The Prisoner of Beauty

In early May, Wei Shao led a hundred thousand soldiers straight to Dongjun without encountering any resistance along the way, entering Yanzhou.

Ding Qu engaged Wei Shao in battle at the southern outskirts of Yan County, a hundred miles from Dongjun, but was defeated and retreated to defend the city.

The prisoners captured in this battle were all executed on the spot by Wei Shao’s order.

Among them were Ding Qu’s soldiers, as well as some from the Qiao family’s forces.

When the news reached Dongjun, fear spread among the people.

Hou Jia, Wang Hui, and others were former retainers under Qiao Ping. On the night of the birthday banquet, they had returned drunk and woke the next day to find themselves imprisoned. Liu Yan arrived shortly after, while Qiao Ci fled the city with Madam Ding. Qiao Yue then took charge, issuing all orders in Qiao Ping’s name, yet Qiao Ping himself never appeared.

Qiao Yue claimed Qiao Ping was unconscious and unable to meet anyone, but Hou Jia, Wang Hui, and the others grew suspicious.

However, Qiao Yue’s status was undeniable, and Liu Yan was the legitimate Han emperor, his imperial majesty unquestionable. When he entered the city, his grand procession and armored guards commanded reverence, with the common people kneeling and hailing him as "Long Live the Emperor." Hou Jia and Wang Hui dared not act rashly and bided their time. Secretly, they learned where Qiao Ping was being held and, taking advantage of the chaos when Ding Qu retreated into the city, barricading the defenses, and Wei Shao’s forces besieging the gates, they rallied loyal followers, infiltrated the prison, killed the guards, and finally saw Qiao Ping.

They found him blinded and confined in a wretched cell. The once-beloved Duke of the Commandery, now like a dragon stranded in shallow waters, filled them with righteous fury. They vowed to rescue him and fight Ding Qu to the death.

Qiao Ping, his eyes poisoned and imprisoned for days, knew the situation outside must have deteriorated. Though he had prepared for the worst, he had not imagined things would reach this point. Summoning his strength, he questioned them about the situation inside and outside the city, gradually calming down. He stopped them, saying, “Liu Yan is cunning and must harbor resentment against our Qiao family for breaking the betrothal years ago. He has exploited the discord between my brothers to orchestrate this. My oversight led to this disaster. Ding Qu, though despicable and unprincipled, is fierce and not easily dealt with. Moreover, he now wields military authority under the emperor’s name, commanding his own troops and surely guarding against our old forces. If you charge out recklessly and fail, you’ll only be slaughtered.”

Hou Jia said urgently, “Wei Shao’s army is already at the city walls. In the battle at Yan County, he slaughtered all the prisoners, including some of our Qiao family’s soldiers forced to fight. Ding Qu has used this to stoke fear—everyone in the city fears massacre if the walls fall and can only fight to the death to hold the city. If we don’t act now, Yanzhou will truly fall into Liu Yan’s hands!”

Qiao Ping fell silent.

Liu Yan was no longer the youth who had once fled Langya under his stepmother’s slander and sought refuge with the Qiao family.

That he had spared Qiao Ping’s life thus far surely had its purpose.

In the end, Ding Qu would surely use Qiao Ping to threaten Wei Shao.

If Wei Shao disregarded Qiao Ping’s life, it would damage his marriage with Xiao Qiao.

But if he yielded, he could not justify it to his soldiers.

No matter the outcome, if it came to that, it would be a lose-lose situation for both Wei Shao and the Qiao family.

Liu Yan’s scheme had reached such depths—his hatred ran deep, his cunning unfathomable—far beyond what Qiao Ping had anticipated.

After a moment of thought, Qiao Ping said, “Ding Qu is fickle by nature, and I’ve heard rumors of it. I have a plan to lure him into lowering his guard before striking—it will be more effective.”

...Ding Qu withdrew his troops from Yan County into the city and immediately spread news of Wei Shao’s massacre within the walls, forcing the Qiao family’s soldiers to hold their positions atop the city defenses.

Seeing that everyone was terrified and dared not relax for even a moment, he finally let out a slight sigh of relief. Descending from the battlements, he drank alone in sullen silence.

Yanzhou was known for its beautiful women.

Recalling Zhang Pu’s mention that Qiao Yue had a concubine of tender age and exquisite beauty, Ding Qu ordered the woman to be brought before him.

The woman arrived trembling with fear and bowed to him. Upon closer inspection, her delicate features bore some resemblance to Su E’huang.

This only deepened Ding Qu’s frustration.

On the day Luoyang fell, he had helped Su E’huang escape amidst the chaos, hoping to seize Xing Xun’s hidden treasure. But the woman insisted they first seek refuge with Liu Yan, promising to retrieve the treasure once they had a secure foothold.

Suspecting she was stalling, Ding Qu considered killing her—but feared she truly knew the treasure’s location. With no other options at the time, he reluctantly followed her to Liu Yan.

To his shock, Su E’huang and Liu Yan instantly hit it off. After a private discussion, she emerged as Liu Yan’s honored guest, guarded at all times.

Not only could Ding Qu no longer pressure her about the treasure, but even meeting her again became nearly impossible.

Realizing he had been played, yet powerless against her newfound protection under Liu Yan, his resentment festered. His eyes glinted with malice as he roughly dragged the concubine toward him, intent on violence—

Suddenly, footsteps echoed at the door. Looking up, he was stunned to see Qiao Ping entering, flanked by several former Qiao family generals.

Ding Qu shoved the woman aside and leapt to his feet, drawing his sword while shouting for his guards.

Within moments, a dozen of his men flooded the hall.

Qiao Ping spoke calmly, “General Ding, there’s no need for alarm. I am now blind, and these old subordinates of mine have long been stripped of their military authority. Unarmed, how could we possibly harm you?”

Ding Qu slowly steadied himself. “How did you escape? What do you want?”

Qiao Ping replied, “I have a matter to discuss—one that benefits both myself and you, General. Might we speak in private?”

After a moment’s hesitation, Ding Qu signaled his men to leave.

Qiao Ping ordered Hou Jia, Wang Hui, and the others to exit as well. Groping his way forward, he slowly took a seat. “General Ding, disaster looms over you, yet you remain unaware!”

Ding Qu sneered, “Duke Jun, it is you who teeters on the edge of ruin. Instead of worrying for yourself, you dare threaten me with baseless warnings? Ridiculous!”

Qiao Ping smiled faintly. “The world knows of General Ding’s valor. But Wei Shao’s troops are unmatched in siege warfare. Now that Liu Yan has wounded Wei Liang, stoking hatred between our families, Wei Shao’s army advances with unstoppable vengeance. Even with the combined strength of the Qiao family, how long do you think Dongjun’s walls can hold? Once the city falls, even if you fight your way out alive, your hard-earned reputation will be tarnished beyond repair. I truly grieve for you, General.”

Ding Qu fell silent.

Qiao Ping sighed. “My pity for you runs deeper still. General Ding, have you not realized you’re being used by Liu Yan?”

Ding Qu frowned. “What do you mean?”Qiao Ping said, "To be frank, Liu Yan was once betrothed to my daughter in earlier years. Later, to lift the siege of Yanzhou, my elder brother decided to marry her to Wei Shao instead. Liu Yan bears the humiliation of a broken engagement with our Qiao family and is irreconcilably opposed to Wei Shao. That’s why he schemed against me, imprisoned me, manipulated my brother, and finally provoked Wei Shao into leading his army here. Now Yanzhou is on the brink of disaster, yet Liu Yan has fled, leaving the affairs of Yanzhou in your hands. Do you think he values you? Not at all! He is cunning and would love nothing more than to see the Qiao family and Wei Shao destroy each other. That’s why he exploits your abilities to defend Yanzhou, creating the illusion that our Qiao family is desperately resisting Wei Shao. The more resistance Wei Shao encounters, the angrier he will become. Thus, when the city falls, the aftermath will be all the more brutal!"

Ding Qu, initially wary, gradually grew attentive.

"Even if our Qiao family perishes in the end, it will be due to the incompetence of my brother and me—our own fault. But you, General, are different! You have a heroic reputation known throughout the land. Now that you serve Liu Yan, it must be out of loyalty to the Han dynasty. Yet Liu Yan uses you like this, ostensibly granting you the title of Marquis and entrusting Yanzhou’s authority to you, but in truth, he’s handed you a hot potato, seeking to trap you in a hopeless situation!"

Ding Qu listened, his heart pounding, breaking into a cold sweat.

He reflected on his own fate—despite his heroic reputation, he had suffered repeated misfortunes. He had served under Yuan Zhe and Xing Xun, neither of whom proved worthy leaders. Not only had he failed to achieve his ambitions, but his frequent shifts of allegiance had also drawn public scorn. Now, forced by circumstances, he had turned to Liu Yan, whom he had once despised.

And Wei Shao—was he an easy man to contend with?

Now that Wei Shao’s army was at the city gates, Ding Qu had done everything possible to rally the Qiao family’s old forces to defend the city, but he had no idea how long they could hold out.

If the city fell, even if he fought his way out with valor, his reputation would be tarnished again, just as Qiao Ping had said.

The situation now left him stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Gritting his teeth, he said, "What else can I do now? I have no choice but to fight Wei Shao to the death!"

Qiao Ping shook his head. "Do not lose heart, General. Hear me out. It is a shame for a man of your stature to be manipulated by Liu Yan like this. Moreover, I do not wish to see the people of Yanzhou suffer because of his schemes. This whole matter stems from my elder brother Qiao Yue. Wei Shao’s anger is directed at him. This brother of mine is heartless and unrighteous—to seize power from me, he even poisoned me and blinded me. There is no brotherly bond left between us. I intend to kill him, take his head, and use it to seek reconciliation with Wei Shao. Wei Shao is my son-in-law. With Qiao Yue’s head and my daughter’s mediation, this matter can surely be resolved. Once the siege is lifted, I will recommend you to Wei Shao. Wei Shao aspires to rule the realm and thirsts for talent. With your heroic reputation, how could he refuse you if you were willing to serve him?"

Ding Qu was already swayed but feigned hesitation. "I have no merit in Wei Shao’s eyes—on the contrary, we have a history of enmity. Why would he accept me now?"

Qiao Ping said, "If you kill Qiao Yue, wouldn’t that be a great merit?"

Ding Qu suddenly understood, overjoyed. He released his grip on his sword and said, "Your words have enlightened me! Wait here, my lord. I will go kill Qiao Yue and bring you his head!"Qiao Ping said, "There's no hurry. Killing him tomorrow won't be too late—where could he possibly escape to? Though my eyes cannot see and I've only exchanged a few words with you, General, I feel as though I've met a kindred spirit. If you don't mind, would you join me for a few drinks?"

Ding Qu naturally agreed. The banquet was reset, and the two drank together. During the feast, Ding Qu became increasingly talkative, cursing Yuan Zhe for his narrow-mindedness, Xing Xun for his cruelty and obstinacy, and Liu Yan for his despicable nature. He vented his grievances freely, and with Qiao Ping soothing him from the side, he felt even more regretful for not having met him sooner. Cup after cup of wine went down, until he was thoroughly drunk. As his vision blurred, Hou Jia and Wang Hui entered and, with a single stroke, severed his head without a sound. Thus, a once-feared general met his end in Dongjun in such a pitiful manner.

With Ding Qu eliminated, Hou Jia and Wang Hui immediately summoned their old subordinates, presenting Ding Qu's head and ordering his soldiers to disarm. Most complied, though some resisted stubbornly.

After a fierce skirmish, by dawn, Liu Yan's forces within the city were completely eradicated.

Hou Jia harbored deep hatred for Zhang Pu and seized this opportunity to rush to Zhang Pu's residence with his blade. Upon entering, he found no one inside—the house was empty, not even a single servant remained.

Entering the inner chamber, he was met with a strong smell of blood and saw a headless corpse on the floor. Judging by the clothing and build, it was none other than Qiao Yue, the Inspector of Yanzhou.

Hou Jia was shocked. He immediately sent someone to inform Qiao Ping while searching the vicinity. Eventually, they captured a servant from Zhang Pu's household and brought him before Qiao Ping.

The servant trembled as he knelt and said, "Early yesterday morning, not long after news of Ding Qu's defeat arrived, Lord Qiao sent for Zhang Pu. Zhang Pu refused to go and instead began packing his valuables as if to flee. Before he could leave, Lord Qiao arrived in person. I saw him holding a sword, furious, chasing Zhang Pu into the inner chamber. Moments later, Zhang Pu hurried out with a bundle. Summoning my courage, I went inside and found Lord Qiao beheaded. Hearing that Wei Shao was attacking the city and chaos was spreading, I feared being implicated and fled in panic. I know nothing of what happened afterward. I beg for mercy, my lord! I am innocent—Lord Qiao did not die by my hand!"

Qiao Ping fell into thought.

Qiao Yue must have heard of Wei Shao's attack and sought to kill Zhang Pu in a fit of rage. Somehow, the tables had turned, and Zhang Pu had killed him instead, even severing his head.

Though Qiao Ping also resented his elder brother's foolishness, which had plunged Yanzhou into such dire straits, he never imagined Qiao Yue would meet his end at the hands of his most trusted advisor. His heart was filled with mixed emotions.

He ordered Qiao Yue's body to be collected and then dictated a letter detailing the events, attaching Ding Qu's head to it.

Hou Jia volunteered to leave the city and meet Wei Shao.

Qiao Ping anxiously awaited news.

But Wei Shao refused to see Hou Jia, didn't even read the letter, and sent both it and Ding Qu's head back.

Qiao Ping grew frantic. "He must think our Qiao family is opportunistically switching sides again, killing Ding Qu to curry favor with him. That's why he refuses to meet. I should go out and see him myself! The troubles in Yanzhou stem from my negligence, and I am also responsible for the ambush on General Wei Liang."

Everyone hurriedly tried to dissuade him when urgent news arrived: Wei Shao's forces had completely encircled Dongjun, sealing off all four gates—east, west, north, and south.

From the city walls, the fluttering banners of his army were already visible.

At the same time, Bi Zhi led troops from Juye, seemingly intent on preventing Wei Shao's forces from attacking the city.

The two armies faced off, tension thick in the air, as if a single spark could ignite a battle.Qiao Ping was overwhelmed with rage and frustration, vomiting a mouthful of blood before swaying unsteadily and collapsing onto the ground face up.

Author's note: Second update coming later tonight ^_^