The Prisoner of Beauty - Chapter 128

Chapter 128

The State of Langya was situated in the northern reaches of Xuzhou, with its capital at Kaiyang, a mere four to five hundred miles from the provincial seat of Xuzhou City. With the imperial house in decline, the state had long been a principality in name only, content to occupy a quiet corner of the realm. Previously, Xue Tai had never spared a thought for the minor territory of Langya, knowing only that the old King of Langya had passed away last year and was succeeded by the Crown Prince, Liu Yan. At the time, Xue Tai had done no more than send a standard letter—first offering condolences, followed by a formal message of congratulation. He was entirely unaware that over the past two years, Liu Yan had been secretly allying with capable men, recruiting heroes, accumulating vast stores of grain, and reinforcing his strongholds. He had long ceased to be the helpless youth who, driven by sowers of discord, was forced to seek refuge in Yanzhou for several long years.

Liu Yan had been monitoring the situation in Xuzhou covertly from the shadow. Ever since Bizhi first engaged Xue Tai in battle last year, Bizhi had caught his eye. Today, with Xuzhou thrown into absolute chaos, he finally made a decisive move, successfully persuading the State of Donghai to launch a joint military campaign to seize Xuzhou City.

Xue An, single-mindedly intent on avenging his father, had massed his troops at Xiaqiu, leaving the rear defenses of Xuzhou City hollowed out. Unexpectedly, this allowed Liu Yan to pull off a successful surprise attack. By the time Xue An turned his army back to mount a rescue, the situation was already beyond salvation. His attempts to reclaim the city proved futile. Furthermore, fearing that Yang Xin might break their pact and seize the opportunity to capture his remaining cities, Xue An weighed his options and had no choice but to abandon Xuzhou City for the time being. Leading his remaining force of no more than several tens of thousands of men, he retreated to Xiapei in bitter resentment to reorganize and recuperate his forces.

The very first thing Liu Yan did upon securing his footing in Xuzhou was to personally journey to Lingbi to pay a visit to Bizhi, openly expressing his desire to forge an alliance.

...

Wei Shao sat behind his desk, upon which his treasured sword lay horizontally.

His long, slender fingers slowly stroked the gold-inlaid dragon patterns on the hilt.

His expression was utterly placid, yet dark undercurrents surged deep within his eyes, akin to the ominous stillness before a mountain storm.

"...Liu Yan is a noble scion of the imperial Han house, and he treats men of talent with great deference. He is widely praised as a rare, exquisite specimen among the imperial clan. In his youth, he also lived as a guest in Yanzhou; tracking it back, he shares a historical connection with that Bizhi. If Bizhi is truly recruited by him, it would be a tremendous pity. While this matter may seem minor, it cannot be ignored. In my humble opinion, the Lord should prioritize the greater situation, cast aside past grievances, and seize the opportunity of this troop withdrawal to take Bizhi into your own service. That would be the superior strategy..."

Gongsun Yang chattered on relentlessly at his side. Whatever he was saying, very little of it actually registered with Wei Shao.

His mind and soul were entirely anchored on a single name: Liu Yan.

His wife's childhood playmate. Her former fiancé. Even after Wei Shao had formally wed her, this man had refused to give up, intercepting and abducting her midway on the road, which was what sparked his furious military campaign against Shiyi back then!

At Wei Shao's current position, there were simply too many matters demanding his energy and focus. Launching campaigns to conquer territories, accepting submissions from surrenderers, training soldiers and feeding horses, and preparing for future crises—aside from these strategic war plans for the realm, his private emotions were entirely tied to Xiao Qiao alone. He was so completely infatuated by this single woman that he spent his days plagued by a fear of loss, his mind constantly unsettled. At times, he was filled with a torrent of tenderness, wishing nothing more than to melt together with her like lumps of clay into a single entity, where he was within her and she was within him. At other times, he was tormented by love, hatred, jealousy, and obsession, his heart unable to find peace. Originally, he had already cast Liu Yan away to some forgotten corner of his mind.

Yet never in his wildest dreams did he expect this name to suddenly pop up again, and in such an astonishing manner.

Not only had the man seized Xuzhou, a territory Wei Shao had long eyed like a tiger watching its prey, but what pricked Wei Shao's heart like a thorn was that he actually intended to recruit Bizhi!

No matter how stubbornly Wei Shao refused to admit it, constantly labeling Bizhi as the "refugee leader," he knew perfectly well in his heart that in Xiao Qiao's eyes, because Bizhi was the husband of her elder sister, Da Qiao, she likely held Bizhi in higher regard than himself.

And all because of that single surname, Qiao!

He felt a tinge of bitterness regarding this, and an even greater sense of indignation.

Last night, he had braved the rain to ride a hundred miles alone, pursuing her to the courier station. To win her willing compliance, he had acted on a sudden impulse, making a concession for her sake that might leave him too ashamed to face the ancestral tablets of his father and brother ever again.

At the time, it had indeed won him her soft and compliant treatment, bringing him to the absolute pinnacle of physical bliss and exquisite ecstasy that a mortal vessel could possibly achieve.

Yet after the tides of passion receded, his heart still felt as though a corner of it was missing. That perpetual, ethereal sense of desolation did not seem to be perfectly filled by her seemingly calm, unrippled response of "alright."

Only a single night had passed, and now a matter like this had bounced up.

One was her former fiancé, and the other was her brother-in-law.

If the refugee leader truly allowed himself to be recruited by that man named Liu, what would she think?

Would that man named Liu gain even greater weight in her heart because of this?

"...If the Lord is unwilling to step forward personally, in my humble opinion, you may request the Mistress to assist from the sidelines. If the Mistress writes a letter to clarify the stakes involved, Bizhi will certainly not accept Liu Yan's invitation..."

Gongsun Yang was still standing to the side, talking without pause.

Wei Shao's face darkened instantly. He pushed his treasured sword forward, straightened his spine, and said coldly, "I shall make my own determinations regarding military matters. Why must a woman interfere?"

Gongsun Yang was perfectly aware of the past relationship between Liu Yan and the Mistress.

Seeing the Lord express such a stance, he had no choice but to suppress his words.

Wei Shao ordered, "Command our men to gather more information and observe the changes for now. As for Xuzhou..."

He pondered for a moment, then let out a cold laugh. "Tell Yang Xin there is no need to move his troops for the time being. Just wait. Having lost Xuzhou, how could Xue An possibly let the matter rest? He will surely try to reclaim the city. What kind of foundation does Liu Yan possess? He was chased away by a woman like a stray dog, fortunately finding shelter in Yanzhou for several years without thinking of repaying the kindness, and now he actually wants to drag others down with him. A mere firefly's dim light dares to contend for brilliance with the stars and moon? We shall simply sit back and watch Xue An and Liu Yan fight it out."

Having said his piece, he rose and strode out.

...

Three days later, the envoy from Guo Quan, the Marquis of Jibei, arrived with his entourage.

The envoy was none other than Guo Quan’s eldest son, Guo Xing.

Upon his arrival, Guo Xing brought six exceptional steeds, a golden saddle, and several rolls of fine silk.

Aside from the gifts, traveling alongside the entourage was a fragrant carriage.

Seated inside the carriage were two beautiful maidens whom Guo Quan was presenting to Wei Shao.

One was well-versed in music, while the other was skilled in dance. Both were virgins possessing exceptional beauty.

That evening, Wei Shao hosted a grand banquet within the Xindu Palace to entertain Guo Xing and his long-traveled guests.

...

The Sheyang Residence was separated from the front hall of the Xindu Palace where the banquet was being held by several heavy gates.

Even so, the faint sounds of pipes and strings playing in that direction could still be heard.

Because the guests were numerous, with several dozen people in the entourage, Xiao Qiao had dispatched servants from the Sheyang Residence to the front hall to be at their disposal.

As the evening deepened, the servant women began to return one after another.

Chun Niang brought back a bowl of poria and black bone chicken soup from the small kitchen.

Whenever the Mistress had her monthly cycle, her body would feel indisposed. Though she was in much better health now than in the past, whenever those few days arrived, she would still feel sore and devoid of strength.

Moreover, they had been married for quite some time now, yet her belly had shown no signs of activity.

Although Madame Xu's side had not pressed her, and the Master showed no dissatisfaction whatsoever.

Chun Niang, however, had always kept this close to her heart.

A few months ago in Jinyang, around the time Xiao Qiao fell ill, after she gradually recovered, Chun Niang had taken the opportunity to ask a physician to examine the Mistress's gynecological health.

The physician could not detect anything specific, noting only an insufficiency of Qi and blood, a condition of dual deficiency that required gradual regulation and nourishment.

As Chun Niang walked along the covered corridor toward the room, she saw two servant women standing with their backs turned near the corner of the hallway, whispering in secret.

As she drew closer, the voices of the two women speaking became audible.

One said, "...The two beauties sent by the Marquis of Jibei presented songs and dances during the banquet. At that time, I was standing right in the corner of the hall, and I saw with my own eyes that those two women kept throwing flirtatious glances at the Lord!"

The other replied, "What of it? I heard from the servant women who escorted those two beauties all the way here that the Marquis of Jibei intends to forge a marriage alliance with the Lord, and wants to send a daughter over. The Mistress probably doesn't know about this yet..."

Chun Niang’s brows knit tightly. She let out a sharp cough, walked over, and said coldly, "If you have nothing to do, you come here to wag your tongues? Have all the rules died?"

Hearing her voice, the servant women turned around, their faces displaying sheer panic as they hurriedly begged for forgiveness.

Chun Niang reprimanded them with a few more words before entering the room. She found Xiao Qiao standing before a window. The window opened precisely toward the direction where those two servant women had just been gossiping. Suspecting that she might have overheard them, Chun Niang felt a wave of unease in her heart and softly called her over to eat.

Xiao Qiao took two bites and then set her chopsticks down.

Chun Niang urged her to have a bit more. Xiao Qiao forced herself to take another bite, but she truly felt a sense of nausea, so she pushed the bowl away.

Suddenly, a wave of churning rolled through her stomach, making her feel as though she wanted to vomit. She furrowed her brows, doing her utmost to suppress it.

Seeing her unusual expression, Chun Niang assumed she had overheard the gossip of the two servant women just now and was unsettled in her mind. She thus counseled her in a low voice, "Did the Mistress happen to hear something just now? Do not take it to heart. The Mistress knows very well how the Master treats you. They merely sent two people to serve him; how could the Master ever look upon them? Even if the Guo family truly sends a daughter over, she would be no more than a concubine. Set your mind at ease, Mistress. Only when you nourish your body to be strong and robust will the Master be truly pleased..."

Xiao Qiao was slightly taken aback, then she immediately offered a small smile and said, "What Chun Niang says is absolutely right."

...

Inside the great hall of the Xindu Palace, the beams were carved and the rafters were painted. Within the vast, wide, and deep main hall stood eight thick, vermilion pillars that would require two men to encircle with their arms. At the four corners of the palace roof, blazing ox-tallow torches burned, illuminating the interior as brightly as daylight.

Wei Shao sat alone behind a desk facing east, while Guo Xing and the delegation of envoys sat in rows facing south. Gongsun Yang, Chief Secretary Wei Quan, and others sat facing north to keep them company.

With fine wine and abundant delicacies, the hall was filled with guests and hosts alike, raising their cups in joyful conversation.

After the two beauties finished presenting their songs and dances to enliven the gathering, amidst the sound of clapping, they glided to the front of Wei Shao’s desk, kneeling on his left and right. Each held a golden goblet in her hands. Maidens poured the wine. Once the cups were filled, they offered the fine wine to Wei Shao in crisp, melodious voices resembling the warbling of orioles.

Wei Shao accepted the wine and commanded his attendants to bestow rewards upon the two beauties.

As the beauties bowed in gratitude and withdrew, Guo Xing cast a glance toward the strategist, Xia Hong, who was seated beside him.

Understanding the signal, Xia Hong rose to offer wine to Wei Shao, saying with a smile, "Before arriving here, this humble one had already heard that the Marquis of Yan is a peerless hero of his generation, possessing martial prowess that crowns the world. Achieving supremacy over the north as a youth, your majesty commands respect across the seas, and all people look up to you. I have long harbored deep admiration in my heart. Meeting you today, I finally know that the Marquis of Yan not only possesses unmatched martial achievements, but even more so a handsome countenance and an elegant demeanour, akin to the scarlet clouds stretching across half the sky, leaving one thoroughly enchanted. My master happens to have a daughter at home who is currently in the prime of her youth and possesses some measure of beauty. If you would be so kind as not to reject her, he wishes to send her to serve the Marquis of Yan and his lady, thereby demonstrating my master’s desire to forge good relations. I wonder what the Marquis of Yan thinks of this?"

Gongsun Yang’s expression stiffened slightly, and he looked toward Wei Shao.

Wei Shao drained the wine in his cup, slowly set it down, and then offered a slight smile, saying, "I thank Marquis Guo for his kind intentions. Marquis Guo's precious daughter must surely possess a soul of ice and a spirit of snow. Please convey my deep gratitude on my behalf. However, I absolutely dare not wrong her in such a manner. It is my hope that she marries well elsewhere, so as not to fail her refined mind and elegant character."

Both Guo Xing and Xia Hong were struck dumb.

The whole world knew that Wei Shao had already wed the daughter of the Qiao family from Yanzhou as his primary wife. Naturally, Guo Quan did not harbor the extravagant hope of marrying his daughter to him as a primary wife either. Xia Hong's words just now had also been made very clear: they were willing to marry the daughter as a concubine, hoping to use this to solidify their alliance.

Yet they never expected to be rejected by Wei Shao so directly. The two of them looked at each other in mutual astonishment, temporarily unable to find any words to reply.

Gongsun Yang felt a wave of awkwardness for them. Seeing that the Lord showed no change in expression after speaking, calmly pouring wine for himself, Gongsun Yang hurriedly rose to smooth over the situation.

Wei Quan, who had been commanded by Wei Shao to handle the communications with Guo Xing’s entourage previously, saw the situation and used the pretext of offering a toast to whisper into Guo Xing’s ear, "It is not that my master is rejecting the kind intentions of your house alone. Previously, other houses have also sent daughters seeking marriage, and my master declined them without exception. Since he declined them in the past, it would not be fitting to accept only from your house today. Although my master will not accept her, he readily accepts the kind intentions of the Marquis to forge good relations. Pray do not take offense."

Only then did Guo Xing's embarrassment ease slightly, though he could not help but feel secretly amazed in his heart.

Using the presentation of a daughter to secure a stable political alliance was an everyday occurrence.

He had also heard rumors that Wei Shao shared an unresolvable hatred with the Qiao family of Yanzhou.

The Qiao family had managed to dissolve that hatred precisely by marrying their daughter to Wei Shao as his wife.

When they suffered the invasion of Xue Tai previously, they had even received Wei Shao's military intervention to escape their doom.

Originally, his own house had wished to emulate this method to solidify their relations.

He never expected to be rejected.

He could only blame his house for being a step too late, allowing the Qiao family of Yanzhou to snatch the advantage first.