The Prisoner of Beauty - Chapter 133

Chapter 133

Wei Shao currently commanded four hundred thousand troops.

Across the long border defense line spanning thousands of kilometers from the west to the east of the north, military towns stood in numbers, where he had deployed nearly one hundred thousand of his soldiers.

While the Han court was divided by warlord factions and continuous warfare, the Xiongnu, the foreign clan facing the Han people from north to south across the Sanggan River, had entered their most powerful golden age of the past century.

Although the Grand Chanyu, Yixiemo, was old now and his sons vied with one another amidst undercurrents of conflict—even though the hooves of the Wei family’s iron cavalry had once trampled across the grasslands of the royal court—Wei Shao knew full well in his heart that this foreign Grand Chanyu of the north, who had risen during the same era as his own grandfather, was one of the few exceptional military commanders he had ever encountered in his life.

During the several decades of this Grand Chanyu’s reign, the Xiongnu population had grown rapidly, and their cavalry had expanded from less than one hundred thousand in the era of Wei Shao’s grandfather to a claimed three hundred thousand today.

One had to understand that warhorses were precious.

To a certain extent, the value of a single warhorse far exceeded that of a regular soldier.

During the ten years in which their southward expansion had been checked by the Wei family, the Xiongnu, under the leadership of this Grand Chanyu, had expanded westward to occupy more than ten regimes including the Donghu, Yemaek, Sushen, and Loulan, controlling vast areas of the Western Regions. To the north, they had conquered nations like the Qushe, Gekun, and Xinli, who were likewise peoples of the drawn bow.

Even someone as powerful as the Wei Shao of today had to admit that this aging Grand Chanyu of the Xiongnu was absolutely not an enemy he could afford to underestimate.

He could lose Liangzhou, which he had seized from others; he could lose Bingzhou; he could even lose Jizhou.

But Youzhou must absolutely never be lost.

The portion of the army he left behind was another Great Wall protecting the northern border, and furthermore, it was the guarantee of his core foundation in the Youzhou rear.

No matter what occurred at the front, these troops must never be deployed.

Tomorrow at the first half of the Hour of the Rabbit, after the sacrificial ceremony to the military banners, he would lead the three hundred thousand troops he could mobilize southward. Together with the vanguard forces, they would intercept Xing Xun’s army of five hundred thousand on the northern bank of the Yellow River in a decisive battle of life and death.

Wei Shao knew perfectly well in his heart that this would not be an easy war.

Xing Xun was conceited and obstinate, but his strength was not to be scoffed at. Moreover, carrying the momentum of his defeat of Yuan Zhe last year, his march northward this time would bound to be incredibly aggressive.

Yet he felt not the slightest bit of fear.

On the contrary, from the exact moment he learned that Xing Xun had usurped the throne and intended to dispatch troops north to campaign against him, the blood inside his veins had accelerated its flow, to the point of boiling hot.

He felt a kind of unprecedented excitement brought on by the prospect of war.

It was entirely different from the various large and small battles he had experienced over the past many years.

This was his first face-to-face duel with one of the most powerful opponents in the Central Plains.

The winds and clouds of the universe would open and close with thunderous roars. The monumental achievements of ancient sage kings would be grand and vast. A brand-new chapter would begin from this moment for the grand trajectory of the Nine Provinces.

The strategic framework had already been completely deployed; they only awaited tomorrow morning’s banner sacrifice to break camp and march out.

Gongsun Yang, Wei Quan, and the others were still inside the council hall at this very moment, tensely cross-checking the countless intricate details regarding the transport supervision of provisions, passwords, and military tallies—matters that seemed trivial but could afford absolutely no error.

Just as darkness fell, Wei Shao returned.

With the departure imminent, within his excited mind, which had been almost entirely occupied by the war these past few days, there surfaced the figure of the small woman who was currently carrying his child. A heavy sense of tenderness and reluctance to part slowly welled up in his heart.

He entered the Sheyang Residence, and as he lifted his eyes to see the dim, warm light glowing from the window, his footsteps paused for a moment.

Over the past half a month, no matter how late he returned, the lamp behind this window had always remained lit for him.

He stepped forward, quickening his pace until he reached the bottom of the steps. He signaled the guarding servant women who were about to greet him to remain silent, strode up the steps in a few bounds, and reached the door, gently pushing open the unlatched panel.

Treading softly as he turned past the screen, he saw that she was not lying in bed.

With her back facing him, she was seated before the dressing table. Upon the surface of the table rested an opened letter cylinder.

She was lowering her head, appearing to be reading a letter.

Hearing the sound of his footsteps as he entered, she put down the letter, folded it up, and smoothly pressed it beneath her cosmetics box.

Wei Shao came up behind her and knelt down, wrapping his arms around her waist and abdomen from behind, placing his palm against her slightly protruding lower belly as he asked, "Who sent the letter?"

Xiao Qiao turned her face to meet his gaze, smiling slightly as she said, "My elder sister in Lingbi wrote it. General Jia delivered it just a moment ago."

Wei Shao’s eyes shifted slightly.

He merely let out an "oh."

He did not ask anything further.

A few days ago, a letter had arrived from Yang Xin, stating that the scouts he had deployed brought back news that Liu Yan had once again gone to Lingbi, presumably to visit Bi Zhi.

What the outcome was remained unknown for the time being; they had only observed from a distance that Bi Zhi personally escorted Liu Yan out of Lingbi.

To be able to visit a person’s doorstep three times was proof enough of absolute sincerity.

To not be moved by it would likely be difficult.

"Is Manman tired today?"

His face leaned close, taking a deep breath of the delicate fragrance lingering in her hair, his nose gently brushing against her soft, jade-white earlobe as he asked softly.

Xiao Qiao cast a glance at him.

Liu Yan had suddenly joined the chaotic fray of Xuzhou as if appearing out of thin air.

Since Yang Xin had defected to Wei Shao, Xiao Qiao did not believe that Wei Shao was entirely unaware of this.

Yet before her, he acted completely as if nothing were amiss, uttering not a single word about it.

Xiao Qiao leaned back into his chest.

"Does Husband still remember the Young Master of Langya, Liu Yan?" she suddenly asked.

Wei Shao was rubbing his cheek against hers, while his hand slid upward beneath the collar of her robes, his fingers sliding past her undergarment.

Hearing her words, he paused slightly but did not stop, continuing to pull aside that thin layer of fabric wrapping her inner form, his slightly rough and hardened palm pressing against her tender, beautiful breasts, which had grown increasingly full by the day due to her pregnancy.

"Why bring him up?"

Wei Shao massaged them gently, feeling their soft, elastic suppleness within his palm.

His tone remained entirely casual.

Xiao Qiao forcefully pulled his hand out from her collar, moved out of his embrace, and turned around to kneel upright, facing him directly.

"Husband does not ask what my elder sister wrote in her letter, but I wish to tell Husband."

Wei Shao’s twin gazes settled upon her face.

"Elder sister said that although the King of Langya visited Bi Zhi three times to invite his allegiance, Bi Zhi never agreed. Elder sister also said that Bi Zhi knows Yang Xin’s retreat was due to the intent of the Marquis of Yan. Now that the misunderstanding has been cleared, he has no desire to stir up further trouble."

"I know Bi Zhi’s character; he values his word and abides by righteousness. Since he is acting in this manner, can Husband set his mind at ease?"

Xiao Qiao did not hide anything or speak in circles, putting it directly to him.

Wei Shao stared into her eyes.

"I do not like Liu Yan."

After a long moment, he suddenly spoke.

It was completely unrelated to what Xiao Qiao had just said.

"Manman, he was your former fiancé, and I also know that the two of you were once mutually in love. With his current behavior, he naturally intends to vie for the realm as well. If he falls into my hands in the future, I will absolutely show no leniency or mercy."

"Do not blame me!"

Word by word, his tone was exceptionally heavy.

Xiao Qiao was stunned.

Before this, she had not thought of the person named Liu Yan for a very long time.

But at this moment, the memory regarding the final scene of her past life in her dreams, along with scene after scene that had occurred two years ago when she married Wei Shao—when she was sent to Yuyang the day after the wedding and was intercepted by Liu Yan on the road—suddenly came flooding back.

When she had politely declined him back then, the peculiar look he had directed at her was something she still remembered vividly to this day.

She fell into silence.

"Did your elder sister’s letter mention anything else regarding Liu Yan?"

Wei Shao suddenly asked again, his tone sounding casual on the surface.

Xiao Qiao hesitated slightly, and just as she was about to shake her head, Wei Shao leaned his body forward, reaching his hand toward the written silk that she had pressed beneath the cosmetics box.

Xiao Qiao had not expected him to take the letter right in front of her.

Her heart skipped a beat.

Seeing that his hand had already touched the piece of silk, she instinctively reached out her hand and pressed down on the back of his hand.

Wei Shao swiftly lifted his eyes, fixing a sharp look upon her.

Xiao Qiao suddenly realized her action was improper.

Xiao Qiao felt instinctively that it would be best if Wei Shao did not see that message from Liu Yan conveyed at the end of Da Qiao’s letter.

Naturally, with the grand war imminent, her original intention was merely to prevent Wei Shao from harboring any unnecessary suspicions.

But by blocking him like this, she feared it would achieve the exact opposite effect.

She let go of her hand and said, "If you truly wish to read it, then read it."

Wei Shao looked at her for a moment, then slowly released the piece of silk already held between his fingers, straightening his body once more.

"I want you to tell me yourself."

His tone was entirely filled with command.

Xiao Qiao sighed softly in her mind.

"He also passed along a message. He said he has let go of the past and wishes me well from afar."

"Is that not very good?"

She spoke in a relaxed tone.

Wei Shao’s expression was cold and frozen. He did not speak for a long while, but suddenly gave a slight smile, nodding as he said, "Yes, it is very good."

Having said that, he opened his arms to her.

Xiao Qiao smoothly entered his embrace.

Wei Shao lowered his head, kissing her sweet, warm lips. Suddenly, the rumors filtering from the southern bank of the Yellow River came to his mind—rumors that Xing Xun had openly boasted he would capture him alive and claim Xiao Qiao for his Lotus Terrace.

Although he knew this was mere posturing, a psychological ploy unleashed before the war intended to disturb his peace of mind, an inkling of fury still surfaced covertly from the depths of his heart.

As he remained locked against her lips, his strength grew increasingly intense.