The Prisoner of Beauty

Xiao Qiao patted her chest and let out a soft sigh. "I wanted to ask you for news these past couple of days, but I was afraid you'd find me nagging. It's good that Brother-in-law has won. Sister must be relieved too. She’s due to give birth in another month or two."

Wei Shao cupped her chin with one hand and smiled. "Then when will you give me a child?"

Xiao Qiao hadn’t expected him to suddenly shift the topic to her having a child. She was momentarily stunned.

……

Recently, their relationship had progressed rapidly, and their intimate encounters had become frequent.

Apart from keeping track of the days and finding various excuses to avoid being with him during her fertile period, she had no other means of contraception.

Not to mention, if he wanted her, he wouldn’t always listen to her about when it was appropriate or not.

If one day she suddenly found herself pregnant, it wouldn’t be surprising.

But Xiao Qiao still had no intention of having a child with Wei Shao.

Aside from her young age, the most important reason, deep down, was that Wei Shao still hadn’t let her lower her guard of caution.

Despite his affection for her. Despite the lengths he had gone to bring her back. She wasn’t completely unmoved.

But even just moments ago, when he held her shoulder and pointed out their future, even making promises to her, the thought that lingered most in her heart wasn’t whether he would remember those promises, but whether one day, when she hoped he could let go of the old grudges between the Wei and Qiao families and spare her family, he would agree.

But such thoughts only lingered in her heart, never daring to voice them. She hadn’t even considered asking.

The closest yet most distant of relationships—husband and wife.

The better he treated her, the more lost and uneasy she felt.

So Xiao Qiao never denied that she was a pessimist, someone who always instinctively thought of the worst-case scenario.

……

Xiao Qiao snapped out of her thoughts and met his dark eyes, which had been watching her all along. She realized she had let her emotions show too much. It was inappropriate.

She smiled lightly, casually brushing her hair back, and climbed off his chest. "Why are you suddenly talking about me…"

Wei Shao lay on his back on the couch, one arm behind his head, gazing at her thoughtfully.

Xiao Qiao nudged him. "Even with the cushion, the floor is still a bit cold. Don’t lie there. Get up."

Wei Shao remained still.

Xiao Qiao pretended to get up from beside him, but just as she did, Wei Shao suddenly hooked his leg around her knee, causing her to fall back onto his chest.

He rolled over, pinning her beneath him. His thumb gently stroked her eyelids a few times, making her eyes itch. She blinked and turned her face away from his hand, chiding, "What are you doing now?"

Wei Shao said, "When I’m away at war, do you care for me like this too?"

Xiao Qiao turned her face back and saw his half-smiling expression. Her heart skipped a beat. "What nonsense are you talking about? Sister and Brother-in-law are my family. Isn’t it natural for me to care about them?"

Wei Shao replied, "They’re your family, but I’m not? When have you ever cared for me like this?"Xiao Qiao bit her lip and argued, "I know you have a vast army and many capable generals, and you are a peerless hero, undefeated in battle and unstoppable in conquest. How could my brother-in-law compare to you? Besides, how can you say I don’t care about you? I only wanted to return early because I visited my aunt’s illness and didn’t stay in Dongjun for more than two days before hurrying back on the road."

Wei Shao hummed, his tone casual, "I heard that after you left, your father began issuing proclamations widely, recruiting talents. The Qiao family has suddenly become quite impressive."

If Yanzhou were to take any action involving recruiting soldiers and buying horses, it couldn’t be kept entirely secret. Wei Shao would inevitably find out. Thus, Xiao Qiao had already thought about how to respond if he ever asked.

She just hadn’t expected him to find out so quickly.

It couldn’t have been Jia Si who told him.

Because when she left, Jia Si left with her. And during the few days she was there, her father only gathered his officers and officials to discuss plans. Jia Si had been staying at the posthouse and couldn’t have known the details.

The only possibility was that Wei Shao had sent someone to Yanzhou in the past few days, which was how he found out.

Xiao Qiao and he locked eyes, with only a short distance between them.

After a moment, she smiled at him and said, "I’m not entirely sure. But when I returned, I did hear my father mention it. He said that Yanzhou is surrounded by Yuan Zhe and Zhou Qun, like wolves and tigers, and has been attacked several times within a year. If it weren’t for your help, Yanzhou would have fallen long ago! My father is deeply grateful but also ashamed. Since the Wei and Qiao families are now connected by marriage, if Yanzhou faces trouble, it will inevitably involve you. My father is embarrassed to trouble you with everything. So, after much reflection, he decided to expand his forces to protect himself. This way, if we face attacks from Zhou Qun or Xue Tai again, we’ll have more room to maneuver and won’t burden you."

"You suddenly asked me about this—do you think my father’s approach is inappropriate?"

Xiao Qiao looked at him.

Wei Shao said, "Not at all. I just suddenly thought of it and asked casually."

Xiao Qiao sighed softly, her eyes showing worry. "My father is actually very clear-headed. For many years, he only wanted to live in peace in a corner, but due to long-standing issues, things have deteriorated to this point. Even if he issues proclamations to recruit talents, it’s unlikely that truly capable people will come. Now, he’s just trying to make the best of a bad situation. My husband…"

She suddenly seemed to remember something, gently stretched out her arms, hooked them around his neck, and looked at him with wide eyes.

"My father is too embarrassed to ask for your help again. But if Yanzhou faces trouble in the future, you won’t just stand by and watch, will you?"

"If that happens, Manman would be heartbroken."

She added.

When Wei Shao first heard about Yanzhou’s recruitment of talents, it was almost an instinctive intuition that immediately alerted him to something unusual.

In his eyes, as Xiao Qiao had once said, Yanzhou was like a piece of meat on his plate, temporarily held by the Qiao family, and he would take it when he needed it.

Suddenly, the Qiao family was making moves behind his back on that piece of meat.

Naturally, he was wary. And more than that, he felt a sense of dissatisfaction—a feeling of being slighted. Adding to that, it happened during Xiao Qiao’s trip south. That’s why he had asked her about it.After hearing Xiao Qiao's explanation, his dissatisfaction was dispelled. Although a trace of doubt still lingered in his heart, when Xiao Qiao hooked her arms around his neck and looked up at him with doe-like eyes, pleading pitifully, his heroic spirit instantly melted into tenderness. He comforted her, saying, "Manman, don't be afraid. I won't allow anyone to lay a finger on Yanzhou. You can rest assured."

Xiao Qiao then smiled, her eyes curving like crescent moons. "With my husband here, I’m not afraid."

"What does my husband think of my father's ideas?" she asked softly, glancing at him.

Wei Shao hesitated slightly.

In his heart, he didn’t hold much respect for Qiao Yue and Qiao Ping. Both were undoubtedly mediocre men. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have let the grand ship passed down from their ancestors turn into a pile of rusty nails. Even if they stirred up trouble, they likely wouldn’t cause any significant waves.

As for Qiao Ci, although he had made a splash at the Luli Assembly, he was still young and not a cause for concern.

The only one in the Qiao family who posed a potential threat to him was the green-eyed leader of the refugees who had recently entered his sight.

If this green-eyed refugee leader were to join the Qiao family, Wei Shao would have to reassess the Qiao family’s strength.

However, the green-eyed man’s background was far too humble, worlds apart from the Qiao family’s daughters. Considering how the Qiao family had switched brides at the last moment during their marriage negotiations with him, it wasn’t hard to deduce that the union between the green-eyed man and Xiao Qiao’s sister was either a hasty arrangement or a forced one, and it certainly wouldn’t be accepted by the Qiao family. For now, it was even more unlikely that he would join the Qiao family.

Wei Shao generously replied, "Your father’s desire to make a difference is not inappropriate. As I said earlier, I was just asking casually. Don’t take it to heart."

Xiao Qiao blinked and obediently nodded. "I understand. I won’t dwell on it."

Wei Shao always loved her obedient demeanor and smiled, gently patting her cheek in reassurance.

...

The next day, they received word that they could cross the river.

The crossing point was about ten miles from the Wuchao Ferry. The river was only about ten zhang wide at that point, but because it was at a confluence, the current was usually too swift for boats. However, the ice there was now thicker than elsewhere, solid enough to bear weight. After spreading soil and straw on the ice and wrapping the horses’ hooves in cloth, the group, which had been delayed on the south bank of the Yellow River for days, finally crossed to the north bank without further delay and headed north toward Youzhou.

Wei Shao and Xiao Qiao finally returned to Yuyang on the last day of the year.

They were greeted by the New Year’s Day of the Tai’an era.

...

On the first day of the first month, New Year’s Day, the most important festival of the year, the emperor of Luoyang would receive grand ceremonial greetings in the Deyang Hall as the solemn and majestic bells tolled before the seventh mark of the night.

Nearly ten thousand people, including feudal lords, dukes, ministers, generals, officials, and envoys from barbarian tribes, would flood into the hall according to their rank and status, shouting "Long live the emperor" and presenting their gifts.

On this New Year’s Day of the Tai’an era, Liu Tong, the seven-year-old son of the Prince of Wenxi, who had been enthroned by Xing Xun the previous year, sat on the oversized dragon throne, gazing fearfully at the back of Xing Xun, who stood before the throne, almost blocking his view.

Xing Xun, nearly fifty years old, was portly but vigorous. It was said that he could still bed several women in a single night.He had just won the Battle of Sishui against Yuan Zhe. Standing here with his head held high, he seemed to be replacing Liu Tong, receiving the homage of the ten thousand people in the hall, his spirit soaring with triumph.

His gaze swept over the sea of dark heads in the hall, but in the upper section reserved for the regional lords, he did not see the figure of Yan Hou Wei Shao.

This New Year's Day, Wei Shao had not come to Luoyang.

He had only sent an envoy to present his tribute to Emperor Liu Tong.