The Prisoner of Beauty

The Deer Terrace was prominently positioned, drawing the attention of countless eyes. Xiao Qiao knew that at this moment, numerous gazes were fixed upon her. Seeing her younger brother signaling to her from below the stage, and considering her own status, she merely smiled back at him to avoid any suspicion, refraining from showing excessive emotion. However, the encouragement in her eyes was unmistakable.

Just then, Xiao Qiao heard the rhythmic sound of wooden clogs ascending the stone steps from the direction of the staircase and turned her head to look.

On the steps of the Deer Terrace, a gradually clear figure in consort-colored robes appeared.

She recognized her. It was Su Ehuang.

Su Ehuang, with one hand slightly lifting her skirt, ascended the steps, flanked by two maidservants. Her consort-colored figure swayed gracefully against the backdrop of the blue stone steps as she made her way towards Madam Xu.

Upon reaching the vicinity, she was stopped and came to a halt.

The guards of the Deer Terrace approached and reported to Madam Xu that Madam Su, the wife of the Duke of Zuopingyi, had arrived and requested an audience with the Elder Madam.

Madam Xu had already caught sight of Su Ehuang but remained composed, not turning her head to look, and simply instructed them to let her approach.

Upon hearing the title "Madam Su, wife of the Duke of Zuopingyi," Zhu Shi abruptly turned her head and indeed saw Su Ehuang standing there, her expression immediately darkening.

The guards returned and allowed Su Ehuang to pass. Su Ehuang approached Madam Xu and first bowed respectfully to her.

Madam Xu smiled faintly and told her there was no need for such formalities.

Su Ehuang then bowed to Zhu Shi.

Zhu Shi spoke in a muffled voice, "Rise. Although you are a widow, you were once the wife of the Duke of Zuopingyi. I am merely a humble village woman; how can I accept such a grand gesture from you?"

As she spoke, her face was slightly turned away.

Su Ehuang maintained her smile, stood up, and finally turned to Xiao Qiao, who was seated to the right of Madam Xu, saying with a smile, "Since we last parted in Lulu, I have often thought of you, sister, hoping to see you again. Today, my wish has finally come true."

Xiao Qiao also smiled and nodded slightly, saying, "I am deeply grateful for your remembrance, Madam."

As the two of them spoke, Madam Zhu said, "When did you arrive in Yuyang? You didn't inform us in advance, making it seem as though we were neglectful."

Su Ehuang hurriedly replied, "Madam, you may not be aware. The Deer Terrace is hosting a grand gathering of heroes. I have a nephew named Su Xin, who is a commandant in Zhongshan, excelling in horsemanship and archery, and he is fortunate to attend this event. I came here to support him, and secondly, although I haven't set foot in Yuyang for many years, I often think of my grandmother and you, Madam. Therefore, I took this opportunity to pay a special visit to my grandmother and you. I arrived late yesterday and regretted not being able to visit immediately, fearing I might disturb your rest, so I dared not come to your door. I thought it would be more convenient to come here early this morning to pay my respects."

Madam Zhu's lips curled slightly, but she remained silent.

In the center of the field below the stage, the area for the horsemanship and archery competition had been marked out. At the starting point, thirty-two warriors mounted their steeds, bows in hand, eager and ready, awaiting the signal to begin.

Su Ehuang pointed to a tall, long-armed young man in a purple robe in the middle and said with a smile, "That is my nephew Su Xin. Although he is only a few years younger than me, he has been training and honing his skills in the Zhongshan army for several years. Through his hard work and bravery, he has earned the appreciation of his superiors, and thus has the honor to come to Yuyang to showcase his skills, though it may be laughable to the experts."

Xiao Qiao glanced over.Su Xin, in his early twenties, tall and long-armed, rode a black steed with a splendid saddle adorned with gemstones that glittered brilliantly in the sunlight, making him stand out among the warriors. He sat high on his horse, chest out and head held high, exuding confidence.

Madam Xu also glanced at him and nodded, saying, "He is indeed a young hero."

Su Ehuang quickly thanked her for the praise, hesitated for a moment, and then, with a flicker of her eyes, took a step towards Madam Xu. Just as she was about to lift her foot, she heard Madam Zhu say, "I didn't know you were coming this morning, so we didn't prepare a seat for you here. I see the archery competition is about to begin. Since you've come to cheer for your nephew, why don't you go and take a seat at the Xuanwu Terrace?"

The Xuanwu Terrace was located beside the Luli Terrace, specifically reserved for noblewomen from Yuyang City who came to watch the competition.

Su Ehuang stopped in her tracks, glanced at Zhu Shi, and then smiled, saying, "Thank you for the arrangement, Madam. I will go down now. I will visit you later to pay my respects to my grandmother." With that, she bowed gracefully to Madam Xu and Zhu Shi, bid farewell to Xiao Qiao, and then turned and left with her maids, walking gracefully as always.

After Su Ehuang left, Madam Xu's expression remained unchanged, while Zhu Shi showed a hint of disdain towards her retreating figure, letting out a faint snort.

Xiao Qiao glanced at her, not showing any expression on her face, but she couldn't help feeling surprised inside.

No one understood the destructive power of Zhu Shi better than she did, so she wasn't surprised by Zhu Shi's almost dismissive treatment of Su Ehuang.

What surprised her was how Su Nu, who was always so impeccable in her interactions, could have earned Zhu Shi's dislike.

Zhu Shi's words were sharp and unkind.

It seemed that in Zhu Shi's mind, apart from herself, Su Nu was also a top contender for her disdain.

At this moment, the noise in the training ground gradually subsided, and the entire crowd held their breath, focusing on the thirty-two mounted warriors ready to compete in the archery field.

Xiao Qiao knew the competition was about to begin and had no time to think about anything else. She concentrated on watching the event, searching for her brother's figure.

At the sound of the starting horn, the thirty-two horses galloped forward, racing towards the golden bell hanging a hundred zhang away. Initially, the thirty-two riders each followed their own path, but after covering about twenty to thirty zhang, the horses began to separate, with some pulling ahead. The warrior on the leading red horse aimed his bow at the golden bell, while the warrior on the white horse behind him swung a staff. The red horse warrior ducked to avoid it and countered with a halberd thrust, and the two became entangled in combat.

According to the rules, each warrior was allowed to carry only three arrows. If they used all three arrows without hitting the golden bell or were knocked off their horse, they would be eliminated.

Once someone started, the other warriors followed suit. After all, the rules allowed it. Everyone wanted to block their opponents and be the first to shoot down the golden bell. Amid the rapid, drum-like beats and the cheers of the soldiers watching from the training ground, the racecourse became a fierce battlefield of pursuit and obstruction. Soon, some warriors began to fall off their horses.

By the halfway point, less than half of the original thirty-two riders remained. The others had either been injured and fallen off their horses, had their bows and arrows taken away, or had used all three arrows without hitting the target.Qiao Ci's weapon of choice was a pair of halberds. From a young age, he was deeply passionate about martial arts, practicing diligently every morning and evening in the small training ground at his home, regardless of the harshness of winter or summer, rain or shine. He was naturally gifted with a physique suited for martial arts, and over the years, he had become highly skilled and adept. The green steed gifted to him by Wei Yan was also a rare and exceptional horse. Although he had not ridden it for long, it was quite intelligent. Today, with man and horse in perfect harmony, even before the halfway point of the race, there was a hint of him standing out from the rest.

He had just defeated a warrior who had tried to seize his bow from behind, ultimately knocking the opponent off his horse with a halberd strike.

This was already the third opponent he had defeated.

The martial culture in Wei Shao's army had always been fierce. Although the Deer and Horse Assembly was a martial competition between brotherly camps, it was conducted with real weapons, and the warriors wore armor for protection.

Qiao Ci was the youngest among the warriors, handsome and talented. Many soldiers in the training ground knew he was the younger brother of the lady of the house, and as soon as the horses set off, he attracted everyone's attention. By the halfway point of the race, seeing his superb horsemanship and outstanding martial skills, he had successively defeated three warriors who had tangled with him. Moreover, his moves were quite restrained, unlike some other warriors who, in their pursuit of victory, resorted to underhanded tactics, aiming for vital points. Watching him engage in over a dozen rounds on horseback with his opponent, finally subduing them and using the halberd's shaft to knock them off their horse, the onlookers couldn't help but feel respect and began to cheer for him.

The younger brother's heroic demeanor and noble bearing won the applause of everyone in the training ground. Although Xiao Qiao was delighted, she felt even more nervous. Her eyes wide open, she closely followed his galloping figure on horseback, her fists clenched tightly, not daring to blink.

After Qiao Ci knocked down that warrior, he immediately tightened his grip on the horse's belly. The green steed also sensed its master's intent and galloped at full speed towards the finish line, quickly surpassing several riders ahead. Just as he drew his bow and arrow, about to shoot his first arrow under the gaze of the entire field, a gust of blade wind swept by his ear, and a large sword slashed down diagonally. Qiao Ci hurriedly retracted his bow to evade, turning his head to see a warrior catching up on horseback, riding a black steed and wearing a purple robe, his eyes gleaming with a fierce glint. It was Su Xin from Zhongshan.

Su Xin slashed with a second strike. Qiao Ci immediately drew his twin halberds to meet the attack. Amidst the deafening cheers of the surrounding soldiers, the two exchanged blows, and in the blink of an eye, they had already fought over twenty rounds.

Su Xin was the eldest son of Su Ehuang's elder brother. Since Su Ehuang's elder brother was much older than her, the age difference between aunt and nephew was not significant. Ten years ago, before Xing Xun entered Luoyang, his aunt Su Ehuang had first married Liu Li and was renowned throughout Luoyang, and the Su family had once enjoyed great prestige. But now, their family had declined, and many of their descendants had withered. Su Xin was determined to restore the family's glory. Skilled in horsemanship and archery, he had come from afar today solely to make a name for himself at the Deer and Horse Assembly. Therefore, from the moment the race began, he had been ruthless, injuring several people and carving a path forward. Seeing Qiao Ci's bravery, he regarded this young general in white as a formidable opponent. Seeing Qiao Ci charging ahead, about to shoot an arrow, Su Xin was unwilling to let him take the lead and exerted himself to catch up and hinder his momentum. After the two had fought over twenty rounds, Qiao Ci grew more and more valiant, while Su Xin gradually fell behind. Seeing other warriors catching up from behind, Su Xin grew anxious and devised a plan. As Qiao Ci struck with his halberd, Su Xin suddenly let out a cry, his face contorted in pain, and his body swayed as if he were about to fall off his horse.Qiao Ci immediately withdrew his hand, but in the blink of an eye, Su Xin pulled out a short knife that had been hidden under the horse's belly and swung it towards Qiao Ci. Seeing the glint of the blade, Qiao Ci quickly dodged, but the suddenness of the attack meant he couldn't fully avoid it. The blade grazed his arm, but fortunately, he was wearing armor. However, his sleeve was cut open, and a sharp pain followed. Looking down, he saw blood had already stained his white robe.

They were now some distance from Deer Terrace, but Xiao Qiao could still vaguely sense that something was wrong. Her heart skipped a beat, and without a second thought, she rose from her seat and rushed to the railing, her eyes wide as she watched intently.

Qiao Ci and Su Xin were locked in a fierce battle, and it seemed Qiao Ci was about to gain the upper hand. However, Su Xin suddenly resorted to a trick, leaving Qiao Ci wounded. The soldiers on both sides immediately booed loudly. Su Xin, as if deaf to the jeers, pushed Qiao Ci aside and gritted his teeth as he turned his horse sharply towards the finish line. As he approached, he aimed and fired an arrow.

The first arrow missed, just grazing the rope holding the golden bell.

Frustrated, Su Xin quickly nocked another arrow, preparing to shoot a second time.

But at that moment, another arrow adorned with white feathers was already in flight, cutting through the air like a bolt of lightning, heading straight for the golden bell dozens of feet away.

The arrow was fired by Qiao Ci, who was behind Su Xin.

The training ground fell silent in an instant, countless eyes fixed on that white-feathered arrow.

The arrow tore through the air resistance, reaching the target with precision, piercing the rope and embedding itself into a barrier.

The rope snapped, unable to hold the heavy golden bell, which swayed a few times before falling onto a copper gong below.

With a clear and resonant "clang," the sound of metal striking metal echoed.

Su Xin froze, watching helplessly as the young general in white robes galloped past him like the wind, reaching the finish line. He dismounted, strode to the target, pulled out the arrow, and then climbed onto the high platform, raising the arrow high and waving to the crowd.

The training ground erupted with thunderous cheers. On the Xuanwu Terrace, the noblewomen of Yuyang whispered among themselves, their eyes on Qiao Ci.

Xiao Qiao's heart, which had been in her throat, finally settled.

Under the bright autumn sun, she saw her younger brother standing on the high platform, his white robes and silver armor gleaming, his spirit soaring.

And in the vast training ground, at that moment, almost everyone was cheering for his heroic figure.

Xiao Qiao's nose tingled with emotion, and she couldn't help but raise her hand to cover her mouth and nose.

Wei Shao stood on a viewing platform not far from the high platform. His gaze shifted from the spirited young man on the platform to Deer Terrace in the distance.

He saw her standing by the railing, her hands covering her face, clearly on the verge of tears of joy.

Wei Shao's lips curved slightly. Suddenly, he instinctively glanced towards his elder brother Wei Yan, who was not far away.

Wei Yan was gazing in the direction of Deer Terrace. His head was slightly tilted, as if lost in thought, his expression caught in some elusive reverie.

In the grand training ground, Qiao Ci on the high platform was the focus of everyone's attention. Nearby, General Li Dian, who had witnessed the entire event, was saying to Gongsun Yang, "This young phoenix and unicorn, with his benevolent demeanor, will surely achieve greatness in time."

No one noticed Wei Yan's fleeting, inadvertent glance.Wei Shao lowered his gaze, his expression calm and composed.