The Prisoner of Beauty

Author's Note: Apologies for the pseudo-update again. Early this morning, following the request from the site's message, I revised the text once more and added a section at the end to make up for the deleted word count.

Wei Shao returned very late. After coming out of the bathhouse, he said nothing and went straight to bed.

Xiao Qiao turned off the lights shortly after and climbed into bed beside him.

He seemed to fall asleep quickly.

Xiao Qiao gradually felt her breasts swelling and slowly turned over.

Fei Fei had a very regular routine. Normally, by the end of the You hour (7-9 PM), she would be full and asleep, usually waking once around the end of the Hai hour (9-11 PM) for a diaper change and another feeding before sleeping soundly until dawn.

She listened carefully for any sounds from the next room.

A short while later, Fei Fei’s faint cry indeed reached her ears.

Wei Shao suddenly sat up, startling Xiao Qiao.

“What’s wrong with her?” he asked in the dim light.

“She woke up…”

Wei Shao immediately rolled out of bed, lit a lamp, and hurried out.

Xiao Qiao threw on a robe and followed.

The wet nurse had just finished changing Fei Fei’s diaper and was trying to nurse her back to sleep.

Since birth, Fei Fei had always been cared for by Xiao Qiao herself.

Fei Fei loved the unique, honey-like sweetness of her mother’s milk scent.

The two wet nurses were naturally clean and healthy young women, but Fei Fei had never grown accustomed to them. When she was separated from her mother last month, she ate poorly and slept restlessly for the first few days. Only after waiting in vain did she reluctantly begin to adjust.

These past few days, as soon as Xiao Qiao returned, Fei Fei immediately clung to the sweet scent she loved, unique to her mother. Just now, waking up and not smelling it again, she grew uneasy, spat out the nipple forced into her mouth, and began to cry.

As the wet nurse tried to soothe her, the door suddenly opened. Turning, she saw the Lord barging in and hurriedly adjusted her clothes.

Wei Shao’s gaze fixed on the crying Fei Fei. He strode over, reaching out to hold her, then hesitated as if nervous, instinctively turning to look at Xiao Qiao, who had followed him in.

Xiao Qiao stepped forward, took her daughter into her arms, and gently pressed her cheek against Fei Fei’s forehead. “Fei Fei, be good, don’t cry. Mother’s here,” she murmured softly.

Fei Fei gradually stopped crying, sniffling lightly, her cheeks still wet with tears, her tiny hands gripping Xiao Qiao’s robe tightly.

The wet nurse looked uneasy. “It’s my fault for disturbing the Lady—”

“It’s fine,” Xiao Qiao said. “I’ll take her to sleep with me.” She called for a maid to bring a thin quilt, wrapped Fei Fei in it, and carried her out.

Wei Shao stood dumbfounded, watching. Suddenly snapping out of it, he turned and saw Xiao Qiao had already left. He quickly followed.

Back in their room, Xiao Qiao noticed Wei Shao standing motionless by the door after closing it. She smiled. “Would you like to hold her?”

She carried Fei Fei over to him.

Fei Fei, freshly awake and back in her mother’s fragrant, soft embrace, was now wide-eyed and alert, chewing on her hand while staring curiously at the unfamiliar man who had suddenly appeared before her.

Huh? This person looked different from the usual ones coming and going around her—

Wei Shao gazed at his daughter, slowly reaching out to take her into his arms.

His shoulders were slightly stiff.

“Support her neck gently here, she’ll be more comfortable. And your other hand should cradle her like this—”

Xiao Qiao moved closer, quietly guiding him on how to hold Fei Fei.Wei Shao held the soft, pink little bundle in his arms, gazing down at her round, curious eyes that seemed to be studying him. He was careful, afraid he might accidentally hurt her.

The two of them were close, with only Fei Fei between them. Suddenly, a sweet, indescribable scent drifted into his nostrils—familiar, like the milky fragrance from Fei Fei, yet not quite the same…

Faint yet unmistakable, it seeped into his lungs with each breath, making his chest tighten.

Instinctively, he glanced up at her.

She wasn’t looking at him. Her gaze was fixed on Fei Fei in his arms. Her cheeks were as fair as the new moon, her eyes tender as water. The delicate curve of her neck peeked above her collar, and further down…

Wei Shao had noticed long ago—after giving birth, her figure had subtly filled out, her chest fuller, as if a single touch could draw forth moisture…

Fei Fei stared at the strange man holding her motionless for a while before losing interest.

She turned her face and pressed it against his chest.

Hard. Not the soft, fragrant warmth she was used to from her mother.

She didn’t like it.

Her lips quivered, and with a loud “wah,” she burst into tears.

Wei Shao startled, snapping out of his daze, and hurriedly patted her to soothe her.

Fei Fei only cried louder.

He was instantly flustered.

Already overheated, beads of sweat now dotted his forehead.

“Give her to me.”

Xiao Qiao reached out and took Fei Fei back, cradling her and gently patting her back.

Fei Fei soon stopped crying, nuzzling against her mother with a pout before eagerly burrowing into her embrace.

“She’s hungry. I’ll feed her.”

Xiao Qiao turned slightly, avoiding his direct gaze, and loosened her clothes to nurse.

In her mother’s arms, Fei Fei gradually quieted, closing her eyes and latching on to suckle vigorously.

Wei Shao only glanced once before looking away. But his ears caught the sound of the little one gulping greedily in her arms. His Adam’s apple bobbed, and he swallowed reflexively.

He stood stiffly to the side, suddenly parched, his blood simmering beneath his skin.

Fei Fei slowly drifted to sleep in her mother’s arms.

Xiao Qiao carried her to the small crib beside the main bed, bent down, and laid her gently inside, tucking the blanket around her.

As soon as she straightened, Wei Shao turned and strode toward the door. But in his haste, his foot struck a nearby incense stool.

The drum-shaped stool toppled over with a clatter, rolling noisily across the floor.

His heart pounded like thunder. He froze, holding his breath, and glanced back to see Fei Fei stir slightly in the crib, moving her arms before settling back to sleep.

He exhaled slowly, then turned away, his voice slightly strained. “You stay with Fei Fei… I just remembered, there’s something I need to attend to. I’ll go to the study…”

He started toward the door again.

“Husband… do you no longer love me?”

Just as he reached the screen, a clear, soft voice called from behind.

She had come up behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist, pressing her cheek lightly against his broad back, her eyes closed.

Wei Shao stiffened.

The room fell into an unusual silence.

Even the sound of Fei Fei’s peaceful breathing from the crib seemed to reach his ears.

Xiao Qiao held him tightly for a moment before forcibly turning him around to face her.

He didn’t resist much, letting her guide him.Yet he remained as stiff as a wooden post, not even moving a finger.

She tilted her face up, her beautiful eyes misty with emotion as she gazed at him.

"When I returned during the day and saw your steed at the gate, I knew you had come back. My heart was filled with joy..."

She paused, her jade-like arms lifting to hook around his neck. Rising on tiptoes, she pressed her lips against his dry ones, her fragrant tongue lightly brushing.

"My lord, I love you too..."

Her whisper was soft, her breath orchid-scented.

Wei Shao stared at her, his breathing suddenly spiraling out of control, turning rough and heavy. With two ragged gasps, he abruptly pulled her into a fierce embrace, gripping her head as his mouth captured her lips.

He crushed her tender lips mercilessly with his own, his iron arms clamping around her body, pressing her tightly against his chest with a force that seemed intent on melding her into his very flesh.

Xiao Qiao trembled in his arms, waves of passion surging within her. The milk that Fei Fei hadn't fully drained earlier overflowed, instantly soaking both their garments.

Wei Shao carried her to the bed and laid her down, covering her body with his.

Damp, sticky, sweet...

Xiao Qiao closed her eyes, her head tilting back as her toes curled tightly. Her body shuddered uncontrollably.

"My lord—"

Suddenly she let out a broken, delicate moan.

Wei Shao forcibly restrained his urge to immediately take her, pausing momentarily as he shut his eyes.

The smoldering frustration and unease that had plagued him during his journey back to Yuyang vanished in this instant.

Her embrace was so warm.

Even without doing anything more, just like this, he felt completely at ease.

Every pore in his body flared wide the moment she accepted him.

He couldn't help but shiver.

How long had it been since he'd experienced this wondrous feeling with her?

...

Even that day when he had besieged Dongjun and she came to him—when his anger burned hottest—he hadn't dared to voice the words that had risen to his throat, the command for her to return to the Qiao family.

He feared she might actually leave and never return to his side.

Earlier she had said she was happy about his homecoming, and that she loved him too.

Given how guarded she was with him, was she deceiving him again, or was this genuine?

Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead.

He was extremely reluctant to admit it.

But in this moment, he knew clearly that all his resentment and indignation would likely end in surrender before her.

Because he couldn't let her go.

...

Xiao Qiao slowly opened her beautiful eyes.

"My lord—"

Her red lips parted slightly. Her lashes fluttered, her gaze shimmering with springtime waves like a trapped little beast beneath him, her breath coming in quick pants, her expression dazed and helpless.

Wei Shao's eyes darkened. Gritting his teeth, he thrust into her fiercely.

As her sweet cry escaped, he sealed her lips once more.

...

When Xiao Qiao awoke, dawn had yet to break. Fei Fei still slept soundly, but the space beside her was empty.

Wei Shao had gone somewhere.

It was only the middle of the yin hour.

Xiao Qiao sat up slowly from the bed, lost in thought for a moment before rising to dress. She checked on Fei Fei in the small bed, adjusting the blanket corners, then quietly left for the study.

The night was deep, the study window emitting a dim yellow glow.

The door wasn't fully closed. Through the gap, Xiao Qiao saw Wei Shao seated behind the desk, the rosewood box she hadn't seen in so long placed before him.The lid of the box opened, revealing a half-unfurled black battle flag edged with white spread across the table.

From her perspective, the center of the flag seemed to be embroidered with a golden tiger's face, baring its fangs.

It must have been awe-inspiring in its day. Now, the flag was tattered, one corner stained, dulled by the passage of time.

The stain was old, but it was still recognizable—likely blood.

Wei Shao's gaze remained fixed on this tattered banner.

The candlelight cast his shadow onto the wall—a massive, motionless black silhouette.

He was so absorbed, as if deeply lost in his own world, that despite his usual vigilance, he didn’t notice Xiao Qiao standing outside the door at all.