The Prisoner of Beauty

The wind, carrying snow, lashed against Xiao Qiao's face, making it nearly impossible for her to keep her eyes open. On horseback, she felt as if the world was spinning, disoriented and unable to tell north from south. Just as she struggled instinctively to save herself, a voice reached her ears: "Manman! It's me!"

The voice sounded familiar.

Xiao Qiao stopped struggling, and the man behind her adjusted her position to sit properly on the horse. She opened her eyes and turned her head to see a handsome face peeking out from under a bamboo hat.

Liu Yan, the heir of Langya!

This was no small shock. Xiao Qiao had never dreamed that the person who had suddenly appeared and abducted her would be Liu Yan!

"Manman, don't be afraid! The carriage is waiting just ahead. Once we reach a safe place, I'll explain everything to you!"

Liu Yan's expression was tense, and he kept glancing back over his shoulder. After comforting Xiao Qiao with a few words, he tightened his grip on the horse's belly and gave it a hard whip, urging the horse to gallop forward at full speed.

Xiao Qiao finally reacted.

"Liu Yan! I won't go with you! Let me go back!"

But Liu Yan seemed deaf to her pleas. Instead of stopping, he whipped the horse even harder.

A gust of cold wind rushed into her mouth, drowning out her voice. Xiao Qiao choked and began coughing violently.

Ahead, a carriage drawn by two horses was already waiting by the roadside. The white horse carrying the two of them galloped up to it, and two men quickly descended from the carriage to assist. Liu Yan dismounted in one swift motion, forcibly carried the still-coughing Xiao Qiao into the carriage, and climbed in after her. The door shut, and the carriage turned sharply, speeding off to the east.

Once inside the carriage, Liu Yan's expression finally relaxed slightly. Seeing Xiao Qiao still hunched over and coughing, his face softened with pity. He gently wrapped one arm around her shoulders and patted her back with the other, murmuring soothingly, "Manman, did I scare you? Don't be afraid. I'm taking you with me, and from now on, we'll never be apart again!"

Xiao Qiao finally stopped coughing and straightened up, avoiding the arm he had wrapped around her.

"Liu Yan! You can't just take me away like this! I have to go back!"

Liu Yan seemed stunned, staring at Xiao Qiao for a moment before letting out a bitter laugh, his gaze filled with sorrow.

"Manman, has it really been so long that you've grown distant from me? You never used to address me like this."

……

Memories of the past began to surface in Xiao Qiao's mind.

Liu Yan had come to the Qiao family at the age of thirteen and returned to Langya at eighteen. The following year, he had become engaged to her. Now, he was twenty-one.

During the five years he had lived with the Qiao family, though he was technically in exile, the Qiao family had still treated him with great respect. Qiao Ping had hired the best riding and archery instructors for him, collected military texts for him to study, and treated him as an honored guest. Xiao Qiao and he had indeed been deeply in love, and their engagement had seemed like a natural and perfect match.

If she were still the Xiao Qiao of the past, she wasn't sure how she would face her former lover, Liu Yan.

But she was no longer the Xiao Qiao of the past.

The deepest impression Liu Yan had left on her was not his talent or his deep affection for her, but the nightmare that had haunted her for so long in her previous life—the final moments of that life.

In her previous life, Xiao Qiao and Liu Yan, as the last emperor and empress, had died together in that manner, a death that could be praised as steadfast loyalty.

She could even understand Liu Yan's harem.

But the gaze of Consort Liu, who had died at the age of thirteen, still sent chills down her spine every time she woke from that dream.She could perhaps understand Emperor Liu Yan's way of handling his harem, which was considered normal in this era. But she truly could not agree with it.

She also sympathized with the tragic Emperor Liu Yan from her past life, but she indeed could no longer reciprocate the same feelings as Xiao Qiao once did.

Now, she couldn't just let herself be abducted by Liu Yan. This was the only thought in her mind.

……

"Your Highness, my uncle annulled our engagement and married me off to someone else. It was our Qiao family who wronged you. But times have changed, and I am no longer the Xiao Qiao from before. I am now a married woman. I will always remember your deep affection and kindness, and I wish you all the best in the future. Please take me back, or let me off nearby. General Wei will surely come looking for me soon."

Xiao Qiao spoke.

Liu Yan continued to stare at her intently, then suddenly reached out and tightly grasped her hand again.

"What are you saying? I know you were forced to marry that Wei Shao; it wasn't your true intention! Now I’m here to take you away. Isn’t this for the best?"

Xiao Qiao shook her head: "Your Highness, I repeat, I am grateful for your kindness, but I truly cannot accept it now. Besides, if you take me away like this, how could Wei Shao possibly let it go? Where could you take me afterward?"

"Once I’ve made this decision, I have no intention of returning to Langya. That position as the heir is not something I must have. Those who followed me are loyal warriors. The world is vast, and I will take you to a place where no one can find us. We will never be apart!"

As he spoke, his expression grew fervent.

Xiao Qiao slowly withdrew her hand from his.

"I’m sorry. I’m afraid I must disappoint you. I won’t run away with you like this. Please let me go back."

The flush on Liu Yan’s handsome face, which had appeared due to his excitement, slowly faded.

He stared at Xiao Qiao, motionless and silent, as if in a trance.

The carriage continued to speed along the road, jolting violently as the wheels hit bumps and uneven surfaces.

Liu Yan’s gaze suddenly made Xiao Qiao feel uneasy.

"Your Highness…" she tentatively called out softly.

Liu Yan seemed to snap out of his daze, let out an "oh," and smiled again. "Manman, you must be frightened and speaking nonsense. Don’t be afraid. Just listen to me. I’ve already made arrangements. We will have a good life together."

"Your Highness Liu! Giving up everything you have now for me is truly not worth it! I won’t go with you either. What’s past is past. Please let me go!"

Liu Yan stared at her, and the smile on his face slowly disappeared again.

"Manman, you truly baffle me, and you disappoint me even more."

He suddenly spoke, his tone hollow, word by word."You know my heart, as clear as the sun and moon, unwavering for three lifetimes! It's been two years since I last saw you, and I’ve been thinking of you every moment in Langya. Last year, I finally managed to visit Dongjun on the occasion of your uncle’s birthday, hoping to see you, but you avoided me. Now, as the wedding date approaches, your Qiao family suddenly sends a message to break off the engagement. How do you expect me to handle this? Though I, Liu Yan, may be incapable, I cannot endure such a betrayal of taking my wife away! Two months ago, I set out on this journey, but I never had the chance. Today, even heaven is on my side, allowing me to reclaim you. I just don’t understand—what has happened to you? Do you have some unspeakable difficulty, or have you truly changed your heart and abandoned our former vows?"

"Manman, I know you’re burdened with worries now. But just come with me, don’t overthink it. In time, you’ll understand. Have you forgotten what you once said to me?"

Finally, his tone softened again.

Xiao Qiao closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Young Master, I..."

She began with difficulty, but before she could finish, the carriage seemed to encounter some mishap and abruptly slowed down. Due to the inertia, Xiao Qiao was thrown forward, but Liu Yan caught her.

"What’s going on?"

The carriage came to a halt. Liu Yan leaned out of the window and demanded sharply.

He suddenly froze.

A few yards ahead in the snow, a line of mounted archers blocked the road, their bows drawn and ready to fire.

Liu Yan’s expression changed slightly, and he ordered the driver to turn around. But in the snow behind them, another seven or eight mounted archers had already caught up. Then, from the side, a horse emerged, ridden by a young general clad in armor and wielding a halberd. With a wild demeanor, he pointed the halberd at the carriage and laughed loudly, "I am Chen Rui of Bingzhou! Young Master Liu, leave Wei Shao’s wife behind. Out of respect for your status as a member of the Han imperial family, I will not trouble you!"

...Chen Rui, styled Yunji, was the third son of Bingzhou's Governor Chen Xiang. Known for his ruthless nature, he once gouged out a man's heart and fried it as a snack, earning the fear of Bingzhou's populace. Due to his naturally delicate, almost feminine appearance, he was given the nickname "Jade-Faced Rakshasa." A month ago, during the battle of Boling, Wei Shao decisively defeated Zhang Jian, a general under Chen Xiang's command. Zhang Jian suffered heavy losses and was forced to retreat westward. During the chaos of the battle, Chen Rui was separated from Zhang Jian's main force and, with the desperate protection of his personal guards, managed to break through the encirclement. However, by then, he was left with fewer than twenty men.

Young and ambitious, Chen Rui had always been eager for glory and was deeply favored by his father. He harbored a long-standing resentment toward Wei Shao. During the Boling campaign, he volunteered to lead the vanguard as a captain, boasting that he would capture Wei Shao alive. However, he was defeated and forced to flee Boling, ending up in such a humiliating state. Too ashamed to return and unwilling to accept defeat, he lingered in the area. Upon learning that Wei Shao had recently married, taking the daughter of the Qiao family from Yanzhou as his wife, and seeing the weather grow increasingly harsh, Chen Rui realized there was little to gain by staying longer. Just as he was about to return to Bingzhou, he discovered that Wei Shao had sent his wife to Youzhou the very next day. Seizing the opportunity, Chen Rui followed closely behind. However, wary of Wei Liang's formidable strength and unmatched combat prowess, he dared not get too close or act rashly. To his surprise, Wei Liang's vigilance slipped, allowing Liu Yan to strike first. Seeing such an opportunity, Chen Rui wasted no time in pursuing, ultimately reaping a great advantage. How could he not laugh heartily?

......

Seeing no movement from the carriage, Chen Rui's expression darkened. With a gesture, his archers immediately released their arrows. Amid the whistling sounds, screams erupted from outside the carriage as Liu Yan's attendants were struck and fell to the ground, injured.

When the carriage first came to a halt, Xiao Qiao had thought it was Wei Liang who had caught up, but she doubted he could have arrived so quickly. Now, hearing the continuous cries of pain outside and seeing Liu Yan's grim expression as he shielded her, his hand tightly gripping the hilt of his sword, veins bulging on the back of his hand, she couldn't help but feel a growing sense of dread.

The Chen family of Bingzhou had long been enemies of Wei Shao, and they had clashed in Boling just last year. She was well aware of this.

If she were to fall into the hands of the Chen family of Bingzhou, she would rather go with Liu Yan first.

......

Footsteps approached, and the carriage door was yanked open. A fair, jade-like face appeared, belonging to a man in his mid-twenties, wearing a golden crown and a lion-headed belt. His eyes immediately locked onto Xiao Qiao behind Liu Yan, and he froze, unmoving.

Liu Yan, enraged, suddenly drew his sword, pointing the tip at Chen Rui's face, and shouted, "General Chen, my Langya has always maintained peaceful relations with your Bingzhou. What is the meaning of this unwarranted obstruction today?"

Chen Rui had heard of the beauty of the Qiao daughter from Yanzhou, but he had never imagined it to be to such an extent. At first sight, he was utterly captivated. Only when Liu Yan drew his sword and pointed it at him did he snap out of his trance. Unfazed, he pushed the blade aside with a finger, tilted his head back, and said, "Young Master Liu, my forces outnumber yours several times over. If it weren't for your status as a member of the Han imperial family, I wouldn't have spared your life today."

Chen Rui's archers closed in, a dozen fully drawn bows aimed directly at Liu Yan.

"I advise you to recognize the situation. This beauty was never yours to begin with. Taking her with me does you no injustice. Step down and leave the carriage for Madam of Marquis Yan. The weather is freezing, and I can't bear to see her suffer in the cold."Chen Rui snatched the long sword from Liu Yan's hand with a swift motion. Several mounted archers climbed onto the carriage and forcibly dragged Liu Yan down. Chen Rui glanced at Xiao Qiao once more, let out a hearty laugh, and slammed the carriage door shut. He then mounted his horse and shouted, "We can't stay here any longer! Let's go!"

"Chen Rui! If you dare lay a hand on her, I, Liu Yan, will never rest until I see you dead—"

Liu Yan's eyes were bloodshot as he chased after them, but he was no match for their speed. In the end, he could only watch helplessly as the group of horsemen, escorting the carriage, galloped away into the snowy distance.

He sprinted forward, chasing them for dozens of steps before tripping and falling to the ground.

After a long while, he slowly got up, kneeling in the snow, trembling all over. His eyes were red, and his expression was a mix of sorrow and bitterness, as if he were on the verge of both crying and laughing.

……

By the time Wei Liang arrived at the scene, the bloodstains on the ground and the tracks of the carriage had already been covered by the freshly fallen snow. Only a few arrows still embedded in the snow hinted at what had transpired moments ago.

Earlier, a passerby had delivered a message to him, saying that someone had entrusted him to relay that Madam Wei, the wife of Marquis Wei, had fallen into the hands of Chen Rui of Bingzhou. Wei Liang wanted to ask for more details, but the passerby claimed to know nothing else.

He had already sent someone to rush back day and night to deliver the news to Wei Shao. Within a day or two, he should receive a response.

Wei Liang was filled with self-reproach as he anxiously gazed into the distance.

The people he had sent out to gather information about Chen Rui's convoy gradually returned. Some had seen them heading southwest.

Based on his experience, he deduced that Chen Rui must have taken Madam Wei toward Shiyi, a city hundreds of miles away. It was the closest town at the border between Wei Shao's and Chen Xiang's territories, where Chen Xiang had stationed a large force.