The Prisoner of Beauty

Chun Niang was taken aback.

She had indeed heard this name before.

A few months ago, when she first arrived at the Wei family, she had privately inquired about Zheng Shu's affairs. At that time, she had unintentionally heard some fragments of information from an elderly servant who had worked for the Wei family for many years. Later, after finishing her report on Zheng Shu in front of Madam, she was about to mention this person when she was interrupted.

Chun Niang had originally planned to find another opportunity to tell Xiao Qiao about it later. However, she noticed that after Lord Wei Shao returned to Yuyang, he began to share a room with Madam, and their relationship seemed to be growing more harmonious. So, Chun Niang hesitated again.

After all, the woman named Su Ehuang was a matter of the distant past. She had long been married and was now far away. Since Lord and Madam were getting along well, it seemed unnecessary to bring it up specifically in front of Madam, lest it cause unnecessary trouble. Therefore, Chun Niang had never mentioned it again in front of Xiao Qiao. Now, hearing Xiao Qiao suddenly ask her about it, she raised her eyes and saw Xiao Qiao's misty, dreamy gaze fixed on her through the steam of the bath. She hesitated for a moment and then tentatively asked, "Madam, why do you suddenly mention this name? Have you heard something?"

Seeing her reaction, Xiao Qiao knew that Chun Niang must have heard something before. She tilted her head, resting it on her fair arm, and smiled, "I’ve learned a bit about it. Tell me what you know, Chun Niang."

……

Su Ehuang was the eldest daughter of the Su family, the Marquis of Xuanping in the State of Zhongshan. The Su family was also related to the royal family of Zhongshan. When she was born, it was said that the room was filled with a strange fragrance, as if orchids were blooming. Her mother sought a fortune-teller to divine her fate, and the fortune-teller said that this girl had an extremely noble destiny.

The Su family was already a noble household, wealthy and influential. To have a daughter with such a noble destiny implied something extraordinary. The entire family was overjoyed and cherished her like a treasure. Su Ehuang did not disappoint her family's expectations. As she grew up, she became exceptionally beautiful and skilled in music, her singing voice as melodious as a lark. Her fame spread not only throughout Zhongshan but also gradually reached Luoyang.

The Su family was related to Madam Xu. More than a decade ago, when Wei Shao's father, Wei Jing, was still alive, the two families often interacted. Su Ehuang and Wei Shao had known each other since childhood, and she, being two years older, had always taken good care of him.

At that time, marriages were not only about matching social status but also favored the bride being a few years older than the groom. As Su Ehuang and Wei Shao grew up, the two families saw that they were a good match and once considered arranging a marriage between them. However, fate is unpredictable. When Wei Shao was twelve, a major upheaval struck the Wei family. Wei Jing and his eldest son both died in battle, leaving the family without its pillars. For several years, the Wei family relied solely on Madam Xu to hold things together, and the situation was difficult. In the first year, the two families still maintained some contact, but gradually, their interactions dwindled. Three years later, when Wei Shao was fifteen and, under Madam Xu's guidance, began to take charge of military affairs, Su Ehuang, then seventeen, married. Her husband was Liu Li, the younger brother of the then Emperor Xuan, the Duke of Zuofengyi. After the marriage, Su Ehuang settled in Luoyang with her husband and frequently entered the palace. It wasn’t long before she gained a famous title in Luoyang: "Lady of the Jade Tower."

It was said that her husband doted on her and had a magnificent tower built for her north of the Lanting in Luoyang, named the Jade Tower. Thus, she earned this title.

……

The fragments of Su Ehuang's past that Chun Niang had gathered from the elderly servant of the Wei family were just these bits and pieces.Chun Niang was unaware that heaven envied the beauty of Su Ehuang, and the Han dynasty was in decline. Less than three years after Su Ehuang arrived in Luoyang, Emperor Xuan died suddenly from illness. Emperor Xuan had no heirs but two brothers: one was Su Ehuang's husband, Liu Li, and the other was the King of Hedong, Liu Ai. The two brothers fought for the throne, and the court officials were divided in their support. At the height of the stalemate, Xing Xun, the most powerful governor of Henan, led a large army into Luoyang. He accused Liu Ai of poisoning Emperor Xuan and, under the pretext of protecting the throne, killed Liu Ai. He then selected a seven-year-old boy, Liu Tong, from the imperial clan to be the new emperor, while he himself took control of the government. Liu Li was placed under strict surveillance and, depressed, died of illness last year. Su Ehuang, now a widow, had somehow returned to the Kingdom of Zhongshan.

……

"Besides those things, did my husband have any other connections with Madam Yulou in his youth? Chun Niang, if you know anything, don’t hide it from me. You must tell me!"

Xiao Qiao pressed with a coquettish tone.

Chun Niang seemed reluctant to say more, but unable to resist Xiao Qiao’s pleading, she finally added, "...I haven’t heard much else... only that the old woman mentioned that although the Lord managed to break through the encirclement with his guards back then, he was severely injured and took half a year to recover. During that time, Su Nu stayed at the Wei family to care for him..."

Xiao Qiao blinked, and a teardrop, like a tiny diamond, rolled down her eyelashes.

"The water has turned cold. Get up and dress, or you’ll catch a chill if you stay in too long."

Chun Niang spoke, then seemed to regret her words and quickly changed the subject, urging Xiao Qiao to get out of the bath.

Xiao Qiao responded with an "Oh," smiled at Chun Niang, took the towel handed to her, and stepped out of the water.

……

That night, Lady Yuan passed away. The next day, the Kingdom of Zhongshan went into mourning. Seven days later, the funeral was held. Madam Xu stayed until the funeral was over, but after days of exhaustion and grief, she found herself unable to get up the morning after the funeral, when she was supposed to return home. Liu Duan was extremely anxious and summoned several imperial physicians for a joint consultation. Fortunately, they diagnosed Madam Xu with only a minor illness. After taking medicine and being cared for day and night by Xiao Qiao, she gradually recovered over the next few days. Liu Duan breathed a sigh of relief and served her with even greater devotion.

After a few more days of rest, Madam Xu fully recovered. Calculating that this trip had lasted nearly a month, she was concerned about Wei Shao’s military campaign and decided to set a date for their return to Yuyang.

The night before their departure, Liu Duan hosted another farewell banquet at the palace. Madam Xu, still feeling tired, did not attend and asked Xiao Qiao to represent her. That evening, Zhong Ao accompanied Xiao Qiao, who was dressed in splendid attire, radiant and poised, seated at the center of the main guest table. Surrounded by members of the royal family and other distinguished guests, she handled the social interactions with grace and elegance.

After the banquet, Madam Xu privately asked Zhong Ao for her opinion.

Zhong Ao replied, "I observed the Lady. Her demeanor was noble and graceful, and she commanded the respect of all present. She reminded me of Elder Madam in her younger days."

……

When Madam Xu concluded her nearly month-long journey and set off with Xiao Qiao on the road back to Yuyang, Wei Shao and Chen Xiang’s armies, far away in the Taihang Mountains, had already engaged in several rounds of skirmishes and maneuvers, each gaining and losing ground. The previous day, the two armies had finally clashed in Leping, north of Taihang.

In late April, during the twilight of spring, the boundless wilderness of Leping was covered in lush grass and scattered wildflowers. On such a morning, the armies of Wei Shao and Chen Xiang, totaling over 300,000 soldiers, clashed in a fierce battle.This was the largest and most intense field battle in the north over the past decade. The two most powerful warlords of the north, Wei Shao of Youzhou and Chen Xiang of Bingzhou, had been locked in a stalemate for many years. By now, both sides seemed to have grown impatient, each yearning for a decisive victory that would completely annihilate their opponent and fulfill their ambitious dream of unifying the north. Both sides deployed all their infantry and cavalry. After the initial formation battles, when the two armies truly clashed, it ultimately came down to a life-and-death melee. Strategies and tactics became useless on this flat, open battlefield.

The battle began at dawn, transforming the once peaceful and beautiful plains of Le into a living hell. Everywhere lay the dead and the wounded struggling in pools of blood. By the end, among the tangled heaps of bloodied bodies, it was impossible to distinguish which were from Bingzhou and which were from Youzhou.

After several hours of fierce fighting, Chen Xiang's soldiers finally began to falter, and some started to retreat and flee.

Although Chen Xiang's foundation in Bingzhou had been inherited from his ancestors and was deeply rooted, his narrow-mindedness, favoritism toward close associates, susceptibility to slander, unclear laws, and lax military discipline meant that his army's combat effectiveness was never on par with Wei Shao's. When the battle reached this life-or-death stage, the morale of Chen Xiang's troops quickly collapsed like a frightened herd of sheep. Despite Chen Xiang's generals executing several deserters to stem the tide, it was to no avail. Seizing the opportunity, Wei Shao's army beat their war drums and launched a fierce assault, pursuing the enemy for over twenty miles. Chen Xiang's troops abandoned their armor and weapons, leaving behind countless supplies along the way. Chen Xiang suffered a crushing defeat and, under the desperate protection of his loyal followers, managed to escape. On his way to Jinyang, he received news that Jinyang had already been captured by another contingent of Wei Shao's army. In despair, he attempted to take his own life with a sword but was stopped by his loyal followers. After some discussion, they hastily headed south to seek refuge with his old acquaintance, Cao Jin of Hedong. Chen Xiang made several attempts to seek revenge, but his strength was insufficient, and he never recovered. The following year, his old wounds flared up, and he died of depression.

...

The next day, Wei Shao's army entered Jinyang. Li Dian took charge of the city's defenses, while Wei Quan worked to pacify the populace. They captured over two hundred members of Chen Xiang's family, executing all the men and enslaving the women. Wei Shao entered the government office in Jinyang, where his deputy general, Tan Fu, reported that among a group of captured female prisoners, he had noticed a woman who was unusually tall and walked with an awkward gait. Suspicious, he approached and recognized her as Chen Rui, the son of Chen Xiang. When Chen Rui realized he had been discovered, he killed two of the escorting soldiers and attempted to flee but was eventually captured. Tan Fu asked Wei Shao how to deal with him.

Wei Shao, who had not slept the entire night, was still wearing his bloodstained battle attire, his eyes bloodshot from exhaustion. Upon hearing Chen Rui's name, he was filled with disgust and immediately ordered his execution. As Tan Fu was about to leave, he added with hatred, "That scoundrel Chen Rui, when he was captured, spewed vile insults against you, Lord. Execution is too lenient for him!"

Wei Shao, who had already started to walk away, suddenly stopped upon hearing this and ordered Tan Fu to bring Chen Rui to him. Tan Fu complied and quickly brought Chen Rui before Wei Shao.

...

Earlier in the year, during the battle of Shiyi, Chen Pang had been captured, while Chen Rui had narrowly escaped by hiding among grave mounds. After fleeing in disgrace back to Jinyang, Chen Rui never mentioned his own command failures to Chen Xiang, instead placing all the blame for the loss of the city on Chen Pang.Chen Xiang and Chen Pang were not born of the same mother. Chen Pang had long defended Shiyi with merit and won the hearts of the people. Even the citizens of Jinyang often praised Chen Pang when mentioning him. Chen Xiang had long harbored jealousy towards his brother in his heart. Now that Shiyi was lost, he was already blaming Chen Pang. Coupled with Chen Rui's distorted and false accusations, Chen Xiang not only did not reprimand Chen Rui but instead believed everything, determined to reclaim Shiyi and avenge the disgrace. Previously, he had joined forces with Xue Tai, meticulously planning to crush Wei Shao in one fell swoop. During the battle of Leping, to secure a retreat, he ordered Chen Rui to lead ten thousand troops to defend Jinyang. Unexpectedly, they were utterly defeated, suffering a crushing loss at Leping, and Jinyang was also captured. When the city fell, Chen Rui had no way to escape. Seeing a group of camp prostitutes, he had a sudden idea and disguised himself as a woman to blend in. His appearance was somewhat feminine, and at first glance, he did resemble a woman. However, his hastily learned walking posture was so awkward that it caught Tan Fu's attention, leading to his capture and binding.

Chen Rui was still dressed in women's clothing, with a flower in his hair, looking somewhat like a beautiful woman at first glance. However, he was tightly bound, and his mouth, already swollen from Tan Fu's slaps, was now in front of Wei Shao. He refused to show any weakness, standing straight and cursing loudly: "Wei Shao, you thief from Youzhou! Grandpa has fallen into your hands, but if I so much as frown, I'll crawl like a turtle! You ruined my plans before, and now you've taken my Chen family's city. Even if I become a vengeful ghost, I will devour your flesh!"

Wei Shao walked towards him, his gaze dark and menacing.

"Come on, kill me!"

Chen Rui knew he had no way out today and, in a fit of defiance, only wanted to have the last word, laughing heartily: "Do you still think Qiao Nu is your wife? Her heart has long been with me! Last time I brought her into the city, that very night we became a pair of blissful immortals! In my life, I have bedded countless women, but she is the most exquisite I have ever encountered! Her feet are like tofu, and a single bite is intoxicating! Qiao Nu was so enchanted by me, she said you were incompetent, never giving her any pleasure, and only with me did she truly experience the joys of the bed! Haha! After sleeping with such a beauty, even if I die, I will be a romantic ghost beneath the flowers, and it will be worth it..."

Wei Shao clenched his fist tightly, the veins on his knuckles bulging, and with a powerful punch, he struck Chen Rui's chest. The clear sound of cracking bones echoed as several of Chen Rui's ribs broke, and he was sent flying, crashing into the wall behind him before falling to the ground.

Chen Rui vomited blood continuously, gasping for breath on the ground, still mumbling incoherently.

The veins on Wei Shao's forehead were still bulging, his red eyes fixed on Chen Rui on the ground. He turned to Tan Fu and said, "Cut off his genitals and stuff them into his mouth!"

...

On the eve of their departure, Su Ehuang once again came to bid farewell to Madam Xu, but in the end, she did not get to see her. Zhong Ao went out and very politely told her that the Elder Madam was exhausted after her illness and had to leave early the next morning, so she had already retired for the night. Su Ehuang then asked about Xiao Qiao, and Zhong Ao said that the lady had returned from the palace banquet slightly drunk and was not suitable to receive guests. Madam's intentions would be conveyed by her. Su Ehuang smiled at the time, showing no signs of anything unusual, and after chatting with Zhong Ao for a while, she left.

The next day, Xiao Qiao set off with Madam Xu. King Liu Rui of Zhongshan, along with a group of civil and military officials, escorted Madam Xu out of the city. The journey was smooth, and they returned to Yuyang after a few days.Two more days passed, and on a very ordinary afternoon, Xiao Qiao was summoned by Madam Xu, where she found Madam Zhu also present.

Madam Zhu had a smile on her face, appearing extremely pleased. It was the first time in a long while that Xiao Qiao had seen such an expression on her face.

On the table beside Madam Xu lay a scroll of silk. In a calm and steady voice, Madam Xu informed Xiao Qiao that her husband, Wei Shao, had recently captured Jinyang in a great victory and would be returning home soon.