The Prisoner of Beauty

The Temple of the Golden Mother of the West was located outside the eastern city gate, not far from the prefectural school. It was a journey of about one or two li from the city gate—neither too far nor too close. Wei Shao did not bring any attendants with him; instead, he rode out of the city alone in plain clothes and arrived at the temple.

As the temple had just been completed, some minor finishing work was still underway, and craftsmen were busy with the details. Therefore, the temple had not yet officially opened, but the main gate was wide open. Nearby, a carriage from the Wei family was parked, accompanied by a coachman and a few guards.

Wei Shao rode closer and noticed a crowd of at least twenty to thirty people gathered in the open space not far from the gate. They were all dressed as students from the nearby prefectural school, ranging in age from fifteen or sixteen to over twenty. These students, who should have been studying at the school, had instead gathered here, craning their necks toward the gate, eagerly waiting. Some, unable to secure a good spot, had even climbed a tree by the roadside, as if there were some grand spectacle to behold inside the temple.

Wei Shao approached further. The students were so engrossed in what was happening inside the gate that they did not notice his arrival on the road behind them. They continued to chatter excitedly.

“When will she come out? We’ve been waiting for so long!”

“It should be soon. Brother Zhang is obsessed with calligraphy and painting. Gao Bohai was invited to paint the murals, and he refused to let anyone see them before they were finished. Brother Zhang couldn’t resist and came here yesterday, hoping to sneak a peek at Gao Bohai’s work. Instead, he happened to see Madam, the Lord’s wife, coming out. According to Brother Zhang, ‘What is a beauty that topples cities and kingdoms? She is the very definition!’”

The surrounding students were captivated by the description.

“Madam, the Lord’s wife, not only possesses unparalleled beauty but also writes exquisite calligraphy. Even Gao Bohai invited her to collaborate on the inscriptions, which speaks volumes.”

“I heard that Gao Bohai greatly admires Madam’s calligraphy, saying her style is innovative and refreshing, like orchid leaves dancing in the wind—elegant yet composed, with a flowing grace. Such praise is truly mesmerizing.”

“If only we could see Madam’s calligraphy sooner and feast our eyes on it!”

……

The students chattered on, each adding their own comments.

Wei Shao stopped his horse, his brow furrowed and his expression darkening.

“She’s coming out! She’s coming out! Quiet! Quiet!”

A flash of green appeared inside the gate, as if a woman were about to emerge.

The student perched highest in the tree was the first to see it and shouted. The crowd immediately grew excited, pushing and shoving to get a better view. However, when a slightly plump middle-aged woman emerged from the gate, they all sighed in disappointment.

Wei Shao had already seen that the woman was Chun Niang. She came out, fetched a light blue silk cloak suitable for late spring from the carriage, and then turned back inside.

The students, having been let down, were still unwilling to give up. They continued to discuss Madam’s beauty when the student in the tree accidentally turned his head and spotted Wei Shao on horseback behind them. Having seen Wei Shao enter the city before, he recognized him immediately and exclaimed, “The Lord is here!” In his shock, he lost his grip on the branch and fell to the ground with a thud, nearly splitting his backside.

The others turned around at the sound and saw a young man sitting on a sturdy horse behind them. Though young, his demeanor was imposing, and his piercing gaze silenced them instantly. No one dared to speak another word.

“You, students of the prefectural school, should be focusing on your studies and preparing for the examinations. Instead, you gather here and cause a disturbance. Do you think the school officials are idle?” Wei Shao said coldly.Currently, the primary method for selecting national officials is through recommendation and appointment. In addition, the imperial court has established the Imperial Academy, and each local commandery has set up its own Commandery Academy to enroll outstanding young individuals with exceptional talent and character. Those who complete their studies and pass the examinations are either given important positions or recommended for official posts in the imperial court.

The criteria for selecting students for the Commandery Academies, though nominally based on "talent and character," in reality, aside from a few impoverished students with genuine talent who are exceptionally admitted, the majority come from local aristocratic or wealthy families. These students from the Commandery Academies are all scions of local aristocratic or influential households, usually disinterested in their studies, merely idling their time in the academies, waiting to secure an official position in the future. Life in the academies is monotonous, and yesterday, upon hearing that the young Madam of the Wei household had personally visited the Temple of the Golden Mother of the West to inscribe calligraphy on the murals, and that her beauty was astonishing, the students became restless. Today, taking advantage of the absence of their instructors, they gathered here from afar, hoping to catch a glimpse of her. However, before they could see her, they were intercepted by Wei Shao himself. Not daring to make a sound, they stood with their hands at their sides, holding their breath, and did not dare to raise their heads, fearing that he might remember their faces.

Wei Shao frowned as he scanned the group, and after a moment, he spat out the word "Scram" through clenched teeth.

The students, as if granted amnesty, hurriedly bowed to him and then turned to flee.

Wei Shao watched the scattering students and exhaled a sigh of relief before proceeding to the temple gate. Several family members who had escorted Xiao Qiao here quickly came forward to greet him.

Wei Shao dismounted and entered, heading towards the mural wall in the rear hall.

The mural was already completed. Gao Heng, true to his title as the "Crown of Bohai," had created a magnificent scene on the towering wall. The Queen Mother's face was lifelike, her celestial ribbons fluttering, surrounded by auspicious clouds and birds, as if she were descending from the clouds. The painting was solemn and splendid, with vibrant colors that inspired awe. Xiao Qiao's calligraphy, which had taken two days to complete, now complemented the mural perfectly, like the finishing touch. However, she had not yet left. Wearing the water-blue cloak that Chun Niang had brought in earlier, she stood shoulder to shoulder with Gao Heng in front of the newly completed mural. Xiao Qiao was looking up at the mural while Gao Heng spoke, seemingly discussing something.

Not far away were Chun Niang and two maidservants.

As Wei Shao approached, he gradually overheard the conversation between Xiao Qiao and Gao Heng. They were discussing contemporary calligraphy. Wei Shao heard Gao Heng say, "...When it comes to cliff inscriptions, I first recommend the 'Ode to Yunmen.' The brushwork is unrestrained, the structure open, with seal script techniques blended into clerical script. The strokes and turns are as free as a heavenly steed, ethereal and transcendent. I once stayed at Yunmen in Hanzhong for three months specifically to climb the mountain daily and observe the calligraphy on the western cliff. Whether in clear weather or rain, morning or dusk, the changing seasons seemed to imbue the inscriptions with different auras. Speaking with Madam about calligraphy, I found her insights both profound and refreshingly romantic. I felt as if I had met a kindred spirit, and it brought me great joy. If Madam ever finds the time to visit and see it for herself, I would be honored to serve as her guide..."This Gao Heng was not only as handsome as a jade crown, but also renowned for his talent from a young age. At the age of thirteen, he was praised by the Governor of Bohai, who personally recommended him, allowing him to enter the Imperial Academy despite being under sixteen. Now, not yet thirty, he was known for his carefree and unrestrained nature, embodying the demeanor of a renowned scholar. From afar, Wei Shao noticed Gao Heng's gaze fixed intently on Xiao Qiao, his eyes sparkling. As he approached, he overheard Gao Heng offering his own introduction. The frustration that had just been vented outside the gate surged back instantly. He quickened his pace.

Chun Niang, standing by Xiao Qiao's side, heard footsteps behind her and turned around. She hurriedly bowed to Wei Shao, addressing him as "Lord."

Xiao Qiao, hearing the commotion, turned and saw Wei Shao, who had been away for over half a month, appearing as if he had fallen from the sky. She was momentarily stunned, then rose to greet him, asking, "When did you return, my husband? Why are you here?"

Wei Shao stopped and looked at Gao Heng.

Initially, Gao Heng had been captivated by the calligraphy of the young Madam of the Wei household. Over the past two days, he had collaborated with her to complete a mural. Painting on a wall was far more challenging than writing on silk, yet the young Madam showed no signs of delicacy, meticulously crafting each stroke with utmost seriousness. She was approachable and, needless to say, exceptionally beautiful. By the time the mural was finished, he couldn't help but be deeply impressed and had developed feelings of admiration. Thus, even though the painting was complete, he couldn't bear to let her leave just yet and engaged her in a broad discussion about contemporary stone inscriptions and cliff carvings. Just as the conversation was at its peak, Wei Shao suddenly arrived, interrupting the discussion. Gao Heng felt a sense of loss but stood up and bowed to Wei Shao.

Wei Shao maintained his usual composure, exchanging a few pleasantries with Gao Heng before turning to Xiao Qiao, "It's getting late, and grandmother is worried at home. If things here are done, let's head back." After saying this, he nodded to Gao Heng and turned to leave.

Xiao Qiao bid farewell to Gao Heng, while Chun Niang and the maids gathered their belongings and accompanied her out to the carriage.

Wei Shao rode ahead on his horse, silent throughout the journey. As dusk approached, he escorted her back to the Wei residence.

Xiao Qiao entered the house, but Wei Shao did not accompany her inside, nor did he say anything to her. After she went in, he left, presumably heading to the government office.

...

The west room was brightly lit by silver lamps.

Over the past two days, Xiao Qiao had been practicing her calligraphy on the mural repeatedly to ensure a smooth final stroke. Now that the work was finally completed and she had returned home, not only her arm but also her right shoulder ached faintly. After her bath, Chun Niang sat beside her, gently massaging her.

It wasn't very late, just a little past the hour of Xu, when Wei Shao returned.

Xiao Qiao greeted him as usual.

She had somewhat noticed that he seemed displeased on the way back when he came to pick her up.

But she wasn't sure exactly why he was upset.

To be honest, she was quite surprised to see him come to pick her up suddenly, and at first, she even felt a bit undeservingly flattered.

This made it even more puzzling.

Since he had taken the trouble to come and pick her up himself, why did he have such a sour face on the way back, as if she owed him money?

The most straightforward and blunt inference was that he was unhappy seeing another man talk to her too much.

But Xiao Qiao quickly dismissed this speculation.At that time, when he exchanged pleasantries with Gao Heng, everything seemed perfectly normal, with no hint of displeasure whatsoever. Moreover, for a woman to make a man jealous on her behalf, she must have the qualifications to do so. Previously, he had always been cold and indifferent towards her. Even half a month ago, when his mother had drugged him, and she had worked so hard to take care of him all night, he still showed no signs of softening. The next morning, when he left Fuyang to patrol the border city, she saw him off from the west room, but he remained as aloof as ever.

It was clear that this couldn’t be the case.

……

“My husband, you’ve been patrolling the city for over half a month, and as soon as you returned, you came to fetch me. There was really no need for that. I feel quite guilty about it.”

Xiao Qiao acted as if nothing had happened, helping him remove his outer garment as usual.

Since the last time she had helped him take off his armor, she had become more familiar with the task. Now, every time he returned, it had become a routine for her to help him undress.

Wei Shao allowed her to attend to him, his expression impassive as he said, “Grandmother instructed me to fetch you.”

So that was it. It wasn’t his own will but rather Madam Xu who had forced him to do it.

No wonder he looked so displeased.

“Thank you for your trouble, my husband. You must be tired from the journey. Please rest early.”

Xiao Qiao neatly folded the clothes she had taken off him and turned to him with a warm smile.