The Prisoner of Beauty

The next day, the Grand Empress Dowager returned to the palace with Fei Fei.

Upon receiving the news, Wei Shao immediately interrupted his discussions with the ministers and personally welcomed the Grand Empress Dowager outside the Vermilion Bird Gate. When he saw her, he was unusually emotional. After escorting her back to Jiade Palace, he lingered, reluctant to leave, and stayed by her side for a long while, chatting with her.

Madam Xu initially thought he had something to discuss with her. Finally, she smiled and said, "Does the Emperor have something to say to his grandmother? Speak freely."

Wei Shao was momentarily stunned before remembering that a group of ministers was still waiting for him in the Xuan Room. He quickly shook his head, instructed the palace attendants to take good care of the Grand Empress Dowager, and then took his leave.

Xiao Qiao, who was nearby, found it a bit strange. The way he acted seemed as if he hadn’t seen Madam Xu in a long time. That evening, when he returned to the imperial bedchamber, the two bathed together, and she casually teased him about it.

Though her words were lighthearted, Wei Shao’s heart suddenly skipped a beat as he recalled the events of the previous night.

Last night, he had gone to great lengths to please Xiao Qiao in bed, and she had responded with equal passion. They had been entwined for most of the night, their intimacy beyond compare. Exhausted, he had embraced his beloved and drifted off to sleep when, just before losing consciousness, he felt a deep sigh of contentment rise from within him.

At the time, he hadn’t given it much thought. Holding Xiao Qiao, who had already fallen into a deep sleep, he closed his eyes and followed her into slumber.

Now, reminded by her teasing, he thought back to that sigh—so natural, as if it had come from the depths of his subconscious—and then to the incredibly vivid dream he’d had the day before, one that had felt like a real experience. A sudden unease gripped him.

Zhuang Zhou dreamed of a butterfly, and the butterfly dreamed of Zhuang Zhou. Could it be that he was still trapped in a dream, unable to wake?

"Manman… hit me! Hard!"

Xiao Qiao had only been teasing him in jest, but seeing his suddenly grave expression, she giggled and cupped her hands in the water, splashing him unexpectedly. "What’s wrong with Your Majesty now?"

Water dripped from his face as Wei Shao blinked, then opened his eyes to see her right in front of him. In the misty warmth, she tilted her head slightly, her eyes sparkling with amusement, her smile radiant. He reached out, pulled her close, and pressed his forehead against hers. A sudden calm washed over him, dispelling all the earlier disorientation.

"It’s nothing…" he murmured before lowering his head to kiss her lips.

"Manman, having you in my life… Wei Shao is truly blessed."

…

Two months later, the Empress was diagnosed with pregnancy.

Madam Xu was overjoyed, as were all the officials, eagerly awaiting the birth of another imperial heir.

…

In the early summer of the third year of Taihe, before the fifth watch, Xiao Qiao was roused from sleep by a faint, growing pain in her abdomen. She nudged Wei Shao, who was snoring soundly beside her.

Wei Shao woke to find her curled up, clutching her stomach. Alarmed, he bolted upright, tumbled off the bed, and ran out barefoot, shouting at the top of his lungs, "The Empress is in labor!"

His cry startled the entire palace.

With the Empress’s due date approaching, all preparations had long been made. At the Emperor’s roar, Guanghua Palace instantly sprang to life, lanterns blazing as attendants rushed to Jiade Palace to deliver the news.

Madam Xu arrived swiftly. By then, the midwives had already entered the birthing chamber, the doors tightly shut. The Emperor stood guard outside, his expression a mix of nervousness and excitement.Last time when Xiao Qiao gave birth to Fei Fei, Wei Shao had been away fighting battles in the south. By the time he returned, Fei Fei was already several months old. He had always regretted not being able to accompany her when she gave birth to their first child.

This time, he could finally be by her side, and he was overjoyed. Seeing Madam Xu arrive as well, he hurried forward to personally support her. "Grandmother, Manman is about to give birth!"

Madam Xu glanced at him, noting his beaming face, and nodded with a smile.

And so, Wei Shao, brimming with excitement and anticipation, sat waiting with Madam Xu for Xiao Qiao to deliver their second child.

As the water clock marked the slow passage of time, he grew increasingly restless, the smile gradually fading from his face.

Wei Shao had heard of the pain women endured during childbirth before.

But he had never imagined Manman would have to suffer such agony. The intermittent sounds of midwives speaking and her muffled, fragmented moans from the birthing chamber made his entire body tense up.

Several times, if not for Zhong Ao and Chun Niang holding him back, he would have barged in.

Another cry of pain.

"Are you even capable of delivering a baby? Why is my Manman in so much pain?"

He sprang to his feet, his forehead slick with cold sweat, and rushed to the door, gripping the frame as he shouted inside.

The sounds from within immediately ceased—likely because the midwives and the mother-to-be had been startled.

Zhong Ao and Chun Niang both stepped forward, quietly urging him to step away for now.

Wei Shao refused to listen, pacing incessantly outside the door.

"Your Majesty, perhaps you should rest for a while! You can return once the child is born!"

Even Madam Xu could no longer bear to watch and spoke up.

Wei Shao acted as though he hadn’t heard her.

Madam Xu gave a bitter smile and shook her head.

"Ah—"

Finally, as dawn approached, he heard Xiao Qiao let out a long, pained cry from inside. The last trace of color drained from his lips, his heart pounding like a drum. He lunged for the door.

"Manman!" He raised his hand to push it open.

"Ah! Ah! Your Majesty!"

Zhong Ao and Chun Niang were startled and hurried to grab him from either side.

Suddenly, a loud infant’s cry rang out from inside.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Grand Empress Dowager! The Empress has safely delivered a prince! Both mother and child are well!" The midwife’s jubilant voice followed, raised in excitement.

Wei Shao froze, then let out a long exhale. Seizing the moment when Zhong Ao and Chun Niang released him in their joy, he pushed the door open and strode inside.

The midwife had already swaddled the newborn prince and placed him beside Xiao Qiao. Startled to see the emperor barging in, she quickly knelt and offered her congratulations with a bright smile.

Wei Shao went straight to Xiao Qiao’s side, gazing down at her pale, sweat-streaked face. Without a word, he reached out and gently took her hand.

Xiao Qiao had heard all the commotion he’d caused outside, so she wasn’t surprised when he burst in now.

Though exhausted and weak, her heart felt warm. She turned her face to meet his gaze and gave him a soft smile. "Your Majesty, look—our son, Fei Fei’s little brother. He’s so beautiful."

Wei Shao’s eyes shifted to the newborn in her arms—their son.Though he had just been born, he already had a high nose bridge and long, dark eyelashes, gently smacking his tiny lips in his mother's arms—utterly adorable.

"Manman, you've worked hard."

In front of the midwives, he lowered his head and pressed a kiss to his Empress's forehead, his heart overflowing with happiness.

...

The Empress joyfully gave birth to the Crown Prince, named Hong, and the entire realm celebrated together. Three days after his birth, the Emperor personally offered sacrifices at the Imperial Ancestral Temple's Fengtian Hall, while court ritual officials conducted ceremonies at the Altars of Earth and Grain. Civil and military officials wore auspicious robes for ten days, and an imperial edict was issued to proclaim the news across the land.

In the ninth month of that year, the envoy delegation of Chanyu Wu Zhuqu arrived in Luoyang. The court and the Xiongnu formed a treaty, establishing the Sanggan River as their boundary and pledging mutual non-aggression, with several trade markets opened along the border. The Xiongnu presented fine horses as tribute, while Great Yan repatriated tens of thousands of captives from the Shanggu battle years prior.

On the day the captives were sent home, the banks of the Sanggan River—which had flowed in silence for a century, untouched by war—were filled with cries of fathers and mothers, tears streaming as families reunited. Wu Zhuqu, in his own name, also presented a lavish gift to the Grand Empress Dowager, which included a brocade vestment called "Hamo," sewn from sixteen pieces of carefully cut lambskin.

In Xiongnu custom, after a betrothal was agreed upon, the groom's family would present such a vestment to the bride's mother as a token of gratitude for raising her daughter for sixteen years before sending her off in marriage.

After delivering the gift, the envoy had been uneasy, fearing the Grand Empress Dowager might refuse the Hamo. Only when they departed half a month later without it being returned did they finally breathe a sigh of relief.

...

In the fourth year of Taihe, after the Crown Prince turned one, Madam Xu summoned the Emperor and Empress one day and told them with a smile that she had decided to return to Youzhou and settle in Wuzhong City for her remaining years.

That year, the Grand Empress Dowager was nearly seventy. Though frail with age, she maintained a light diet and still insisted on personally tending to her flowers and weeding, her spirit undimmed.

The Emperor and Empress were astonished and knelt together, blaming themselves for their lack of filial piety and begging their grandmother to reconsider.

Madam Xu said her wish to return was not because they had failed in any way, but because she was content that all was well with them, and she could now rest easy.

Wei Shao continued to kowtow and plead for her to stay, but Xiao Qiao, gazing at Madam Xu’s kindly smiling face, gradually grew pensive.

That small border town called Wuzhong was where she and Wei Shao’s grandfather had married—and also where she had bid him farewell.

Beyond her husband, it held memories of her sons, daughters, and grandchildren.

Half a lifetime of memories, or perhaps some unfulfilled wish still lingering in her heart, was inextricably tied to that place.

Now, nearing seventy, she had suddenly made this decision. Xiao Qiao might not fully grasp the depth of her feelings, but she would respect her choice.

She kowtowed to Madam Xu and said, "Your granddaughter-in-law understands. After escorting Grandmother back to her hometown to enjoy her remaining years in peace, I will bring our children to visit her every year. May Grandmother live in health and longevity—this, too, is the blessing of us younger generations."

Madam Xu laughed and said to the Emperor, "Shao Er, I’ve always thought you less perceptive than your wife, and that remains true today. She understands me, so don’t stand in my way."

Though Wei Shao was deeply reluctant, Madam Xu’s mind was made up, and he finally acquiesced.

In the ninth month of that year, as the sweltering summer heat faded and golden autumn arrived, the Emperor and Empress left Luoyang together to personally escort Madam Xu back north.On the eve of their departure, Xiao Qiao brought Fei Fei and Hong Er to stay with Madam Xu at Jiade Palace.

Late into the night, after the siblings had fallen asleep, Xiao Qiao escorted Madam Xu to her bed and then knelt before her knees, lingering for a long time, unwilling to rise.

Madam Xu gazed at her for a moment before suddenly saying, "Manman, Grandmother will return home tomorrow. I know you must have always wondered why I insisted on arranging for Shao Er to marry a daughter of the Qiao family, forging a marital alliance between the Wei and Qiao families."

"Had it not been for Grandmother’s kindness in facilitating the match, how could I have married my husband and become his wife? Grandmother’s magnanimity and benevolence are truly my blessings."

Madam Xu smiled and sighed. "You are so clever—there’s no need for me to say much. You must already understand my thoughts. In the past, Shao Er was consumed by vengeance, deaf to all counsel. I always feared he would be trapped by his inner demons, unable to free himself from his obsessions. Such a fate would hardly be fortunate for his life. His deepest grievances all stemmed from the pain of losing his father in his youth. So, when I learned that your Qiao family had sent word seeking reconciliation through marriage to resolve the enmity between our families, and when I heard of Qiao Nu’s virtuous reputation, I thought again of the past..."

She trailed off.

Xiao Qiao straightened from her knees and looked up at her.

Madam Xu seemed lost in memories, then sighed after a long pause. "Manman, before your grandfather passed away, he sent me a letter, repenting his past actions and swearing an oath to suffer eternal damnation, begging that the Wei family would spare the Qiao family after his death. Grandmother, too, resented your grandfather’s betrayal, which cost me my son and grandson. But in these troubled times, what is true justice? Which noble or general does not have blood on their hands? Who among them has not left wives without husbands or sons without fathers? Life is inherently unfair, and the dead cannot return. Even if the entire Qiao family were wiped out, how could that lessen the pain already inflicted? But if this opportunity could help dissolve hatred, free Shao Er from his demons, and allow him to live the rest of his days without mourning, what grudge could I not let go of?"

Her voice trembled with emotion, and a faint glimmer of tears shone in her eyes.

Xiao Qiao took her hand and slowly pressed her cheek against the warmth of Madam Xu’s knuckles.

Madam Xu lowered her head and affectionately stroked Xiao Qiao’s hair.

"Manman, Grandmother is not as noble as you think. Back then, I acted out of selfishness when I arranged for you to marry into our family. I thought to myself—if Qiao Nu could use her wisdom to soften my grandson’s harshness and forge a happy union, then my wish would be fulfilled. If not, it would only mean sacrificing one daughter of the Qiao family. Earlier, you thanked me, but in truth, it is I who should thank you. Because of your arrival, the Wei family has prospered as it does today, and I have lived to see my great-grandchildren. Tomorrow, I will return north. From now on, I entrust Shao Er entirely to you, and I am at ease."

A look of contentment shone in Madam Xu’s single eye.

"Grandmother! Manman can’t bear to part with you!" Xiao Qiao choked back a sob and threw herself into Madam Xu’s arms.

Madam Xu laughed and embraced her, patting her back soothingly as if she were still just a child.

Not far away, near the palace doors, Wei Shao stood silently, having arrived unnoticed. He watched the scene—Xiao Qiao being comforted in his grandmother’s embrace—without making a sound.

...The next morning, the Emperor and Empress departed from Luoyang, safely escorting the Grand Empress Dowager to Wuzhong City. After accompanying her for three days, Madam Xu urged them to leave, and the couple reluctantly bid farewell.

Wei Shao remained puzzled by his grandmother's decision. Even after leaving Wuzhong City, he kept looking back frequently, visibly depressed.

Xiao Qiao said that perhaps Grandmother still had an unresolved attachment in her heart. This place brought her closer to it.

Wei Shao fell silent, then finally nodded, saying he understood.

After leaving Wuzhong, the imperial couple first passed through Yuyang and spent a night at the old Qianlong residence there.

Early the next morning, Xiao Qiao was surprised to find that Wei Shao, who never worshipped deities, had specifically gone to the Queen Mother's Temple east of the city. Not only did he burn incense inside, but he also ordered the Yuyang magistrate to recast the golden statue of the Queen Mother, even including the several attendant deities before her altar, allowing them to share in the glory.

Finally, he circled several times around one particular golden-armored deity statue, staring at it for a long while with a strange expression.

When they got back in the carriage together, remembering how he had torn down the mural wall years ago, she couldn't resist teasing him: "Tearing down walls back then, building temples now—has Your Majesty suddenly changed his ways? Did some immortal appear in your dreams demanding atonement?"

That strange dream which still made Wei Shao wake up in the middle of the night in terror—forcing him to immediately reach for the Empress to confirm she was sleeping safely beside him before he could feel at ease—was naturally something he could never tell her about.

Initially embarrassed by her teasing, Wei Shao then recalled the absurdity of that dream and couldn't help bursting into laughter himself. Pulling her into his arms, he nibbled her ear and said, "Heaven's secrets cannot be revealed."

...

Besides escorting Madam Xu northward, another important purpose of this journey was to inspect river works. By late October, the Emperor and Empress traveled incognito to Wuchao Crossing, where they had once been stranded by the frozen Yellow River years before.

Wuchao Crossing had lost its former prosperity. With a new ferry dozens of miles upstream offering larger boats, more convenience, and greater safety, this place had gradually declined, now seeing only a few crossings per day. Yet the same inn where they had once stayed still stood by the crossing, its dust-covered sign fluttering in the wind through summer heat and winter cold, sunrise and sunset—as if it had been there since ancient times and would remain through all changes.

That evening, the setting sun over the Yellow River dyed the mountains and wilderness golden, while the earthen road before the inn churned with dust.

Earlier in the day, the inn's last traveler had departed, and no new guests arrived. The female proprietor dozed against the worn counter until the sound of approaching carriage wheels roused her. Assuming carriage passengers wouldn't stay at her establishment, she merely glanced up before dozing off again.

Yet the carriage stopped right at her door. Opening her eyes, she saw a couple enter—a man around thirty with an imposing bearing and piercing eyes that gleamed with vitality, and a woman who appeared much younger, radiant as pearls and jade, extraordinarily beautiful. Standing together, they resembled a pair of flawless jade figures, their brilliance illuminating the otherwise dim and shabby hall.

With an official post station dozens of miles away, all distinguished travelers needing lodging stayed there. This dilapidated inn at a declining ferry typically only saw ordinary passersby stopping for the night—when had such distinguished guests ever appeared at her door?The hostess was momentarily stunned before snapping back to reality and hurried forward to attend to them. Upon hearing that the two of them, along with their accompanying attendants, would be staying the night, she grew flustered and nodded repeatedly, leading them to the cleanest guest room. She diligently wiped down the tables and chairs, serving them with great enthusiasm. As she was about to leave, she couldn’t help but steal another glance at the beautiful young woman.

Noticing the hostess’s frequent looks, Xiao Qiao smiled gently at her.

The hostess froze for a moment before suddenly slapping her thigh and exclaiming, “Ah! This old woman remembers now! Many years ago, Madam and your husband stayed here when the ferry was frozen!”

The young woman was so strikingly beautiful that she was impossible to forget. At first glance, the hostess had felt a sense of familiarity, and now, seeing her smile, the memory finally surfaced.

Xiao Qiao nodded with a smile, pleased that she still remembered. “A’ao has an excellent memory. Indeed, my husband and I stayed here many years ago. Today, passing through, we’ve come to lodge again.”

The innkeeper remembered that the distinguished couple from years ago had generously rewarded her before their departure. Never did she imagine that after so many years, they would return to stay again. Overjoyed, she repeatedly bowed in gratitude, her earlier restraint vanishing as she chattered happily by their side: "Thanks to the generous rewards from the young lord and Madam back then. Now that the ferry port has declined, with few guests coming by, my livelihood became unsustainable. My son and daughter-in-law went to the city and used the money to settle down and start a small business. Though it was tough at first, with the world now at peace and no more wars, their lives gradually stabilized. My son often says he wants to bring me to live with them, but I’ve guarded this ferry port for most of my life and can’t bear to leave. Besides, over the decades, I’ve befriended a few regular guests. If I leave too, what if someone comes looking for lodging and finds nowhere to stay? So I stayed, thinking of it as accumulating good karma. Who would’ve thought I’d welcome noble guests like you again today—it’s truly my fortune!"

Wei Shao and Xiao Qiao exchanged a smile.

Their journey along the Yellow River was nearing its end, and they were about to return to Luodu when they suddenly learned that Wu Chao Ferry was just ahead. Remembering how Wei Shao had gone south to fetch Xiao Qiao from her family home years ago, only to miss her, and how they had reunited at the ferry’s inn on his way back, they couldn’t resist making a special trip to revisit the place.

Before arriving, they had heard from local officials that Wu Chao Ferry had fallen into decline and didn’t expect the inn to still be there. To their surprise, not only did it remain, but the innkeeper even recalled their past visit, filling them with nostalgia.

That night, Wei Shao and Xiao Qiao spent an extraordinarily beautiful evening in the shabby yet clean inn. Even at midnight, reluctant to sleep, Wei Shao held Xiao Qiao as they sat side by side by the window, whispering and reminiscing about that time. Even the wariness and suspicion they had felt toward each other back then now seemed sweet under the moonlight.

Outside, the moonlight flowed like water. Suddenly, Wei Shao remembered the nameless hill they had climbed together in the snow years ago. Stirred by the memory, he pulled Xiao Qiao up, dressed her layer by layer, carried her outside onto his horse, and rode off along the old path.

Under the moonlight, the horse’s hooves clopped steadily, while a line of discreet guards followed silently in the distance.

Wei Shao finally found the hill from years past. Holding Xiao Qiao’s hand, they climbed to the top together once more.

Above them, the bright moon hung in the sky; in the distance, mountains rolled across the plains. At their feet, the Yellow River surged, its waters roaring. The mountain wind tugged at their sleeves as Wei Shao tightly embraced Xiao Qiao, who leaned against him. Overwhelmed with emotion, he suddenly shouted into the distance: "By heaven! I wish to grow old with you! Life after life, never apart! Even if the great river runs dry, my heart will never waver!"

Xiao Qiao was startled at first, then laughed, worried his outburst might be heard by the hidden guards. She reached to cover his mouth.

But the moment her hand touched him, she paused, gazing up at his excited eyes under the moonlight. Suddenly, she punched his arm lightly and scolded him in a low voice, "You fool," before wrapping her arms tightly around his neck and kissing him.

...

"Manman, if I had never met you, what would I be like now?" the man asked.

"But you’ve already met me, Wei Shao," the woman laughed.The moonlight cast silent shadows, and the Milky Way flowed like a tranquil river, quietly watching the pair of lovers atop the hill by the great river's edge.

Author's Note:

Finally, the last word has been written. I won’t lie—I moved myself to tears, haha, all for the beautiful love between our male and female leads.

Thank you, dear readers, for accompanying me on this journey. Though the story ends here, their happiness will continue forever.

Penglai looks forward to meeting you all again in the next tale.