The Prisoner of Beauty

Chun Niang had the women from the inn bring hot water.

The Lady was fond of cleanliness. Although she wouldn’t be as particular about formalities as she was at home while traveling, on such a cold and freezing journey, Chun Niang always brought hot water for her to wash and soak her feet before sleeping each night, ensuring a good rest.

Tonight, having unexpectedly encountered the Lord here, Chun Niang naturally prepared more. Fortunately, the inn itself made it convenient to boil water. Once everything was ready, she waited quietly outside. Finally, hearing the sound of water being called for from inside the room, she hurriedly prepared to bring it in.

The innkeeper, aware of the high status of this couple and having received ample payment, spared no effort in serving them. Under Chun Niang’s direction, the women called their daughters-in-law to help, and soon they carried a large bucket of hot water into the room. Upon entering, they saw a young lady standing on the floor, her inner garments slightly disheveled, her shoulders barely covered by a pink floral satin shawl, her feet clad in thick purple embroidered shoes. Her beauty was unparalleled, her hair loosely tied, her cheeks flushed as if intoxicated, her eyes glistening, seemingly filled with a pool of tenderness.

Not just men, but even as a woman herself, she was struck by the sight, momentarily unable to look away. Glancing further, she noticed the half-drawn bed curtain, behind which the master of the house seemed to be lying with his back turned, two black boots scattered haphazardly on the floor, and clothes in disarray at the foot of the bed. Not daring to look further, she quickly lowered her head and retreated.

Chun Niang, however, was accustomed to such scenes and, without a sideways glance, neatly arranged Xiao Qiao’s personal belongings before quietly closing the door and leaving.

Xiao Qiao bolted the door and called to Wei Shao on the bed, “Get up! The water’s here!”

Wei Shao, who had been missing her intensely since the campaign in Shangdang, had finally managed to see her tonight after much difficulty, holding her firmly in his grasp. His longing could be described as nothing short of desperate. Just as their passion was reaching its peak, she had forcefully stopped him, greatly disappointing him. Hearing her voice, he rolled over, lying sprawled on his back, hands crossed behind his head, and lazily said, “Come and help me.”

Xiao Qiao retorted, “You can just stay stinky. Don’t think about touching me.” With that, she turned away, pulling the curtain shut, and began to clean herself with the hot water. Suddenly, the curtain was yanked open by Wei Shao, who had somehow stripped completely naked, standing boldly before her without any shame, his formidable presence on full display. He declared, “I got injured while searching for you, and it was your sister’s husband who stabbed me. Aren’t you going to take care of me?”

Xiao Qiao had already seen that the wound on his arm was merely a few inches long, a mere scratch compared to the injuries he had sustained on the battlefield before. Yet he shamelessly used it to coerce her. She wanted to spit in his face, but considering he had indeed gone through great trouble to reach her, she felt a touch of gratitude. In the end, she pinched a bit of his skin and then proceeded to wash him.

Receiving such attentive care from the beauty, Wei Shao felt completely at ease, all his previous frustrations vanishing. From the start, he embraced her, kissing and caressing her all over, making Xiao Qiao stomp her feet in anger, her delicate voice scolding him incessantly. Amidst their playful banter, they finally finished washing. Wei Shao, unable to wait any longer, carried her back to the bed.The pinewood bed frame in the room began to sway gently. At first, the sound was as faint as a thread, tightening and loosening intermittently. Gradually, it became like a night rain, flowing incessantly. After a while, the bed was creaking so loudly it seemed as if it might collapse under the pressure at any moment. Fortunately, it endured, and amidst the final, heart-stopping creaks, accompanied by Xiao Qiao's involuntary, fragmented moans, the first wave finally subsided like clouds dispersing after rain.

Wei Shao, young and vigorous, had longed for this moment with the woman he cherished so deeply. Now that she lay in his arms, how could he be satisfied with just one round? After a brief interlude of resting with their heads and necks entwined, he was already aroused again. He kissed and caressed her jade-like body, then took her delicate hand and placed it on himself, urging her to play with him.

This wasn't Xiao Qiao's first time with him, and she was well aware of his beastly nature. She hadn't expected him to stop after just one round. Half shy and half coquettish, she let him have his way, keeping her eyes tightly shut.

Wei Shao thought back to the moment they had met earlier that evening, when she had turned her head and stared at him with wide, round, black eyes, looking utterly startled and adorable. He wished she would open her eyes now and see how tenderly he was loving her. But her long lashes merely fluttered, and she turned her pretty, blushing face away, refusing to open her eyes. Though her coyness was alluring, he still felt unsatisfied. Gradually, his breathing grew heavy, and he kissed her eyelids repeatedly, then nibbled on her earlobe, listening to her soft whimpers. In a hoarse voice, he asked, "Manman, what do I have to do to make you open your eyes and look at me?"

Xiao Qiao wrapped her jade-like arms around his broad back, shaking her head incessantly, stubbornly refusing to open her eyes.

Wei Shao said coldly, "If you don't open your eyes, I'll get angry."

Xiao Qiao whimpered, "What will you do if you get angry?"

Wei Shao paused, then whispered in her ear, word by word, "You said it yourself! I won't ask you to open your eyes anymore!"

……

Later, after who knows how many rounds, when Wei Shao held her by the waist from behind and tormented her to the point where even her tearful pleas for mercy were useless, Xiao Qiao finally came to a painfully clear realization.

Wei Shao was a beast.

And not just any beast—he was a petty, vindictive creature who wouldn't even let her close her eyes during such intimate moments!

……

Outside, the night was pitch black, with wind and snow raging. The boats on both sides of the river were moored, and the great river was frozen.

But inside the humble room at the ancient Wuchao ferry inn, it was warm and filled with the glow of spring.

……

Exhausted, Xiao Qiao fell asleep as soon as Wei Shao finished, her eyes closing the moment she lay down.

She didn't even realize she had started snoring softly, just like the cat in the north room.

Wei Shao, who habitually woke early, was roused the next morning by the sound of her gentle snores.

In the early winter morning, the sky outside the window was still dark.

The low, yellow mud house was dimly lit.

But Wei Shao felt as though he were lying in a luxurious mansion, wrapped in silk quilts, and had no desire to get up.

The bedding was warm and cozy. The woman he adored was curled up against his chest, sleeping soundly, her soft snores like a cat's purring.

Utterly adorable.

Unable to resist, Wei Shao moved closer, wrapped his arms around her, rested his chin on her forehead, and closed his eyes again.

……Xiao Qiao woke up well-rested, and it was already noon the next day. Wei Shao was no longer in bed. Faint sounds of footsteps and voices could be heard from the main hall ahead.

She was helped up by Chun Niang. Wei Shao returned from outside.

The host family also sent over specially prepared clean meals made on a small stove.

There was a plate of ferns, a plate of cloud vegetables, a plate of beans, and a carp. The millet rice was served in a pottery bowl shaped like a xǔ bó. Along with a dining table, everything was neatly brought in.

Such a meal was the best provision the host family, ordinary folks, could offer.

The efforts of last night had not been in vain. Xiao Qiao's status had finally improved enough to sit and eat with Wei Shao.

As she ate, Xiao Qiao occasionally glanced at the man across from her.

Wei Shao, as she spent more time with him, Xiao Qiao gradually discovered another characteristic of his: he was a beast in bed, but once he got up and dressed, he became very proper and rule-abiding.

This was also the case now.

She didn't know what he had been doing while she was still asleep in the morning. In any case, after being absent all morning, he returned and sat upright, eating his meal meticulously.

Xiao Qiao had been thoroughly exhausted by him last night, and her legs were still a bit sore. Seeing him so composed, she kept glancing at him.

Wei Shao looked at her and placed a piece of fish in her bowl.

Xiao Qiao smiled at him, "Thank you, husband."

Wei Shao grunted, "Eat more. You're too thin. You need to gain some weight."

Xiao Qiao stared at him.

"Why aren't you eating?" Wei Shao raised an eyebrow slightly, looking at her.

Xiao Qiao's mind flashed back to the shameless way he had buried his face in her chest, biting and nibbling last night, and decided to forgive his unintentional offense. She lowered her head and ate all the rice in her bowl.

After they finished eating, rinsed their mouths, and the dining table was cleared, the host family presented a plate of golden oranges.

Wei Shao and she sat side by side on a thick mat laid out by the window. Outside the window, at the end of the view, was the vast, ice-covered river surface.

Xiao Qiao, full from the meal, lazily leaned on Wei Shao's shoulder, holding an orange in her hand, playing with it.

Wei Shao wrapped his arm around her waist and said that early in the morning, he had sent someone to check the next ferry crossing, a hundred miles away, and was still waiting for a report.

Xiao Qiao casually hummed in response. Slowly, she peeled the orange. A refreshing aroma of orange peel gradually filled the air between them.

"What are you thinking about? You've been lost in thought for a while."

Wei Shao stroked her smooth long hair and asked softly.

Since they definitely couldn't leave today, Xiao Qiao hadn't tied up her long hair, only braided it loosely at the back.

Xiao Qiao hesitated for a moment, then looked up at him, "Since crossing the river is inconvenient, why not wait a few more days? To be honest, I'm a bit worried about my brother-in-law and the others in Lingbi. It's closer here, and news travels faster..."

"That green-eyed refugee leader?" Wei Shao's tone immediately turned cold.

"If he can't even handle Xue Tai, how can he stand on his own? Your worry is unnecessary."

Xiao Qiao was slightly taken aback. She fell silent.

Wei Shao hugged her tighter, his voice softening again, "Before I left that day, I also asked him if he needed any help. He refused himself. So it should be fine. You don't need to worry."

Xiao Qiao softly hummed, "I know."Wei Shao gazed at her for a moment, noticing her eyes lowered, fixed on the tangerine in her palm. After much internal hesitation, he finally spoke again, "How about this? I have some acquaintance with Yang Xin. I'll send him a message. If the leader of the refugees is overwhelmed, I'll have him go to assist. That should ease your mind, right?"

Xiao Qiao didn't have the time to dwell on his repeated references to Bi Zhi as "the leader of the refugees." Suddenly hearing him speak in such a manner, she looked up abruptly, her eyes wide with surprise and joy, nodding vigorously. She then knelt up and wrapped her arms around his neck, "My husband is so kind."

Wei Shao pretended to lean back, avoiding her embrace, and with a stern face, he grumbled, "You still haven't told me, with all the trouble you've gone through to go south, what exactly are you planning to do? Is it really to visit your aunt's illness?"

Xiao Qiao's heart skipped a beat, but she smiled sweetly, "Of course, it's to visit my aunt's illness. And also to visit my sister who is pregnant."

After saying this, seeing him raise an eyebrow slightly, as if still not entirely convinced, she peeled a segment of the tangerine and fed it into his mouth. Then she leaned in and kissed his lips.

His breath was filled with the fragrance of the tangerine and the softness and sweetness of her lips and tongue that she had offered so willingly.

Wei Shao felt deeply intoxicated.

Author's note: It's too late to sort out the list of mines, I'll organize it tomorrow.

Good night, my dear readers~