The Prisoner of Beauty

Zhu Quan was originally a servant of the Wei family. He had been attending to Wei Yan's daily needs since Wei Yan was a child. When Wei Yan married and moved out of the Wei family at the age of seventeen, Zhu Quan followed him. A year later, Wei Yan lost his wife and never remarried.

In terms of military governance and border affairs, Wei Yan undoubtedly had a firm grasp, maintaining a disciplined and orderly border with no room for criticism. However, after becoming a widower, he began to lead a dissolute private life, being quite open about his relationships with women, who came and went like a revolving lantern. He spent little time in Yuyang each year, drifting like a rootless duckweed. Concerned, Madam Xu would occasionally summon Zhu Quan to inquire about Wei Yan's various affairs. Upon returning, Zhu Quan would sometimes urge Wei Yan to remarry, believing it would bring him stability.

Wei Yan usually didn't get upset, simply laughing it off.

This time, Wei Yan had hurriedly set off for Daijun, and on the day of his departure, he had dismissed his concubines. Zhu Quan recalled that Wei Yan had seemed somewhat depressed upon returning home recently, which made him uneasy. Earlier, an old acquaintance had invited him out for drinks, and unable to refuse, he followed them to a tavern a few streets away. After just a few drinks, he noticed people on the street outside the tavern running in one direction, shouting "Fire!" He went out to check and saw a faint glow of flames in the distance, in the direction he had come from. Unable to rest easy, he hurried back. As he reached the street corner, he saw from afar that it was indeed his own house that was on fire, with the flames raging fiercely.

Zhu Quan was horrified and frantically called for help to put out the fire. However, the northern summer was already dry and scorching, and although autumn was approaching, the weather remained hot. With no rain for days and the fire already raging, it was impossible to contain. He could only watch helplessly as the flames gradually engulfed the entire house. Fortunately, Wei Yan's reclusive nature had led him to choose a house that wasn't adjacent to any other residences when he first selected it, so the fire didn't spread. By the time the flames finally subsided and were extinguished, the house was already unrecognizable, with the roof collapsed and only a shell remaining. All the furniture and belongings inside had been completely burned to ashes.

Zhu Quan remembered that he hadn't left any fire source in the house before he left. He couldn't figure out how the fire had started. The only possibility was that some embers in the stove hadn't been properly covered, which then spread and ignited the fire.

Filled with regret and self-reproach, Zhu Quan blamed himself for going out for drinks and causing this disaster. He began to clean up the fire scene and sent someone to inform Madam Xu.

...

Wei Shao had left early in the morning, exchanging sweet nothings with Xiao Qiao, reluctant to part, and they agreed that he would return for dinner in the evening.

By dusk, Xiao Qiao had just finished bathing and changed into a newly tailored, lightly scented primrose-colored silk robe. She applied a touch of fine rouge to her cheeks as she looked in the mirror.

The person in the mirror had perfectly shaped eyebrows, eyes like autumn waves, a face as beautiful as a lotus, and a complexion that rivaled the clouds. Even she herself was pleased with what she saw.

Xiao Qiao began to wait for Wei Shao to return. She waited until it was dark, well past the agreed dinner time, but Wei Shao still hadn't returned.

Xiao Qiao gradually grew uneasy. Thinking that the government office wasn't far, she was about to send someone to check when one of Wei Shao's personal soldiers arrived with a message, saying that the Lord had some business and wouldn't be returning for dinner, so Madam needn't wait.

Wei Shao was often busy with official matters, and last-minute changes were common, so Xiao Qiao didn't suspect anything and went ahead to have her meal.Wei Shao was sensitive to cats. Although the kitten had not yet been sent away, Xiao Qiao had already taken a bath and dared not play with it at night, fearing that she might accidentally get cat hair or saliva on her and trigger Wei Shao's discomfort. After returning to her room, she had no intention of doing anything else. Once she calmed down, she sat down and continued copying the scriptures.

The room was quiet, with only the occasional soft crackle from the lamp on the desk.

Xiao Qiao focused her mind and held the brush in her right hand. As the tip of the brush moved, delicate and elegant characters gradually filled the pristine white silk. When she reached the line, "For example, if one person were to measure the sea with a dipper, it would take countless eons to reach the bottom. If a person is sincere in seeking the Way and diligently advances without ceasing, they will surely achieve the fruit. What wish could not be fulfilled?" she paused, her eyes fixed on the words. Slowly, she set the brush on the stand, propped her chin on her hand, and gazed at the candle flame, lost in thought.

There was no doubt that Wei Shao liked her. Recently, she had even begun to feel that he was becoming infatuated with her. As for whether he liked or was infatuated with her face, her body, or her as a person, Xiao Qiao honestly didn't know. Because when the two of them were together, even during the day, the most Wei Shao did was to toy with her and engage in the intimate acts between a man and a woman.

Beyond that, Xiao Qiao couldn't recall any conversations they had about anything else.

Sometimes, in moments of passion, she wanted to ask him something, but she lacked the courage. She had even less courage to probe whether, one day, he might let go of the Qiao family.

Xiao Qiao knew this thought was both naive and laughable. To hope that a man would let go of the hatred in his heart because of a woman—how great would that woman have to be to dissolve the hatred that was originally seen as irreconcilable?

Perhaps only the Buddha possessed such power to save all sentient beings.

"The mind constantly abides in the path of saving the world. Over all things, it is free and unhindered."

She remembered a line from the scripture she had copied a few days ago.

She was just an ordinary mortal and didn't know what it meant to have the mind constantly abiding in the path of saving the world. But she reminded herself to always keep the path of saving herself in her heart. If she could save herself, then perhaps it wouldn't be too late to think about a lifetime with this man.

...

Wei Shao had not returned yet.

Late at night, Xiao Qiao left the lamp on in the room and went to bed first.

Her thoughts were preoccupied with Wei Shao, and she drifted in and out of sleep. It was past midnight, probably already the hour of Zi (11 PM to 1 AM), when she vaguely dreamed of Da Qiao and Bi Zhi.

The dream was fragmented and scattered. She woke up, opened her eyes, and unexpectedly met a pair of eyes glowing faintly in the dark.

Wei Shao had returned to the room at some point without making a sound. He hadn't gotten into bed but stood in front of it, as if he had been watching her all along.

Xiao Qiao was startled. She lightly patted her chest, exhaled, and sat up from the pillow, looking at him with a soft, coquettish complaint, "Are you trying to scare me to death? Why didn't you make any noise when you came back?"

Wei Shao withdrew his gaze from her, turned around, and began to undress, saying, "I saw you were asleep, so I didn't wake you. Just go back to sleep."

He took off his clothes and went to the bathroom. He came out shortly after. Xiao Qiao asked if he was hungry, and he said he wasn't. Then he blew out the lamp and lay down in bed.

When he had turned around earlier, Xiao Qiao had noticed that his expression was somewhat unusual. It was completely different from when he had left in the morning.Now, seeing him like this, Xiao Qiao felt even more that something was off. She lay beside him for a while, but he didn't embrace her as usual. Instead, he lay on his back, seemingly asleep, which was quite unusual. Finally, she couldn't help but ask, "Did something happen at the office today? You didn't even come back for dinner."

"Minor issues. Just some tedious matters that took a toll," Wei Shao replied.

Xiao Qiao noticed a hint of weariness in his voice, as if he was preoccupied. Hesitating for a moment, she moved closer to him and asked softly, "What's wrong? You seem a bit down. You weren't like this when you left this morning."

"Nothing," Wei Shao said. "Just a lot of work today, and I'm tired now. It's late, you should get some sleep too."

Xiao Qiao could tell that he wasn't in the mood to talk much, so she fell silent.

That night, Xiao Qiao was restless and slept lightly. Wei Shao, on the other hand, remained motionless throughout the night, unlike before when he would reach out to hold her even in his sleep. She couldn't tell if he was deeply asleep or something else was bothering him. The night passed without further conversation, and the next morning, they both got up. Xiao Qiao felt a bit drained, and Wei Shao didn't look too well either. After getting ready, they headed to Madam Xu's place. As they descended the steps, the cat that was temporarily being kept in Chun Niang's room came running down the corridor, darting under Xiao Qiao's skirt, rubbing against her legs and meowing softly.

Wei Shao stopped in his tracks.

Xiao Qiao noticed him staring at the cat, as if recalling something, his expression stiffening. She wondered if he was still allergic and had developed a dislike for cats.

But this aversion, much like his silence after returning to their room last night, seemed to come out of nowhere, leaving her puzzled.

He hadn't been like this the past few days.

Xiao Qiao quickly picked up the cat and handed it to a maid who had caught up, instructing her to take care of it.

Wei Shao had already started walking ahead. Xiao Qiao followed him, and they arrived at the north house together.

Today was the fifteenth. Zhu Shi had also arrived, slightly earlier than Wei Shao and Xiao Qiao. She had already paid her respects to Madam Xu and was about to leave when she saw her son arrive, so she stayed.

Once inside the north house, Wei Shao finally broke the silence that had started last night and seemed to return to normal, even smiling as he spoke with Madam Xu. After he and Xiao Qiao paid their respects and exchanged a few words, Madam Xu said, "You probably haven't heard yet, but last night your cousin's house somehow caught fire. Zhu Quan said it was completely burned down. Fortunately, no one was hurt, and it didn't spread to the neighboring houses. He'll be back in a couple of days, so let him stay here. I wasn't happy about him moving out in the first place, and now that this has happened, it's a good opportunity for him to come back."

Xiao Qiao was a bit surprised. She glanced at Wei Shao beside her. His face showed no expression, his eyes slightly narrowed, and it was hard to tell what he was thinking.

On the other hand, Zhu Shi's face showed clear disgust at the news that Wei Yan would be returning, though she tried to hide it, her eyebrows and eyes betraying her true feelings.

Madam Xu gave her a cold glance, and Zhu Shi, feeling awkward, lowered her head.

This scene didn't escape Xiao Qiao's notice, and she felt a bit of a stir in her heart.

Having dealt with Zhu Shi, her mother-in-law, for quite some time now, Xiao Qiao had come to understand her temperament to some extent.A person's perspective and mindset are greatly influenced by their upbringing and the education they receive during their formative years. However, this is not an absolute rule. If one possesses an open heart, the narrowness of vision caused by a lack of education can gradually broaden with life experiences. Over time, such a person is bound to undergo a profound transformation.

Unfortunately, Zhu Shi is not such a person. Even now, she seems to have never fully grasped her identity as the Madam of the Marquis's household.

Of course, Xiao Qiao is in no position to pity her. As for her mother-in-law, she doesn't harbor deep hatred either.

She simply doesn't like her.

"In two days, it will be the Deer and Horse Assembly. I heard your younger brother will be participating in the equestrian and archery events?" Madam Xu turned to Xiao Qiao, her interest clearly piqued.

Xiao Qiao smiled and nodded. "I didn't expect him to make a big impression. It's a rare opportunity for such a grand event, and young people naturally yearn for it. So I didn't stop him."

Madam Xu laughed. "Why stop him? Young people should have a competitive spirit. Only with competitiveness can they achieve victory. In previous years, I would attend the event myself. Since you've just joined our family, you should make an appearance too. Come with me then."

Under Zhu Shi's gaze, Xiao Qiao bowed in gratitude.

"By the way, does your brother-in-law have a satisfactory mount?" Before leaving, Madam Xu remembered and asked Wei Shao. "If not, pick a good one for him. There are still two days left to practice."

"Grandmother, my cousin has already gifted him a fine green steed," Wei Shao replied, his tone indifferent.

Madam Xu was reassured and nodded with a smile. "I knew he was meticulous in handling matters. When your brother-in-law first arrived, you weren't here, and it was all up to him to receive him. Once everyone is less busy, you should properly thank your elder brother."

Wei Shao smiled faintly.