The Prisoner of Beauty

On the third day after Wei Shao left the city.

As the last contingent of troops accompanying him westward departed this morning, Yuyang City gradually returned to its usual tranquility after the recent commotion of camp mobilization.

The Wei residence was unlike other prominent noble families. Its population had always been simple, and after the events of a decade ago, it had become even more so. Madam Xu Zhu Shi had left, and three days ago, Wei Shao had also departed. Both the northern and eastern wings of the residence were now empty. As night fell, the vast estate was illuminated only by the lights in the western wing, inevitably appearing somewhat desolate.

However, Xiao Qiao had been quite occupied these past few days.

On the first day after Wei Shao's departure, the various stewards and maids who had been gradually re-selected since the end of last year came before her to report the accounts. She then inspected the storerooms, though not entirely—just spot-checking here and there. This kept her busy until it was pitch dark before she finally rested.

Madam Xu had always enjoyed gardening, particularly cultivating roses. Last winter, an extreme cold wave from the far north suddenly struck, and before they could take protective measures, the meticulously nurtured double-petaled roses from Mount Ji that Madam Xu had cared for over the years all froze to death. Not only was Madam Xu heartbroken, but even Xiao Qiao felt deeply distressed. She suggested building a greenhouse in the courtyard. Madam Xu had been enthusiastic at the time, but later, with the incidents involving Wei Yan and Zhu Shi, followed by Madam Xu's own illness, the matter had been put on hold.

Now that spring had arrived and she had some free time, it was the perfect opportunity to build the greenhouse. The next day, Xiao Qiao called in the gardener and spent most of the day surveying the northern wing, selecting a site for the greenhouse. The following day, she summoned experienced carpenters and masons to begin construction.

Another busy day passed.

Today, the carpenters presented the design for the greenhouse. Xiao Qiao was satisfied and assigned a capable steward to oversee the project.

Since it was a matter initiated by the lady of the house and intended to please the elder madam, the steward naturally put his heart into it, not daring to slack off in the slightest.

Today was also the fiftieth birthday of Wei Liang's mother.

Wei Liang had not returned from Jinyang since the end of last year, and now it was even more impossible for him to come back to celebrate her birthday. Wei Liang's mother was of the same generation as Madam Zhu, and in terms of seniority, Xiao Qiao addressed her as "aunt." Therefore, today she personally visited Wei Liang's home to offer her congratulations.

Wei Liang's mother and wife were overwhelmed by the lady of the house's personal visit. After the usual pleasantries, Xiao Qiao returned late. After bathing, she no longer had to wait for Wei Shao to return as she used to. She had the courtyard gates closed early and climbed into bed, falling asleep almost immediately.

She had been busy with various trivial matters these past few days, which, though seemingly insignificant, had taken a toll on her energy. She was truly exhausted, and at the birthday banquet, she had also been unable to refuse and had drunk two cups of wine. As soon as her head touched the pillow, she quickly fell asleep.

She slept soundly, not knowing for how long, until she was awakened by the need to relieve herself. Reluctantly, she crawled out of her warm bed, didn't light a lamp, threw on a robe, and went to the bathroom. After washing her hands, she was still half-asleep, her eyes half-closed, and she groped her way back to the bed, burrowing into the covers and wrapping herself up comfortably. Closing her eyes, she soon fell asleep again.

Suddenly, there was a loud knocking at the door, accompanied by Chun Niang's urgent calls, as if something major had happened. Xiao Qiao was instantly fully awake, startled, and opened her eyes to ask, "Chun Niang, what's the matter?"

"My lady, get up quickly! Jia Huben is here! He's waiting outside the main gate right now, sent by the lord to take you to Jinyang!"

Jia Huben was none other than Jia Si, the Huben General, who had previously escorted Xiao Qiao on her travels north and south. They were already quite familiar with each other.Although Chun Niang tried her best to control herself, the slightly raised tone of her voice still betrayed her excitement and joy at this moment.

Xiao Qiao was startled, then turned over to face the inside of the room, lazily saying, "In the middle of the night, why would I go to Jinyang? Go and tell General Jia. I'm not going."

Chun Niang was anxious and knocked on the door again, but seeing that the door remained closed, she had no choice. Afraid that Jia Si would grow impatient, she thought for a moment and hurried to the main gate. After catching her breath, she said, "General, please wait a little longer. It's really too sudden. It will take some time for the lady to get up, dress, and pack her belongings."

Jia Si had hurried back with the Lord from Zhuojun overnight. At this moment, the Lord was waiting at the city gate and had sent him to quickly fetch the lady. He had already waited for some time after delivering the message, and seeing that the lady still hadn't come out, he hurriedly said, "The Lord instructed that we only need to take the lady first. You can pack the rest of the belongings tomorrow and take your time."

Chun Niang naturally didn't know that Wei Shao had personally returned, thinking that he had sent Jia Si back to fetch her. She only wanted to stall him for now and quickly said, "Understood, understood. General Jia, please wait a moment longer. I'll go and hurry her up."

After saying this, she rushed back inside and knocked on the door again, calling for Xiao Qiao.

Xiao Qiao knew that this time, Chun Niang wouldn't give up until she opened the door. She had no choice but to get up, light the lamp, open the door, and then lie back down on the bed.

Chun Niang followed her to the bedside, panting and pleading, "This is not the time for you to be stubborn! General Jia is still waiting for you outside! The carriage is ready! Please, listen and get up quickly."

Xiao Qiao just closed her eyes and shook her head, "I'm not going. I want to sleep."

Chun Niang was so anxious that she paced around the bed, wishing she could shake the disobedient lady awake. Suddenly, she remembered something and, not caring about anything else, quickly said, "I didn't tell you that day, but when you were drunk, it wasn't me who carried you into the room. It was the Lord himself who carried you in. Seeing that you were completely drunk, he even scolded me a bit, blaming me for not taking good care of you. This shows that even if the Lord seems distant on the surface, he still cares for you! Now that he's been gone for three days, he sent General Jia back to fetch you, which means he wants you to go with him. Lady, please don't be stubborn! Just go quickly. Don't cause any more trouble."

Xiao Qiao, who had her eyes closed, suddenly opened them wide, "He carried me into the room? Chun Niang, why didn't you tell me that day?"

Chun Niang hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "The Lord told me not to say anything. Maybe he just couldn't bring himself to admit it. Since the Lord has done this, lady, you..."

Chun Niang continued to plead beside her, but Xiao Qiao wasn't paying attention anymore.

She slowly sat up. Lowering her head, she carefully recalled the strange feeling she had after getting drunk that day. Gradually, it seemed like she was starting to understand.

No wonder she had that vague, strange feeling. She had actually tried to open her eyes at the time, but she was too drunk to wake up.

Finally, she fully understood. Why she had that sticky, uncomfortable feeling all over her body after waking up. And down there...

"Chun Niang, how long did he stay in the room after bringing me in?"

Xiao Qiao suddenly looked up, interrupting Chun Niang, and asked her.

"The Lord stayed for a while... Lady, please listen! Don't act like a child anymore. I'll help you get up right now!"With that, she turned her head and called out loudly for someone to come in.

The commotion had already roused all the maids and servants in the west wing. Hearing that the Lord had suddenly sent someone to fetch the Lady at this hour, they were all astonished and had gathered outside, waiting to be summoned. Upon hearing Chun Niang's call, they hurriedly pushed the door open and entered.

Xiao Qiao's heart was as clear as snow. Yet, she couldn't help but feel a wave of frustration and bitterness.

Although, when she was sober, if he insisted on her fulfilling her duties as a wife, she indeed wouldn't refuse him.

But under those circumstances that day, she had been completely unaware, and he had taken advantage of her, venting his desires on her once more. She had no idea how he had handled her or what indecent acts he had committed.

What was most despicable was that he had even instructed Chun Niang to keep it from her, pretending afterward as if nothing had happened!

How could there be such a shameless beast of a man in the world!

"All of you, leave. Go back to sleep!"

Xiao Qiao suddenly spoke, raising her head.

The maids and servants were taken aback, exchanging puzzled glances.

Chun Niang was truly anxious: "My dear heart—are you trying to worry me to death—"

Just then, hurried footsteps echoed from outside the door. Following that, a figure stepped in, emerging from behind the screen.

"Chun Niang, why hasn't she gotten up yet? How long have we been waiting?"

The voice arrived with the person. Wei Shao had already strode in, stopping beside the screen.

His gaze flicked toward Xiao Qiao, who was still sitting on the bed. His words, however, were directed at Chun Niang, his tone seemingly displeased.

The maids and servants were surprised, as the Lord, who had left three days ago, had suddenly reappeared.

Chun Niang was also stunned.

She had thought Wei Shao had sent Jia Si to fetch her.

She hadn't expected that he himself would come.

But why hadn't she seen him at the door earlier?

"My Lord, please calm down!"

Chun Niang quickly regained her composure. Sensing the Lord's impatience, she hurried forward to soothe him, "The Lady will be ready shortly…"

"Chun Niang, tell him that grandmother instructed me to stay at home. I'm not going anywhere."

Xiao Qiao didn't even glance at Wei Shao, who had suddenly appeared, speaking indifferently.

Wei Shao's gaze shifted to Xiao Qiao, his brow slightly furrowed.

The room was filled with people, yet everyone was wide-eyed and silent, the atmosphere eerily quiet.

Chun Niang felt as if she could hardly breathe, her palms sweating profusely.

"My Lord, please don't be impatient!" she quickly mediated, "The Lady doesn't mean to disregard your kindness. It's just that there are many matters at home, and she can't leave at the moment…"

"All of you, leave!" Wei Shao interrupted.

The maids and servants immediately scurried out.

Chun Niang looked at the Lord. His gaze was fixed on the Lady.

Chun Niang looked at the Lady. She remained seated on the bed, wrapped in the quilt, her eyes avoiding the Lord.

Chun Niang was utterly exhausted and helpless, only able to leave the room with lingering glances.

When only the two of them remained in the room, Wei Shao walked to the bedside. Just as he was about to speak, he seemed to catch a whiff of something and leaned closer to her, sniffing twice, his brow furrowing again: "Have you been drinking again?"

Xiao Qiao replied, "Yes, I have. So what?"

Wei Shao's frown deepened: "You know you get drunk easily, and when you're drunk, you're completely out of it. And now you're alone at home. Why don't you remember the lesson from the last time you got drunk?"Xiao Qiao slowly turned her head and stared at him for a moment, the corners of her lips slightly curling up. "Is the Lord afraid that I might get drunk again and pass out, and if I encounter a beastly man, I might be dishonored?"

Wei Shao was taken aback, a trace of embarrassment quickly flashing in his eyes, but he soon regained his composure and said in a nonchalant tone, "Do you think I want to? That day when you were drunk, I kindly carried you back to your room. After putting you down, I was about to leave, but you held onto me. You were just drunk at the time, so you probably don't remember it now."

Xiao Qiao bit her lower lip tightly with her pearly white teeth and finally said, "Now I know that I misbehave when I'm drunk. It's my fault. I’ve indeed wronged the Lord. But why are you disturbing my sleep in the middle of the night?"

Wei Shao cleared his throat. "Earlier, I escorted my grandmother to Wuzhong City. Before leaving, she thought it over and felt it was inappropriate to leave you alone at home, so she asked me to take you to Jinyang. I think her arrangement makes sense. That’s why I came back to take you with me."

Xiao Qiao said, "Why didn’t grandmother tell me before she left that I should go with you? Besides, I’m doing just fine here. I’m not going."

Wei Shao asked, "Are you going or not?"

"Not going."

"Going or not?"

Wei Shao paused and asked again.

"I said, I’m not going. I want to sleep."

Xiao Qiao ignored him, turned to lie on her side, facing away from him, and closed her eyes.

Wei Shao stared at the back of her head, his expression gradually darkening.

Suddenly, he knelt on the bed with one leg, leaned over, and pulled her out of the blanket like a little chick. He grabbed a fox-fur-lined cloak hanging on the clothes rack nearby, wrapped it around her, picked up her shoes from the floor, and forcibly put them on her feet. Half carrying, half dragging, he strode out with her.

Behind them, jaws dropped to the floor.

Author's note: Happy Winter Solstice~

See you tomorrow~

^_^