The Prisoner of Beauty

The south window was half open, allowing a gentle breeze to brush past the lush banana plants outside, their emerald leaves glistening as they rustled softly in the wind.

The room was filled with the faint, bitter scent of medicine.

Xiao Qiao took the bowl from her father’s hands, set it aside, and moved to help him lie down.

Qiao Ping shook his head slightly.

"Did Marquis Yan refuse to accept Yanzhou?" he asked.

"He has already left," Xiao Qiao replied softly.

"It is my fault for burdening you. Not only did I fail to detect your uncle’s schemes in time, leading to this disaster, but when he, in his rage, besieged the city, my handling of the situation was also inadequate."

"It is not that I cling to the title of Duke. Yanzhou is but a dead land. Before your great-grandfather became governor, it did not belong to our Qiao family. Our ancestral home is in Dongting, where our forebears are buried. When your grandfather passed, you were still young, and I took you and your mother back to Dongting to tend his grave for several years. The vast skies and waters of Dongting remain vivid in my mind to this day. Half my life has been consumed by trivial official duties, and I once thought that when you and Cier were settled in your own lives, I would lay down these burdens and return with your mother to Dongting, to live out my days there."

Xiao Qiao stared at her father in silence.

"When he led his troops here, had I opened the gates and surrendered, once his anger subsided, he might not have truly harmed the city’s soldiers and civilians. But I dared not take that risk. My death would be of little consequence, but the soldiers and people should not suffer for the crimes of our Qiao family..."

"Father, please do not blame yourself further. No one is perfect, not even the sages Yao and Shun. What’s done is done, and self-reproach is futile. What we must do now is strive to make amends."

Xiao Qiao helped Qiao Ping lean back against the headboard, placing a pillow behind him for support.

"I know what weighs most heavily on your heart is General Wei Liang and the dozen or so guards who perished. Their remains have been collected, and he has taken them away. When I return, I will do all I can to compensate their families. With your eyesight impaired, travel is difficult for you. My younger brother will go to Luoyang in your stead to offer a formal apology to General Wei."

Qiao Ping reached out, groping until he grasped both of Xiao Qiao’s hands.

Outside, the sunlight was bright, and the breeze was warm.

Yet Xiao Qiao’s fingertips felt cold to the touch.

Holding his daughter’s hands, Qiao Ping sighed. "Has your husband turned his anger upon you now?"

Though her father could not see, Xiao Qiao smiled faintly.

"Father, don’t worry. He is not that kind of man. Though there is indeed some distance between us now, it is not because of what happened in Yanzhou."

She hesitated briefly before mentioning how Zhang Pu had brought Qiao Yue’s head in an attempt to pledge allegiance, only to be killed by Wei Shao.

"He once promised me that he would no longer dwell on the old enmity between the Wei and Qiao families. To let go of the past like that was no small feat for him. When he learned that I had once advised you to strengthen our defenses out of wariness toward him, it was only natural for him to feel hurt and withdraw from me."

She tightened her grip on her father’s hands. "Please rest assured, Father. I will be fine. It’s just that I worry about you..."

"Manman, don’t worry about me. Return as soon as you can," Qiao Ping said. "I will be alright. Besides, your elder sister has returned. With her here, it’s as if you are by my side."

...

After the previous incident, Madam Ding had been imprisoned by the furious Qiao Yue, surviving on nothing but cold water and thin gruel each day.

The moment Qiao Ping took power, he had Madam Ding released.

When she saw Qiao Yue’s pitiful state in death, though she despised him for his heartlessness and foolishness, she still shed tears—after all, they had once been husband and wife.

The day before, Da Qiao and Li Er had finally been brought to Dongjun.Mother and daughter had been separated for years, and now they were finally reunited.

Madam Ding first gave her daughter a firm pat, then immediately pulled her into an embrace, tears streaming down her face.

Bi Zhi knelt before her, but Madam Ding helped him up with both hands.

The family was whole again at last.

Xiao Qiao, who had been standing nearby, felt her eyes grow warm with emotion as she watched the scene.

The seeds of the past bore fruit in the present.

At least for this moment, the reunion of Madam Ding, Da Qiao, and Bi Zhi was a cause for joy.

Like slowly regaining strength, her long-clouded heart finally broke through the haze, revealing a sliver of sunlight.

Even just that sliver was enough to fortify her resolve, allowing her to set out on her return journey and face once more the husband fate had bound her to in this life.

...

Several days later, Xiao Qiao arrived in Luoyang.

This was her first time stepping onto the soil of the ancient capital.

The vastness of the eight directions, with Luoyang at its heart.

The Luo River surged, and Mount Mang stood tall.

A millennium ago, King Wu had established his rule here, and for centuries, it had been the capital of the Han dynasty.

Frequent wars and changes of power had not diminished the grandeur of this ancient city. It bore a weight and brilliance, forged by its long history, that set it apart from all other cities—a legacy etched into its very bones.

Even the wind blowing from the direction of the Luo River carried a faint scent of prosperity and earth.

As Xiao Qiao approached from the east, she saw bustling crowds along the way.

The only remnants of war’s devastation were the gray-black ruins of the fabled Lotus Terrace, visible across the Luo River as she passed from a distance.

She had never seen it, but not long ago, towering halls with jade beams and treasures of gold and jade had stood upon those ruins.

Yet she had no mind to dwell on such things. Her first act upon entering Luoyang was to bring Qiao Ci before Wei Liang.

Upon entering the city, Gongsun Yang had sent someone to receive her.

And she learned news that, for her at this moment, was nothing short of a blessing.

Just days before, Wei Liang—who had been unconscious for so long—had finally awakened.

The one who saved him was a wandering physician who called himself the White Stone Elder.

...

Qiao Ci strode swiftly to Wei Liang’s bedside and, without a word, dropped to his knees.

Wei Liang was a tough man. Though still weak, he struggled to rise and help him up—only to be stopped by Xiao Qiao.

Qiao Ci said remorsefully, “General Wei, please accept my bow. It should have been my father coming to beg for forgiveness, but as he cannot travel easily, I come in his stead. It was entirely the fault of the Qiao family that you suffered such a life-and-death ordeal and that sixteen brave men lost their lives. Even if we offered our necks for execution, it would not absolve our guilt!”

He kowtowed deeply.

Wei Liang was startled and quickly said, “Young Master Qiao, rise at once! How could I accept such a gesture from you? We warriors ride into battle with our heads in our hands—either we kill or are killed. Life and death are fated. Besides, I’ve since learned the truth of what happened in Yanzhou—it was Liu Yan who stirred the storm and sowed discord. If I seek vengeance, it is his head I will take to avenge my fallen brothers! Rise now, and never speak of guilt again!”Xiao Qiao was grateful and personally stepped forward to bow to Wei Liang, saying, "General Wei, your righteousness is commendable. Please accept my bow. Although you say so, the Qiao family is still at fault. For those innocent soldiers who sacrificed their lives, once I return, I will ensure their families are cared for—the elderly will have support, and the young will have guardians. I know this is far from enough to ease the pain of their loved ones, but it is the only remedy I can think of now. If there is anything else I can do in the future, General, please do not hesitate to inform me."

Wei Liang quickly declined the gesture, saying, "On behalf of my brothers, I sincerely thank you, my lady! Please ask the young master to rise and spare me further embarrassment!"

Only then did Qiao Ci stand up and express his gratitude to Wei Liang.

Wei Liang laughed heartily and said, "Surviving a great calamity brings great fortune—I must be destined for such luck. Why thank me, Young Master Qiao?"

Initially, Qiao Ci had been uneasy, but seeing Wei Liang treat him with the same hearty and open attitude as before, without the slightest hint of resentment, his heart gradually settled.

Wei Liang looked Qiao Ci over and smiled. "Young Master Qiao, you appear even more heroic than when I last saw you. General Li still remembers your impressive display at the Lu Li Grand Assembly and mentioned it to me recently. Since you're here now, don’t forget to pay him a visit."

Qiao Ci quickly agreed. Noticing that although Wei Liang seemed in good spirits after speaking for a while, his complexion was still pale, he hurried forward to help him lie back down.

Xiao Qiao asked, "General Wei, where do you plan to go once your injuries heal?"

Wei Liang smiled. "My lord has granted me leave to visit my family. If nothing unexpected happens, I’ll return to Liangzhou afterward."

"May I ask a favor of you, General?" Xiao Qiao suddenly said before taking her leave.

Wei Liang replied promptly, "Please speak, my lady. If it is within my power, I will not refuse."

Xiao Qiao glanced at Qiao Ci beside her and said with a smile, "Yanzhou now has many loyal retainers working together to protect it, along with the support of the Green-Eyed General. My younger brother’s presence there is hardly essential. I fear he may grow idle and waste his youth if he stays at home. I boldly ask, if you do not find him too dull-witted, could you take him with you when you return to Liangzhou? Training under your command would be a rare opportunity for him."

Though Yanzhou had just undergone a life-and-death upheaval and Qiao Ping had lost his sight, the retainers were united in their efforts to protect the region, and Bi Zhi was there to assist. Qiao Ci’s absence would not affect the overall situation.

In Yanzhou, Qiao Ci had followed his father into battle several times, but the scope of his experience was limited. If he could accompany a seasoned warrior like Wei Liang to places like Bingzhou and Liangzhou, not only would he forge genuine bonds with Wei Liang and others, but it would also greatly benefit his own growth.

Qiao Ci was both surprised and delighted by his sister’s unexpected arrangement and eagerly looked at Wei Liang.

Wei Liang was momentarily taken aback and was about to nod when he hesitated slightly.

Xiao Qiao smiled. "I will speak to the Lord about it."

Wei Liang laughed loudly. "To be honest, my lady, General Li has long wanted to recruit Young Master Qiao but never found the right opportunity. Now that you’ve entrusted him to me first, he can forget about competing! If the young master doesn’t fear the harsh winds and sands of the western frontier, I would be more than happy to take him!"

Qiao Ci, a scion of a noble family raised in Yanzhou, had long heard tales of the fierce Qiang soldiers, the bold customs, and the grand spectacles of military drills in Liangzhou’s borderlands. He had always yearned to see it for himself but never had the chance. Overjoyed at Wei Liang’s agreement, he hurriedly bowed to him again.Xiao Qiao smiled and said, "In that case, I'll entrust my little brother to you, General. Please don't hold back when disciplining him—he's thick-skinned and can take it."

Author's note: Next chapter should be out around 6 PM tomorrow~~