The Prisoner of Beauty

The Wei family's residence embodied the grandeur typical of northern aristocratic mansions, while also adhering to the architectural standards of a marquisate. The main gate, with its three bays and single opening, was crowned with a hip-and-gable roof and rested on a massive stone base. The beams and lintels were adorned with colorful paintings of kui dragons, and a pair of bronze lions, each half the height of a man, stood guard on either side of the entrance. The front hall was expansive, and the rear living quarters were neatly divided by courtyard walls, connected by open courtyards, creating a layout that was both clear and spacious.

The most esteemed figure in the Wei household was undoubtedly Madam Xu, who currently resided in Wuzhong. Her residence was located in the central northern part of the compound, now left vacant. Wei Shao's mother, Zhu Shi, lived in the eastern quarters, while Xiao Qiao was settled in the opposite western wing.

The western wing, referred to as a "room," was in fact a sizable independent courtyard. Passing through two gates, traversing a series of courtyards and side rooms, one would finally reach the most private sleeping quarters, complete with side rooms and a small courtyard. Everything was well-appointed.

Over a dozen maids and servants knelt outside the western wing to welcome Xiao Qiao, addressing her as "Madam."

Although her return had not been announced in advance, the interior and exterior of the residence were spotless, with the sleeping quarters particularly immaculate.

From now on, Xiao Qiao would be living here permanently.

While Chun Niang and the maids were unpacking, Xiao Qiao noticed several sets of men's clothing and some daily utensils left in the room.

It seemed that Wei Shao had previously lived in this room when he was at home.

In Xindu, in front of Zhong Ao, Wei Shao had openly chosen to live separately from her, making no effort to conceal it. This indicated that he cared little about how his family viewed their marital relationship. Coupled with his habitual disdain for her, Xiao Qiao inferred that he would likely not force himself to share a room with her in the future.

For a newlywed "Madam," this was naturally a humiliation. By tomorrow, the Wei family's servants would undoubtedly be gossiping about her behind her back.

Trees have bark, and people have face. A tree cannot survive without its bark, and while a person can live without their dignity, it certainly makes life unpleasant.

Xiao Qiao was no exception. As a newcomer, who would want to become the subject of ridicule overnight? If she could put on a brave face, she would gladly endure the hardship.

But such matters were not something she could resolve on her own. Given that Wei Shao probably wished to swat her away like a fly, she could only try to make the best of it.

Fortunately, she had a broad mind and didn't dwell on things unnecessarily. This was perhaps her greatest strength, aside from her appearance.

So she specifically instructed Chun Niang to gather Wei Shao's belongings and set them aside, waiting for him to send someone to collect them.

...

Wei Shao had left her in the care of the steward with a single sentence and disappeared for the entire day.

The master of the Wei household naturally harbored no goodwill towards the Qiao family's daughter, and the servants likely felt the same. But not all of them.

While money might not buy loyalty, it could certainly buy information.

Back in Xindu, most of the servants in the palace were locals and knew little about the Wei family of Yuyang. Those who had come with Zhong Ao, fearing her, spoke hesitantly and were unwilling to reveal much. After settling here, Chun Niang, with her experience in managing servants from the Qiao family, quickly learned many detailed things about the Wei family and Madam Zhu from a servant woman named Bing Nu in the western wing.In the current era, marriage alliances are prevalent, with a strong emphasis on matching social statuses, especially among prominent families. Compared to the Wei family, Madam Zhu's family background was somewhat humble. Her father was initially a postal official in Zhuojun, later joined the military, and was promoted to a lieutenant general due to his merits. He was highly regarded by Wei Shao's grandfather. During a battle, he took a fatal arrow meant for Wei Shao's grandfather and died from his injuries. Filled with guilt and gratitude, Wei Shao's grandfather arranged for his eldest son, Wei Jing, to marry Madam Zhu's daughter, who was of similar age and appearance.

After marrying into the Wei family, Madam Zhu gave birth to two sons. The eldest, Wei Bao, styled Bogong, and the second, Wei Shao, styled Zhonglin. Unfortunately, ten years ago, she lost both her husband and eldest son simultaneously. Overwhelmed by grief, Madam Zhu struggled to recover from the blow and eventually became deeply involved with shamans, placing great faith in them.

Madam Xu's attitude towards Madam Zhu has always been neither cold nor warm. Madam Zhu, in turn, harbored some fear towards her mother-in-law, who hailed from the Zhongshan Kingdom. The relationship between the two women was not close. In recent years, as Wei Shao took full control of the military, Madam Xu stepped back from managing affairs, spending most of her time in Wuzhong, leaving Madam Zhu alone in the grand residence in Yuyang.

Madam Zhu had an eighteen-year-old unmarried girl named Zheng Chuyu living with her, who was her niece. Zheng Chuyu's father was once a Minister of Agriculture but died prematurely, leaving her an orphan who sought refuge with her aunt. A few years ago, a shaman divined that Zheng Chuyu was a lucky charm for Madam Zhu, capable of warding off misfortune and attracting good fortune. Coincidentally, Madam Zhu fell ill around that time, and Zheng Chuyu cared for her day and night, leading to her recovery. Convinced of the shaman's prophecy, Madam Zhu grew increasingly fond of her niece. Due to Zheng Chuyu's modest background, Madam Zhu intended for her son to take her as a concubine. However, for reasons unknown, Wei Shao had not done so, and for the past two years, Madam Zhu had kept Zheng Chuyu by her side, treating her as if she were already Wei Shao's concubine. The household referred to her as Zheng Shu.

"Madam, do you know why Marquis Wei has not yet married even though he is past the age of twenty? Besides Zheng Shu, there was actually another..."

Chun Niang leaned close to Xiao Qiao's ear, about to continue, when a servant named Bing Nu hurried over to relay that Madam Zhu had returned from Yushan, and the lord had also returned. They were requested to go together to pay respects to the elders.

Chun Niang stopped speaking.

Xiao Qiao was already dressed appropriately and did not need to change. She glanced at the mirror, took a beautifully crafted piece of needlework prepared by Chun Niang, and walked out the door.

Wei Shao was standing at the fork in the corridor leading to the east wing, apparently waiting for her.

Apart from his battle attire, he usually wore only green robes. In Xindu, Xiao Qiao had encountered him several times, always dressed in a dark green robe. Fortunately, his face was pleasant enough to offset the somberness of the color. At this moment, he was also wearing a dark green robe, but compared to Xiao Qiao's, his was much looser, with a wide jade-inlaid belt cinching his narrow waist and broad back. His posture was straight, and as the wind swept past, lifting the hem of his robe, he appeared less stern than usual, exuding a somewhat dashing and carefree aura.

In reality, from the moment Xiao Qiao heard Bing Nu's message to her arrival, no more than half a quarter of an hour had passed. The courtyard path was not short, and walking took some time. Yet, he seemed already quite impatient, with his hands clasped behind his back. Hearing her footsteps approach, he turned his head, saw her coming, and then headed towards the east wing.He walked quickly, and with his long legs, he soon left Xiao Qiao behind. At first, Xiao Qiao quickened her pace, but seeing that she couldn't catch up, she called out to his back, "Husband, could you slow down a bit?"

Wei Shao seemed to pause for a moment, then stopped and glanced back at her.

Xiao Qiao lifted her skirt and hurried a few steps to catch up to his side, smiling slightly, "I dressed formally to meet the elders, and my skirt is a bit narrow, so I can't walk fast. You're taller than me, with longer legs. If you walk any faster, I'll have to run to keep up."

Standing beside him now, she only reached his shoulder. In later times, such a height difference might be considered the "cutest height gap," but here, it didn't feel as charming to Xiao Qiao.

Wei Shao glanced at her again.

After speaking, she pursed her lips, the corners naturally curving upward slightly, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him with a smile.

Wei Shao wasn't really inclined to respond. But for some reason, he found it hard to be cold with her. Finally, he gave a reluctant "Hmm," his expression stiff and cold, slightly raising his chin to signal her to follow, then turned and walked forward again.

This time, his pace indeed slowed. Xiao Qiao easily walked alongside him and entered the east room.

There were no fewer than twenty maids in the east room, all gathered along the corridor. Seeing Wei Shao leading Xiao Qiao over, they came out and knelt. Under the gaze of a crowd—some admiring, some curious, some disdainful—Xiao Qiao followed Wei Shao into the large room where Madam Zhu was.

The room was exquisitely furnished, with a strong scent of musk in the air. Madam Zhu, Wei Shao's mother, must have changed her attire after returning. She sat upright on a square couch surrounded by a low rosewood screen. In her forties, slightly plump, dressed in luxurious clothes, and adorned with jewels, she must have been a beauty in her youth. Even now, her features were still quite regular, though perhaps due to a long habit of keeping a stern face, the corners of her mouth drooped slightly, with two deep nasolabial lines on either side, making her appear older and giving her face a haughty expression. Below her, a young woman in light purple knelt, about seventeen or eighteen years old. The color of her dress highlighted her fair complexion and enhanced her delicate beauty. Seeing Wei Shao enter, her face flushed slightly, and she quickly rose from the couch to greet him, calling him "cousin" with a graceful and gentle demeanor.

Wei Shao responded indifferently. The woman had deliberately dressed up, but seeing that he didn't pay much attention to her, a faint disappointment appeared in her eyes, which then settled on Xiao Qiao.

Xiao Qiao knew this woman must be Zheng Shu, Wei Shao's cousin. After a brief glance, she followed Wei Shao to Madam Zhu's couch and stood quietly by his side.

Madam Zhu seemed not to notice Xiao Qiao from the moment she entered. She only showed a warm, affectionate smile to her son, beckoning him to sit beside her, constantly examining him, touching his arm, first lamenting how he had grown thinner and darker over the past six months, then asking about his daily life, and finally inquiring about the military situation. After Wei Shao briefly mentioned a few things, she sighed, "As a woman, I don't understand military affairs, but even though you say it's going well, I know it's dangerous. Zhonglin, you must take good care of yourself and not let anything happen."

Wei Shao gently reassured Madam Zhu with a few words.Madam Zhu nodded, "Though the world is fraught with peril, my son is blessed with good fortune and divine protection. I have little to worry about, except for the treachery of human hearts..."

She cast her first glance at Xiao Qiao since her arrival, a look filled with loathing and hatred.

"Zhonglin, if your father had not been so easily swayed by others, he would not have met such a tragic end. Even now, the thought of your father and brother's deaths causes me such pain that I cannot sleep at night, wishing I could tear the flesh from our enemies with my own teeth. You must remember this lesson and never trust others so easily again!"

The phrase "tear the flesh from our enemies with my own teeth" was uttered with such venom, each word spat out with biting intensity. Her gaze fixed on Xiao Qiao's face, no longer just filled with loathing and hatred, but with a sharp, almost ferocious edge, as if she truly wished to bite the flesh from her body.

Xiao Qiao had prepared herself for Madam Zhu's disdain, but she had not expected it to be so direct and vicious. It was the first time she had encountered such hostility, and her previous mental preparations were insufficient. She couldn't help but shiver, her face paling slightly, her fingertips turning cold.

Wei Shao glanced at Xiao Qiao and said to Madam Zhu, "I understand, Mother. There's no need for you to worry." He then added, "You must be tired from your journey back from the mountains today. I’ve brought my new wife to pay her respects, and then you can rest early." With that, he stood up and moved to a kneeling cushion placed in front of Madam Zhu's couch.

Xiao Qiao steadied herself and quickly moved to another cushion, kneeling down beside the man. Together, they bowed their heads in a formal kowtow to Madam Zhu on the couch.

Madam Zhu's face was stern, her eyes focused solely on her son, not sparing a single glance for Xiao Qiao.

After completing the kowtow, Xiao Qiao remained kneeling, as per custom, holding up the prepared needlework with both hands, raising it above her head, waiting for someone to take it.

She kept her head down, her arms raised for a long time, but there was no movement. Just as her arms began to ache and she was on the verge of giving up, a hand reached over from the side and took the needlework, placing it in front of Madam Zhu's couch.

"Mother, if there’s nothing else, we’ll take our leave now," Wei Shao's voice rang out.

Xiao Qiao lowered her arms and slowly rose from the kneeling cushion.

"Let her go. You stay. I have more to say," Madam Zhu said coldly.

Xiao Qiao bowed to the woman on the couch and silently turned to leave.

"Yuer, you may leave as well. I need to speak with your cousin," Madam Zhu said, turning to Zheng Chuyu, who had been standing by her side. Her face softened into a kind smile.

Zheng Chuyu glanced at Wei Shao, nodded gently, and bowed to both of them before following Xiao Qiao out.

...

"Zhonglin! You’re not really planning to take her to pay respects at the family shrine tomorrow, are you?" Madam Zhu asked immediately once they were alone.

Wei Shao's expression remained impassive as he uttered two words, "Of course not!"

Madam Zhu seemed to relax, letting out a soft snort. "Good. I was afraid you’d been bewitched by that Qiao woman’s beauty and forgotten the enmity against your father and brother! Earlier, I just wanted to make her suffer a bit more, but you had to go and take that thing for me. Who wants it? Just looking at it makes me sick!"Wei Shao slightly furrowed his brow, "That's enough. I have matters to attend to later and cannot keep delaying here. If Mother dislikes it, feel free to discard or cut it as you wish."

Seeing that her son seemed somewhat displeased, Madam Zhu relented and changed her tone, "You've been away for half a year again, and Yu'er misses you dearly. Tonight..."

"Tonight, I will stay in Xiao Qiao's chamber," Wei Shao interrupted Madam Zhu. "Mother, this is the last time I will say this: I have no feelings whatsoever for my cousin. It would be best if you find a suitable family for her to marry into soon. Don't let her waste her youth in vain, only to regret it later!"

Madam Zhu glared at her son in anger, and after a long pause, she retorted, "Fine! I've worked so hard to raise you, and this is how you repay me? I'm not forcing you to do anything else, just to take Yu'er into your chamber. Your father's lineage now rests solely on you. You're already twenty-two, not young by any means, and still without an heir. Finally, you marry, but you choose a daughter of the Qiao family! I couldn't go against your grandmother's decision; she had the final say, and I had to accept it. But how can a girl from such a family bear children for our Wei family? She will be divorced sooner or later! What exactly is it about Yu'er that displeases you so much, to the point of angering me like this?"

Suddenly, as if remembering something, Madam Zhu's eyes widened in realization.

"Could it be that you still can't forget that Su Nu from before? Not only did you delay marrying, but you also keep refusing to take a concubine!"

A shadow passed through Wei Shao's eyes, but his expression grew even colder. He replied indifferently, "Mother, you're overthinking it. I'm busy with military affairs all year round, with no time to dwell on such romantic matters. Let's not bring up Chu Yu again in the future. I have other matters to attend to and will take my leave now. It would be best for Mother to rest early."

Wei Shao gave a slight bow to Madam Zhu and then turned and left.

Madam Zhu stared at her son's retreating figure, her face filled with anger. Suddenly, she caught sight of the embroidery Xiao Qiao had presented, still lying on the couch. She grabbed it, picked up a pair of scissors, and with gritted teeth, cut it into two pieces. Finally, she threw both the embroidery and the scissors onto the ground.

...

Chun Niang was waiting for Xiao Qiao outside the eastern courtyard. Seeing her emerge, she approached and silently accompanied her for a while before returning to their quarters. After dismissing the servants, she inquired about what had just transpired.

Xiao Qiao had already composed herself, and Chun Niang saw no need to hide anything. She briefly recounted her encounter with Madam Zhu.

After a long silence, Chun Niang said, "My lady, Madam Zhu harbors such hatred for you that winning her favor seems impossible. Now, we can only look to Madam Xu. If Madam Xu feels the same, my lady..."

She hesitated, then leaned closer to Xiao Qiao's ear and whispered, "Have you considered subtly serving Marquis Wei to gain his protection? Back in Xindu, I noticed that although Marquis Wei treated you coldly due to the old enmity between the families, he didn't seem like someone who took pleasure in cruelty or was inherently evil. Today, I overheard Bing Nu saying that Marquis Wei rarely stays here throughout the year. If Madam Zhu hates you so much, and Madam Xu feels the same, once Marquis Wei leaves, you'll be left alone. How will you manage then?"

Xiao Qiao looked at Chun Niang, surprised by the sudden suggestion she had offered.Chun Niang affectionately stroked her long hair and sighed, "When I was still in Xindu, I had wanted to advise you, my lady. I also knew that this was unfair to you. Chun Niang is but a foolish person, and you, my lady, are a hundred times smarter than me. If I speak out of turn, please punish me as you see fit."

Xiao Qiao shook her head, "I know you mean well. We’ve just arrived, so there’s no rush. Let’s wait until after we’ve met Madam Xu."

She smiled as she spoke.

……

Xiao Qiao was actually very tired that day. But the scene she witnessed when she met Madam Zhu in the evening kept her awake late into the night.

She suddenly missed Da Qiao very much. More than ever before.

Alone in bed, tossing and turning, she thought about how in her past life, Da Qiao must have been sent back to Yuyang by Wei Shao the day after the wedding, just like herself. However, she didn’t encounter any mishaps on the way and ended up here alone. When she faced Madam Zhu alone, experiencing a scene like hers, how did she manage to get through it? And how did she endure countless days and nights alone until the very end, when her nominal husband, who had become emperor, deposed her, watched him make another woman his empress, and then, in what despair and sorrow, did she end her life by suicide?

Although she knew that in this lifetime, she would never suffer such a tragic fate again, Xiao Qiao’s heart still felt unbearably heavy, grateful that she had made the right decision in the final months of last year.

Now, she just missed Da Qiao terribly, very much wanting to know where she was, and how she and her lover Bi Zhi were faring.

Suddenly, there was a familiar sound of footsteps outside the door.

It seemed...

Was it Wei Shao?

It was already very late. He hadn’t sent anyone to fetch his belongings. Either he didn’t need them, or perhaps, he had come to get them himself?

Xiao Qiao was somewhat puzzled and was still straining her ears to listen to the commotion outside when the door seemed to be pushed, but since she had bolted it from the inside, it didn't open.

"Madam! The Lord has arrived!"

Chun Niang's voice came through.

Xiao Qiao's heart skipped a beat.

It was indeed him!

"Coming!"

She responded, quickly sitting up from the bed, pulling a garment over herself, hastily adjusting her clothes, tying her belt, and then stepping down to open the door.

Sure enough, Wei Shao was standing outside.

"The Lord will rest here."

Chun Niang hurried in, her face showing a hint of joy, and whispered to Xiao Qiao.

This was quite unexpected. While Xiao Qiao was still in shock, Wei Shao, looking weary, stepped in and headed straight for the bathroom, saying, "Bring my clothes in—"

He took two steps, then suddenly noticed his neatly folded clothes and some daily utensils placed on the table. He stopped, slowly turned his head, and looked at Xiao Qiao.

Xiao Qiao immediately felt a pang of embarrassment. She hurried over to block his view and explained in as casual a tone as possible, "The maid said this place hasn't been lived in for a long time, and I was afraid of mold and bugs, so I did some pest control during the day. I temporarily took out your clothes and other items and forgot to put them back just now..."

Wei Shao kept staring at her.

She couldn't help but feel a bit breathless, and her voice grew softer and softer. After finishing her explanation, she saw him curl his lips slightly, revealing that expression she was somewhat familiar with.

"Put them back. From now on, I'll be living here!"

After saying this, Wei Shao turned and walked towards the bathroom.