The Prisoner of Beauty

The Southern Palace's Xuan Chamber.

During the prosperous era of the Han dynasty, this palace, not far from the Taiji Hall, served as the daily residence and administrative quarters for several generations of emperors after court sessions.

Later, the profligate Emperor Huang squandered vast sums, spending over a decade constructing the Northern Palace. Once completed, its extravagance and luxury far surpassed that of the Southern Palace.

From Emperor Huang onward, the daily court affairs and living activities of Han emperors shifted to the Northern Palace.

The Southern Palace gradually fell into disuse, and the Xuan Chamber was repurposed as the Office of the Grand Ceremonial.

After Wei Shao occupied Luoyang, he restored the Xuan Chamber as his temporary residence.

Xiao Qiao knew that in the days since returning from Yanzhou, Wei Shao had been exceedingly busy.

Le Zheng Gong's northern campaign had ended in failure. On his way back to Hanzhong, he coughed up blood, his spirit and vitality withered, until his old injuries flared up again, leading to his sudden demise not long after.

Hanzhong was draped in mourning white. Once the funeral rites concluded, his eldest son, Le Zheng Kai, declared himself emperor, establishing the Great Liang dynasty. He posthumously honored Le Zheng Gong as the founding emperor and issued a proclamation vehemently denouncing Wei Shao, vowing to avenge the first emperor of Great Liang.

Le Zheng Gong had spent generations consolidating power in Hanzhong, with Liangzhou as his stronghold. From west of the Hangu Pass, he controlled vast territories including Qinzhou, Jingzhou, and Yizhou, commanding numerous troops and skilled generals. The natural barriers of Mount Hua and the Shu roads further fortified his position. Though he was now dead, his sons were no mediocrities. Seizing the momentum, they declared themselves emperors, amassed armies, and showed every sign of preparing for a decisive battle against Wei Shao.

Xiao Qiao waited for a long time by the corridor outside the Xuan Chamber.

A faint discomfort of engorged milk swelled in her chest once more.

It was another reminder that her daughter, Fei Fei, was still at home, waiting for her return.

At last, footsteps echoed.

She saw Li Dian, Wei Quan, and others emerge swiftly from within, their expressions urgent.

Upon noticing Xiao Qiao, they paused briefly in surprise before approaching to greet her.

Li Dian said, "When did My Lady arrive in Luoyang?"

"Just today."

Xiao Qiao glanced at the red palace gate ahead. "Is the Lord inside?"

"He is."

Xiao Qiao nodded slightly and stepped inside.

...

Gongsun Yang was the last to leave with Wei Shao. Remembering something, he said to Wei Shao, "My mentor had already returned to the mountains, but upon hearing of the epidemic in the south, he journeyed there. Passing near Luoyang, he learned of the posted notices seeking physicians and thus entered the city. General Wei is now out of danger, and my mentor departed early this morning. I tried in vain to persuade him to stay..."

Wei Shao stepped over the threshold and suddenly saw Xiao Qiao approaching from the opposite side. His footsteps halted, his gaze settling on her for a moment before his expression darkened.

Gongsun Yang looked up and hurried forward. "My Lady, the journey must have been arduous. Since you've only just arrived in Luoyang today, why not rest first?"

Xiao Qiao ascended the steps and stopped before the two men, smiling faintly. "Thank you, Military Advisor, for sending someone to escort me here. I am not tired."

Her gaze shifted to Wei Shao. "Husband, might you spare a moment?"

Wei Shao replied coldly, "Why did you come here instead of returning to Yuyang?"

Xiao Qiao said, "I have something to discuss with you."

Wei Shao turned to leave.

Xiao Qiao reached out and grasped his sleeve.

Wei Shao looked down at her pale, delicate fingers clutching his sleeve, then raised his eyes to glare at her, irritation flashing across his face.

Yet those small hands refused to let go.

"Just a brief moment. It won’t delay your affairs," she said, her voice soft but firm.

Gongsun Yang swallowed hard and quickly averted his gaze. "My Lord, perhaps you might hear what My Lady has to say. I shall take my leave..."

He bowed hastily to both and retreated.

Wei Shao stood rigidly by the threshold, unmoving.The surroundings were empty and silent. Only the towering fragrant tree in front of the hall, its canopy shading the path, rustled softly as a gust of wind passed through.

Xiao Qiao slowly released her grip.

"I just visited General Wei Liang. My younger brother accompanied me to offer our father's apologies to the general."

Wei Shao's gaze fell upon the fragrant tree beside the path in front of the hall.

Xiao Qiao studied his stony expression: "Fortunately, General Wei did not take offense. Before leaving, I asked if he would consider taking my younger brother under his wing for training. To my gratitude, he agreed. However, without your approval, he dared not make the decision himself."

Wei Shao abruptly turned his head.

"And you thought you could decide this on your own?" His tone was heavy.

"That's why I came to inform you, my husband," Xiao Qiao replied. "I meant nothing else by it. Now that the family matters have passed, there won't be much to attend to in the coming days. My brother is young and shouldn't waste his time. Given our family's debt to General Wei, it's only right for him to serve the general, whether holding horses or assisting in any way."

Wei Shao stared at her.

Xiao Qiao met his gaze: "Naturally, whether he stays or not, and for how long, will all be decided by your will."

Wei Shao remained silent for a moment, then suddenly strode forward, his sleeves billowing as he swiftly descended the steps, stopping beneath the fragrant tree.

Xiao Qiao followed and halted opposite him, blocking his path.

Wei Shao finally stopped: "What more do you want?" His voice was demanding and impatient.

He stood a head taller than her. Facing each other, Xiao Qiao tilted her face slightly upward, studying his expression.

"I know you resent my Qiao family for repeatedly breaking promises, and you despise me for feigning affection while secretly guarding against you—married in name but not in heart. Earlier, I said I wanted to speak my mind, so whether you listen or not, I must say it."

"Long ago, I began having a recurring nightmare. In it, the Qiao and Wei families formed an alliance through marriage, with my family sending a daughter to be your wife. Yet, this did not resolve the enmity between our families. You sought revenge, and in the end, none of my family survived—some directly by your hand, others indirectly because of you."

She closed her eyes briefly before opening them again.

"It was with this nightmare, as vivid as a past life, that I married you. After our wedding, I tread carefully, afraid to make even a single misstep. Gradually, the ice between us began to thaw. Yet, no matter how kind you were to me, your words and actions always weighed heavily on me, as if the life, death, fortune, and misfortune of my family rested entirely on your whims—not to mention that inescapable prophetic dream."

"Under such circumstances, I wished for my family to grow stronger. Not to oppose you, but so that if the day ever came when the bond between us could no longer maintain this fragile peace, they might at least protect themselves. Even if it were as futile as a mantis trying to stop a chariot, it would be better than sitting idle, waiting for doom, as in my dream."

Wei Shao had initially avoided looking at her.

Slowly, his gaze fixed on her face.

He stared at her, his eyes dark and his brows furrowed.

"All I seek is peace of mind," she said quietly."Our relationship has come to this point today. You accuse me of being calculating, and you're not wrong. But husband, under those circumstances back then, how could we have truly opened our hearts to each other? Without that, how could there have been trust? How could I have entrusted my own life and those of my maternal family to you?"

"Even now, I still don't believe what I did was wrong. I just didn't expect that later, you would make such concessions for me and give me the promise I so desired. It's only natural that you hate me now."

"I did fail you—failed the sincerity you showed that night when you chased after me to the posthouse outside Xindu."

As she spoke these words, a tightness rose in her chest, and her breasts seemed to swell painfully with emotion, as if milk might surge forth at any moment.

She turned slightly, exhaling a long breath as she waited for her emotions to settle.

"I came to apologize. For drawing your true feelings toward me in the past—you gave them, but I didn't reciprocate equally."

"If before, I entered your home as Qiao Nu, then from now on, I will be your wife and Fei Fei's mother."

After she finished speaking, silence fell around them.

Pale yellow fragrant wood blossoms drifted down from the treetops with the wind, landing soundlessly on her hair and his shoulders.

Wei Shao remained motionless.

"Fei Fei is almost three months old now, utterly adorable. I think of her day and night. I'll set off now and return to Yuyang."

Xiao Qiao suddenly spoke, nodding slightly to him before turning to leave.

Her pale face, its weariness not entirely masked even by her smile, turned away from him abruptly.

Wei Shao seemed to snap out of his daze, watching the slender figure in celadon robes recede into the distance.

She walked quickly, her pace growing faster and faster.

In what felt like the blink of an eye, she had vanished at the end of the palace path.

...

The carriages were still waiting outside the Vermilion Bird Gate of the palace.

Accompanied by Chun Niang, Xiao Qiao left Luoyang quietly, just as she had arrived.

By early June, she had returned safely to Yuyang.

The moment she entered, disregarding her travel fatigue, she changed her clothes, washed her face and hands quickly, and hurried to the northern chamber.

After more than a month apart, Fei Fei seemed to have grown a little bigger. Her beautiful round eyes widened as she stared at Xiao Qiao, seemingly not recognizing her at first.

"Little mistress, your mother has returned!"

The nursemaid fretted, urging repeatedly.

But Fei Fei still didn't seem to recognize her.

Xiao Qiao reached out to Fei Fei. Her fingers were immediately caught and held tightly.

Her grip was strong, mother and daughter skin to skin.

"Fei Fei—"

Xiao Qiao gazed unblinkingly at her daughter's soft, rosy cheeks and called her name.

Fei Fei instantly recognized the familiar, gentle tone unique to her mother. Delighted, she babbled happily, waving her little arms and stretching out her other hand toward Xiao Qiao. The old silver bell on her wrist, engraved with auspicious patterns, chimed softly.

Xiao Qiao immediately took her daughter into her arms, holding her small body close and breathing in greedily the familiar faint milky scent.

All weariness and sorrow vanished in an instant. Her heart overflowed with tender affection and remorse.After giving birth, she had an abundant supply of sweet milk, and Fei Fei seemed to prefer her mother's breast. Although Madam Xu had prepared two wet nurses earlier, Xiao Qiao had been breastfeeding her daughter herself all along.

When she had to leave home, she couldn't bear to wean her daughter. Under Chun Niang's guidance, she expressed milk at regular intervals to prevent her supply from drying up due to prolonged engorgement.

Now, finally holding her daughter in her arms again, her milk began to flow once more.

As if catching the familiar scent of her mother's milk, Fei Fei immediately nuzzled toward her chest.

Xiao Qiao took a warm cloth, undressed, and gently wiped herself before nursing her daughter.

Fei Fei's chubby little hands tightly grasped Xiao Qiao's clothes as she closed her eyes and gulped loudly, drinking eagerly. Once full, she drifted off to sleep in her mother's arms.