The Prisoner of Beauty

The first round of mounted archery concluded, with the outsider Qiao Ci ultimately claiming the prize of the deer.

Although the result was unexpected, none of the Youzhou soldiers present felt humiliated. On the contrary, they were all in high spirits.

Qiao Ci was the younger brother of the Lord's wife, making him the Lord's brother-in-law. Since he was the Lord's brother-in-law, he was practically half a Youzhou man himself. What difference did it make if he won the prize compared to a Youzhou native? Moreover, the grace and skill he had displayed, especially the stunning reversal in his final shot, had left everyone who witnessed it in awe.

The soldiers eagerly discussed the scene they had just witnessed, eagerly anticipating the start of the next event—the combat competition.

The combat competition was a ring, a martial arts arena where two opponents faced off. The loser would step down, while the winner would continue to accept challenges in a cycle until the final victor emerged as the champion. It was a grueling test of martial skill, physical endurance, and willpower. The only restriction was the prohibition of throwing weapons like darts or meteor hammers; otherwise, there were no limits.

In terms of practical military application, mounted archery was undoubtedly more useful.

But these were troubled times, and troubled times revered heroes.

From the perspective of martial spirit, the arena combat was a more vivid showcase of individual heroism. Thus, everyone was eagerly looking forward to this intense and real competition.

……

The Deer Leitai offered an excellent vantage point, providing a clear view of the large arena set up in the center of the training ground.

However, as soon as Qiao Ci's mounted archery ended, Xiao Qiao began to feel somewhat distracted.

Although she knew her younger brother would likely tend to his arm injury after stepping down, she couldn't help but worry. Watching people fiercely battling on the arena held little appeal for her. Sitting there, her mind began to wander.

She first glanced at the Xuanwu Terrace.

The Xuanwu Terrace was located not far from the Deer Leitai, slightly lower in elevation, offering a clear view of the scene below.

Su Ehuang sat among a group of noblewomen from Yuyang, her posture elegant and her expression composed, her gaze fixed on the center of the training ground.

The earlier incident where her nephew Su Xin had drawn boos from the crowd seemed to have had little effect on her. She did not engage in conversation with the Yuyang noblewomen beside her. The Yuyang noblewomen, for their part, did not seem particularly close to this legendary figure from Zhongshan, who had married Liu Li, become a widow, and now returned to Yuyang from Luoyang—the famous "Madam Jade Tower." No one initiated a conversation with her, though they occasionally glanced at her, openly or covertly, scrutinizing her seemingly casual yet meticulously styled hair, the hairpins and ornaments she wore, the dress she had on, and the air of "Luoyang sophistication" she exuded from head to toe, as if trying to outshine them all. Then, they would whisper a few words to the women beside them.

Su Ehuang, however, remained unperturbed, maintaining her composure regardless of the gazes around her.

After observing Su Ehuang, Xiao Qiao turned her attention to Wei Shao.

He sat high on a viewing platform opposite the arena, alongside Gongsun Yang and Li Dian. Seated in the center with a sword at his side, his broad shoulders and narrow waist made him strikingly conspicuous. It took no effort at all to spot his familiar profile at first glance.

Xiao Qiao suddenly felt curious. Su Ehuang had seemingly appeared out of nowhere here. Did Wei Shao know she was present, sitting not far behind him on the Xuanwu Terrace?

She discreetly observed Wei Shao for a moment. His gaze seemed fixed on the two warriors battling on the arena, occasionally turning to exchange a word or two with Li Dian or Gongsun Yang beside him, likely commenting on the warriors' skills.Xiao Qiao watched for a while, but he never turned his head back.

She concluded that he probably didn’t know yet.

At that moment, a warrior on the stage emerged victorious. His opponent was ruthlessly thrown off the stage, and after getting up, he left in shame. The victorious warrior stood on the stage, basking in the cheers from all directions.

Xiao Qiao’s attention was drawn, and just as she was about to shift her gaze to the stage, she saw Wei Shao suddenly turn his head.

Although they were quite far apart, Xiao Qiao had a strong intuition that his gaze was directed toward her.

Instantly, she felt a sense of guilt, as if she had been caught peeking from behind, and immediately turned her eyes to the stage, not daring to look elsewhere.

Wei Shao glanced from afar at Xiao Qiao, who was sitting upright and proper, then withdrew his gaze.

He was trying his best to restrain himself, to focus on the thrilling duel of his warrior on the stage.

He didn’t want to waste any more energy wondering what his elder brother Wei Yan, sitting not far from him, was looking at or thinking about.

Otherwise, if he were to witness another scene like the one earlier, where Wei Yan had been gazing at her from a distance, he feared he might completely lose control of his emotions and erupt on the spot.

Every time he recalled the secret Lan Yun had revealed to him, Wei Shao felt the blood in his veins boil, as if countless needles were pricking him densely.

He didn’t want to believe it. But he knew that Lan Yun, whatever her motives, had spoken the truth.

He and his cousin Wei Yan had shared a brotherly bond for nearly twenty years. Because Wei Yan was several years older, he had always been steady and reliable, never making a single mistake, and Wei Shao had naturally trusted him deeply.

It was precisely because of this that when he suddenly learned that his elder brother not only harbored unspeakable thoughts about his wife but had also defiled her, he felt an overwhelming rage and sank into a deep sense of shame that was beyond anything he had ever experienced before.

If it had been anyone else, dismembering them wouldn’t have been enough to quell his hatred—he would have already chopped ten of them into mincemeat.

But this person was his elder brother.

Even though two days had passed, he had been trying hard to restrain himself. Yet at this moment, as the imagined scene flashed through his mind, Wei Shao suddenly felt as if needles were flowing in his blood, pricking him and making it impossible to concentrate.

“My Lord, did you see? This is the talented man I mentioned to you earlier. His name is Shi Jun, from Panyun in Dezhou. He comes from a family with a long tradition of spear techniques and possesses extraordinary arm strength. His ancestors were heroes, and one of them even served as the magistrate of Xingyang. Later, the family fell into decline and returned to farming. I only heard about him by chance and sought him out…”

Li Dian leaned closer, pointing to a warrior on the stage who was engaged in combat, speaking with enthusiasm.

The warrior was in his early twenties, robust and imposing, wielding a long iron spear. His skills were exceptional, each thrust of his spear carrying a fierce wind, forcing his opponent to retreat step by step. Cheers erupted around them.

Hearing Li Dian speak to him, Wei Shao finally snapped out of his thoughts, forcefully driving the images from his mind and focusing his attention once again on the stage.

…Shi Jun indeed possessed exceptional martial skills and extraordinary bravery, living up to Li Dian's expectations. He successively defeated seven challengers who stepped onto the stage, leaving the soldiers in the training ground in awe and frenzy. After knocking the last challenger off the platform, Shi Jun suddenly halted his iron spear and shouted, "Is there anyone else who dares to challenge me? Shi Jun of Panyun awaits!"

His eyes swept across the crowd, but no one dared to step forward and accept the challenge.

Li Dian, who cherished talent, was delighted by the sight and was about to cheer when he suddenly noticed a figure rising abruptly from the opposite White Tiger Platform. The man leaped down from the observation platform, which was several meters high, and strode towards the stage like a shooting star, arriving in an instant. Standing seven feet tall with broad shoulders and a strong back, the man in his late twenties was none other than Ding Qu, the adopted son of Yuan Zhe, who had arrived with Yuan Dai a few days prior.

Ding Qu flipped onto the stage and declared loudly, "I am Ding Qu of Xiami! I came to Youyang with my uncle a few days ago and have been graciously hosted until today. When I was in Shandong, I had heard of the Lu Li Assembly in Youzhou, and today I am fortunate to witness it. Just now, I saw Shi Panyun's remarkable skills and heard his challenge. Feeling the itch to test my own abilities, I stepped onto the stage. However, I wonder if this Lu Li Assembly would allow an outsider like me to make a fool of himself?"

He stood tall with his halberd in hand, his expression filled with arrogance.

...

Ding Qu, a native of Xiami, quickly made a name for himself after joining Yuan Zhe. Last year, during a battle in Beihai, Yuan Zhe fell into a trap and was surrounded. Fortunately, Ding Qu fought his way in and managed to break through the encirclement, allowing Yuan Zhe to escape. From then on, Yuan Zhe greatly admired him and took him as his adopted son, keeping him by his side at all times. This time, when Yuan Dai came to Youzhou, Ding Qu was sent to accompany him. During the banquet a few days ago, Ding Qu had been humiliated but dared not react at the time. However, he harbored resentment and vowed to reclaim his dignity by overpowering everyone in front of the soldiers of Youzhou. Finally seizing this opportunity, he could no longer contain himself and jumped out to accept the challenge. After his declaration, his eyes couldn't help but glance towards the graceful figure seated high on the Lu Li Platform.

Most men in the world are prone to lust, and Ding Qu was no exception. When he arrived with Yuan Dai earlier, he happened to see Xiao Qiao alighting from the carriage with Madam Xu. He immediately guessed that she must be Wei Shao's wife.

Wei Shao of Youzhou had married the beautiful Qiao girl from Yanzhou last year, and Ding Qu had heard of her beauty. Seeing this young woman dressed in splendid attire, more beautiful than anyone he had ever seen, he couldn't help but steal several glances. After taking his seat, he saw the beauty appear on the high platform, beating drums and reciting poetry, her elegance unforgettable. He had been reminiscing about her for a while, and now, stepping forward, besides reclaiming his honor, he couldn't deny the desire to showcase his true abilities in front of her.

Xiao Qiao had no idea that she had inadvertently caught someone else's eye. She had been sitting for a long time, thinking that Shi Jun's invincibility would mark the end of the event. However, unexpectedly, another person suddenly appeared. Hearing the subtle provocation in his words, she immediately focused her attention, her eyes fixed intently on the scene, her concern growing.

...

Li Dian glanced at Wei Shao, who remained expressionless, showing no indication of his thoughts.

In such a setting, since Ding Qu had accepted the challenge, as the host, they had no reason to refuse. After briefly stating the rules, the drums sounded again, and Shi Jun and Ding Qu began their duel.This Ding Qu truly lived up to his reputation as the champion of Yuan Zhe's army, displaying extraordinary ferocity. Although Shi Jun was also exceptionally skilled in martial arts, his lack of experience paled in comparison to Ding Qu's extensive battle experience. In just over ten exchanges, Shi Jun was struck heavily on the back by Ding Qu's staff, spitting blood and retreating in defeat.

Yuan Zhe, brimming with pride, used his halberd to lift Shi Jun's fallen weapon, raising it high as he strode around the arena, laughing heartily. "What of the famed Pan Yun Iron Spear? Still no match for my Ding Qu!"

Zhu Shi's face flushed with anger as she rose from her seat.

Xiao Qiao's heart also tightened slightly. She glanced at Madam Xu beside her, who remained seated and unmoved, her gaze only slightly more solemn than before.

...

The soldiers of Youzhou, who had been cheering loudly moments ago, suddenly fell silent. Seeing Ding Qu's arrogance reach such heights, a murmur of discontent spread through the crowd below, each face showing clear anger.

Shi Jun, filled with shame, rushed to the viewing platform where Wei Shao sat, kneeling to apologize.

Wei Shao's eyes gleamed sharply, yet his expression remained calm. He merely narrowed his eyes and slightly raised his chin.

Li Dian, understanding the gesture, spoke up, "Victory and defeat are common in battle. What fault is there in that? Go and tend to your wounds first."

Shi Jun bowed his head and left. On the stage, Ding Qu stood firm, glancing once more at the graceful figure on the Lu Li platform before addressing the opposite viewing stand, "I have heard that the Marquis of Yan from Youzhou is unmatched in martial prowess, renowned as a god of war. Even in Shandong, I longed to challenge him, but fate never allowed it. Today, with this opportunity, might the Marquis of Yan deign to instruct me?"

Such words were utterly arrogant and disrespectful. Even Li Dian, seasoned in battle and usually composed, felt anger rise within him and was about to stand when a figure beside him slowly rose.

Wei Yan spoke, "Who are you? Merely a servant under Yuan Zhe's command, lucky to win a single match, and now you think yourself worthy to challenge the lord who commands 400,000 Youzhou soldiers? I am Wei Yan of Dai Commandery, and though I may lack talent, I am willing to spar with you. If you defeat me, then we can discuss further!"

Wei Yan leapt down from the high platform, walked to the weapon rack, and selected an iron staff before swiftly ascending the arena.

The soldiers, seeing Wei Yan take the stage, immediately erupted in excitement once more.

Ding Qu, seeing that Wei Yan had chosen only an iron staff, clearly did not take him seriously. He paused briefly, then angrily retorted, "Very well. You seek humiliation yourself; do not blame me for showing no mercy." He raised his halberd and charged forward to engage.

...

On the arena, Wei Yan and Ding Qu clashed, while Madam Xu sat on the high platform, her gaze fixed intently on the fight.

Initially, her expression was grave, but gradually it softened.

After a while, Xiao Qiao noticed that Madam Xu's demeanor had returned to normal. She turned to Xiao Qiao and said, "This fool is asking for a beating. To dare cause such a scene at the doorstep of Youzhou. Let Yan'er teach him a lesson and humble his arrogance."

As soon as Madam Xu finished speaking, Xiao Qiao heard a burst of cheers from the training ground. Following the sound, she saw a halberd flying through the air. Wei Yan's iron staff swept out like lightning, mimicking the technique Ding Qu had used to strike Shi Jun, delivering a heavy blow to Ding Qu's back. Ding Qu was immediately knocked to the ground, vomiting a mouthful of blood.

Ding Qu, filled with shame and rage, struggled to rise and continue the fight. But Wei Yan's iron staff was already pressing heavily against his throat, as he growled, "Do you think I dare not kill you? What can Yuan Zhe, for all his ferocity, do to me?"Ding Qu's throat was locked, rendering him immobile. Yuan Dai, seeing the situation turn dire, hastily descended from the stage and rushed forward, repeatedly pleading to Wei Shao, "Marquis Yan, please calm your anger. It was indeed his recklessness that led to this chaos, as he ignored my advice. I beg you, for the sake of my elder brother, spare his life. I will take him back and truthfully report to my brother, who will surely send envoys with gifts to apologize!"

Wei Shao raised his gaze, looking calmly at Wei Yan on the opposite stage.

Wei Yan met his gaze for a moment, then slowly retracted his iron rod.

Yuan Dai urgently ordered people to carry Ding Qu away from the stage.

Amidst the cheers of the soldiers, Wei Yan descended from the stage. Thus, the Deer and Horse Assembly concluded. Although the process was fraught with twists and turns, the spectacle was thrilling. Not only did it reveal young talents like Qiao Ci and Shi Jun, but Wei Yan's fierce battle with Ding Qu also showcased his martial prowess, filling the soldiers with joy and their heroic songs echoing one after another.

From a distance, Madam Xu saw the two brothers, Wei Shao and Wei Yan, approaching the Deer and Horse Platform, knowing they had come to escort her. She rose from her seat and, supported by Xiao Qiao and Zhu Shi on either side, descended the steps, finally meeting the two brothers who came to receive her.

Madam Xu's face showed a look of contentment as she said, "When brothers are united, their strength can cut through metal. With you two in Youzhou, my heart is greatly comforted!"