The Prisoner of Beauty - Chapter 144

Chapter 144

The southern window was half-open, and a gentle breeze brushed past the plantain lilies growing just outside. Within the lush thickets of banana leaves, which were so brilliantly green they seemed ready to drip with moisture, a faint and rustling sigh echoed in the wind.

The bitter, clean scent of medicinal herbs floated quietly within the room.

Xiao Qiao took the bowl from her father's hands, set it aside on a table, and reached forward to support him so he could lie down.

Qiao Ping shook his head slightly.

"Is the Marquis of Yan unwilling to accept Yanzhou?" he asked.

"He has already departed," Xiao Qiao said softly.

"It is your father who has entangled and dragged you down. Previously, I failed to perceive your uncle's aberrant movements in a timely manner, which forged this disastrous plight. Furthermore, when this incident occurred and he led his troops to surround the city in his fury, my handling of the matter was also improper."

"It is not that your father cannot bear to part with the title of Commandery Duke. Yanzhou is nothing more than a dead land. Before your great-grandfather served as the Regional Inspector, Yanzhou did not belong to our Qiao family either. The ancestral home of the Qiao family lies in Dongting, and the remains of our ancestors are all buried there. When your grandfather passed away, you were still young, and I accompanied you and your mother back to Dongting to keep watch over the ancestral tombs for several years. The broad expanses of the Xiao and Xiang rivers, and the vast skies of Dongting, still seem as though they are right before my eyes even today. I have been trapped by tedious duties and trivial affairs for half my life. In the past, I also thought that once you and Ci'er each established your own families and careers, and I could lay down the matters here, I would escort your mother's spirit back to her resting place and grow old for the remainder of my life by the waters of Dongting."

Xiao Qiao stared blankly at her father.

"On that day when he led his army here, had I opened the gates to welcome his surrender, his anger might have abated, and he would not necessarily have truly made things difficult for the military and civilians within the city. However, I simply did not dare to take that risk. My death would not be a matter of regret, but the generals, soldiers, and citizens should not suffer collective punishment because of the crimes of my Qiao family..."

"Father must not blame himself any longer. Human beings are not mythical sages like Yao or Shun; who can achieve absolute perfection? The matter has already occurred, and self-reproach is completely useless. What ought to be done now is to put forth our full effort to make amends."

Xiao Qiao supported Qiao Ping to lean against the headboard of the bed, placing a cushion behind his back.

"I know that what Father cannot overcome in his heart is General Wei Liang and those dozen or so retainers who met with disaster. Their remains have all been properly coffined, and he has already taken them away. Once I return, I will do everything within my capability to provide compensation and care to the families of those soldiers. Father's eyes cannot see, making it unsuitable for you to travel. My younger brother will go to Luoyang on Father's behalf to bear thorns on his back and plead for forgiveness from General Wei."

Qiao Ping reached out his hand, groping through the air until he grasped Xiao Qiao's hands.

Outside the window, the sunlight was bright and beautiful, and the gentle wind blew in harmony.

Yet Xiao Qiao's fingertips were icy cold to the touch.

Grasping his daughter's hands, Qiao Ping let out a heavy sigh: "Has my son-in-law directed his anger toward you now?"

Even though her father could not see, Xiao Qiao maintained a gentle smile upon her face.

She said, "Father, please rest assured; he is by no means that sort of person. Although a slight estrangement has indeed arisen between us this time, it is not because of the matter regarding Yanzhou."

She hesitated slightly before briefly mentioning the incident where Zhang Pu brought Qiao Yue’s head intending to surrender and offer his loyalty, only to be executed by Wei Shao instead.

"He once promised me that he would no longer dwell on the old enmities between the Wei and Qiao families. To be able to lay down the past in such a manner, I know it was exceptionally difficult for him. Suddenly learning that I had once advised Father to strive for strength in order to guard against him, his heart turned cold and he wished to create some distance between us. This is only natural according to human sentiment."

Turning her hands over, she tightly grasped her father's hands and said, "Father, please be at peace. Everything will turn out well for me. I am merely worried about Father..."

"Man Man, do not worry. Return as quickly as possible," Qiao Ping said. "I am in no great danger. Furthermore, your elder sister has also returned. With her here, it is just as if you were accompanying my side."

Following the conclusion of the previous incident, Madam Ding had been imprisoned by the tremendously furious Qiao Yue, with only cold water and thin rice porridge to fill her stomach each day.

The very first moment Qiao Ping took control of power, he had Madam Ding brought out.

Seeing the wretched state of Qiao Yue’s death, although Madam Ding hated his heartlessness, injustice, and utter muddleheadedness, they were a married couple after all, and she shed tears at the time.

Yesterday, Da Qiao, bringing Li'er along, was finally received into Dong.

Mother and daughter had been separated for several long years, and only now were they able to meet.

At that moment, Madam Ding slapped her daughter heavily once, immediately following which she pulled her into her embrace, her face completely covered in tears.

Bi Zhi knelt down toward her, but he was supported and raised up by Madam Ding's hands.

The family was finally able to enjoy a reunion.

Xiao Qiao stood by their side at the time. Aside from feeling deeply gratified, her eyes also grew burning hot as she watched.

One plants the cause beforehand to reap the effect afterward.

At the very least, at this instant, the reunion of Madam Ding, Da Qiao, and Bi Zhi was something worthy of rejoicing.

As if slowly drawing back her strength, her mood, which had been cast in dark gloom for a long time, pierced through the clouds and broke through the mist, finally revealing a corner of sunlight.

Even if it was merely a single corner of sunlight, it was fully sufficient to sustain her resolve, allowing her to step onto the path of return and once again face that husband she had married in this lifetime due to the bonds of fate.

Several days later, Xiao Qiao arrived in Luoyang.

This was the first time she had ever stepped onto the soil of Luoyang.

Of the vast lands in all eight directions, Zhou's Luoyang stood firmly at the center.

The Luo River surged dynamically, and Mount Mang stood majestic and towering.

This was the place where King Wu had established the sacred tripods thousands of years ago, and it had served as the capital city for the several-hundred-year reign of the Han Dynasty.

Frequent wars and changes of masters had not caused this ancient capital to fall into desolation. It possessed a grand, solemn, and magnificent weight that differed from any other city, having dissolved into its very marrow, flesh, and skin through thousands of years of long history.

Even the wind blowing from the direction of the Luo River carried a trace of the fragrant, bustling air of the mortal world.

Xiao Qiao approached steadily, entering from the east. Along the way, everything she observed showed a flourishing and abundant population.

The only remaining trace of the devastation of war was when she passed by the rumored Lotus Terrace from afar; looking across the Luo River, she could see that greyish-black, collapsed expanse of ruins.

She had never witnessed what kind of towering buildings, jade beams, or gold and jade treasures had once stood atop these ruins not long ago.

Neither did she have the mind to focus her attention on such matters. The first thing she did upon entering Luoyang was to bring Qiao Ci directly before Wei Liang.

When she entered the city, Gongsun Yang had dispatched people to receive her.

From them, she learned a piece of news that, to her at this moment, felt precisely like tidings of great joy.

Just a few days prior, Wei Liang, who had been sunk in a continuous coma, had finally regained consciousness.

The one who saved him was an itinerant physician who called himself the Old Man of White Rock.

Qiao Ci entered with hurried steps, arriving before Wei Liang's couch. Without uttering a single word, he sank onto both knees before him on the ground.

Wei Liang was a rugged and hardy fellow. Although his body was still weak, he braced himself and immediately sought to rise to support him up.

He was stopped by Xiao Qiao.

Qiao Ci spoke with deep shame: "General Wei, please accept my obeisance. Originally, my father ought to have come in person to plead for forgiveness, but it is simply inconvenient for him to travel, which is why I have come on my father's behalf. It is entirely due to the faults of my Qiao family that the General endured a great tribulation of life and death, harming sixteen heroic men who traveled alongside you. Even if I were to stretch out my neck and beg to be executed, it would still not suffice to cancel out the responsibility of my Qiao family!"

He knocked his head deeply against the floor.

Wei Liang was startled and spoke in a hurry: "Young Master Qiao, quickly rise! How can I accept such a grand gesture from you! For martial men like us, the moment we mount our horses, it is as if we are carrying our heads in our hands. If it is not I who kills others, then it is others who kill me; life and death possess their own destiny. Furthermore, regarding the matter of Yanzhou this time, I have also come to know everything. It was Liu Yan who stirred up trouble from within, deliberately acting to sow discord. If I am to kill, I shall kill that chief culprit, taking his head to offer as a sacrifice to my deceased brothers! Quickly rise, and in the future, you must absolutely never speak the words 'pleading for forgiveness' again!"

Filled with gratitude, Xiao Qiao personally performed a formal bow toward Wei Liang from the side, saying, "General Wei's righteousness is grand; please accept my salute. Although General Wei speaks in such a manner, the Qiao family ultimately remains unable to escape the blame. Regarding those soldiers who sacrificed their lives innocently, after I return, I will certainly ensure that their elderly family members are cared for in their old age and their young ones have support to rely upon. I know this falls far short of soothing the grief of their kin, but it is the sole remedy that can be conceived at present. If there are any other areas where we can be of use in the future, General, please do not hesitate to inform me."

Wei Liang was even more unwilling to accept the formal gesture, hastily shifting his body aside to avoid it: "On behalf of those brothers, I offer my sincere thanks to My Lady! My Lady, quickly tell the Young Master to rise, do not humble me any further!"

Only then did Qiao Ci stand up, offering his thanks to Wei Liang.

Wei Liang laughed heartily and said, "To survive a great disaster means there will surely be good fortune afterward. Mine is a destiny of subsequent good fortune, so what is Young Master Qiao thanking me for!"

Initially, Qiao Ci's heart had been filled with anxious trepidation. Seeing that Wei Liang's attitude toward him was exactly the same as before, with a heroic spirit that reached the clouds and without the slightest trace of a grudge, his mind finally began to settle down slowly.

Wei Liang sized up Qiao Ci and smiled, saying, "Young Master Qiao appears even more striking and heroic than when I last saw you. Grand General Li still remembers Young Master Qiao's heroic posture at the Luli Grand Assembly from before, and mentioned it to me some time ago. Since Young Master Qiao has come this time, remember to go pay him a visit."

Qiao Ci hastily gave his assent. Seeing that Wei Liang had spoken for a while, although his spirit still appeared decent, the color of blood upon his face was still insufficient. He hurriedly stepped forward to support him to lie back down.

Xiao Qiao said, "After General Wei's injuries are healed, I wonder where you intend to go?"

Wei Liang smiled and said, "The Lord has granted me leave to return home and visit my relatives. If nothing unexpected occurs, I shall subsequently return to Liangzhou."

"I have a request to make, and I wonder if the General could grant it?" Xiao Qiao said suddenly just before taking her leave.

Wei Liang spoke in a hurry: "My Lady, please speak. As long as it lies within my capability, there is nothing I will not grant."

Xiao Qiao cast a glance at Qiao Ci, who stood to the side, and said with a smile: "Yanzhou currently has numerous family generals working together with one heart to protect and maintain it, and there is also the Green-Eyed General rendering assistance. My younger brother's presence there is dispensable. I am afraid that if he stays at home, he will become slack and lazy, wasting the prime years of his youth. I take the liberty of requesting the General: if you do not disfavor him for being foolish, the next time you go to Liangzhou, could you bring him along with you? If he can train and gain experience under the General's command, it would be a rare and precious opportunity for my younger brother."

Although Yanzhou had just experienced a great upheaval of life and death, and Qiao Ping had also lost his sight, numerous family generals were working together with one heart to protect it, and Bi Zhi was also on the side rendering assistance. Even if Qiao Ci was not present, it would not affect the overall situation.

Previously in Yanzhou, although Qiao Ci had also followed his father through several battles, his scope was ultimately limited. If he could follow a truly battle-hardened and courageous general like Wei Liang to gain experience in places like Bingzhou and Liangzhou, it would not only allow him to establish genuine relationships with Wei Liang and the others, but would also be of immense benefit to Qiao Ci himself.

Qiao Ci had not expected his elder sister to suddenly make such an arrangement for him. He was both startled and delighted, and he hastily fixed his gaze upon Wei Liang.

Wei Liang was slightly stunned. Just as he was about to nod his head, he suddenly hesitated for a brief moment.

Xiao Qiao smiled gently and said, "As for the Lord's side, I shall go and speak a word with him."

Wei Liang laughed heartily and said, "To not hide it from My Lady, Grand General Li previously had the intention to ask for Young Master Qiao, but he simply never found an opportunity to speak up. Now that My Lady has personally handed the Young Master over to me first, he can forget about competing with me for him! If the Young Master does not fear the hardships of the wind and sand of the western frontier, it is something I could only wish for!"

As a young master of a prestigious family who grew up in Yanzhou, Qiao Ci had long heard of how fierce and courageous the Qiang soldiers of the Liangzhou frontier were, how untamed the local customs were, and how grand the spectacle was when the soldiers were arrayed on the battlefield. His heart had long yearned for it, but he had never possessed an opportunity to personally make the trip before. Seeing Wei Liang agree, he was incomparably delighted and hastily bowed down toward him once more.

Xiao Qiao smiled gently and said, "In that case, I shall hand my younger brother over to the General. I must trouble the General to beat and forge him as you see fit without any reservations. His skin is thick and his flesh is tough; he can endure it."