The Prisoner of Beauty

In February of the following year, the lingering chill of early spring still bit sharply. On this day, amidst the faint roar of waves, a small nameless fishing village by the Yellow Sea coast was abruptly invaded by a panicked group of several dozen people.

Years of relentless warfare had left even this remote fishing village bereft of able-bodied men, with only a dozen or so households remaining—comprising the elderly, the weak, women, and children. Their faces were sun-darkened, their clothes tattered. When they suddenly saw this group of people fleeing into the village—some with their official hats askew, too frantic to straighten them; others disheveled, missing a boot—their terrified expressions resembled those of stray dogs. Yet their attire unmistakably marked them as noble and high-ranking. Among them was a woman adorned with an ornate golden mask, an utterly bizarre sight to the villagers.

Terrified, the villagers called for their children and scattered in all directions.

The pursuing soldiers were drawing closer, so near that the sound of galloping hooves and battle cries seemed almost audible. Suddenly, an official-looking man fell from his horse, his hat rolling to the roadside. His leg broken, he screamed for help in desperation, but no one paid him any heed. In an instant, the dozens of people swept past him like the wind, leaving both him and his terrified cries behind.

Ahead, an old fisherman carrying ropes, as if just returned from the sea, spotted the approaching group and turned to flee. He was immediately seized, and soldiers pressed blades to his throat, forcing him to lead them to the boats.

The roar of the waves grew louder, and the cold, briny sea wind rushed toward them.

The horses’ hooves sank into the muddy tidal flats, making progress impossible. Liu Yan and his party dismounted and trudged through the mire, stumbling and staggering in their frantic rush toward the fishing boats moored by the shore. By the time they reached the boats, they were all barefoot, their clothes caked with mud, utterly disheveled. Their abandoned boots remained stuck in the muddy flats behind them, like black mouths gaping at the sky, silently screaming in futility.

The tide was receding, and the fishing boats were hastily pushed into the water. The old fisherman was forced aboard to man the oars.

But the boats were too small to accommodate the entire group.

After Liu Yan, Su Ehuang, Liu Shan, the former governor of Yangdu, Liang Ji—now appointed Grand General—along with his daughter, whom Liu Yan had named Empress, and the last dozen or so soldiers boarded, there was no more room.

Wang Ba, Dou Wu, Deng Xun, and others had long shed their usual dignified composure. Barefoot, their hats discarded, their bodies smeared with filth, their faces and beards flecked with mud, they knelt on the shore, facing Liu Yan on the boat. Some wailed uncontrollably; others kowtowed in farewell, heedless of the grime staining their faces—utter chaos.

At that moment, Dong Cheng suddenly shoved aside Dou Wu, who stood in his way, and splashed through the water toward the boat. He desperately clung to the bow, tears and snot streaming down his face. "Your Majesty, don’t abandon me! Let me aboard! It was I who loyally supported you, who helped you ascend the throne! How can you cast me aside like this today—"

The fishing boat, already unsteady as it drifted with the receding tide, rocked violently as Dong Cheng clung to the bow, struggling to climb aboard.

Liu Shan, sprawled over the slimy, grime-covered bow, stomped furiously on Dong Cheng’s hands. Seeing that Dong Cheng gritted his teeth and refused to let go, he drew a soldier’s waist blade and hacked at Dong Cheng’s hands.Amid the screams, Dong Cheng had the fingers of one hand severed. In the moment they fell, driven by survival instinct, his other hand flailed wildly and grasped Liu Shan's ankle. Liu Shan, unable to steady himself, was dragged by Dong Cheng, and the two of them tumbled into the sea together.

The waves surged relentlessly, swiftly sweeping them away from the fishing boat. Liu Shan, unable to swim, struggled desperately in the water, kicking to free himself from Dong Cheng's iron grip while screaming toward the boat for help: "Your Majesty, save me—"

Before his words could fade, a towering wave crashed over him, and in an instant, both figures vanished beneath the surface.

Liu Yan stood aboard the boat, the sea wind whipping his robes violently. His gaze was fixed on the distant horizon where their pursuers were gradually closing in, his expression numb.

Amid the wails of the remaining loyalists on the shore, the fishing boat, carried by the receding tide, slowly disappeared from sight.

...

By dusk the next day, Liu Yan and his exhausted party, with no provisions left, finally reached a small island under the guidance of an old fisherman.

The island bore signs of habitation—tattered fishing nets drying on the beach, and in the distance, the faint outlines of a few low thatched huts.

Liang Ji requested Liu Yan to rest briefly while he led the soldiers to search for the islanders.

Su Ehuang, the moment she stepped ashore, collapsed onto a rocky outcrop, vomiting uncontrollably. The butterfly mask on her face slipped off and was swept away by a wave.

With a shriek, Su Ehuang, heedless of the surging tide, chased after it, finally snatching the mask back from the wet sand.

Drenched and deathly pale, she clutched the now misshapen mask, frantically trying to put it back on. But her hands trembled so violently that it slipped off several times.

At last, she managed to secure it in place. Crawling on hands and knees, she dragged herself ashore before collapsing near a boulder, gasping for breath.

Liu Yan stood nearby, haggard, his lips cracked and bleeding, motionless as a clay statue.

Soon, Liang Ji returned, carrying a jug of fresh water, which he offered to Liu Yan. He reported that the island was home to several dozen families—fisherfolk who had fled nearby coastal villages to escape the ravages of war. They had all been rounded up by the soldiers. Liang Ji urged Liu Yan to rest for the night while they prepared supplies and secured a larger, safer vessel to continue their escape at dawn.

Su Ehuang struggled to her feet and declared, "Your Majesty, the sea is vast! Even if the Wei rebels have eyes everywhere, once we leave these coastal waters, they will be powerless to stop us! We can head south—once there, we can regroup. With your rightful claim as the Han Emperor, loyalists will flock to your banner! In time, we will raise an army, march back to Luoyang, and tear the Wei traitors limb from limb to avenge our suffering!"

The sea wind howled, lending an eerie, trembling echo to her voice, yet her words rang with unshakable conviction. Even Liang Ji seemed stirred by the hope in her speech.

Liu Yan, supported by Empress Liang, slowly rose from the rock and trudged forward, step by unsteady step, toward the highest settlement at the island's center.

On a flat stretch of land within the settlement, dozens of ragged fishermen knelt—men, women, and children alike—their eyes wide with fear and confusion as they watched Liu Yan, Su Ehuang, and their entourage approach.Liu Yan ducked into the largest thatched hut and immediately collapsed onto the tattered mat on the ground—a pitiful excuse for a bed—closing his eyes and lying motionless.

The sky gradually darkened.

Outside the hut, the sea wind howled, eerie sounds swirling through the air like vengeful spirits endlessly patrolling the island.

Finally, exhaustion overtook Liu Yan.

He fell asleep, with Manman curled up on the ground near his feet.

Moonlight streamed through a hole in the roof, casting its glow on Manman’s youthful, delicate face, illuminating the faint traces of dried tears at the corners of her eyes.

Suddenly, Liu Yan’s eyes snapped open in his sleep, and he bolted upright.

Startled awake, Manman scrambled up and rushed to his side. "Your Majesty, what’s wrong?"

Liu Yan stared fixedly at her face in the moonlight, his expression growing increasingly dazed.

Manman hesitantly called out to him again, but when he didn’t respond—his gaze only growing more unsettling—she shuddered and slowly backed away.

Liu Yan suddenly pounced on her, pinning her down.

"...You are my wife, Liu Yan’s wife... Say it—you will share my bed in life and my grave in death..."

Though she held the title of consort, Consort Liang had rarely received his affection. Now, in such dire circumstances, feeling his arms tighten around her, his trembling, incoherent whispers, and his cold lips pressing frantically against her cheeks, her heart pounded wildly. She slowly closed her eyes and whispered shakily, "Your Majesty, I am already your wife. I will share your bed in life and your grave in death..."

Liu Yan kissed her even more feverishly.

"I know you were forced! Your family married you off to that Wei traitor... They all deserve death, a thousand deaths! But as long as you return to me, I will forgive everything—I’ll make you my empress!"

His voice was frenzied with emotion.

Consort Liang’s eyes flew open in shock. "Your Majesty... what are you saying?"

Liu Yan froze. Slowly, his eyes focused, and in the pale moonlight filling the hut, he stared down at Consort Liu beneath him.

Fear gripped Consort Liang again. She shrank back and whispered, "Your Majesty... just now, you said my family forced me to marry the Wei traitor... that they deserved death... But my father has always been loyal to you... I beg Your Majesty to see the truth..."

Liu Yan’s eyes flickered, his face twitching, his breath growing ragged. Suddenly, he raised his hand and clamped it around her slender neck.

Consort Liang gasped for air, her fragile throat bending under the crushing force of his grip. Her legs kicked helplessly, but her struggles were futile. Soon, her eyes rolled back, and her body went limp.

Liu Yan finally released her lifeless neck. He sat up, staring at Consort Liu’s pallid face, smoothing her eyelids shut as he murmured, "Manman... go in peace... I will follow you soon..."

His expression was a twisted mix of grief and ecstasy, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

Suddenly, carried by the sea wind outside, faint shouts of battle seemed to echo in the distance.

Liu Yan jolted as if struck by a needle. He leapt to his feet and burst through the broken door, where Liang Ji came running toward him in panic, shouting, "Your Majesty, disaster! The Wei traitors’ ships have pursued us here—their men are already ashore!"Liu Yan looked up and saw flickering torchlights in the direction of the beach where he had landed during the day. The glow now painted the entire shoreline crimson, as if in the blink of an eye, they were surrounded on all sides by these dancing flames. Under the moonlight, countless figures surged toward the central high ground from every direction.

The battle cries rose on all sides, drowning out even the howling sea winds that swept across the island.

...

Liu Yan should have felt fear, just like Liang Ji and the dozen or so remaining loyal guards by his side.

But at this moment, his heart was filled only with numbness and a chilling sense of utter despair.

In truth, ever since the Xiongnu's failed sneak attack on Yuyang late last year, he had known in his heart that sooner or later, he would face such a situation.

He just hadn't expected this day to come so quickly.

"Go now! Bring all the islanders here!"

A shrill voice came from behind—Su Ehuang's. Liang Ji froze for a moment before snapping back to attention and immediately barking out the order.

To prevent the islanders from causing trouble under cover of darkness, they had been bound together with ropes before nightfall. Soon, soldiers herded them forward, forcing them to kneel in a huddled mass, wailing and crying.

Tonight's moonlight was stark white, casting the entire island in a glow like a snowy night. Liu Yan saw a man about his own age, flanked by several generals, striding toward him through the mingled light of silver moonbeams and crimson torch flames.

The greatest and most hated enemy of his life was Wei Shao.

Wei Shao had not only stolen his betrothed but also seized his empire.

The absurd thing was, he had never even had the chance to meet his nemesis face to face.

Until this moment. Now he finally knew—the man advancing toward him in triumph beneath the moonlight and firelight was the curse Liu Yan could never escape in this lifetime.

His eyes fixed on the approaching figure, whose armor gleamed with a fierce red glow. Waves of cold and heat alternately washed over him, and beneath his ceremonial robes, his body trembled uncontrollably.

"Kill—"

"Kill—"

From all directions, the deafening battle cries, mingled with the low roar of the sea and the moaning night wind, surged toward the central high ground of the island.

The soldiers who had crossed the sea aboard warships in pursuit with Marquis Yan were all aflame with fervor.

Grand General Li Dian had joined forces with the Green-Eyed General, attacking from both north and south to completely annihilate the self-proclaimed "Heavenly King" Chen. The man-eating army, which had terrorized the south for nearly a year and struck fear into the hearts of the people, had been reduced to ashes. Meanwhile, last December, Wei Shao personally led his forces to pacify Yuzhou, forcing Gai Zhao to surrender. From there, his momentum became unstoppable—Song Ling of Lujiang and Liu Quan of Jiangxia had also surrendered one after another.

Apart from the southern barbarians, only two regimes remained in the Central Plains: Le Zheng of Hanzhong and Liu Yan's crumbling court.

The Le Zheng brothers were locked in internal strife, and the fall of Daliang was imminent. Now, Liu Yan himself was right before their eyes, like a turtle trapped in a jar.

Destroy Liu Yan, crush Daliang—and from then on, the land would be unified, the horses turned loose in the southern hills. A new empire would rise from the ashes, and the suffering of war, the blood-soaked sleeves, would be no more. How could they not be filled with hope, their blood burning with excitement?

"Traitor Wei, hear this! These islanders are innocent people. His Majesty never intended to harm them, but you leave us no choice! If your soldiers take one more step forward, I will slaughter every last one of them and fight you to the death!"Liang Ji mustered all his strength and shouted towards Wei Shao, who stood dozens of yards away. His voice, mingled with the desperate pleas and cries of the islanders behind him, was carried by the wind.

Wei Shao halted his steps.

The command was relayed through the ranks, and soon, the clamor of battle around them quieted.

“Clear the passage at once and escort His Majesty to the ship—” Liang Ji, his emotions running high, brandished his long blade and continued shouting.

Lei Yan took an iron bow from a nearby foot archer, drew it taut with fury, and aimed before suddenly releasing an arrow.

The arrow whistled through the air, piercing towards the figure on the distant high ground. Liang Ji was struck in the chest, let out a wild cry, and fell dead.

“Soldiers of Liu Yan, hear this! My lord knows you act under orders and have no choice. Surrender now, and you will be pardoned! Resist further, and you will be slain alongside your leaders!”

Lei Yan’s booming voice carried authority without anger.

“Surrender!”

“Surrender!”

The soldiers echoed in unison, their voices thunderous, shaking the very air.

Cornered, surrounded, and with their commander slain before their eyes, the last dozen or so guards who had held out until now finally broke. Under the relentless calls for surrender, they slowly retreated. One suddenly turned, knelt towards Wei Shao’s direction, and raised his weapon high. The others followed suit.

Cheers erupted from Wei Shao’s ranks as they continued advancing slowly towards the high ground.

Su Ehuang’s face twisted with madness, her eyes wild. Suddenly, she snatched a wailing infant from a fisherwoman’s arms, held it aloft, and shrieked, “Wei Shao, hear me! If you do not let us pass, I will dash this child to the ground! Do you not fear the vengeful spirits of the innocent dead haunting your own children?”

Lei Yan, enraged, turned to Wei Shao. “This vile woman is beyond wicked. Let me shoot her dead first!”

Wei Shao gazed at the frenzied Su Ehuang and slowly shook his head.

At that moment, Liu Yan, who had stood rigidly still, seemed to come alive again. He shouted fiercely, “Wei Shao! First, you stole my wife, and now you seize my empire! I will never coexist with you! Today, I know I am no match for you, but to lose like this—I cannot accept it, nor will I submit! You ride on the legacy of your forefathers to dominate the land. What have I had? Though born of the imperial house, I had no support, only my own toil and struggle! I curse the heavens for their injustice! Had I the same foundation as you, would I have fallen so low? These islanders—I will trouble them no more. I will release them. But dare you face me in single combat? If I fall to you again, I will die without regret!”

Su Ehuang, startled, turned and raged, “Liu Yan, you useless fool! Have you lost your mind? If you wish to die, do not drag me down with you!”

Liu Yan ignored her, roaring again, “Wei Shao, do you dare answer my challenge?”

Wei Shao studied Liu Yan’s silhouette under the moonlight for a moment, then suddenly laughed. “Why not?”

His officers, including Lei Yan and the naval commander, were stunned and urged caution. “Liu Yan is but a dying man! Why use a butcher’s blade to kill a chicken? My lord, your life is too precious to risk!”

Wei Shao waved them off and declared loudly, “All soldiers, hear my order! Liu Yan and I will duel. Life and death are in fate’s hands. If I fall to him, he may leave freely, and none shall hinder him!”

With that, he gripped his longsword and strode towards an open space under the moonlight.Liu Yan also drew his sword and strode toward the open ground, ignoring the venomous curses of Su Ehuang behind him.

...

Moonlight flowed like water, waves crashed against the shore. With a flash of cold steel, his blade left its sheath.

With a furious roar, Liu Yan charged toward Wei Shao opposite him.

Over these past years, while meticulously planning his grand ambitions, he had also endured hardships and trained relentlessly with the sword, sparring with warriors.

Countless late nights, when he closed his eyes, he would recall that moment when Chen Rui had pinned him helplessly in the snow with a halberd, forced to watch as Xiao Qiao was abducted amid triumphant laughter.

Had he possessed his current skills back then, such humiliation would never have occurred.

And the shame and hatred this man before him had brought upon him far surpassed even what Chen Rui had inflicted years ago.

His eyes bloodshot, teeth clenched, he attacked with every ounce of strength—each strike a reckless, suicidal assault.

Kill him. Even if it meant mutual destruction, it would be worth it.

Yet heaven seemed to mock him relentlessly, even at this final moment.

Liu Yan's last desperate fantasy was severed beneath Wei Shao's blade.

With a grating shriek of metal, Liu Yan's sword shattered into three pieces that scattered wildly—one fragment embedding itself squarely in his left kneecap.

Liu Yan shut his eyes briefly, then opened them to see Wei Shao standing before him, sword in hand.

Under the moonlight, his eyes emitted an eerie, chilling glow, suddenly reminding Liu Yan of the soul-reaping underworld messengers.

Liu Yan's teeth began to chatter faintly.

Just moments ago, all the valor, sorrow, fury, and the courage they had inspired—everything that had sustained him in his duel with Wei Shao—seemed to be rapidly slipping away.

He didn’t want to show fear, but at this moment, he truly regretted it once more.

Perhaps Su Ehuang was right. By using the islanders' lives as leverage, he might still escape and have a chance to rise again in the future...

A vague thought flickered through his mind.

But before it could fully form, a sharp pain pierced his chest—Wei Shao’s longsword had already thrust into his heart.

He could clearly feel the blade, exuding the aura of death, tearing through his clothes and sinking into his flesh.

"Manman is my betrothed... This land belongs to the Liu family..."

Standing rigidly, his face pale, he forced out trembling words through clenched teeth.

Wei Shao gazed coldly at his pain-twisted face, the blade precisely sliding between his ribs, slowly advancing toward the throbbing heart shielded beneath. Inch by inch—just as the tip was about to touch the rapidly contracting flesh, it paused.

"Liu Yan."

Wei Shao’s icy voice drifted into Liu Yan’s ears.

"I dare not claim what virtue or merit I possess to be more deserving of Manman than you, or more fit to rule this land. But there is one thing I would never do—for my own gain, dare to defy all moral bounds, collude with the Xiongnu, and trade Han lands for foreign favor."

"You may call yourself the emperor of Han, but in my eyes, you are nothing. The only reason I crossed the sea to hunt you down is that unless I kill you with my own hands, my wrath will never be quelled!"

Before the words faded, he exerted force—the blade plunged deep, piercing clean through his back.

Liu Yan clutched his gushing chest with one hand, eyes wide, lips trembling faintly, his body convulsing violently.

Wei Shao withdrew the sword, and as scalding blood sprayed from its tip, Liu Yan let out a final cry and collapsed onto his back.

Wei Shao lowered his gaze slightly, his expression indifferent as he watched Liu Yan’s body twitch on the ground.

Only when the convulsions ceased did he close his eyes briefly, exhaling a long breath. Then he opened them again, his gaze shifting to Su Ehuang, who sat slumped on the ground.

Disheveled, her skirts stained with mud, Su Ehuang still clutched the wailing infant in her arms. Under Wei Shao’s bone-chilling stare, she set the child down in terror, instinctively scrambling backward. After a few steps, she struggled to her feet and turned to flee—only to be blocked by soldiers behind her.

Suddenly, she burst into desperate sobs, crawling toward Wei Shao on her knees. A trembling, mud-caked hand seized his ankle.

"Erlang! I know I was wrong! Before, I was blinded, committing acts worse than beasts... But everything I did was out of love for you! Erlang, you’ve already punished me severely—please, for the sake of our past, spare me—"

She looked up at him, tears streaming down her cheeks, rolling over the golden mask now twisted out of shape.Wei Shao slowly leaned down, his hand reaching toward her face, then suddenly tore off her entire mask. With a squeeze of his fingers, the butterfly mask swiftly deformed in his palm, crumpling into a ball.

Su Ehuang let out a sharp cry, hastily covering her face with her sleeve.

Wei Shao stared at her expressionlessly, opened his palm, and the golden ball fell to the ground with a soft thud.

He turned and strode away.

"Listen well, villagers! The Central Plains have been pacified, and the land is now united. There will be no more wars from now on! If you wish to return to your hometowns, you may board the lord's warships and disembark together!"

Lei Yan ordered the soldiers to untie the ropes binding the islanders as he spoke.

At first, the islanders couldn't believe it, but soon their faces lit up with excitement. After murmuring among themselves, they knelt toward Wei Shao's retreating figure, loudly expressing their gratitude. Supporting one another, they hurried home to gather their belongings before boarding the ships to leave the island and return to their homeland.

...

Xiao Qiao woke in the middle of the night, feeling inexplicably unsettled, as though something had happened.

Her hand brushed against the sleeping Fei Fei.

She nestled closer to her daughter's warm, soft body, pressing her cheek against the little one's head.

The familiar milky scent of her child filled her nostrils, and gradually, her heart settled back into peace.

She closed her eyes again.

Wei Shao should be returning soon...

Just before drifting back to sleep, this thought arose in her heart.