The Prisoner of Beauty

Xiao Qiao hadn’t even had time to properly put on her shoes. She hurriedly slipped them on and almost ran to greet him. After just a few steps, she saw Wei Shao’s figure emerge from behind the screen. Their eyes met, and both of them stopped in their tracks, still several arm-lengths apart.

Her eagerness was partly due to the atmosphere of farewell before the battle, which had unconsciously affected her, influenced by Madam Xu and Zhu Shi. She also felt a sense of gratitude.

From the moment Wei Shao entered, his gaze was fixed on Xiao Qiao’s face, unblinking and unabashedly direct. Xiao Qiao felt slightly uncomfortable under his stare. Seeing that he remained silent, she softly broke the silence, “My lord, you’re back? Have you visited Grandmother and Mother-in-law? They must still be awake, waiting for you…”

“I’ve been there,” Wei Shao replied casually, his eyes still locked on her.

Xiao Qiao bit her lip, “Are you hungry? I still have some…”

Wei Shao’s eyes were drawn to the sight of her snow-white teeth biting her red lips. Suddenly, he took a few large strides toward her. Before she could finish her sentence, he scooped her up in his arms.

Xiao Qiao’s feet left the ground as he carried her directly to the bed and laid her down. Wei Shao followed, kneeling on one knee at the edge of the bed, gazing down at her.

“I’m not hungry.”

He murmured the words before leaning down to kiss her.

……

The lord was set to depart for battle early the next morning. The previous night, word had come that he would return later to bid farewell to everyone. Thus, not only the north and east quarters but also the entire household of Xiao Qiao’s servants had stayed up, waiting.

When he finally returned, Chun Niang and two other maidservants followed him in as usual to attend to him. However, they were startled to see the lord, right before their eyes, carry the lady to the bed and begin kissing her. Chun Niang was the quickest to react. She glanced back at the two maidservants, whose eyes were wide with astonishment, as if they were frozen in place. She coughed lightly, signaling them to leave. The maidservants then snapped out of their daze, their hearts racing and faces flushed, and they hurriedly lowered their heads and retreated.

Chun Niang was the last to leave. Afraid of disturbing the couple on the bed, she tiptoed out and gently closed the door.

……

Xiao Qiao was pinned to the pillow as he kissed her. At first, he kissed her lips, then moved to her cheeks, nose, eyelids, and back to her lips again.

Xiao Qiao initially kept her lips closed, but he soon forced them apart, deeply sucking on her tongue as he had done the previous night. She closed her eyes, letting him kiss her, but gradually felt breathless and instinctively shook her head, struggling.

Wei Shao suddenly released her lips. He cupped her face with both hands, breathing heavily, “Don’t worry, I’ve already arranged for reinforcements to Yanzhou…”

Xiao Qiao’s eyelashes fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes. His face was right above hers.

Xiao Qiao murmured, “I guessed as much…”

Her cheeks were burning, and she knew they must be completely red.

Wei Shao seemed to laugh with satisfaction, his eyes unusually bright as he gazed at her.

“The army departs at dawn. I still need to muster the troops early, so there’s not much time left…”

He added.

Xiao Qiao had been keeping her eyes lowered. When she heard his words, she understood the implication. Hesitating for a moment, she placed her hands on his shoulders and pushed him to sit up.Wei Shao was reluctant, but he still sat up as she guided him. Only then did he realize she was loosening his belt and undressing him. His heart pounded wildly in his chest, so excited it felt like it might burst out.

He had never been so obedient as he was at this moment, lowering his head to watch her untie his belt and remove his clothes, piece by piece.

When both of their clothes were nearly all off, they knelt facing each other on the bed. Xiao Qiao noticed he wasn’t moving, his gaze lingering on her body. Although she had been naked in front of him before, this time felt different for some reason, and she couldn’t help but feel shy. She crossed her arms to cover her chest, but he reached out and moved them away.

Wei Shao’s eyes fell on her delicate, snow-white chest for a moment. He closed his eyes, his Adam’s apple bobbing, then opened them again and leaned down to kiss her.

……

The bed curtains fell.

Xiao Qiao closed her eyes, feeling the overwhelming impact of the astonishing strength hidden within the young, robust male body pressing down on her.

His movements, unintentionally urgent, weren’t exactly comfortable for her. But she could also sense that his treatment of her tonight seemed different from before, so she tried to relax again to accommodate him.

Xiao Qiao tightly shut her eyes, her body instinctively tensing against the intrusion, when suddenly she felt him take her earlobe into his mouth. She heard his suppressed, almost altered whisper: “…I can’t hold back anymore… Tell me if it hurts… Don’t kick me in the face…”

It seemed Xiao Qiao wasn’t prepared at all when he let out a muffled groan, and things proceeded naturally from there.

Her body, after a brief delay, finally reacted, feeling the inevitable pain.

Fortunately, he seemed extremely excited and finished much faster than Xiao Qiao had anticipated, ending it in just a few moments.

Even so, Xiao Qiao’s forehead was covered in a cold sweat from the pain, and her legs felt like they were floating in the clouds, leaving her somewhat dazed. After a while, she regained her senses, opened her eyes, and turned her head to see him looking utterly dismayed, as if he couldn’t believe what had happened.

Xiao Qiao herself was still burning with pain, but her natural temperament hadn’t changed. Seeing his expression, she couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.

As soon as she laughed, she knew it was over. Sure enough, Wei Shao’s eyes turned fierce, and he grabbed her legs, pulling her toward him and flipping her over to pin her down heavily.

Xiao Qiao quickly felt him rise again, full of vigor, and she panicked. He leaned down to kiss her mouth, but Xiao Qiao hurriedly shook her head and said it hurt. Wei Shao, however, no longer had the tenderness from earlier. He bit her lip hard, almost making her cry, and his hands became rough as well.

Xiao Qiao regretted it deeply, tightly closing her legs and struggling with muffled cries, but Wei Shao wouldn’t let her go. As they wrestled on the pillow, a servant’s voice came from outside: “Is the Lord here? Madam has been waiting for the Lord all night and just now felt a pain in her chest. She sent me to check.”

Wei Shao stopped.

Xiao Qiao, however, breathed a huge sigh of relief. But then she felt something was off.

Earlier, when he came in, she had asked him if he had been to the north and east rooms, and he had clearly said he had gone and returned.

But judging from the servant’s tone, it seemed he hadn’t gone there at all.Having learned her lesson from earlier, Xiao Qiao truly behaved herself this time. When Wei Shao stopped, she also ceased her resistance and dared not urge him further, lying motionless beneath him.

After a while, Wei Shao slowly got up from her and began to dress.

Xiao Qiao pulled the corner of the quilt to cover herself and softly asked his back, "Since Madam is unwell, should I go with you?"

Wei Shao didn't respond. After dressing, he finally said, "You sleep. There's no need for you to go."

Xiao Qiao acknowledged with an "Oh." She lay on the pillow watching him, thinking he was about to leave, but unexpectedly, he stopped, turned to glance at her, and suddenly returned to sit on the edge of the bed, leaning down close to her.

Remembering that she had inadvertently offended him earlier, Xiao Qiao wasn't sure what he intended to do now. Instinctively, she pulled the quilt corner higher, staring at him with wide eyes.

"Your childhood name is Manman?"

Wei Shao's face was very close as he suddenly asked this.

Xiao Qiao was taken aback and nodded.

"Why didn't you tell me before?"

"You... didn't ask..."

Wei Shao looked at her, suddenly smiled, reached under the quilt, and playfully pinched her breast.

"Sleep!"

He withdrew his hand, got up, and left.

This time, he really left.

Xiao Qiao slowly exhaled. As she lay there lost in thought, Chun Niang came in, tucking her quilt and muttering softly, "I've never seen an elder act like this... It's unreasonable to call the Lord away at such a time..."

She suddenly stopped, looking surprised.

Xiao Qiao followed her gaze.

There were traces of her own blood on the quilt.

Xiao Qiao's face flushed with heat. Seeing Chun Niang regain her composure and look at her in surprise, she pulled the quilt over her head.

...

Zhu Shi hadn't slept all night and was now leaning against the head of the bed. Hearing Wei Shao's footsteps approach, she closed her eyes and began to moan softly.

Wei Shao reached her bedside and saw her sallow complexion, looking truly haggard. Remembering what the servant who had come to fetch him said on the way—that Madam had been having trouble sleeping at night and was listless during the day—his earlier displeasure at being interrupted immediately dissipated. He hurriedly leaned over to inquire.

Zhu Shi opened her eyes, struggled to sit up, and said, "I'm fine. It's just an old ailment, I won't die. Don't worry, my son."

The maid Jiang Nao by her side still couldn't get up. Another servant had already brought the usual pills. Wei Shao personally handed her water to take the pills and helped her lie back down, sitting beside her to keep her company.

Zhu Shi said, "I was just slightly uncomfortable earlier, and the servants made a fuss calling you over. My son, you don't blame your mother for disturbing you, do you?"

Wei Shao quickly replied, "Mother's health is most important, how could I dare? Besides, it was nothing."

Zhu Shi showed a relieved expression, "When does your army depart? I waited all night, fearing you still resented my previous foolishness and would leave without saying goodbye this time..."

Wei Shao said, "Mother, don't think such things. I've just been busy lately. Not only here with you, but I've also visited Grandmother less. How could I, as your son, bear a grudge against you for the milk and blood you gave me?"

Zhu Shi showed a relieved expression and grasped Wei Shao's hand, "Then I am at ease. My son, you set out on your campaign tomorrow. I know the heavens will protect you. The night before I gave birth to you, I saw a golden dragon circling the roof ridge. I knew then that you were destined for greatness..."Wei Shao had already heard her mention countless times the so-called auspicious sign of a golden dragon, which she must have dreamed of or imagined. He patiently listened to her rambling until the medicine she had taken began to take effect, and she slowly closed her eyes. Gently, he withdrew her hand from his grasp, covered her with the blanket, and was about to leave when suddenly Zhu Shi's eyes snapped open. She tightly grabbed his hand and shouted, "Xiao Qiao is a harbinger of doom! She is here to bring disaster to our family!"

Her grip suddenly became incredibly strong, refusing to let go of Wei Shao's hand. He quickly soothed her, and only then did Zhu Shi close her eyes again, gradually slipping back into a deep sleep.

Wei Shao remained seated beside her for a long time. When he finally saw that her breathing had evened out and she seemed to be sound asleep, he carefully freed his hand and stood up. He tiptoed out of the room, instructing the maids to take good care of her, and left the eastern chamber. Standing at the crossroads, he took a few steps toward Xiao Qiao's direction, then glanced toward the east. After a moment of hesitation, he turned and headed toward the northern chamber instead.

Madam Xu knew that her grandson would be setting out with his troops at dawn and would surely leave early. She had waited for him last night but hadn't seen him, so she had only managed to catch a brief nap. Now, she was already up. Sure enough, it wasn't long before he arrived.

Over the years, Madam Xu had seen her grandson off to battle many times. But this time, she knew it was different.

This was the decisive battle between the two most powerful forces in the north. If her grandson emerged victorious, it would mean he would truly become the dominant ruler of the north, taking a significant step toward his grand ambitions.

Wei Shao knelt before his grandmother to bid her farewell and drank a cup of strong wine she had poured for him to boost his spirits. Madam Xu personally escorted him to the entrance of the western chamber and said with a smile, "Let your wife help you with your armor, and lead the brave warriors of our Wei family into battle! Your grandmother will await your triumphant return!"

Wei Shao watched as Madam Xu, leaning on her cane, gradually disappeared from sight. Only when she was completely out of view did he turn and enter the western chamber.

...

After Wei Shao was called away by Zhu Shi, Xiao Qiao also stayed awake. Knowing that he would return to put on his battle attire, she had water brought in and got up to bathe, assisted by Chun Niang.

Chun Niang had initially assumed that Xiao Qiao had already consummated her marriage with the lord. To her surprise, it was only now that she saw the signs of her first time. Chun Niang was both shocked and puzzled. She couldn't help but ask about it, but Xiao Qiao remained silent, refusing to answer. When pressed further, Xiao Qiao simply acted coy. Realizing that Xiao Qiao wasn't going to explain, Chun Niang had no choice but to drop the matter. After dressing, Xiao Qiao called in the maids to help with her makeup. Shortly after, Wei Shao returned.

The armor was heavy. Xiao Qiao and the maids helped him put it on. By then, the main gate of the Wei residence was wide open, and the torches on either side illuminated the surroundings as brightly as daylight. General Li Dian led the personal guards to welcome the lord as he prepared to set out for battle.

The deep, resonant sound of war horns, accompanied by the guards' chants of "Victory is certain! Victory is certain!" faintly reached the room from outside.

Xiao Qiao fastened the last clasp on the shoulder of Wei Shao's armor, then stepped back and looked up at him.

He was naturally extremely handsome, but clad in this battle armor that had been stained with countless bloodstains, with the metal plates faintly showing traces of old blood, an aura of lethality emanated from him.

Xiao Qiao took a step back and said, "My lord, victory is certain."

Wei Shao's expression returned to its usual composure. He nodded slightly, as if he wanted to say something but ultimately didn't. He simply glanced at her, picked up the sword that had been placed on the table beside him, and strode out of the room.