The Prisoner of Beauty - Chapter 141

Chapter 141

In Dong, within the Qiao family estate

Qiao Yue sat in his study, his face ashen and his eyes fixed in a glassy, vacant stare, looking no different from a corpse.

Over the past few days, information had come rushing toward him relentlessly, as if a floodgate had suddenly burst open.

He was so overwhelmed by the sheer impact of the news that he could barely catch his breath.

It turned out that Wei Shao had already dismantled the Northern Expedition Coalition long ago and won the great battle at the Yellow River.

Something known to everyone else under heaven was something he alone had remained utterly oblivious to, foolishly believing that Wei Shao was still putting up the final, desperate struggle of a cornered beast.

While Wei Shao was conquering Luoyang with lightning speed, what had he himself been doing?

He had listened to Zhang Pu’s words, choosing not only to throw his lot in with Liu Yan but also to blind his own younger brother’s eyes and throw him into confinement.

And now, he had been swiftly stripped of his actual power by Liu Yan.

Aside from receiving the completely hollow title of Marquis of Heng, Qiao Yue discovered to his horror that Yanzhou was no longer a place where his word carried any weight at all.

At the thought of what had occurred just moments before, his hands began to tremble uncontrollably once again.

Wei Liang had led a contingent of troops and arrived in Dong today, claiming he came under orders from his Lady to offer birthday congratulations to Qiao Ping.

By the time Qiao Yue received word of this, Wei Liang had already been surrounded.

Though Wei Liang managed to fight his way through the encirclement and escape, every single one of his attendants had been shot to death.

Naturally, this order had not been given by Qiao Yue.

When the news reached Qiao Yue’s ears, it felt as though he had been struck by five bolts of thunder. Vaguely, a realization seemed to finally dawn upon his heart, causing his chest to pound with terror and filling him with a sense of impending doom.

Suddenly thinking of Qiao Ping as if he were a saving grace, he forced himself to his feet and hurried toward the place where Qiao Ping was imprisoned.

Upon reaching the gates, he was actually barred from entering by the guards.

Qiao Yue could not contain the fury rising within him. After a moment of tense deliberation, he turned on his heel and rushed toward Liu Yan’s residence instead.

During the days Liu Yan stayed at the Qiao estate, he had refused to reside in the elegant guest pavilions Qiao Yue prepared for him, insisting instead on staying in the old quarters he had occupied during his youth.

Those old quarters had fallen into disrepair over the years, and Qiao Yue had been reluctant at first. But since Liu Yan remained steadfast, Qiao Yue could only let him have his way.

When Qiao Yue barged in, he was blocked by Liu Shan and his men.

Becoming even more enraged, he shouted at the top of his lungs. Suddenly, Liu Yan’s voice drifted out from inside: "Let him in."

Only then did Liu Shan step aside to allow his passage.

Qiao Yue strode inside with wide steps and saw Liu Yan dressed in loose robes with expansive sleeves, sitting by the window and placing stones onto a Go board by himself.

His gaze was fixed on the board, his fingers pinching a single black stone as if he were deep in thought over the match.

Suppressing the anger in his heart, Qiao Yue spoke up, "This is my Qiao family estate. Just now, I wished to see my second brother, so why was I barred by others?"

Liu Yan did not even look up at him. With a soft click, he placed a stone down before saying casually, "The Commandery Duke has lost his sight. I have summoned a physician to treat him, and he requires quiet rest. It is inconvenient for him to receive visitors."

A breath of suffocating fury trapped itself in Qiao Yue’s chest. He forced himself to endure it once more and spoke again, "I heard just now that Wei Liang was ambushed outside the city gates. Was that your doing as well?"

Liu Yan did not answer. He reached his hand into a jade jar, scooped up several white stones, cupped them in his palm, and began to mindlessly roll them around.

"Liu Yan!"

Unable to hold back his patience any longer, Qiao Yue addressed him directly by his name. "Only over these past few days have I slowly begun to piece it together. Why has my Yanzhou been failing to receive any reports sent back by our scouts out in the field? You intercepted the messages and played me like a puppet in the palm of your hand, did you not? My Qiao family was once kind to you in the past, yet you harm me so ruthlessly! What are your true intentions?"

Liu Yan spared him a glance, his demeanor remaining perfectly composed. "What is the matter, Marquis of Heng? It has only been a few days, yet could it be that you regret submitting to me and wish to go groveling back to Wei Shao? What a pity—"

He let out a gentle sigh and shook his head. "It is too late. Everyone under heaven knows that your Qiao family has abandoned the darkness to turn toward the light, willingly becoming ministers of my Han dynasty. Even if you were to lower your stature right now and shamelessly offer up your daughter to curry favor with Wei Shao just as you did three years ago, I am afraid he will no longer tolerate anyone from the Qiao family."

Qiao Yue clenched his teeth so hard they ground together, his face slowly turning a deep crimson.

Liu Yan watched him for a brief moment before loosening his palm, allowing the handful of stones he had just taken to scatter across the Go board.

The stones spun and rolled, emitting a light and pleasant clicking sound as jade rubbed against jade, before gradually slowing down and coming to a complete rest.

Liu Yan stepped down from his seat and walked a slow circle along the walls of the room.

Finally, he came to a stop right in front of Qiao Yue and said with a smile, "I must thank Lord Qiao for your hospitality in letting me stay here for these past few days, allowing me to relive that unforgettable period of my youth. It is time for me to take my leave as well."

Qiao Yue was utterly shocked. "You have ruined me to such an extent, and now you intend to just walk away? Where does that leave the soldiers and civilians of my Yanzhou?"

Liu Yan replied, "Lord Qiao, those words are incorrect. Wei Shao has long harbored the heart of a rebellious subject. Your submission to me was an act of aligning with the mandate of heaven, so how can it be considered harming you?"

The muscles on both of Qiao Yue’s cheeks twitched violently, his complexion turning an unsightly shade resembling pig’s liver.

"I know you fear that Wei Shao will march his army here. Rest assured, since Yanzhou now belongs to my Han territory, how could I possibly ignore it? I have left someone here to assist you. General Ding Qu, who led his troops here a few days ago—you have met him, haven't you? He will temporarily assume the responsibilities of the Provincial Governor on your behalf. Lord Qiao may put his mind at ease."

After speaking in a detached manner, he brushed his sleeves, turned around, and drifted away elegantly.

Liu Yan spurred his horse out of the city gates of Dong, never looking back.

The wind blew directly against him, whipping up his sleeves and the hem of his robes.

His heart was completely filled with a sense of pure euphoria derived from vengeance. He felt an intense urge to throw his head back and roar toward the sky just to vent the churning emotions currently swelling within his chest.

By using immense wealth to buy over a single Zhang Pu, Yanzhou now belonged to him, and the Qiao family had utterly severed their own path of retreat with Wei Shao.

When they next met, it would undoubtedly be with clashing weapons.

The city walls of Yanzhou might not be able to withstand the sharp edge of Wei Shao’s military might.

But what did that matter? He did not care about the gain or loss of a single city.

Moreover, Yanzhou had never belonged to him in the first place.

The reason he left Ding Qu—who had newly defected to him—to station and guard this place was twofold: first, to grant him actual territory, real power, and an opportunity for revenge, while simultaneously displaying his own imperial benevolence.

Second, the fiercer Yanzhou’s resistance proved to be, the deeper Wei Shao’s hatred for the Qiao family would become.

Could it be possible that from this moment onward, his Xiao Qiao could still continue to share mutual affection with Wei Shao and grow old together for the rest of their lives?

Suppressing the endless waves of pleasure in the depths of his heart, Liu Yan closed his eyes and took a long, deep breath of the fresh country air outside the city of Dong, which felt so intimately familiar to him.

This entire world would sooner or later return to the Han dynasty.

And the daughter of the Dong Qiao family would, one day, belong only to him. No one could truly snatch her away.

Not even Wei Shao.

Wei Liang appeared coarse and bold on the surface, but in reality, his mind was as meticulous as a strand of hair.

When the group arrived at Dong that day and halted outside the city gates to wait for their arrival to be announced, he noticed that there was no response for a long time. Furthermore, he gradually detected that the state of the guards atop the city walls seemed abnormal. Out of a sharp instinct honed through a hundred battles, he commanded his attendants to retreat.

Yet, they were still one step too late.

A dense crowd of foot archers and mounted archers suddenly surged out from within the city gates, while a barrage of arrows rained down simultaneously from the top of the walls. In the blink of an eye, the group found themselves trapped deep within an encirclement.

Wei Liang possessed fierce and unmatched valor, managing to hack his way through the heavy encirclement to break free, but his attendants all perished under the chaotic storm of arrows. He himself was heavily wounded, pursued all the way to Xu County, which bordered Yanzhou, before finally managing to shake off the pursuing troops. Immediately afterward, he was sent back to Luoyang by Dong Mao, the Grand Administrator of Xu County.

Although the imperial physicians within the palace had put forth every effort to treat him, his injuries were severe, and he remained trapped in a deep coma without waking.

Wei Shao had rushed back to Luoyang the previous night.

For an entire night, he went without a single wink of sleep, keeping watch right by Wei Liang’s side.

Gongsun Yang, Wei Quan, Zhu Zeng, and the others remained waiting outside the entire time, not daring to step indoors.

At dawn the following day, the heavy sound of footsteps approaching from the inner chambers to the outside finally echoed, and everyone hurriedly went forward to greet him.

When Wei Shao emerged, his eyes were completely bloodshot.

Suppressing the unease in his heart, Gongsun Yang quickly stepped forward and said, "My Lord, there might be some misunderstanding in this matter. The Qiao family surely wouldn't go as far as—"

"Pass down my command to assemble the troops. Lei Ze and Tan Fu shall accompany me to campaign against Yanzhou. Summon every renowned physician under heaven to put forth their full effort in treating General Wei! The rest of the personnel shall remain in their respective positions and await further orders! Anyone who acts without authorization will be dealt with according to military law!"

Wei Shao acted as though he had heard nothing at all, merely speaking in a hoarse voice, uttering each word deliberately.

Immediately after, he strode away with large steps.

On the day Xiao Qiao received this news, her daughter was nearly two months old.

The infant was even more beautiful than when she was first born, a little person resembling a ball of pure snow. When she smiled, her pair of dark, gleaming eyes looked as though they held all the flowers blooming in a spring garden.

Lady Xu loved her to pieces. Ever since the baby completed her full-month milestone, the elderly lady insisted on holding her once every day, coaxing her and talking to her.

The grand Wei estate, which had previously felt slightly desolate and empty, was now filled with endless laughter and vitality following Fei Fei's birth and her daily growth.

It was an early summer afternoon with excellent weather, and Xiao Qiao was accompanying Lady Xu just like any other day, watching her hold Fei Fei to coax her to sleep.

Fei Fei was an energetic little thing. But at this moment, having eaten and drunk her fill, she closed her eyes—which already possessed long, curling eyelashes—and quietly drifted off to sleep in her great-grandmother's embrace.

Reluctant to pass the baby over to another hand out of fear of startling her, Lady Xu stood up herself, carried her into the inner chamber, placed her down gently on the bed, and tucked her in properly under the blanket.

"On your end, have there been any letters from Shao'er recently?"

Upon stepping back out, Lady Xu asked Xiao Qiao.

Xiao Qiao shook her head.

Lady Xu pondered for a brief moment before offering a smile. "Surely matters over in Luoyang are pressing and Shao'er has been held back by them, which is why he has delayed his return. Do not overthink it. I shall write a letter right away to inquire about it."

Ever since that letter reporting the birth was sent out, there had been absolutely no reply from Wei Shao.

The battle at the Yellow River had already concluded. Even if Wei Shao was occupied with pressing matters and could not return, it made no sense for him to fail to send even a single reply.

It was indeed somewhat abnormal.

Xiao Qiao knew Lady Xu was worried that she might be feeling anxious, fearing that giving birth to a daughter might fail to please Wei Shao. For instance, even though Lady Zhu had not said anything explicitly, her expression of disappointment was impossible to conceal.

Feeling deeply grateful in her heart, Xiao Qiao was just about to speak when Nanny Zhong suddenly hurried in from outside and said, "My Lady, Young Master Qiao has arrived."

She paused slightly. "Young Master Qiao seems to have an urgent matter."

Xiao Qiao was immensely surprised.

It had been a very long time since she last saw her younger brother.

Learning that he had suddenly arrived in Yuyang at this very moment should have filled her with pleasant surprise.

Yet, for reasons unknown, her heart gave a sudden, heavy thud, and an instinctive intuition told her that something had happened.

Something terrible.

She immediately looked toward Lady Xu.

Lady Xu nodded. "Go quickly."

Xiao Qiao hurried back to the eastern chambers, and upon seeing Qiao Ci, she grew even more shocked.

Qiao Ci had not closed his eyes for several days and nights in a row. He was covered in the dust of the road, his eyes were bloodshot, and his expression was gaunt and filled with anxiety.

The moment he laid eyes on Xiao Qiao, he rushed forward instantly.

"Elder Sister! Something terrible has happened in Yanzhou! Military Counselor Gongsun told me to come find you at once!"

Over the past two months, although Xiao Qiao had also gradually sensed that something was amiss—since Wei Shao should not have delayed his return for so long after the hostilities ended—she could never have imagined that such earth-shattering upheavals could occur in Yanzhou within a matter of mere days.

Her father's survival was currently unknown.

Her paternal uncle, Qiao Yue, had not only used her father's name to surrender to Liu Yan but had also harmed Wei Liang, who was completely off his guard and had merely intended to offer birthday congratulations to her father. Wei Liang was heavily injured and on the brink of death, which incited Wei Shao to furiously dispatch his troops to Yanzhou in vengeance. Along the way, no one dared to oppose his sharp advance; the Grand Administrators of Xingyang, Chenliu, and other regions had stepped aside one after another, allowing the army to pass through as if traversing completely unoccupied territory.

"Elder Sister, after I broke free and escaped the city back then, I thought Second Brother-in-law was still trapped by the coalition forces, so I went to seek help from Eldest Brother-in-law. I never expected that Liu Yan had already prepared a hidden move, actually dispatching the Qingzhou troops to attack Lingbi. Eldest Brother-in-law was held back and failed to rush to Yanzhou in time. By the time the Qingzhou troops were repelled and I hurried to Yanzhou with Eldest Brother-in-law, we learned that Yanzhou had already fallen entirely into Liu Yan's hands, and General Wei Liang had also been ambushed. Second Brother-in-law mobilized his troops toward Yanzhou and sent someone to deliver a message, ordering Eldest Brother-in-law not to interfere, otherwise they would be treated as enemies. Eldest Brother-in-law has temporarily stationed his troops at Juye. I went to request an audience with Second Brother-in-law, wishing to explain the whole story to him. But I was not granted an audience; Second Brother-in-law refused to see me. Military Counselor Gongsun pointed me in this direction, telling me to rush here to implore Elder Sister to think of a way!"

Xiao Qiao's heart throbbed with wild intensity, and her face instantly drained of all color.

Forcing herself to calm down, she offered a few comforting words to Qiao Ci and ordered someone to lead him away to get some rest first. She then returned immediately to the northern chambers. The moment she entered, she dropped to her knees right in front of Lady Xu, knocking her head against the floor and remaining still for a long time.

"Has something happened? Stand up and speak slowly."

Lady Xu's voice echoed above her head, remaining as steady as always, sounding as though it possessed the power to soothe the panic in a person's heart.

Yet at this very moment, Xiao Qiao was unable to lift her head.

She also lacked the face to lift her head.

"Grandmother, General Wei Liang was ambushed when he went to Yanzhou. He is heavily wounded and remains unconscious. It was... perpetrated by my Qiao family."

She held back the tears that were about to spill from her eyes as she spoke.

The room suddenly fell into a profound silence.

Xiao Qiao remained kneeling, her forehead touching the ground, completely motionless.

Only after a long while did she hear Lady Xu's voice rise once more, sounding somewhat raspy: "Lift your head! Speak!"

The tone had turned slightly stern.

Xiao Qiao straightened her torso and recounted the entire sequence of events she had just heard from Qiao Ci.

"Grandmother, this matter also involves Liu Yan's manipulation, exploiting the discord between my uncle and my father. Not only has he seized control of Yanzhou, but my father's current survival is also unknown. There are likely many misunderstandings within this. My husband has now furiously dispatched his troops to Yanzhou to seek vengeance. My younger brother begged to see my husband, but my husband refused to see him. Left with no alternative, he rode through the night to Yuyang to seek help. I implore Grandmother to permit me to make a trip to Yanzhou, to meet my husband face-to-face and explain everything clearly. It is not that I wish to absolve the Qiao family of blame. General Wei Liang and his men were ambushed without cause; even if the people of the Qiao family were to pay with their lives, it would still not suffice to soothe the grief of their kin. I have no objections to that. I merely detest Liu Yan's sinister intentions and refuse to allow his wicked plot to succeed! I beg Grandmother to watch over Fei Fei on my behalf for a period of time. I shall set out as quickly as possible!"

She knocked her head against the floor once more.

"Go then. Have Jia Cai escort you and head over as quickly as possible. Fei Fei will be taken care of by me."

 

After a brief moment, Lady Xu spoke slowly.