The Prisoner of Beauty

Wei Yan did not live with the Wei family; he had moved out on his own long ago and had a residence in the city.

For the past two years, Wei Shao had not been in Youzhou often, leaving the defense of the region to Wei Yan. Wei Yan stationed his troops in Daijun, and his residence remained mostly vacant during that time. Now that he had returned, the servants and maids were naturally all in place. Inviting Wei Shao to his home, they entered through the main gate, passed the hanging flower gate, and arrived at a flower hall in the courtyard. Wei Yan ordered the candles to be lit brightly, and the servants quickly prepared a table of exquisite dishes and brought out wine. Wei Yan personally filled Wei Shao's cup and said, "With the capture of Shiyi, Bingzhou is like an open door, and the westward advance to swallow Jinyang is within reach. Congratulations! I toast to Zhonglin!"

"Youzhou is the foundation of the Wei family, and it has remained as solid as a rock for many years. Elder Brother's contributions surpass even mine. I toast to Elder Brother as well!"

The two sat down and each drank a cup. Wei Yan noticed Wei Shao swirling his wine cup and sniffing the wine, so he smiled and said, "How is it? Do you understand why I invited you to my home? Since ancient times, it has been said that Zhao wine is strong, Yan wine is mellow, and Qin wine is astringent. Some time ago, I acquired a wine servant whose ancestors were wine craftsmen in the Zhao palace. The wine he brews is exceptionally strong and rare. With such a treasure, how could I enjoy it alone? Naturally, I had to invite my younger brother to share it with me." He filled the cup again and laughed, "With fine wine, how could we lack beautiful women?" With that, he clapped his hands, and from behind the beaded curtain, the sound of strings and flutes began to play, melodious and harmonious. A line of colorfully dressed, elegant women filed out, dancing gracefully to the music. They were all Wei Yan's household courtesans, their figures enchanting, as if floating like immortals.

Wei Yan gestured for the most beautiful among them to come and accompany Wei Shao in drinking. Wei Shao waved his hand, indicating that she need not come closer. Wei Yan was momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter, teasing, "Zhonglin is still the same as before—pure-hearted and abstinent, avoiding lust as if it were evil! It was like this in the past, and now that you have a lovely wife at home, such common beauties are even less likely to catch Zhonglin's eye."

Wei Shao smiled but did not argue, simply picking up the wine jug and pouring himself another cup.

"Very well, since you are my guest here, I shall respect your wishes. If the guest does not like it, we shall remove it, so as not to disturb our brotherly conversation!"

Wei Yan waved his hand, and the steward attending the table immediately signaled the musicians to stop. The dancers quickly retreated as they had come. After a few more cups, Wei Yan asked about the defenses of Shiyi, reminding Wei Shao to be wary of Chen Xiang's counterattack.

Wei Shao replied, "For now, Gongsun Yang is temporarily holding the fort for me, so there shouldn't be any major issues. The only headache is that Chen Pang refuses to surrender. Chen Pang has been governing the people of Shiyi for many years and has won their hearts. If he does not surrender, I fear the people of Shiyi will remain loyal to Bingzhou."

Wei Yan said, "It would be best if Chen Pang surrendered. If he truly refuses, then killing him to set an example for the people is the way to go. Keeping him alive for too long will only lead to trouble. If he won't accept the toast, then bring out the punishment! Combining kindness and authority is the way of military strategy."

Wei Shao replied, "I think the same way. However, Gongsun Yang advised me to be more patient. Let's leave it for now. I may go and take another look in a few days."

Wei Yan said, "Do you know why you were called the 'Little Overlord' in your youth? You were fierce, highly opinionated, and did as you pleased. If this had happened a few years earlier, ten Chen Pangs would have lost their heads. If I'm not mistaken, it's because you yourself don't want to kill Chen Pang yet that you're sparing his life. If you truly wanted him dead, even Gongsun Yang's advice wouldn't stop you. I see that your temperament has mellowed quite a bit compared to before."

Wei Shao smiled and said, "Let's not talk about the past. It's been a long time since we brothers last met. Drinking is what matters now." With that, he poured Wei Yan another cup.Wei Yan smiled as he picked up the wine cup, bringing it to his nose to savor the aroma. Suddenly, the scene from earlier in the day when he first encountered that young woman at the painting shop flashed before his eyes.

Although it was just a fleeting glimpse, he had indeed been struck by her beauty. Her face was so exquisite that he had never seen its equal in his life. While her figure might not have the allure of a mature woman, based on his past experiences, he could tell at a glance that there was something special about her. Her beauty was a blend of a maiden's purity and a young woman's charm, which had truly captivated him at that moment. Seeing that this young woman, whose identity he didn't know, seemed to dislike his gaze, she turned her back to him. Yet, her raven-black hair and collar couldn't hide the jade-like nape of her neck, half-hidden and half-revealed, as smooth as mutton-fat jade, stirring even more fantasies in him. At that moment, his heart stirred. Forget about a mere painting frame adorned with red silk and gold, even if it meant plucking stars from the sky to win a smile from her, he would find a way to do it.

In his early years, he had followed Madam Xu's arrangement and married a wife, but she passed away after a couple of years. Since then, he had not remarried, remaining single until now. However, unlike Wei Shao, he never practiced abstinence and always had women around him. Though he never lacked female companionship, none had ever touched his heart, and there were even some whose faces he couldn't remember the next day after spending a night with them.

But today, encountering this young woman who seemed to have just married, it had stirred such restlessness in him, a feeling he had never experienced before.

Given his status and position, there was no woman he couldn't have. Even the wives of the noble families in Luoyang, if he truly fancied them, were not beyond his reach. Yet, he never expected that after following her carriage, he would see her enter through the gates of the Wei family.

"Cousin, I brought Grandmother back. On the way, she mentioned you several times. She said you are alone now, with no one to take care of your daily needs. And you refuse to move back home. Grandmother is quite worried. Your reluctance to return must be because of my mother, right?"

Madam Zhu had never liked Wei Yan. When they used to live together, although she didn't go out of her way to make things difficult for him, she seemed to be on guard against him everywhere. Wei Yan had noticed this and moved out on his own when he was seventeen or eighteen, living independently until now.

As Wei Yan was lost in thought, he suddenly heard Wei Shao speak. Coming back to his senses, he smiled and said, "What does Aunt have to do with it? I'm just used to being free and don't want to be restrained under Grandmother's watchful eyes." He suddenly remembered something and added, "If Grandmother is planning to arrange another marriage for me this time, let me know so I can return to Daijun early."

Wei Shao smiled and said, "Grandmother is just concerned."

Wei Yan chuckled, "If she arranges a marriage like yours for me, I wouldn't mind."

Wei Shao, who was pouring wine, paused mid-air and looked up at Wei Yan.

Realizing he had spoken out of turn, Wei Yan quickly covered up with a smile, "Your wife is exceptionally beautiful, a rare sight in the world. You are truly blessed, Zhonglin. Not only do you have beauty, but also Yanzhou. Grandmother's arrangement for this marriage couldn't have been better."

Wei Shao smiled, filled a cup, raised it in a toast to Wei Yan, and slowly drank it down.

...

Wei Shao returned close to midnight. As he entered, his steps were slightly unsteady. When he crossed the threshold of the door that he had damaged and had just been repaired a few days ago, a wave of drunkenness seemed to wash over him. He paused for a moment, reaching out to steady himself on the door.Xiao Qiao had developed the habit of going to bed early over the past two years. Truth be told, there wasn’t much else to do besides sleeping early. Normally at this time, unless she was troubled and couldn’t sleep, she would already be asleep. Earlier, unable to wait any longer, she had gone to bed first, leaning against the headboard. The room was quiet, and she was gradually drifting into sleep when she was startled awake by the commotion caused by Wei Shao’s return. She quickly threw on her clothes and got out of bed to greet him. Seeing him stop at the doorway, reeking of alcohol, she knew he was drunk and called for the maids to help him inside.

Two or three maids hurried over from outside, trying to support Wei Shao from both sides.

Wei Shao raised his eyes and glanced at Xiao Qiao, who was standing in front of him but hadn’t come too close. He noticed she was looking at him with a concerned expression. Perhaps the alcohol he had consumed tonight was stronger than usual, as a wave of nausea rose in his chest, and he couldn’t help but feel another surge of drunkenness. He shook off the maids who were trying to support his arms, stepped over the threshold, and walked inside.

Xiao Qiao had only been living with Wei Shao for a couple of days, but she had already observed that he seemed to place great importance on cleanliness. Although he often wore dark colors, there was a meticulousness about him. The maids in the west wing, who had served him for a long time, knew that the Lord had the habit of bathing and changing clothes daily. The previous maid, Wang Ao, was no longer in the west wing, and a new maid surnamed Lin had just ordered water to be brought in upon his return, quickly preparing everything.

Lin Ao also knew that the Lord disliked having people around while he bathed. After preparing the bath, she led the others out to wait, planning to return later to clean up.

“The bath is ready. Would you like to go and bathe, my Lord?”

Xiao Qiao asked him.

Wei Shao ignored her, turning his back to her as he unbuckled his sword and placed it with a loud “thud” on the sword rack. He then turned and headed toward the bathing room.

Xiao Qiao knew that he didn’t need anyone to assist him during his bath, let alone her. Seeing him unbuttoning his robe as he walked, his figure disappearing into the bathing room, she felt it inappropriate to go back to bed and decided to wait.

She waited for a while. At first, she could hear the sound of splashing water from inside. Then it grew quiet, and there was no more movement.

Xiao Qiao hesitated, feeling that something was off. Finally, she stood up, held her breath, and tiptoed toward the bathing room. She lifted a corner of the curtain, peeking inside through a narrow gap.

Wei Shao was leaning back in the bathtub, his arms spread out on the edges of the tub, his head slightly tilted back, and his eyes closed.

He had fallen asleep.

Xiao Qiao, of course, had no fondness for this man.

But now, she didn’t particularly wish for him to slip into a deep sleep and possibly drown. After a moment’s hesitation, she called out, “My Lord.”

He seemed to be in a deep sleep and didn’t respond.

Xiao Qiao raised her voice.

Still, there was no reaction.

Xiao Qiao walked in, picked up a wooden ladle used for bathing, reached over, and poked his arm, calling out again, “My Lord.”

This time, Wei Shao finally reacted. His eyelids fluttered slightly, and then he slowly opened his eyes.

His face still showed signs of heavy intoxication. Water droplets clung to his skin, making his dark eyebrows appear even more pronounced. With his head slightly tilted back, his Adam’s apple stood out prominently, and his broad shoulders, arms, and chest, exposed above the water, revealed taut muscles that glistened with a warm, coppery sheen in the candlelight.

As soon as he opened his eyes, Xiao Qiao averted her gaze, focusing instead on a bath towel draped over the edge of the tub, and said, “You fell asleep just now.”Wei Shao closed his eyes for a moment, raising his hand to rub his forehead as if he had a headache. Then he moved his shoulders and slowly straightened his body, his gaze fixed on her.

Xiao Qiao turned and walked out.

Behind her, there was a loud splash of water, as if he had stood up.

Xiao Qiao quickened her pace.

"My clothes, hand them to me."

His voice came from behind, slightly hoarse.

Xiao Qiao had no choice but to stop, take one of his garments from the rack where clean clothes were placed, and return to hand it to him.

He had already stepped out, casually wrapping a large towel around his waist. He took the clothes, put them on, and loosely tied the belt. The towel fell to the ground, and he walked out barefoot.

It was unclear how much he had drunk that night, but he was clearly heavily intoxicated. The bathhouse was dimly lit and filled with steam. As he turned, he didn’t notice a nearby basin stand. Xiao Qiao watched as he walked straight into it.

Being tall, there was a loud "bang" as his forehead hit the horizontal beam.

The stand was made of hard wood, so the impact must have been quite solid.

He paused.

"Tsk—"

Xiao Qiao heard him hiss softly, raising his hand to cover his forehead.

Though she couldn’t see his expression, she could easily imagine it.

She couldn’t help it—a small snort escaped her.

The sound was very, very soft, barely escaping her throat before she suppressed it. But Wei Shao’s ears seemed particularly sharp at that moment. He suddenly turned his head.

His brows furrowed as he glared at her.

Xiao Qiao immediately put on a serious expression.

He slowly lowered the hand covering his forehead.

"Who put this stand here?" His voice sounded displeased.

"It’s always been here," Xiao Qiao said softly.

"If it’s in the way, I’ll have them take it away."

She added.

Wei Shao glared at her again.

"No need."

He said coldly, bypassing the stand and finally leaving the bathhouse.

Xiao Qiao bit her lip and followed him out, opening the door to let Lin Ao and the others in to clean up. The maids quickly tidied up and left the room.

Xiao Qiao closed the door and turned to see that he was already lying on the bed, his eyes closed.

She walked over, blew out the lamp by the bed, and carefully climbed into bed in the dark, making sure not to touch him.

She had just lain down when, after a moment, Wei Shao spoke: "I’m thirsty."

Naturally, this meant he wanted her to fetch him water.

Xiao Qiao got up, careful not to touch him, climbed out of bed, lit the lamp, poured a cup of tea from the table, and brought it to the bedside.

Wei Shao sat up, took it, and drank. Xiao Qiao placed the empty cup back on the table, extinguished the lamp again, and carefully returned to bed.

She had just lain down and hadn’t even adjusted her sleeping position when she heard Wei Shao speak again: "Still thirsty."

Xiao Qiao was puzzled. She suspected that she had somehow offended him earlier, and he was now using his drunkenness to deliberately order her around.

If this had been in her previous life, she would have kicked him out of bed right then and there, letting him drink to his heart’s content.

But here, it was a wife’s duty to serve her husband.

Xiao Qiao climbed down, lit the oil lamp, poured another cup of water, and brought it to the bedside.

Wei Shao opened his eyes, slowly sat up, took the water, and drank.

"Does my husband need more? Shall I pour another cup?"

Xiao Qiao asked him.Wei Shao handed the cup back to her, glanced at her, raised his brow slightly, and without answering, lay back down.

Xiao Qiao stood by the bed for a moment longer. Seeing that he seemed to have finally fallen asleep this time, she put the teacup back, blew out the lamp again, and slowly climbed onto the bed.

Before blowing out the lamp, she had noted the position of his legs and feet, carefully avoiding them as she climbed up. Unexpectedly, just as she settled in, one of his legs suddenly hooked, catching her off guard. She lost her balance and tumbled forward, pinning both of his legs beneath her.

Xiao Qiao felt something hard pressing against her chest and abdomen, as if she had landed on his knee. Startled, she quickly tried to push herself up with her hands on the bed. However, in the pitch darkness, she couldn’t see clearly, and one of her hands ended up pressing against his thigh. Before she could pull her hand back, she felt him suddenly sit up with a "whoosh." A dark shadow loomed before her as his upper body leaned down toward her.

"Was that funny just now?"

His breath was warm, carrying the strong scent of alcohol, but his voice was cold and sharp, echoing in Xiao Qiao’s ear.