The Prisoner of Beauty

After returning from Madam Xu's place, Xiao Qiao handed over the matters to Chun Niang. That same day, she reviewed all the maids and servants in the west wing. Apart from the few maids she had brought with her and those from Madam Xu's side who remained unchanged, she kept those who were diligent and hardworking among the rest. Those who flattered, lazed around, had wandering eyes, or simply didn't sit well with her were all dismissed. In the end, she reduced the number of servants by half. One person was assigned to guard the gate, four to tend to the courtyard, with one of them also responsible for cleaning Wei Shao's study. No one else was allowed to enter or exit. Two were kept for the small kitchen, and three, led by Lin Ao, continued to serve Wei Shao as before. Additionally, two were kept on standby for various tasks. After clearly assigning the duties, Xiao Qiao also personally increased the monthly allowance for all the servants. This not only brought more tranquility to the courtyard, with fewer prying eyes, but the remaining servants also felt fortunate and honored to have gained the favor of their lady.

When Xiao Qiao first arrived, some of the servants in the west wing, unaware of the other households in the Wei family, inevitably looked down on her. Now, after more than half a year, they saw that not only did she have Madam Xu's favor, but Lord Wei was also gradually becoming closer to her. Although much of this was private, servants were adept at reading the atmosphere. Over time, even if they couldn't see through the door, they could sense the change. The servants had no deep-seated enmity with the Qiao family, and with both Madam Xu and Lord Wei showing such favor, who would dare to belittle her? Moreover, the lady had now increased their monthly allowance, and those who remained were overjoyed, vying to express their loyalty to Chun Niang.

......

Although Yang Feng, the envoy from Yanzhou, had met Wei Shao at the welcoming banquet last night, according to the usual protocol, the "official business" of his visit was to be discussed today in a more formal meeting.

Gongsun Yang arrived at the government office early in the morning to prepare for the meeting between Lord Wei and Yang Feng. To his surprise, he found that Lord Wei had arrived even earlier. When he entered, he saw Wei Shao already seated in the hall, reviewing the documents on the table, apparently having been there for some time. Gongsun Yang was quite astonished and asked, "Why is Lord Wei so early today?"

Wei Shao replied, "I went to Zhuojun a few days ago and left behind a lot of work that needs to be dealt with as soon as possible."

Hearing this, Gongsun Yang couldn't help but feel a deep respect. He thought to himself that his tireless efforts had not been in vain. Lord Wei, leaving his beautiful wife at home, had come to the office early in the morning to attend to official duties, showing such diligence and restraint from indulgence. With such dedication, there was no doubt that great achievements would follow. Not daring to disturb him further, Gongsun Yang briefly reported the arrangements for the morning meeting with Yang Feng.

Wei Shao impatiently said, "I fully entrust you to meet with Yang Feng on my behalf and send him back early. What is there to discuss with him?"

Gongsun Yang replied, "If the lord does not meet him, the Qiao family might have other thoughts. Moreover, the young master of the Qiao family has also come with Yang Feng. If the lord has no urgent matters, it would be better to meet with them. If the lord is unwilling to speak much with the envoy from Yanzhou, I can speak on the lord's behalf."

Wei Shao fell silent.Gongsun Yang had assisted Wei Shao for many years and had somewhat grasped his temperament. Although Wei Shao could be irritable and stubborn at times, unwilling to listen to others, if the advice was reasonable, even if he didn't accept it immediately, he would often respond soon after. Moreover, in recent years, as he grew older, the "little tyrant" aura of his youth had gradually faded. Observing his expression and seeing that he remained silent, Gongsun Yang knew he had agreed. After reporting, he excused himself to make the necessary arrangements.

By the hour of Chen, Wei Shao met with Yang Feng, Qiao Ci, and the delegation from Yanzhou in the meeting hall.

Qiao Yue had sent Yang Feng this time for no other reason than to seize the opportunity to mend and strengthen the relationship between the two families. The meeting was dull and uninteresting. Almost all the conversation was between Gongsun Yang and Yang Feng, filled with polite formalities. Wei Shao barely spoke, and Qiao Ci had even less to say. Feeling as if sitting on pins and needles, Qiao Ci stole a glance at his brother-in-law, who sat in the center with a distant gaze, seemingly lost in thought, as if his spirit had wandered to the ethereal realms. Knowing that Wei Shao must look down on his uncle's demeanor, Qiao Ci felt even more ashamed. When the meeting finally ended, Qiao Ci breathed a sigh of relief, only to see Wei Shao immediately rise from his seat and stride out.

Qiao Ci felt somewhat disheartened. If it weren't for Madam Xu and his sister's insistence, he would have wanted to return today. Following Yang Feng, he listlessly exited the government office gate when suddenly a soldier approached him, saluted with a military gesture, and said, "Lord Wei asks if the young master would be interested in taking a stroll? Lord Wei can accompany you."

Qiao Ci was taken aback. Looking ahead, he unexpectedly saw Wei Shao, dozens of paces away, sitting on horseback by the roadside, seemingly glancing in his direction.

He was truly surprised. Exchanging a distant glance with Wei Shao, whose expression remained cold, Qiao Ci guessed that Wei Shao was merely being polite by sending someone to ask. His sister's reminder from that day was still fresh in his mind; how could he be so inconsiderate as to expect Wei Shao to take time out to accompany him for a casual stroll?

Moreover, even if they did stroll together, with such a brother-in-law, even the most beautiful scenery would likely turn into a chore.

Qiao Ci immediately replied, "Please convey my gratitude to my brother-in-law for his kind offer, which I deeply appreciate. I know he is busy and dare not disturb him. Besides, a few days ago, Cousin Wei already took me around."

The soldier noted this, turned, and ran back to Wei Shao, reporting to him in front of the horse.

Wei Shao glanced at Qiao Ci, turned his face, and with a tug on the reins, galloped away.

...

After dealing with the matters concerning the servants in the west wing, the day was almost over.

By evening, when Xiao Qiao was waiting for Wei Shao to return for dinner, she learned that after meeting with Yang Feng and his delegation in the morning, he had gone to Fanyang without mentioning when he would return.

Fanyang was another major city in Youzhou and also a military stronghold for Wei Shao, with a permanent garrison of fifty to sixty thousand troops. It wasn't far from Yuyang, just a day and night's journey by fast horse.

He had just returned from Zhuojun yesterday and went to Fanyang today without any prior mention. It must have been an urgent matter.

Xiao Qiao didn't pay much attention to it, but thinking that her brother Qiao Ci hadn't returned all day and now she didn't know where he was, she went to check on Qiao Ci's residence.

Qiao Ci still hadn't returned.Xiao Qiao instructed the servants to inform her when Qiao Ci returned, and then she went back inside.

As the sky gradually darkened, Xiao Qiao stood at the door, looking up as the maids lit the lanterns along the pathway one by one. She was so absorbed in watching that she didn’t notice the sound of footsteps approaching from the opposite direction until she turned her head. It was Qiao Ci.

Qiao Ci had just returned from outside, drenched in sweat, with his clothes stained with dry yellow mud and dust. He kept complaining about being hungry. Xiao Qiao took him to wash his face and hands. After wiping off his sweat and washing up, Qiao Ci followed her to eat. When he was halfway through his meal, Xiao Qiao asked him where he had been that day.

Qiao Ci explained that he had left the government office with Yang Feng in the morning. When he was about to return to the Wei residence, his cousin Wei Shao had sent someone to summon him to the training ground. It was only after he arrived that he learned about the Deer and Steed Platform outside Yuyang City, which was specifically built for military drills. Once a year, the Deer and Steed Assembly was held there, open to all regardless of rank, as long as they had the skills. The event consisted of two parts: archery on horseback and hand-to-hand combat. The winner of the archery competition would receive a deer, while the winner of the combat competition would receive a steed. The two who ultimately won the deer and steed would not only gain great honor and the admiration of all but would also be promoted to important positions in the Wei family’s elite Tiger Guard. It was said that Li Dian, the current general under Wei Shao, had made a name for himself twenty years ago as a mounted archer and had been heavily relied upon by Wei Shao’s father, Wei Liang, eventually becoming the renowned general he was today.

"Sister, the Deer and Steed Assembly is just a few days away. Cousin Wei Shao asked me to stay a few more days to witness the grand competition. He praised my archery skills and encouraged me to participate and show off my abilities. Sister, I want to do it!"

Qiao Ci’s expression was full of eagerness.

Although the Qiao family had declined in recent years, they had once been rulers of a region. Qiao Ci, born into a noble family, naturally carried the pride of a scion. This was why he couldn’t stand being mocked for his delicate appearance and had charged into battle. Unfortunately, his uncle Qiao Yue, the head of the Qiao family, was complacent and had been groveling before Wei Shao. During the welcoming banquet the previous night, Qiao Ci had felt deeply humiliated, and the meeting at the government office that morning had only intensified this feeling. He had been in a gloomy mood, but when he suddenly learned of this opportunity to showcase his skills, how could he, with his youthful ambition, let it pass? He immediately told Xiao Qiao about it.

Xiao Qiao hesitated for a moment.

"Sister! Please, don’t stop me! I’ll only participate in the archery! Nothing will happen! You know how good I am at archery—even Father praised me before!"

The Qiao family had a horse ranch, and Qiao Ping had once hired a renowned master to teach Qiao Ci and Liu Yan, who was then staying with the Qiao family, archery skills. Xiao Qiao knew that her younger brother was indeed exceptional at archery. Seeing the pleading look in his eyes, she finally couldn’t bring herself to refuse and nodded. "Then be careful. Don’t push yourself too hard just to show off. Just participate, and winning isn’t the most important thing."

"Thank you, Sister!"

Qiao Ci beamed with joy.

...

Wei Shao did not return the next day.

Qiao Ci was also nowhere to be seen during the day, only returning at night, drenched in sweat, saying he had been practicing archery at the training ground all day. After eating, he went to bed early. The next day, he got up early and hurried back to the training ground.

Xiao Qiao knew that her younger brother was fully focused on preparing for the upcoming Deer and Steed Assembly, so she didn’t ask too many questions.On the third evening after Wei Shao had left, it was already dark. Normally, Qiao Ci should have returned by this time, but he was nowhere to be seen.

Xiao Qiao felt uneasy and went to wait outside the west wing. As she looked around, she saw Yu Lu, Qiao Ci's attendant, returning alone, carrying Qiao Ci's bow and arrows, but Qiao Ci was not with him.

Yu Lu hurried over and bowed when he saw Xiao Qiao. She asked him where Qiao Ci had gone. Yu Lu replied, "Lord Wei noticed that the young master has been working hard on his archery and riding these past few days, so he took him out to relax. The young master said he would return soon. He was afraid you might worry, so he sent me back to inform you."

Yu Lu had been raised in the Qiao household since he was a child. Because of his ugly appearance, with bulging eyes like a fish, he was given the name Yu Lu. Qiao Ping, recognizing his loyalty, had assigned him to serve his son. This time, when Qiao Ci went out, Yu Lu had accompanied him to Yuyang.

Xiao Qiao noticed that Yu Lu kept his head down and avoided her gaze as he spoke, which made her suspicious. She asked, "Where did Lord Wei take the young master to relax?"

Yu Lu still kept his head down and stammered, unable to give a clear answer.

"Speak up!" Xiao Qiao demanded.

Finally, Yu Lu stuttered, "They went to a place in the city called 'Luo Zhong Fang' to relax." After saying this, he blinked nervously, watching Xiao Qiao's displeased expression.

Having been in Yuyang for some time, Xiao Qiao had naturally heard of Luo Zhong Fang. It was essentially a high-end entertainment venue for wealthy men. The thought that Wei Yan had taken her younger brother to such a place immediately angered her. She went back to her room, changed her clothes, and took Chun Niang, Lin Ao, and another strong servant woman with her. They immediately set out in a carriage and headed straight for Luo Zhong Fang.

Luo Zhong Fang was located in the bustling western part of the city, surrounded by taverns and brothels. Compared to ordinary brothels, this place was a den of extravagance, frequented by the rich and powerful. It was said that one could spend a fortune here for a night of revelry, and the women inside were more talented and glamorous than those in other establishments.

When Xiao Qiao arrived at Luo Zhong Fang, it was the busiest time of the day. The main hall downstairs was brightly lit, with musicians seated on both sides, the sound of silk and bamboo instruments filling the air. Beautiful women, heavily made up and dressed in exquisite silk from Jiangnan, greeted the endless stream of pleasure-seeking guests with charming smiles.

Xiao Qiao's carriage stopped by the front gate, but she did not get out herself. Instead, she sent Chun Niang and Lin Ao inside to call someone out.

The gatekeeper saw a carriage stop outside and two servant women who appeared to be from a wealthy household step out. He was about to inquire when Lin Ao pushed him aside. Seeing the aggressive demeanor of the two women, the gatekeeper dared not stop them and quickly asked who they were looking for. When Chun Niang mentioned Wei Yan, he didn't dare to delay and immediately pointed them in the right direction.

Sitting in the carriage, Xiao Qiao watched through the window as Chun Niang entered the building. After a short wait, she saw Qiao Ci hurriedly come out and approach her carriage, his head bowed in silence.

Xiao Qiao stared at Qiao Ci, noticing his flushed cheeks as if he had been drinking heavily, and what seemed to be a suspicious lipstick mark on his neck. She was about to speak when suddenly, someone else rushed out from inside the building. Looking up, she saw that it was Wei Yan, who had come chasing after Qiao Ci.Wei Yan rushed to Xiao Qiao's carriage and glanced at the dejected and silent Qiao Ci. He patted his shoulder in a comforting manner, then turned to Xiao Qiao, who had half her face visible through the carriage window, and said, "Sister-in-law, please don't blame Qiao Ci. It's truly my fault. Seeing him train hard at the military grounds these past few days, I insisted on bringing him here for a drink to relax and loosen up. There was no other intention. The girls accompanying us are all respectable. Please don't worry."

Xiao Qiao was genuinely angry, and though she tried to suppress it, her expression still betrayed her annoyance. She replied coldly, "I know that since my brother arrived, Uncle has gone out of his way to take care of him in many ways. I should have expressed my gratitude to Uncle. Tonight, I also understand that Uncle acted out of good intentions, and I shouldn't have come here to spoil the mood. However, my brother is still underage. Back in Dongjun, my father strictly disciplined him, forbidding him from visiting places of entertainment before he came of age. If I have offended you in any way, please forgive me, Uncle. Please carry on as you were. I will take my brother home now."

After speaking, she nodded slightly to Wei Yan, then turned her gaze to the still downcast Qiao Ci and frowned, "Aren't you going to fetch the horse and come back with me?"

Qiao Ci quickly responded, hurriedly fetched the horse, and climbed onto it.

Xiao Qiao lowered the carriage curtain, and the carriage followed.

Wei Yan watched as Xiao Qiao's carriage gradually disappeared into the distance, his expression dazed. He stood alone in the same spot for a long time.

...

Xiao Qiao watched Qiao Ci ride ahead in silence as they returned to the Wei residence. As soon as they entered, she immediately took him to her room and dismissed Chun Niang, Lin Ao, and the others.

Qiao Ci's face, flushed from the night breeze, had mostly sobered up, but it was still red. He stole a glance at his frowning sister and couldn't help but feel anxious, looking to Chun Niang for help.

Chun Niang advised, "Madam, this is the young master's first offense, and besides..."

"Chun Niang, you may leave."

Chun Niang shook her head and had no choice but to leave.

"Is that the kind of place you should be going to?"

As soon as the door closed, Xiao Qiao scolded, "What did I teach you when we were at home? How old are you? Not even sixteen, and you dare to go to such places!"

Qiao Ci's face turned red with shame again, and he stammered, "Sister, I was wrong... I didn't mean to go, but when Cousin Wei called, all the brothers I've been training with at the military grounds were there, and they were all looking at me, I..."

He stopped, looking at Xiao Qiao with pleading eyes.

...

In fact, among the young men of prominent families, it was not uncommon for those under sixteen, like Qiao Ci, to secretly engage with their household maids, even though they were still a year or two away from marriage. Qiao Ci was an exception. He was naturally simple-minded and had always been somewhat indifferent to such matters. After Xiao Qiao arrived, she dismissed the maids around Qiao Ci who seemed untrustworthy and consciously instilled in him the idea of lifelong fidelity and the importance of not getting close to other women before marriage.

She wasn't necessarily trying to mold Qiao Ci into a man who could be measured by 21st-century standards. After all, the environment was what it was. But for now, she would teach him what she could. As for the future, once her brother came of age, married, and established himself, what he chose to do would be beyond her control.But now, she absolutely would not allow him to frequent places of pleasure like Luo Zhongfang.

……

After listening to Qiao Ci's explanation, Xiao Qiao suddenly seemed to understand a bit.

Her younger brother probably didn’t want to go either. It was just that Wei Yan had invited him, and with so many people around, he was likely afraid of being mocked if he refused.

Xiao Qiao looked into her brother’s strikingly beautiful eyes, and the frustration she had felt earlier gradually began to fade.

“Sister! Please don’t be mad at me. I promise, I’ll never go again—”

Qiao Ci pleaded pitifully.

“Actually, your sister is just concerned about your health. You’re not even sixteen yet—”

“I thought something serious had happened! It’s just a trivial matter, why all the fuss?”

Before Xiao Qiao could finish, a voice suddenly interrupted her from behind. Then, the door was pushed open with a “bang.”

Xiao Qiao turned her head and saw Wei Shao, who had gone to Fanyang the day before, stride in. He walked in with large steps, speaking in a dismissive tone.

Qiao Ci, seeing his brother-in-law suddenly return and hearing his tone, which seemed to be speaking in his defense, was somewhat surprised and slightly opened his mouth.

Xiao Qiao was taken aback, then frowned slightly and said coldly, “I’m disciplining my younger brother. Does the Lord need to interfere?”

Wei Shao acted as if he hadn’t heard and walked straight up to Qiao Ci, saying, “You can go back. It’s just a small matter. Next time if you come back late, remember to send a message earlier.”

Qiao Ci glanced at his brother-in-law, then stole a look at his sister, who was standing nearby with a stern face. Suddenly, he felt a cold breeze on the back of his neck, shrank his shoulders, and quickly lowered his head as he slipped out.