The Prisoner of Beauty - Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Riding a Tiger

Lady Ding had taken the two Qiao sisters to Changsheng Temple to offer incense, only to wake from her nap and find Da Qiao missing. In a panic, she questioned Xiao Qiao. Xiao Qiao claimed they had originally been in the same room, but because she had overeaten at the midday vegetarian meal and felt bloated, she had wanted to walk through the rear temple grounds to aid digestion. She had invited Da Qiao to join her, but Da Qiao claimed she was too tired and stayed behind. Xiao Qiao had gone with her maids, and when she returned, Da Qiao was gone. She had assumed her cousin was with Lady Ding.

Lady Ding grew even more frantic, ordering servants and temple monks to search every corner, to no avail. Her first thought was that Da Qiao had been abducted by some villain who had sneaked into the temple. Her face was drenched in tears, her legs so weak she could barely walk. She prepared to rush back to the city to report the crime to her husband so he could hunt down the culprit. Just then, the manor’s steward reported that the stable slave, Bi Zhi, was also missing.

Lady Ding’s mind was a chaotic mess, and she didn't immediately link the two disappearances. On the carriage ride back to the city, she remained distraught, hiding her face in her handkerchief and weeping uncontrollably. Xiao Qiao sat beside her, watching her aunt’s heartbreak with a twinge of guilt. However, she feared that if her uncle launched a massive manhunt across his territory, the two runaways—who likely hadn't gone far—might be caught.

Halfway home, Xiao Qiao lowered her head and said with tearful self-reproach, "This is all my fault. If only I hadn't been so playful and had stayed with Sister, she wouldn't have met with such trouble."

Xiao Qiao had lost her mother young, and Lady Ding, a kind and gentle woman, had always pitied her and treated her as her own. Seeing her niece blame herself, the aunt suppressed her own grief to comfort her. "My child, it is not your fault. Do not torment yourself."

"Aunt," Xiao Qiao said, "I was thinking... how could it be such a coincidence that Sister and that stable slave vanished at the exact same time? I suspect she wasn't abducted by a villain..."

Lady Ding stared at her, stunned. Xiao Qiao leaned in and whispered a single sentence into her ear.

Lady Ding’s face went pale. She let out a sharp gasp. "You mean they... eloped?" She stopped abruptly, covering her mouth with her handkerchief.

Xiao Qiao nodded. "I think it’s the only possibility. Think about it, Aunt: Changsheng Temple is a sacred Buddhist site. Why would a kidnapper sneak in and dare to lay hands on a daughter of the Inspector’s manor? The fact that both she and the stable slave are gone—what else could it be but them leaving together? And now that I think of it, I remember something..."

Xiao Qiao hesitated.

"What? Speak quickly!" Lady Ding urged.

"A few days ago, when Sister and I went out, that slave was in our retinue. I caught them talking privately in secret. They separated in a hurry when they saw me, and Sister looked quite panicked. I didn't think much of it then, but now..." She trailed off.

This was, of course, a complete fabrication. But Lady Ding could never have imagined her niece would lie to her. Her face went from red to white, and she was speechless.

"Aunt, if I had known this would happen, I should have told you then... I was too careless..." Xiao Qiao lowered her head, the picture of sorrowful regret.

Lady Ding recalled the slave. Aside from his strange green eyes, he was indeed strikingly handsome. Two years ago, when Xiao Qiao had just been betrothed to Liu Yan, the younger sister of Liu Yan’s stepmother—Lady Yangdu of Langya—had visited Dongjun. She had taken a liking to the slave and asked for him. Lady Yangdu was notorious for her dalliances and her fondness for keeping handsome "companions." Since he was just a slave, the Qiao family had handed him over.

Surprisingly, a few days later, the slave had been dumped outside the city, beaten within an inch of his life and covered in lash wounds. It was said he was untamable and had enraged Lady Yangdu. By some miracle, he survived and eventually found his way back to the Qiao manor. Since Lady Yangdu had already left, the family didn't drive him away and kept him on.

Remembering this, Lady Ding felt a hollow pit in her stomach, a mixture of regret and fury. She suddenly gripped Xiao Qiao’s hand. "My child, this involves your sister’s reputation. You must never let a second soul know of this!"

This was exactly what Xiao Qiao had been waiting for. She nodded, feeling a wave of relief. "Don't worry, Aunt. I won't say a word."

Once home, Lady Ding rushed to her husband, Qiao Yue, to discuss the matter. Upon hearing the news, Qiao Yue was so enraged he flipped the table and drew his sword to storm out. Lady Ding caught him, weeping, "Husband! You mustn't! If you make a public spectacle of this and hunt them down, our daughter's reputation will be ruined!"

Qiao Yue calmed down, realizing his wife was right. Moreover, with the Wei family alliance hanging in the balance, it was impossible to proceed if the world knew Da Qiao had eloped with a slave. He immediately summoned his trusted advisor, Zhang Pu.

It was Zhang Pu who had proposed the alliance in the first place. Hearing the news, he was horrified but moved quickly. He issued strict orders to the retinue to keep silent and dispatched men to search for the couple in secret, focusing on the paths they were likely to take.

That night, Xiao Qiao "discovered" a letter of apology Da Qiao had left behind for her parents and delivered it immediately. After reading it, Qiao Yue and his wife were certain: their daughter had truly run away with the green-eyed slave. One ranted and cursed while the other wept incessantly. To the outside world, the manor seemed calm, but inside, it was a scene of total chaos.

While the main house was in turmoil, Xiao Qiao’s side of the family was different. Xiao Qiao spent her days comforting Lady Ding. Her brother, Qiao Ci, was more pleased than angry that the marriage had been derailed and urged their father, Qiao Ping, to intervene.

After two days without any news of Da Qiao, Qiao Ping went to his brother’s study. He found Qiao Yue and Zhang Pu sitting together, both looking utterly defeated.

"I just received word," Qiao Yue said, pacing frantically. "Our envoy didn't see Wei Shao, but he met with his grandmother, Lady Xu. She has accepted the marriage. She said she will pick an auspicious date and send people to Yanzhou to fetch the bride. Their envoys are already on the way. With A-Fan gone, what on earth are we to do?"

Lady Xu, Wei Shao's grandmother, was a formidable woman—the daughter of a Princess and a "Wengzhu" in her own right. She had managed the Wei family’s affairs through the crisis ten years ago when Wei Shao’s father and brother were killed. Wei Shao was said to respect her deeply. If she had agreed, the marriage was effectively a done deal.

Qiao Ping spoke up. "Brother, I maintain my position: even if my niece had married him, it would not be a long-term solution. The Wei family is just using Yanzhou as a springboard to move south without firing a shot. Once they are established, they will turn on us. How could she survive there? The Wei family still holds a grudge over the past. This marriage is like feeding oneself to a tiger."

Qiao Yue frowned. "Brother, you worry too much. Once we are in-laws, how could they turn on us so easily? Besides, we must survive the current crisis first! As for A-Fan... she is the eldest daughter. It was her duty to save Yanzhou. The problem was solved, yet she was so unfilial as to run away! I have raised a worthless daughter!"

Qiao Ping urged him to try the alliance with Chenliu instead, but Qiao Yue only sighed. "It's easy for you to say! How do I explain A-Fan’s disappearance to the Wei envoys when they arrive?"

"Just say she has fallen gravely ill and cannot marry. Send lavish gifts to apologize. Surely they won't make a scene," Qiao Ping suggested.

Qiao Yue remained silent for a long time before sighing. "Let me think on it."

Two days later, news somehow leaked into the city of Puyang that Zhou Qun—having heard of the Qiao-Wei alliance—had quietly retreated. The siege was lifted, and the city rejoiced. Citizens flocked to the Inspector's manor to offer their thanks.

Qiao Ping realized something was wrong and hurried to see his brother. He found Qiao Yue sitting with Zhang Pu, who offered a meaningful glance before excusing himself.

"Brother! Zhou Qun has retreated, and the city is full of talk about the Wei marriage. How did this get out?"

Unlike his previous panic, Qiao Yue was now eerily calm. "Is this not a good thing? It has saved our people from the horrors of war."

"It is good, of course. But... have you found news of A-Fan?"

Qiao Yue’s face darkened. "Do not mention that shameless girl again! The Qiao family has no such daughter!"

Since A-Fan was his only child, and yet he seemed unconcerned about the marriage proceeding, Qiao Ping was confused. Then, recalling Zhang Pu’s look, the truth hit him. His face went pale.

"Are you... planning to have Xiao Qiao take her place?" he asked tentatively.

"That is exactly the plan," Qiao Yue said. "How does my brother feel about it?"

Qiao Ping was shocked and immediately shook his head. "Absolutely not! Have you forgotten? Manman is already betrothed to the Prince of Langya! Their wedding is next year! How can she marry Wei Shao?"

"As for the Prince," Qiao Yue said slowly, "I don't see it as a problem. I will send an eloquent envoy to break the engagement and offer generous gifts. I doubt Langya will take it too harshly."

"Brother, this cannot be! Manman and the Prince have been betrothed for years and are of one mind. How can we just break it off? I cannot agree..."

"Lu-an!" Qiao Yue shouted his brother’s courtesy name, standing up abruptly. "You saw how the people rejoiced at the news of the retreat! Our family has ruled here for generations. Can you truly bear to throw the two hundred thousand souls of Yanzhou back into the fire? The mere rumor of this marriage made the enemy retreat! Which is more important: your daughter, or the lives of two hundred thousand people?"

Qiao Ping froze. He finally understood. His brother had likely listened to Zhang Pu and leaked the news of the marriage on purpose, creating a situation where it was impossible to back out. He had painted Qiao Ping into a corner.

Qiao Ping loved his daughter above all else. The thought of sending her to the Wei family was unbearable, but the word "No" now felt as heavy as a mountain. Even in the November chill, sweat broke out on his forehead.

"Brother... it’s not that I don't know the weight of the situation, but this is simply too..."

Qiao Yue suddenly stepped forward and, without a word, knelt before his younger brother, his forehead nearly touching the floor. Qiao Ping gasped and rushed to pull him up.

"Brother, what are you doing—?"

"Second Brother!" Qiao Yue cried, tears in his eyes. "I know you don't want to send Manman so far away. A-Fan was my only daughter; do you think I wanted her gone? But there is no other way! If she hadn't heartlessly run away, I would never take your Manman from you! I beg you, on behalf of the people of Yanzhou!"

Qiao Ping felt as if ten thousand arrows were piercing his heart. His hands were ice-cold. He held his brother up and gritted his teeth. "Please, stand up. I... I will follow your instructions."

Qiao Yue let out a long breath of relief and gripped Qiao Ping’s hand. "In this world, none are closer than brothers! I am truly grateful."

Qiao Ping could only manage a bitter smile. As he walked toward his daughter’s room, he realized he had no idea how to tell her. He hesitated at her door, afraid to face his beloved, delicate daughter.