The Prisoner of Beauty - Chapter 64
Chapter 64
The first event of equestrian archery concluded. In the end, the title of the Luli Champion was claimed by the outsider, Qiao Ci.
Although this outcome was unexpected, none of the Youzhou soldiers present felt they had lost face; on the contrary, they were in high spirits.
Qiao Ci was the younger brother of the Lord’s wife, making him the Lord's brother-in-law. Since he was the Lord's brother-in-law, he was as good as half a Youzhou native. What difference was there between him claiming the championship and a native Youzhou man claiming it? Furthermore, the masterly poise he had displayed just now, especially the reversal with that final arrow, was truly too magnificent. No one who witnessed it could help but be profoundly captivated.
The soldiers discussed the scene that had just unfolded in animated whispers while raising their heads in anticipation for the next event, the combat competition, to begin.
The combat competition took the form of a dueling arena. Two men would square off; the loser would leave the stage, while the winner would continue to accept challenges. The cycle would repeat in this manner until the final victor was crowned the Luli Grand Champion. This posed an immense challenge to one's martial prowess, physical stamina, and even psychological resolve. Aside from the prohibition of throwing daggers, flying meteors, and other concealed projectile weapons, there were no other restrictions in the arena.
As far as military warfare was concerned, equestrian archery was actually more practical.
But these were chaotic times. And chaotic times worshiped only heroes.
Solely from the standpoint of the martial spirit, arena combat was better suited to fully manifest the charm of individual heroism. Therefore, everyone was filled with anticipation for this genuine, fist-to-flesh clash in the arena.
...
The view from the Luli Terrace was excellent, affording a perfectly clear panoramic view of the grand arena established right in the center of the drill ground.
Yet the moment Qiao Ci's equestrian archery event concluded, Xiao Qiao began to grow somewhat absentminded.
Although she knew her younger brother would likely have his arm wound treated after stepping down, her heart was still plagued by a bit of worry. She possessed even less interest in watching people flaunt their bravery and engage in vicious brawls on the stage. Sitting there, she inevitably began to let her mind wander.
First, she cast a glance toward the Black Tortoise Terrace.
The Black Tortoise Terrace was located not far to the side of the Luli Terrace, sitting lower than it, making the view looking down clear at a single glance.
Su Ehuang sat at the edge of a group of Yuyang noblewomen, her sitting posture elegant and beautiful, her expression solemn and composed, her gaze falling toward the center of the drill ground.
The scene just now where her nephew, Su Xin, incurred the jeers and boos of the entire field seemed not to have brought much impact upon her either. She did not strike up conversations with the Yuyang noblewomen nearby. The Yuyang noblewomen also seemed distant toward this famous "Lady of the Jade Pavilion," who hailed from the Kingdom of Zhongshan, had married Liu Li, became a widow, and had now returned from Luoyang to Yuyang with a touch of legendary color to her name. No one took the initiative to engage her in small talk either. They merely looked at her once or twice, either overtly or covertly, scrutinizing in their hearts her seemingly casual yet actually meticulously styled hair, the swaying step-shake pins inserted in her hair, the skirt and gown she wore upon her body, as well as the "Luoyang flair" she exuded from head to toe even while sitting there, which seemed intended to suppress them all. Following this, they would lean in close to the women beside them, exchanging a few whispered words.
Su Ehuang, however, remained consistent from beginning to end, staying perfectly steady and poised regardless of the looks from the people around her.
After observing Su Ehuang, Xiao Qiao looked toward Wei Shao.
He sat highly elevated alongside Gongsun Yang, Li Dian, and others upon a viewing terrace directly opposite the arena. He sat upright in the center with his sword girded at his waist, his broad shoulders and narrow waist making him exceptionally conspicuous. Requiring virtually no effort of sight, she spotted that familiar profile of his at the very first glance.
Xiao Qiao suddenly felt somewhat curious. Since Su Ehuang had appeared here as if descending from the heavens, did Wei Shao know right now that she was present too, sitting right upon that Black Tortoise Terrace located not far behind him?
She quietly observed Wei Shao for a brief moment. She saw that his gaze seemed to remain fixed upon the two warriors currently fighting in the arena, and occasionally he would turn his body slightly to speak a word or two with Li Dian or Gongsun Yang sitting beside him, appearing to be evaluating the skill and agility of the warriors on stage.
Xiao Qiao watched for a good while, yet he never once turned his head back.
Xiao Qiao drew her conclusion: he likely did not know yet.
At this moment, one of the warriors in the arena achieved victory. His opponent was ruthlessly thrown off the arena stage, crawling up to depart in shame and embarrassment. The victorious warrior stood upon the stage, accepting the cheers coming from all four directions.
Xiao Qiao's attention was drawn to it. Just as she was about to shift her gaze toward the arena, she saw Wei Shao suddenly turn his head.
Although they were separated by a bit of a distance, Xiao Qiao's intuition told her that his two eyes were likely casting their gaze toward her exact direction.
Xiao Qiao instantly felt a sense of guilty conscience from being caught peeking behind someone's back. She immediately looked toward the arena, her eyes staring straight ahead without straying.
Wei Shao gazed from afar at Xiao Qiao, who was sitting up straight and proper, then withdrew his line of sight.
He was doing his utmost to restrain himself, wanting to focus his attention onto the splendid duel of his warriors in the arena.
He must not waste any more mental energy keeping track of what his eldest brother, Wei Yan, who sat not far by his side, was actually looking at right now, or what was going through his mind.
Otherwise, if he were to see another scene like the one earlier where Wei Yan gazed at her from afar, he feared he would completely lose control of his emotions and throw a fit on the spot.
Every single time he thought of the scandalous secret that Lan Yun had spoken to him at that time, Wei Shao felt the blood in the vessels beneath the skin of his body boil, as if countless needle tips were densely pricking him.
He was unwilling to believe it. But he knew a woman like Lan Yun—no matter what her ultimate purpose was—was speaking the truth.
He and his cousin-brother, Wei Yan, shared nearly twenty years of brotherly affection. Because Wei Yan was several years older than him and had always conducted matters in a steady and reliable manner without ever making the slightest mistake, he possessed a natural trust toward him.
It was precisely because of this that, upon suddenly learning his brother not only harbored unspeakable thoughts toward his wife but had even profaned her, he felt an extraordinary rage, as well as deeply sinking into a massive, inescapable sense of humiliation that completely transcended all his prior perceptions.
If it had been anyone else, hacking them into ten thousand pieces would not suffice to allay the hatred in his heart; ten of them would have long since been minced into meat paste by him.
Yet this person happened to be his eldest brother.
Even though two days had already passed and he had been doing his utmost to restrain himself, at this very moment, when that scene he had conjured in his imagination surfaced in his mind, Wei Shao suddenly felt rows of needle-thorns flowing in his blood once more, beginning to prick and sting him, making it impossible for him to focus his mind.
"Does the Lord see him? This is the handsome talent I mentioned to you just now. His surname is Shi and his given name is Jun, a native of Panyun in Dezhou. He possesses a spear technique handed down through his ancestors, and his arm strength surpasses ordinary men. His ancestors were heroes; one once served as the Magistrate of Xingyang, though later the family fortune declined and they returned to their village to engage in farming. I also happened to hear someone recommend him by chance, and only then did I seek him out..."
Li Dian leaned over a bit closer, pointing toward a warrior currently battling an opponent in the arena as he spoke with great enthusiasm.
That warrior was in his early twenties, stout and majestic. He wielded a pure iron spear measuring one zhang and eight chi long. His movements were extraordinary, every spear strike carrying a gust of wind, forcing his opponent to retreat step by step, and the surrounding applause rose without interruption.
Hearing Li Dian speak to him, Wei Shao finally snapped out of his daze. Forcibly driving the images out of his mind, he concentrated his mental energy once more and cast his sight toward the arena.
...
Shi Jun indeed possessed superb martial arts and surpassed ordinary men in valiance. He did not fail Li Dian's expectations, successively thrashing seven men who came up to challenge him, making the soldiers in the drill ground watch with fanatical infatuation. Shifting the last challenger off the arena with his spear, Shi Jun suddenly brought his iron spear down with a heavy thud and bellowed, "Who else remains unconvinced? Shi Jun of Panyun awaits you here!"
His pair of prominent, rounded eyes surveyed all four directions, and beneath the stage, unexpectedly no one dared to step up to accept the challenge anymore.
Li Dian cherished talent and felt delighted upon seeing this. Just as he was about to cheer, he suddenly saw a person abruptly stand up from the White Tiger Terrace opposite them, leaping straight down from the zhang-high viewing terrace. He came marching over toward the arena with large, meteor-like strides, arriving in close proximity in the blink of an eye. He stood seven chi tall, with leopard-like shoulders and an ape-like back, aged twenty-seven or twenty-eight. It was no one else but Ding Qu, the adopted son of Yuan Zhe, who had arrived together with Yuan Dai the day before yesterday.
Ding Qu flipped himself up onto the arena stage, speaking in a loud voice: "I am Ding Qu of Xiami! I arrived in Yuyang with my uncle the day before yesterday, and thanks to your hospitality, I have stayed until today. When I was in Shandong in the past, I also heard rumors of the Youzhou Luli Grand Assembly, and today I have the fortune to witness it with my own eyes. Just now, seeing that Shi of Panyun's skill is extraordinary, and that he spoke out to issue a challenge, my skill-itch was tickled for a moment, which is why I ascended the stage. It is merely that I do not know whether this Luli Grand Assembly can permit an outsider like me to display his meager skills?"
He stood facing the wind with a long halberd held in his hand, his expression quite arrogant.
...
Ding Qu, a native of Xiami, had quickly made a name for himself after joining Yuan Zhe. Last year, when Yuan Zhe was fighting in Beihai, he fell into a trap due to a ruse and found himself heavily surrounded. Fortunately, Ding Qu fought his way in to protect him with all his might, actually carving a path out of the encirclement once more, allowing him to escape with his life by a lucky stroke. From then on, Yuan Zhe appreciated him greatly, subsequently adopting him as a foster son and absolutely keeping him by his side whenever he went out or came in. This time when Yuan Dai came to Youzhou, Ding Qu was dispatched to accompany him. During the banquet the day before yesterday, he had actually encountered a display of intimidation meant to put him in his place. Ding Qu had not dared to throw a fit at the time, yet his heart was filled with resentment, and he had noted down this humiliation. He had long since harbored the intention to suppress everyone and take back face for himself before the ten thousand soldiers of Youzhou. Having finally waited until this opportunity, he could not restrain himself and leaped out to manifest his presence, ascending the stage to accept the challenge. After finishing his loud speech, his two eyes could not help but gaze toward that beautiful silhouette currently sitting high upon the Luli Terrace opposite him.
Nine out of ten men in the world are lecherous creatures. This Ding Qu was no exception to the custom either. Having come here with Yuan Dai early this morning, at the moment he dismounted his horse, he happened to see Xiao Qiao descending from the carriage along with Madame Xu. At that time, he guessed she must be Wei Shao's wife.
Wei Shao of Youzhou had married the Qiao lady of Yanzhou last year, and the Qiao lady was beautiful and full of charms. Ding Qu had long since heard rumors of this. Seeing this young woman in grand attire and magnificent garments, possessing a beauty the likes of which he had never seen in his life, he could not resist stealing several more glances at the time. After taking his seat, he saw the beauty reveal her presence upon the high terrace once more, striking the drum and reciting the verses, her elegance unmatched for a generation and unforgettable. Just now, his mind had been reminiscing on it for a long time. Jumping out at this moment, aside from wiping away his past humiliation, it was inevitably not without a show-off's desire to use this opportunity to display his true abilities before the beauty.
How could Xiao Qiao know that she had inadvertently caught someone else's eye again? Having sat for a long time, she finally saw that Shi Jun was matchless, and originally thought it would end right there. She had not expected an unpredictable change to arise, with a person suddenly jumping out. Hearing that his speech carried a faint hint of provocation, she instantly focused her mind, her two eyes gazing tightly as her concern was drawn.
...
Li Dian cast a glance at Wei Shao, seeing that his expression was plain, showing no indication of his intent whatsoever.
Under such an occasion, since this Ding Qu had accepted the challenge, there was no reason for their side as the host to not respond either. At that moment, he simply stated the rules, the drumbeats rose once more, and the two men, Shi Jun and Ding Qu, became entangled in a brawl.
This Ding Qu truly did not fail his title as the champion within Yuan Zhe's army, being exceptionally ferocious and violent. Although Shi Jun's martial arts were also superb, his experience was shallow, falling far short of Ding Qu who was a veteran of a hundred battles. In no more than ten exchanges, he was struck heavily upon his back by Ding Qu's shaft, spitting fresh blood from his mouth as he suffered defeat and stepped down.
Ding Qu was immensely proud of himself. Using his halberd to pick up Shi Jun's spear that had fallen onto the ground, he held it high, walking around the arena stage with wide strides as he burst into loud laughter, saying, "What Panyun iron spear? Is he not still a defeated opponent under my, Ding Qu's, hands!"
Lady Zhu revealed a look of rage, rising from her seat.
Xiao Qiao's heart also suspended slightly. Turning her head, she cast a glance at Madame Xu beside her. She saw that she remained still, and showed even less intention to rise. Only her gaze looking down was slightly more grave compared to just now.
...
The Youzhou soldiers on all four sides, whose shouting and cheering had been earth-shaking just a moment ago, retracted their voices in the blink of an eye. Seeing Ding Qu arrogant to such an extent, a buzzing sound instantly arose everywhere beneath the stage, and every single face revealed a look of rage.
Shi Jun was filled with shame. Running before Wei Shao's viewing terrace, he knelt down to beg forgiveness for his crime.
The sharp light in Wei Shao's eyes flared up violently, yet his face displayed no look of displeasure. He merely narrowed his eyes slightly, tilting his chin up a fraction.
Li Dian caught his meaning, saying, "Victory and defeat are common occurrences; what crime do you have? Step down and treat your injuries first."
Shi Jun departed with his head lowered. Once Ding Qu stood firm upon the stage, he cast another glance toward the beautiful silhouette upon the Luli Terrace, then spoke toward the opposite viewing terrace once more: "I have heard that the Marquis of Yan of Youzhou possesses martial skills that crown the three armies, long holding the name of a War God. When I was in Shandong, I harbored the intention to seek instruction. It is a pity that we could not meet. Today is convenient. Taking advantage of this fine opportunity, will the Marquis of Yan be generous enough to grant me instruction?"
These words were simply arrogant and impolite to the absolute extreme. Even though Li Dian was a veteran of a hundred battles and possessed extreme cultivation of character, hearing this caused rage to rise from his heart. Just as he was about to rise, a silhouette to his side had already risen slowly.
Wei Yan said, "Who are you? Merely a dog or horse at Yuan Zhe's beck and call. Having luckily won a single match, do you actually think you have transformed into a human? From where do you get the qualifications to cross blades with the Lord who commands my four hundred thousand Youzhou soldiers? I am Wei Yan of Dai Commandery. Lacking talent as I am, I am willing to pass a few moves with you. If you defeat me, it will be another matter!"
Wei Yan leaped down from the high terrace, walking before the weapon rack to select an iron rod, and subsequently ascended the arena stage with quick steps.
Seeing Wei Yan ascend the stage, the soldiers' collective passion instantly grew excited once more.
Seeing that he had merely taken an iron rod as a weapon, Ding Qu knew he obviously did not place him in his eyes. Startled slightly, he subsequently said in rage, "Very well. It is you who seeks humiliation yourself; do not blame me for showing no mercy." Holding his halberd, he came up to meet the battle.
...
As Wei Yan and Ding Qu battled on the arena stage, Madame Xu sat upon the high terrace, her single eye tightly fixing upon them the entire time.
At first, her expression was grave, but it gradually eased down.
A moment later, when Xiao Qiao looked at her, her expression had already returned to normal. Turning her head to Xiao Qiao, she said, "This fellow seeks a beating, actually coming to our Youzhou's doorstep to behave with such wild insolence. It is good to let Yan'er blunt his sharp edge."
Just as Madame Xu's voice fell, Xiao Qiao heard a burst of cheering erupt inside the drill ground. Following the sound, she saw a long halberd flying out into midair. Wei Yan's iron rod swept horizontally, swift as a flash of lightning. Copying the method by the same process, he emulated the technique Ding Qu had used earlier to heavily strike Shi Jun, delivering a heavy rod strike upon his back. Ding Qu was instantly struck flat upon the arena stage, a mouthful of blood spraying wildly from his mouth.
Ding Qu was filled with a mixture of shame and fury. Struggling, he crawled up to fight again.The rod head of the iron rod in Wei Yan's hand had already pressed heavily against his throat, and he said in a vicious voice, "Do you suppose I dare not kill you? No matter how fierce and violent Yuan Zhe is, what can he do to me?"
With his throat locked, Ding Qu was unable to move a fraction. Yuan Dai, seeing the situation turn bad, had long since hurriedly descended the terrace. Rushing to close proximity in great haste, he spoke continuously toward Wei Shao, saying, "May the Marquis of Yan appease his anger. It is truly because he was too reckless just now, failing to listen to my advice and making a scene. I hope the Marquis of Yan will look upon my brother's face and spare his life. After I take him back, I will certainly report truthfully to my brother, sending envoys with gifts to come and offer apologies!"
Wei Shao raised his sight, looking toward Wei Yan upon the opposite arena stage, his expression peaceful.
Wei Yan locked eyes with him for a brief moment, then slowly retracted his iron rod.
Yuan Dai hastily ordered people to ascend the stage to carry Ding Qu away.
Wei Yan descended the arena stage amid the cheers of the soldiers of the entire field. With this, the Luli Grand Assembly concluded. Although the process had experienced twists and turns, the scenes were thrilling and soul-stirring. Not only did it decide young talents like Qiao Ci and Shi Jun, but in the end, Wei Yan's forceful battle against Ding Qu further displayed their martial might and shook their glory. None of the soldiers were not in high spirits, their bold and generous songs rising and falling one after another.
Madame Xu saw from afar the two brothers, Wei Shao and Wei Yan, walking toward the Luli Terrace. Knowing the two of them were coming to receive her, she rose from her seat. Under the support of Xiao Qiao on her left and Lady Zhu on her right, she descended the steps, finally meeting with the two brothers who came face-to-face to receive her.
Madame Xu's face displayed a look of gratification, and she said, "When brothers are of one mind, their sharpness can cut through metal. With you two brothers in Youzhou, my heart is deeply comforted!”