The Prisoner of Beauty

At night, the Wei residence was brightly lit.

Having been bustling all day, Madam Xu, who was advanced in years, inevitably felt weary by this hour. After showing her face at the occasion, she had retired to the north wing to rest. The female guests had also gradually dispersed, leaving only the men to continue their socializing.

Wei Shao had been busy since early morning, attending to guests and seeing them off. It was nearly the end of the Xu hour, and he hadn't even had time for dinner. After bidding farewell to a few distant guests, he hurried back. As he reached the steps beneath the arched gate, he suddenly heard someone call out, "Marquis Wei, please wait!" Turning around, he recognized a minor official who had come with the envoy from the King of Zhongshan and stopped in his tracks.

The official approached Wei Shao and bowed respectfully. Wei Shao acknowledged him with a perfunctory nod. The official flattered him with a few words, but noticing Wei Shao's apparent distraction, he smiled and said, "Marquis Wei, you probably don't recognize me. I once served the Su family in the State of Zhongshan many years ago. I had the honor of seeing you several times when Madam Yulou was still in her maidenhood. Do you recall?"

Wei Shao was slightly taken aback. He stared at the official for a moment, then paused and asked, "What is it?"

The official glanced around, and seeing no one nearby, took a step closer. He pulled out a delicately embroidered purple silk sachet sealed with fine silk from his robe and presented it with both hands, whispering, "Marquis Wei, you may not know this, but I came to Yuyang with the envoy not only to celebrate Elder Madam's birthday but also to deliver a letter on someone's behalf. Madam Yulou was delighted to hear of your marriage and originally intended to come to Yuyang herself to pay her respects to Elder Madam and congratulate you on your wedding. However, she is currently in Luoyang, tied up with mundane affairs and unable to leave. Knowing that I was coming to Yuyang, she asked me to deliver this letter as a token of her congratulations."

Wei Shao gazed at the exquisitely embroidered purple silk sachet in the official's hands but remained silent and motionless.

Seeing that Wei Shao did not take it, the official glanced up cautiously.

Two lanterns hung at the gate, swaying in the night breeze, casting a flickering red light. Wei Shao's face was also bathed in an uncertain, hazy red glow.

He seemed to be lost in thought, his eyes dark and blending into the surrounding dimness of the night, making it hard to discern his expression.

The official gently placed the sachet on the side of the steps, bowed to Wei Shao, and took a few steps back. As he turned to leave hurriedly, he suddenly heard Wei Shao's voice: "Convey my thanks to Madam Yulou for her kind thoughts. That will be all."

His voice was deep. After speaking, he stepped over the sachet on the steps and strode away.

...

After seeing off the last guest, Wei Shao ran into Wei Yan, who had just returned from seeing off his own guests. They handed over the remaining tasks to the household steward, exchanged a few words, and then parted ways.

Wei Yan exited the Wei residence, took the horsewhip from his long-time attendant Zhang Lan, mounted his horse, and returned to his residence. It was already midnight.

Having been busy all day and not having eaten much, Wei Yan went to the bathhouse, changed into loose clothing, and sat by the window, pouring himself a drink. After half a bottle of wine, the image of Qiao Nu involuntarily floated before his eyes once more.During the day in the longevity hall, she was radiant and unparalleled, not only beautiful but also remarkably intelligent, which surprised him. In the evening, when escorting Madam Xu back to the northern house, she also accompanied Madam Xu by her side. At that time, the lights in the corridor were dim, and she stood far away among a group of women, yet he still caught sight of her at a glance. Under the hazy night, his gaze remained fixed on her, unable to look away. However, her demeanor was as sacred as a goddess, untouchable, and from beginning to end, she did not glance at him even once.

Wei Yan gradually felt a heat in his abdomen, as if an inexplicable fire had been ignited within him. Although wine was in front of him, his mouth felt dry and hot. Turning his face, he saw the favored concubine serving beside him looking at him with tender affection. He smiled, pushed the wine cup aside, and casually pulled her over to sit on his lap. Closing his eyes, he lowered his head and deeply inhaled the faint orchid fragrance emanating from the back of her neck and collar. His mind once again conjured the image of her jade-like neck, revealed when she had her back to him during their first encounter at the painting shop. Her skin was fresh and tender, even showing the fine down on her ears, like that of a newborn. Suddenly, his entire body felt unbearably hot, and he could no longer restrain himself. He roughly pulled open the front of the concubine's robe from behind and heavily kneaded the fullness within.

The concubine did not know why he was so fierce tonight. Feeling the pain from his grip, she dared not resist and could only feign sounds of pleasure to please him.

Wei Yan's expression was tense as he laid the now disrobed concubine on the table, lifted his robe, and suddenly stopped, slowly raising his head.

A tall, dark figure appeared by the window, and Wei Yan immediately recognized the outline of the newcomer.

His gaze instantly turned grim, and the previous lust vanished, replaced by a surge of killing intent.

The concubine, who had closed her eyes awaiting his favor, suddenly noticed he had stopped. Puzzled, she opened her eyes and saw him seemingly staring out the window. Curious, she turned her head and was startled to see a dark figure standing there. She let out a scream.

"Get out."

Wei Yan slowly straightened up and spoke indifferently.

The concubine knew he was speaking to her. Hastily pulling her robe back to cover her chest, she lowered her head and hurriedly ran out of the room.

The dark figure by the window climbed in, dressed in Han attire. Removing his hat, he revealed the bearded face of a middle-aged man and bowed deeply to Wei Yan, saying, "Huyan Lie, the Thousand Cavalry Commander, comes to inquire after the young master's well-being."

Wei Yan coldly replied, "What are you doing here? This is Yuyang. Do you think there's no one in the city, or that I wouldn't kill you?"

The man said, "The King of the Day misses the young master. I was ordered to risk my life to come and invite the young master back. I was fortunate to evade the sentries. If the young master wishes to kill me, I am willing to die."

Wei Yan spoke word by word, "You are seeking death yourself." Before the words had fully left his mouth, with a clang and a flash of white light, Wei Yan drew his sword and thrust it straight into the man's left chest.

The sword slowly penetrated flesh and blood, and soon, dark red blood gushed from the man's chest, slowly spreading and dripping to the ground.

The man's face gradually paled as he knelt on one knee, his eyes fixed on Wei Yan, his shoulders not moving an inch.

"If I push it in another inch, do you think you can still live?" Wei Yan's gaze was severe.

"Everyone dies eventually. To die by the young master's sword, Huyan Lie has no regrets," the man said solemnly.

The Huyan surname is one of the prominent clans of the Xiongnu, known for their bravery and ferocity, with many of their members holding high positions in the royal court.Wei Yan narrowed his eyes slightly, and after a moment, slowly drew his sword. He took a cloth and wiped the blood from the blade, not looking up as he coldly said, "Leave before I change my mind. Don’t let me see you again."

The man tore a piece of his own clothing and hastily bound the wound that was still bleeding profusely. Pressing his hand against it, he slowly stood up from the ground and looked at Wei Yan. "Thank you, Young Master, for sparing my life. I risked my life to come here today with no other intention. The Prince knows that today is the birthday of the late Consort’s mother, and he sent me to offer his congratulations on his behalf. If the Young Master is willing to convey this message, twenty ingots of gold, twenty rolls of red and green silk, and twenty strong horses are prepared and waiting just outside Daijun City."

Wei Yan sneered.

"His intention is to make the Wei family aware of my true origins, so they will doubt and reject me?"

"The Prince has no such intention," Huyan Lie bowed to him. "If the Young Master is unwilling to convey the message, the Prince will have no choice but to let it go. I have brought a handwritten letter from the Prince. Please take a look."

Huyan Lie took a scroll of parchment from his robe and placed it on the corner of the table, then stepped back.

"I dare not disturb the Young Master’s peace any longer. I will take my leave now."

Huyan Lie knelt and bowed to Wei Yan once more.

"The Young Master’s veins flow with the hot blood of our bow-wielding people. The Prince thinks of you day and night. Now that the Chanyu is old and the Left Sage King is wary of the Prince at every turn, the Prince urgently needs the Young Master to return and lend his strength. With the Young Master’s great talent, shouldn’t you soar like an eagle in the sky? Are you truly content to spend your life in servitude, unable to fulfill your ambitions?"

Huyan Lie suddenly spoke, then stood up and, as before, climbed out through the window, his figure quickly disappearing into the darkness of the courtyard.

Wei Yan stood with the tip of his sword resting on the ground, staring at the scroll of parchment on the corner of the table, lost in thought for a long while.

...

Wei Shao headed toward the west wing.

He had been busy since early morning, receiving and seeing off guests, which was even more exhausting than leading troops on a campaign.

It was already very late, and the Wei residence, which had been bustling with activity all day, finally returned to tranquility under the night sky.

As Wei Shao reached the fork in the path, his gaze fell on the west wing to his left. In the distance, he saw the faint flicker of lantern light. He quickened his pace slightly but suddenly noticed Jiang Nao still standing by the roadside near the east wing.

Seeing him approach, Jiang Nao hurried forward and bowed. "Lord, are your affairs concluded? Madam instructed me to wait here for you and ask you to come and speak with her."

Wei Shao frowned, thought for a moment, and then turned toward the east wing. Entering the inner chamber, he glanced around and saw his mother, Zhu Shi, kneeling on the couch, attended by several maids. Zheng Shu was not present.

"Zhonglin, you’ve come?"

Zhu Shi was still dressed in her daytime attire for receiving guests. Seeing Wei Shao, her face lit up with joy, and she quickly rose from the couch to greet him personally.

Wei Shao entered the room and knelt down. "Mother, it’s late. Why haven’t you rested? What did you call me for?"

Zhu Shi looked at her son, her eyes filled with a trace of melancholy. "I missed my son, so I called you here. I just wanted to see you and talk with you like we did when you were a child. But now that you’ve grown up, you’ve become distant from me. Zhonglin, if there’s nothing urgent, can’t I call you to come?"Wei Shao was slightly taken aback and finally looked directly at Zhu Shi. Although her appearance hadn't changed much from before, upon closer inspection, he noticed a few strands of white hair mixed in at her temples, and the crow's feet at the corners of her eyes had become more pronounced. Unconsciously, she had aged compared to ten years ago.

He thought back to his childhood, when his mother had always favored him over his elder brother, and his heart softened a little.

His expression finally softened as he said, "It is my unfilialness. Mother's reprimand is justified. From now on, I will visit you more often."

Zhu Shi smiled and picked up a neatly folded set of undergarments from beside her, saying, "These are clothes I sewed for you myself. I used your old clothes that you left here as a reference. When you go back, try them on. If they don't fit well anywhere, let me know, and I'll adjust them for you."

Wei Shao hurriedly took them with both hands, placed them aside, and then knelt to thank Zhu Shi. Zhu Shi held her son and sighed, "Why so much ceremony with me? You are my son. Didn't you wear clothes I made for you often when you were little? Did you have to kneel and bow to me every time? Now that you're grown, you've become distant."

Wei Shao smiled without speaking.

"You've been busy all day, and I haven't seen you stop for a moment. You probably haven't had time to eat properly, so you must be hungry, right? I prepared something for you earlier, also made by my own hands—the sweet glutinous soup you loved most as a child. It's still warm."

Zhu Shi turned and called for a servant to bring the food. The servant quickly brought it over. Zhu Shi personally opened the lid of the bowl and smiled, "It's been a long time since I cooked. I don't know if it still suits your taste. Try it and see."

Wei Shao took it and quickly finished it.

"Was it good?"

Wei Shao put down the bowl and met his mother's expectant gaze, saying, "It was good."

Zhu Shi breathed a sigh of relief, "Good, then. I'll have someone serve you another bowl."

Wei Shao stopped her, smiling, "I'm already full. Thank you for your care, Mother. I was indeed a bit hungry earlier."

Zhu Shi laughed, "If you like it, I'll make it for you more often in the future. I know it's my fault. Over the past few years, because of Chu Yu, I've been pushing you, which has made us grow apart."

Wei Shao said, "Mother, hearing you say that makes me feel very ashamed."

Zhu Shi was lost in thought for a moment, then looked at Wei Shao and slowly said, "I know that I come from a humble background. Although I've done my best to serve your grandmother for half my life, she still looks down on me. After your father passed away, my situation became even more difficult. I don't resent it. I only blame myself for being foolish and not fulfilling my duties properly. Now she has decided that you should marry the Qiao girl from Yanzhou. You know about the deep-seated enmity between the Qiao family and our Wei family, so I initially disliked her. That day when you brought her home to pay respects, I gave her a cold reception. But after you left, Chu Yu advised me, saying that since Elder Madam had made this decision, there must be a deeper meaning behind it. Since you've married her, she is now part of our family, and I should treat her well to avoid putting you in a difficult position. I thought it made sense. What's done is done, and my opposition would be useless. If we get along well, I might have more companionship in the future. So the next day when she came, I intended to treat her kindly, but she..."

Zhu Shi paused."That morning she came to pay her respects and kneel before me. Although her manners were proper, I could tell she was still upset about my cold treatment the day before. After rising, she was about to leave, and I couldn't bring myself to stop her. Coincidentally, I had woken up early that day and hadn't eaten yet. It was Jiang Nao who meddled and asked her to cook a bowl of soup for me. I didn't really need her to do that, and I was afraid she might think I was still giving her a hard time, so I was about to stop her. Unexpectedly, she immediately changed her expression and used your grandmother to pressure me, saying she had to go back and copy scriptures for her. Her filial piety towards your grandmother left me no choice but to let her go."

Zhu Shi looked at her son with a bitter smile. "Zhonglin, your mother is just a useless person. Not only does my mother-in-law look down on me, but even my newly wed daughter-in-law has no regard for me. Do you know why I insist on you taking Chuyu? Over the years, you've always been away from home, and I've had no one to keep me company. Only Chuyu can ease my worries..."

Her eyes slowly reddened, and she took out a handkerchief to wipe the corner of her eye.

"A feudal lord has one wife and eight concubines. I haven't filled your chambers with so many people, only asking you to take Chuyu. Chuyu is no monster. Once she enters your household, she can not only keep me company but also help our Wei family flourish. Can't you even do this little thing for me?"

Wei Shao remained silent.

Zhu Shi's expectant gaze fell on his face, holding her breath as she waited.

Wei Shao hesitated for a moment, then finally raised his eyes and looked at Zhu Shi. "Mother, I understand your meaning. Please allow me some time to consider it."

Zhu Shi had been worried he would outright refuse, but hearing him agree to consider it, she was overjoyed and didn't dare push further. She quickly nodded and said, "It's good that you're willing to consider. Take your time; I won't pressure you."

Wei Shao smiled slightly. "It's late at night. Let me escort you to rest."

Zhu Shi nodded and was helped up by Wei Shao, who accompanied her to the door.

Wei Shao took the clothes Zhu Shi had made for him and left.

"Aunt, did cousin agree?"

As soon as Wei Shao left, Zheng Chuyu emerged from behind the screen in the room and asked.

Zhu Shi smiled and patted Zheng Chuyu's arm. "I didn't pressure him but appealed to his emotions, and it worked. Zhonglin agreed to consider it. Chuyu, your method is truly brilliant and clever."

Zheng Chuyu, however, was taken aback. "Aunt, did you say everything as I instructed?"

"Not a single word was left out."

Zheng Chuyu frowned slightly. "Aunt, even after you said all that, cousin still wants to consider it. I'm afraid he might just be perfunctory and refuse again in a couple of days. What should we do then?"

Zhu Shi was momentarily stunned, then said, "Don't worry. If he refuses again, I still have a method I obtained from the great shaman. Once the rice is cooked, Zhonglin will have no choice but to take you."

...

Wei Shao pushed open the door and stepped inside. Chun Niang followed him in, asking if he was hungry and exchanging a few words. Then, they heard footsteps, and as they turned, the curtain moved, and Xiao Qiao emerged. Although her clothes were still neat, her eyes were watery and slightly dazed, clearly having just struggled awake from sleep.

"Has my husband returned?" Xiao Qiao stood before him with a smile.

Wei Shao didn't even lift his eyelids. He turned and handed the clothes to Chun Niang, instructing her to wash them. "I just had a late-night snack in the east room; I'm not hungry. Prepare water for my bath."The maids hurriedly made preparations, and soon everything was ready. Wei Shao entered the bathhouse. Chun Niang noticed Xiao Qiao's eyes fixed on the clothes in her hands and, with a slight pout, whispered in a low voice, "They say Madam made them."

The sound of splashing water came from the bathroom, and Xiao Qiao glanced over her shoulder.

"I wonder what Madam said..."

Chun Niang looked somewhat worried.

Xiao Qiao said nothing. She changed her clothes, rubbed her eyes, and waited.

After a while, Wei Shao emerged from the bathroom. The maids tidied up and left, closing the door behind them. As on previous nights, Xiao Qiao waited for him to get into bed, then blew out the lamp and carefully climbed in to lie down.

Although she hadn’t done much physical labor during the day—since the task of receiving and seeing off female guests at the Wei household didn’t yet fall to her—she had spent the entire day attending to Madam Xu. Even so, she was thoroughly exhausted. Earlier, while waiting, she had dozed off. Now, she could finally sleep.

Xiao Qiao closed her eyes, and as her consciousness began to drift once more, she suddenly heard Wei Shao's voice beside her ear: "I heard that you refused to make even a bowl of soup for my mother? Those excuses about copying scriptures were just that—excuses, weren’t they?"

Xiao Qiao jolted awake, her eyes snapping open.

In the dim light, Wei Shao got out of bed, walked over, and relit the lamp.

The room brightened. Xiao Qiao watched as he returned to bed, reclining halfway against the headboard, his gaze fixed on her.

Though she had been nearly asleep earlier, she could still discern the accusatory tone in his words.

But now, his expression seemed calm, and it was hard to tell whether he was angry or not.

Why wasn’t he sleeping at this late hour? He seemed so alert!

Xiao Qiao slowly sat up, meeting his eyes.

"Yes, copying scriptures was indeed an excuse. But refusing to make the soup wasn’t my intention," she said softly.

Wei Shao stared at her. "What do you mean?"

"A new bride serving her mother-in-law—if the mother-in-law asks, even if I were lazy, it’s just a bowl of soup. How could I refuse? It’s just that at the time, I was a little afraid..."

"Afraid of what?" Wei Shao's brow furrowed slightly.

Xiao Qiao lowered her eyes. "Mother-in-law dislikes me deeply. You saw it during my first visit. If you hadn't been by my side and protected me in the end, I wouldn't have known what to do. That morning, you left early, and I had to go alone. Seeing Mother-in-law's stern expression made me even more anxious. Suddenly, Jiang Nao asked me to go to the kitchen and make soup. It's all my fault. Back at home, I was too lazy and never stepped into the kitchen. I couldn't tell millet from rice and had no idea how to start. There was no one to guide me either. If I had actually tried to make it, the result would have been..."

She bit her lip and glanced up timidly. "I was so confused at the time. Honestly, if I had just admitted that I couldn't do it, Mother-in-law might not have done anything to me. But I was afraid she would dislike me even more, so... I came up with an excuse..."

After finishing, she paused and looked at Wei Shao with a pitiful expression.

As she spoke, Wei Shao's brows furrowed, and by the time she finished, they were so tightly knit they could have crushed a mosquito. He stared at her for a long moment, then raised his hand and pinched the bridge of his nose with his eyes closed.

"Alright, I understand! Don't do that again, got it?" His voice was still cold.

"Got it! Starting tomorrow, I'll practice my cooking diligently and serve Mother-in-law well in the future." Xiao Qiao nodded vigorously.

Wei Shao continued to frown at her. After a moment, she heard him let out a long sigh.

"Go to sleep."

He uttered those two words.

Xiao Qiao felt as if she had been granted a great reprieve and breathed a sigh of relief. She hurriedly got out of bed, slipped on her shoes, and walked to the lamp stand. Just as she was about to blow out the lamp, she suddenly heard Wei Shao's voice again from behind.

"You know my mother wants me to take Chu Yu as a concubine, right? I just agreed to it."

Xiao Qiao froze, then slowly turned around. She saw him lounging casually, half-lying and half-leaning, his eyes fixed on her.