The Prisoner of Beauty - Chapter 140

Chapter 140

Inside the Hall of Supreme Harmony within the Southern Palace of Luoyang, Wei Shao sat facing south to conduct administrative affairs.

It had been several days since the capture of Luoyang, and all of Xing Xun's factions and cronies had been completely eradicated.

Although the curfew had not yet been lifted, the atmosphere of panic within the city was gradually beginning to dissipate due to effective pacification efforts, coupled with the fact that the main army had never once stepped foot inside the city gates.

Starting from yesterday, the markets that had been closed for several days also began to reopen one after another.

While the citizens gradually resumed their normal lives, they were all waiting for one specific event: Wei Shao declaring himself Emperor.

It was not just the common people of Luoyang making such conjectures; several of Wei Shao's subordinates were also looking forward to it with eager anticipation.

Those court officials who had surrendered to Wei Shao after the city fell had been continuously submitting joint petitions over the past few days. Their written scrolls flew in like snowflakes, piling high upon his desk.

Although the contents were grand, elegant, and each possessed its own merits, their central meaning was singular: they believed Wei Shao's reputation matched his reality, and he ought to assume the supreme position facing south.

Gongsun Yang had once privately spoken to Wei Shao, saying, "Those surrendered ministers are known as great officials and venerable scholars, yet they first served Liu Tong, then bowed to Xing Xun. Seeing my Lord capture Luoyang, they shift with the wind once more. My Lord must not listen to them. Declaring oneself Emperor at this time is far too early; it is by no means an opportune moment."

Zhu Zeng also offered counsel: "Lezheng Gong has long harbored the intention to emulate Xing Xun. I advise my Lord to wait patiently for a while longer. If it does not fall outside my expectations, Lezheng Gong's return to Hanzhong this time will surely involve plotting in secret to declare himself Emperor. Once the dragon robes are draped upon his body, then my Lord, with the dignity of having set foot upon Luoyang, can ascend to the absolute peak of the supreme position with even greater righteousness and flawless title."

At this very moment inside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the debate regarding whether he should take advantage of the momentum to declare himself Emperor was still continuing.

However, Wei Shao's mind had already drifted far into the boundless heavens.

The day before yesterday, he had received news from Yuyang.

Little Qiao had successfully given birth, bringing a daughter into the world for him.

His grandmother had bestowed the name Feifei.

Wei Shao imagined the scenario of his daughter's soft little body being cradled within his own arms, and his gaze unknowingly turned thoroughly tender.

The corners of his lips also tilted upward into a slight, subtle smile.

The generals and ministers finally perceived that trace of a mysterious smile upon the Duke's face.

They stopped their discussions one after another, looking toward him.

Wei Shao returned to his senses. Meeting the pairs of eyes staring straight at him from his left and right, he shifted his shoulders, furrowed his brows, and spoke: "Though Xing Xun is dead, Liu Yan has declared himself Emperor in Langya, Lezheng Gong firmly occupies Hanzhong, and the regions of Wuyue and Changsha still exist in the south. I have merely captured a single, paltry Luoyang. How can I rest easy without a care and face south as Emperor? This matter need not be discussed further in the future!"

The crowd fell silent, then spoke out in unison: "My Lord is wise, we shall comply."

After the meeting adjourned, Wei Shao retained Gongsun Yang, asking first about the defensive and control situations of the three regions: Capital Prefecture, Left Fengyi, and Right Fufeng.

Gongsun Yang felt somewhat baffled.

These three regions shielded Luoyang and held immense geographical importance. On the very night Luoyang was captured, troops were dispatched immediately, and within three days they were rapidly occupied, locking the three regions firmly under their control.

The deployed generals and soldiers were all personally handpicked by the Duke himself.

He truly did not know how the Duke suddenly seemed to have forgotten, retaining him specifically to ask about this.

Though filled with doubts in his heart, he did not display them upon his face, merely stating, "My Lord can set his mind at ease. The three regions have already been firmly grasped and controlled; there will absolutely be no slip-ups."

Wei Shao nodded his head: "I have always been at ease with Mister's handling of affairs. Since that is the case, there are temporarily no matters requiring my presence here, so I shall return to Yuyang first."

After speaking, seeing Gongsun Yang looking at him, he added, "It is nothing of critical importance. It is just that I received a letter two days ago stating that the Lady of the House has successfully given birth to a daughter for me."

His expression was perfectly casual.

"She misses me somewhat," he cleared his throat slightly, then spoke further.

Only then did Gongsun Yang understand the Duke's inner thoughts.

Suppressing a smile, he spoke: "Congratulations to my Lord on holding a bright pearl in your palm! Never mind that the Lady of the House has declared her longing, even if she had not spoken of it, this war has been fought for so very long. Now that a grand victory is won, my Lord ought to return to take a look! My Lord may depart at ease; this place has me!"

Wei Shao then offered a smile: "I must trouble Mister then."

After handing over the remaining matters, the moment Gongsun Yang departed, he immediately summoned Lei Ze, handpicked over a dozen men, and prepared to set out.

Before his departure, however, he suddenly recalled another matter.

Wei Shao hesitated for a very long time. In the end, he finally made up his mind and summoned Wei Liang over.

He dismissed the attendants on his left and right, leaving Wei Liang entirely alone.

"My Lord has summoned me, what are your commands?"

Seeing that the Duke remained silent for a long time, as if the words he wished to speak next were quite difficult to voice—a rare sight normally—he spoke again: "If my Lord has any matters, simply command me as you wish!"

Wei Shao finally spoke: "I wish to dispatch you to make a trip to Dong County."

Wei Liang was taken aback.

"If I remember correctly, the seventh day of this month is the fortieth birthday of the Lord Governor of Dong County, Qiao Ping. Make a trip on my behalf. Remember, present a birthday gift to him in the name of the Lady of the House. Furthermore, pass along a message to inform the Lord Governor that the Lady of the House has successfully given birth to a daughter, and both mother and daughter are safe and sound."

Wei Liang was astonished.

But he very quickly spoke: "I obey your command."

"The reason I am dispatching you is because you have been to Dong County before and are acquainted with the people of the Qiao family..." Wei Shao explained.

"My Lord can set his mind at ease. I will surely handle the matter flawlessly," Wei Liang smiled. "It has also been some time since my parting with Young Master Qiao at Luli. It just so happens that Grand General Li mentioned Young Master Qiao to me just a few days ago. Going over this time, I can precisely meet with him and see how his martial skills have progressed today."

"You have not returned home in a long time, have you? I recall you spent the entirety of last year in Bingzhou, and then fought a war like this, only now gaining a bit of relaxation. After returning from Dong County, I shall grant you a leave of absence so you can go back to visit your aunt and your wife as well."

Wei Liang had not returned to Yuyang for a year and a half already.

Hearing this, he was overjoyed and hurriedly offered his gratitude.

Wei Shao smiled and nodded: "There are no other matters. Once the birthday gifts are prepared, I will have someone deliver them to your quarters."


The next day, as the morning light was faint and sparse, a line of over a dozen battle horses galloped furiously out from the eastern city gate of Luoyang, heading north along the imperial highway and vanishing into a cloud of dust.

Wei Shao embarked upon the road of returning north.

The violent battles of weapons and shields normally left no room for him to harbor too much idle, romantic sentiment.

However, his longing for her, coupled with the ecstatic emotion of learning that he had become a father, had been entirely impossible to suppress from the moment he laid eyes upon that family letter. It overflowed from the very depths of this man who originally possessed a will of steel.

To the extent that he felt he could no longer delay for even a single moment.

Lezheng Gong, Liu Yan, and assuming the imperial title...

These matters could also be temporarily put on hold for a brief while.

He absolutely had to see her, as well as their daughter, as quickly as possible right now.

Otherwise, he was going to find it unendurable.

At the same time that he headed north early in the morning, Wei Liang also took a team of attendants and gifts, setting out onto the imperial highway leading toward Yanzhou.

The birthday gifts presented to Qiao Ping had also been personally and meticulously selected by Wei Shao the previous night.

A pair of jade dragon pendants, a pair of high-footed gold cups, ten bolts of fine tapestry woven with brilliant patterns of floating clouds, longevity, and eternal joy, as well as two silk paintings by renowned masters.

Regarding the fact that he had actually performed such an act, even though Wei Liang had already departed for Yanzhou, Wei Shao still felt a trace of unease and even shame in his heart at the very beginning.

As though he had completely betrayed his father and elder brother, he felt he possessed less and less courage to step into the ancestral temple.

However, Qiao Ping had not directly participated in that particular war back then.

He was her father, the maternal grandfather of his own daughter.

Since events had combined through a strange twist of fate to result in his marrying Little Qiao, and now she had given birth to a child for him, then the spirits of his father and elder brother in heaven would surely be able to show understanding toward him.

Furthermore, this ought to be his grandmother's wish as well.

He knew that his grandmother must have always hoped he would not remain so deeply entangled in the hatreds of the past, unable to extricate himself.

He needed to learn to become a person possessing a broad and vast mind, just like his grandmother.

After setting out upon the road, Wei Shao continuously consoled himself in this manner.

Finally, as the distance to Yanzhou shortened day by day, that contradiction within the depths of his heart was completely blanketed over by another emotion—the anticipation of being about to see her and his daughter.

He stopped thinking about anything else, his entire mind filled only with incomparable joy and expectation.


As night fell on this day, he finally traveled to the city of Renqiu.

If they traveled without stopping their horses' hooves, only two days of travel remained before reaching Yuyang.

Wei Shao felt that he was entirely capable of continuing to rush forward along the road.

However, lightning tore through the night sky, and thunder rolled with low, muffled rumbles directly overhead.

The sky began to pour with rain.

The faces of Lei Ze and the others also displayed expressions of deep exhaustion.

Wei Shao then commanded them to halt, taking lodging inside the Renqiu courier station for the night.

They traveled light along the entire journey. Having arrived here, he also commanded the station master that there was no need to disturb the Magistrate of Renqiu; he would merely lodge for one night and continue on the road tomorrow morning.

Lei Ze had men carry that particular chest inside, placing it atop the table surface.

The chest was over a foot in height and width, its surface adorned with an entire piece of python skin boasting beautiful patterns. It possessed some weight, and Lei Ze did not know what was contained within.

Wei Shao himself also felt exhausted.

Yet his spirit was exceptionally excited and keyed up.

Lying upon the bed inside the courier station room in the deep of the night, he closed his eyes and listened to the bursts of muffled thunder rolling across the distant horizon.

The raindrops patterned down, crashing onto the roof tiles above his head.

This scene and setting could not help but cause him to recall that particular night from the previous year.

It was also on such a thunderstorm night that he had single-handedly pursued her to a courier station, finally catching up to her.

Before her, he had yielded.

And she had also returned to him an equivalent joy.

On that night, she had displayed her charm and beauty beneath his body, and even now when he recalled it, that sensation of his spirit shaking and his soul drifting, floating and ephemeral, seemed to have not yet completely dispersed.

It was as though he had ascended to the immortal mountains and jade pavilions, an utterly beautiful world.

Wei Shao was driven to absolute dryness of mouth and throat by the memories.

Stray thoughts entangled his body, and for a moment he was actually unable to control himself, practically wishing he could rise immediately and set out onto the road once more.

A bolt of lightning cracked past outside the window. In a split second, the blue electric light illuminated the walls of the courier station room with snow-white brilliance, also lighting up that python-skin chest resting atop the table surface and Wei Shao's precious sword beside it.

An ear-splitting crack of thunder followed right above his head, exploding with a burst, and the roof beams seemed to tremble slightly along with it.

From the gaps in the tiled roof, a layer of fine dust rustled down.

The room door was suddenly and violently pounded upon.

Following right after the terrifying thunder, this burst of urgent pounding sounded exceptionally grating to the ear.

Wei Shao snapped his eyes open, leapt down from the bed, and swiftly threw the door open.

"My Lord, disaster has struck! An urgent report has just arrived from Luoyang stating that General Wei Liang's group was ambushed outside the city gates of Dong County. General Wei was heavily wounded and barely managed to fight his way out by luck; all of his attendants were slaughtered. Qiao Yue and Qiao Ping subsequently issued a joint public proclamation, leading Yanzhou to pledge allegiance and offer their services to Liu Yan!"

Wei Shao's figure completely froze.

Another bolt of lightning cracked down, illuminating his face, which was as pale as a malevolent ghost.

He spun around abruptly and unsheathed his precious sword with a single rip.

A dark flash of a sharp blade swept past, actually slicing that python-skin chest upon the table into two clean halves.

Bright pearls of the Eastern Sea, fine jade of the Kunlen Mountains. A scattering of beautiful, rare, and exotic treasures followed his sword's edge, rolling in all directions across the entire floor.

These were things Wei Shao had packed when he walked out of the Luoyang treasury on the night before his departure.

Whatever caught his eye as pleasing, he had placed inside.

At that time, he thought to himself that even if they failed to amuse Manman, bringing them back for his daughter to play with would also be fine.

"My Lord!"

Lei Ze stared at his rigid back as he held the sword, calling out with deep unease.

Wei Shao slowly turned his torso around.

"Set out, return to Luoyang."

His tone had already shifted to perfect tranquility, his expression dark, grim, and utterly detached.