The Prisoner of Beauty

Wei Shao had a restless night.

The sudden news of impending fatherhood filled him with immense excitement, yet he worried his restless sleeping habits might cause his legs to press against Xiao Qiao's belly.

Thus, he woke several times throughout the night.

Each time he opened his eyes, he found Xiao Qiao curled up against him, her petite frame nestled close. His gaze lingered on her serene, youthful face, unable to tear itself away.

In the long years since his childhood memories had been abruptly severed, warfare, battles, and vengeance had consumed nearly all his energy.

The fleeting warmth of a vague attachment that once brought solace to his painful youth had vanished like morning dew, leaving behind only a faint shadow over women in the young boy's heart.

Since then, he had instinctively recoiled from women's proximity.

He reveled in slaughter, war, and retribution—in the raw thrill of hot blood splattering across cold steel.

He had believed that, in this lifetime, only his grandmother was the sole woman he would willingly draw near to from the depths of his heart.

But now, everything was different.

He had won her.

The tenderness swelling in Wei Shao's heart left him at a loss for how to express it to her.

At this moment, if kneeling before her haughtily raised chin was the price for her love, he felt he might even do that.

After all, she had already slapped him several times.

What was one more humiliation?

Fearing he might wake her, he dared not hold her too tightly, only tightening his arms slightly to bring her soft body closer against his. Resting his chin atop her forehead, his heart brimmed with indescribable joy.

If Manman could first give him a son this time, he would be overjoyed.

He would personally teach the boy horseback riding, archery, and the art of war.

Moreover, the Wei family lacked male heirs. He needed a son to carry on the lineage. When paying respects to ancestors and his late father and brothers at the ancestral temple, having a son by his side would bolster his confidence.

But if Manman first bore him a daughter this time, he would be equally delighted.

He couldn't help imagining what their daughter might look like.

She would surely inherit Manman's captivating, liquid-bright eyes that sparkled with life.

He would love her—deeply, fiercely.

He would conquer this beautiful land, placing their daughter upon a golden chariot drawn by six horses, making all subjects prostrate at her feet—the noblest and most cherished princess in the realm.

These were Wei Shao's thoughts as he drifted off to sleep.

...

The next day, Wei Shao was brimming with energy.

Early in the morning, he sent a letter to Madam Xu, announcing Xiao Qiao's pregnancy.

Given the early stage of her pregnancy and her current physical condition, long-distance travel was inadvisable.

Thus, Wei Shao decided to remain with Xiao Qiao in Xindu for some time.

Once her health strengthened, he would escort her back to Yuyang for childbirth.

...

On this late autumn day of the second year of Tai'an, Prince of Langya Liu Yan visited Lingbi once more.

Though the autumn sun shone brilliantly across fragrant fields along his journey, Liu Yan had no heart to admire the scenery.

To his eyes, perhaps only the desolate autumn wind and the cold, silent forests and streams remained.

In less than two months, this was his third visit to Lingbi.

Unlike his previous visits filled with soaring ambition and confidence, this time, Xuzhou City—which he had held for barely over a month—stood on precarious ground.

Xue An had launched multiple attacks to reclaim the city.After two field battles, Liu Yan ordered a retreat behind the city walls, sealing the gates and refusing to engage further.

He knew that if they continued to fight head-on, even if they didn’t lose, the thirty thousand troops he had painstakingly built over the past two years would suffer heavy losses.

He couldn’t afford that price.

So he chose to fall back and defend.

But this kind of passive defense couldn’t last forever. He was well aware of that.

Without external reinforcements, he would eventually be trapped like a turtle in a jar.

Thus, several nights ago, under the cover of darkness, he slipped out of the city through the western gate with a few trusted guards, taking a secluded path to Lingbi for the third time.

...

Over these past two years, he had endured hardships and nursed his ambitions, all for the sake of one day standing unshaken in this chaotic world.

Countless sleepless nights after waking from dreams were spent bitterly chewing over the humiliation he could never forget—the humiliation from two years ago.

The woman who should have been his, the woman he had deeply loved, had been taken by another man.

The Qiao family had disregarded their marriage agreement, treating him as nothing, and handed his betrothed over to someone else.

The only reason was that the other man was powerful enough.

And all he could offer at the time was the laughable title of Prince of Langya.

He would never forget that scene in the snow for the rest of his life.

It was the last time he saw her face.

Chen Rui had snatched her from his grasp.

And the only thing he could do was kneel in the snow, watching helplessly as she disappeared from his sight.

At that very moment, Liu Yan swore to himself that one day, no matter where she was or whose wife she had become, he would take her back.

She belonged to him. She had been his once, and she would be his until death.

...

Originally, it seemed he had taken a great step closer to his dream.

He had seized Xuzhou, finally expanding his influence beyond the tiny territory of Langya.

At that time, the dream of sitting on the throne in Luoyang’s Qianqiu Palace had never felt so vivid—

He certainly had the right to dream.

This empire had once belonged to his Liu family.

Among all the scions of the imperial clan, he alone had been praised as a noble and outstanding talent.

When Emperor Xuan died, Liu Ai and Liu Li fought bitterly for the throne—one died, the other was imprisoned, leaving the imperial seat vacant. He was only seventeen then, having just returned to Langya from Yanzhou.

His name had even been mentioned by court officials in Luoyang, who believed he was the most suitable among the imperial clan to ascend the throne.

Of course, all of that had been nothing but a mirage.

Now, taking advantage of the chaos of the times, he had relied on his own painstaking efforts to finally break out of Langya and seize a new territory—and such a valuable one at that.

If he could truly swallow Xuzhou whole, it would undoubtedly lay a solid foundation for his greater ambitions.

After much deliberation, he decided to take the risk and leave the city, returning once more to Lingbi to seek out the man he was desperate to recruit—Bi Zhi, known as the Green-Eyed General.

The first time, Bi Zhi had been engaged in battle against Yang Xin at Xiaodi, so Liu Yan failed to meet him.

The second time, Bi Zhi had politely declined him.

Now, on his third visit, he hoped that sincerity could move even the hardest of hearts.

From the moment this Green-Eyed General first fought Xue Tai, Liu Yan, who had been closely observing the situation in Xuzhou, had keenly recognized his extraordinary nature.

And the facts had proven that he had not misjudged him.

...

On his previous two visits, although Xue An had withdrawn from Xiaqiu to defend Xiapi, Yang Xin was still attacking Lingbi.

This time, however, Yang Xin had retreated, and Lingbi was peaceful once more.Liu Yan was unaware that Yang Xin had pledged allegiance to Wei Shao. Nor did he know that Yang Xin's retreat was under Wei Shao's orders.

This doomed his persuasion attempt to failure.

On this day, although he successfully met with Bi Zhi, who treated him with great respect due to his imperial lineage, addressing him as "Your Highness," no matter how Liu Yan tried to persuade him, Bi Zhi remained unmoved, just as before.

Bi Zhi said, "I am but a humble man from the countryside. Though honored by Your Highness's three visits and deeply grateful, I have neither grand ambitions nor exceptional abilities. Merely content with my modest lot, I dare not hinder Your Highness's great cause. I beg your forgiveness."

Liu Yan was wise enough to know he couldn't force the issue.

In the end, he rose politely and, before taking his leave, remarked, "I have heard that your esteemed wife is the daughter of Qiao, the Governor of Yanzhou, making you and Marquis Yan Wei Shao brothers-in-law. Have you ever met the Marquis?"

Bi Zhi replied, "We have met once."

Liu Yan smiled. "Marquis Yan is a hero of our time, long famed, though I have yet to meet him. Since you share kinship with him, has he perhaps already won your allegiance before I could?"

Bi Zhi quickly responded, "Your Highness jests. I merely met Marquis Yan once last year. There is no talk of allegiance."

Liu Yan's eyes flickered thoughtfully. After a pause, he added, "In my youth, when I was in distress, the Qiao family took me in for several years. I regard your wife as a sister. Today, I have brought a modest gift. Might I have the honor of seeing her?"

...

Da Qiao met Liu Yan in the hall.

Liu Yan was a man of striking elegance, like jade among trees, always refined and courteous. During his early years at the Qiao residence, Xiao Qiao had been fond of him, and Da Qiao had also held him in high regard. He had left Yanzhou at seventeen, and now, after so many years, their reunion here stirred nostalgic feelings in her.

Knowing of his past with Xiao Qiao, she carefully avoided mentioning her during their reminiscence.

As they exchanged updates, Liu Yan hesitated before asking, "Might I inquire about Manman's recent circumstances?"

Da Qiao paused.

"Please don't misunderstand, A-Fan. I mean no harm. It's just... it's been so long, and I've had no news of her. I merely wished to ask."

Da Qiao looked up to see Liu Yan gazing out the window, his expression wistful.

Recalling their youthful days, she could only sigh at fate's twists.

After a moment, she replied, "To be honest, my sister and I correspond regularly... She is doing well and is with child. Thank you for your concern, Prince of Langya."

Though two years had passed, Da Qiao sensed Liu Yan still harbored feelings for Xiao Qiao. She emphasized her sister's happiness to dispel any lingering hopes.

Liu Yan seemed lost in thought before suddenly smiling. "Thank you for telling me. I had heard some of the past between the Qiao family and Marquis Yan and worried she might be unhappy there. Knowing she is well sets my mind at ease. In my heart, she is like a sister to me, just as you are. Next time you write to her, might you convey my sincere regards?"

Da Qiao said, "Please speak, Prince of Langya."

"Just say..."

Liu Yan lowered his gaze, pausing in thought."Just tell her that when she married Marquis Yan in grand ceremony with feasting and candles, I was still bound by past matters and failed to offer timely congratulations. For this I am deeply regretful. Now that time has passed and circumstances changed, my mind has cleared. Hearing now of this auspicious news, I send my heartfelt congratulations from afar, wishing my younger sister all happiness. Every word comes from my sincere heart."

Da Qiao had initially been somewhat hesitant, but upon hearing these words, she relaxed and nodded with a smile: "Prince of Langya, rest assured I will deliver your message faithfully."

Liu Yan expressed his thanks to Da Qiao before taking his leave.

Bi Zhi escorted him out of Lingbi.

Once beyond Lingbi's borders, Liu Yan rode an arrow's flight distance before reining in his horse. He paused, gazing northward in contemplation for a long moment.

His attendant Liu Shan, knowing this latest attempt to recruit Bi Zhi had again failed, hesitated before asking: "Xuzhou stands in imminent peril. Beyond Xue An's threat, Yang Xin also watches like a tiger. With Bi Zhi still refusing service, what should Your Highness do next?"

Liu Yan slowly withdrew his gaze from the north and said measuredly: "I hear even three-year-olds in Luoyang now sing that nursery rhyme - 'Sun atop mountain, walking radical below'. Xing Xun's usurpation is inevitable. Wait and see - when the empire's situation changes, I shall respond accordingly with new strategies."

With these words he spurred his horse forward, never looking back.