The Prisoner of Beauty - Chapter 132
Chapter 132
Luoyang
On the seventh day of the eleventh month, in the Year of the Bing-Shen, under the Ox Month of Xin-Chou and the Day of the Goat of Yi-Wei, the Grand Palace Astrologer submitted a memorial declaring it an exceptionally auspicious day on the zodiac, a time when all matters would progress with immense favor.
On the night before the Day of Yi-Wei, the Lotus Terrace blazed with brilliant illumination. Xing Xun had summoned every court official who had pledged allegiance to him for an all-night council of war.
Xing Xun sat high upon his elevated dais, casting a sweeping, domineering gaze across the grand hall, looking thoroughly pleased with himself. Below him, rows of ministers and subordinates held their official documents, waiting for orders with radiant smiles, eagerly anticipating the momentous announcement.
Moments later, Gao Zhun, the Minister of the Imperial Guards, hurried into the hall. He knelt down and offered a sheet of yellow silk with both hands.
When unfurled, it proved to be the Abdication Decree from the young emperor, Liu Tong. The text declared that the emperor felt deeply ashamed of his lack of virtue while holding such a supreme position, and wished to emulate the ancient sages by willingly abdicating the imperial throne to Xing Xun. The decree formally announced this to the entire realm and was sealed with the heavy imprint of the Imperial Jade Seal.
Gao Zhun further reported that at the auspicious hour on the following morning, once the civil and military officials assembled in the grand court, the Prime Minister would enter the Qianqiu Main Hall. There, the young emperor would personally assist the Prime Minister onto the imperial throne and read the Abdication Decree aloud.
The moment those words were spoken, a thunderous roar of cheers erupted within the Lotus Terrace. The gathered officials dropped to their knees one after another, offering their boundless congratulations through the formal etiquette reserved strictly for an emperor.
Xing Xun was entirely puffed up with pride, accepting their worship with immense satisfaction. Yet amidst the overwhelming chorus of praises, he noticed Zhu Zeng, a Counselor of the Palace, standing entirely motionless, his face clouded with apparent hesitation.
Zhu Zeng was an old advisor of Xing Xun. He had supported him from the very beginning, devising countless strategies as they marched from Henan into Luoyang, making him a man of considerable standing. At this moment when everyone else was celebrating, he alone refused to kneel. This displeased Xing Xun, who spoke up to question him.
Zhu Zeng replied, "It is not that the Prime Minister cannot ascend the throne, but rather that the timing is not yet ripe! Although the Han dynasty has grown weak, it has not ruled with tyranny. The Prime Minister has already reached the absolute peak of power available to a subject. To suddenly seize the throne and replace the Emperor will make it impossible to silence the criticisms of the world, and you will lose the hearts of the people. But even setting that aside, my greatest concern lies with Wei Shao in the north. As long as Wei Shao is not eliminated, the Prime Minister will never be free of hidden peril. I know the Prime Minister also intends to launch a campaign against Wei Shao. Why not issue an official denunciation first, branding him with the crime of sedition? That would give us a righteous cause. Then, you can summon the various regional lords in the name of the Han Emperor to wage a joint campaign against him. Would that not be infinitely better? If the Prime Minister marches out in the name of the Han Emperor and Wei Shao chooses to fight back, he will be committing open rebellion. Before the war even begins, he will have already lost the moral high ground. But if the Prime Minister ascends the throne first and then raises an army, will that not give Wei Shao the perfect justification to champion the cause of protecting the Emperor? He would be able to openly rally the forces of the realm to wage a joint resistance against the Prime Minister."
Xing Xun said displeasedly, "Why do you speak such words to dampen my high spirits? It is an ancient truth that those lacking virtue should yield to those who possess it. The Han Emperor himself feels ashamed of his lack of merit and realizes he is unworthy of his supreme position, which is why he is abdicating in my favor. Why should I not take it? I command an army of five hundred thousand soldiers across the realm and possess dozens of fierce generals. A single throw of our whips could stem the flow of a river! Why should I fear a mere child like Wei Shao? Furthermore, just last month in the eastern suburbs of Luoyang, an auspicious sign descended from the heavens, prophesying the arrival of a new master for the realm, which perfectly aligns with my name. As the saying goes, when Heaven offers a gift and you fail to take it, you will only bring disaster upon yourself!"
Zhu Zeng pressed on, "I am not speaking blindly. The so-called auspicious sign that fell in the eastern suburbs last month is highly suspect. The woman of the Su family harbors hidden, unfathomable motives. The Prime Minister must absolutely avoid being bewitched by a mere woman, otherwise, I fear it will be too late for regrets!"
Xing Xun had been a ruthless warlord for half his life, so it was naturally impossible for him to blindly believe in things like auspicious signs and prophetic dreams. However, he was completely bent on becoming emperor. Previously, he had been vexed by the lack of a suitable opportunity, vacillating back and forth. It just so happened that Su Erhuang’s prophetic dream perfectly aligned with his deepest desires, like handing a pillow to a drowsy man. Consequently, what had originally been a fifty-percent skepticism transformed into a seventy or eighty-percent belief.
Hearing Zhu Zeng's words, he flew into a violent rage: "How dare you! What are your true intentions? If not for the fact that you have followed me for many years and possess some minor merits, I would have you severely punished! My mind is made up. If anyone else dares to speak another word against this, they shall be executed!"
The moment these words left his mouth, the faces of every official seated below him paled. They all turned their eyes toward Zhu Zeng, their expressions filled with deep resentment and blame.
Zhu Zeng begged for forgiveness and withdrew, his heart completely cold and despondent.
Reflecting on Xing Xun, he realized the man was no longer the leader who had just entered Luoyang and placed great value on brilliant talents. He had become arrogant and conceited, surrounding himself exclusively with sycophants and flatterers. The men he trusted now—Feng Yi, Zang Chang, Feng Zhao, and Ding Qu—were all villainous sycophants without exception. He was impatiently forcing the young emperor to abdicate just to take his place, making a war with Wei Shao imminent. Assessing the current situation, he feared that a total defeat was already a certainty.
Zhu Zeng returned to his residence, his heart heavy with immense worry. At dawn, he received a secret report stating that Xing Xun, following the advice of the woman of the Su family, had dispatched men to arrest him and have him beheaded. He turned pale with shock. Fortunately, he did not have any immediate family remaining in Luoyang, so he fled through the southern city gate without delay. Initially, he considered fleeing north to offer his services to Wei Shao, but the thought of Wei Shao’s notoriously brutal methods of dealing with his enemies sent a shiver down his spine. After a long moment of hesitation, he turned around and fled toward Hanzhong, seeking to offer his services to Le Zhengong, the Marquis of Hanzhong, which requires no further elaboration.
...
Xiao Qiao was now in her fourth month of pregnancy, and her morning sickness had become incredibly severe. At its worst, she struggled to keep down even a single sip of water, leaving her confined to her bed for most of the morning and evening. Fortunately, she had Chun Niang to look after her, and half a month prior, Nanny Zhong had also rushed to Xindu all the way from Yuyang.
Nanny Zhong mentioned that Lady Xu had been absolutely overjoyed upon receiving the wonderful news. She had specifically dispatched her to Xindu to serve alongside Chun Niang, passing along strict instructions for Xiao Qiao to focus entirely on resting and nurturing her body.
With the two of them looking after her so meticulously, and with Wei Shao being attentive in every possible way—holding her in his hands out of fear she might fall, keeping her in his mouth out of fear she might melt—she felt deeply cared for. Although his military duties had grown busier lately, he returned to her side whenever he could find a spare moment. Consequently, despite her physical discomfort, Xiao Qiao’s state of mind remained peaceful and happy. She had sent a letter to Yanzhou to inform her father of her pregnancy.
During the day, the messenger from Yanzhou arrived, delivering a reply from her father.
Qiao Ping was exceptionally delighted and instructed her repeatedly to take good care of her health. He mentioned that Qiao Ci was currently busy training troops outside the city, and as soon as he returned, he would pass along the joyous news.
He also assured her that everything at home was perfectly fine and that she should not worry about them, advising her to live harmoniously with her husband.
Xiao Qiao read her father’s letter back and forth several times.
Writing was inherently restrictive, so her father had not stated things explicitly in his letter. However, from his mention of her younger brother being busy training troops, it was clear that her father had never abandoned the plans they had previously discussed regarding building up their independent strength.
Her original purpose in urging her father to build their strength had been to prevent them from becoming like swallows nesting in a burning house, completely oblivious to the impending doom awaiting them.
Now that she had received such a solemn guarantee from Wei Shao, although her guard had not completely dissolved, her mind was infinitely more at ease than it had been in the past.
Even so, Xiao Qiao still believed that Yanzhou needed to grow strong.
In such a chaotic world, only by possessing strong forces and sturdy horses could one have the room to maneuver when faced with an invasion, regardless of who the enemy might be.
It was always better than being forced to beg others for aid every single time.
Reading this line from her father, which might have been written without any deep intent, brought a profound sense of reassurance to Xiao Qiao.
Having slept through the entire afternoon, she felt much more refreshed by evening, so she sat up to write a reply to her father.
By the time she finished writing the letter, winter was drawing near and the days were growing noticeably shorter. Even though it was only the middle of the Hour of the Rooster, darkness had already fallen over the land. Chun Niang entered the chamber to light the lamps.
Nanny Zhong instructed two servant women to carry a dining low-table into the room, placing it directly onto the couch, and invited Xiao Qiao with a warm smile to have her dinner.
Xiao Qiao inquired about Wei Shao.
The reason she asked was that even though he had become exceptionally busy of late, he usually returned by this hour.
Ever since she became pregnant, she ate six or seven small meals a day, and if dinner was served too early, she found it impossible to eat anything at all. For the past several days, she had always waited for him to return so they could dine together.
Yet there was still no sign of him today.
Nanny Zhong replied, "The Master sent word a moment ago saying that he will be returning quite late. He requested that the Mistress dine ahead on her own and not wait for him."
Since Wei Shao had specifically sent a messenger back to inform her, he must be caught up in some major affair.
Xiao Qiao stopped waiting and ate her dinner alone. Fearing she might throw up again, she stood up to walk around the room slightly to aid her digestion before being urged by Chun Niang to lie back down.
Wei Shao did not return for a very long time.
Aside from her morning sickness, Xiao Qiao had also become incredibly prone to drowsiness ever since she became pregnant.
Her days were mostly spent in a hazy, muddled state. As she lay on the bed, drifting in and out of sleep while waiting for Wei Shao, she eventually succumbed to her exhaustion and fell fast asleep.
When she woke up, the chamber was entirely silent, and she had no idea what hour of the night it was.
Without even opening her eyes, she sensed a burning hot body beside her, and instantly knew that Wei Shao was in the bed.
Feeling his fingers gently tracing her cheek, she let out a soft, delicate hum in her grogginess. Stretching her arms like a lazy cat, she lifted her hands to hook around his shoulders, resting her soft, supple body against his chest. Keeping her eyes closed, she asked in a mumbled voice, "Husband, when did you return?"
"A while ago," came his voice.
Only then did Xiao Qiao open her eyes. She propped herself up on one arm and glanced at the water clock in the chamber, shocked to realize it was already the Hour of the Goat in the latter half of the night.
She turned back to Wei Shao: "It is so late, why is Husband still awake?"
Wei Shao did not answer immediately. He simply gazed intently at her face.
Having just woken from her sleep, a soft flush had risen to her cheeks. She was entirely unaware of how breath-taking she looked—radiating a soft, enticing warmth that was profoundly captivating.
Furthermore, on this particular night, his entire body felt alive with coursing, boiling blood.
Exerting every ounce of his willpower to restrain the urge to hold her close and indulge in her fragrance, he lifted her and laid her down flat upon the pillow. He placed his palm gently against her lower abdomen, which was already showing a slight, subtle curve, and asked with a smile, "Did the little fellow give you a hard time today?"
Resting her head against the pillow, Xiao Qiao shook her head: "I spent the entire day sleeping today, so I feel much better."
She locked eyes with Wei Shao: "Has something happened? Why did Husband return so late?"
Moreover, she couldn't help but feel that the look in his eyes was somewhat different from usual.
"Manman, for the next period of time, I will not be able to accompany you and our little fellow anymore," Wei Shao said, gazing deeply into her eyes.
Xiao Qiao froze. She instinctively opened her mouth to ask what was wrong, but changed her words at the last second.
"Is there going to be a war again?" she asked softly.
"Xing Xun has usurped the throne and declared himself emperor. He has amassed his forces, claiming an army of five hundred thousand, and plans to march north across the Yellow River to invade my territories."
Wei Shao’s tone was entirely calm when he spoke these words.
Yet within the depths of his dark, profound gaze, Xiao Qiao detected a flash of intense excitement—the distinct look of a wild beast that had caught the scent of fresh blood.
Xiao Qiao sat stunned.
She had always known that a decisive battle between Wei Shao and Xing Xun was inevitable.
It would be an earth-shattering, cataclysmic clash that would determine the ultimate trajectory and mastery of the entire realm.
The victorious side would undoubtedly find their path toward claiming the supreme rule of the world cleared of all obstacles, moving forward with irresistible force.
Just as she had witnessed in the dreams of her past life.
Naturally, she also knew the ultimate outcome of the war.
However, what differed from the past life in her dreams was that this grand war between Xing Xun and Wei Shao for the key to the realm—sparked by Xing Xun's usurpation of the throne in Luoyang—had actually arrived so early.
At this exact moment when she least expected it, several years ahead of schedule, it had suddenly descended upon them out of nowhere.
...
Xindu instantly became the temporary wartime military headquarters for Wei Shao to intercept and confront the enemy.
The atmosphere hanging over the entire city grew heavy and tense overnight.
A few days later, even the common citizens began to notice the seemingly endless influx of solemn-faced generals clad in heavy armor and wielding sharp weapons, arriving from every direction.
They began to discuss among themselves with anxious whispers, wondering if a massive new war was about to erupt once again.
The citizens' suspicions were entirely correct.
Li Dian, Li Chong, Zhang Jian, Wei Liang...
The battle-hardened generals under Wei Shao’s command received the summons within a matter of days. After securing their respective defensive rear positions, they rode out from Youzhou, Bingzhou, and other regions, rushing toward Xindu with absolute speed.
The massive armies began their steady march south, setting up military formations along the northern banks of the Yellow River.
From morning until night, and even in the dead of night, the four city gates of Xindu saw a constant stream of couriers on galloping horses flying in and out like streaks of lightning, delivering all manner of military intelligence and updates.
The lights inside the grand council hall of the front palace often remained lit deep into the night, sometimes burning straight through until dawn.
Wei Shao, along with his strategists, generals, quartermasters, and logistics officers, gathered there to devise counters and deliberate on their overarching campaign strategy.
They had long been preparing for this grand war.
Consequently, despite the heavy, tense atmosphere, everything proceeded in a perfectly orderly and systematic fashion.
However, Wei Shao suddenly became exceptionally busy.
It was impossible for Xiao Qiao to see him at all during the day.
Even at night, he always returned very late.
Sometimes it would already be the early hours of the morning, and within moments of him lying down to sleep, he would be called away again by a sudden piece of intelligence from the Yellow River frontline.
Half a month later, on this day at the end of the eleventh month, Wei Shao finally finalized their battle strategy.
They would establish their primary military headquarters at Liyang Ferry on the northern bank of the Yellow River, constructing heavy stockades and fortifications. They would set up defensive strongholds at Gaotang and Fanjin to form a pincer formation, while utilizing Huangchi—located two hundred miles to the southwest—as their primary granary and supply depot. By constructing this impenetrable defensive line, they would wait in full battle formation to intercept Xing Xun's massive host on the northern banks of the Yellow River, committing everything to a single, decisive battle.
In three days, he would depart from Xindu, leading the main army toward Liyang.
It was on this very same day that Xiao Qiao received a letter from Lady Xu.
Lady Xu’s letter was incredibly brief, containing only a single sentence.
She wrote: On behalf of Grandmother, see Shao'er off to war.