to the people on either side of the road.

The city's residents naturally knew nothing of the past between the Wei and Qiao families. Since Wei Shao was well-loved by the people, they naturally held the same goodwill towards his newlywed wife. Moved by the couple's separation the day after their wedding, they accompanied the procession all the way. When she finally revealed her face to return their greetings, sitting gracefully in the center of the carriage, her demeanor elegant and her smile as gentle as a breeze passing through a peach and plum orchard, she seemed approachable and amiable. As her gaze swept over them, everyone felt as though the Madam of the Marquis was personally acknowledging them, and they erupted in cheers and excitement. Regardless of gender, they chased after the carriage, the crowd growing larger and larger, all gathering along the sides of the road just to catch another glimpse of her.Xiao Qiao initially showed her face to the crowd and smiled as a gesture of goodwill, fulfilling her duty as the Lord's wife. However, she hadn't anticipated that it would attract so many people who followed her along the way. Seeing that more and more people were running in her direction from afar, she feared that it might lead to a stampede. She waved her hand to the nearby crowd, signaling that there was no need to accompany her further, and then she lowered the carriage curtain.