The Prisoner of Beauty

Wei Shao opened his eyes and realized he was still curled up in the corner of the bedchamber.

He was still a cat.

The scene from earlier had felt so real.

His heart was pounding wildly, his entire body drenched in sweat—no, more accurately, the pads of all four paws were slick with sweat, damp and uncomfortably warm. Instinctively, he lifted a paw to lick it, but as soon as his tongue flicked out, he remembered—he was a human, an emperor! How could he possibly do something as undignified as licking his paw?

Suppressing the urge with great effort, he settled for washing his face instead and retracted his claws.

It was nearly the fifth watch. Candles had already been lit in the bedchamber, and behind the swaying curtains, shadows moved about—the emperor was preparing for morning court.

Wei Shao peeked through a gap in the curtains, watching as Xiao Qiao finally escorted the emperor out of the bedchamber.

He had no interest in observing how his past self ruled as emperor here.

That man was a fanatical devotee of the imperial profession, obsessed with warfare and indifferent to women. His diligence in governance made Wei Shao, who always sought opportunities to roll around on the dragon bed with his beautiful empress, bow in admiration.

He wasn’t the least bit worried that the other Wei Shao might start scheming about war again here. Even if Gongsun Yang and the others couldn’t knock sense into him, Grandmother was still around.

The only thing he wanted to do now was stick to his beautiful empress like a shadow.

After the emperor left, Xiao Qiao returned and sat alone before the dressing mirror, resting her chin in her hand, lost in thought—as if troubled by something.

Wei Shao silently watched her back for a moment before he couldn’t resist emerging from the corner. He padded over to her and gently nudged her foot with his head.

Xiao Qiao looked down, a faint smile appearing on her face. “You’re awake so early too?”

Wei Shao meowed and leaped onto her lap.

Xiao Qiao held him, stroking him softly.

Wei Shao relished it.

Though he wished everything could return to normal immediately, being held in her arms like this and enjoying her caresses was still an exquisite pleasure.

The cat food, though it consisted of cooked meat at every meal, was so bland it made his mouth feel like it was growing feathers—because the empress had once said that cat food shouldn’t contain salt or any seasonings, so the palace servants responsible for feeding him strictly adhered to this rule. His first bite had nearly made him gag.

The only consolation of being turned into a cat was probably the chance to be close to his beautiful empress like this.

Wei Shao spent the entire morning glued to Xiao Qiao’s side, not venturing anywhere else.

In the afternoon, the palace was silent and still.

Summer had arrived, and the days were growing longer. Xiao Qiao had a habit of taking afternoon naps. While she slept, Wei Shao crouched on the floor beside the dragon bed, watching her.

Before becoming emperor, his life had been consumed by military campaigns, and their time together had been scarce. He hadn’t even been by her side when Fei Fei was born.

After ascending the throne, he was buried in state affairs, leaving early and returning late, leaving little time to accompany her.

Yet she never uttered a single complaint. She served the Grand Empress Dowager, raised Fei Fei, remained humble and frugal, led noblewomen in encouraging sericulture in spring and offering sacrifices to the god of agriculture in autumn. When he and Gongsun Yang clashed over political matters and his temper flared beyond control, it was she who stepped in to mediate…

She truly fulfilled every duty an empress could.Through the sheer silk gauze canopy as delicate as a cicada's wing, Wei Shao stared at Xiao Qiao sleeping on the imperial bed. As he watched, he gradually became lost in thought, when suddenly an idea struck him. Excited, he glanced back to ensure the palace maids were all outside the hall, then swiftly leaped onto the dragon bed. Parting the curtains, he tiptoed silently to the foot of the bed where Xiao Qiao lay.

Holding his breath, Wei Shao lifted a paw to quietly pull back the corner of the quilt, revealing one of Xiao Qiao's snow-white feet, bare without its silk stocking.

He leaned in, taking a sniff—it was fragrant. Unable to resist, he extended his tongue and gave her delicate toes a gentle lick. When she didn't react, he grew bolder, licking each toe one by one, then moving to the top of her foot, and finally to the sole.

The more he licked, the more delighted he became, his boldness growing with each stroke. After finishing one foot, still unsatisfied, he burrowed under the covers and began licking her other foot, utterly enchanted by the pleasure.

Xiao Qiao was deep in her afternoon nap, half-asleep, when she felt a tickling sensation on her soles. She instinctively curled her toes.

Startled, Wei Shao froze, lying motionless under the quilt, not daring to breathe.

Fortunately, she hadn't woken, merely turning over before drifting back to sleep.

After a while, Wei Shao cautiously peeked out from under the covers, gazing at her rosy, slumbering face like a blooming crabapple. Overcome with desire, he crept up the quilt toward her pillow, leaned in, and licked the exposed curve of her breast through the thin silk robe.

Sweet and soft—Wei Shao was intoxicated. Shivering with excitement, he moved in for another taste when suddenly, footsteps echoed outside the hall.

"Empress, Empress—"

The hushed voice of a palace maid filtered through the layers of curtains.

Xiao Qiao let out a sigh-like murmur, her lashes fluttering as she struggled awake from her drowsy slumber.

Wei Shao darted off the bed in a flash, hiding beneath it.

"What is it?" Xiao Qiao's voice still carried a trace of sleep-laden languor.

"Your Majesty, General Jia has sent word that the Grand Empress Dowager and the little princess are returning to the palace a day early. They are already on their way and should arrive soon."

Xiao Qiao gave a soft "Oh." "Has His Majesty been informed?"

"Yes, the message has been relayed."

Xiao Qiao sat up slowly, still somewhat dazed.

While asleep, she had vaguely felt her feet itching, as if being brushed. Now awake, she noticed they felt damp—and her chest too...

She looked down to find her undergarment slightly wet.

Puzzled, she asked the maid, "Did anyone enter earlier?"

The maid rolled up the beaded curtain. "No one, Your Majesty."

Xiao Qiao frowned, unable to make sense of it. Then she remembered the cat and glanced around, but it was nowhere in sight. She asked again.

The maids hurriedly searched, but after a while reported, "It seemed to be in the bedchamber earlier, but now we can't find it."

After a moment's thought, Xiao Qiao assumed it was just sweat from her nap. More concerned about the cat wandering off and causing trouble, she instructed the maids to search for it while she rose to prepare for her grandmother's arrival.

...The emperor personally left the palace to welcome the Grand Empress Dowager’s carriage outside the Vermilion Bird Gate of the imperial palace. After escorting her into the Jiade Palace, the emperor widened his eyes, unblinkingly gazing at the Grand Empress Dowager’s kind face, his expression betraying restrained excitement. Finally, as if unable to suppress it any longer, he suddenly knelt before her with a thud, saying nothing. Under the astonished gazes of Zhong Ao and the palace attendants, he crawled forward on his knees, tightly grasping the Grand Empress Dowager’s hands.

That alone was startling enough, but what was most astonishing was that as the emperor held her hands, tears streamed from his eyes. Eventually, he buried his face in her lap, refusing to lift it for a long time.

Madam Xu was deeply surprised. She had only been away from the palace for a little over half a month, yet upon her return, the emperor was so overwhelmed with emotion, as if they had been separated for years. Suppressing her confusion, she gently patted his shoulder in comfort.

Seeing this, Zhong Ao quickly led the palace attendants out of the room.

Xiao Qiao thought for a moment, then took Fei Fei’s hand and also led her out.

Fei Fei kept looking back at her father, who was still clinging to the Grand Empress Dowager’s lap, and asked softly after being led outside, “Mother, what’s wrong with Father?”

Xiao Qiao suppressed her own doubts and smiled. “Your father must have something important to discuss with the Grand Empress Dowager.”

Inside, Madam Xu asked gently, “Shao Er, what’s the matter? Is something troubling you?”

Hearing this long-unheard affectionate address of “Shao Er” from his grandmother, the emperor could no longer hold back. Choking with emotion, he said, “Grandmother… Grandmother… You’re still here… It’s so good… Shao Er was wrong… so wrong…”

Madam Xu was puzzled. “Shao Er, what did you do wrong?”

But the emperor said no more, only shaking his head repeatedly while still gripping her hands tightly, his face buried in her lap, motionless—like a lost traveler who had finally returned home after a long journey.

Madam Xu remained bewildered. Yet seeing her grandson suddenly so emotional, as if overwhelmed by feelings he could no longer contain, she refrained from further questions. Even in his grief after losing his father, she had never seen him display such intense emotion before her. She simply leaned forward slightly, embracing his broad shoulders, and patted his back gently in silent comfort.

Wei Shao crouched casually on the windowsill, watching from afar as the emperor clung to his grandmother, his shoulders trembling slightly, seemingly overcome with emotion to the point of sobbing. After a moment of surprise, Wei Shao snorted inwardly, “Thankfully, in this life, I’ve been wise and mighty. If I were like you, how could I face the world? Fine, I’ll let you have this moment with my grandmother. I’ll go comfort my daughter instead.”

He cast a disdainful glance at the emperor’s back and jumped down from the windowsill.

…

After a long while, the emperor’s emotions gradually settled, and he finally lifted his head.

Madam Xu studied his slightly reddened eyes, her lips curving into a gentle smile, but she asked no further questions.

The emperor knew he had lost composure.

In that other life, from the age of twelve when he lost his father and brother, his grandmother had not only been the guiding light for his path forward but also an irreplaceable figure of maternal love in his heart.

At twenty-two, without warning, while he was away at war, he lost her.

By the time he rushed back, over a month had passed, and she had long been laid to rest.From that moment on, no one could suppress the beast of hatred lurking in his heart. Driven by it, he endlessly amplified his desires and ambitions, seeking continuous pleasure through conquests brought by war—until he reached the end of his life.

Only when that stray arrow pierced his throat and he fell backward did he realize he was, in truth, exhausted.

What he had once desired might not have been what he truly wanted. In the end, it was merely out of habit.

He could not stop his steps, and in that world, no one could make him stop.

He was alone.

And now, his grandmother, separated from him by life and death for so many years, had suddenly appeared before him alive and well, a loving smile on her lips as she called him "Shao Er" in that familiar tone. The longing and affection he had buried deep within his stone-hard heart burst forth in that instant, shattering the rigid shell that had imprisoned it. How could he not weep bitterly?

He was familiar with the taste of blood, but it had been many, many years since he had tasted his own tears.

Today, he finally savored them again. It turned out that no delicacy in the world could compare to the depth of emotion carried by tears.

The emperor suddenly felt a lightness in his heart. For a fleeting moment, he even had the illusion that everything he had experienced in his past life was nothing but a dream.

Now, awakened from that nightmare, this—this was the true present.

"Grandmother..."

He struggled to steady his emotions, then spoke thoughtfully, "In the days you were gone, your grandson had a nightmare. I dreamed that you had left me, that we were separated for years, and that I made many mistakes—regrets I could not undo... When I woke from the nightmare and saw your kind face again, I couldn’t help but lose control in front of you."

Madam Xu gazed at him and smiled. "That’s all right. Grandmother is well. Everything is well."

...

Wei Shao was playing with Fei Fei.

To amuse his daughter, he exerted his plump body, jumping and rolling around with great effort, making Fei Fei laugh endlessly—until suddenly, he heard her call out, "Imperial Father!"

Wei Shao instinctively responded with an "Eh?" only to hear himself let out a "Meow—" instead. Turning his head, he saw his daughter abandon him and run off.

Not far away, the emperor emerged from the Jiade Palace.

Wei Shao stopped in place, panting heavily, his eyes filled with jealousy as he watched Fei Fei joyfully call out "Imperial Father!" and dash toward him.

"Imperial Father!"

Fei Fei stopped in front of the emperor.

After running, she was slightly out of breath, but her eyes sparkled, her adorable little face adorned with a sweet smile as she looked up at him. "Imperial Father! When I was at the Great Ming Temple, I missed Mother every day—and I missed you too!" she exclaimed in her tender, soft voice.

The emperor looked at the delicate, doll-like little girl who had rushed toward him. After a brief hesitation, he crouched down and opened his arms to her.

"Imperial Father!"

Fei Fei threw herself into his embrace. Once the emperor lifted her, her soft little arms wrapped around his neck, and she leaned in to plant a kiss on his cheek.

The emperor was stunned by the kiss from this sweet, soft little creature.Fei Fei, however, remained completely unaware of the emperor's unusual behavior.

Her mother had kissed her cheek, explaining that it was a way to show affection. She often saw her father kiss her mother's face—that was because her father loved her mother.

She loved her mother too, and her father as well.

"Father, I saw you crying earlier..."

The image of her father's earlier state had lingered in her mind, leaving her unsettled. She looked up at him with her beautiful, large eyes filled with concern. "Father, why are you sad?"

The emperor found himself momentarily speechless.

"Father, Fei Fei doesn’t want you to be sad..."

She reached out a small hand, gently stroking his cheek in comfort, her eyes suddenly brightening. "Mother said the name Grand Empress Dowager gave me means 'forgetting sorrow.' Mother also often calls me the Princess of No Worries. If you're unhappy, Father, you can tell Fei Fei, and Fei Fei will help you."

The emperor gazed steadily at the little figure earnestly comforting him with her arms around his neck. Gradually, his heart swelled with an unfamiliar mix of tenderness and sorrow.

This was his daughter—his, Wei Shao's, daughter in this lifetime, the Princess of No Worries.

He blinked, forcing back the rising heat in his eyes, and smiled at her. Slowly, he tightened his arms, holding the tiny child close to his chest.

...

That night, the emperor returned to his chambers. Xiao Qiao, as usual, personally helped him undress.

"Where’s Fei Fei?" he asked, slightly lowering his head to watch her face in the lamplight. The soft rustling of fabric as she removed his outer robe made the surrounding silence feel strangely unsettling. Collecting himself, he spoke as if casually.

"Fei Fei is already asleep," Xiao Qiao replied.

Fei Fei had spent the day playing wildly with the cat in the imperial gardens. By evening, when Chun Niang brought her back, she was drenched in sweat. After a bath at nightfall, she grew drowsy and went to bed early.

The emperor gave a quiet "oh," wanting to say more but unsure how to continue.

Xiao Qiao helped him remove his outer robe and looked up with a faint smile. "Your Majesty, would you like to bathe now?"

But the emperor didn’t move. Instead, he stared at her, then slowly raised his hand toward her cheek. Just as his fingers were about to touch her skin, a white shadow darted out from nowhere—the cat, leaping up and knocking over a porcelain vase on the cabinet.

The vase crashed to the floor with a loud thud. The emperor paused, turning to see the plump cat now crouched between him and the Empress, its fur bristling, eyes wide as saucers, glaring at him as if ready to pounce and scratch him at any moment. He froze in surprise.

The Grand Empress Dowager had returned to the palace, so the cat should have gone back to resting in the Jiade Palace. But today, it had stubbornly clung to Fei Fei, refusing to leave, and Fei Fei had insisted on keeping it with her. Unable to refuse, Xiao Qiao had ordered the servants to bring the cat’s bed to Fei Fei’s chambers.

She had assumed the cat was already asleep. Yet here it was, suddenly appearing, knocking things over, and startling everyone.

Compared to before, the cat seemed more perceptive—but also stranger in its behavior, as if it were trying to convey something to him.

Too bad it couldn’t speak human words.

Xiao Qiao was taken aback.

Then, the emperor suddenly sneezed, his shoulders twitching slightly, his expression odd.Xiao Qiao immediately understood—the cat had gotten too close to him again, triggering his allergies. She quickly bent down to pick up the cat, loudly calling for the palace attendants to come in. She handed over the struggling feline, instructing them to close the palace doors and not let it sneak back in.

The cat meowed incessantly as it was forcibly carried away.

Xiao Qiao hurried to wash her hands, then fetched an anti-itch ointment and had the emperor sit down to remove his robes.

Sure enough, within moments, tiny red bumps had appeared on his neck and chest.

He seemed unbearably itchy, hissing softly and unable to resist scratching.

"Don't scratch."

Xiao Qiao stopped him, dipping her fingers into the ointment and applying it to the rash-covered skin, gently smoothing it over.

"There, bear with it a little longer. The itching will fade soon."

As she spoke, she picked up the small jade jar containing the ointment and stood—only for the emperor to suddenly take hold of her other hand from behind.

Xiao Qiao paused and turned to look at him.

The emperor remained silent, simply gazing up at her while his fingers slowly kneaded her hand in his palm.

Xiao Qiao blinked in surprise, then tried to pull her hand away with a soft laugh. "I need to put the ointment away..."

But the emperor suddenly tightened his grip and tugged—pulling Xiao Qiao into his arms, where she tumbled onto his lap.

Their faces drew close, his breath quickening as waves of warmth brushed against her skin.

"What's wrong with you?"

Xiao Qiao froze, the smile slowly fading from her face as she asked.

The Emperor gazed at her without speaking, then gently pressed her down onto the imperial bed. His lips touched her forehead before moving to her eyelids.

"You're so beautiful... so beautiful..."

His murmurs reached her ears, accompanied by tentative, cautious kisses.

Xiao Qiao's lashes fluttered slightly.

His lips gradually descended until they finally met hers. As if stirred by desire, his pressure increased until he attempted to part her lips. Suddenly, Xiao Qiao opened her eyes and raised a hand to block his mouth.

The Emperor took the opportunity to lightly kiss her delicate fingers instead. Raising his head, his eyes held a faint trace of amusement as he looked at her.

"Empress," he paused, then softly called her name with deliberate care, "Manman... what's the matter?"

"You're not my husband," Xiao Qiao stared into his eyes. "Who are you?"

The Emperor stiffened, the earlier amusement in his gaze slowly vanishing.

He released her and sat up, falling into silence.

"I am myself," the Emperor finally said, his voice slightly strained.

"But not the version of you who is my husband."

The Emperor lifted his eyes, meeting her gaze for a long moment before nodding. "Yes. I am myself, yet not the self of this lifetime."

"I had died, my throat pierced by an arrow. But I awoke from the void, and the first thing I saw was you," he spoke slowly.

Xiao Qiao's eyes widened.

Ever since that soul-shattering thunderclap, she had keenly sensed something different about the man beside her.

Her husband seemed like another person. He was still Wei Shao, yet not the Wei Shao she knew.

Doubt had settled in her heart until she could no longer contain it and asked directly.

Hearing his answer, all her previous suspicions became clear.

She slowly sat up.

"Then where is my husband?" she asked, her voice beginning to tremble.

The Emperor watched her.

"I don't know what became of him. When I awoke, I became the present version of myself. Grandmother is alive and well, I have you, and we have Fei Fei. Remembering my previous life feels like a nightmare. In this lifetime, I know how I should live."

"Manman..."

He called her name again and reached for her hand, but Xiao Qiao quickly pulled away.

"You're not my husband," she shook her head. "Where has my husband gone?" she repeated.

The Emperor's gaze remained fixed on her face, his expression gradually hardening.

"Are you afraid of me?" he asked, his voice extremely gentle. "Don't fear me, I wouldn't harm you in the slightest."

"No. I'm not afraid of you," Xiao Qiao shook her head."Then, do you blame me for not letting go of my hatred in the past and killing members of your Qiao family? Rest assured, I will never do so again in this lifetime. In my previous life, I killed all those I wished to kill, yet never found true happiness, nor did I ever understand what it truly feels like to let go. Only now do I seem to have some inkling of it. I regret, I envy, even feel jealous of the me of this lifetime. We are the same person, yet why are our fates so drastically different..."

His tone grew increasingly agitated as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Xiao Qiao gazed at the handsome face before her—one so familiar she could sketch it even with her eyes closed—and said softly, "It's good that you understand. Since you do, wherever you came from, you should return there..."

But he seemed not to hear her. "I know I love you," he declared. "From the moment I first saw you, I felt this way. I want to be close to you. Wherever you are brings me joy and contentment, a feeling I've never had before... Perhaps he will never return, or perhaps he has already merged with me. Because I am him, and he is me!"

As he spoke these words, the Emperor's voice suddenly grew heavier.

"You may be him, and his current life carries traces of you. But you are not the husband I love. All of this is merely an illusion of yours. When the illusion fades, everything will return to how it was."

Xiao Qiao replied.

The Emperor stared intently at her, then suddenly pulled her into his embrace and kissed her lips again.

"I am him, and he is me. You must believe..."

He whispered in her ear, repeating it over and over with an irresistible force.

He held her tightly, as if trying to meld her into his very being.

Shivering slightly within the familiar scent that enveloped her, Xiao Qiao found herself unable to resist.

...

Wei Shao, exerting every ounce of his strength, finally managed to wobble his way up to the south-facing windowsill of the bedchamber. Poking a hole through it, he caught sight of the scene on the imperial bed and instantly bristled with fury.

First, they took his Grandmother, then his little princess.

Though deeply aggrieved, he had grudgingly endured it.

But now, they even dared to covet his beautiful Empress!

Damn it all!

With a fierce yowl, Wei Shao summoned all his might and rammed through the window lattice. Amid the splintering wood, he leaped several yards forward, rolled upon landing like a tiger, and then lunged again—this time charging straight at the Emperor, who was still tightly embracing Xiao Qiao.

...

"Husband! Husband!"

He heard Xiao Qiao's voice calling out to him repeatedly, fueling his fervor. Baring his teeth and claws, growling fiercely from his throat, he was ready to fight to the death when suddenly, he felt a few light pats on his cheek and heard a couple of soft murmurs.

"Let go of Manman!"

He roared, abruptly opening his eyes and bolting upright.

Xiao Qiao, who had been leaning over the bedside, was startled out of her wits, trembling so hard she nearly fell off the imperial bed.

Clutching her chest, she crawled over and knelt beside him, murmuring with a slight frown, "What's wrong with you? What do you mean by 'let go of me'? You were grinding your teeth and kicking me in your sleep!"Wei Shao's heart pounded so violently it felt like it would leap out of his throat. Gasping for breath, he gradually regained his senses and met Xiao Qiao's gaze. After staring at her for a moment, he suddenly looked down at his hands and feet, his voice still trembling: "Manman! Am I human or a cat? Do I still exist? Touch me—am I really me?"

Earlier, he had been so rough with her that Xiao Qiao, utterly exhausted, had collapsed into sleep the moment her head hit the pillow. She was deep in slumber when she was abruptly kicked awake by him, nearly sent flying off the bed. Opening her eyes, she saw him lying there with his eyes closed, limbs flailing, his expression twisted, throat making guttural noises, teeth clenched—a truly terrifying sight—which was why she had woken him.

Initially annoyed, her anger melted away when she saw his pale face drenched in sweat. Concerned, she quickly grabbed a handkerchief to wipe his brow while asking, "What nightmare did you have to scare you like this?"

"What day is it today?" he asked, his eyes still glazed.

"The eighth."

"Was Moyai just sent to Daming Temple last night?"

Xiao Qiao nodded.

"Is Grandmother still at Daming Temple?"

"She returns tomorrow."

"Have we... been sleeping all this time?"

Xiao Qiao shot him an exasperated look. "Weren’t you the one who came back in broad daylight and insisted on—"

She stopped mid-sentence as he suddenly raised his hand, repeatedly pinching himself. Finally, he closed his eyes briefly before snapping them open and leaping out of bed, completely naked, bursting into wild laughter.

Xiao Qiao was startled again. "Wei Shao!" she scolded angrily. "If you keep acting like a madman, I’ll lose my temper!"

"Manman! Manman! It’s wonderful! I’m still me! I was so scared!"

Wei Shao pounced on her, knocking her onto her back on the imperial bed. She slapped at him, but he ignored it, hugging her tightly and covering her face with kisses as they tumbled across the bed.

"Manman, hit me! Hard! The harder the better! Wake me up with it!"

Xiao Qiao let out a couple of protests before his mouth sealed hers.

...

From noon onward, the emperor and empress remained secluded in their chambers without emerging.

By nightfall, even dinner had to be delivered inside at the emperor’s command.

Several ministers, including the chancellor, sought an audience to discuss urgent matters. After waiting in vain at the audience hall, they grew impatient and sent a palace attendant to relay their request to Guanghua Palace.

"Inform them that this emperor has suffered a great fright today and must rest the entire night to recover! No matter how important, all matters can wait until tomorrow!"

Interrupted mid-passion, the emperor flung aside the bed curtains and roared.

The attendant jumped in fright, hastily bowing in acknowledgment before retreating. Just as he was about to leave, the emperor seemed to remember something.

"And one more thing—Grand Empress Dowager’s cat! Keep it tightly secured! Not one step near Guanghua Palace! If it so much as approaches, you’ll answer to me!"

The emperor’s furious bellow echoed through Guanghua Palace, reverberating long after.